Mediums often tell us that when our loved ones pass on, they can send us messages from beyond, letting us know they are okay. These messages might come in the form of butterflies, feathers, pennies, birds, or even songs on the radio.

During Mom’s illness we often discussed death and what we believed happened when we moved on. It was a discussion I never had with my father during his illness and final days. Back then his impending death was the elephant in the room that we never discussed. I have much regret not broaching that topic with him.

When discussing with Mom, those signs mediums mentioned, I asked her to send me crows. Her response, “But what if I don’t know how?”  I assured her that when she passed over, she would be able to figure it out.

Before I go on with my story, three things you need to know about Mom. First, she passed away on October 24, 2024. Her first name was Caroline. Her nickname amongst close family and friends, Sweet Caroline. Mom also loved Christmas, and during the last few years of her dementia, she fretted about Christmas, afraid she would not have the money to buy her grandchildren and children gifts. That was very important to her.

This afternoon Don and I drove to the post office to mail some Christmas gifts to my sister and daughter’s family. When we got home, Don walked out to the mailbox while I took the dogs outside for a minute.

Don returned from our mailbox with a small package. He said it was for me. At first, I thought it was my medication, in one of those plastic-like gray mailing bags. It wasn’t from Amazon, and I hadn’t ordered anything.

The item was shipped from some company in California. Inside was a small box with an ornament inside. No invoice. No card.  

The ornament, a crow with a Santa’s hat, personalized, “Sweet Caroline.” Of course I cried. 

I have no doubt Mom sent me that crow ornament. She probably whispered in someone’s ear to get it done. The three most likely helpers would be my husband, sister, or daughter.  While I didn’t ask them, my sister and husband say it wasn’t them.

Why am I so convinced Mom instigated my gift? Because I know she instigated the gifts her other daughter and grandchildren will be receiving this Christmas. After Mom passed, she had a little money left in the bank account we share. I could practically hear her telling me it was almost Christmas, and she needed to buy them gifts.

The other day my sister and Elizabeth received the See’s Candy I ordered for them from Mom. My sister said both she and her husband cried when they received Mom’s Christmas gift. See’s is a big thing in our family during Christmas. Mom loved ordering it for her family and buying some for herself. When I was a child, Mom’s mother, my Grandma Hilda, didn’t have a lot of money to spend at Christmas, but each year she would buy each of her grandchildren a pound of See’s Candy. For me and my sister, it was always a pound of Bordeaux’s, our favorite. 

So I am pretty sure Mom made sure I had a Christmas gift this year, since she was getting her other daughter and the grandchildren gifts.