Our Loved Ones Are Still Here

I was the guest on a pre-recorded blogtalk internet radio show with Pamela Marie Edmunds that aired on Christmas Day.  The topic was "Our Loved Ones Are Still Here."  The show is archived so you can listen to it at any time.  I hope this message and understanding will comfort and encourage many.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pmelight/2013/12/26/our-loved-ones-are-still-here-with-author-claire-ann-stevenson.

Graham Road

We visited my parents Friday night, then left Saturday morning to drive to our daughter's house in Suffolk, Virginia.  The GPS navigation system in the car took us on a route we'd never gone on before, even though we'd driven from my parents' to our daughter's place several times in the past.  It told us to change highways near Petersburg, Viginia, and my husband missed a turn and went the wrong way.  When we came to the first crossroad to get back, he said, "Look at the name of this road."   It was "Graham Road."   I immediately said, "That's why we turned here."  The picture of the map with this post is the actual stretch of Graham Road we went on to get back to the right road.  We think this was a sign from our dear son, Graham, to let us know he was with us visiting loved ones for the holidays.

2013 BP/USA Parents Of the USA NVA Chapter Annual Service of Remembrance

Bereaved Parents of the USA Northern Virginia Chapter held its Annual Service of Remembrance and candle lighting last evening.  This is a very special observance held every year in December to honor our precious children in spirit.  It means so much to have a way to include our children during the difficult holiday season.  As part of the program I read two of my poems.  My husband was able to video it for me to share:  Service of Remembrance Video

Our children's lights are eternal ~ forever in our hearts.

Here is Graham's picture from the slideshow that was done after those in attendance lit candles for their loved ones in spirit.  He is my beautiful angel boy.

Healing Yoga

Five years ago when I was still feeling so broken from the passing of my dear son I started thinking about yoga classes. I had never done any yoga, but felt that it could be helpful. I knew after my first class that it was something I should continue doing. I felt a definite healing release. Yoga involves the body, mind, and soul. I have been taking classes with Ren Fields. She is the owner of The Fredericksburg Healing Arts Yoga Center in downtown Fredericksburg. I highly recommend yoga and this special center. Here is a picture of Ren. Thank you, Ren, for all that you do. I am very grateful. 
http://www.healingartsyoga.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fredericksburg-Healing-Arts-Yoga-Center/101087496634158

All I Want for Christmas Is You

Here is a close up of some of the special Christmas memorial ornaments that are on our tree for our dear Graham.  Love is always and forever.

This is a link to a version of "All I Want For Christmas Is You."  We know our loved ones in spirit will be joining us.

http://youtu.be/Wix7qJzr018

Stained Glass

The other day when I was walking to my car in a shopping mall parking lot I noticed a license plate on a parked car.  It was "STNGLAS," stained glass. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought it was a little unusual and wondered if it was a message for me.  I am having a very special stained glass fireplace screen made with my son's face on it.  It's not yet complete, but is getting there.

I used a line from one of my poems on the bottom, Shining in God's Holy Grace. I think it's going to be an amazing piece.  There will be Celtic Eternity knots on the border.  We have a Celtic roots ancestry and I love the symbolism of these knots.

A few hours after coming home a picture of the same kind of Celtic knot we chose was on a post that appeared on my facebook news feed!  I feel that this validated that the license plate was a message.

Messages From Spirit

This afternoon my husband and I decided to go out for a little while. I took my tablet with me so I could periodically check in with the group. The first time I looked at my tablet I was surprised to see the time was 2:22. A repeating number sequence happened a couple of hours later when I checked my tablet. The time was 4:44! We just realized that means it was exactly 2 hours and 22 minutes later that I checked again! Isn't that amazing? I loved the repeating number messages. Here is a link to a great explanation of angel numbers - http://psychicjoanne.hubpages.com/hub/AngelNumbersRepetitiveNumberSequences
When my husband and I were walking to a store I found a penny in my path.
We decided to eat out for dinner. We looked at each other in astonishment when just as we sat down the song, "She Talks To Angels," came on in the restaurant!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6vWus8NQm0
The universe, our angels, and our loved ones in spirit are always talking to us. We just need to learn to listen. Lots of love.

Thanksgiving 2013

My parents and my brother, Rob, came over on Wednesday to spend a few days with us over Thanksgiving.  My brother slept in my son's bedroom.  When my brother came down Thanksgiving morning he said he had something strange happen during the night.  His cell phone alarm went off at 3:00 AM.  He said that he knows that he didn't set his alarm, and that he never would have set it for 3:00 AM!  We believe it was Graham's heavenly hello on this special day. 

A little later my brother was standing by the kitchen window and noticed a big red cardinal in the butterfly bush we planted in Graham's loving memory.  I believe that may have been a sign too because of where the cardinal was and the meaning of cardinals.  My husband was able to take a picture of this lovely cardinal.  Here is a link to cardinal symbolism - http://www.whats-your-sign.com/animal-symbolism-cardinal.html

My daughter, Laura, and son-in-law and little granddaughter joined us on Thanksgiving Day.  We were so happy that we could all be together for a few days.  The day after Thanksgiving my husband and I were viewing some of the pictures that were taken.  We were so delighted when we saw this picture that I took of the guys.  It is my father, my husband, my brother, and my son-in-law with the turkey.  There is an orb on my husband's shirt!  It's where his heart is.  What a fantastically meaningful sign.  Graham was letting us know that he was with the guys too!  It made me cry.  Love is truly always and forever.  We never lose our soul connection with our loved ones in spirit.  They are still with us.  Thank you, Graham.  We love you so much. 

My Shadow

I like to listen to a once-a-month blog talk radio show called Messages of Love From Heaven.  It's on the first week of each month as a part of a weekly show, Bridge Between Two Worlds.  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bridgebetween/2013/11/07/messages-of-love-from-heaven-medium-pamela-marie-edmunds.  My friend, Pamela Marie Edmunds, is the host.  Pamela gives readings to callers from their loved ones in spirit on this show.  Pamela posted about her upcoming show on a facebook group we both belong to, Guy Dusseault's Signs From Our Loved Ones.  http://www.facebook.com/groups/249249048540255/  I commented that I would be listening, and Pamela replied that she felt that Graham would be joining us too.  I replied that I hoped so!  She then said that Graham is as much a regular to the show as I am, that he is my shadow. 

I was really amazed the next day to see this beautiful post by Aarti Khurana (https://www.facebook.com/TheBeautifulWorldOfAartiKhurana) on my facebook news feed.  It spoke to my heart -

One day my body will turn to ashes and dust but my love for you will never die because I love you with my soul and my soul will live on and on till the end of time. I will be your shadow even when you can’t see me any more. The brightness of my soulful love will illuminate your life forever. I love you today, I will love you tomorrow and I will love you even I am gone….

Five days later Pamela and I were messaging back and forth on facebook about a phone session I was going to have with her the next day.  She said that she was hearing the lyrics to a song with the words "me and my shadow."  I was familiar with this old song.  I googled it immediately.  Here is the one I remembered with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5hXtGkzZ9kThe definition of shadow is "the dark figure cast upon a surface by a body intercepting the rays from a source of light."  Pamela commented to me during our phone session that in order to have a shadow there must be a source of light.  We felt that had hugely significant meaning. 

This morning while I was meditating this poem came to me -

My Shadow

You are such a part of me,

Present in every breath I breathe,

Your physical loss has been hard to bear,

But I feel your love and care.

Like a shadow you are here,

Giving comfort through every tear,

My companion, support and friend,

With love on which I can always depend.

Never alone, your heart beats with mine,

Connected in love throughout all time,

My beloved shadow walking with me,

An aspect of light for me to see.

Copyright © C.A. Stevenson 2013

Thank you, Graham, for your many signs and messages.  You are indeed, my beloved shadow.

Veterans Day

Best wishes to all on Veterans Day.  Here are some pictures from Sam's retirement ceremony in August 2004.  Graham had just graduated from high school and was looking forward to going to college.  He had a scholarship in Art and was going to major in Graphic Design.  Our daughter, Laura, was home for the summer from Florida State University where she was majoring in Music Education.  It was great that we could all be together for my husband's retirement ceremony.  Laura and Graham were troopers too during our years with the Army.

Heavenly Messages Of Love

This afternoon my husband and I went to see a matinee. When we were walking to our car after the movie was over we noticed this license plate on a parked car - "ANGELZ4". Interesting that the number 4 is associated with angels too. In Doreen Virtue's Angel Numbers book the number 4 is "Angels are with you. Call upon them for help, guidance, and feelings of love and security." We then decided to have dinner at a restaurant. While we were eating I heard one of my favorite message songs from my dear son come on, "I Will Wait" by Mumford and Sons. Here is a link to this great song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLGMyo8wfPc! After dinner we drove over to a shopping center. While walking down the parking lot to a store I saw this license plate - "GDS ANGL"! We are never alone. Love truly is always and forever. Thank you, Graham. I love you more than I can say.

Angel At My Shoulder

This is my latest painting.  I started painting it five months ago.  I didn't finish it before my art teacher retired and moved out of state.  Last week she was back in town for a workshop and I was able to finish it.  Originally I was painting a seated angel with a large wing.  When I looked at the painting again before leaving for the workshop I felt that the wing on the right was more a figure behind a woman.  Very interesting how it turned out.   I believe that I painted myself with my son's presence without realizing it. 

The Theresa Caputo (Long Island Medium) Experience In Person

I had a wonderful spirit-filled evening last night seeing Theresa Caputo live (this picture is from before the show; pictures weren't allowed during the show).  If you have watched her TV show, Long Island Medium, you know that Theresa is very entertaining as well as gifted.  She sparkled on stage with her glittery outfit and amazing shoes!  What great work and service she is doing in being able to validate that our loved ones are still with us, they can communicate with us, and that physical death doesn't end our continued life in spirit.

Here's a picture we got of her husband, Larry, with fans before the show.  It looks like there are some orbs in the upper right of the picture.  Hardly a surprise with the huge number of loved ones in spirit that were present!   I didn't have a message, but that was okay.  That is not why I went.  I feel Graham with me always. I know he was enjoying the show too. 

 

Signs From Our Loved Ones

This is a wonderful slideshow that Guy Dusseault made about signs.  I hope you enjoy it and its comforting message.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10201873699585299
Guy is the founder of a wonderful facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/SignsFromOurLovedOnes/
I am one of the administrators for this special group.  Guy also has a great web site you might like to visit,  http://www.oursonbilly.com

Grahams

I went to do my grocery shopping this morning. The weather has turned a little chilly. I decided to wear the boots I bought last year in my son's loving memory. They are a lot like a pair of boots that he bought a few months before he passed. Graham loved those boots. I have a special boot bracelet with Graham's name that Cindy Adkins at Angels at My Door made for me. I kept one of Graham's favorite sweaters. I decided to wear it today for the first time. You can see how my son is always in my thoughts as well as in my heart. When I entered the grocery store I noticed a display of Pepperidge Farm products . These cookies just jumped out at me! Grahams! They must be new for the holidays. I have never seen these cookies before. I felt it was a sign for me. I was actually a little teary. I think Graham wanted me to know that he was walking with me. Love my angel boy!

Shining Diamonds

 

When I was driving home from my yoga class today the Rihanna song, "Shine Bright Like A Diamond" came on the radio. I was thinking about the lyrics to this song and was wondering if the song was a message for me from my son. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_YM9VBjUaE I switched the station when the song was over and the next song I heard was "Diamond Girl" by Seals and Croft!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzxz4lbOMS0
I was certain then that it was. Two songs in a row about diamonds. This just couldn't be coincidental. Be open to the many different ways that our loved ones in spirit give us messages. I am so very grateful. Love to all.

Signs of Love

 

Love this!  I came to a stop behind this van today while I was driving and was able to take this picture.  When I was shopping in a store afterwards one of my favorite message songs from my angel boy played in the store, "I Will Wait," by Mumford and Sons - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5t7B-ia8Y0. When I was driving home I saw a license plate with the numbers 3003.  My son's birthday is March 30th.  Our loved ones in spirit are still here.  Love never ends.  Love you, Graham!

Last Mile of the Way

I just discovered this wonderful song, and keep playing it over and over.  I was with my son every step of his way while he was here.  Graham and I still walk together, always and forever. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnQG134_JlM 

Love my ma

I spent a lovely day with a long time friend today. She has been living overseas for the past ten years and was back in the states for a few days. We have known each other since my son was a few months old. My dear son passed tragically six years ago at the age of twenty two. She has been a wonderful support and comfort. We talked a lot about my son, Graham, and signs and messages.  We also talked about the special facebook group I am an administrator with, Signs From Our Loved Ones, while we were having lunch. After lunch when we were in my car getting ready to leave I noticed the license plate on the car parked in front of mine had a butterfly on it. I commented on that and then my friend said, and do you see what the license plate says? I couldn't believe it. "LVMYMA" - Love my ma! I took a picture of it. It was so wonderful. I love you too, Graham, my precious son! Remember to look at license plates. They are another great way to receive messages from our loved ones.

You Are Never Alone

I pre-ordered this special new oracle card deck from Doreen Virtue and James Van Praagh back in June.  They arrived today. This deck was designed to be used as another helpful tool in connecting with passed loved ones.   After talking to my dear angel boy, Graham, I drew a card.   I asked what message he had for me today. This is the card that I drew - "You are never alone".  What a beautiful and comforting message.  I am sitting here with tears of love and gratitude.  You may want to read about these cards and use them too (they're available from Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Talking-Heaven-Mediumship-Cards-Guidebook/dp/140194261X/). Lots of love.

"Why Did this Have to Happen to Me?"

Here's a great answer from Medium Anthony Quinata to a woman's questioning why she had to lose her child.

http://anthonyquinata.com/why-did-this-have-to-happen-to-me/

Six Year Angelversary

My husband and I went to the cemetery on Sunday the 22nd of September to place flowers at our dear Graham's grave.  I took an art piece I painted of Graham that has a lot of significance to me.  It's still so hard to believe that we have an anniversary like this. 

As we were leaving the cemetery we saw a young deer.  We had never seen a deer there before.  The deer just stood there looking straight into our eyes.  I felt that was a message for us.  Here is a link to the symbolism of deer.
http://www.spiritanimal.info/deer-spirit-animal/

On the Wings of Love

Last weekend our local chapter of the Bereaved Parents of the USA held our second Butterfly Release.  This special event was held in the beautiful Memorial Garden that the group created last year in loving memory of our precious children.  

The garden is filled with such a sense of peace and love.  I read two of my poems as part of the program, "Butterfly" and "In the Garden of What Might Have Been."  It was a heart-filled day.  Our dear children, always and forever. 

XO 22 OX

I felt that I received several little signs yesterday.  The first one was hearing the song "Home" by Daughtry on my car radio this morning as I was driving.  I have that song on my iTunes play list. It makes me think of my son, Graham.   Later, when I was driving home I saw an unusual license plate. It read "XO 22 OX."  Kisses and hugs, and 22!  My son was 22 years old when he passed, and he passed on the 22nd of September, two days from now.  I made myself a latte that afternoon. I drank it and set the cup aside.  A little later I went to rinse it out and stopped before I did because I noticed the pattern in the residue at the bottom of the cup.  It looks like two hearts with a dove above them to me.  Love and peace. Comforting messages during this difficult month.  Love transcends space and time. Here is a picture and also a link to this special song.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2nr9oBRsRg

September Memories

 

Six years ago at this time, my son had come home for the weekend. Graham had just started his senior year of college the month before at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.  It was always so nice for us that Graham was only an hour or so away.  We were able to see him often.  He had been home all summer as he had a summer graphic design internship with our local paper here in Fredericksburg.   Our daughter, Laura, was home that summer too. She was commuting to VCU for a summer session towards her masters degree in Music Education.  We were blessed to all be together again as a family for this special summer.  His dad and I could never have imagined this weekend would be the last time that we would see our dearest Graham, and that this picture I took of him at the crape myrtle would be our last picture of him.  The picture of me is with this same crape myrtle he planted six years ago now. Our hearts broke when Graham suddenly passed. Graham's physical form is gone, but he is still here, forever by our sides.  Love is always and forever. 

A Moment in Time

The last thing you did before you drove away,
On a beautiful September day,
To help out your dad and me,
Was plant a lovely crape myrtle tree.

It was the last one planted out of five,
To be enjoyed while we’re on the patio outside,
I watched you while you were hard at work,
Digging up all that dirt.

“Let me take your picture,” I said,
And you smiled and turned your head,
I took a wonderful picture of you,
Beside the crepe myrtle when you were through.

The following weekend you were dead,
There are no words that can be said,
You were here one moment, the next you were gone,
And we are left to struggle on.

Who could know that picture would be our last,
Of the twenty-two years that had passed,
From our darling baby to handsome young man,
We are working hard to understand.

I treasure that picture that now hangs on our wall,
A special moment in time to recall,
And when I look at the crape myrtle tree,
I see your beloved face smiling at me.