I am a firm believer in signs.
Angels, messages, and even visits from the departed – I believe in it all.
I have touched on these little signs and visits in other blogs, but when it happens again, I feel like telling the whole world.
The other day, my children and I decided to tackle our garage.
It’s basically a swirling pit of chaos.
Although Bret never lived in this house, I have (had) everything from our lives together packed up and stored in the garage.
In the five years that I have lived here, my home has been burglarized; a very large portion of the stolen items came from the garage. A lot of items were even stolen before the actual burglary because some shady ex-friends of my oldest child were pilfering things when no one was looking!
All of that drama is another story entirely, but the point is the garage needed serious cleaning and reorganizing.
I have cleaned the garage before, and have gone through Bret’s things multiple other times. But this time, he felt very near.
Throughout the day, little white feathers would just randomly appear. (A well-known “sign” of angels visiting.)
I came across items of Bret’s that I hadn’t seen in many years – even years before he died.
Items of my own that I had feared stolen were blissfully recovered!
It was a good day.
But the real icing on the cake was the last thing I sorted.
It was our former beach bag, and it had been in the garage all this time. It was very much within reach and in plain view of any place the thieves and pilferers would have had access to.
In it was the drink coaster that I used to keep on my nightstand since 2012. I was thrilled!
But then, I saw a card.
I picked it up and opened it.
It was from friends with whom I’m sadly, no longer in contact – as is the case with many friends of widows.
The card was lovely and the sentiment, beautiful, although I couldn’t read it all; it was too emotional.
Inside though, was a crisp, uncreased 100-dollar bill.
So many of Bret’s little signs are surprise caches of money – and money is the area in which I have the most issues.
I looked up to the sky and thanked him and the Angels for the gift and then I promptly hung an angel pendant I had found earlier in the day from the rearview mirror in my car.
~~~
**Mark your calendars! Hope For Widows Foundation’s annual virtual Widows of Hope 5K event has returned on Friday, May 12 through Sunday, May 14, 2023. Anyone can join! Whether you are a widow, widower, or a friend/family member showing support or walking in the loss of another family member, everyone is welcome to participate. The proceeds will directly support widows through the annual financial Restoring Hope and Peace Grants, Sunshine Boxes program, and Bring Hope Holiday Assistance Program. Do you have or know a business that would like to sponsor? That’s an option too! To register and frequently asked questions- please go here: http://getmeregistered.com/WidowsofHope5K
Also, mark your calendars, on National Widows Day, May 3, 2023, the Restoring Hope and Peace Grant application process will open up. Please go here for criteria and details: https://hopeforwidows.org/grant/
About Layla Beth Munk
Layla Beth Munk is a blogger & author who was thrust into this widowhood journey abruptly and tragically on February 11, 2018. Her husband of 12 years had ended his pain once and for all. She soon made the decision that she would not let his final decision define the rest of her life or their daughter’s life, so with her sense of humor at the helm, she started writing about her newfound station in life. Grief waves still get to her, and probably always will, but with the help of her fellow widows as well as friends and family, she has been able to realize her dream of becoming a published author! Layla is so grateful to Hope For Widows Foundation for providing this level of support to her, and so many others! Layla has two amazing children, one who is grown and one who is almost grown. She lives in eastern Oregon and has a wellness & beauty background. Layla enjoys writing poetry, watching anime, and homeschooling her daughter.
Her blog can be found at laylabethmunk.medium.com and her debut novella, 24 Hours in Vegas, is available on Amazon.