On A Dime

You’ve all heard the saying, “Pennies from Heaven,” right?  Perhaps you’ve had pennies appear in your path over the years?  I’d love to hear about your experiences if you’ll share in the comments below!

A few days ago, we had an experience at the house where a dime appeared.  Appeared out of nowhere and definitively wasn’t there seconds before.  We didn’t hear it land, nor were any of us wearing clothing with pockets, nor did we have any change on us.  We looked away for a few moments and voila! The dime was just sitting there.

When I looked at the dime, the year on it was 2012 which coincidentally is the year my Dad passed away.   I’m thinking it was my Dad sending me a message that he’s around, although he’s never been someone to send dimes, but instead to mess with electricity from the other side.

Have you received messages from departed loved ones too?  Please share!

Shine On!

xo

A Book To Read: Courage

I met Karen Lang through the blogosphere many moons ago.  What stood out for me was her immense compassion, kindness and her ability to connect through blogging.  As I got to know her story through her blog, I realized that she had lived through experiences that I never had and that her healing being was powerful.

Recently, I picked up her book finally after many years of thinking I should read it because even though it is sadly about the passing of her son Nathan and the grief which followed, I felt drawn to read her story.  What ensued was my determination to write a post about her incredible book and her journey through grief after the death of her son.

Because what I found was that her book is a universal healing experience, even though my life journey is different.  I found myself reading and learning so much that I was unable to put her book down until I finished it.  I cuddled on my couch, her book in my lap and allowed the day to unfold as I read and I am so grateful that I did.

Karen’s ability to write as if we were friends, sitting together on a warm summer’s day as she shared her story drew me in right from the start and kept me with her throughout the book as she allowed the layers of her journey to unfold.  Karen offers healing to those who read her book and shares her experiences with honesty, vulnerability and presence.

There’s a beauty within all of us that we can embrace or disconnect from as life’s experiences change us.  It takes great courage to walk our life’s path and to accept and forgive what we cannot understand…and it takes healing to find the peace and love within again.  Karen has done all that and more as you will find when you read her inspirational book of Courage.

You will love her blog Living In This Moment.

Here is her author page as well Karen Lang author page.

I highly recommend her book even if you have not suffered the death of a child (and if you have, this is your time to be supported on the road to healing).  Her book doesn’t need to be read in one sitting either as she offers help after every chapter which also truly aided me.  It’s just that I couldn’t put her book down, but I am keeping it in my library to reread again for when I need grief support.  Yes, it’s truly that lovely of a book!

It’s Sunday, a day of family in our home.  I believe we’re going to get the Christmas tree today since the weather is chilly but not wet out.  May you wrap your hearts around your loved ones.  May you remember those who have passed and may you find gratitude in being here in this very moment – The Presents of Presence.

Shine On!

xo

Night Bunny

It’s All Saint’s Day today, along with the famous first of the month, Rabbit, Rabbit, White Rabbit, White Rabbit.  You knew I would remind you, didn’t you?  Quickly, say it if you haven’t already!

It’s also my Dad’s unbirthday (I just made that word up).  Unbirthday because he passed away five years ago, but in my mind, as soon as I hear it’s November 1st, I think of him.  Habit, reflex, nostalgia, and being connected with him even years after his passing makes it a significant day on the calendar for me.  I couldn’t help myself as tears welled up in my eyes this morning thinking of him.  Do you think of loved ones on their unbirthdays even though they have already passed away?

I know the veil is thinner at this time and I am praying for a sign from him.  I don’t know why.  Maybe I want validation that he hears me or that he approves of what I’ve done since he’s been gone.  I guess we never really release that approval piece from a parent or at least I haven’t.  Sad to say I guess, but true.  I want him to be proud of me.  I want him to know that I am trying my best under extraordinary strain at times.  I want him to hug me today even though I know he can’t physically.  I want a sign from him.  Even though I am middle-aged, I think sometimes I feel like a little girl.  Does that make sense?  Do you sometimes feel that way or is it just me?

It’s funny how once you’re middle-aged, we begin to parent our own parents too.  We take care of them as they grow older and are less able to take care of themselves.  I see it all the time with my friends whose parents are still here.  Nobody actually prepares us for the ‘sandwich generation’ piece of life.  We just somehow muddle through it with help from friends and people who have experienced it before us.

But that’s our job.  As the generations before us have done for centuries, we take care of the elder generations.  Parents, family members and such, we are their caretakers as they grow older.  Hopefully we do it with grace and dignity so that we are good role models to our own children, and the younger generations so that they can take care of us as well.

Oh what a tangent I’ve gone off on today.  I’m sorry.  My fingers have just been talking on the keyboard while my cheeks remain tear-stained.

But the other night, I went outside to look at the stars and my little bunny Clover hopped by.  He stayed with me for about 20 minutes before I went back in the house.  He even posed for me sweetly as he is wont to do.  You can see his eyes twinkle in the light of the flash.  He sat nearby and just ate the clover in the grass while I talked with him, pouring my heart out to him.  Isn’t it lovely that we have wildlife who care to listen?

Shine On!

xo

 

Bird’s Nest – Is It A Sign?

I was sitting outside the other morning as I often do, enjoying the peace and quiet of Mother’s Nature’s gifts before the hubbub of the day begins.  From across the yard, I saw something drop and I heard a thud as it landed on the ground.  Immediately, I thought a squirrel might have fallen out of the tree as I could see that what had fallen wasn’t moving.  I contemplated going to look as I watched a squirrel race by, stopping only for a moment by the unknown object and continuing on his way.  Curiously I went over to see for myself what had fallen with a thud.

It was the nest pictured above which had fallen with an audible thud.  No eggs to be seen, yet the weight of it as it had somehow gotten dislodged from its branch!  Coincidentally two days before, I had 2 little birds trying to build a nest in my dryer vent!  For days we battled.  They would stuff the vent and I would unstuff it.  Finally they gave up and moved to a different place.  Whew.  I didn’t want to cook the eggs with the dryer heat!  I didn’t want that on my conscience.  Not to mention the fire hazard!

As you may know, I’m looking for a house to move to as the closing sale date of our home creeps closer.  I wonder what it means to have the nest fall or to have birds trying to nest in my home?

I’m praying for the perfect home to come to us as the time edges closer, but so far, nothing definitive has appeared.  I keep thinking that God is never too late so I continue to let go and Let God.  But whew, it’s hard when worry plagues me and because I’m a planner, letting go of control and trying to find one when none are available are at odds in my head.

Any thoughts on my situation?  What do you think of the nest falling in front of me?  Or the birds trying to build a nest in the dryer vent?  Are they signs?  What do you think it means?

Shine On!

xo

Have You Ever Had Signs From Loved Ones?

Born on All Saint’s Day, my Dad has celebrated his birthday in Heaven for 5 years now.  Tempus Fugit as he would say, meaning ‘time flies’ and I would humbly have to agree with him.

I’m a bit melancholy today.  Perhaps that happens to you when it’s a loved one’s birth or death date  who has already passed on?  So much has changed in our lives since he left.  So much of our lives have changed so drastically.  Sometimes I wish I could just ask him for advice.

And then, just when I’m wondering if I’m doing everything right, or the way he would have wanted me to, he sends an earthy angel to tell me.  Recently, a friend of mine, out of the blue, who never knew my Dad told me that my Dad wanted me to know that he is prroud of me for all that I’m doing now.  This man said he felt a huge urge to say that to me and to pass along a message to me (from my Dad).  It was as if my Dad knew I needed to hear those words and I most certainly did.

While the veil is thinner, I pray that you and your loved ones can communicate a bit more, or at least, you can feel peace.  I have had a few signs lately, so I know he’s watching over his family.  There’s been a lot of forgiveness between us because as you know, ‘time heals,’ and I’m proof of that phrase.

So be on the lookout – feathers, coins, synchronicity, unexplained phenomenon and sometimes even more physical feelings of cool air, lights blinking, etc. can be signs.

Love is eternal even when we can’t see them.

Have you ever had signs from loved ones?  Please share!

Shine On!

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/

Angelic Signs…

An Angelic Gift for You!

Driving home last night, I did what I had suggested you all do ~ I looked UP and checked out the clouds.  And lo and behold, right in front of me was the cloud which I featured in my card today…and as soon as I saw it, I knew what it was…a Heaven-sent Feather from my Angels.  Do you see it?  Or do you see something else?

I see a feather which according to other blogs, is a sign from your Angels…and because I had been asking for a sign so that I knew that they were around and ready to help me, I figure this was my sign…as big as a cloud, as high in the sky and honestly, it only lasted for a few minutes and it was gone.  If I hadn’t used my cell phone camera to snap the picture, this would not have been a post to share.

Do you believe in Angels?  Have you ever received a message? 

A knowing?  A sign? 

I’d love to hear about it if you have!

I am thankful to share my journey with you!

Happy Thursday!

xo