I had a dream about a month after my grandfather died unexpectedly. In the dream, I park my car in front of my mothers house. Theres a strange car parked in the driveway. As I walk up to the house, my grandfather comes out the front door, followed by a man I dont know. Theyre laughing and talking. The other man keeps walking, he doesnt look at me or speak to me, and gets in the drivers seat of the car. My grandfather stops to talk to me. He tells me that he loves me and hes very proud of me. He gives me a big hug. Its so full of love and strength; it feels like heaven. Then he says they have to go because theyre off to play golf. He goes and gets in the passenger seat of the car and they drive off. 

I had my second dream almost 2 years later when I was getting ready to move across country from Virginia to Oregon. I wasnt especially nervous about the trip or anything. Im pretty independent. But I had a dream that my grandfather showed up at my house in Virginia. He was in a big, strange car, but another man was driving. My grandfather tells me he loves me and he wants me to be safe, so theyre going to drive me to Oregon. The other man drives, but he doesnt speak or look at me. He talks softly with my grandfather, though, and I cant understand what theyre saying. My grandfather sits in the passenger seat and I sit in the back and watch the scenery go by. He takes me to Oregon, drops me off, and drives away. Theres no special burst of feeling or mood. I just feel watched and protected and loved. I feel safe and like Im making a good decision with the move. 

Several years later, my husband and I were married in Las Vegas. This was not a dream. We have the certificate to prove it. We were joined by my brother, Michael, and my best friend, Michele. After the wedding ceremony, we went back to the hotel to have dinner. But Michael and I stopped to play blackjack for a while. I was wearing my wedding dress and Michael was wearing a tuxedo. My brother was losing terribly, but I was on a winning streak, so I kept giving him chips. We were having a great time. I vaguely remember another, older man at the table. He was smoking a cigarette and drinking something on the rocks. He congratulated me on my wedding, but he didnt look familiar. I didnt know that Michele was taking pictures of us playing cards until I got them developed a couple of months later. I was working off-site in Peoria, IL, and my mom drove over from Indianapolis to stay in the hotel with me. We were just visiting, hitting the hot tub, and hanging out. While I was at work, she took some of my wedding film to be developed at the one-hour photo. When I got back to the hotel she had one of them sitting on the bed and she asked me to look at it and tell her what I thought. It was a picture Michele had taken of my brother and me playing blackjack. And sitting next to me at the table is my grandfather (moms dad), who died 7 years earlier. You can see of his face, but it looks exactly like him features, glasses, posture. Its incredible. I loved my grandfather very much and get was crazy about me. I know he would have given anything to be at my wedding. And with this picture its like he was. 

Have you had multiple experiences?   Yes     Three separate experiences with my grandfather

Was this experience difficult to express in words? 

No

Did you ONLY sense an awareness of presence of the deceased without actually seeing, hearing, feeling or smelling them?           

No

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased?         

Yes

            Describe what you heard, how clearly you heard it and what was communicated:   

I heard him talk to me in my dreams.

            If you heard a voice or sound, was it similar or dissimilar from the voice or sound the deceased made when they were alive?          

It was his voice.

            Is there any possibility what you heard was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?          

No.

            Was there any possible impairment to your hearing at the time of the experience?  

No.

Did you feel a touch or experience any physical contact from the deceased?           

Yes

He hugged me.

            Was the touch familiar or unfamiliar?  

It was his hug. Very familiar.

            Was anything communicated by the touch? 

Lots of love and support and pride.

            Is there any possibility what you felt was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience? 

No.

Did you see the deceased?        

Yes

He looked good. He looked healthy but still older.

            How clearly did the deceased appear?            Clear

            How much of the deceased did you see?       All

            Did the deceased appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?       Pretty much the same. Maybe a little younger.

            How healthy did the deceased appear to be?            As healthy as he ever was as a smoker.

            Is there any possibility what you saw was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?           Yes. In the picture, it may have been the light or just a casual likeness amplified by personal desire to see him.

Did you smell a distinct smell, scent, fragrance or odor associated with the deceased?     

No

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?          

Yes

Good mood... busy... lots to do.

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know? 

No. I knew he loved me.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience?          

Experience was definitely real

            Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:          

I believe it was real.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?  

Yes  They were dreams. But the picture was totally real and unexpected.

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:          

Very happy. Rushed. Loved and protected. A little sad.

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?          

Yes

I really missed him. And now I know he's always with me. He's my guardian.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?     

Getting to see my grandpa and hear that he's still watching over me and still proud of me.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?        

Yes                 Describe:     

I honor those connections more.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes     That our connections during life don't disappear or diminish after death. That the people in our lives leave something inside of us, whether they're still around or not. He changed me with his love.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          No
What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Protected and loved.

Did you meet or see any other beings other than the deceased?            Yes  Some strange guy who wouldn't look or talk to me. I kind of didn't want to talk to him.

Did you see a light?           No

Did any part of your experience seem to occur in a place other than the location described above?            No

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     Mixed reactions. Mostly that how you take it is the key to understanding it. That it's all in the interpretation.

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?   No

Were there any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?            No

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No 

Did you ever in your life have a near-death experience, out of body experience or other spiritual event?           No 

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?               Yes