Happy Valentines Day Cardinal Story

I received the sweetest cardinal story on Valentines Day!  

I'd like to share it here for the same reason my new 

friend Sharon is allowing me to.  

To bring hope, faith and inspiration to anyone in need.  

We pray that all who grieve will find the gift of the cardinal

 or the cardinal find them!

My Valentines Day Gift from Sharon to Me and Now to YOU:

Good morning and Happy Valentine's Day!  I came across your web site a few years ago when I was searching for stories about cardinals, and for some reason I was led back to it tis week and also to your Facebook page.  Haven't fully read your Blog, so you may probably already are familiar with The Cardinal Experience web page.  I found that page awhile ago and posted my story on it and of course there are many other stories about cardinals posted there.  I lost my brother also to suicide about three years ago.  Stay encouraged!

Here is a link to my story on The Cardinal Experience page or you can also read the story below:

http://www.thecardinalexperience.com/cardinal-stories/index.php?page=detail&get_id=19&category=2#.Uv307mt5mK0

God Wanted Me to Smile Today
My brother died a little over a year ago. He took his own life. It was one of the most devastating things I have ever experienced. I have lost others, including my mom and my dad but the grief from suicide is different - it's a grief that makes you wonder eternally if there is something you could have done. So the days leading up to the anniversary of his death were tough. I had been asking God for a sign that everything was okay -something that, beyond a shadow of a doubt, would comfort me and let me know that everything was going to be alright.

On the date of the anniversary, my family and I were getting packed to take my daughter on a college visit. I spent the morning thinking about my brother and how we always went to see the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team play. It's one of the things I remember about him most. How he loved those Cardinals! He had once even taken me to see them play in the World Series. As I recalled the fond memories of us and the Cardinals, I decided that, before taking my bath, I should go downstairs to check my phone... I knew my sister would be calling on that day to commemorate my brother's loss. As I passed the window, I stopped in my tracks as a bright red cardinal walked across the patio. Tears filled my eyes because Cardinals had been on my mind all morning and now here was a beautiful cardinal sent to me on this significant day. I went to get a camera but he flew away. He returned but still he was he was too fast for me. "God wanted me to smile today," I thought. I went on about my business, but a little later that morning, I said "I am just going to look out the window just one more time and see if I see him." At that very instant, there he was again and he flew from the tree outside my window and across the yard. Amazing!

How amazing that this happened on this day, the date of my brother's death... Had it been any other day, I just would have said "oh there's a cardinal" and never thought any more about it. But because it was that day, it was amazing! But even more so, I thought about the time of day that this happened. And after thinking about it and even researching my old phone records, I determined that it had to be within 5 to 10 minutes of the time I received the call a year before about his death. Truly, maybe even the exact moment!

Since this occurrence, I did some Internet searches for "signs from God" and the "meaning of cardinals." That's when I discovered that the cardinal has a symbolic and spiritual meaning to many. I had only thought my encounter special because of the connection my brother and I had to the Cardinals, and how God had chosen to send this cardinal as a sign for me because it is something that would mean something to me. I had no idea of the many people who have seen cardinals during time of loss, grief and sadness and who felt like they were being sent a message from God (or their loved ones) to say that everything is going to be alright. Reading the many stories has inspired me, given me great hope, and strengthened my faith. How wonderful that God would take time out to show me something that would get my attention, make me smile, and bring me comfort, as I had asked!

------------------

Afterword:

So when you're feeling sad and low

God wants completely that you know

How very much He loves you so

He wants to make you smile!

 Sharon Johnson

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did..... I am truly blessed with these beautiful cardinal connections of love.  
❤❤❤Jeni

A Cardinal Story

A very special Cardinal story from a LRB friend

Sheris Diane Haines:
"There's a bit of a story behind this picture. This was taken out of my mom's kitchen window as I was pleading with her to go to the hospital. Longer story short she is having open heart surgery tomorrow, Valentines Day. But my grandmother, my moms mom had everything cardinal in her house down to the salt shakers and magnets on her fridge. She passed 6 years ago but I told my Mom that grandma had sent reinforcements. There are 7 in this shot but there were 25 or more outside. She is my guardian Angel she sends me cardinals every time I need them."

February 13

Cardinal Experiences

"A cardinal is a representative of a loved one who has passed. When you see one, it means they are visiting you. They usually show up when you most need them or miss them. They also make an appearance during times of celebration as well as despair to let you know they will always be with you. Look for them, they'll appear."
~Todd J. Zimmer

A Cardinal Vist

Robins of Love

BIRDS OF LOVE ~ SIGNS FROM ABOVE

My friend Melissa shared this most wonderful experience with me and thought it belonged here on my Mary blog to keep and share - its a beautiful example that we are not alone - our angels are everywhere!  

"Thought you'd get a kick out of this..we had a visit today from a flock of robins.....
Right after my mom, dad and I had a lomg conversation about my life goals and careers. This was our sign that we have loads of guardian angels are looking out for us and will guide me in the right direction. It was comforting. Thought of you...... Melissa DiMecurio"

Lightly White Christmas

We prayed for snow while the kids were here in NY for Christmas... Christmas Eve we got a few flakes :)!   We were happy for that.... this picture is so beautiful of Kelsey ~ I can feel her mom's spirit in it!

For some reason this poem I found on FB seemed to fit for this blog post in perfect timing - Kelsey has been missing her mom so much!  I feel like Mary has nudged me to post this for her xoxo.

Mary Memory

I just LOVE how Mary's memories are being cherished all they time! 

Her friend/classmate Jennifer Grammer has brought a glow to my smile that 

radiates from the warmth I feel in my heart.  She posted this fun little find on 

my FB wall Saturday 1/11/14 - I shared it with Kelsey and it made her smile too ~ 

She had never seen this picture before and was blown away by how much she 

looked like her mom here back in 1986 - love the black and red checkered shirt :)!  

So cute!  Actually I think that was my shirt - LOL

Thank you AGAIN Jennifer for also sharing this beautiful Angel poem with loving words of Mary to me, I can't tell you enough how special this is to me!

Messages of love from our Mary up above!

A Little Red Bird

Through pain a light shined down and comforted me with signs, synchronicities, visits, divine connections and a true sense of hope - of a knowing!
A Little Red Bird started it all.
~LRB Chirps

A Christmas Story - full Circle

This "Mothers Love" ring by James Avery was given to me for Christmas from Kelsey and Brett.  It is one of the greatest gifts I've ever received, but it wasn't just the gift itself,  it's the words they wrote in the card, the meaning behind the ring and then the magic that happened when I posted a picture of it on facebook.

Jeni, Mary, Chistie, Kelsey 

 

It's an amazing story... a full circle with this ring.  It goes something like this:  The kids gave it to me,  I posted a picture of it on facebook and then Mary's friend Christie saw it and emailed me a copy of her wearing the exact same ring - she said Mary had given it to her when she had visited with her  just months before she passed away, Mary had told her it was a special ring and it was for great moms. Christie said she felt like Kelsey should have the ring that once belonged to her mom. She mailed it to her immediately, along with some pictures and a little memorabilia work out watch Mary used when she coached Christie.

So now Kelsey and I share this "Mother's Love" ring ~ another James Avery connection we both have with her mom!  Just beautiful ~ magical!

Well.... there's actually another lil sparkle to this story:  the ring Mary had and gave to Christie was actually given to Mary by her BFF since Jr. High, Kerri!  We know this because of the engraving inside the ring which read: ."Luv Ker BFF"
Just wait until Kerri finds out what this beautiful gift she gave to Mary years ago and how it has brought such magic to our Christmas this year!  

I will cherish the words Brett & Kelsey wrote in this card like a treasure:

I'm so grateful for so much love and so many connections to Mary I have in my life.  It is such a blessing to be so connected.  True gifts in my life!  Thank you Christie AND Kerri for your love and memories of our Mary!