Tuesdays With The Angels-Special Needs Children The Angels On My Shoulder

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I’ve written a memoir of my career teaching children with special needs. A hint below of what’s to come from my heart and soul:

“You must be so patient teaching special ed!” I must have heard that comment one hundred times over the course of my twenty-five year teaching career. I usually would reply,” I love teaching the kids.” Of course I didn’t know until years later the magnitude of what my students brought to my world. My students over the twenty-five years taught me so much about kindness and living in the now. They showed me gifts from their pure and honest hearts. Oh, there were challenges of course, but we met them together.

As I wrote the memoir,  I can tell you I believe in angels, in heaven surely for I know I met one once.  But also, I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some people who to me are angels on earth, They guide us all with their unique gentleness of persuasions. Such is the case I believe with children with special needs.

I believe people come into our lives for a reason and have many qualities I believe angels have.  This has been my writers message to all who read my novels, children’s book and blogs. The truth is I’ve always believed this. At age three, I had  imaginary friends, three of them. Yes, three! But I can’t remember what they looked like only that they happily played with me. I have a psychic friend who told me they were my guardian angels. I’d like to think they were.

So many of my life experiences have fallen into place, a synchronicity, a tapestry woven together with a fabric of kindness.  Besides my guardian angels,  I believe heaven sent two teachers who unknowingly influenced the path I took on the road to teaching. To me they were angels on earth guiding me, albeit unknowingly, towards my teaching children with special needs.

Decades later I can still see the kind and loving face of my second grade teacher, Mrs. St. John. I see her kind and loving face as if next to me and remember she was the first person who made me feel worthwhile.

Through grade school and up through high school and beyond life was difficult. My family life unfortunatley was disfunctional and  so I suffered as an underachiever. But this story isn’t about my childhood. It’s about the synchronicity of events that changed my life, the people I met, the students I taught and lastly at the saddest part of my life. This is also the time I know I met a real angel.

These were the defining moments in the steps to a rewarding career teaching children with special needs. This is a book about the serendipitous events unfolding the teaching career bringing me my life’s most valuable teachers, my students….

Tuesdays With The Angels- On My Shoulder

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As I sat down in early morning to write chapters for my memoir today, I reflected as I often do on God and the angels sending me blessings everyday. Sent from above are calls from family members, hearing from a caring old friend or kindness from a new friend. I’m fortunate to know  people who have graced my life with just that, their grace. I’m writing  my memoir about my life as a special education teacher. It will be a love story all its own. It will be the story not so much about me but how these special students changed my life’s journey. There will be others who have graced my life with their kindness and helped me down the path I’ve taken. I hope to honor each and every deserving child and person in my new book in the making. Special Needs Children, The Angels On My Shoulder. Oh, and of course added in will be the time I met a real angel. This event has to be in the book for it was the primary event that turned my face towards heaven.

Encounter With An Angel – Submission By Kathy Noel DeCaria

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DO NOT BE AFRAID

Angel Stories

On the morning of March 31st 1987, around 3:00 am, as I slept alone in my apartment, I was aroused by three very gentle tugs of my bed covers, by the foot area of the bed. I had my bed covers up around my neck, which is always how I sleep. I did not awaken, but was aware of SOMETHING. I guess I fell back to sleep, but the same three gentle tugs came again. I again was aroused, but again did not open my eyes. The third time the tugging happened, I was aroused enough to turn around to my right, and open my eyes.

What I saw was a most beautiful man standing, now away from my bed, by the side of my bedroom wall. A white light surrounded him from head to foot. All I could see of his skin, were his hands and face, which was a dark bronze type color, but not real dark. He was not looking at or facing me now but was facing my living room door, which was open.

As I stared at him I took in his garment. He was wearing the most beautiful white long robe .He had a sash around his waist of the same color, but about 6 inches high. The white robe was a color white that I remember as so beautiful that I had never seen such a beautiful cloth before. He had a white turban wrapped around his head, which covered all hair. Like I said, all I could see was his face and hands. He stood very straight and his arms were straight down by his side. What a beautiful face he had. He had to have been almost 8 feet tall. I say that because my ceilings in that apartment were at least that high, and he almost reached the ceiling.

He said ” Do not be afraid, it is the voice of god, read Isaiah, man of the patient realm. ” At this point, I do not know how he got from the wall to the side of my bed, but somehow he was right there. He reached out his mighty arms as he bent over coming down, as if he were going to pick me up. Which is exactly what he did. All of a sudden I was cradled in his arms, but I now felt as if I was just a little baby, cradled in the arms of her mother, wrapped in a warm blanket. Then I heard a noise that sounded like a whizzing sound, and we were moving in that sound. Then, we were standing on a very rich and beautiful earth, which somehow I could seem to feel with what seemed now to be BARE FEET. We were in some sort of what seemed like a market place of some kind. There were others walking around like him, in the same white robes… some were alone and some were walking in twos. We were facing a booth, which resembled a booth at a carnival.

Inside the booth were three rows high of the largest vessels, hand crafted, in type… He then said to me, standing on my right side, “choose something”. I said, ” I don’t have any money”. He then answered, “You don’t need money here, everything is free”. At this point I remember hearing that same whizzing sound and remember that we again seemed to be moving at a great speed. Now we are again standing by the same side of my bed. He very slowly begins to lean over, with me in his arms, again feeling like a child cradled in a warm blanket, he begins to lean over and carefully and very gently places me back into my body. I could now feel my body in the bed, and he was gone. I thought about it for a while, because it all happened so fast.

Realizing that something happened, I got up out of bed and turned on a nightlight to write down “Isaiah, man of the patient realm”. For the next few days I read the book of Isaiah. I found out that God is real, and that he heard all my cries for help and proof that he was indeed there.

by Kathy Noel DeCaria

Encounter With An Angel – Submission By Jill Maksym

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I was visited by an angel in the late 1990’s…

My mother and I were not getting along at the time. She was verbally abusive. She was hurtful, etc. I did not want to be around her and was having a difficult time dealing with her. I reluctantly agreed to meet her at a Bob Evan’s restaurant because I felt she was my mother and I did love her.

We were seated in a booth. She began to start criticizing me and verbally abusing me as usual. I just sat there while she hurled the abusive and hurtful things at me. In the atmosphere of the restaurant, I could hear the banging of knives and forks and conversations of all the people there.

Then, something changed. All of a sudden it was like a new sound frequency had happened. I could no longer hear my mother’s voice or the other people in the restaurant, etc. There was a high pitch sound as if a thousand violins were playing the highest note possible at the same time. My mother was still talking. I turned to my left and noticed a person cleaning the empty table across from us. The table was not dirty and did not need to be cleaned.

As I watched this…man…I knew something was very different about him. He was dressed as a waiter in clean black slacks with a perfect crease in the front and he wore a crisp, clean white shirt. But, it was the way he was cleaning and his appearance that made me captivated. You see, he was smiling while he moved the salt and pepper shakers out to clean behind them and most importantly, his head was the color of black and bronze. From the top of his head, there was a golden light as if his head was lit from within with a warm glow. He was bald. He went about cleaning that table as if it was the most joyful thing to him. He loved doing it. He then turned to me and smiled. When I saw his entire face, it glowed. I was mesmerized. I could not take my eyes off of him. He was looking into my soul. As far as he and I were concerned, there were no other beings around. He then came over to me and softly whispered in my left ear, “Can I get you anything?” Can I do something for you?”

I could not move my mouth to answer. It was as if I had seen a celebrity and was dumb struck. He stayed near me waiting to find out if I needed something. His voice was soft and well, there are no adjectives in any language to describe it. He knew I was upset with my mother. I managed to eek out a wimpy, “no” when he asked me if he could get me something. Then he took his left arm and covered my mother’s face as if to tell me, “don’t pay any attention to her.” He then asked again, “Can I do something for you?” For a moment that seemed to last a lifetime, only he and I were there…kind of suspended in a time warp or another dimension. While there, I felt the most abundant peaceful state that I have ever felt in my lifetime. It was intense peace that hovered over me and in me. Then, he left and walked away.

I looked at my mother and she was still carrying on talking like she did not see him at all. Then, the frequency changed in the atmosphere. I could hear the knives and forks clanging on the plates and the other conversations again. I sat there….and I said to my mother, “I am leaving.” I got up and went to my car. I was still in a peaceful state. I do not remember how I drove home. I felt as if I was floating in peace and tranquility.

Two weeks later, my husband and I went to the same Bob Evan’s restaurant. We were seated in the same booth that my mother and I were in before. The whole time we were there I kept thinking that maybe I would see this angel again. I asked myself, “Will he show up?” I wanted to thank him. We ate and my husband got up to go to the register to pay the check. I was following behind him. But, I stopped. I then looked up at the breakfast bar area and …..there he was.

It was my angel. He was alone standing up against the bar. He had his arms crossed against his chest. I froze. I didn’t know how to tell him, “Thank you.” I looked to the right and saw my husband at the register and it was alright because he did not know I was not with him. I started to walk up to the angel and he…mentally told me not to do that because….no one else could see him but me and that would look weird if I were to start talking to him. So, I stopped and looked at him and said, “thank you.” He was grinning from ear to ear and nodded. In fact, at the time, he was quite pleased with himself in that he felt he had sort of “gotten me” like it was a nice little joke to speak. He did have a sense of humor.

I turned to walk toward my husband and then turned back to see the angel and he was gone. The day with my mother, he came to give me peace. The peaceful feeling he gave me lasted for hours. And, I don’t know how to describe him. I can tell you that he was the most exquisite and beautiful being I have ever seen. The beauty of his perfect features is not easy to describe using words from this earth. He was perfect in every feature. Perfect. They say that some times people may just fall down and die when they see an angel because of their perfect beauty and love. I can understand this. But, i did not die. I think he was able to not release his beauty and power to a certain extent so that I would be able to understand his message.

Tuesdays With The Angels-The Angels On The Writers’ Shoulders 12

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If only bees, butterflies, flowers and trees could talk. Many scientists think they communicate for sure. Do they experience some form of hopeful instinct to keep going through global warming? Do they see angels?

There are angels everywhere in the fictitious novels I write in the Mystic Bay Series. But today as we face the coronavirus pandemic, I find myself praying to God and the angels without ceasing for our families, friends, and the world. In my mind I’m forever  sending angels to my children and grandchildren who don’t live near me. I send angels to protect my friends who are ill. I send angels from my heart and mind, healing angels as a never ending prayer. One of the quotes I try to live by is,” Fear comes to the door and faith answers it.” Sending prayerful thoughts of healing to the whole world has power. Millions believe there is spiritual healing energy in prayers.

It’s spring and the  promise of flowers blooming and bees and butterflies flying is real. As I breathe in the essence of flowers and new mown grass, I imagine the world becoming a more enlightened place. For every year there is an awakening of Mother Earth. We can help her heal by sending loving prayers to the earth, the ill, and every medical professional and scientist trying to end this nightmare.

 The sun will shine, the moon will cast a  glow and the winter of the pandemic will eventually leave. During this difficult time it came to me to write a memoir of my life as a Special Education teacher. Each and every one of my students inspired me to become a better human being. I’m convinced there are angels on earth for I know I met an angel once and that meeting has forever changed me.  I will write with faith and hope a story that needs to be  told,  my memoir, The Angels On The Writers’ Shoulders.

Tuesdays With The Angels-When The Angel Sent Butterflies 2

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When I wrote my new children’s book, When The Angel Sent Butterflies, it came from the heart and the miracle of seeing butterflies at the most serendipitous of moments. My late daughter, Kate at four years old, was for a brief time, afraid of bees. As I wrote the story I thought of  butterflies as calming the character Kate’s fears as love is sent by Angel Ken with a wave of  butterflies from his hands.

But really the synchronicity of it all seems angels, butterflies, and bees, all represent hope, joy and love to me. One of the favorite lines I ever wrote was not in one in my books. To one of my best friends who is fighting illness I wrote:

“Though thought to be fragile, butterfly’s wings are strong in the wind. They fly miles on angel wind.” 

The strength of angels sending love through the flight of butterflies and bees gives me peace. This is part of the wondrous spiritual awakening in me. 

My granddaughter Kate’s photo with  a butterfly visiting last year.

Tuesdays With The Angels-When The Angel Sent Butterflies

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I’ve always wanted to write a children’s book but never in my wildest dreams thought I’d become an author of three novels let alone pen a lovely children’s book. But then a serendipitous moment arrived. An acquaintance read Town of Angels. She said, “You know, this story is so beautiful you need to write a children’s book with Angel Ken and the butterflies!” I was touched and pondered it for a few months yet I knew unfortunately, my artistic skills were limited to stick figures.

Not knowing who could illustrate the book I set to writing the book anyway with hopeful anticipation using my grandchildren Jones and Kate as the children’s characters, Angel Ken, from Town of Angels, and Billie, my grandchildren’s dog as the other characters. Of course butterflies were everywhere in the story.

Yet the synchronicity of happenings arrived as it does so often. It came to me to  ask my friend and fellow author Susan Clare Anderson if she would illustrate the book for me.  I love the way she draws and paints. She said she’d think about it. Lo and behold some time later she told me she found a big white feather on her driveway and thought of me and my angel books. “Funny you should mention this,” I told her. ” For  recently, I too found a big white feather by the side of my house!” We compared them side by side and decided When The Angel Sent Butterflies was meant to be. 

But in the way of the angels this was not the last of the synchronicities because as Susan drew the little children I realized they  looked a lot  like Jones and Kate. The amazing part of it was that Susan had never  seen a photo of the children.

You can call it fate or coincidence but I call it something else. Swirling ideas were sent to me on angel’s wings and a beautiful children’s book came to life. Children need to know love from their parents and others surrounds them. Love conquers fear and believing angels are near can help sweep away any childhood fear. In this story Angel Ken sending Jones and Kate butterflies is my example of sending love.

And the butterflies and bees in the story? I  believe they are guardians of this precious Earth, little angels themselves, every one.

Tuesdays With The Angels-The Angels On The Writers’ Shoulders 11

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The synchronicity of happenings makes me wonder. Today, February 17th, would be my late daughter, Kate’s birthday. This month of love has been full of  synchronicities. Two days ago my husband Dave and I were flipping through  channels and there was the Lawrence Welk Show from the sixties. Pausing there  for a moment because there was a tap dancer on I said,  “That’s how Kate danced.” I could visualize my own daughter tapping those steps long ago.  Kate taught tap as a teenager.”She could tap dance like a broadway star,” I said at her memorial. Then yesterday, the 16th, I was in a boutique buying jeans and the song,“Jitterbug” by George Michael came over the speaker  yet  it was playing louder than normal. Kate tap danced to the song in one of her school recitals. I hadn’t heard the song in years.

This healing road I’ve taken since her passing has been  full of synchronicity. A cardinal’s been at my feeder now for a month. I hadn’t seen one in ten years there except the day my precious dog Sassi had surgery and lived. Cardinals are scarce in my town in the Arizona desert but are said to be a sign angels are near. Synchronicities help me write my novels and blogs. A friend gave me the angel  in the photo below. For over 20 years I’ve placed her in the western window where as the sun sets she casts a shadow on the wall. Looking at the angel gives me peace and so I  wrote the shadows’ theme in my novel, The Angel’s Daughter. Hannah, a half angel asks, “Am I just  just a shadow of an angel?” Yet in the happy ending she finds her very angelness and moves forward with her life just as I have. Synchronicities are surely heavens’ messages. I know not only angels are near but Kate is always near. “What’s heaven like,”  I once wrote her in a poem, “Are  rainbows everywhere?”  Somewhere over the rainbow the synchronicities are forming a snowflake like pattern, a loving heavenly design. 

Tues With The Angels-The Angels On The Writers’ Shoulders 10

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A wise healer helped change my worrisome thinking. His calming voice said, “There’s a spiritual awakening in the world.”

Now February, the month of giving thoughts of love, my husband gave me a beautiful valentine. “Love you Forever” it read. I believe love is forever and ever. Sending love on angels wings to those I love keeps me positive. Love is more powerful than hate, judgement or despair. Love is prayer without ceasing and hope without ending. Writing novels about angels helps me grow as I hope to be a  calming presence for my family.

A spiritual awakening is happening. Yes, it’s inside me now. It’s spread on the wings of angels I believe in. Remember the beautiful song written long ago…Let There Be Peace On Earth and Let It Begin With Me.

 

Tuesdays With The Angels-The Angels On The Writers’ Shoulders 9

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Synchronicity Happenings?

Walking down the road on a hot summer day I was  filled with grief for the loss of  my daughter Kate. However,  I vowed that day to never  become a bitter old women. 

Twenty plus years have gone by and  these years have been filled with a  synchronicity of happenings. They come  like brilliant light shining through a winter storm.  Are they really psychic experiences or the work of angels?

The first happening took place in a dream weeks after Kate passed away. A voice in a dream said, ” Read the book Charlotte’s Web, there will be a message in it for you.” But I had never read the childrens’ book by E. B. White. Astounded, I woke up determined to read the book to see if there really was  a message in it  for me? As I read all afternoon long, the pages spoke of the bucolic life on the farm and the enduring friendship between a pig named Wilbur and Charlotte, the farms’ talented artist who as it happened was an endearing spider who created magical webs. Charlotte saves Wilburs’ life at the  fair by weaving her webs filled with woven messages like “Some Pig” and other wonderful sayings. Yet sadly, Charlotte dies and Wilbur is left without his best friend. I wondered then where was my message? Could it just be a dream? But my message was there written on the very last page, “Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart.” This message was the beginning of a  synchronicity of events that would continue.

A  few months later my fifteen year old daughter, Elizabeth, left a note on her bedroom floor when she went to school. “Dear Kate in heaven,” it read in part, “I love you more than anyone but could you please help Mom?” I sat on her bed and knew  I needed  to move forward focusing on my living children to be the best mom to my twins Mike and Elizabeth. Didn’t they deserve  the same attentive mother I’d been for Kate?

Ten years later Kate’s memory had inspired me to write novels about angels and my life was filled with purpose and thanksgiving. Yet sadlyI  lost my husband Steve and  wondered how would I handle another death of someone I loved? But  a beautiful new message came. Was it  another synchronicity happening? My son, Mike,  gave me a birthday card with a jeweled butterfly on it. “You will get your wings and fly again soon,” Mike wrote.

And so inspired by his loving  heartfelt card and the yellow butterflies on the bushes outside my window, I began to formulate in my mind  the third novel in the Mystic Bay Series, Town of Angels.  It’s a novel set in the psychic town of Mystic Bay where angels live as humans and love abounds. In the story  butterflies are sent from Angel Ken, to calm and nurture his flock of humans.Some land on the shoulders and fingers of the characters changing their days to happy ones.

And then a serendipitous encounter?  What happened next was to me a miracle. This past summer Elizabeth called with news of a butterfly  landing near and on her family  as they sat on the steps at their apartment building in New York City. For one week in the late afternoon a butterfly graced them with its presence landing a few times on each of them.  It landed on my son -in -laws’ finger, on Elizabeth’s shoulder and on the baby’s shoulder. A coincidence caught on their cell phones?

I think not but a synchronicity, a  happening of love, a testimony of finding heavens’ messages in the everyday. For I believe our world is awash with guiding angels. Some even come in dreams or send butterflies. For you see the  most lovely part of this story is  dear Elizabeth and her husband Seth named their baby girl Kate more then twenty years after Kate’s passing. I had my baby granddaughter, Kate, another Kate to love. A butterfly had landed on her shoulder just  as I’d written in my latest novel.

The messages come so frequently now. I have a growing family of loved ones. And the bitter old woman I so worried would become my future ? She never showed up  because of the synchronicity of happenings in this lovely angel and butterfly inspired life of mine, a life worth cherishing.

Below baby Kate and her butterfly