The Little Soul and the Sun

The Little Soul and the Sun:  A Children’s Parable Adapted from Conversations With God

By Neale Donald Walsch

I love sharing with you and today I wanted to share the special book above which my friend MoJo at Momentum of Joy! recently suggested that I should read because it was such a great little book!  So, I simply hopped on my trusty kindle, the one I gifted myself this year after reading Sharechair’s all-things-kindle  many posts about this wonderful machine!   Within minutes and after a small credit card charge, I had downloaded the book and was ready to read it.  Truly, I love the ease of technology!  We are so blessed, aren’t we?  I could have waited 2 days to receive the book by mail, but I felt that pull to enjoy it today and I am so grateful that I listened to myself!

It’s a children’s book, but it’s also very adult-friendly and as I began to read it and understand it, tears began trickling down my cheeks as I felt my soul start to be soothed in a way I had never before felt.  It was like an avalanche of understanding that had welled up inside of me, burst through the dam that I had erected around my heart and I felt loved.

I know I’m probably not making sense again ~I guess it’s like when I recently said I feel delicious from my post The Shift to Feeling Delicious but I want you to know that this was again ~ a shift, a changing book and I wanted you to be aware of it if you weren’t already.  Do you know Neale Donald Walsch?  Have you heard of him?  He sends daily emails which are inspiring to your inbox when you get on his list.  He also has a few more books out that you can read as well.

You see, with my dad gone, it’s been a bit rocky trying to wrap up his affairs and business while mourning him ~ and having so much left unsaid.  Surely there are others out there reading my blog who may have had this same experience ~ not being able to understand parts of a parent or loved one who’s passed and wanting to ask so many questions?  I am sure I am not the only one, am I?

Anyway, my relationship with my dad was messy and I’ve often wondered, pondered, asked out-loud to the air, why he acted the way he did with me ~ why he treated me the way he did and hundreds of other inquiries that I had.  My mom has repeatedly said that he loved me, but there are moments where I seriously doubt that he could have loved someone and still acted the way he did.  His favorite saying was “You hurt the ones you love the most” ~ to which I would always reply in my head, “Then don’t love me.”  It was a true conundrum to me…until now.

I won’t give away this book as I think it may read differently to each person who reads it, but I want you to know that I get it now.  I understand and I am so grateful for my dear MJAngel and for her wise suggestion.

So if you’re interested in getting your own copy for yourself, your children or your grandchildren, click The Little Soul and the Sun: A Children’s Parable Adapted from Conversations With God.  I truly think that whether you get the hardcover book or you get the kindle version, you will be changed by this book ~ in such an amazing way.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Do you know about Neale?

Have you read his books before?

Please share with me!

Shine On Little Souls in the Sun!

xo

Life After Death?

They that love beyond the world cannot be separated by it.

Death cannot kill what never dies. – William Penn

Well, we made it through our first Christmas without Dad.  In case you didn’t know, my Dad passed away 6 months ago so we’ve been dealing with many firsts in the last few months, my parents’ first anniversary and his first birthday (is there such a thing to celebrate when he’s not here?), the first Halloween, Thanksgiving and now Christmas.  In the near future looms New Year’s Eve and my Mom’s birthday.  According to helpful friends, the year of firsts without Dad are the hardest which I imagine is true having been through a bunch so far…but it is supposed to get easier with time which is a relief.

I awoke this morning pondering life after death and thought I’d ask you ~  my blogging community ~  to help me again navigate these muddy waters.  Many of you have special gifts that you’ve shared with me so I figure if anyone can help, it would be you.  I”m too close to see the forest for the trees so I’d like to rely on you.

Do you believe in life after death?  Do you believe you can come back to be with your loved ones even for a little bit?  Do you believe that spirits can rattle windows or become squawking birds?  How about hovering around the house and moving objects in a mischievous manner?  Can they enter our dreams to show us that they are happy?  Do they possess the ability to play with electricity?  Can they leave us signs?  Can they turn into cardinals or butterflies to show us they are nearby?

In case you weren’t able to guess, the above happened to our family ~ although I am a bit skeptical since not all of the above were experienced by me.  But to my Mom, they are definite signs of Dad.  In fact, she knows that he’s been back to visit her, to let her know that he’s still around watching over her.

I’d love to hear your experiences if you have had any and if you’d share with me.  Because I think that especially around the holidays, the empty chair of a loved one who has  passed is most felt now.  We tried to make it easier for my Mom by changing it up this year and my sister AAngel hostessed Christmas Day so that we wouldn’t have the memory of Dad’s empty chair.  For the most part, I think it worked well ~  she subtly lit a white candle on her table for him which I thought was most caring.

Have you experienced any after death visits?

Do you believe in the ability for loved ones to come back to visit?

Do you have any suggestions on how to get through the rest of the year of firsts?

Any and all suggestions, stories and experiences are appreciated!

Shine On!

xo

I found a few blogs who had a bit to say on the subject as well ~ I thought you might like to check them out too!

http://rickalonzophoto.wordpress.com/2012/12/22/life-after-death/

http://sarahsana.wordpress.com/2012/12/21/the-two-hearted-woman-in-love-with-an-itsy-bitsy-spider-man/

http://sharingacrosstheveil.wordpress.com/2012/12/19/from-tamara/

http://globalsearchfortruth.com/2012/12/17/is-there-life-after-death/

http://theowlsmoonsoulsupport.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/spiritual-mainframe-qa-2/

Blessings in Life After A Death

Blessings!

Happy Day after Thanksgiving to all of you!

Yesterday marked the first big holiday that we celebrated without my Dad.  I am forever grateful to my husband’s family as my parents-in-law whom I dearly love, hosted my Mom, my sister and her family and of course, our family to their home last night.  It was the best way to transition to the beginning of life after Dad’s death.  With 16 people at the table, 7 active children ranging from ages 6 -14 (and only one girl in the group!) and 9 adults, we had a full house!

Ever protective of my Mom who had second thoughts about attending yesterday’s festivities because she didn’t want to be a burden nor did she want to feel like a 3rd wheel, I watched as our families enveloped her in holiday spirit, giving her the opportunity to know how much she is loved and appreciated.  At one point, someone pointed out a cardinal in the yard, bright red against the still green grass.  Many of us clambered to the window to look for its mate as they are always in pairs.  But my sister and I knew where his mate was…she was seated right next to me on the chair, a few tears quietly escaping her while the others looked outside.  My sister has always loved cardinals and my Mom knew the significance of the mate-less cardinal who showed up brightly outside the window of the house yesterday.  Dad was there in spirit.

As the day wore on, I watched as she got involved in the washing of dishes with all of the girls, drying platters and laughing at our antics and off-pitch singing.  I smiled such gratefulness as I saw the door of mourning open for a bit, allowing for the laughter of life in her to emerge.  There were times during the night where Mom got weepy, especially when we said the blessing before the meal and my father-in-law  reverently spoke making sure to say a prayer for my Dad.  But I also saw how protective our family as a whole was of her as each took time to talk with her, reminisce with her and to make her feel at home.

Truthfully I am crying now in gratefulness as I know how blessed I am…I reminded my Mom albeit a bit sternly the day before Thanksgiving when she was wavering on whether to come or stay home alone ~ life is for the living…You are here!  Daddy is not, but if you should decide to stay home alone, you would be robbing our family of your presence as well.  My children and I wouldn’t be able to include you in our Thanksgiving memories.  You would be denying the opportunity to be an amazing role model to the family as you showed strength and love in being present during this holiday of Thanksgiving.  Being a part of the day means that you can honor Dad, but also be humanly strong as you embody the title of my blog ~ The Presents of Presence!

As you already know, she took the (ahem) bait and came!  I knew she would…there’s an inner strength to Mom that shines through, just like the laughter that we heard last night.  I pray her love of life (and us) will continue to help her find her way in this next stage of life.  I know how difficult it can be to mourn a loss in your life.   Although I’m currently mourning the loss of my Dad, I’ve mourned the loss of my health when I got breast cancer 10 years ago and lost my breasts to the disease.  Now I know it’s not the same, but they are losses, permanent changes in your life that you don’t see coming, but they come all the same.  They change you in ways you can’t even begin to fathom and sometimes, speaking for myself,  they change you for the better.

There are Presents to being Present in your life!!

You only have to look to find them…and enjoy them!

The Presents of Presence…xoxo