another sign

I took this photo earlier in the week as it was time to relocate the items to make room for the halloween decorations.  I am late, and we are having a party Saturday!   Since I mentioned the four leaf clover in my last post (seen framed below) I wanted to tell you about another sign. 

 

The two ceramic pieces are from Lisa.  The rose arrived last Christmas, and the Deer Rider arrived in August.  It's one of the most extraordinary and unexpected gifts I've ever gotten.  You know when someone Gets you?   I have a precious story I have only shared with a few friends.  Lisa not only listened to me, she heard me.  And she cradled my tale, held it tight with both hands, and made it real.  She validated me by sharing some of her beliefs.  And then the deer sculpture arrived - reminding me of the story every day.

  

The day after Shannon left with the angels, I felt her presence.  It was her, and yet not.  It was most definitely a moment where I felt a filling of love energy.  That's the only way I can explain it.  It's like she sent it.  Deliberately.  It was a connection.  A time-stands-still experience.  Graham and Fallon were with me and saw it so I know I wasn't imagining it.  We were in my parent's backyard.  Deer are often seen grazing in the grassy opening to the woods.  That day there was a young deer - no spots, no antlers.  Just a young deer, alone.  She stopped and looked up at us.  She stared.  She stayed.  And stayed.  I turned and asked Graham "do you think it's her?" because she just was so still and watching us.  I blew her a kiss and she lifted her leg.  I'd never seen that.  Never.  I called to my nieces to come out and look.  Even the door opening and the girls coming out didn't frighten her away.  She was about 60 feet from us.  When she heard my brother's dog she started slowly toward the woods, keeping her head turned towards us.  I felt she was looking right at me.  A wave of peace come over me.  A calm.  A love energy filled me because I knew it was a sign.  It wasn't until a day later that I shared the story with Andy, Shannon's husband, and while telling the story we saw a sign.  A different one - one for him.  But we knew.

 

Imagine this:  I am opening a box.  It's filled with bubble wrap.  I clip the tape and carefully pull away the layers.  I'm holding an item in my hands and before I peel away the last of the wrap I see two warm dark eyes looking at me.  I burst into tears.  I am brought to my knees.  I am dialing frantically to call Lisa.  I see the girl rider.  She reminds me of little Shannon.  My favorite memory of her as a toddler was getting her up from her naps.  She would cling to me in a sleepy drape with wet ringlets from being in her mist tent.  I loved that she would snuggle into me and let me carry her around.  Sleepy baby.  And there she is, my dear with the deer.

 

 

I share this with you because I believe in signs.  I know some of you believe too.  I think when you trust, and believe, and live with an open heart and open mind and open eyes you will see the signs. 

Lisa Hoffman's blog is HERE. And ceramic artist Caroline Douglas's blog is HERE.  There is another deer/sign story that Caroline shared with Lisa that makes this gift even more cool.  It's amazing what we learn when we are willing to share our stories.

Comments

[Judy N]

Here I come home from work, I turn on my IPOD, I sign into email, I see this post. I was already in tears from Resurrection (that song ALWAYS makes me cry) Now you totally have me in tears. For some reason I have been thinking about you and Shannon, perhaps because my best friend is slipping from me...

My thoughts are often with.

Until later,
Judy

[Lisa Hoffman]

There's NOTHING like a Caroline Douglas piece. Her work is filled with Beauty and Poetry. There is always a major dose of Heart and Spirit as well. After you shared such a beautiful and personal moment with me, I had to do something to honor that.
Lovely photos. Beautiful Shannon book. I love the little Shrine. I know that you miss her every moment of every day. Baby steps my sweet friend, baby steps.....

[Marie]

I am so happy that you have been given these very specials signs! That's truly special, wonderful, amazing and fantastic!! What a strong love you share!
My uncles was one of my best friends - and he was there for me always. He always signed his letters to me Illegitimi non carborundum. I was at work when I got the news of his passing. My friend took me out for a short walk. We went through the back door of the grocery store. When we left, we went through the front door. There, on the sidewalk in front of me were scrawled the words (in HUGE letters) Illegitimi non carborundum. If I ever, in my life, needed confirmation that these happenings are true signs, that ended any questions I had. I know, without a doubt, that our loved ones are there for us and can still wrap their arms around us in love.

[caroline douglas]

Hi Michelle,
I so believe in signs and see that you received such a blessing. You have probably received many such blessings.
Thank you for your kind words and for being you.I am so glad to be a part of this magic. You and Shannon had quite a close connection and that will not go away.
Thank you for speaking your truth and your story. As you say, sharing our stories inspire us all along the way.
Much love,
Caroline

[Carrie]

Incredible. I most certainly do believe in signs, and you are blessed to receive so many and to have such wonderful friends.

[Cath]

Aren't people just so wonderful and generous and connected when we allow them to be. Enjoy the signs Michelle; your connection with Shannon is so tight.

[Ursula Clamer]

How truly heartwarming! I too believe in signs, never stop looking they are always there. Uxo

[CatHerder]

that is just beautiful.....i believe in signs as well.....

[Marlynn]

Signs are an affirmation that our dear ones are still with us and watching over us. Your deer story is moving. I too have had signs -- from both my parents on the day they each died and at that very moment I knew they had crossed over. Comforting, yes. Spiritual, yes. Feeling wrapped in love - you betcha! Loved your sister journal especially the twist with the antlers (had to look twice)!

[Barbara]

What a beautiful and amazing story...I love the signs and do believe that this can happen. For me, it is when I look at my fingers...sometimes I see my Dad's fingers and it is such a wonderful feeling that he is near. Also, the gift of the ceramic pieces really shows the depth of your friendship with Lisa...how she took the time to really listen to your story and then was able to find a way to let you know she understood how much it meant to you. I really love the journal...absolutely beautiful.

[tracy]

Your story touched me very much. I have a similar story pertaining to signs as well. I believe it is a way for those we love to give us peace and comfort when we least expect it. But, the most wonderful part is at least to me is they come (signs)when we need them the most.

[Chris]

Michelle, this is a humbling story, but also a story that fills me with awe. As soon as I read your post and looked at the photos I identified greatly. One of the latest posts I've written has a photo on it and when I first wrote about it, I attributed that photo to Shannon with a link here, but then I edited it, because I felt it was an invasion of your privacy. It was taken when I was on a walk, in a garden where at first I saw no red roses were blooming (and I don't know species, so maybe it's not 'red rose' season?), near the end of the path one caught my eye, a rose colored one. It was low to the ground and behind branches and it was all alone. No other roses were blooming on that bush. It was a singular moment. And I saw it and I thought of Shannon. I don't know Shannon now, and I never have, but I know of you and my experience with your story is very intense. So I thought of her and something compelled me to take a picture of that rose. Cathie asked me if I wanted her to move the branches aside to get a better shot of it, but for some reason it didn't feel right. We let it be, and Cathie moved on, and I took the picture. My heart felt filled with the goodness of someone I never knew.

Just a bit more... I lost my brother too soon, and the story of his death is a very heavy one. But I was mourning him years after he went. And one night, during a time when the heavy mourning of him was just beginning to ease a bit, I had a dream. Maybe I was becoming open enough to it, I don't know. I don't remember my dreams, but I remembered that one. I was walking on the side of a paved road I didn't know, on a dark night, and I suddenly looked up from the road, which I would not naturally do because I was watching my steps in the dark. I looked up from the road and he was standing in front of me. He looked into my eyes. His eyes burned into mine. He was wearing blue, and his eyes were calm and clear. Then I woke up.

Signs are important. They can give more peace than any amount of words.

[Becci Renfro]

Michelle...you are a "deer" woman! :-)

[Seth]

I am so with you Michelle on signs. Be open. They are always there to see.

[suze]

I am speechless.
And I also believe in signs.

[Paula Bogdan]

Michelle,
This is a beautiful story. I am a firm believer in these connections; I've had so many from my mom. Some are very funny; her wicked sense of humor still comes through. Others are simply a presence when I need her most. You have a deer story...mine is all about butterflies! I believe.
Paula

[carin.c]

I'm so glad you are open to seeing the signs and that they give you comfort. I believe in them as well and have experienced some unbelieveable signs of my own. Some things are just too intense to be any sort of a coincidence. *smiles at the memory*

[JeriAnn]

I firmly agree with the Japanese that our loved ones find ways through nature to contact us after they cross over. I've experienced it and know others who have, too. A close friend lives on the Housatonic River and had swans swim up to his front door after his wife passed. They only came when he spoke out loud to her, otherwise he never saw them. What a blessing that Shannon's deer came, and at a time when she could see the extended family. And how wonderful of Lisa to capture that moment.

Thank you, Michelle, for sharing such a beautiful, personal story.

[Serena]

This is beautiful stuff, Michelle. I love hearing these confirming stories. I totally believe in signs. It's great that you share this stuff with your readers because we all need to know that these things are NOT coincidence or wishful thinking. THEY'RE FOR REAL!

[Marylinn Kelly]

Signs and miracles, stories and wonders. How affirming to have people and places where we can share them and know we will be understood. Thank you for creating such a space and for your open-hearted readers. Your honesty and theirs always touch me. And a friend who completely "gets" you, a rare gift.

[inge Bekaert]

... there is more between heaven and earth than we know...

XOXO
Inge

[cindi]

oh michelle...
i'm so glad that you believe in the signs, as they are there, you just have to be open to them as i know you are. wow, just reading this has brought tears to my eyes. you'll be amazed at all the signs from now on. they are def very real. thank you for sharing this with others that def feel the same way you do! : D

[Catalina]

I believe in signs of course. My father sends them as well, to all his kids that are around the world.

You have now an angel taking care of you as well

xoxo

[Anna]

What a wonderful story, I am so glad you shared it. I lost my Dad in March of '05. I just had two really tough weeks and wouldn't you know it, he let me know he was here a few times this weekend. It's so awesome!

[Monica Magness]

SIGNS are all around us, I BELIEVE!

Thank you M. for sharing...

especially to open up Ur world
to GIVE back something so dear!

Truly special.
~meee

[Janine]

What a fabulous gesture by Lisa! The deer and rider are amazing.... I too was so moved when you told me of your experience.... I too am a firm believer in signs.... The shrine and your journal for Shannon is just so precious... you will carry her in your heart forever xoxox

[katy]

this gave me goosebumps. my younger brother passed away suddenly in may 2004 at home. after they took him away my mom and older brother went home (i stayed with my dad) and they called me to say that they found a faun sitting in the middle of the road in a mud puddle. it had been raining and she must have gotten lost and just sat to wait for her mother. a local wild animal rescue got the faun to rehab her and named her edwina (eddy was my brothers name). then a month or so later i was out jogging early and there was this young deer that stopped and stared at me. i was so close, like 4 feet, i could see his eye lashes. it was amazing and we stood there looking at each other for like 30 seconds then his mom came for him and he was off. i so understand how you feel and what you are going through, i truly believe these are signs from our loved ones, they are checking in on us and letting us know they are ok.

[Colette]

Hello Michelle. What a terrible loss to lose your sister.

I find kinship here because I lost my brother this September. It was sudden.

I also see some signs I have been touched by lately too.

I found myself doing some art with a deer in it recently.

And in a week I will be doing my first workshop ever and it's with Judy Wilkenfeld. And my vintage book I'm using came with four four leaf clovers in it.

I was surprised to find one, and well four .. you can imagine.

I love how people used to dry plants in books and you buy one and get a surprise.

That's pretty cool you found a live four leaf clover!

Love the pink socks too!

[vdnpi]

Hi, you have a nice site. Really good job! Respect :)