Why we moved to Costa Rica, Part 3: I’m not the only one.

So there I was sitting at the kitchen table with the ghost of my dad.

I asked question after question about life, my purpose, what in the world to do next? And I asked, had he gotten the chance to see Felix and Ozzy? Aren't they wonderful? The absolute glow of love I received in response brought me to tears, and still does as I write this.

The next morning I woke up excited and very relieved. It would have been easy for me to write off, "Wow, I've finally lost it alright." But the physical proof of those burned out lightbulbs was all the reassurance I needed. I didn't replace them for a long time because they brought me such peace and joy - the physical manifestation of a father's undying love. Literally.

What happened over the next few weeks was indescribable. Day after day, a parade of passed loved ones showed up to reassure me - I had asked for help and God was sending my entire spirit team. And I wasn't the only one experiencing them.

One day a friend was visiting, telling me an emotional story about a very dear friend of theirs that had passed in a traumatic way, leaving her without closure. Soon I saw the tell-tale energy hovering next to her, and interrupted, "Um, I don't want to freak you out but...I think he's here right now?"

Afterwards, she described the same electric energy I had felt. In life they'd had an inside joke, a special hug with just their forearms. The tingling radiated through her forearms, reassuring her that he was truly there. Her friend had come to give her the closure she needed.

Another time my grandmother's spirit came to visit as I played at home with the boys. At this point it was becoming commonplace enough that I didn't feel the need to entertain her We sat together in a comfortable silence.

Suddenly Felix's eyes went wide. He stared into the corner where she "sat", slowly leaned into my ear, pointed and whispered, "Mama, what's that black thing in the corner?" I laughed, "That's your great-grandmother, sweetheart."

By now the message from my loved ones was becoming clear. It was time to start healing myself.

Continued in Part 4.