I get asked this question a lot! So let's try and simplify things because we all know there are fakes out there  in any profession, preying on the grieving parent and others. Let us be smart about who we let into our energy space and our emotions.

THREE ELEMENTS THAT ARE A MUST IN MEDIUMSHIP

• Spirit Identification (Evidence of who they are speaking to)
• Details & Validations (Personal details, events and incidents that only YOU would know. These details could be funny memories, a thought you had recently, what you bought at the store, renovations to your home, anything that proves that the information is NOT GENERAL. The purpose of these little details is to show the authentication of the connection.) THIS IS  MAINLY SO YOU WILL LISTEN TO THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE READING: THE MESSAGE!
• THE MESSAGE: Why is the spirit here?  Does the spirit want to provide a healing message? Reveal details about a passing that were not known? Offer an opinion, warning or message to a loved one? Trying to take care of unfinished business or just say hello?  There is usually always a REASON the spirit is there. Most of the time your child would never miss an opportunity to let you know they are ok and chat with you. 

THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR

• A Medium who claims to be able to go “get those” on the other side. 
• A Medium who provides a lot of OPINIONS and not objective details. Beware of those who insert their own spiritual beliefs, insight, or opinions in readings.
• A Medium who is arrogant, self righteous, not very empathic or sympathetic, or who claims to be a religious guru. (THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT! )
• A Medium who is still active in an addiction with a drug of choice
• A Medium who is reading for the purpose of their ego and not for the purpose of service!
• A Medium who is vague or choppy in the connection, or who bounces from topic to topic, you should feel you are in a flow.
• ALWAYS TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS

Offered up with love and light in lieu of recent experiences 
Be WELL and stay alert! 

After I lost my son AJ, over 11 years ago now I wondered if it is even possible to heal after child loss. The answer is simple, you don't get a choice. You will heal or you will die.

This group, through countless experiences has taught me that life goes on with or without you. You must make a conscious decision to help yourself.

This group is not for the faint of heart. There are plenty of grief groups out there but the Admin team at VOOA helps to ensure that every parent has survival tools. We have someone on call 24/7 for peace of mind and heart when those thoughts hit especially during the early days. As our members get further along the become the on call support for others and do the giving back. We get down and dirty personal here unlike other groups. 

We found that becoming accustomed to hearing spirit is not unique and happens to most whether it be in dreams, a thought that hits your brain or a real live voice in your ear. The Admin team puts together many learnings experiences from professionals who give from their hearts just for our members. 

Many members have found purpose through this group and have gone on to help others in various ways. Beyond all else, unbreakable friendships have happened through the connections in this group. No matter what the members go on to do to fulfill a purpose in their child's memory, they still come back to this group where it all started. 

If you know a bereaved parent who is willing to make strides forward and learn, feel free to send them along. Its not a pretty road but one that is not impossible either. 

​Be well <3 

Today, on what would be AJ's 33rd birthday, I wondered if a kid in heaven still wants for their birthday?
Do they have that list going that they will present a week before so we can celebrate Aj week?

​It is very clear to me that on that list would be..... wanting to see you smile, they also want you to remember the good times and celebrate like they are standing right there! Oh wait, they are. They want to taste that chocolate cake through you as you savor every bite. If I had a mailbox that wasn't communal, the balloons would be there as always. 

But, what happens to us, here on earth? The feeling of not being able to touch something tangible is difficult for our brain to grasp. Our heart knows that it can do it. So, reach out to your kid with your heart, forget your brain, it's not a day of sadness but one of joy and remember the feeling when you first saw their little face. Remember the memories and smiles and be grateful for what they gave you in their very short years when you laid their physical to rest. Above all, make them proud that you are still ecstatic and love to be their parent.  

I am so blessed for having gotten the opportunity, even if only for 21 short years! AJ, you are loved,  remembered and missed beyond words <3 

Its been awhile, but I am resurrecting our blog. I don't know why I have neglected it but I am reminded      after a short holiday in Switzerland and Bodensee Germany that there is always, always, always a plan in      place from our loved ones to show us the love from above. Did I say always!   

After an amazing reading with Mollie Morning Star, she shared that I would find a heart shaped rock from      Aj while there. I did not really search because I am a firm believer of "bring it on"! While it's a challenge        sometimes for spirit, they usually rise to the challenge! On our last day, I saw a swan at the edge of the        lake. I went over to take it's picture and when I looked down, low and behold there it was. The most        beautiful heart rock I've ever seen. And, it was not small in true AJ form. Thank you Aj, I really needed    that.This is a reminder that love from the other side comes in all forms. BE WATCHFUL or you will miss it!

This group has come a long long way since inception. It has grown leaps and bounds with each of us learning along the way. We are first and foremost a group of loving parents who support each other through thick and thin. 

I am extremely joyful about how our mentorship program has turned out. Many amazing friendships have formed in this group. And, from the friendships and love we have all grown into loving, supportive parents who go out of their way to help other parents. This surpasses any expectation I had for this group which started out on a whim and a prayer.

Many non-profits and organizations have formed through lessons in grief. Our parents help others in so many ways and inspire on a daily basis. I can honestly say, I am so proud of how all of us have progressed. We still have a relationship with our children in just a different sort of way. We believe they do go on and they have proven it. We have blessed with many signs along the way. We hear favorite songs in the strangest of places, have dragonflies land literally on our faces, you name it, these kids get our attention. Its been some time since Ive blogged but tonight I felt the need to say THANK YOU to all of our members for making my journey a bit easier, bringing a smile to my face on a daily basis, watching you all grow and blossom with one foot in front of the other while selflessly helping each other. I am so BLESSED to know you all!

You all know how we feel about Meditating. Guided meditation is the best because you can LISTEN to a voice which will get you there. When life is overwhelming, try it. Once you do and remember that feeling of peace and how wonderful it feels, you will turn to the guided voice over and over again. Thank you Jennifer Krause for your dedication to finding our Monday Meditations for us and this amazing piece on the importance. 

"Meditation is a practice in which an individual trains the mind or induces a mode of consciousness, either to realize some benefit, or as an end in itself." There many benefits from Meditating. Meditation can help clear the mind, lower blood pressure, ease anxiety or depression, or to bring a sense of inner peace, bringing mindfulness to the moment. There are many ways to meditate, and the best way is what works for you. Some can sit quietly for hours on end while some have such "Monkey Mind", a couple of minutes can be more than enough. Something just as simple as taking 3 deep breaths can be a wonderful way to start. In meditation we learn to become the watcher of the mind and become aware of the gaps in our thoughts, and in those gaps there is an opening. A few examples of ways that one can meditate are: guided mediations, walking meditations, meditation music, getting out in nature, silent meditation, chanting or mantra meditation, singing, praying, breathing...... Taking the time to experiment with different types, will guide us to what will work best for us. As we are all parents that have suffered the greatest loss, that of a child, grief has become a close companion. Grief is such a strong emotion, adding a daily practice of meditation can truly help on this journey of healing. Namaste

Im constantly in awe of the tremendous strength of the grieving parent. They are rock solid even though they feel they stand on a slippery slope. VOOA members constantly amaze me in that they are the kindest, most compassionate, understanding people that the world will ever encounter. Sometimes they are down, sometimes they are up but their behavior remains in check despite the horrific walk they are journeying. Many a member has come to the aid of another despite their own pain. They put others first and for that I am so grateful. Occasionally we encounter someone who uses grief as an excuse for their bad behavior. I say it over and over... there is no excuse for bad behavior. We have all learned this together and the results are more than expected. We don't enable each other but rather give each other strength. We know that there are others in our shoes and we are not special to this situation. WE ARE DIVINE STRENGTH, DIVINE DETERMINATION AND DIVINELY GUIDED IN OUR JOURNEY... and for that I am grateful <3

I would like to share with you all an amazing message that we received from our Divine Karen Anderson. Karen delivers messages from the Angels and walks the walk of Angel on Earth. Thank you so much for sharing with us Karen. This group is well taken care by the Healer themself!


"When answering some posts just now...I felt guided to ask who is with us here on this community of loving beings?And Archangel Raphael (great Healer who always appears in emerald green) revealed himself on my keyboard! You are all so loved! Namaste'"

Ahhhh how can we not feel like we are taken care of? My point exactly!