LRB friend Loving Mary Forever

 

Emma Marie brings Magic

July 22, 2015
Emma Marie was born.... my newest lil niece and first child for my brother David and his beautiful wife Amanda.

Emma was our sister Mary's middle name and Marie is mine... what a gift lil Emma Marie is!

Our Mary was always the one who was so excited for babies.  I have felt her excitement from the very start......  There are many times I believe she has guided me to special gifts to buy for our loved ones at special times and I just know that these are gifts from her not me.

The gift for Emma Marie she guided me to was a LRB fan named Mary, who ended up making this custom order quilt for me.  So many synchronicities  with this gift.  The LRB fan, Mary is from a town in Louisiana close to where our sister in laws family is from.  Mary has grandchildren in the same town where my brother and sister in live.  She posted a comment on LRB one day that she liked a picture and would love to use it in a quilt..... I told her I was thinking of having a quilt made for my special lil niece and that's how it all began.

Magical Mary Quilt

The morning Emma was born I was at my kitchen table looking out into my backyard and noticed the most beautiful Monarch butterfly.  I remember seeing a caterpillar in our yard on a few weeks before.

An hour later,  i got the news that Emma too had arrived!  I connected the two and it made me smile.

 

I made plans to fly to Texas as soon as I could.   

The magic continues..... 

The night before I'm about to fly out,  a dozen ladybugs filled my front patio.  What a beautiful sight that was......

On the way to the airport a Cardinal truck is driving alongside of me.......

As my plane lands in Houston and is rolling up to the gate,  I look out the window and the first thing I see is a dragonfly hovering around outside of my window.  I was speechless - I  couldn't believe my eyes.  Were they deceiving me?  This was the best picture I could get from my seat.

THEN..... that evening, the most unbelievable surprise of all.  As we were relaxing around the pool that evening,  the largest most beautiful dragonfly lands on me and stays until I make it leave.  It was magical - so sweet - my brother even got a 5 minute long video of us playing with it.

That same day that I arrived,  the beautiful quilt arrived too.   It was supposed to have gotten there days before, but fate would have it to arrive so I could answer the door.  

I have had a lot of magic happen since my Mary passed away but this is the most amazing sequence of  events  - showing us how excited Mary is and how she is still very much a part of our lives!

Loving Mary Forever, Amen!

Girlfriends in God: Cardinal story

AMAZING  SYNCH - my friend Sharon thought of me when she read this beautiful cardinal story from www.crosswalk.com, Girlfriends in God email she received.   The synch is that the author's name is Mary and is from Texas.  This happens so often.... so many Mary's  and Texas connections.  Synchronicities meant just for me.

From: Sharon Johnson
Date: April 17, 2015
Suject:  Girlfriends in God - Friday, April 17, 2015

Hi Jen,

Hadn't talked to you in awhile so using this opportunity to say hello.  You may already be a subscriber to girlfriend in God but just in case not, thought I'd share this devotional as it made me think of you.

Pray that all is well!

Sharon S. Johnson

who through God's Amazing Grace

is now the published author of Verses of Victory

and the award-winning inspirational story

God Must Have Wanted Me to Smile

April 17, 2015
Here’s Your Sign
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up(1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Friend to Friend
The red bird gently landed on the tree branch in front of the kitchen window.
Carla gasped when the bird first appeared. But then a smile slowly spread across her face as she closed her eyes and whispered a reverent prayer, “Thank you, Lord.”
It was definitely a holy moment. I didn’t really know why. I just felt it.
“What was that all about?” I finally asked.
My sweet friend sighed, still staring at the red bird.
“Mary, it has been a really hard week. This morning, I couldn’t take it any more. I lost it, and just ranted and raved, pouring out all of my anger and frustration to God!” Tears began to down her cheeks. I hugged her … and then the sobs began. When she had cried enough, Carla said, “God sent me this red bird as a reminder that everything is going to be okay. Kind of like a rainbow at the end of a storm.”
I still didn’t get it.
“The red bird,” she said. And pointed to the beautiful creature still perched on the branch. The bird was now looking at us. It was almost weird. No. It was officially weird. Since when do birds just sit on branches and stare at people?
“Red birds are my sign,” Carla explained. “Every time I am discouraged or having a really hard time, I will inevitably see a red bird and remember the promises of God. The red bird reminds me that He is faithful and that He will come through for me. I really can’t remember how it all started. I just know God gave me red birds as a sign of encouragement from God.”
Interesting. I had come to see Carla, looking for encouragement and comfort … for me! Carla wasn’t the only one who had muddled through a hard week.
Dan and I were living in Nacogdoches, Texas in a roach-infested apartment while he finished college. I worked for the welfare department and absolutely hated my job. I won’t go into all of the reasons why I hated my job, but let’s just say I did not relish trying to prove that most of my cases were fraudulent. I was supposed to be teaching sweet innocent little second grade children, but there were no openings in the local school district. And it was just for one year. How bad could it be? I quickly found out it could be really bad. Rumor was that one of the clients whose claim I had denied was in town looking for me … and she had a gun. Not. Kidding.
Thanksgiving was only a week away. All of our friends were going home to visit their families. Dan and I did not have the money to go home, and I only had one day off anyway.
My mother was battling cancer.
I had a cyst on an ovary … and the doctor was not sure what we were facing.
I had a whole list of questions and fears and doubts … and I really didn’t know what to do with any of them. I was scared, tired, and homesick.
I was having what I thought was a well deserved pity party when Carla whirled around, her face awash with tears and her eyes dancing with joy. She grabbed me in a fierce hug and said, “You know what? You and Dan are spending Thanksgiving with us! And I am giving you my red bird! Yep! God just told me that from now on, when you see a red bird, it is Him telling you that everything is going to be okay.”
Okay. No one had ever given me a red bird before. But it seemed to work for Carla, so I hugged her back and thanked her for sharing.
Now I know that grounded believers are supposed to walk by faith and not need signs from God. When trouble rocks their world, they simply stand firm in their faith.
But I am being honest here. There are times when I need a reminder that God really is who He says He is and that He will do what He said He would do in His Word – and that He would do those things … for me. I need encouragement.
And God is faithful to send that encouragement through His Word … through times of gut-wrenching prayer … through faithful friends … through my husband … through women to whom I minister and through women with whom I minister… and yes, even through red birds.
He understands my pain. He is with me and He is for me. It doesn’t really matter how He does it. God will always find a way to get to me … to show me just how much He loves me. And He will do the same for you.
Let’s Pray
Father, thank You for the gift of encouragement You constantly give me. When I am tired, You give me the strength to go on. When I am discouraged, You give me hope. When I am afraid, You are my peace. I praise You for your love and faithfulness to me, Lord.
In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Cardinal Story from a LRB friend

Cardinals comfort ~ there is no doubt.  Their timing is always just right.  Because of this, we are led to believe that its not just a coincidence, it was meant to be.  

Signs of love from above telling us we are not alone and its not as bad as we perceive it to be.  It will work out - keep the faith and BELIEVE!

Symbol of Hope from an LRB friend

From: Charlotte Kennedy
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2014 8:03 AM
To: jencombs
Subject: Red birds

Some 12 yrs ago in my Women's Bible study my prayer partner said every time we see a red bird we gonna pray. Living in Alabama cardinals frequent our yards, our stop signs, the bird bath even on the power pole at the mall or church. For a few ladies in Anniston/Gadsden Alabama the red bird has helped increase our prayer lives. Doesn't have to be a long prayer just shoot a prayer right upto Jesus.
The red bird has become my symbol of Hope. I have several in my home and frequently give one away to someone who s struggling & says pray for me. I share my hope with them.
Thanks for sharing these post each day & especially the cardinal photos Blessings Charlotte K

LRB Freinds speak out!

I just love it when I receive comments, posts and emails from LRB friends.... they are lil reminders of why I am here..... sharing the hope, inspiring through my Mary's signs.  It warms my heart every single time!  Chirp Chirp!

LRB remembers.....

Little Red Bird Love

Here are a few confirmations that Little Red Bird is here for a reason.......

.

Angel Mary

AMAZING SYNCH - I just got this in my Little Red Bird FB email today:

Hi Jeni,

Can't believe this.. I was just reading your blog before and loving all of the beautiful stories about Mary and then I go on FB and see your posts. I have goose bumps. I don't know if I ever mentioned to you about going to the psychic or not but I told my friend that I would really be convinced if she mentioned my red bird which she did not, but she did keep asking me about a Mary from the other side and she said there was a direct line of light between me and her and wanted to know if I had a sister that had passed etc... a young woman. I didn't get it at the time, but I do now. I honestly believe that Mary led me to your LRB site and also to you. I believe that she is one of my angels as well. I thank God for our connection Jeni ... it has meant more to me than you could ever know.

Thank you my friend, and I too will send up a balloon for Mary tomorrow.

xoxoxo
Debbie Bowen

What  a magical day today... the day before my Mary's anniversary of her departure to heaven!  She is not really gone at all - she is bringing so many friends to my life  - soul sisters.  Together we will connect and heal and love and inspire!  

LRB Friend

Every now and then a LRB friend will post sweet words that will touch my heart and remind me that I do what I do for a reason!  I'm so blessed and so grateful.  Thank you Erin for sharing this with me!

Red Bird Tattoo

Amazing tattoo my LRB friend's daughter had made for her on Mothers Day!

Thank you Lynn for sharing this with me ~ BEAUTIFUL!

Little Red Bird connections

A couple more Little Red Bird connections from my Little Red Bird Chirps FB page.....

Bunni McLaughlin:

When I would go visit my dad back in the 70's & 80's there would always be a cardinal in his yard...singing away. never failed. When my dad passed in '88, I went to his house to see it for the last time...and there was the little red bird. I feel that this is my dad coming home...and I see that little red bird every so often and feel mi papi close by. Thx for this post...my heart sings his little song.

Mary Alice Venezio Sexton:

Dear Little Red Bird - first, I am so sorry for your loss. But, thank you for being so generous that in the midst of your sorrow, you shared something so beautiful. My beautiful mother passed a few years ago and I miss her dearly. Before she passed she told us to look for the red birds. I really need her today and I feel like you posting this was so meant for me. There's even a line in this poem that I remember her saying when she realized she was dying. Again, thank you. I so much needed this.

The poem Mary mentions was something I posted on LRB FB page in honor of my Aunt Loretta who passed away.  It can also be found here on my blog: A Perfect Poem

Feathers of Love

My LRB friend Jan T. shared a comment on this feather post. I too got goose bumps. What a beautiful sign - her friends heart was open and this sign appeared.

I love it when synchronicities happen like this:  

Have to tell you LRB...after my friend read my post in this Chirp...she had the most amazing thing happen..she had just had an argument with her daughter and decided to let it go...was trivial and peace is better ...and from nowhere a small feather fell onto her desk - inside no window open no birds inside..how goose bumpy is this...she heard about this thu your chirps at the precise moment..♥ to you LRB xx

Signs sent from Above

I received this beautiful story shared to me from a Little Red Bird friend and had to share it here.  There are so many signs that our loved ones aren't really gone.  I BELIEVE ~ with all my heart and love that I'm not alone......

Marsi Meli:
I overheard a coworker talk about her vacation, 10 days touring Italy with her sister. How wonderful. Her last words, "I was glad to come home, my sister was getting on my nerves." And I thought of how I would love just 1 more moment with my sister, she could get on my nerves, I would love it. At lunch I went to the lobby of the business park offices where I work and a woman was selling jewelry. I looked down at a box of charms and there was a pony. My sister loved ponies, she would joke, "I am getting a pony and I am calling him Tony." Now that she is gone ponies show up in my life, especially when I need a little boost. You have your little red bird, I have ponies!

Me:
This is beautiful!!!! I hope you don't mind if I share this on my blog. I love the "sign" of love from above!!!

Marsi Meli:
Please do share! I remember reading a quote that said something along the lines of our loved ones who have passed over send us signs all the time we just need to be open to them. And when you are, WOW, they are everywhere. When I was going to my niece's bridal shower (my sister Sandy's daughter Kate) I drove by horses grazing, in the middle of the horses was a pony, and the pony was the only one who looked up and watched my car drive by, I waved and said, "Hello Sandy!"

Cardinals of Comfort and Love

I am so happy to share another wonderful cardinal story from my dear Little Red Bird (LRB) friend Diane S.  Our cardinals are here to comfort, love and remind us that everything is going to be okay!

May 21, 2012:

Hey there Jeni, my goodness, where do I begin.. we had a fire in our home about a month ago,everyone got out safe. I went back over the past few weeks to meet with ins people and go thorough what we had and sure enough in that shell of a house my LRB came to the window, I had been gone a week or two. My children and I have been living in a hotel and just a few days ago finally got settled in a home around the block from our home, right overlooking the beach and wouldn't ya know it on my first day here on the mailbox was a beautiful red cardinal, then on the deck, everywhere I go I hear them and see them, I really am thinking I live in a cardinal haven. I know how much they mean to you ( and to me)and I love the posts you make and they give me comfort and make me smile, so from one LRB friend to another, I want ya to know I get it, and say thank you.Just incredible, I will try to get pics of them to you.All my best ~Di

Inspiration

This is what Life is all about....... connecting, sharing, loving, inspiring and giving hope!

May 20

Carol H

 • i dont know you, but have read your posts and what has happened in your life, you have touched my heart and when i get the blues real bad and want to give up on life i just come to your site and start reading, God Bless you who ever you are

 Little Red Bird

 •Oh Carol, Many blessings and all the happiness to you! this makes me so happy!!! My love and inspiration giving you HOPE!!! I'm so happy to hear from you and are so happy you are here. I guess you have read my blog posts on my www.lovingmaryforever.com

 May 22

 Carol H

• yes i have read it all, you gave me hope to keep living.

FB friend ~ LRB visit

I received a beautiful post on my Little Red Bird wall yesterday   A new LRB friend shared her cardinal story here:

My mom Patty Jones Robinson past away in March.  A few days after she passed I was running by a lake. I took a few moments to walk down a path and look out on the water, just thinking of her. When I started walking back to the trail to continue my run, a red bird flew right in front of me and landed on a tree limb just to my right. I felt a strange sense of comfort as the bird just sat there and watched me continue on. Since then, I have had a couple more of these encounters... may seem simple, but I love the peace it brings and makes me feel as if my Mom is with me. 

Thank dear Amanda for sharing your story with us here.  Confirming our loved ones from above are always near.  Another member of our Cardinal Club!