A Sign... A symbol... A precious cardinal

While we were at camp the second day. The girls and I were playing a fun game of Clue! One of my one and only favorite board games... (there was even a Mickey Mouse Tower of Terror Clue game at Fort Wilderness I wanted SOooo badly!!! I would love that one!). I digress... as usual - sorry!

As we were playing our game. I couldn't believe what fluttered in to view. A cardinal. A plump, red cardinal. This might not be that significant to anyone but me and my Dear Mr Safety-Man... but it truly IS incredible.

Cardinals have always been a special bird, a favorite of mine and also of my Nain's. I used to sit in my grandmother's (Nain) dining room, at her GIANT bay window and watch the birds at her big birdfeeder. It was always a thrill to see the cardinal. So unique. So vibrant. Just like I always thought of my Nain. The most amazing woman in the world.

She unfortunately passed away of a brain tumor. And it has seemed that through many trials and tribulations - I have seen glimpses of cardinals in the oddest places and times. It makes me feel like she is still with me... helping me through... well life.

So right now - we face losing Chris' mom to a darn brain tumor. I watched my Nain die - someone I treasure more than I could possibly explain - from the same. Now we deal with it again... And as we are trying to heal from the stress on our mini - vacation, at Fort Wilderness, I see a cardinal. Mr. Safety-Man and I exchange a non-verbal, all knowing look. Sighhhhhh and tears.

As my family and I watch the cardinal I was trying to take a photo of him... I cannot find him. I zoom out... zoom in... can't get the photo... The cardinal is going to go away... and then!

BOOM!

It flies right in to my zoomed view... like someone picked it up and kind of plopped it there. I wanted one more shot... again lost it. and...

BOOM!

Again it was "placed" in the shot.

My symbol. My faith. My sign... from our Heavenly Father and my Nain...

We will get through this.

Butt Dialing?

Ok so we've all done it right? OOoops... calling someone without meaning to call? Sorry!!

Apparently with my Blackberry - I've been doing it some lately. If I call you or have called you and wasn't "there" I am so sorry!! I think I may have even called overseas once! Ok not really - but man - it's amazing how easy it is to dial on this phone.

OK so I was on my way home from a good morning out and about... I was really thinking about my sister-in-law and thinking I should call her to give her some much needed support. But my mind was going a million miles a minute and I had a tons of things to finish up before I had to get the girls from the bus stop. So the idea came and went.

Once home, I was trying to get all my errand packages inside - hung on my arms, phone in my hand, purse over my arm, keys barely grasped to open the door... talkng to Kiki was the furthest from my mind. I heard a noise... looked down and apparently had "BAG-dialed" Kiki... How did that happen? I didn't dial her number... I hadn't dialed her number since she was visiting in January. Why this phone number? Why now?

I almost hung-up. I wasn't prepared to be supportive. I didn't know what to say. How can I be there for her. Then a peace came over me... "Tell her how you feel...".

I let the phone continue to ring... Kiki answered. We talked. We cried. I felt close to her. She felt a huge bond with me. I felt that I supported her and she in turn supported me. It was exactly what she needed - she told me.

Amazing that it happened the way it had. Or do things happen for a reason?

Butt Dialing... who knew how much it could help out in a very hard situation.