It has been a sad few days. I had to let Lilly go last Wednesday. It was the right thing to do for her. I miss her. It took a few days, but today I see Hoshi wandering through the house looking at the places Lilly used to sleep. Hoshi looks at me and I tell her, “She’s gone sweetheart. But we’ll see her again when we cross the rainbow bridge. It is not our time yet. It was her time.”

I spent the weekend cleaning, re-arranging. Trying not to wipe away Lilly’s memory, but to set a new normal. The tears come easily. Even now, as I write this, I’m fogging up. Yet, I was inspired to share what I believe was a message from Lilly. I’m sitting in my office, foggy, sad. Trying to work, but my heart is not in it. My thoughts are jumbled.

I hear a bird outside my window. It is cawing at me insistently. I wonder why this bird is trying to get my attention. A blue bird is sitting in the tree.

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As soon as I walk over to the window, he caws at me a few more times and flies away. Immediately, a Cardinal settles in the same spot the Bluebird occupied. She flitted about, then flew away. How often does one see this happen? I’ve never seen a bluebird and a cardinal at the same time.

What does a blue bird symbolize? Bluebirds carry the love of angels. They soothe our souls and bring messages of hope. They are the companions of angels and remind us we are loved.

Cardinals symbolize the mystery of communicating with our loved ones who have passed away. Native Americans believed cardinals had ties to their ancestors. They represent devotion, love, and good fortune. The cardinal tells us God knows what we need and it will be provided.

It may simply be a coincidence. I choose to believe that Lilly sees our tears and knows we miss her. I choose to believe that she sent us a message from beyond to say, “Don’t cry Mommy and Sissy. I love you. I feel well. I’m happy where I am at. We will be together again. I’m getting to meet my other brothers and sisters. We will always be a family. Not even death can separate us.”

As I was writing this post, Hoshi came into the office. This is not unusual for her, but she’s been restless today. She settled down in the chair beside me and is napping. The blue bird came back. He cawed. I got up to look out the window. Instead of flying away, he sang a little song, then he flew off.

Message received.