Taft Raider HS - Memorial Page

Mary Emma Combs - Taft Class of 1990 - Passed away 3.22.08 at the young age of 35.

Mary gave her heart and soul to everything she did and everyone she met.  She was my little sister and I was her #1 fan (still am).  She lived and loved with no judgement and was a true cheerleader in her life as well as her schools.  She accomplished a lot in her little time in life.  Always giving it her all.   She danced and cheered her way through high school and in college too where she graduated on the Deans list from Howard Payne University.   She competed in triathlons and even co-ed roller-blading races - yes, she won most of them.  She was humble too - a beautiful quality that shone through in her compassion she had for everyone else.   She left us with precious gems - Kelsey and Brett - who are shining legacies.  She left us too soon, but she is all around us and cheers for us all.  She shows us her signs and when i catch them, i share them on a blog i had made just for her: 

Link to Loving Mary Forever (Dancing and Cheering blogpost)

Those who knew her, know exactly what i'm talking about here.  Mary was pure love and joy.  She has touched many peoples hearts with who she was and will live on through us forever.  I will cherish her forever - she is connected to my very soul. I am a better person today because of her.   She has allowed my faith to longer be blind. I can see Clearly now.  The synchronicities she has brought illuminates my life.

LOVING MARY FOREVER!!!

Mary at Howard Payne University:

Mary at her teacher/coach job in Nederland, TX:

Mary and her children Kelsey and Brett sit on my fireplace mantel:

Mary Dream

 Mary dream this morning. Saturday, April 11th the day before Easter!

I dreamt that I was on the street I grew up on and I looked over saw a young boy next door and thought, what a cute kid, then I realized it was my nephew Brett when he was like 11 years old.  I  was so excited to see him and baffled too.  I didn't know he was going to be there.  Then I looked down the street and saw a moving van and saw Mary.  I was so excited and yelled so loud for Mary. She ran to me like she was in a race.  It was wonderful. She jumped in my arms almost knocking me over.   When she hugged me, I felt a belly, a baby belly.  I looked at her in amazement..... And asked her if she was pregnant. She didn't answer me but I knew.  I immediately brought her inside to my closet and started pulling out outfits that would look cute in her - babydoll shirts I happened to have. They looked so cute on her, showing a perfect lil baby bump.  

Then I started making her something, not sure what it was but Kelsey saw it and liked it saying she wanted one too.... I said of course but her mommy first 💗

It was such a sweet visit.  

#lovefromabove 

Cardinals of Love and Signs from Above

CARDINALS OF LOVE AND SIGNS FROM ABOVE

In Memory of Mary Emma McCraw

Melville, New York

On March 22, 2008, a little red bird flew to my side during the darkest moment of my life – I had just received the news that my sister Mary had lost her life. I was standing outside in the breezeway of my home, lost in grief when a beautiful red cardinal landed on the shrub in front of me. He took my breath away; he was such a vibrant sight. For a moment, my pain disappeared. The very next day I flew to Texas to prepare for my beautiful sister’s wake. As I was driving down the main road to the funeral home I couldn't believe what was flying right next to me. Not one, but two beautiful red cardinals, racing me to the home. The little red bird was just the beginning to the many signs and each synchronicity that showed me that there is more after this life and there is more all around us.

A few months later, I started a blog titled Loving Mary Forever in honor of my sister Mary because she was an AMAZING light of love. Her light shined wherever she was our entire life. I was three years older and felt blessed to be viewed as her star. I loved that she often called me her Silly Sis. She loved you before she knew you – it was in her DNA. In the early stages of blogging to my Mary, amazing things started happening. Signs were EVERYWHERE. I documented each amazing occurrence one by one and my faith grew as these confirmations revealed my sister was still with me. My grief lessened and hope prevailed. My little red bird kept appearing at crazy places and special times (along with making a home in my backyard), making her appearance to me along with each fun synchronicity! I giggle just thinking about her.

I am alright today but feel sad at times when missing her physical presence, her amazing Mary smile that lit up every room she entered, and the loving energy she always radiated to everyone in her contact. Sharing my Mary's story has given so many people hope, so I will continue to cherish her memories and share her signs of love to help others heal from their loss too. Also, with a soft nudge from above, Little Red Bird Chirps was born on Facebook. It is a comforting place to visit that confirms what the little red bird is – a sign from above!

Grateful, loyal and blessed to call Mary my sister.

Share your story via the link below. After your story has been published, we will send you a custom memorial photo in memory of your loved one in Heaven.

www.caringcardinals.com/cardinal-experiences

Mary Emma McCraw

 

On March 22, 2008, a little red bird flew to my side during the darkest moment of my life – I had just received the news that my sister Mary had lost her life. I was standing outside in the breezeway of my home, lost in grief when a beautiful red cardinal landed on the shrub in front of me. He took my breath away; he was such a vibrant sight. For a moment, my pain disappeared. The very next day I flew to Texas to prepare for my beautiful sister’s wake. As I was driving down the main road to the funeral home I couldn't believe what was flying right next to me. Not one, but two beautiful red cardinals, racing me to the home. The little red bird was just the beginning to the many signs and synchronicities that showed me that there is more after this life and there is more all around us.

Sweet Cecilia - RED BIRD FLIES

 

RED BIRD FLIES- Story Behind the song 

YouTube Song

"When cardinals appear, angels are near".  This saying weighed heavy on my heart last summer.  Literally everywhere I went cardinals were around.  I was riding the 4 wheeler with my two boys and the song just came to me.  My angels were with me too..  1st Verse is about our dear friend Stacie Campbell.  2nd verse is about our sweet little cousin Isley Thibodeaux who was killed by a drunk driver after the Carrie Underwood concert.  3rd Verse- about my Dad.  4th verse- Jillian Johnson and Mayci Breaux...the beautiful young women who were killed during the Grand Theater shootings.  This song is deep but I hope it will bring comfort to those who have lost loved ones.  Thanks Uncle Rex Berard for the picture.

Visit our website:  SweetCeciliaGirls

Laura Huval "Sweet Cecilia" from Cecilia, LA

Feathers in My Path

Collage of Feathers in my path 

#LoveFromAbove

Signs at just the right times!

 

Mary visits

Fun feather in my path early this morning..   I hadn't had one in a while.  I was thinking this earlier this week and then this happens. 

Then I run into a train friend I hadn't seen in a long time, she took the subway with me and even paid my fare so I didn't have to wait in line.  Then, I ran into her Again at the end of the day and rode the LIRR with her.  Such good company. Made for a nice way to end my day.  She has to order dinner for her family so I sat and listened as she called her restaurant of choice... "Mary's"!   Lol yes, Mary's in Farmingdale, NY.  Most of the times I wouldn't think much if it, but for me, it was another sign from my Mary.  She's all around me and loving that I'm catching her signs. I know she is.

Well, one more .... I get home and found this special gift in the mail box.   A Luca and Dani cardinal bracelet from my friends in Florida!!!! 

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.  

Angels in the Least Expected Places

Angels are Among Us!

I saw the sweetest thing last week in a restaurant I was in.   The cutest older couple I've ever seen in line holding hands  they must have been in their 90's, I saw the husband was wearing a WWII hat and instantly had a love and respect for this couple.  As I was I was leaving I saw the pretty little lady with her head bowed down praying and then did the end of prayer "father, son, holy ghost" gesture and opened her eyes with a smile.  You don't see that these days.  This couple warmed my heart.  I actually thought about them a few times throughout the  week and when I did, it brought a smile to my face and a feeling of comfort came over me. 

Anyways....today I went to the same restaurant and couldn't believe it when I saw this same couple two people in front of me again, just like last week.  They sat at their same table.  This time I walked up to the lady and told her how I saw them last week and was so touched to see her pray before her meal.  She told me that sometimes that's all we have - our faith and hope.  I told her I agreed and that I hope to see them again.  I went back to my spot to wait for my meal to go and in about 5 minutes I felt her hand on my arm and she said to come quickly, she had a table for me in this busy restaurant.  She was so sweet.  The restaurant worker was calling my name for my order just then so I told her I'd be right there.  

I had to tell her my order was to go and my husband was waiting in the car for me but thanked her for thinking of me.   She asked my name and after I told her, I asked hers...... Tears formed and my heart skipped a beat when she told me her name was Mary! 👼❣️

I told her that was a very special name to me and that my sister Mary was in heaven.  The kind little lady touched my arm again and said that my sister wants me to know that she is with me.

I truly am blessed!