LET'S TALK ABOUT TAKING THINGS FROM A HAUNTED LOCATION. IS IT OK OR ARE WE JUST ASKING FOR TROUBLE?

Spanish Fort, Texas

We've all heard that you are never supposed to take something from a haunted location, right?  Well, what if curiosity gets the better of you and you just can't stand it, you have to take SOMETHING?  Just a small rock, just a small bottle of dirt, or maybe just this little, bitty piece of glass.  That won't hurt anything and nothing bad will happen. Right? Wrong.

Everything that is anything has an energy and sometimes that energy can be attached to an object and sometimes it can be attached to a location.  Stories and stories have been told about someone just picking up the smallest of objects from a haunted location only to find that they soon start experiencing paranormal activity or bad things start to happen or they suddenly start "seeing things" that they have never seen before...hence...ghosts.

Think of it like this.  You are sitting in your living room just minding your own business when someone steps inside your house and takes your coffee cup you left sitting on the coffee table and then they just walk out.  I'm pretty sure you would be like WHAT THE HELL and go after that person to give it back to you.  Right?  That coffee cup belongs to you in your house.  That's what happens when you are in a haunted location and you take something from it.  It is not yours, and it should stay where you found it. 

So, before I tell you my story just let me say...I KNOW BETTER!  But here we go...

A couple weekends ago, my boyfriend, Deak and I decided to take a long drive out to an abandon cemetery I had heard of Red River Station.  Let me say, it was quit the chore to find this cemetery!  We literally had to drive through farm land full of cattle to get to it.  And it was in the middle of NO MAN'S LAND let me tell you!

Before we found the cemetery, we went to a very small community called Spanish Fort.   At its peak, the town had numerous businesses and churches, a Masonic lodge, five physicians, four hotels, and several saloons. Spanish Fort became known as a very rough and tumble cowboy town, and at least 40 murders are said to have occurred during the cattle drive heyday.  Native Americans long used the fertile areas near the Red River for farming and hunting. Taovoyas took over an abandoned French garrison here around 1750 to defend against Spanish incursions in the area. In 1759, in the Battle of the Twin Villages, a Spanish army under Col. Diego Ortiz Parrilla attacked the Taovoyas' fortified position, but were defeated by a force of both the Taovoyas and Comanche tribes. Anglo settlers later misnamed the area Spanish Fort after assuming that the Spanish forces had built a fortification there, rather than the French.

There is nothing left of this town but an old store front and a small wooden house that sits beside it.

Well, of course, we parked, got out to explore the two remaining building.  There is nothing inside them and the windows have been broken out and the ceiling is all falling in.  The perfect place to have a ghost hunt.  Just sayin...:)

As I was walking around the old buildings and I found a piece of glass that I could tell was very old.  Greenish in color and very thick.  Not like you would see today.  So, I picked it up and looked at it pondering as to what it used to be and stuck it in the pocket of my hoodie.  Now, wasn't that a good idea???  NOT!!!!

Literally as we were getting back in the car, I pulled the piece of glass out of my pocket and showed it to my boyfriend, Deak.  He asked me was I going to take it?  And Deak has been with me long enough and been to many haunted locations and knows the "law of the lands" per say.  I could see it in his eyes he thought I should put it back.  I had one foot in the car and the other out, just staring at it, rolling it around in my hand, while my curious mind was saying, "Take it.  It's just a piece of glass but how cool would it be to have something from that long ago".  Then, the Becky Ghost Hunter voice was kicking in, saying "Don't do it!  You know better!"  But after a few minutes of the battle of the minds, I decided that it wouldn't hurt anything and stuck it back in my pocket.

This was on a Monday.  We were off because it was a holiday.  Martin Luther King Day.  We finally found the secluded, abandon cemetery and I will tell you about that, next time.  You won't believe THAT story!!!

So, the whole time I have this piece of glass, this nagging little voice keeps saying, "You shouldn't have taken that." And I keep thinking, "It will be fine".  So, we found the glass on Monday and Tuesday comes along.  I have a miniature schnauzer named...you guessed it Kasper, yes after the ghost but spelled with a "K".  You know how you know your dogs habits and how he or she acts, well I noticed that Kasper would sit on the end of the couch just starring at the staircase.  Like, intense staring.  This is something, I had never seen him do before.  He wasn't barking or growling, just staring.  I would ask him, "What's wrong boy?" and he would just look at me for a minute and go back to staring. hhhhhuummm Clue-number one that something is not right.  When I tell you this went on all day and night, it went on all day and night.  Finally, we go to bed around 10:00 and he sleeps with me at the foot of my bed.  

It was around 10:15pm and I was on the phone with Deak telling him goodnight when all the sudden, Kasper jumps off the bed and starts barking and runs into the living room. (Just for the record, he is not a barker.  Very rarely does he bark other than when I first arrive home)  I can hear a loud man's voice but can not tell what he is saying.  I tell Deak "Just a minute" because I am so confused as to what is happening.  Even Deak hears it on the other end of the phone and asked "What is that"?  Well, I have an Alexa in my living room as well as every other room in my house but ONLY the living room one had turned on.  It was a man's voice not a song, but it was so loud that I just turned it off without really paying attention to what it was saying.  Here's the even stranger part.  I have all my Alexa's connect to one group.  This mean whenever Alexa is on, it plays on all the Alexa's in the house NOT JUST ONE!  So, not only am I puzzled about how it came on by itself, I am confused as to why it is not playing on all the Alexa's.  hhhhuuummm  Clue number two something is not right. 

Now, it's about 3:15am in the morning and again, Kasper awakens me by jumping off the bed, barking and runs into the living room.  I sit straight up and from my bed I can see down the hallway a bright light and I can hear that the TV is on.  What the hell?  I didn't leave the tv on.  Can I   So, I get up and go to the living room, and sure enough the tv is on.  I turn off it off, and go back to bed with Kasper. Clue-number two something is not right.  I do find it strange, but not strange enough to keep me up so I fall back to sleep, as does Kasper.  Then, 4:00am rolls around and all the sudden my living room Alexa comes on with some man talking!  Can this really be happening in the same night???  I jump up and run to the living room and nothing was happening and the Alexa was off.  What the hell???  Am I losing my mind?

I finally go back to sleep and before I knew it, it was 6:00am and time to get up for work.  As I got ready work, I couldn't help but think of all the things that had happened the night before.  It was just to much!!!  Holy cow!!!  WHY?  Why was I having so much activity in my house?

The thought did cross my mind, could it be the piece of broken glass I picked up and brought home?  Of course not!  It was just a small piece of broken glass lying on the ground. So what?  

I went to the kitchen to make myself my usual glass of chocolate milk.  I got out the milk, mixed the chocolate syrup in, stirred it, and set the glass on the counter to put the milk back in the refrigerator as I do every morning.  But THIS morning, I turned around and knocked the glass of chocolate milk off the counter and it fell to the floor shattering into pieces and milk went everywhere!  Damn!  I had never done that before.  As I started to pick up the pieces of broken glass, I suddenly had some clarity on what was going on.  I am a BIG BELIEVER in signs and how much more of a "sign" do I need than picking up a piece of broken glass?  My sign was obviously the glass I had picked up from Spanish Fort was the cause of all the things happening in my home.  It couldn't have been more clear!!!

So, I went to my bedroom, got the piece of glass out of my nightstand and immediately took it out to the garbage, which how perfect that it was trash day as well.  I dropped it in the garbage bag and said a little prayer then took it out to the street to be picked up by the garbage truck.

Here's what I want people to know.  It doesn't matter how big or how small or how insignificant an object may seem, IT DOESN'T BELONG TO YOU!  You have to think of it like this.  A stranger walks in your house and takes something of yours, and turns around and walks out.  Are you going to just sit there and let them go, or are you going to try and find them and get the object back?  Spirits are no different.  These things belong to them.

So please, don't take anything that isn't yours.  What started happening to me at my house, was very minimal compared to what really could happen.  Much more dangerous things can be attached to an object.  So, be careful and be safe. 

Seems harmless enough.

Just a little broken glass.

In the trash it goes!

Inside the old store.

A piece of tin the tree grew around.

Love this pic for some reason.

Many of us just immediately think of "haunted houses" when you hear there is paranormal activity going on.  But hauntings came be in so many more places... cemeteries, theaters, out in battle fields and one of my favorite places, jails!

I wanted to share a quick article about The 10 most haunted jails and prisons in the US with you, so when you are "breaking out of the Covid lockdown" you can hit the roads and maybe find one of these amazing jails or prisons to check out!  

And as always, I would love to hear about any experiences you have :)

  

10 most haunted jails and prisons in the US

Creepy incidents at these prisons and jails may indicate some inmates and officers never left.

By C1 Staff

Correctional facilities see a lot of misery and anger, two emotions often attributed to hauntings. Since it’s the spookiest time of the year, we decided to do a little sleuthing and make a list of the most haunted correctional facilities in the U.S.

Here are ten prisons, none of which are still open, that will give you chills were you to set foot inside. Sound off in the comments if we missed one, or to add your own creepy experiences at your own facility.

Eastern State Penitentiary, constructed in the 1820s during the first major wave of penitentiary building in the United States. (Photo Wikipedia)

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MISSOURI STATE PENITENTIARY (JEFFERSON CITY, MO.)

Open from the early 1830s to 2004, this state penitentiary earned the nickname “bloodiest 47 acres in America” due to frequent violence inside its walls. Forty inmates were executed inside its gas chamber during its operation. Just from these two facts, it should come as no surprise that staff and visitors have reported dozens of eerie encounters with lingering spirits.

WYOMING TERRITORIAL PRISON (LARAMIE, WYO.)

Built in 1873 after the expansion of the railroad brought a flood of unsavory characters to Laramie, the facility’s main claim to fame is the incarceration of Butch Cassidy from 1894 to 1896. Since it housed well over 1,000 inmates during its operation, it’s no surprise that ghostly activity has been reported. The most talked about is that of Julius Greenwald, who used to make and sell cigars while serving time for the murder of his wife. Visitors to the site report smelling cigars inside the facility, even though it’s been closed since 1903.

WEST VIRGINIA PENITENTIARY (MOUNDSVILLE, W. VA.)

Most people don’t want to go to jail, but ghost hunters are all but banging down the doors to get inside this facility. Open for 129 years, the Moundsville facility housed thousands of inmates and saw scores of deaths through suicide and violence. This facility housed Old Sparky and The Hole, a brutal solitary confinement area that often drove inmates insane. Visitors claim to have heard ghostly footsteps, voices and noises that have no explanation. They’ve also experienced cold chills and overwhelming feelings of panic, among other things.

POTTAWATAMIE COUNTY JAIL (COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA)

The structure of the Old Pottawatamie County Jail is unique; three tiers with ten cells on each tier were intended to rotate continuously throughout the night by means of a water wheel in the basement, thus allowing all prisoners to be continuously watched from one location. This set-up earned the jail the nickname the “squirrel cage jail,” but much to the lament of officials, the stone was too heavy to turn as intended. Another strike against the design was when an inmate died in his cell, trapping the body for days. Doors were eventually carved into all of the cells. There were a few other deaths in the prison, including that of an officer who accidentally shot himself while protecting the facility from an angry mob.

LAKE COUNTY JAIL (CROWN POINT, IND.)

This facility was believed to be ‘escape-proof’ upon construction, but the builders were proved wrong when John Dillinger broke out on March 3, 1934.The jail remained operational until the 1970s, and has since undergone a restoration as a historical site. Apparitions have been spotted in cells, doors open and close on their own, lights turn on and off, and footsteps and voices have been heard by visitors and volunteers.

MAXWELL STREET POLICE STATION (CHICAGO, ILL.)

This police station, built in 1889, quickly garnered a corrupt reputation due to crime organizations in the area. Many who were arrested never returned from the basement area of the station, which was believed to be used for torture. The station was repurposed in 1997 and used for security for the nearby University of Illinois Chicago campus. Currently it’s being used for filming the TV show ‘Chicago PD,’ and visitors say they’ve heard screams coming from the basement, along with moaning, crying and the sounds of rattling handcuffs.

OHIO PENITENTIARY (COLUMBUS, OHIO)

This jail saw scores of deaths from fire, cholera outbreaks, murder and executions in the state’s electric chair during its run between 1834 and 1979. Three-hundred and twenty two inmates were killed in a single night in 1930 when a fire swept through the west block of the penitentiary. Even when the prison was still in operation, inmates complained of ghostly sightings and eerie happenings. The building has since been torn down, and yet people still say they’ve seen apparitions among the ruins. The prison has since been replaced by a sports arena, which is also rumored to be haunted.

OHIO STATE REFORMATORY (MANSFIELD, OHIO)

Most famous due to the film ‘The Shawshank Redemption,’ the Ohio State Reformatory saw thousands of prisoners during its operation between 1896 and 1986. Originally believed to be a humane prison where offenders could be rehabilitated, it quickly devolved into a place known for torture, abuse and murder. Inmates eventually filed a lawsuit describing its inhabitable conditions. Visitors to the facility have reported apparitions, hearing footsteps, and experienced unsettling encounters inside the cells where inmates once lived.

ALCATRAZ PENITENTIARY (SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.)

Considered America’s ‘ultimate’ prison, the ‘Rock’ was a place where the country’s worst offenders were dumped. It incarcerated the likes of Al Capone, Doc Barker, George “Machine Gun” Kelly and more during its operation. Since it was set in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, most considered it unescapable; there is one successful escape attempt, but it’s unclear if the inmates drowned in the bay or made it to shore. The prison closed one year after that escape and the facility is now regarded as one of America’s most haunted locations. Staff have reported ghosts, screams and eerie music.

EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY (PHILADELPHIA, PA.)

This facility was the first to be dubbed a ‘penitentiary,’ which derived from the term ‘penitent.’ The Quakers who built it believed it would be a place where offenders could ponder their crimes. Inmates were confined in windowless rooms and not allowed any human contact. Suicide became common under these conditions. Solitary confinement was ended in the 1870s, and the prison closed a century later. Paranormal encounters have become commonplace within its walls, including apparitions, disembodied footsteps and strange sounds.

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UFO OVER TEXAS SKY-MARCH 1, 2020

CAN OUR LOVED ONES REALLY SEND US MESSAGES?

Dedicated in memory of

Sean Lucero

July 25, 1988-February 15, 2016

Can our loved ones really send us messages from above?  Man, wouldn't that be great if they could?  Guess what?  They can and DO!  When we lose a loved one, our hearts break and sometimes we feel we can't go on without one LAST word, touch, kiss or hug.  We just need one more minute with them! 

I want to share a VERY PERSONAL story with you.  I work with this very nice gentleman that lost his son about 4 years ago.  He is still struggling with the loss and we talk about it every now and then.  He came in my office the other day and ask if we could talk.  I said of course.  He came in and sat down in one of the chairs that sit in front of my desk and almost in a hesitant way asked could he ask me a question.  

This gentleman's name is Ron Lucero.  I have known Ron for years and he knows that I am very into signs, paranormal, spirits and that stuff so for him to act a "little shy" about asking me anything was a little weird. Ron says, "do you think Sean could send me signs that he is still around?"  I looked at him and said, "of course he can!"  He said, "oh do you think God would let him?"  This question hit me like a ton of bricks.  My heart physically hurt.  Did this man think that because his son was in heaven that he could never see or hear from again?  My heart was breaking and I was thinking...how many other people must think this way?  That their loved ones can't give us a message or sign because they are in heaven?  

Ron continued to tell me that over the Christmas holiday's he was at home with his wife and was feeling very depressed about Sean and was struggling to shake this bad feeling.  He said it was just one of THOSE BAD DAYS that we have all experienced when we lose someone close to us.  He said his wife was asking if he was ok. He said yes just a little sad but the longer he sat there the sadder he was getting.  Then all of the sudden a music box sitting on the mantel close to Sean's picture just goes off by itself!!!  It just starts playing music.  He said he looked at his wife and was like what the heck and she looked just as surprised as he was!  Neither of them had touched it all day....it just started to play all by itself!!!  Was this Sean?  Simple answer.  In my opinion, yes.  Without a doubt.

Two things about this story, says to me Sean was trying to send his Dad a message from above.  First, the minute his Dad heard the music going off his first thought was how did that happen and was it Sean? So what does this do?  It makes Ron STOP thinking about the loss and the sad thoughts and focuses on it might be Sean trying to give him a message.  What's the message?  The music symbolizes...something happy.  Something SPECIAL.  It is a distraction from the sadness.  Is that a coincidence?  Nope.  I don't think so.  Second thing, it makes Ron think about Sean in a different way.  That he is near, that he is still with him in spirit and trying to let him know that.  Now, Ron's heart is a little less heavy thinking about Sean in a positive way.

So, back to the question Ron asked.  "Does God let our loved ones give us signs?"  Ok.  I want people to understand what I'm about to say.  God is a loving God.  When you die and go to heaven PLEASE don't think that...…. that's it.  Your loved one's are gone.  If you are struggling or maybe you just need some guidance... of course, God will let your loved ones come for a "visitation".  He actually allows them to be with us always.  He would never want you to surfer and neither would your loved ones.

Here's the thing about signs.  I could write for days about ALL the signs we get from above but for this, I'll keep it short.  Sometimes we get signs from above when we don't even realize we need one but when you ask for a sign.....and get it...……..don't blow it off!  Don't dismiss it as a coincidence.  They are HERE for us and doing everything they can to let us know that.  Signs are given to validate they are still with us.  Whether it's a penny on the ground, a feather in an unusual place, something misplaced that shows up somewhere it shouldn't be....whatever the case may be...accept it.....be grateful and say "Thank you."

One more thing, ASK for signs!!!  If you remember nothing of this story.....remember to ASK for signs.  Make it something that you normally wouldn't see.  For example......Ask to see a purple pig.  You know that isn't something you see everyday SO when you DO see it....you'll know that it is TRULY a sign from above. :)

I want to thank Ron Lucero and his family for letting me share this very personal story and hopefully it helps someone else. :)  RIP Sean.  

FAIRIES. IS THIS PROOF THEY REALLY EXIST?

 

 

Do you believe in Fairies????  No.  Not the tooth fairy.  REAL FAIRIES.  Like the ones that live in the forest and flutter around?  Huumm  That is a tough one for me.  I believe in ghosts so why couldn't there be fairies? Right? 

The definition of a Fairy is (also fata, fay, fey, fae, fair folk; from faery, faerie, "realm of the fays") is a type of mythical being or legendary creature in European folklore (and particularly Celtic, Slavic, German, English, and French folklore), a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural, or preternatural.   See if the definition of a Fairy it does seem to have a lot to do metaphysical things and you know me, I'm into that! lol

I saw a video on TV the other day and it really peaked my interest in fairies.  I openly admit I do not no much about fairies and have not encountered a one.  But I like the idea of them.  Check out the video below and see what you think?

According to realfairies.net these are the kind of fairies you may encounter.  If you have encountered a fairy, please email me, I would love to hear about your experience. :)

The Well-Known Pixies

No taller than 6 inches,  the winged pixies can shape-shift the size of their humanoid form as needed. Although they can be very curious, fun-loving creatures, they do have another side. They feel a great responsibility toward other, similar-sized fairies (brownies and gherrings) and often become involved as peacekeepers.
Pixies love flowers and gardens and, like hummingbirds, they love to sip nectar from flowers like honeysuckle. They have a very high metabolism, so they frequently enjoy high energy foods like sweets, milk, and cream.
These hard-working, industrious people live in large colonies designed to ensure their safety. They build their cities high up in trees and magically cloak them, so they are unlikely to be discovered. When encountering danger, they like to face their enemy as a massive cloud of angry pixies, similar to a swarm of bees.
Despite their fierce defensive posture, they are very friendly, kind and helpful to many different types of beings, including humans. Pixies can live to be 100 years old and are ruled by a king or queen.

Trooping Fairies 

Trooping fairies are generally similar in appearance to brownies (see below) and do not have wings. In fact, a brownie we spoke to told us trooping fairies are actually brownies that troop together in long lines. This formation often happens when they are going to war.
Trooping fairies tend to be a bit different from the average brownie. They are more serious, organized and sophisticated in lifestyle compared to the more rustic, and friendly brownie.
To stay out of sight, trooping fairies prefer to travel through the woods where there is a lot of underbrush.  Some people also believe they inhabit trees which are often referred to as “fairy trees.”

Brownies

Brownies are brave, adventurous people that can reach a height of 6 inches tall.  In their world, they are also known as “nims” but are more commonly known as brownies from wearing brown clothing and living close to the earth. They do not have wings but are quite capable of getting to high places when needed, with the help of a bird or one another.  In the wild, brownies live in the woods or high grass where they often build hidden or underground homes.  They do this to protect themselves from beings who are larger and more powerful than they are.
Brownies are very social and prefer to live together in towns or large family groups. They scavenge to survive and spend their days hunting for food, household goods, and other items they can use for trade. When it comes to humans, they are usually friendly with those who are like-minded.

Fauns

With horns on his head,  a human torso and the body of a goat below the waist, the faun is a unique creature. Found in woodland forests, fauns tend to be alluring, seductive and quite compelling. To get what they desire, they often prey upon their unsuspecting victims by using mind control and magic they’ve conjured from their pipes or flute.
According to the elves, if you see a faun, you should avert your eyes because as soon as they have your attention, you are under their control.  They are neutral but can be very dangerous.

Merpeople

Commonly known as mermaids and mermen, those we have spoken with prefer to be known as mer, or merfolk.  Unlike humans, merfolk do not live in structures or houses. They swim together as a family unit but are also part of a larger community united under one ruler. Merfolk spend much of their day together hunting for fish, and other sea creatures to eat. They intentionally have large families because living in the sea is very dangerous and many of their young do not make it to adulthood.
Lately, the mer have been more visible in our world because they are concerned with the overwhelming number of oil spills and pollution that has seeped into their world from our world. They are generally unhappy about this pollution and destruction of their waters and they tend to hold humans wholly responsible. Right now, the point they are trying to communicate to us is that the health of the oceans affects us all.

Leprechauns 

Leprechauns are typically between 2-3 feet tall and are master craftsmen, often specializing in shoemaking. Legends sometimes depict them as loners, but that is not true. Found mainly in Ireland, they live together in villages well-protected by their magic. They have a great love for gold and ale and spend a good deal of time thinking about collecting and enjoying both!
Leprechauns are known to be information brokers, selling information they’ve acquired for a fair price. They have a reputation for being tricksters, but they are generally honest, good-hearted people that have a strong regard for honesty.

Gnomes

Shy and cautious by nature, gnomes seek only the company of their own kind.  At 9 inches tall, they believe their small size makes them vulnerable to bullies and always try to go unnoticed.  Known for their iconic red, pointy caps, they actually wear a variety of different clothing besides that single color and style.
You will find gnomes in most natural areas around the world in small isolated communities. They eat fruit, mushrooms, nuts, root vegetables, eggs, and meat only occasionally. Being deeply connected to nature, they are master healers and are known for healing sick and injured animals.

Grundels 

Frequently found in the homes of larger elves, grundels and elves have a symbiotic relationship. Grundels gladly work in service for the elves in exchange for a safe and happy home.  They are dedicated to their host family of elves and generally stay with the same family for generations, moving with them as necessity dictates.  For their part, elves have great respect and love for grundels and consider them family. Grundels are about 3 feet tall and often wear striped clothing. (Sorry, no picture yet available)

Hobgoblins 

The hobgoblin is a solitary,  dark brown creature who inhabits the forest and lives in trees.  In general, this neutral fairy is a peaceful fellow who enjoys keeping to himself (or herself). He is not usually aggressive unless provoked but he can get especially nasty when his tree is at risk. Since his temper can flare easily, it is wise to try and stay on his good side.

Elves

Elves are a very long-lived race found in many places throughout their world.  Gifted with sharper senses, grace, agility, and perceptions than humans, they excel in the arts and crafts. This also includes the art of magic which they define as the gathering, focusing and directing of natural energy.  In general, elves avoid technology and live close to nature in an idyllic setting, respecting and working with all aspects of nature.
Physically, elves are approximately the same height as humans but slighter in build. Their faces are similar to humans but noticeably different. They have high cheekbones, more angular features, mesmerizing eyes, and the pointed ears so often depicted in books and movies.
Elves belong to two main groups: the Seelie or light elves and the Unseelie or dark elves. In general, the Seelie elves want to work with humans to heal the planet we both share while the Unseelie would prefer to solve their problems by eliminating all of humanity.
The Elves of Fyn, the source of the information on this site, belong to the first group (Seelie) and you can find a bit more information about them here. To be safe, humans should try to avoid contact with the Unseelie altogether.

So, do fairies exist?  I believe they can.  Just like UFO's, ghosts, and Bigfoot there are things we may never be able to prove 100%.   Just like having "hope".  We can't PROVE that "having hope" helps us through life events, but we do it anyway.  So if we can have "hope" why can't we "believe"?

ARE WE STILL BEST FRIENDS WHEN WE CROSS OVER?

Are we still BEST FRIENDS when we cross to the other side?  This was a question I was asked this past weekend and I thought I would blog about it because I can only assume many people wonder about this after losing a best friend.  What will they do without them?  Right?  This is probably the number one concern of people that feel they have a  "soul connection" to another human being.  The one person or multi people that you feel know you the best and love you unconditionally.  The person that has been there for you through the good and the bad.  The person that made you laugh when all you wanted to do was cry.  The person that screamed the loudest when you succeeded and was your biggest fan.  Guess what?  Those feelings never change!

The Golden Girls 

One of my FAVORITE shows about Best Friends(Does that tell my age? LOL)

 

When a person dies this doesn't mean you never get to see or speak to them again.  Of course you still can!  And want to know something else.....they are ALWAYS there for you and even though you may not directly hear the voices you can feel their presence when you need it the most and sometimes when you least expect it.

Here's the deal.  Many people think that once you cross over and go to Heaven....that's it.  No more communicating with the living because they are in Heaven. Right? Wrong!  I am going to say this in a "Beckyism".  When people go to Heaven..... God doesn't say, "You are in Heaven now, you can not go back and help your friends and family in their time of need or sadness".  God is a loving God.  So he absolutely allows you to "visit" your friends and family to give them comfort or guide them in some way and then return "HOME".

So, the next time, you feel sad about losing your Best Friend, know that your Best Friend is not gone.  Think of it this way.... he/she is only in another room next to you.  You can't see them but you can hear them and feel that they are near.  So....talk away!!!!  Say what you need to just as your friend was right next to you (because they probably are) and take comfort in knowing they are not "gone" they have just stepped in the room "next door".

They still know when you do something silly and are laughing right along with you.  They know when you are doing something you love and they are right there supporting you.  And when you are sad and lonely, they have their arms wrapped around you gently as they always did.  The "soul connection" is NEVER lost are gone it's just how you see them now.  And one more thing.....every time you smile...…….so do they!!!!!!!!!  So don't forget to smile. :)

Losing someone close to you can be so overwhelming that it is hard to move forward.....so I want to share a little secret of mine that I hope will make you smile at least for a moment.  When you see a beautiful sunset or sunrise in all the beautiful pinks, purples, blues and yellows....that is JUST FOR YOU!!!!  No one else.....but YOU!!!!  It is a way that your loved ones can show you how they are feeling and how much love they are sending directly to YOU!!!!!!

 

Just for ME at one of my favorite

places from someone I miss dearly.

I couldn't help but smile.  Thank you.

 

 Because I am such a huge fan of The Golden Girls I wanted to share this video of Rue McClanahan (Blanche) talking about a sign that she received from her Best Friend Rill.  Don't forget to ask for a sign from your loved one they just may be waiting for you to ask.  :)

Sorry, A&E blocked me from sharing the video, but you can look it up on Youtube. :)

For those of you who need a sign!

 

DO OUR DEPARTED PETS GIVE US SIGNS THEY ARE STILL HERE?

Your heart is breaking.....and the tears come pouring down your face like a raging water fall.  You can't believe how much it hurts.  How real the pain is!  If you have ever lost a believed pet like I did this past weekend, you understand completely what I'm talking about.

If you are a pet owner, no matter what the pet....a dog, cat, bird or even snakes (sorry, snakes scare the crap out of me) you develop a love for them that is unconditional.  When you had a bad day.... you've wrecked the car, and have no idea what to do now....you were still greeted with a long, wet kiss on the face when you walked through the door and suddenly what you thought was the worst day ever...doesn't seem so bad after all.  Or your are sobbing at that sad, sad last episode of Friends,  and your "best friend" jumps in your lap and looks up at you with those big brown eyes and gives you THAT SWEET look of "it's going to ok" and you can't help but smile.  Yep.  That's the power they have on us.

So, what happens when we lose them?  We grieve and grieve.  You think about them everyday and can hardly look at a picture of them without breaking down.  Suddenly, strange things start to happen.  You think you see something run through the hall.  You see something jump on your bed that isn't there.  But here's the deal.  Sometimes when we see apparitions or ghosts of a living person, they are here for several reasons.  Maybe because of a tragic event, unfinished business and sometimes the person doesn't even know they are dead.  But pets are different.....
 

There is only one reason their spirit stays behind.  And that's YOU!  Our pets entire lives are built around us and being our companion.  Nothing makes a pet happier than pleasing their owner.  So, guess what?  When they die....that doesn't change. And let me tell, thanks goodness it doesn't!  

Me and Holly-My sweet girl that died in 2015

My boy Tanner.  RIP 

This post is dedicated to my beloved Tanner.  My best friend for 15 years.  RIP my sweet boy.  You take a piece of my heart with you. (Feb. 2004-Feb.2019)

So, if you think you have lost your "best friend" you haven't.  The shadow in hall or the dog toy that suddenly shows up out of know where....is just he/she paying you a visit.  They will give you signs in many different ways to let you know they are still right by your side.  

I want to tell you about my personal experience of a message Tanner gave me the day he died.  My poor boy, Tanner was 15 years old and even though his body was still going strong in spite of wobbly legs and being blind as a bat.  I always thought I would be able to make "that HARD decision" when the time came that he couldn't walk or move anymore BUT NEVER did I think I would have to make that decision because of his MENTAL state of mine.  He started pacing about a week ago.  He would scratch on the doors like he wanted out, but the doors where open.  He would stare into the corners of the room and seem to be so lost.  I wasn't sure what was happening so I took him to the vet who diagnosed him with Dog Dementia.  Who knew that was even a thing!!!!!  She said he just doesn't recognize where he is and it could be scary for him.

She gave me some medicine to try....but it didn't help at all.  After about a week of this, I couldn't take it anymore.  The thought that he was scared and didn't know where he was and being blind on top of that...was more than my heart could take.  I called the vet Friday morning and said, "today is the day".  I feed him his favorite food and gave him his favorite treats and in my mind tried to make it just like any other normal day.  Talking and playing with him first thing in the morning.  But then it was time.  I drove to vet and let my boy go to Heaven without me.  I had never had to make this kind of decision before.  And for anyone who has, even though you know it is the right thing to do, making this kind of decision is the worst feeling ever!!!!  

I walked to the car and began to sob uncontrollably with my hands over my face.  Had I done the right thing?  Did he have more time?  Should I have waited?  I needed help.  I needed a sign.  I let my hands drop and looked to the heavens and said, "Tanner, PLEASE I need a sign that I did the right thing.  I can't move on unless I know."  I slowly started the car and just by habit I turned on the radio.  And there was only ONE sentence that came on.  It was Carrie Underwood singing Amazing Grace...but I didn't hear the whole song only the last sentence...……………..I was blind, but now I see.  And not another thing was said.  Not  a commercial...…..not a DJ for a few seconds.  There was definitely a pause before the DJ began to talk.  And with that, I raised my head and said "Thank you" and drove home with a smile on my face.

Now, I wanted to include an article written by Stanley Coren Ph D., that I just read that has nothing to do with ghosts, or ghost spirits, but it does have to do with death and how when we have more than one pet that the other pet grieves as well.  That's right.  Your other pet.  The one that will stare into the kitchen looking at the dog bowl as if they are seeing something.  Maybe they are!  But lets not forget them in this process.  They grieve as well.  And you know, as much as your pet loved you...they loved your other pet to.  So, it is no surprise that they would come back to say "hi" to them as well.  The article below talks about your pets grief.  I thought it was really good and just wanted to include it with this blog.

Do Dogs Grieve Over the Loss of an Animal Companion?

A poignant study confirms what many owners suspected about pets and grieving.

Posted Nov 10, 2016

• It's well-known that dogs form strong emotional bonds with members of their human family, and often suffer grief when a loved one dies or moves away. However, one might wonder if dogs suffer an equal sense of loss when an animal companion who has lived with them in the same home suddenly disappears. 

I recently visited the home of some friends who have always had Boston Terriers as their companion dogs, usually in pairs, and always in the traditional black and white coloration. Quite often, they also had a cat as a pet, which was usually black-and-white to match the dogs. I always felt that it was Violet's work as an interior decorator that compelled her to have color-coordinated pets. On this visit, I found only one dog in the house. Lou explained that in the course of a few months they had lost one of their Boston Terriers (Lily) and shortly thereafter their cat (Rosie). Lou went on to say, "Now we only have Daisy. She took the loss of Lily and Rosie pretty hard, so we are looking to get a puppy companion for her as soon as possible."

I sat down on the sofa where Violet was sitting with Daisy. She said:

"Daisy was really upset when Lily passed. She kept checking the places where Lily usually took her naps, and when she didn't find her she would whine or whimper. She also got really clingy and demanded a lot of affection from me. Things got better after a month or so but then Rosie, our cat, died. I was surprised to find that Daisy showed the same kinds of behaviors when she couldn't find Rosie. Daisy kept looking for her in her usual spots, began whimpering again, and seemed to want to be close to me. She even stopped eating as enthusiastically as she usually did, as though she had lost part of her appetite."

Although Daisy's behavior at the loss of her canine companion was familiar to me, I was a bit surprised to learn she showed signs of grief at the loss of the cat as well. However, a recent study published in the journal Animals attempts to catalog the behaviors of dogs and cats when they suffer the loss of an animal housemate, and what the study found suggests that Daisy's behavior is not atypical. The study was conducted by a team of researchers headed by Jessica Walker of the New Zealand Companion Animal Counsel who collected data pertaining to 159 dogs and 152 cats. The data consisted of questionnaire responses from pet owners in New Zealand and Australia who owned multiple pets at the same time and had lost one within the past five years. The pet owners were asked to recall how the surviving pet responded to the disappearance of their companion.

One of the most common behaviors observed in dogs was to continually check the places where their lost housemate normally napped or rested. This behavior was found in 60 percent of the dogs (regardless of whether the lost companion was a dog or a cat) and 63 percent of the cats. Virtually the same proportion of surviving pets demanded more affection or became clingy and needy (61 percent of dogs and 62 percent of cats). Increases in whining and whimpering was less frequent, occurring 27 percent of the time in dogs. However, increased vocalizing was much more common in cats (43 percent). Roughly one in three dogs and cats reduced the amount of food they ate and the speed in which they ate it (35 percent in dogs and 31 percent in cats). Dogs were more likely to increase the amount of time that they spent sleeping (34 percent), which was less likely in cats (20 percent). The interesting thing is that these are all behaviors one might observe in a young human child experiencing grief and stress because of the loss of a human family member.

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Two aspects of this data surprised me. The first is that the cats seem to show grief-like behaviors to the same extent as the dogs. The second is that the dogs seem to show an equal amount of grief-related behavioral changes when the animal companion they lost was a cat rather than another dog.

One particularly interesting finding is that some animal behaviorists believe that the grief response in dogs can be reduced if the animal has a chance to view their deceased companion's body. The idea is that this provides closure: The dog will understand that their companion is no longer alive and is not coming back. In the study, 58 percent of the dogs and 42 percent of the cats got to view the body of their companion. The majority (73 percent) took the time to sniff and investigate their deceased housemate. However, no one reported behavioral differences between the animals that saw, and those that did not see, a dead companion's body. This seems to confirm that dogs act very much like human children younger than four, in that they do not have a concept of death as a final and irrevocable separation. Instead, they simply feel the loss of the presence, friendship, and companionship of their loved one; that loss causes their stress and grief-like behaviors.

Source: Anna Baburkina/Shutterstock

The conclusion to draw from this study is that dogs and cats suffer from stress when a companion animal from their household dies. Because of this, they show behaviors which can be interpreted as grief. Further, a dog is just as likely to grieve over the loss of the household cat as it is for the loss of a companion dog.

From me Becky:

Give them extra attention, toys and treats.  Remove or put away all the toys played with prior to the death of their companion.  Anything to do with the scent on it from the companion that died should be put aside and new things brought into the home to bring in new scents and memories.  

And may I offer this suggestion if you lost your only pet.  The love that you had for them, doesn't go away...but the love can also be used to give to another.  The thing you notice...is the loneliness.  The dog not at your feet, no barking, no toys to pick up, no one to greet you when you come home..... it all makes the silence deafening!  Consider getting another pet that needs a good, loving home.