A Childhood Memory

The day after Christmas my husband and I went to a Children's Museum with our daughter, son-in-law, and little granddaughter. There were two floors of wonderful exhibits and themed rooms with educational things for children to do.  When my children were little, at Christmas we all enjoyed watching the delightful Muppet movie, Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas.  My 22 year old angel boy, Graham, even had the DVD of this movie.  One of the displays at the museum reminded me of this movie - it brought tears to my eyes. There were also some little animals toasting marshmallows.  That was something that Graham liked to do too.   I felt this animated woodland scene that was so like this movie was a way for Graham to let us know that he was with us enjoying this special time.  Love and family is forever.

Here is the movie on You Tube -
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas

A Memorial Ornament Idea

The picture above shows our Christmas decorations; we added the angel next to our Christmas tree this year.  The picture on the right shows a very special ornament that a friend helped me make.  I had mentioned to her my idea about using some of my feathers from my heavenly feather collection I have from my son for an ornament.  She told me she had a glass bulb she could give me and suggested adding artificial snow and iridescent glitter to it along with the feathers.  I also wanted to add something written. I found a sheet of words at a Craft store that had some words that were perfect.  I added the words, "Always & Forever", with the sparkly red ribbon.  That's also the title of one of my poems.  Thank you, Betsy, for your love and compassion and help in the creation of this lovely ornament that helps to keep Graham close at Christmas.

2014 Annual Service of Remembrance

The northern Virginia chapter of The Bereaved Parents of the USA had their lovely candle lighting service in honor of our beloved children last night.  I read a couple of my poems for this special service.  Our precious children, forever loved and remembered. 

The Language of Spirit

A couple of weeks ago I was the guest on this special show.  We discussed a topic dear to my heart, the language of spirit.  Tune in to listen to the different ways our loved ones in spirit communicate with us.

Click on this link to listen to the show - "The Language of Spirit" with Pamela Marie Edmunds on her Bridge Between Two Worlds Internet radio show

Memorial Glass Candle Holder

This special glass candle holder that I ordered arrived today. It has the words, "tonight I hold this candle in memory of you" on one side and Graham's name on the other. These words are from a beautiful song that Alan Pedersen wrote in loving memory of his daughter, Ashley. "Tonight I Hold this Candle" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPlBrxzBO9s This song is now played in December in candle lighting memorial services all over the world.
Here is a link to the candle holder if you would like to order one - http://thegrieftoolbox.com/p…/beautiful-personalized-candle….
God bless all who are missing loved ones this holiday season.

Little Signs

There are so many little ways that our loved ones in spirit give us signs.  We just need to learn to recognize them.  This morning when I was driving the song, "Gone, Gone, Gone" by Phillip Phillips came on my car radio.  I have that song on my iTunes play list for my angel boy, Graham.  I love the lines, "I'll love you long after you're gone," and "Like a drum, my heart never stops beating for you."  As I was thinking about this I noticed a decal on the back of a car that passed by me.  It was for a school with a Ram as its mascot.  My son was an Aries, the sign of the Ram.  I felt this validated that the song was a message from him. 

When I got back in my car after shopping I glanced at the car parked next to me.  There was a feathered dream catcher hanging from their rear view mirror!  What a great way to receive a feather sign.  We are never truly alone.  Watch for the signs.  Love is always and forever. 

A Blessed Encounter

This is an example to me of how I am learning that nothing is ever truly random. My husband and I decided to go to a local fall home and craft expo this afternoon. One of the craft booths had small matted pictures with names. I stopped to look to see if there was one with my granddaughter's name. These pictures also have the meaning of the name, where it is derived from, personality traits, and real pressed flowers. 

As I was looking through the names I asked the man selling them if he had any with the name of my son, Graham. It's not a common name here and hard to find anything with that name. He said he did! There were two to choose from. I was attracted to the one with the red flower. The personality traits were even very accurate. I then explained to him that Graham was my son and that he had passed. He pointed out to me that the blue flower in the picture is a forget-me-not! It brought tears to my eyes. He had tears too. 

As we spoke a little more he shared with me that he had a wife that passed all of a sudden when she was 37 years old. I gave him my card with info on my blog and book and told him about the wonderful Facebook group that I work with, Signs From Our Loved Ones. He said how he and his son smell his wife's perfume sometimes and know it is her. He was happy to learn about our special group. We hugged and parted knowing that none of this was coincidental. What a blessed gift from spirit. Here is the web site for these special name pictures.  http://www.NameMeCompany.com

Hanging with the Guys

We celebrated my dad's 87th birthday over the weekend at his house.  This is a picture of two of my brothers that was taken in my dad's kitchen.  We were delighted to see the orb to the left of my brother Rob's head in the picture!  Graham is hanging with his uncles.  He is always a part of our family celebrations.   We love you, Graham.  Love is always and forever.

Healing Grace

That is Graham's bedroom window with the candle light shining forth.  His light will shine forever.  

Healing Grace

My house and surrounding lawn,
Bring great comfort to look upon,
A sanctuary of healing grace,
My own personal sacred space.

A contemplative angel takes center stage,
With divine memories in her gaze,
A statue that speaks of life’s sorrows and joy,
The emotions I feel for my dear angel boy.

They soothe and set my soul at ease,
Bringing a sense of calm and peace,
Imbued with my son’s spirit of love and care,
I feel wrapped in his love when I am there.

A lovely flowing waterfall feature,
Visited by nature’s little creatures,
Cascades beside my patio deck,
A tranquil spot to think and reflect.

Frogs sing a chorus of hellos,
With their noisy bellows,
Dragonflies hover over plants in his pond,
While butterflies flit here and yon.

Birds are singing in his apple trees,
Caressed by the gentle scented breeze,
The crepe myrtle trees add bright color,
And remind me of our time together.

Love is the gift that he gave to me,
I feel his presence continually,
His love is my healing grace,
Comforting, cherished, and eternally embraced.

 

Comforting Signs

Yesterday my husband and I went to visit our son's grave site.  We stopped at our local grocery store to buy some flowers.  As we were walking across the parking lot to the store we noticed this license plate.  The first three numbers, 330, are the same as for our son's birthday, March 30th!  When we arrived at the cemetery we noticed a Red Tailed Hawk feather a few feet away from Graham's grave stone. We knew there was special symbolism associated with this feather.  As we were driving through the cemetery on our way home this song came on our car radio, The Police - I'll Be Watching You. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH_YbBHVF4g  This is a special song to me.  I have it on my iTunes play list of songs for my son.  Graham was letting us know he was (is) with us.  Love never ends.  Notice the signs.  Blessings to us all. 

Memorial Bench

When my son was a senior in high school he took a Biology class. Part of the Biology class requirement was to grow something in their school lab. Graham took some seeds from a Fuji apple that he ate and planted them. Surprisingly, they did well. He had four apple trees growing. They looked like little twigs. When the school year was over he brought them home. This was in June of 2004. The following year we bought a home and moved in April of 2005. We were so happy to stop moving after years in the military and to have a home of our own. One of the first things Graham did was to plant his apple trees in our back yard (they were still small enough that they had been in plant pots up to then). 

On September 22, 2007, our world changed in an instant when we learned our dear Graham had passed in a tragic accidental fall. He had just started his senior year of college. The first spring after Graham died (2008) was the first year that his apple trees had some blossoms on them. We went out and took a picture of one of his trees. I was crying and talking to Graham and saying, do you see your beautiful trees? When we downloaded the picture there was this beautiful rainbow beside his tree! This special picture is the picture we used on the back of my book, A Mother's Tears.

Graham's apple trees have grown so much. A couple of months ago I had the thought that it would be so special to have a memorial bench to sit on under this special tree. We ordered this outdoor bench and are so happy with it. We also wanted to have this be a lovely landscaped area. I was really hoping that it would be completed by tomorrow for Graham's angelversary. I never know when the landscaping people will show up. It's been in various stages for the past month or so. Friday they were here planting the last plants! I just knew that Graham would help to see it done by tomorrow. We are so grateful for the gift of his beautiful apple trees.

I also had this poem come to me. Thank you, Graham. You live in our hearts forever.

Memorial Bench

We now have a memorial bench to sit upon,
In our back garden lawn,
Under one of your apple trees,
That you planted and grew from seeds.

LOVE NEVER ENDS is engraved on the plaque,
That is on the bench’s back,
In your loving memory,
Of life, love, and legacy.

There could be no more perfect place,
For a reflective resting space,
Among the scented blooms and leaves,
Your love permeates the air we breathe.

We love you son and feel you near,
Love does not ever disappear,
You are in our hearts forever,
Loved, cherished, and remembered.

A Family Heritage Sign

The men in my husband's family have a tradition of carrying a coin in their pocket. I would like to share this meaningful experience from last night and why it's such a significant sign for us.

My husband's maternal grandfather always carried a silver dollar in his pants pocket. He passed a few months before my husband was born. The 1922 "Peace" dollar in the picture with this post is the last one he carried. When my husband graduated from high school his maternal grandmother gave him a 1964 silver Kennedy half dollar in a key chain holder as a gift. Ever since then my husband has always carried a 1964 Kennedy half dollar in his pocket. When this coin was lost he replaced it from the coin collection he inherited from his dad with another 1964 silver Kennedy half dollar. My father-in-law always carried a silver dollar in his pants pocket, the 1885 "Morgan" dollar in the picture. After my husband's father died my husband took our son to a coin shop in the town where my father-in-law lived and bought him a commemorative "Standing Liberty" silver dollar coin, the 1993 coin shown in the picture, which was based on the old "Standing Liberty" half dollar. Later, my husband found the 1942 "Standing Liberty" half dollar in the picture in his dad's coin collection and gave it to Graham so he would have a coin he could carry in his pocket as a substitute for the collectible dollar coin. Graham always carried it in his pants pocket. A family tradition honored. When Graham passed it was in his jeans pocket. I keep it in a special box that was his.

Last night my husband and I were with my parents, three of my brothers, and my daughter and her family for a special family get together and celebration. At some point my dad went out and picked up his mail. When he was opening up the mail there was a solicitation that included a half dollar! I knew that was Graham letting us know that he was with his family too. I was amazed at the personal significance of this. It brings tears just writing about it. Notice the little miracles and gifts we are given. Love is the greatest gift of all. It transcends space and time. I am so very grateful.

Time Moves Differently

I have been wanting to have a lovely antique watch image to post with a message about time. The concept of time takes on a whole other perspective when you have a devastating loss. I had just mentioned this to my husband the other day. Yesterday when I was at a Scottish games event with my family I found this watch pendant at the booth of a family friend of ours; this was the only watch she had. I was so surprised to see the angel wings on it! It is perfect for what I had in mind. My husband took this photo of the watch and we included a line from my poem, "If Only," with it. I believe our son, Graham, led me to find this.

Here is the full poem:

If Only

If only dreams could come true,

I would still be with you,

We would never count the days,

Because you would not have passed away.

Each morning when I rise,

There would be no thought that you died,

Every day I would awake with joy,

Happy with life and my wonderful boy.

Sometimes dreams come to an end,

I’ll not see my son in this life again,

He’s the last thought when I go to bed at night,

And my first thought with the morning light.

If only you were not really dead,

And would be coming home instead,

I’d like to pretend you’ve just been away for awhile,

Separated by nothing more than miles.

Time moves differently now that you are gone,

It’s so hard to keep moving on,

You are remembered and loved more than I can say,

And I miss you every single day.

Copyright © C.A. Stevenson 2010
http://amotherstears.blogspot.com/

Memories of You Memorial Candle

I ordered this beautiful memorial candle from Memories of You; she is also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MemoriesOfYouCandles.  It arrived yesterday.  I love it!  The tears were running down my face.  It is so special.  There are numerous background scenes available.  Here is the description from the web site:

Creating Memories of Your Loved Ones
 
Your grief journey stirs heartfelt memories...

Let me create a photo candle keepsake of your loved one.
I know the pain of grief and the importance of holding on to memories. I created Memories Of You Candles after losing my son.

 " If a Memories Of You Candle can bring some comfort to you then I have accomplished my intentions".

Each candle is hand-poured
with 17 ounces of unscented
soy wax with a glass lid.
The scene you select is
wrapped around the jar with
your loved ones photo and
nameplate.

Memorial Bench

We just received this special memorial garden bench that we ordered. It's going to go in an area we are creating under one of the apple trees that Graham grew and planted in our backyard. What a gift to have Graham's beautiful apple trees. It should be completed by Graham's Angelversary next month. Another lovely healing oasis filled with Graham's continuing presence and love. This is the web site we ordered the bench from if any one else is interested in having a memorial garden bench.
http://www.hayneedle.com/

Angel Number 123

Last week during the night I was awakened from my sleep with what I thought was my doorbell. I sat up in bed and then realized that the doorbell was not an actual one, I had heard it in my mind. I instinctively looked at my bedside clock. The time was 1:23. I was certain this was a message. When I got up later I looked up the meaning of angel number 123. It said that angel number 123 can be seen as a sign of progression (steps) along a journey. This certainly makes sense to me. As further validation that this was a message I had two additional signs that related to this.

My husband and I were out doing a little shopping yesterday. When I was looking at plants outside in the garden area of Lowe's I heard a song play that had numbers in it. I was able to find the song when I returned home in a Google search. Get this, the song title is 1234 by the Plain White T's! It's a great little song about love. Plain White T's - 1234 
Thank you, Graham, my dear son. When we were finished at Lowe's we went to Barnes and Noble. When I was checking out I noticed a display table that had children's books on it. One of the books' titles was 123! I couldn't believe it. I took a picture of the book. There are so many different ways that we can receive signs and messages. Be aware, trust and believe. Spirit is always talking to us. We are never truly alone.

Graham St.

My husband and I drove to a neighboring town today.  Driving back home the traffic was terrible on 1-95 so we got off and tried a different route.  It wasn't the way we would normally go.  We were so surprised when we saw this street sign- GRAHAM ST.!  We had no idea there was a street by this name in this other town we were in.  Another mile or two down the road we saw a sign for GRAHAM PARK RD. but were unable to get a picture of it.  Wonderful signs from our son that he wanted us to see.  I got a little teary-eyed.   Graham shows he is always surrounding us with his love and comfort to keep us moving forward.  We are doing our best.  Love is the bridge.  Love is everything. 

Messages of Comfort

I have been feeling a little sad this week.  I know my son is doing his best to comfort me with his signs and messages.  I am so grateful.  The signs and messages help so much.  They are validations of Graham's continuing presence and love that soothe my grieving heart.

This morning as I was driving a van caught my eye because it had a graphic that read MONARCH POOL SERVICES and had two orange butterflies on it.  At that same time the John Lennon song, We All Shine On, played on my car radio.  I have that song on my iTunes play list.  A few minutes later a favorite message song of mine played, I Will Wait, By Mumford and Sons.  When I was doing my grocery shopping, I heard the Evanescence song, My Immortal, play in the store.  This hauntingly beautiful song has great meaning to me too, and is also on my play list.  

When I was driving home I saw a car with a heart decal in the back window.  I managed to take a picture of it.  A little while later I saw another car with a wonderful message - Angel Rides!  Hearts, love, light, immortality, butterflies, transformation, and angels.  Thank you, my sweet boy.  I hear your messages and see your signs.  I love you too.  Understanding that you are still here is my greatest comfort.  Love is always and forever. 

Messages of Love From Heaven

I was delightfully surprised last night with a message from my dear son!  I was signed into the chat room and listening to this BlogTalkRadio when Pamela said she had a message for me!  It is the greatest comfort to understand that our relationships don't end when a loved one passes.  To still be able to communicate means more than anything.  Thank you, Graham.  I love you more than I could ever say. 

Messages of Love from Heaven with Host and Medium Pamela Marie Edmunds

Recorded Show

Rainbow Cloud Angel

My husband just stepped out onto our deck and then called for me to come and look at a cloud. There was a rainbow in it! I said we need to take some pictures. When looking at the pictures on the computer I now notice the cloud is unusually shaped too. I think it looks like a rainbow angel, my darling angel boy. I can also clearly see his face. I believe that our dear son, Graham, was giving his mom and dad a heavenly hello.

"No matter how far I'm gonna find my way to you..."

Colbie Caillat - "Rainbow" (YouTube)

Divine Memories Angel Statue

Last Tuesday I had the thought of adding an angel statue to the planted island area in our front yard. I did a little searching on line and found one that I thought might be nice, but wasn't certain. The next day I decided to look a little more and found an angel statue that had me in tears. I had such a powerful emotional reaction to it - I knew this was the one. It is called "Divine Memories." It is available from Amazon and this website: http://www.designtoscano.com/product/divine+memories+angel+sculptural+monument

I was having a little landscaping done in my yard that same day. When the work was completed I went out to see what had been done. I was so surprised to find a feather in the yard by this finished work!
When my husband came home from work I showed him the angel statue online and the feather I had found. He really liked the statue too. We then ordered it online.

Wednesday evenings I usually listen to one of our wonderful group members' ( Pamela Marie Edmunds MediumandHealer ) blogtalkradio internet radio shows. My husband said, isn't it interesting that Pamela's show tonight is titled, "The Power of Angels?" Wow! I hadn't even put that together with the other angel signs. It was further validation when Pamela's guest even mentioned angel statues and feathers as signs from angels. I am so grateful to know that we all have a heavenly team of unconditional love, support and guidance.

Our special "Divine Memories" angel statue arrived this afternoon. We now have it as another memorial for our treasured son, Graham, who did so much work in our yard. Graham, we love and honor you in every breath we take.

Memorial Garden Butterfly Release

Yesterday afternoon the Northern Virginia Chapter of Bereaved Parents of the USA had it's 3rd Annual Butterfly Release at our chapter's lovely Memorial Garden. The garden grows more beautiful every year. It is a healing sanctuary filled with our treasured children's presence. Here I am releasing my butterfly at my son's memorial stone.
Here is a link to the Bereaved Parents of the USA. http://www.bereavedparentsusa.org/
You might be interested in seeing if there is a local chapter near you that holds monthly support meetings and special events during the year. Bereaved Parents of the USA has a national conference every summer. There is a free quarterly online newsletter available too.

More Signs and Messages

I had another series of wonderful signs and messages today. I'd like to share some of the ways we can receive them.

This afternoon while my husband and I were out to do some errands I noticed a personalized license plate on a car in the lane next to ours. It read "R PATH" (our path) and was a butterfly license plate! This really struck me because I feel that my son in spirit and I share a path together, and the butterfly was certainly meaningful too. When we were driving a little later to a different store the beautiful song, "All Of Me," by John Legend played on our car radio. I love this song. Here it is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WSSbaP-2OY It means so much to me. I just recently added it to my iTunes play list. As I was remarking on this to my husband he said, look what's on the back of the van in front of us. It said "Angel's"! When we went into the garden section of the store we were at I saw these yard stakes - a butterfly, a dragonfly, and a cardinal! What wonderful signs!

To top this all off when we returned home and I checked the mail I was very surprised to see there was a package for me. It was from a girlfriend of mine. It was a T-shirt with patriotic butterflies on it and patriotic heart shaped earrings with a lovely card. The 4th of July is a bittersweet day for me. That was the last holiday we had with our dear son. We had a lovely time with family and friends outdoors on our patio then, and the picture of Graham with this post is from that celebration. We never could have imagined that Graham would be gone two months later. I don't know if my girlfriend even knows this. She was living overseas when Graham passed. In her card she said," Happy 4th - can you guess - yes butterflies - Graham's always there with you!" Wow! I couldn't help but cry. Love is everything, and nothing else matters. Love to us all.