I really don't know where to begin.  My husband, 2 boys, and I lived many miles from my mom.  The only way I could overcome not being near my mom was to always have a trip planned for one of us to fly to see the other.  It gave us both something to look forward too.  The next trip was scheduled for 9 days around Thanksgiving 2004.  For six months I had this trip planned. My mom couldn't wait to see her grandbabies.  Holidays always meant so much to her.  She always loved being around her family and friends.  Every year we always decorated for Christmas when the family got together on Thanksgiving.  This year my boys Jayce 2 1/2 and Ethan 1 were going to join in on the family tradition. 

 Before I go on any further I must explain that my mom and I had a really special relationship.  When I was in the delivery room having my youngest son, my mom was experiencing labor pains right along with me.  When I was too numb from the epidural to know that it was time to push, she told me that we needed to get the nurse because it was time.  She was right.  There were also times when my mom would have muscle spasms in her heart that would cause her to have a lot of pain.  When she would have those spells, I would also have chest pains.  The bond that we shared was deep.  

 About 3 weeks prior to our scheduled trip to see my mom, my 2 1/2 year old keep going around the house saying that he wanted to go home.  My husband and I thought that this was odd because he was at home.  I immediately thought that he was talking about heaven, but didn't understand why he was saying this.  About 2 weeks prior to the trip I started feeling really sad.  I had been so excited to see my mom and extended family, and now I dreaded going on this trip. A week prior to our trip (Sunday) my mom called on the phone saying that next week at this time she would be picking us up at the airport.  You could tell in her voice that she was so excited.  She also said that she had made dressing for us to eat for Thanksgiving and had already started decorating a little for Christmas.  She said that she had put the tree up and put the lights on it.  She said the lights worked until she put the last strand on the tree.  She said maybe she just had too many plugged in one place.  She would try to fix it, and we could finish decorating when we came.  

 On Monday at 11 AM I received a phone call from my step dad that my mom had slipped and fallen at work.  She had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance.  My step dad worked 1 1/2 hours from home, so he said he would call me when he found out something.  Later that afternoon I found out she had broken her wrist completely into and had to have emergency surgery.  I felt so helpless being so far away.  I just prayed that everything would be ok.  Around 8 PM that night I received another phone call from my step dad saying that she had made it out of surgery and everything was fine.  I talked to my mom at that time. She sounded a little drugged, but was still talking about us coming.  I thought about letting her talk to my boys, but thought she needed rest.  

 That night I really couldn't sleep.  My 2 1/2 year old was having trouble sleeping also.  I began to pray for my mom.  I asked God to take away all her pain.  I also pray that somehow she wouldn't have to work anymore.  She had lots of health problems and really wasn't able.   For some reason I felt like I had to make my mom a gold cross necklace that I had promised her.  I had started making cross necklaces out of nails and wire a few months prior to this.  I had shown my mom what they looked like on the web cam.  She said that she would like a gold one.  There was such a feeling of urgency to make my mom's necklace this night and time.  I decided to let my 2 1/2 old stay up with me.  While I was making the necklace, I started having shortness of breath and chest pains that started at the bottom of my heart.  I also had a burning on the right side of my head.  I thought that something was really wrong with me.  My son was watching movies and around 3:30 AM came up to me and said "Mimi!"  That's what he called my mom.  I wasn't sure if I had heard him correctly.  Around 3:45 AM I finished making my mom's gold necklace.  By this time my pain had subsided and I decided to go to bed.   Before I went to bed something told me to make sure the ringer was on the phone in our bedroom.  Around 5 AM I received a phone call from my step dad that my mom was gone.    She had passed away sometime between 2 and 4 AM.  She had developed a blood clot in her leg from the fall and it went to her lungs and heart.  I couldn't believe this could happen 4 days before we were scheduled to fly to see her.   I was in shock, but I knew that God was trying to tell me all along that it was her time.  I prayed that God would give me a sign that my mom was ok.  

 We flew in for Thanksgiving to plan my mom's funeral.  When my family went to the funeral home to visit my mom, I felt God's presence and my mom's presence so strong.  I felt so much warmth, strength, and peace there.  When I was standing over my mom with my 2 1/2 year old, he said that she was sorry.  I knew that my mom was talking through him.  I started crying.  He kept saying, "Don't cry!  Don't cry!  Don't cry!".  He also told me that she loved me.  These words meant so much to me.    

 A few hours later I noticed a commotion in the lobby area.  My brother had found something in a gold potpourri dish.  Everyone was puzzled at what it was.  He had just taken it into a funeral home worker's office to find out what it was.  I felt compelled find out what it was.  Immediately I knew it was for me.  The items that I held in my hands were things that had stood out to me the last time I had visited my mom.  This was the sign from my mom that I had prayed for after I had learned of her death.  Each item was chosen so carefully with such deep meaning.  There was a hard eye glass case that my mom had used before she had RK surgery to correct her eye vision.  The eye glass case meant that I can see you.  Inside the case was 17 little sea shells.  This meant that I can hear you, and I have heard you since I was 17 years old.  This is when my mom got pregnant with me.  There were also some Indian rock shavings that I had given my mom a few years before to display in her massage therapy room.  There were 50 of them.  This represented the 50 years that she had lived.  There were two quarters and one dime.  The two quarters meant that I'm only a phone call to heaven.  Being that I called my mom everyday, she knew how important this was to me.  Also, both quarters had a special message on back.  One was a Georgia quarter with the words Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation.   My mom's death was a result of a fall that happened at work because there hadn't been any safety mats.  She was telling me how to deal with my anger toward her work place.  The other was a New York quarter with the words Gateway to Freedom.  This meant that I shouldn't worry about her because she had found the Gateway to Freedom.  The dime had the year 2004 which was the year that she passed away.  There was also some Christmas colored beads (3 large and 1 small Red bead, 2 large Green beads, 3 large white and 1 small white,  and 2 large Gold Beads-one brighter than the other).  My mom was telling everyone close to her Merry Christmas.  The 3 large beads were for the females in the family, the small red was for the only girl grandchild.  The 2 large Green beads were for her son-in-laws.  The 4 large white ones were for the males and the 1 small white bead was for her baby grandson.  The 2 Gold beads were for my step dad and my mom.  My mom was represented by the brightest.  

 I know all of this might sound crazy to some. I have spoken to all family and friends that might have had contact with my mom prior to her death.  No one knows where the eye glass case and its contents came from.  I believe this was a gift that God allowed my mom to give me to let me know that she is ok and that she is still alive and with us.  

 Since this I have had several other communications with my mom.  Two months after her death I received a strange phone call.  I heard my mom's voice.  She was talking to my mother-in-law.   Three months after my moms death she spoke through my oldest son that was 2 1/2 at the time of her death.  I had been really missing my mom.  My son was looking out the window in our home and very sternly said, "I want to go home!  I want to go home!".  It was like my mom was saying that she didn't want me to be sad anymore.  My being sad was holding her back from going home.  She was staying around to make sure I was ok, and now she was ready to go.  Another time was about 8 months after her death.  When I went to my mail box, I found a little girl and boy yard ornament stuffed inside.  It was just like the ones that I remembered seeing in my moms flower bed.  They stayed around for a week and then disappeared.  I believe she was telling me "Hello!"   I have also had several dreams with my mom in them.  One was where she was sitting with me and my grandmother (her mom), and was telling how wonderful heaven was.  I also had one where I was floating up to heaven and my mom met me.  She showed me where she was living.  I also saw other relatives that had passed before her.  They were all in a large room sitting, standing, talking, and laughing together.  

  I hope that whoever reads this finds peace in knowing that when our loved ones passed on, they are still with us.  They just move to a different realm.  They are now a spiritual body with no pain, tears, or heartache. We will see our loved ones again because there is no death in Christ - only eternal life with our Father in Heaven.  

Have you had multiple experiences?   Yes     7-10 times

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?           

Yes

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:  

When I was standing over my mom with my 2 1/2 year old, he said that she was sorry.  I knew that my mom was talking through him.  I started crying.  He kept saying, "Don't cry!  Don't cry!  Don't cry!".  He also told me that she loved me.

            Did the voice or sound seem to originate externally or outside of you, inside you, or did you not hear a voice or sound, but had a sense of knowing what was communicated? 

My mom spoke through my 2 1/2 year old son.  He used his pronouns correctly.  At age 3 1/2 he has not mastered that in everyday communication.

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

My mom spoke through my 2 1/2 year old son.  He used his pronouns correctly.  At age 3 1/2 he has not mastered that in everyday communication.

            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

How long did the experience last?       

About 5 minutes.  Then I received a physical gift from my mom.

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?        

Sudden

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?          

Yes

My mom was sorry for having to leave me.  She didn't want me to cry.  She also told me she loved me.

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

A few hours later I noticed a commotion in the lobby area.  My brother had found something in a gold potpourri dish.  Everyone was puzzled at what it was.  He had just taken it into a funeral home worker's office to find out what it was.  I felt compelled find out what it was.  Immediately I knew it was for me.  The items that I held in my hands were things that had stood out to me the last time I had visited my mom.  This was the sign from my mom that I had prayed for after I had learned of her death.  Each item was chosen so carefully with such deep meaning.  There was a hard eye glass case that my mom had used before she had RK surgery to correct her eye vision.  The eye glass case meant that I can see you.  Inside the case was 17 little sea shells.  This meant that I can hear you, and I have heard you since I was 17 years old.  This is when my mom got pregnant with me.  There were also some Indian rock shavings that I had given my mom a few years before to display in her massage therapy room.  There were 50 of them.  This represented the 50 years that she had lived.  There were two quarters and one dime.  The two quarters meant that I'm only a phone call to heaven.  Being that I called my mom everyday, she knew how important this was to me.  Also, both quarters had a special message on back.  One was a Georgia quarter with the words Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation.   My mom's death was a result of a fall that happened at work because there hadn't been any safety mats.  She was telling me how to deal with my anger toward her work place.  The other was a New York quarter with the words Gateway to Freedom.  This meant that I shouldn't worry about her because she had found the Gateway to Freedom.  The dime had the year 2004 which was the year that she passed away.  There was also some Christmas colored beads (3 large and 1 small Red bead, 2 large Green beads, 3 large white and 1 small white,  and 2 large Gold Beads-one brighter than the other).  My mom was telling everyone close to her Merry Christmas.  The 3 large beads were for the females in the family, the small red was for the only girl grandchild.  The 2 large Green beads were for her son-in-laws.  The 4 large white ones were for the males and the 1 small white bead was for her baby grandson.  The 2 Gold beads were for my step dad and my mom.  My mom was represented by the brightest.  

 I know all of this might sound crazy to some. I have spoken to all family and friends that might have had contact with my mom prior to her death.  No one knows where the eye glass case and its contents came from.  I believe this was a gift that God allowed my mom to give me to let me know that she is ok and that she is still alive and with us.

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:         

This experience was very real.  There was no way my 2 1/2 year old could have known to say the things that he said much less get his pronouns right.  A physical gift was also sent to me from my mom. This was definitely a sign from heaven.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?  

No       

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:          

I felt God's presence and my mom's presence so strong.  I felt so much warmth, strength, and peace there.  I was so happy and surprised.

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

Yes

I knew that I shouldn't be sad about my mom's death.  She was happy and with God now. I will forever treasure the words spoken to me and the awesome gift from my mom.  Whenever I might feel sad, I can always go back to them and know that even though my mom has passed on, she is still with me.  She just move to a different realm.  She is now a spiritual body with no pain, tears, or heartache. I will see my mom again because there is no death in Christ - only eternal life with our Father in Heaven.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?     

The best experience was knowing that my mom was happy and with God now. I will forever treasure the words spoken to me and the awesome gift from my mom.  Whenever I might feel sad, I can always go back to them and know that even though my mom has passed on, she is still with me.  She just move to a different realm.  She is now a spiritual body with no pain, tears, or heartache. I will see my mom again because there is no death in Christ - only eternal life with our Father in Heaven.

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

Yes                 Describe:           

Being close to my family has become very important to me.  I also try to focus less on things of the world.  More than ever, I realize that we can't take anything with us when we pass away.  Our spiritual live with God is the most important thing in this life on earth.        
             
Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes     I am now completely certain that there is life after death.

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?            Yes     I knew that I shouldn't be sad about my mom's death.  She was happy and with God now. I will forever treasure the words spoken to me and the awesome gift from my mom.  Whenever I might feel sad, I can always go back to them and know that even though my mom has passed on, she is still with me.  She just move to a different realm.  She is now a spiritual body with no pain, tears, or heartache. I will see my mom again because there is no death in Christ - only eternal life with our Father in Heaven.

Death Compacts are when two or more living people promise among themselves that whoever dies first will try to contact the other(s).  Have you ever made such a compact?        No

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?            I was felt total calmness and an overwhelming feeling of joy.  I knew that my mom was with ok and that she loved me even after death.  I was also thankful that God cared so much for me to allow my mom to have this communication with me.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?           Yes  All close family and friends were there.

Did you become aware of future events?       Yes

When we die, we all pass over to a spiritual realm.  There is no reason to fear death as long as we have Christ in our lives.

Did any part of your experience seem to occur in a place other than the location described above?            Yes  My mom spoke through my son that she wanted to go home (Heaven).

Have you shared this experience with others?        

Yes     Some of my family didn't understand the experience like I did.  They also don't believe in life after death.  Some understood the experience.  Those that understood received hope and peace about my mom's death.

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

 Is there anything else you would like to add regarding your experience?       I hope that whoever reads this finds peace in knowing that when our loved ones passed on, they are still with us.  They just move to a different realm.  They are now a spiritual body with no pain, tears, or heartache. We will see our loved ones again because there is no death in Christ - only eternal life with our Father in Heaven.

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

Did you ever in your life have a near-death experience, out of body experience or other spiritual event?           Yes 

I have had dreams of floating up to heaven.  My mom was there along with other deceased relatives.

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