It had been over a year since I was diagnosed with PLS (Primary Lateral sclerosis), a rare neuromuscular disease. Thankfully it isn't fatal, people can live til old age with it, however it is extremely debilitating and caused me to lose the ability to talk and walk, I can only walk using a walker for short distances in the house.
It was the summer of 2008 and I was having a very rough day. Never getting out and around much was really weighing me down. When you're used to being very independent and outgoing, then suddenly your life changes so drastically it's very hard to accept, I felt like giving up. I was too absorbed in my thoughts and fears, questioning why this happened and feeling like God had abandoned me. I wondered how an all-loving God could allow so much pain and sorrow to come upon me all at once. It wasn't just my pain I was thinking about, I was feeling grief on many different levels. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't shake the depression. My husband, Larry, kept trying to encourage me, and convince me just how much God truly did still love me. I knew deep down inside how much God really does love all His children, but I wasn't feeling it. I knew that what I was going through wasn't any worse than anyone else's pain and heartache…..I just felt very unlovable in my condition. I really needed to snap out of it, but I didn't know how to.
Finally my husband Larry said, "Come on hon, we're going for a ride. It'll do you good to get out for a while and get a change of scenery." Well I wasn't in the mood for that at all, so I said, "No thanks, I'm not up to it right now." He took me by the hand and said, " I know this will do you good….come on…..just a short ride." I reluctantly went along with him.
As we were driving along, I was trying very hard to cheer up for Larry's sake, after all he was trying so hard to help brighten my mood. We were talking about life and how God allows things to happen in our lives for a reason, but through it all, He truly does love us and have our best interest at heart.
Suddenly, there it was…..a white sign with black bold letters that read, "JESUS LOVES YOU"! Larry shouted, "Did you see that sign?" I couldn't believe my eyes, what timing! I had just said, "Where's God….does He really love me? I just don't know anymore." The next thing we saw was that sign! Right then, I realized, I am loved, God really does care about us all and what we are going through…in fact I truly believe He is closer to us in our times of need than ever, giving us strength, hope and peace to keep moving through the pain and sorrow, and on to a brighter day. Best of all, He will never leave, or forsake us. I guess sometimes we all just need a little reminder that He is always very near to us.
I must say, His timing is impeccable!

This event happened shortly after my Aunt Cathie passed away. We had been at a party, and our son, Danny, brought a balloon home. He always loved to let them go up into the sky, however, this time was different - he wanted to attach a note to the balloon. So, he wrote on a post-it note, "To God and all the angels. Love, Danny". I made sure we taped it on very securely, then we went outside on the patio to let it go. My husband, Larry, oldest son, Derek, and I all watched as the balloon soar up into the clear blue sky. As we stood there, Danny asked me, "Mom, do you think God and the angels will really get my balloon?" I told him, "They sure will, God sees you sending it to them right now, He knows everything!" Danny was smiling and we all watched until it was out of sight. I remember how special that balloon was to Danny. He had asked me about it for a few days after we let it go. I was secretly hoping and praying God would somehow receive that balloon with Danny's heartfelt message. It really touched me how he put so much hope and love in that note. Time went on and we had long forgotten about that balloon with the note attached. Until two years later - it was in the spring and we had just finished working on the lawn. My husband, Larry, had just sat down on the porch to relax, when suddenly a piece of paper blew right in front of his feet. He reached down to pick it up to throw it away, and then he saw it - "To God and all the angels. Love, Danny" He called to me, "Hey, Muff, come here! You'll never believe what landed right at my feet!" I couldn't believe my eyes! When he told me it just landed right in front of his feet, I was amazed at how God works in mysterious ways. When we showed Danny and told him what happened, he was so happy that God and the angels really did get his balloon with the note! I still marvel at the fact we watched that balloon and note soar high into the sky, then two years later it returns back to the one who sent it! Only God could do something like that. We're very grateful God chose to respond to a child's love note to Him! I truly believe God allowed this message of hope to help many people who struggle daily with their faith. My prayer is that I can share this story so it can possibly help someone else.

It was a beautiful sunny day in the fall of 1987. My husband, Larry, and son, Derek, and I decided to go to Yates Cider Mill for the afternoon. After getting our cider and doughnuts, we went for a walk across the road to a nearby stream to sit down and relax. We were just talking and enjoying all the scenery. Larry and Derek wanted to go for a short walk while I stayed by the stream for a while longer. I didn't want to lose the serene feeling I had, it was very intense. I was praying and I rarely have felt that close connection with God. I was in awe of the strong sense of feeling His Presence. I remember asking Him, "Lord, if this is not just my imagination, but it is really You I'm sensing near to me, please give me a sign." No sooner did I finish the prayer, when Derek came running back from their walk yelling, "Mom, Mom, wait til you see what I found!" There it was, my answer, a silver cross he found in the dirt on their walk. As I grasped the cross from his small hands, I was so thankful that God allowed my son to encourage me and remind me of what His Son did for us all on that cross so long ago. It taught me to keep on looking and being aware, for His Presence is everywhere. Even when we don't feel Him He is always very near……just keep looking and listening for Him. God Bless :)