For Good

This is a lovely song.  Yes, Graham, because I knew you, I've been changed for good.  I love you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtMN3mXmvqU

Heavenly Team

I believe that we all have a "heavenly team" of helpers. Our team is comprised of many different beings - passed loved ones, ancestors, spirit guides, angels, saints, and ascended masters. While out driving today this message was brought very clearly to me. When I was behind a car today I did a double take when I noticed the license plate. The license plate read ANGEL-85. 1985 was the year my son, Graham, was born! I kept thinking about this sign. When I was driving home I was amazed when I noticed another license plate on a car in front of me again. It read ST RAFEL. St Raphael, or Archangel Raphael, is the angel associated with healing. I found this link about him if you are interested in more from Doreen Virtue. http://www.beliefnet.com/Inspiration/Angels/2010/06/Healing-Miracles-of-Archangel-Raphael.aspx?b=1 You know how validations often come in threes? Well, there was one more sign. One last car I noticed had a fish with the word JESUS inside it! I was feeling the need for a message and I feel that my heart's plea was answered. We are never truly alone. Love and blessings to us all.

Butterfly Release and Memorial Garden Dedication

This past Sunday my husband and I attended a very special event. We are a part of the Bereaved Parents of the USA Northern Virginia Chapter. The chapter had a butterfly release as part of a memorial garden dedication for our precious children. The garden is lovely. It will be wonderful to have this tranquil garden of love and healing to visit and find comfort in. Our treasured children, always and forever. We love you. 

Here is a link to more pictures of this special day: Memorial Garden Butterfly Release

Always and Forever Song

I was driving the other day and this old song came on the radio. I was so surprised! I believe that my son, Graham, wanted to give me another "always and forever" message of love. I cried all the way to the store.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UniZucAo0r8

Fourth of July Memories

 This picture is from the Fourth of July, 2007. We had family and some of the neighbors over for a little celebration on our patio. It's one of our favorite pictures of Laura and Graham. We treasure this wonderful memory. We love you, Graham, and miss you so much.  I thought this song, "Firework," by Katy Perry, would be a perfect accompaniment - it reminds me of Graham.  He was like a brilliant firework.  Happy Fourth of July to everyone! 

Angel Standing By - Jewell song

I think this is a lovely song.  Bless all of our angels.   Enjoy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61XkGntxMdY

The symbol of rebirth and resurrection

In April we had a lovely water garden built in our backyard.  (See my April 2012 posts for some pictures and explanations.)  Included with the water garden were several aquatic plants.  I didn't know what they all were; they were chosen by the water garden designer.  It turns out that one of the plants is a beautiful white calla lily.  It blossomed this past week.  I was curious about the symbolism of calla lilies.  I looked up the meaning of this flower and discovered that it represents rebirth and resurrection.  That's why they are often used in weddings and funerals.  White represents purity.  I don't believe that it was a coincidence for the calla lily to be included as a part of our water garden.  I am so pleased to have this special flower as a part of our memorial water garden for Graham.  I believe that it was meant to be, a message from my son. It inspired this poem.

Calla Lily

A trumpet shaped calla lily tall and upright,
Majestic and lovely in the morning light,
Heralding a message of victory and rebirth,
Resurrection and faith from fertile earth.

White, the color of angels and divine purity,
Holiness and Mary and sympathy,
Beauty and comfort that inspires and uplifts,
One of nature’s most beautiful gifts.

A balloon message

These last several weeks seem to have been a time of a lot of signs and messages!  I am so grateful. Here is the latest one I feel I received. 

Last week I went to a party store looking for some birthday balloons for my mother's birthday. While I was there looking at all the balloons to choose from on the store's display wall, I saw this heart-shaped balloon that said - Love Always and Forever! I felt that it was another always and forever sign from my son, Graham. I had to go back today and take a picture of it to share with everyone.

A never alone song and message

I clicked on this music video shared by a Facebook friend this morning to listen to.  The song is "Never Alone" by Lady Antebellum.  It is such a beautiful song.  The message is wonderful.  As I was listening I walked into my kitchen and saw my phone turn itself on!  I know it was my son validating the message in the song - never alone.  I am so grateful for Graham's signs and messages.  They bring so much comfort and reassurance of our eternal connection. That means everything to me.  Our loved ones are always with us.  Thank you, Graham.  I love you.

Never Alone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pXrMPtCVcE

A Rainbow message

A few days ago while I was driving I noticed the license plate on the car in front of me because it was a rainbow!  The above license plate is a sample of the one I saw.  I have never seen a rainbow license plate before.  I live in Virginia.  This was a Hawaii state license plate.  I feel like I have received many messages involving rainbows over the last few years.  Rainbows have a lot of special spiritual meanings, the primary one being promise.  Here is an earlier post with my poem, "Rainbow's Promise," and some other rainbow related messages.

http://amotherstears.blogspot.com/2010/04/rainbows-promise.html

"A Mother's Love" by Jim Brickman

This is a beautiful song I would like to share.  A mother and her child are forever entwined.

htthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3BrcqoSqMQp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3BrcqoSqMQ

I Am Not A Stranger There Anymore

A dear friend of mine, Vivian West, wrote this poem.  The title of this poem came to Vivian during a discussion we were having.  I had just said that what I wanted most in this world since my son died was to be connected with the "other side."  Vivian said that a part of me is on the other side, that a part of me followed Graham to Heaven, that I am not a stranger there.  As soon as Vivian said these words, she felt they were a message for me.  A few days later she wrote this poem.  She says that she takes no ownership of this poem.  She knows that my son was the one who gave her the words for me.  Vivian writes poetry too, but this poem is not written in her style.  This poem is in my style of writing.  I believe this was a beautiful way that Graham used to validate the discussion Vivian and I were having.  This is so amazing and comforting to me. There is no greater power than love.

When you left this life for the other side,
There was so much in me that also died,
My heart followed you to Heaven’s door,
I am not a stranger there anymore.

I look for you in every evening sky,
Wondering how it looks to you from on high,
Dance with me among the stars galore,
I am not a stranger there anymore.

Staying connected to you with the passing of time,
My soul understands life’s rhythm and rhyme,
Bonded by love to the child I bore,
I am not a stranger there anymore.

When the journey is over and the time is ours,
And we meet together in a meadow of flowers,
Surrounded by glory never seen before,
I will not be a stranger there anymore.

Vivian West

For Claire Ann Stevenson
Thank you, Graham.

Spirit Essence

A few weeks ago we had this lovely water garden constructed in a very special area of our backyard.  Graham was the one who originally made this area into a garden for us, laying down weed cloth and gravel and planting some of the bushes and flowers - this earlier post shows him at work - http://amotherstears.blogspot.com/2010/05/with-us-in-spirit.html.  Four months after doing this he died in a tragic accident.  This area then became his memorial garden.

When the water garden was finished, we were taking pictures of it and this one had a glowing white and orange form for which we have no "normal" explanation.  There was nothing reflective in that area, no light source there, and the sky was overcast so it couldn't be lens flare.  I believe that it is pure energy, my son's spirit essence.  Graham shows us in many different ways that death does not end our relationship with loved ones.  Our loved ones in spirit remain with us always, because love and spirit never die.

Eternal Bonds

My soul screamed when I learned you were dead,

My body felt like it had been bled,

Life as I knew it no longer applied,

Everything changed the day you died.

What is my direction, where do I go?

There is so much that I don’t know,

I long to fly, to swoop and to soar,

Beyond this world up to heaven’s door.

I am listening, and working to see,

What is within divine possibility,

Death cannot sever our eternal bond,

Love is forever and will keep me going on.