Visions of Mother

Beyond my wildest expectations, I thought I heard mom’s voice. I looked around, but no one was there. I concluded it must be from not feeling really well, I was hearing things.

Again her voice came to me: “It’s a ratio of one to four. Four cups bread crumbs to one cup of walnuts, celery, onion, mushrooms, raisins. Two eggs. Warm water or milk to moisten. A little for dry dressing, more for moist.” I was trying to write these instructions down, as tears tumbled down my face. I whispered, “thank you.” And started following the recipe exactly.

Everyone asked me if I found the recipe, I simply said, “Sort of, the Good Lord, helped me out by letting mom tell me it.” Of course I got strange looks, but the proof was on the table in that dish of Mom’s dressing!

It’s all a mystery!

During these years immediately following mom’s departure, Dad and I experience seeing visions of mom; for me it was rather infrequent but Dad seemed to have these visions almost weekly.

Sometimes there was a silent communication; in other words we often felt mom had spoken to us, although her voice was only for our ears to hear. Other times it was just a glimpse of her or the strong sense of her presence.

Why this was hush-hush

We kept this situation just within the family, having the belief that others would not understand. To test for a reaction, I carefully asked the ladies in my Bible study class if they believed the spirits of the deceased could visit those family members they were the closest to in life. The reaction was mixed. But not one felt this could happen. Some voiced the opinion this would be demon possession, others said, it couldn’t happen. Still a few didn’t know. And one member, flatly stated, “Anything is possible if you are insane – the mind lets you believe anything!

Regardless of how or why it occurs, it is real. Part of the proof in knowing it’s reality was

during the fall of 1993, Dad had become so jittery with these visits, I prayed for God to stop mom from visiting, that we were okay and we knew she was okay. And we were looking forward to seeing her again some day.

There were no more feelings of her presence, or silent communication, or visions of her for me; and also for Dad until he decided to sell the house in January 2008. Several times right after listing it, Dad said mom had been back for a visit. He had seen a vision of her several times in the soft light of early morning, standing close to his bed. When he moved to get up, she disappeared. Her fragrance once again was obvious in the master bedroom, bath and den.

Not in Oregon

Since settling into our new home in Oregon there has been no visits from mom. As dad declines in health steadily, he has mentioned that he doesn’t think he will see mom until he leaves to join her.

I have a strange peace believing that mom will not visit me in Oregon; because the house in California was where she spent her last days. It was a home she treasured as much as she treasured her family, and it was here she felt she was really home.