Sometimes I wonder how often our boys interact with their older sister.
A few weeks ago, Ledger learned to say Preslee’s name while we were at the cemetery. Pat wasn’t there, so I taped it for him. Since then, I can’t believe how much Ledger mentions Preslee’s name to us.
For example, just this past week, the babies were sleeping, and Ledger and I were in my bedroom. Ledge was on my bed playing the iPad, and I was hanging up clothes, neither one of us were talking. A thought about Preslee randomly entered my head, and shortly after, Ledger, with a big grin on his face exclaimed, “Preslee!” I asked, “Who?” He said, “Pres!” I didn’t say anything back, but he continued to stare at me with a big grin on his face, and seemed very excited. I went back to hanging up clothes and periodically glanced over at him when he suddenly stated, “All gone.” Just like that he went back to playing the iPad and didn’t bring her name up again.
It made me wonder…
(Preslee, March 2010)
Lately, there have been nights when Ledger has been in bed and we hear him talking a little differently than usual. One night I was about to go in to tell him to go to sleep, when the thought came to mind, “Let him be.” I turned on the video monitor, and it seemed like he was having a conversation. He stared at one spot the entire time, jabbered, then paused as if listening, and then jabbered some more. This continued for quite awhile. Every time he does this I continue to wonder…
(Ledger, Sept. 2013)
It’s no secret when I became pregnant with Ledger I feared that he would never know who his sister was. To my amazement, I received e-mails and had many conversations with people who all shared their experiences with losing an older sibling. Each one stated that their relationship with their sibling continued after their death. I heard many miraculous stories, which all testified that death isn’t the end. I drastically hope one day our boys will have at least one experience of their own to remember.
(Ledger, July 2012)
When Patrick and I get to the other side, I know we will both be amazed at how often Preslee was here with us. I think we all will be amazed at how much help we received from the other side.
(Source: Pinterest)
But until I reach that point, I will continue to wonder.
I was 5 months pregnant with my little boy Jackson when my mom passed away from cancer. For a long time and still sometimes at night he will wake up and just start jabbering(hes 9 months). He will stare into space a lot like hes looking at someone. His first word was actually NANA. My little girl who is 5 says that she sees my mom at night. So I believe they do come back to visit when they can. The twins will know Preslee cause they played with her before they were sent here to you.
ReplyDeleteI believe that children have no filters. There is nothing in their nature that stops them from seeing and believing what is right before their very eyes...they don't have that "logical" side of their brain telling them "it can't be."
ReplyDeleteIf only all of us could live without the filters we create as we grow older.
I love that your boys have a relationship with their sister...however that is defined in their world.
I had several similar experiences with Preston saying daddy and just looking off in one direction. Sadly, he has stopped doing that now.
ReplyDeleteMy 25 month old son continues to have nightly "conversations" with his older sister. :) My hubby and I always sneak upstairs and listen outside his door to their nightly chats. We just smile (and cry a little too) as he pauses when its her turn to talk and then sometimes busts out laughing at her. Our daughter would be 3 years old this year and it makes perfect sense that her little brother would be "her baby" if she was still her so it would be the same during her visits from Heaven!
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How amazing! It is absolutely amazing. I strongly believe in the fact that loved ones communicate in some way to those they left behind on earth even if they never physically met in person. How beautiful is it that your little girl is there for her brothers it is so special. My grand father passed away 17 years ago and I now have a 2 year old daughter and what weighed heavy on my heart was that my little girl would never meet the man that held such a special place in my heart. Well a few weeks ago we were at my mothers home and she has a picture of my grandparents (my grandmother is still here with us) and I was just playing around asking my daughter to point to certain family members. When I though heck why not I'll ask her to point to my grandfather who we called "papa meo" and she looked around and her little finger pointed right to him she didn't wonder which person it was I could tell she was searching for him. I couldn't believe it so I grabbed the photo and was like cailee give "papa meo" a kiss and she did. I could have cried!! At that moment I knew she knew who he was and I felt something I never felt before. It is amazing. Your little boys are so lucky to have your baby girl looking over them :)
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I have a three year old son and both my parents are deceased. In fact, my Mom passed away in the house we live in. When my son was younger, he used to stand in his crib and talk to the rocking chair by the window. My husband and I would joke that he was talking to my Mom. Recently, when putting him to bed, I told him that we would meet in our dreams. I asked where he wants to go. He stated he wanted to visit Grandma and Grandpa. I definitely believe that children see things that we don't.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if you read Kellie Staats' blog, but I remember reading after her daughter passed away at 4 months of age, their TV would turn on by itself. It was like she was showing them she was still there :-)
ReplyDeleteMy sisters always make fun of me because I believe that babies and small children definitely see and hear things we don't. How many times do you see a baby stare at a particular spot like they are listening intently. Then they smile or coo in that direction. I also catch them staring and smiling at temple pictures. It is comforting to know our loved ones are still here in some way.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a neat and humbling experience! What a BEAUTIFUL thing to share! Thank you for sharing! Praying for you always!
ReplyDeletewow...this is beautiful! i have chills. i am sure that all your boys know and see and hear preslee. their hearts and minds are so innocent and pure...they are very open to that connection. God bless you all.
ReplyDeleteMy mother always said she believed when babys jibber jabbered that they were talking to angels and this makes me realize how it's true!
ReplyDeleteAshley, I love reading your blog. I love how your boys know and love their big sister. I also love that even though you can not see Preslee right now that your Spirit knows when she is around too. You are doing amazing things! Your family is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWow! Amazing! I'm so sure she visits your family all the time :) How wonderful it is to know that families are forever, and that life doesn't end after death. Elder Holland is so amazing, one of my very favorites, someone who inspires me, and his last talk was amazing. At the end when he mentioned how happy we will be for our loved ones, who will finally be free of anything that kept them imperfect!
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this. I so hope my son will remember his sisters. It's something I think about every single day. So glad you have had these experiences. What a blessing!
ReplyDeleteOh that is the most precious story. I just adore that little guy. He has a deep connection to Pres, and hearing that your thoughts coincided with his verbalizations causes me to say, "She was there!" She is so close, and I know that because I have no doubt of the closeness of my Shane. I was given a blessing by a new stake president when we moved here. He didn't know anything about our family except some current struggles. His voice changed in the blessing, and then he called down "the spirit of my deceased son to be a ministering angel to me so long as I am worthy of his presence." When the blessing ended, the Stake President looked at me, shaken, and said, "Sister Fultz, you have lost a child?"....It was absolutely amazing, and I indeed know when he is near. There are signs, as you have your own personal and deep signs as well. I am so grateful you see it, that is what causes you to be such a light still! Love you so very much!
ReplyDeleteWow, what an incredible experience. Seriously, thank you for sharing :)
DeleteI love it! They are sooo close to the other side.. I know they can see ones that have crossed. That's so awesome! Dont ever let anyone tell him he can't see her. That's how we lose the ability.. people tell us we can't see... but we could then.. why not now??
ReplyDeleteWonderful post, Ashley, absolutely wonderful. I feel closer to the heavens just reading it.
ReplyDeleteI was 9 months pregnant with our first child when my husbands birth mom passed away. As I held him while he cried I could hear a voice say "Thank you for loving my little boy, please watch over him. I will bring your little one when it is time." My Lydia was born and always seemed to be cooing and laughing at things we could not see. I have no doubt it was her Grandma. We found out later that his Mom's name Ludmilla (Russian) one of the English translations is Lydia, we didn't know that when we picked her name.
ReplyDeleteI know angels are here....the night my father passed away, he told my mother that his mother (my grandmother) was there and wanted my dad to go with her. Strange thing is that my dad was not a member of the LDS church and professed not to believe in God. So, after that, I knew that those who go before us can come here and be with us. It wasn't just a someone who learned about the life hearafter through gospel study....it was my dad telling about an angel!!After my husband passed away, for 5 months, every single night at about 2:30 in the morning, I heard him calling to me. I finally stopped hearing him call to me but it was only after my step-dad passed away 5 months after my husband died. On the night before my step-dad passed away, my mother asked him if he had slept ok. He said, no. He told her that my husband Richard had been sitting on the bed holding my step-dad's hand....talking and talking and talking all night long. My mother asked him, are you sure it was Richard because Richard passed way. My step-dad said, yes, it was Richard. My husband was a "talker" and could talk someone's ear off. I try to think that he was conforting my step-dad and telling him he didn't need to be afraid. Then a few months ago, I walked from my upstairs bathroom to my bedroom....it was about 11:00 pm and I was getting ready for bed. As I walked into the hall, I smelled men's cologne...but as I walked back to the bathroom, the smell was gone. I asked my son if he had put on cologne and he said no. My husband always smelled so good with nice cologne. I'm convinced it was him. I was going through a particularly difficult time so I think he was there to help me get through that time in my life. I know someday we will find out how it all works but for now, I DO believe our loved ones come to help us and comfort us. I know they are our anchor to heaven. I know they are still who they were here on earth but maybe some of them have grown and been taught and now see things in a much more clearer way with their spiritual eyes. Presley is still Presley and she will be here on earth when needed by her parents and her 3 brothers. The veil between heaven and earth is thin...but babies and little children have a special connection....I wish they could talk because just think of the amazing things they could tell us. Your son and daughter are examples of the love that extends into the eternities.
ReplyDeleteLove this. Truly amazing. Thank you for sharing.
DeleteI 100% believe they know her! I'm sure they played in heaven together before they were sent to you on this earth and that because children are so pure and innocent they get to experience things that we don't! I often wonder too at night when Dakota is laughing in his bed supposed to be sleeping that he is playing with angels. Wish we could get into their little minds and so it all! Can't wait for that day when we see the WHOLE picture!! Sure love you!!!
ReplyDeleteIt just breaks me that he knows what it is like to visit his sister in a cemetery. God bless you all, and those sweet boys. I am certain Preslee is with them more than you will ever know!!
ReplyDelete"The more I have to do with genealogical work, the more difficulty I have with that word dead. I know of no adequate substitute. I suppose departed would suit me as well as any. I have had too many sacred experiences, of the kind of which we never speak lightly, to feel that the word dead describes those who have gone beyond the veil." -President Boyde K. Packer (April General Conference 1987)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts. Love them.
"The more I have to do with genealogical work, the more difficulty I have with that word dead. I know of no adequate substitute. I suppose departed would suit me as well as any. I have had too many sacred experiences, of the kind of which we never speak lightly, to feel that the word dead describes those who have gone beyond the veil." -President Boyde K. Packer; General Conference April 1987
ReplyDeleteThese are my favorite kind of stories. There is more to life than this life.
Thanks for sharing these experiences. Since my nephew passed away I have prayed that his mom and dad and sisters would feel him near.
ReplyDeleteI truly believe that there is a reason little ones can't talk. The veil is so thin for them and I know they see and communicate with those we cannot. I have had many experiences with my 3 kids over the years, from my son staring into the same corner where the rocking chair was and jabbering over and over for months, to my 13 month old daughter, almost asleep while rocking with her, sitting straight up - saying hi and waving to a blank spot by the door (here are countless members of our family I can think it could be). I think we would be amazed if we could see what our little ones do. I love hearing stories like these because they strengthen my testimony of this incredible gospel. I hope you keep having experiences like these. Hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteI wonder as well! Vivian speaks of Miles daily! She has even told us that Miles got ouches in the swimming pool and that he went to live with Jesus. But that' it's okay because he is happy. She told both Mark and I separately this one day. I asked her who told her that, because NO ONE has told her that, and she said Miles told her. We were speechless!! I know they are with our children, I just wish our little ones could tell us more what they do and say together!! I'm so glad to hear Ledger speaks of her so much. It's wonderful, sometimes hard, but so beautiful! I agree, I think we will one day be amazed to see how much they were with us and helping us each day. So much love to you and your family!!!
ReplyDeleteWow...this post gave me the chills. I so do believe that our loved ones come to us after death. Death is not the end! Thank you for posting and for the wonderful story about the woman's husband coming back to her. Families are so eternal. This just strengthened my testimony of this gospel!
ReplyDeleteThis post gave me goosebumps. There's no doubt in my mind Preslee is there often. What a neat story. Thank you for sharing.
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