Sometimes our family from the Other Side has to work REALLY hard to reach us.  Not because they cannot reach us but because sometimes, I'm a dolderhead and oblivious to the contact!

I have little timers that my Mom will trigger to beep irregularly when she wants me to know she and Dad are around.  Recently, the indoor-outdoor thermometer has been beeping.  It will be silent for a long time then beep every few minutes and then go silent for awhile.  Ithought it was just the batteries, so I replaced them.  Then I thought is was on the setting that beeped a notification if the temperature changed - neither case was true.  I'd hit buttons and reset the thing and then an hour or so later, it was beeping again.  I finally asked Mom and Dad to stop beeping - the stupid thing kept it up.  I was beginning to wonder if I had a spook or something!

Then on Monday, when Phil and I sat down for breakfast, I noticed "someone" sitting next to him in the booth.  It was a small person and I said, 'Phil!  Your mom's here!'  A moment later, there was a man sitting on the other side of him - his step dad.  I greeted them and Phil said he was thinking about his sister and put a call in to her right then.  She didn't answer, so he just left a message.

When we got home, the thermometer beeped again and I acknowledged HIS mom and dad and the beeping stopped completely!!  It was Phil's folks attempting to let me know that they were there.  We still haven't heard from Phil's sister.  That's really not surprising as they don't always respond quickly to a call.  I'm sure he'll check back in a day or two. 

Too funny!  I was sure it was my parents - the energy of parents was coming through pretty clearly - it was just Phil's parents that were the one's checking in.  They had to work around old batteries andnew batteries and my switching "modes" on the thermometer to continue to make the silly thing beep.  To be honest, I had NEVER heard the thing beep ever before and we had the thing since the last house.  that would be at least 6 years without a beep and then to beep day and night for attention was something.

Haven't heard a beep from them since.  Sometimes they just need us to be aware and make the connection.  Phil mentioned in his phone message to his sister that his mom and dad had made an appearance.  That may have been all that needed to happen.

So, if you miss a connection with the other side - realize that even those of us who do it for a living miss it!!  Fortunately, they keep trying to let us know they love us and that they are there in our lives still.  That's a blessing.  If you wish your loved ones would reach out to you and you don't feel that they are, know that they ARE there.  If you think about them and talk to them, they hear you - even if you don't feel or hear them.  That connection is still there.  Sometimes we miss them so much that we just cannot experience them here any more.  Sometimes they can break through our sorrow and bring us a beep or a flashing lightbulb or visit our dreams.  The love is there.  All we can do is trust that truth and live to the best of our ability.  You never know when a penny will show up as a hello - "Pennies From Heaven"  Try to not look too hard.  It's harder for them to reach us when we are distraught or urgently seeking a sign.  Sometimes its hard for them to reach us when we are open and oblivious!!  Like I had been.  We just life in the knowing that love survives and the link and bond between us and our loved ones lasts forever!

Well, perhaps this should go under "Getting Personal" instead of "What's Up" yet it certainly falls into both realms.

So much to tell you.  First of all, my phone died.  I mean died.  Cannot seem to reset it - I'm in a bit of a panic, so I will try again when I am calm as my energy can mess with stuff - especially electronic things.  I missed TWO appointments because I didn't have the info available - one I lost track of time as I was finishing my Fall Newsletter, The Portal - whew!  Big job!  and the other, I called the number I had in my files and it was an incorrect number . . . apparently it wasn't the same number that I had put in my cell phone.  Now here's the kicker!!  I cannot find the e-mail the client sent me with their phone number on it!  I've been through the deleted files, the drafts, the inbox, the junk files - all of them!!  I found other e-mails from a year ago with the wrong number on it, but not the current phone.  So, something's up!!  There is always a reason for such delays.

Unfortunately, my brain barely remembers the rest of the week, so I hope I get my sessions correct!!  I think a trip to the phone store is next on my list of things to do!!  Unless I calm down and can reset the thing.  Of course I do not have things backed up for this week!!  That would be too easy!

Don't you just love that I am very human, too!  Take comfort, lots of comfort because I am WAY human and prone to lots of challenges, technical and spiritual!

So with that said - whew again!  here's some fun stuff!

Phil and I went for a walk the other day and he found the most unusual rock!  He said it was significant for both of us.  It had all kinds of weird markings on it.  I had been given a book by a friend in Spokane (Hi Jan!) called Other Council Fires Were Here Before Ours by Sams & Nitsch (a Seneca Elder).  In the back of the book, there is a list of markings that can be found on rocks and what they mean.  This is not about graffiti, this is the natural lines and color markins in common rocks.  The Native Americans believe that you can ask a question or ask for guidance about something, and then you'll be led to a rock with markings on it and the markings will give you a message from Spirit.

The rock that Phil picked up said a LOT!!

One marking was a clear, distinct right angle which means the Power of work; being helpful to others, and working for the greater good.  Both Phil and I do our best to be helpful and work for the highest good (even when the phone dies - breathe, Janice, let it go.  I just feel badly that I let two people down.  My word means a promise and I didn't fulfill my promises to those people.  Breathe, let it go, Janice)

There were also two small verticle lines equal in length on either side of the right angle.  These verticle lines mean Energy; the power of spirit, a spiritual life path.  True for both Phil and I.

One other marking was a Right Acute Angle meaning the power of acceptance; accepting honor for achievements, accepting the truth, receiving graciously.  Both Phil and I are learning to accept the truth of who we are and receiving honor graciously.  It's really easy for either of us to blow off a compliment.  We are learning to take it on and honor the one who gives the gift of appreciation.  We are learning acceptance. 

How cool is that!  Rocks are fun!  I plan to have the book at our picnic and encourage people to ask a question then seek a rock for answers then we'll look up what the lines and squigglies mean.  Way cool!

Pray for a healing for my phone!  Pray for peace for me!  Thanks!!!  Hope you are having a great day!!

We had a Baptismal/Pool party on Sunday.  19 people chose to receive the blessing of baptism!  It was way cool.  A couple of things I wanted to share with you about that. . .

After the baptisms, we swam and enjoyed the beautiful pool and the beautiful day and the wonderful company.  As I was getting out of the pool, one who had not been baptized but had been there to celebrate with us mentioned that her wrenched shoulder was remarkable better.  With all the love and healing energy in the pool, she had received a healing without even realizing it!  A few minutes later, one of the ones who had been baptized mentioned that her arm was remarkably better after being in the pool.  Another healing!  Way cool!

When we first started the baptism, it seemed as if everyone was a bit tense and holding back.  Once people saw what it was all about, they relaxed into the process and were delighted to have the opportunity to take on this spiritual sacrement without shame or guilt or fear, but out of a clear choice to follow the sacred path.  How cool is that!?!

I must admit my shoulders were quite sore after the baptism.  It wasnt' until we were nearly done that I noticed that Phil was holding them up while I was trying to get them under water.  We had to laugh.  There isn't a training manual in how to do this stuff and we are learning as we go.  He still didn't get the idea of helping them under (humans tend to float!) so we'll work on that for the next time.

One member decided she did want to be baptised but was very afraid of water.  She didn't want to be pushed back into the water at all.  She went straight down and that worked, too!  She was so wanting the baptism but was so afraid.  Her face was truly radiant when she emerged having done it in a way that allowed her to feel safe.  That was way cool as well!!

Later that day and for most of the next, I battled demons in my head.  I grew up on fear and fear raised its ugly head attempting to upset me (see home page article!)  I had to hold the line and not let fear rule my heart.  Should I have said this, should I have said that?  Did I do it "right"?  Eventually, love and grace won out and fear left me.  I'm in no way perfect and I can live with that.  I'm just doing my best the best way I can.  Like the Native Americans say . . . "In a good way."  Maybe not the best way or the way someone else might like to see it, but in a good way.

What is really cool is that Monday, Phil and I went out to Two Rivers nature trail for a walk with the dogs.  That's where we would walk when the church first had it's beginning and we would wonder what we would do next and be inspired on that walk.  As I was telling Phil that I had let go of the fear and "upset" that had plagued me (he had been a real help in helping me see my truth through the fog of fear) he stopped and pointed at the ground.  It was a feather.  It looked like a common goose feather and I have plenty of those, but I felt like it was important, so I stopped to pick it up.  As I picked it up and turned it over, I realized that it was an Owl feather!!  Owl is one of my totem spirit animal guides!

The very first time Phil and I had walked Two Rivers and talked about the church, a feather circled out of the sky and landed tip in the ground, stading up at my feet.  That was an Owl feather!!

For me, I received a message from Spirit that letting go of the fear was true and right and good and that it was wise and I was being acknowledged for that journey.  Interestingly enough, the feather doesn't look like a goose feather at all, no matter which way I turn it in the light.  It's like it was disguised and didn't reveal itself until I picked it up.  Blessings and signs are not always easily apparent.  Sometimes, like the rest of life, we reach out in faith and the beautiful gift unfolds.  I cannot tell you how beautiful that experience was for me and how much I needed it!

May you be so blessed!

It's an interesting world in which we live.

A client has been asking some questions regarding a murder investigation going on in her home town.  Some of the tidbits that I've been able to offer may be helpful in solving the crime. Time will tell.

It's certainly not like those on the other side just plainly and clearly say what happened and who did it and where.  It's all in bits and pieces and filled with trauma and pain.  This particular victim has not yet crossed over, so she hasn't received a healing and is still in a bit of a fog.  It's pretty exhausting work for me.  I'm sure others are better at it than me.  I assisted an old cold case once before and I experienced a similar exhaustion and fog from the victim. 

They may or may not want justice - mostly they just don't know why they can't walk back into their old lives before the tragedy happened.  They just don't seem to understand that they are in another realm and can move on to something else.  This recent victim is certainly in that spot.  She isn't ready to cross over.  When I asked for help in her behalf, Jesus came and is just waiting there with her.  She would rather not look at the crime itself and is resistant to give any information as that validates that she is no longer living.  She would rather not look at the passageway to the light because she isn't yet ready to walk away from the life she once had.  Breaks my heart.

She doesn't contact me or come to me for comfort or information.  She comes when I take a look at the event and ask for clarification, but she's not really forthcoming with much info as yet.

Ya know . . . we do the same thing when we are alive.  We don't look forward because we get so caught up in what was.  We refuse to let go because stepping into the unknows is, well.....unknown!  Who likes that!  I sure don't.  It isn't until Spirit gets the message across that what was, will no longer work, and we get tired of banging our head on the wall - then and only then do many of us reluctantly move forward. 

I am like that.  I want what was because it is what I know.  Even though what was doesn't serve me or anyone else, I'm just reluctant to move on.  After my recent "Exit Point" I know that things are changing.  I don't know what they will look like or how to embrace new things as yet.  So, I just keep working on letting go of how it used to be.  Every time I try to reinvest energy into doing something like I used to do or be, my energy drops like arock and I am unable to move in that direction.  You'd think I'd take a hint, but, alas, I have a stubborn streak.  That stubborn streak serves me well in some situations because I don't give up and can work toward a goal relentlessly.  That stubborn streak does not serve me when it's time to release. 

So, I keep praying for willingness and when I do that, my energy level rises and I find myself optimistic and joyful even though I'm completely clueless.  (Okay, so that's not a new state of being for me.)  I can then trust the process and allow life to unfold and the journey to be revealed.  Some days I trust/resist multiple times throughout the day.  At least I can laugh about it.  That's something!

In a recent blog, Brenda noted that there was a typo in the word awareness.  I had typed awaremess.  Brenda noted that when we are full of doubt, our ability to be aware IS a MESS!  Too true, Brenda!  When I get resistant, my awareness is awareMESS!!

May YOUR day be more trust than resist and may willingness join you in your journey though life.

Had the opportunity to spend some time with the grandkids on Sunday.  My son and his girlfriend decided to say their vows to each other in a private ceremony down by the river.  It was just a bit of a hike down to the trees and it was certainly a lovely day on Sunday.

We got there and each boy was given a task.  The youngest a three year old girl was given the task of holding the bride's rings and bringing them to her at the appropriate time.  Well, I had to laugh.  Little Jaelyn was so excited about the Rollie Pollie bugs!  She was all bent over and watching them intently.  Don't know if, at her age, she was just not quite ready to see her dad get re-married or if she just was thrilled about the many bugs.  She would pick one up and it would roll off her hand and she would say, (Loudly) "Gwamma!  I lost my bug!"  The boys were video taping the event, and I'm sure they didn't hear Phil leading the service, I'm sure every few seconds on the tape there is, "Gwamma!  I lost my bug!"  "Where is it Gwamma?" 

Needless to say, Gwamma held the ring until the right time and Jaelyn brought bugs and ring to her new step-mom.  It was a sacred moment sprinkled with the delight of a child.  I thought it was wonderful!!