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!

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...

Mary Cardinal Christmas

It's the day after Christmas, with Mary in our hearts.

Little brother David brings a gift to her grave!

Sorry you couldn't see her kids David.... it was good you tried! That's what counts.

As he was placing the little cardinals on her stone, I had a couple cardinal visits on my own:

Can you see the female in the middle of the tree?

Precious Moments & Signs

Words can't describe my love and gratitude amidst my pain and sorrow. Such a balance of emotions.

Today our dear brother David drove to see you at the place your body rests. With Amanda by his side to wipe away his cries. He got there to find you and place a cardinal charm, but couldn't find your exact spot because there wasn't a headstone in the ground. He searched the spot he remembered, not so long ago. He reached out to me thousands of miles away and my strings of love found Laurie who wasn't very far away. She stopped in her tracks and dropped everything she was doing to drive out to our dear brother David and help him find your spot. What a gem of a friend, a sister at heart. I praise her for her selflessness and true love to you. Thank you for my new friend, I know she is true. Unconditional love and friendship! I'm so grateful you had her & she had you. We miss you sweet Mary!

We all know how much David loves baseball and he knows you know that too. For him to find that baseball in your cemetary was a definite sign from you. He will cherish that baseball as if it was signed by a pro. What am I saying?! It was a sign from a pro!

Pro Mary ~ our Star beyond your time!

P.S. Don't worry ~ we'll get you a headstone to place where your body is buried! I'm sorry I didn't follow up with what was told to me was ordered... I can hear you say "that's okay ~ I'm always with you any way"! My sweet Mary, you always said that! You deserve more than that, so I'm saying back to you "It's not okay, so I'm going to make it okay - okay?!"