I Hear You

 #SIGNS:

Crazy thing, I was in Penn  station just now and ended up buying a special hat with a cardinal on it for my brother David. The lady who sold it to me asked what the Cardinal meant to me. HA - little did she know what she asked 🤣. I kept it brief, but it was def all about my Mary.  Then I decided to treat myself to a red mango frozen yogurt to celebrate my Monday being my Friday 🤸.  I felt like I'd found a gem in that hat store and felt happy.  Moments later I saw I got a text from Mary's husband with pictures of my nephew Brett with his girlfriend Brenda on Christmas day.  My heart filled with love.  Then....  I hear my name, "Jeni"... "Jeni"... "Jeni"!  It sounded exactly like Mary's very distinctive high pitched voice.  I was looking everywhere, it sounded far away but close at the same time.   By the 3rd "Jeni" I saw where I thought it was coming from....... but it stopped.  It was crazy -I got goose bumps all over - I felt her presence I swear I did.  

Bretts Cardinal

It was my first day wearing these cardinal mittens and......

 

 Then..... OMG ~  niece Kelsey just text me this picture....

This female cardinal hit the window as Kelsey and Brett were at the dining room table!  Brett ran out and moved it away so the dog couldn't get her... It took a few tries but she flew away!  What a gift from above - their momma Mary is sending us signs  ❤️✨

Visiting Mary - Loving Mary Forever

I was able to visit my Mary July 25th when we drove to Beaumont to pick up the kiddos for our brother's wedding.  I didn't realize how emotional I would get driving there.  The tears started pouring as I got closer to town - the reality that my sister is not physically with us really sank in.  I miss her everyday, but on this day, my heart ached from the desire to feel her hug and hear her loving voice.
I didn't bring anything to put by her headstone, I was hoping to find something special on the way.  It wasn't looking to hopeful as we got closer to the place and then out of nowhere I saw that beautiful red stone cardinal out of the corner of my eye outside a garden shop on the way to the cemetery..... i made a u-turn and bought it without hesitation - it was meant to be!
There were dragonflies and butterflies all around and then i spotted a cardinal flying into the tree behind me! I felt my Mary - she was with me!

Smart Kiddo's

I'm so proud! I know their mommy would be too!
Kelsey & Brett we given awards today: Both are in the top 10% of their class. Also, Kelsey got an award for BPA{Business Prof. of America} and Brett for AP{advanced placement}in Geography. Smart kiddos!

Happy Mothers Day for Aunt Jeni

When Mary died, I promised her I would love her kids as if they were my own.  For me, that has happened naturally, what I didn't expect, was for the love to be so reciprocated!  I am truly blessed.  I received this incredible loving card from Kelsey that was perfect the way it was and then she added her own pictures and her own words and it became a treasure. Her mom and I used to always call each other our #1 fans - I was hers and she was mine. Kelsey has taken her place. Lucky me!  I love my Kelsey and Brett!!!

Texas Bluebonnets

TEXAS Bluebonnets

I just love these pictures... the kids are growing up so fast and are such beautiful souls.
I can see Mary's spirit in each of them......

Kelsey and Brett

(this is a text i received from their dad)

Mary would be soooo proud of her kiddo's!  I know I am...... I'm so lucky to have her legacies to love!

Kids with Spirit

I just LOVE the spirit these kids have!  Always in the game......

 In honor of 9/11 ~ Kelsey and Brett wore their official 9/11 Memorial shirts!

Here is a picture of them during "theme" week at school.

They had to choose a decade ~ can you guess what decade this is?  Love it......

I can feel Mary's enthusiasm and pride all the way from heaven!

Brett is doing pretty good his first year in high school.  He's got big sis Kelsey staying close.  Brett has found that he really enjoys his theater arts class.  He says he likes acting.  ha-ha, just like his Aunt Jeni!  Kelsey was nominated "MOST SPIRITED" in the school. h-ha, just like her mommy! 

Big Kids Now

Wow - so hard to believe Mary's lil angels are getting so big!  Brett's a freshman now ~ starting highschool with his big sis Kelsey!  I love this 2nd day of school picture!

Mary's lil Birdies

What a treat it was to have Mary's lil legacies with me this summer again.....  We got to spend their mommy's Birthday (July 31st) and my Birthday (August 6th) together - It's a special thing to do, it reminds me of  when we were kids, Mary and I ended up having our Birthday's together since we were so close - kind of like twins :)!
As soon as I saw this picture my friend Sally Parris posted on FB of the lil birds on the branch with the dessert flower, I instantly thought of this picture of me with the kids at the airport sending them home!  Sally posted it the same day I was at the airport - August 7th!  Love the synch.......

Brett Birthday

My sweet nephew Brett - hard to believe he is 14 now ~ growing up so fast. He looks so much like Mary it takes my breath away sometimes.

He will never be too old to melt my heart with sweet, fun/funny thoughts.  Here is a fun texversation between Brett & me:

Brett:

LOL how has the little red bird thing going on and your blog :} ?

Me:

Awesome!!!  Like 14000 fans - crazy cool huh?  I blogged some cool happenings yesterday - lotsa signs ya know? ;)

Brett:

Omg THATS AWESOME UR LIKE FAMOUS

Me:

Hehe - well, me & ur mom!  It's all through her - because of her.  Everyone knows that!  Cool huh?

Brett:

Thats awsome I want ur auto graph oh wait I  have ur cards

Me:

Lol - ur so funny!  What cards? 

Brett: 

Well any cards really i keep alot of them

 

 Hehehehehe ~ I had to post this picture Kelsey took on his Birthday.... They went shopping at target and  it looks like they could have left him there to work - he's already got the target uniform on...LOL!  Do I see a future for Brett at Target?  hahahaha

 

Brett loved his new headphones we sent him for his Bday!

Happy Mothers Day Mama Mary

 I love this picture of Mary with her kids at the Rainforest Cafe. 

This is one of the last pictures of her just a few weeks before she went to Heaven!

Mary was a wonderful mommy!  She loved being a mommy more than anything.... she talked about it for as long as I remember.

 Happy Mothers Day mama Mary ~ we love you!!!

P.S.  Don't worry,  I'm loving the kids just like their my own.... just as I promised. It was amazingly easy sis.  They are incredible kids.  I can see  you in their souls!!   

Easter 2012

Easter always holds some somber memories as it was the day before Easter in 2008 our Mary left for Heaven... So in addition to celebrating the re-birth of Jesus, we celebrate a new birth of Mary into the place of eternal spiritual bliss.
Kelsey & Brett brought some beautiful flowers to their mommys grave this Easter! Warmed my heart and even brought a tear to my eye.

When I got home from my Easter celebrations at my in-laws, I went outside my apt for a few minutes and was first greeted by a vibrant red cardinal and then a single Robin... What a sweet treat. I believe it was my Mary & my dad ;)!! They flew away after I recognized them... I just knew...

Nephew Brett

3-22-12 - Today is the 4 year anniversary since my Mary, Kelsey and Brett's mommy went to Heaven. Here is a sweet textversation between Brett and me:

BRETT:
hey can i ask u something

AUNT Jeni:
Ask me...

BRETT:
Are you kinda depressed just asking...

AUNT Jeni:
Yea.... I usually am the week before & today. Are you?

BRETT:
Well, If you think about it just brings your spirits down and you know shes in a better place now.
AUNT Jeni:
Here's the poem I wrote to your mom today....

BRETT:
The poem is really awesome and I think you should show everyon else :D

AUNT Jeni:
That means sooo much!!! I shared it on FB & on my blog. So many people (who love your mom) commented. I have another poem I wrote earlier in the week - when I started to get sad - want me to send?

BRETT:
Wow im extremely impressed hot dang that was good

Kelsey read the poem to her mom after Brett and text:

KELSEY:
Awwwww! Thats is AMazzzzinnnnnn! I love it!

$5 from Heaven

I bought a couple random cards today to send to Kelsey and Brett, Mary's lil angels.

I wanted to put a little something in each card before I sealed them. So, I checked my wallet and saw that I only had one $5 and a few $1's.... that wasn't going to work :(.
(You have to admit, its so much more fun getting a card with money in it. My dad always did that.)

I decided to take my Honey dog out for a quick doggy break. I saw my neighbor with his little dog Guy & started talking as our dogs were running all over the snow. Cardinals were everywhere. He mentioned he had a friend who is a bird watcher and I told him about my cardinal. He said the cardinal story gave him chills....

Then, as if out of nowhere I saw a $5 bill sitting in the snow near him. I pointed to the $5 bill and asked my neighbor, "Hey is that yours?" He said "No. I checked my money this morning and didn't have any $5 bills"........
I said, "REALLY? We've been out here and I think you even walked by that area".
He walked over to it and said, "No, not mine. Here, you take it"...... then he looked a little startled and said, "Wow, that appeared out of nowhere!"

YES, it did! Well, not really "nowhere"..... $5 straight from HEAVEN ~ Amazing!

Hehe - it was meant for Mary's lil angels! She knew I needed another $5!

Wowsie!!!

Mary's Lil Legacies

Sweet Kelsey - so wise for her 15 years.... so beautiful like her mommy! She has a compassion for people, maybe because she understands life adversities already. She has overcome so much in the loss of her mom. It took her some time, but she Believes now, that her mom is never far. She is with her as she sleeps and watches her throughout the day ~ even flies a cardinal to her side on special days. Kelsey is seeing coincidences now as synchronicities. She calls them cowinkiedinks - hehe! She met a boy at church the other night who's mom passed away on the exact same day as hers. They both had dreams of their mom with the same exact context (where they had to allow their moms to go on to Heaven instead of lingering in the spirit plane directly above them), both of them have Aunts who had a significant dream of their mom's and lastly, the passing of both their mom's was similar in a certain involvement. She couldn't believe her ears when she met this boy and couldn't wait to tell me! My sweet niece' eyes are open and her heart is allowing her to see the miracles life has to offer!

My handsome little Prince Brett, always saying the funniest little things ~ things that make me smile straight from the heart. If you could buy a shot of love - he is it! I'll get a random text or phone call from him saying "I just wanted to say I love you Aunt Jeni - that's it" & "I miss you". These words tug so hard at my heart. I'm so grateful to have him in my life. I tell Brett he has to take care of me and Uncle Chad when we get super duper old, since we don't have kids. He say's "Of course Aunt Jeni - duh". hehe I love to spoil him as much as I can. I'll ask him randomly, "Hey Brett, want a new XBox game" - he says, "Whats this for?" - I say, "Just cuz I love you", he says, "Well, ummmmm, I don't want to take advantage of you but Mortal Kombat is how you spell it"..... hehehe! He has a funny little lingo he's made up with his friends and even has signature symbols like =3= or ~WIAN~
In my letter to Mary the day she died I promised to love her kids as if they were my own. Amazingly, with each day that has gone my love for them grows more and more. I didn't know that was possible. Their Grandma Jojo is an angel on earth and gives them the stability, love and direction they need in life. I am forever grateful for her and try to let her know as much as possible. She's the one who sent these wonderful pictures to me for Christmas this year. She loves these kids as if they were her own. Jojo the Grandma angel ~ sounds about right!

How to train your Nephew (to smile for you)!

Brett mentioned to me a while ago that he wanted the XBox game "How to train your Dragon".....
I was going to buy it for him since he made the NJHS (National Junior Honor Society), but had been putting it off.
So........, I was talking to Kelsey the other night and asked her to take a picture of him for me and this is what I got:Yeah, yeah.... I know! What the heck, where is that gorgeous smile? I asked Kelsey to take another one but he won't sit still or stay put for Kelsey. Sooooo, I text her: "Tell Brett that if he gives you a smile for me I will go on-line and buy him "How to train your Dragon" Xbox game right now on Amazon." She said she showed him the text and he completely spazzed out.

He finally calmed down and 5 minutes later Kelsey was able to capture this:

This is what I was looking for! He's got a smile that lights up any room..... Just like his mommy!

Mumsie's

Kelsey and Brett hanging out at their great grandparents - Mumsies!

They are getting so big and are so fun & funny.....

Cardinal Red

Mama Mary and her lil birdies ~ Kelsey & Brett

This is such a precious picture. I had to post it to Mom's FB wall on your 3-22 day. So many thoughts & comments came your way beautiful sis. I thought I should share the sweet words here.

Words of Love to Cherish:

Cousin Lynn: "Oh my God! So sad! What a beautiful picture of a beautiful lady!" Sherry: "Ah!!! Beautiful!!! :)" BFF Kerri's mom Mary Ann: "I loved this picture of Mary and her babies." Me: "So many beautiful pictures & memories of such a sweet sweet soul! She is still with us.....:)!" Katherine: "In Cardinal red :) Sweet picture!" Cousin Robbie: "Ahhh She was so beautiful..I wish I could have spent more time with her and got 2 know her better..xoxo"

Flowers of Love

Last Tuesday was a very special day.... your love and spirit were a presence in all of us sis. Friends and family - each one of us! We celebrated you sis because you are worth celebrating...

You were an example of life, now you are an example of the heavens!

You were in your children's heart and mind extra heavy that day. I spoke to Brett and although he didn't tell me verbally how much he missed you, I heard it in his voice. Kelsey told me she was sad so her Grandma Jojo took her shopping (hehe) and then to the flower shop to buy some pretty for you.

YOU ARE LOVED AND CHERISHED MARY!

Pretty cool how Kelsey picked out the exact same color flowers as I did and we didn't even talk about it! No coincidences sis ~ I know that. I know you had a little angel somethin to do with that.........