It had been six weeks since my mother's death. I was very concerned about my sister and father and how they were handling her dying. I was up late at night talking to my brother on the phone. We were discussing how we could possibly help my sister and Dad. It was late and my three children were very young so I told my brother at close to midnight that I needed to hang up and get some sleep. I wasn't very tired so I went to the bedroom where my husband was asleep. I tried to wake him because I wanted to talk to him a little bit more about what my brother and I had discussed. It was hard to wake him so I decided to let him sleep. I sat on the edge of my bed and was thinking about the phone call. At that time I felt a presence around me. I could sense there were people moving in front and behind me. They were all heading from my left to right. I looked down and saw that I was standing in a field of tall green grass. It had just rained and the grass was wet and newly sprouted. I touched the grass with my fingertips and looked up to see people moving through the grass to the bottom of a hill. I decided to follow them. There was a single line of individuals walking up the hill at an angle. I entered their line and started the journey. The path was wet and muddy. I could feel the soft wet mud under my feet; however when I looked down my feet were not dirty. I looked back to question the person behind me why my feet were not dirty but when I looked at his or her face I could not distinguish facial features. It was as if their face was out of focus. I could see their body plainly but no distinguishing features on any of the faces of the people behind me. I kept walking up the hill and made it to the top. At the top I could see that we had not climbed a hill but instead the side of a levee. In front of me was a slow-moving River. The people ahead of me and behind me quickly dispersed into Woods that were on both sides of the river. They went purposefully and I knew they knew what they needed to do while I stood and watched. I could see the people in the trees moving about and on the far side of the river stood my mother.  She was standing in the river and the water was up to her hips. There was a figure in the trees handing her what appeared to be the form of a child. She took the form in her arms, turned and crossed to the other side of the river. She then handed the form to another person in the trees and the person disappeared into the woods with the form. My mom turned back and started to cross the river.  She made it about halfway in the river when I took a step toward her. She had not seen me until this moment and turned to look at me. When I saw her face it was the image of all the Visions I had of my mother. I could see her young old long hair short hair and her appearance continually evolved. I was more fascinated than happy to see her at that time and looked directly into her eyes. Her eyes were strangely dark and deep at first but as I looked longer I could distinguish an overwhelming sense of joy in her eyes. This pure joy radiated to me like heat from an oven...and I knew that she was part of this beauty and joy. I wanted to be nearer to her so I took a step toward her. She looked at me held up her hand as if to say stop and waved me to step back. I wanted to be closer to her so I took another step. She turned her side to me while still in the water and reached down to scoop up a handful of the river water. She tipped back her head and let the water fall on her face. As the water ran down her face a dark Veil fell over all this land. It was dark and I found myself sitting on the edge of my bed.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   No 

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  No    

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?      When I saw the grass in the field.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness?      Normal consciousness and alertness   N/A

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   Exactly the same

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   I don't remember any sound.

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during a time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body?   No  

What emotions did you feel during the experience?   Curiosity..wonder..longing..peace..joy  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   No  

Did you see an unearthly light?   No  

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice?   No

Did you encounter or become aware of any beings who previously lived on earth who are described by name in religions (for example: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.)?   No  

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings?   Yes   Mom who had died 6 weeks earlier

Did you become aware of past events in your life during your experience?   No  

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world?   Some unfamiliar and strange place
I had not seen the river lined with trees nor the field of grass at any time in my earthly past.

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   No

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   Yes
River

Did you come to a border or point of no return?   I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will
I wanted to stay with my mom but she sent be back.

Did scenes from the future come to you?  No 

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there either is (or is not) continued existence after earthly life (“life after death”)?   Yes   After the experience I knew that we had a purpose after our life ended here on Earth and that we would live in a sense of Joy doing that purpose.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s difficulties, challenges, or hardships?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding love?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any other specific information / awareness that you have not shared in other questions that is relevant to living our earthly lives?   No  

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?   No  

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was entirely consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience  

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience?   I remember the experience more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of th   I relive that experience on a daily basis since it happened.
 
My experience directly resulted in:   Slight changes in my life

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?   No  

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?   Uncertain   I have always been in synch with others.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?     Seeing my mom's eyes and the pureness of joy that I experienced from her period

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes  I shared with my husband the next morning. He was amazed. I also shared the experience with my pastor who dismissed the possibility of that happening. After that I kept it to myself

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?   Yes   Heard about others experiences.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:   Experience was definitely real   Just as strong and certain.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real   It was real.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   No   No

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?      No

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?      

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience?   Yes