A HERO FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of COVID-19 Victims

Baltimore City, Maryland

I have been called a “hero” for weeks now while working as a nurse in an Emergency Room. The support we have been shown is overwhelming to say the least. Today I was talking with three other medical professionals about things we have experienced after losing loved ones. Just a few minutes later, I met a hero from Heaven.

Many individuals believe that when you see a red cardinal, you should pay close attention to decipher the message that was sent to you.

Today at our hospital in midst of caring for countless COVID-19 patients, we noticed a beautiful red cardinal outside that needed help. The cardinal had apparently flown into our glass door and while stunned, was attempting to enter the Emergency Room! As a nurse my first instinct was to help the cardinal which was standing motionless at the very middle of the doors. I was quite worried it would attempt to fly inside, panic and become even more injured. I quickly opened the doors and slowly picked up the cardinal. I gently held this stunning redbird in my hands while doing a quick assessment. This unique and beautiful creature was so calm, did not flap its wings and never attempted to bite me. It was so incredibly gentle and loving. This very moment was a spiritual experience that I will never forget! I walked over to a nearby tree, opened my hands and the cardinal immediately jumped up and landed onto a branch. I stared at the cardinal and remember feeling as if the moment took my breath away.

Mr. Cardinal, you truly brightened my day, and I hope you are feeling completely better! Thank you for reminding us and that we too have the passion, endurance, and strength to continue doing what we do! As a front line caregiver, I have learned that we can withstand all seasonal changes; we are bold, strong, persistent, and eager to take care and help all those who are in need.

Red cardinals are one of God’s most glorious creatures, and I feel it was there to provide spiritual support for every patient in the hospital who is alone. I also believe this was a spiritual sign intended for all medical professionals on the front line. My sweet, little hero from Heaven was there to deliver a powerful message; a reminder for everyone that even when all seems cold and dead, there is still life and beauty.

ALWAYS BY CHANCE
In Memory of Chance Brandon Clarke

Eagle Lake, Florida

In the early hours of May 12, 2021, my friend since elementary school passed away from a bullet. Two days later I was visiting my cousin and other family members at a resort. I was standing with my mom, aunt, and little sister while waiting for a golf cart to pick us up. While we were waiting, I was thinking about Chance and then said aloud, “Why did you have to be there, Chance!?” No one responded to me but a few seconds later I a beautiful redbird flew near my feet and landed on the edge of the sidewalk directly in front of me. I loudly exclaimed, “Oh my God – Look at this redbird!” While I admired its beauty, my aunt proceeded to tell me that when a red cardinal appears, it means an angel from Heaven is near. I immediately started to cry as I had never heard that before.

My friend Chance must be watching over me because I have been extremely sad, confused and upset. I believe that Chance heard me ask for a sign. I am so happy that he visited me to let me know that he will always be near me. I hope to see more red cardinals in my life!

ALWAYS BY MY SIDE
In Memory of Cleo B. Ward

Elberton, Georgia

My Grandmother Cleo was the strongest person I have ever known. She had Uterine Cancer, which went into remission but later returned. She also suffered a stroke while going through chemotherapy. Sadly, my grandmother passed the day before my birthday last year. I had been going through difficult times with a custody battle before and after losing her. For this reason, she missed several important milestones, special events and holidays with my son. Even worse, she was unable to see my son before her passing, which devastated me.

This past month has been excruciating and feels as though everything on earth is against me. I often go into my “she-shed” at night and do artwork when I am unable to sleep. Late one evening I was walking my dog around the yard, which is a wooded area off a dirt road. I felt as though someone was watching me through the trees, which was unlikely, but I still felt a little scared. I shined the flashlight ahead of us and then pointed it up into one of the trees. Resting quietly on a branch was a gorgeous, bright red cardinal. I do not remember ever seeing cardinals in my area! At this point I was only two feet away from the cardinal, yet it remained still and calm.

I remember my grandmother often telling me about the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals. She would say that when a red cardinal visits you, it is the spirit of a loved one in Heaven who is wishing you well. I continue to tell myself that the cardinal was my grandmother’s spirit and she is sending me strength to get through what is ahead, even when I feel as though everything is against me.

The world has lost an amazing soul, but I am now at peace with what is to come, because I know she is always by my side.

ALWAYS NEAR
In Memory of “Red”

Hammond, Louisiana

I was sitting at my dinette table at six in the evening, which was always the normal time I shared dinner with my late husband, “Red”. I glanced up and looked outside to discover a bright red cardinal sitting on the back of a patio chair. It was looking directly at me through the window!

Yesterday, the gorgeous red cardinal flew into my backyard and landed on my fence. It then flew across the yard and landed in the grass extremely close to me. The cardinal again looked directly at me while I was sitting on the patio.

A few seconds later, the sweet little redbird flew over to the birdbath, sat on the edge and looked at me yet again. It paused for just a moment and then proceeded to bathe.

It really warms my heart every time I see this beautiful red cardinal because it is a constant reminder that my husband “Red” is always near!

ALWAYS WITH ME
In Memory of Howard Mize

Charlotte, North Carolina

My father passed in 2013 very unexpectedly and my first encounter with a red cardinal was not until 2020.

I started reading, watching shows, and researching the topics of death and spiritual signs that we receive from our loved ones in Heaven. I believe that the signs are always there, we just need to be open to receive them.

My father has sent me many signs, but the most consistent sign has been the red cardinal. On June 8th, one day before his birthday, I was thinking of my father and was very emotional. I was walking my dog and a red cardinal landed in a tree that was directly above us. The cardinal did not move and just stared right at us. Every single day of June after that I saw a red cardinal either flying, sitting in a field, or landing right in front of me while walking outside. After June 2020, I did not really see them that much anymore.

In March 2021 I decided to do some spring cleaning. I had been thinking about the prior day and how long it had been since I saw a cardinal. While cleaning, I came across my father's funeral program along with the speech I had written for his funeral. I sat down, read it, and looked at my father’s photograph. Shortly after, I glanced outside and in that very moment a red cardinal landed in my tree! It rested on a branch and stared at me for about five minutes.

A week later I was walking my dog through a beautiful cemetery about 10 minutes from my house. An interesting looking bird flew in front of us, and I thought to myself "It would be so nice to see a red cardinal right now.” Less than five seconds later, a bright red cardinal flew in front of me along with two little baby birds following him close behind. I was in shock! I continued walking and was thinking how amazing that was. Five minutes later another red cardinal flew into the tree that was right beside me. I walked up slowly to get a closer look at the cardinal; our eyes locked momentarily but then it flew away and landed onto another tree. I followed the cardinal and kept walking down the street as it continued flying from tree to tree. I walked up to the cardinal’s resting spot and said hello. I asked, “How are you?” and the started singing the most beautiful song. I just stood there, watched, and listened for about ten minutes! The cardinal then flew up into the top of the tree, so I continued walking home.

I left to run a few errands and upon my return, I sat on the couch while looking out the window. My eyes scanned a nearby tree and I soon observed a female cardinal resting on one of it’s branches. Seeing a cardinal is an incredible feeling and I will never grow tired of receiving these special signs as they help me to know that my father is still with me. I miss my father more than anything, but cardinals truly help me to feel closer to him.

AMAZING GRACE
In Memory of My Beloved Mom “Ellen”

Belleville, Wisconsin

My mother died on May 19, 2020 after a long battle with Parkinson’s. I spent several days, weeks and months with my parents, helping to make each of her days bright and cheery. The last two weeks she had her mind back and often talked about what she could see. She said it was beautiful and that she wanted to go home.

I miss her every day and sometimes I talk to her out loud and say, “Mom I miss you so much.”

This morning I was running outside in the little town of Belleville where we live while listening to Christian music. I was thinking about her and feeling sad about not having her with me anymore. Suddenly I ran up to something resting on the city street and as I got close, realized it was a red cardinal. I slowly moved closer toward the bird and was surprised that it did not fly away. The beautiful red cardinal just sat there looking at me. I thought it must have been injured, so I moved closer, and it still did not move. I looked at its wings to see if one of them had been damaged from the wind, but nothing seemed amiss. In that moment, I remembered how much my mom loved birds and hearing about the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals, so I sang Amazing Grace to the bird. I sang this same song to my mom the day she died. After a few minutes, I bent down and attempted to pick up the cardinal to move it from the road into the grass. The cardinal flew about 20 feet away, landed into a bush, and looked back at me. It was such an amazing experience.

My mom always made friends with everyone; she was a social butterfly. One day she told me that we would always be connected and today I realized that our connection will be through one of God’s most magnificent creatures, the cardinal. While running this morning, I had been incredibly sad while thinking about how much I miss my mom, so I believe this Cardinal Experience was a true miracle!

ANGEL ADAM
In Memory of Adam Hall

Duncanville, Texas

My son Adam died of a drug overdose on May 5 in 2018. Before collapsing, Adam told the people he was with to call and tell me that he was in trouble. They never called. They waited 45 minutes before calling 911 just so they could clean up the drug scene beforehand. To this day it has haunted me because I was unable to be there for him in his time of need.

For two years now I have grieved for Adam. This past Sunday I had to call one of my bishop's councilor because I had a breakdown. He came right over, sat with me, and listened to me while I was crying. He told me that Adam was alright because he was now under God’s wing. He reassured me that God is taking care of him, and I was not to worry.

The following morning, I opened my front door and there was a beautiful red cardinal sitting on my fence as if it had been waiting for me. I looked directly at the cardinal and a few seconds later, it flew off down the street and landed on a tree at my mother’s home. This caused the hair on my arms to stand up. I believe Adam sent the cardinal to let me know he was alright and that I need not worry anymore.

This little red cardinal did more for my mental health than any doctor has. I found peace of mind knowing that the cardinal was sent to me by my son Adam at the most perfect moment and for a specific reason. For so long I have struggled with losing the opportunity to be there for my son as he laid dying on the floor. Everything changed after my Angel Adam sent the beautiful red cardinal to me with a message that will never leave my heart…

“Dad, everything is alright. I want you to go on with your life, because I am truly in a better place now.”

ANGEL ADELYNN
In Memory of Adelynn Nichole Huddleston

Birmingham, Alabama

Ever since my daughter Adelynn’s passing, my family and I have been flipped upside down. I would leave my home only to work and would often lay in bed while at home. I was the only one working in my household and was also caring for five people while being incredibly stressed and suffering from depression.

Whenever I was at home or on a break at work, I would often hear birds chirping and singing. After a while, it started to drive me a
little crazy. I was having an exceptionally bag day at work and decided to take a break outside because the weather was so beautiful. I was standing near my car and saw a redbird staring at
me. The bird started to sing, so I captured its photograph. In that moment, I remembered hearing that redbirds and bluebirds are
signs of good luck. This made me feel so happy, energized, and alive! After work, I drove straight to our local Bingo Hall and won a significant amount of money! I immediately thought to myself, “Wow, the spiritual belief about cardinals being good luck is real!”

After arriving home, I wanted to learn more about cardinals and started to do a little research on the internet. I immediately learned that when a cardinal is here, an angel is near. After reading this,
I literally lost it emotionally because my deceased daughter’s 2nd birthday was fast approaching.

Learning about the spiritual symbolism of cardinals caused me to start watching for them and listening for them every day. I bought bird feeders, cardinal wall art, and so many other items featuring a red cardinal. I began to see red cardinals often and whenever I did, something good or special happened that day!

Prior to seeing that first red cardinal, I was so low I did not even want to get out of bed to eat. That amazing red cardinal gave me feelings of hope and faith, which I desperately needed! I believe that my Angel Adelynn is letting me know that everything is alright, and we will be together again someday.

I will forever be in love with cardinals as they give me such hope and peace!

ANGEL ARES
In Memory of Ares Adam Bianchi

Brandon, Florida

Currently, everyone throughout the world is affected by the global pandemic known as COVID-19. At the very moment things became serious in the United States, I began to feel extremely ill and was rushed to our local hospital. My level of concern was extremely high because I have Diabetes and had also been in close contact with many people while working at a very popular diner.

I am barely old enough to drink alcohol and was told by the doctors that I was basically knocking on death’s door. Fortunately, it was not the silent killer coronavirus, but it was DKA which causes death if not caught in time. Sepsis was another major issue and yet another known killer if not caught. The bad news continued. One of the doctors informed me that I was 29 weeks pregnant, unknowingly, and my unborn son had passed away about 24 hours prior.

After the shock left my body, grief and self-hatred consumed my heart. They sedated me and sent me to the operating room for an emergency cesarean section. I woke up on a ventilator and had absolutely no idea where I was or even what day it was. I looked around the empty room, wishing someone close to me were there for comfort. I suddenly remembered the son who I just found out existed, was now gone. My happiness was taken just as it was given. One of the doctors came into my room and told me that if I were a cat, I had just used up 2 of my 9 lives.

My mother came to the hospital to visit me and I cried like a mad woman. I asked if she was upset with me. I told her that I would not blame her if she said yes. She shook her head to answer “NO” and said, "They let me see him." I was confused, but then a nurse came in with a sheet of paper and a small purple box. She explained that it was my baby’s footprints and a memory box containing a small lamb, photographs and a few other special items. She then asked me if I would like to see him and of course, I immediately said, “YES.”

A few minutes later she came back into the room carrying the most beautiful sleeping angel I have ever seen. At that point, I had never even held a baby, but suddenly understood the feeling of maternal bonding and love. I held him and just stared. I was overcome with emotion and knew in that moment I adored him more than I have ever loved anyone else in this world.

Even though he was in Heaven, the hospital treated him as a living soul. They wrapped him up in a blanket and even put a little hat on the top of his sweet, little head. I was thinking the beautiful name that his father and I had previously talked about if we were to ever have a son. It was perfect. I named him “Ares.” His middle and last names are the same as his father’s. I held Ares one more time before he was sent to a local funeral home. He would be cremated and brought back home to be with us where he belongs.

My mother encouraged me to walk around the maternity ward. We both put on a mask and gloves and walked out of my room. I began to hear light taps against a window at the end of the hallway. We walked in that direction and discovered a beautiful male cardinal fluttering around outside. I love animals and all creatures, so we slowly made our way to the window. In that very moment, the cardinal landed on the windowsill and started to chirp. I smiled, giggled and said, “Hello” before turning around to walk the other way.

We continued walking slowly back and forth in the hallway and again stopped to see the cardinal. It seemed completely unphased when I pressed my hand up against the window glass. Apparently, this little redbird had something important to say, because it began chirping its little red and black head off for almost two minutes before flying onto the ground and landing next to a beautiful bluebird.

I returned home and while recovering from the surgery, I find it quite peaceful to sit outside on our patio. The other day I walked down to our parking lot. Suddenly, a bold red cardinal flew oddly close to my head and began to chirp loudly. I truly believe the cardinal is my Angel Ares, and so does my mother. She now sees the redbird every day and always says “I love you!”

Cardinals are very common in Indiana, yet while living there I never experienced anything like this. During this challenging time of isolation, anxiety and fear, we all need comfort and companionship.
I never imagined it would come from my Angel Ares.

I love you, my little bird. Fly high!

ANGEL ASHLEY
In Memory of Ashley

Collinsville, Illinois

My daughter Ashley passed in 2018. I was home alone last week and was talking out loud to her and asked her to show me a sign so that I would know she was with me. I work from home and my desk is in her bedroom. I looked out the window and there was a red cardinal resting in a tree and it remained there for about 10 minutes. I have never seen a cardinal in our yard prior to this moment.

Today I was home alone again and asked Ashley if she would come and visit me again. I looked out the same window and a few seconds later, a red cardinal flew by.

I have no doubt that my Angel Ashley is communicating with me through this beautiful red cardinal.

ANNIVERSARY ANGEL
In Memory of Johnnie, George, Cherri, and Tom

Savannah, Georgia

Today is April 24th in 2023 and is the 19th anniversary of my marriage to my wonderful husband, Neil. This should be such a joyous day, but I was feeling melancholy because neither of our parents are here to celebrate with us.

Neil and I got engaged on April 14th in 2003, and our parents became best friends from that moment on. We lived in Florida as did Neil's parents, while my mother and stepfather lived in the mountains in North Carolina. The mothers felt as though they had known each other their whole lives. When Neil’s parents retired, they decided to buy land close to where my mom and stepdad lived in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Neil’s parents even lived with them for six months while their home was being built.

On October 26th in 2007, my mom and stepdad were with Neil’s parents doing some Christmas shopping in town. On their way home, they were in a car accident and all four perished. We were both completely devastated. Holidays and special occasions are just never quite the same.

This morning after Neil went to work, I heard whistles from up inside our chimney.
I recognized the call and knew immediately that it was a cardinal. I whistled back, attempting to mimic its beautiful and distinct call. The cardinal responded to my sound, so I whistled again. We called back and forth to each other for several minutes, and I was able to capture a video recording as well.

This unexpected interaction with the cardinal made me smile with tears of joy. I am not sure who this spiritual sign was from, but truly believe an Angel visited me to let me know we are still so loved and watched over.

Wishing an extra special and happy anniversary to my husband, Neil.

ANNUAL BLESSINGS
In Memory of My Father

Nesconset and Oakdale, New York

I would often see a cardinal while living in my old apartment. I never thought anything of it until I started to see a red cardinal every year in June on the anniversary of my father’s passing and on his birthday. I consider these moments as spiritual signs from my father who wants to show me that he will always be with me.

I will always be so grateful for each annual blessing!

ANOTHER WHISPER
In Memory of Ruben James Cerda

Houston, Texas

My son Ruben passed unexpectedly from kidney failure at the age of 42 on July 15, 2020. He never even knew that he was so ill. By the time he recognized symptoms and went to the hospital, it was too late. The doctors tried everything possible to save his kidneys. To make matters worse, we were not allowed to visit him in the hospital due to COVID-19.

I have been doing everything possible during the holidays to try and cheer myself up. I put up Christmas lights, Christmas trees and other decorations knowing that Ruben would have wanted me to carry on.

When Ruben’s birthday arrived on December 27th, I fell apart. I work at a nursing home and after pulling into the employee parking lot, I sat on the ground and cried uncontrollably.

Two days later, I was thinking about my “baby boy” while driving into work. I always called him my “baby boy” because he was my first born. Still thinking of Ruben, I began to cry quietly. While driving into the employee parking lot, I noticed that someone had taken my usual spot. I continued driving and found one just a few spaces down. I put my car in park and realized that it was a better parking spot as I could see my car from the inside window. I grabbed my coffee cup, keys, purse, and face mask then looked around to see if deer were eating off the trees as I did not want to scare them. Suddenly, I saw something and then gasped for air. The most beautiful red cardinal was resting on a branch just a foot away from my car and it was looking directly at me. I slowly got out of my car and quietly walked around to the other side. I spoke to the cardinal, asking if it was there on behalf of my baby boy. The cardinal jumped onto another branch and was now even closer to me. I spoke softly and said, "Please tell Ruben that I love him very much and that he is always in my heart. Please thank him for sending you to me and thank the Lord for allowing you to come!"

I know in my heart that my baby boy was standing there with me in that moment, so before leaving, I whispered another “I love you!”

A PAIR OF BLESSINGS
In Memory of Roy J. Fleming

Lake City, Michigan

While helping my sister-in-law attend to my dying brother, we repeatedly observed a pair of beautiful cardinals outside throughout the day. My sister-in-law mentioned that she rarely sees cardinals at her feeders. The male and female cardinal stayed nearby all day long. Sadly, my brother passed away later that evening. Early the next morning, my sister-in-law saw the bright red cardinal resting peacefully on a tree outside. Since that day, she has yet to see either of the cardinals again.

ARTISTIC ANGEL
In Memory of Virginia Giordano

Washington Township, New Jersey

During the prayer at my Mom-mom’s burial service, a bright red cardinal appeared in the tree she will be buried under. The cardinal remained in the same location throughout the entire prayer and flew away just as the service concluded.

My Mom-mom absolutely loved watching the birds through her kitchen window and cardinals were her favorite. She was an artist and has painted many beautiful scenes featuring cardinals. Seeing the cardinal appear during her memorial service felt as though my artist angel had painted yet another beautiful scene.

My Mom-mom was buried next to her son, my Uncle Steve, and I believe this was a sign from Heaven that both of them were with us on that day and will be with us for the rest of our lives.

A SHOO-IN FOR SPECIAL SIGNS
In Memory of Beverly Caniglia

Royersford, Pennsylvania

My beautiful mother passed away three years ago the day after Thanksgiving. Losing her was extremely difficult because we had such a wonderful mother-daughter relationship. She is always on my mind, but more often around the holidays. Just a few days after the anniversary of her passing, I was walking down the hall toward my classroom when suddenly, I stepped on something and became lodged in the bottom of my shoe. I continued walking, reached my classroom and quickly sat down amongst the students. There were several little faces surrounding me as I attempted to remove a tiny object from the base of my shoe. After a few minutes, I was finally able to pry it out, only to discover it was a tiny red cardinal with a metal prong. I was in complete disbelief and wonder what was bigger – the smile on my face or the smile in my heart. My amazing mother always had such a great sense of humor and this was definitely a shoo-in for one of her best and most meaningful jokes ever!

A SIGN FROM ABOVE
In Memory of Jet

Chicago, Illinois

I had my beautiful rescue dog Jet with me for over 15 years. He was the love of my life and the best dog I could have asked for. Early in 2021 he suffered a stroke and his kidneys started to fail. As his health rapidly declined, I could not bear to watch my strong, stoic, independent boy stop eating, lose interest in daily walks and amble so unsteadily so I made the difficult decision to let him go. The morning of, I was questioning my decision and wondered if I was doing the right thing. As we were sitting outside awaiting the arrival of the vet, a single red cardinal perched on a wire and looked right at us. I was unable to take my eyes off this magnificent bird; it was as if the cardinal was demanding to be seen. I researched the meaning of red cardinals and suddenly I felt so calm and reassured. It was the sign that I needed. The vet arrived and I held Jet's head while weeping into his soft mane as he slipped away. The vet said he went quickly and peacefully.

I loved Jet his whole life and will miss him for the rest of mine. RIP my beloved Jet and thank you for blessing my soul May 2005 through March 2021.

A SONG FOR DAD
In Memory of John Dufour

Amherstburg, Ontario

My dad passed away very unexpectedly last week and our family is heartbroken! The day after he passed, my mom, two brothers and I sat around the dining room table to make the arrangements. I heard a cardinal outside and told my brother. Ten minutes later I had to run out to my car for something. While walking back toward the house, I noticed a red cardinal in a tree, and he was singing. He appeared to be looking directly at me. I have always been able to imitate the cardinal call, so I whistled back, and the cardinal immediately responded! I sat down on our porch and we continued to call out to each other for several minutes.

I have been sleeping in my dad’s garage since he passed because that is where I felt the closest to him. One early morning I woke up and went from the garage into our home for a few minutes. I walked outside, headed back toward the garage, and noticed it was such a beautiful morning. I looked up at our neighbor’s house antenna and there was a bright red cardinal singing to me. While whistling back to him, I was thinking how exhausted I was, but did not want to leave until he left. A few seconds later, he flew away, and I truly felt like it was my dad saying, “Honey, go get some rest!”

The following morning, my fiancé and I woke up exhausted as we did not sleep at all during the night. Around 7 am, we went outside with the trash. I looked up and saw two cardinals on the same antenna, to which I exclaimed, “See! See! It’s my dad!”

I felt such a strong connection with these beautiful birds. I have always heard about red cardinals and their connection with our loved ones who have passed, but never fully believed it until now. My dad was the best man who ever lived. He was strong, smart, funny and incredibly giving! His heart was just too good for this world. I will look for cardinals every day and will sing a very special song to them … for my dad.

A SPECIAL WAVE
In Memory of Mary Lou Hughes

Branson, Mississippi

Red cardinals have become my favorite animal after losing my mother over a year ago.

On the day of my mother’s memorial, I had been working on what to say and hoping I would do her justice for her kind and generous heart. While backing out of my driveway headed for the memorial,
I saw the most beautiful redbird sitting on my fence. I locked eyes with the bird I swear it raised its left wing and waved to me! I broke down in tears. The moment I saw this majestic beauty, I knew instantly it was my mom's spirit. Something just came over me from the bottom of my feet to the top of my heart and I was one hundred percent certain. What made this even more special is at the time it happened I did not know red cardinals are embraced as visitors from Heaven!

A year later I was traveling through country roads in search of land for sale. While driving on a very narrow road with room for only one car, I had to stop as a red cardinal was sitting in the middle of the road looking directly at me! I glanced over and behind a tree covered in vines was a “FOR SALE” sign. I never would have seen the sign had my sweet spiritual cardinal not been there to point it out. I whispered "Thank you mama. You are so wonderful and loving and I miss you so much!" Tears followed with only a hint of sadness because I know she is so happy now in Heaven.

There have been so many occasions when I am working on something and a cardinal will appear. The other day I was at Walmart and pulled out a buggy to use, looked down inside the basket and there was a cardinal calendar!

I still miss my mom a lot, but I smile now for every cardinal as they are my one true solace.

A SPIRITUAL BOND
by Phil Olive

Harvest, Alabama

Many years ago, we lived in an Orange Beach, Alabama neighborhood that was experiencing rapid new home construction. A new house was being built next to ours and workers were in and out all day. One morning I noticed a female Cardinal that was frantically trying to get into the closed upstairs window of the new house. She was in such distress that I feared she would collapse from sheer exhaustion. I continued watching in frustration as I didn't know what to do. Suddenly I briefly saw an image of what appeared to be another bird on the inside of the window. In that moment it hit me; her mate was INSIDE the house!

Workers were not present that day, but fortunately they left the front door unlocked. I entered the home and slowly walked up the stairs. I could hear the bird flapping its wings. Once upstairs, I observed a male cardinal on the floor in the corner of a room. Not really knowing what to do, I tried to speak in a soft, reassuring voice. I gently opened the window, slowly walked downstairs, and went back outside. About five minutes later, the bright red cardinal flew out the window and was greeted by his beautiful mate. Seeing this was wonderful, but that was just the beginning!

I was able to work from my home and as such my office was on the third floor of our house. One day I was sitting at my desk and heard a tapping on the window. I looked up and observed the same male cardinal hovering outside. The bird was tapping on the window with its bill and was looking directly into my eyes. I thought it was a funny moment and just wrote it off. However, the cardinal’s behavior continued to occur on a weekly basis, which made me realize that I had a new friend. I believe the cardinal was trying to say, “Thank you!” which is why I honestly felt that the cardinal and I had a spiritual bond.

This beautiful cardinal pair controlled our yard, and it was such a joy watching them thrive while raising their growing family. The male cardinal’s behavior expanded as it would sit on the outside window seal by our kitchen table and watch my family during mealtime. Guests would come over and we typically hear remarks such as, "Hey, what's up with that bird?"

A couple of years later we moved and to this very day, I miss my friend. It was such an honor to have been part of his life.

A THANKFUL CARDINAL
In Memory of Frederick John Caro, Sr.

Allentown, Pennsylvania

My dad passed away on April 27th seven years ago; exactly one week after we had celebrated his 75th birthday. I think about him a lot during the month of April; so many memories.

One of my favorite memories of my dad is the Thanksgiving he spent with my family at our home.  He and I were going to prepare the traditional feast for everyone.  I remember he did almost everything, only stopping to ask me for a sharp knife, a big bowl, a cutting board….

He shared his (from-his-head) recipe for stuffing as he made it. (It really was the best stuffing.) He went outside and returned with a pumpkin he had brought with him from his home.  He noticed my puzzled look and said with humor, “Just wait and see what I’m going to do.  This is going to be soooo good!” He took a carving knife and cut the top off the pumpkin, just as one would do when carving a pumpkin at Halloween.  Then he cleaned out the inside of the pumpkin, wiped it out, and put his stuffing into the pumpkin!  His stuffing-filled pumpkin went into the oven to heat through.  The stuffing was delicious; its presentation unique and perfect.  I still smile when I think about my dad and me cooking together on my very favorite holiday.

The first Thanksgiving after my dad died, I was excited and proud to remember his famous stuffing and the “pumpkin bowl” he invented.  I decided to repeat his tradition.  I stood at my kitchen counter, cleaning out the seeds and pulp from the pumpkin I had carefully selected for this purpose. So many thoughts and memories of my dad were going through my head.  At one point I looked up from my task and glanced out my kitchen window.  At once, a beautiful cardinal landed on my bird feeder, stood there majestically, and just stared at me.  I began to cry.  I knew the special story about cardinals, and I was emotionally in awe of the fact that the cardinal appeared as I was thinking about my dad and continuing his stuffing-in-a-pumpkin bowl tradition.  I cried for a moment ... and then I smiled.

Thanksgiving is still my favorite holiday. I will continue to make my dad’s stuffing, serve it in a pumpkin bowl ... and look for my cardinal.

A THANKSGIVING BLESSING
In Memory of My Mother

Auburn, Maine

I have been blessed by the comfort from "my" red cardinal quite often and truly believe it is my special angel helping me find the courage and strength to carry on.

I traveled a very difficult journey with my Mom through her illness for eight years. At times they were difficult, but it mostly felt like our gift to one another. We helped each other while I encouraged my Mom throughout her health issues. She was such a character, loved her family very much and was continuously here for us.

My Mom ALWAYS prepared Thanksgiving Dinner for our family. I knew the first Thanksgiving after she passed would be difficult for me, but I was determined to be strong and keep our family together! The big turkey was in the oven, the table was set with Mom's beautiful china and of course the veggies were cooking as well. I glanced out the sliding glass door in our kitchen and right there sitting on our deck was the MOST BEAUTIFUL RED CARDINAL looking right at me as if to say, "Mom is watching and I am alright!" Mom KNEW I needed her support and encouragement. Our turkey was delicious, the gravy was not quite as good as my Mom's, but our family was TOGETHER and that is what was important to both of us.

That was the first of my many visits from my little red angel. My son in law was in the kitchen on that Thanksgiving Day and he too was a bit overwhelmed as we talked to our little red cardinal!

I do BELIEVE in the beauty of our love shared and will cherish the visits from my little red bird always. Love never dies.

A WARM HEART
In Memory of Don Bogan

Noblesville, Indiana

My stepdad passed away 2 ½ years ago. He had worked in HVAC before retiring so my mom and I learned a few things about it.

My furnace stopped working this winter, so I had to call an HVAC company for help. A technician arrived to assess the problem and provide an estimate. As I welcomed him into our home, I noticed a gorgeous red cardinal sitting in a tree right outside my front door. While the technician was looking at my furnace, I mentioned that my stepdad had worked in HVAC for many years. He turned around and asked me if his name was Don. I nodded and smiled while thinking about the red cardinal in my tree.

Although my furnace was not keeping me warm that winter, the presence of my stepdad’s spirit certainly warmed my heart.

A WING RING
In Memory of Bettye Marie Dudley

Herndon, Virginia

We were away on vacation recently and thanks to our security system Ring, we received a live video alert whenever a visitor was at our front door.

For three straight days during our vacation, we received an early morning alert. We viewed each video and were surprised to see the same visitor each day … a bright red cardinal!

More than likely, this has been happening for a much longer period as after returning from our vacation, my husband stopped checking the early morning alert videos.

While some may view this as a strange occurrence, I disagree.
My beautiful mother passed away on December 23, 2014 and I think she is sending me messages right to my front door … a wing ring!

ALLY’S CARDINAL
In Memory of Carol Wilder

Arlington, Virginia

I had the most wonderful Cardinal Experience early in the morning after letting my dogs outside. While waiting for them on my front porch, I could hear a cardinal chirping but was unable to see it. I finally spotted the female cardinal of a pair that reside in my yard. She was off in the distance and hiding in one of the evergreen trees along my driveway.

I began chirping back to her and held out my hand in her direction to see if she would fly to me, hoping she might even land on my finger. She did not, but she continued chirping away and looking toward my direction.

After my dogs joined me on the porch, I scooped up Ally and held her facing the cardinal so they could see each other. Ally was my mom’s dog, and she joined our family after my mom passed away about a year and a half ago. I pointed at the cardinal and told Ally that mom was visiting us. Suddenly, the cardinal flew across the driveway and landed in the tree directly in front of us! She was just a few feet away and at eye level. She was hopping around and chirping for several minutes before flying away.

I’m not quite sure what Ally thought, but it certainly made my day!

BABY BLESSINGS
In Memory of Junior Loughead

Beaver Crossing, Nebraska

My dad passed away on February 7, 2019 and the weekend before his funeral, my mom and I were at home, not feeling up to even going to church. My dad always saw deer while sitting on their back deck. My mom and I went outside to sit, and I silently wondered if my dad would find a way to show us his deer.

He did not. Instead, he sent us at least six male and female cardinals! We sat and watched them for a very long time. My mom said she had never seen that many cardinals together at one time.

Ever since my father passed, I have had cardinals nesting in my backyard. This summer alone, we have been blessed with six beautiful cardinal babies. Fortunately, we have been able to watch the nest from afar and observe every stage from the baby cardinals hatching to when they left the nest and learned to fly. I have many photographs of the babies as nestlings, fledglings as well as their incredible parents!

I believe my dad sending these wonderful cardinals to let me know he is still around and watching over me!

I miss you and love you, Dad!

BABY JORDYN
In Memory of Jordyn Mae Wooldridge

Orlando, Florida

When I was eight months pregnant, I suddenly lost my baby and delivered her stillborn. Since this time, red cardinals appear nearly every day. It is extremely rare that I do not see one. I believe this has been the Lords way of saying He is with us in our pain and afflictions and that we will never be alone.

BAD NEWS BLESSING
In Memory of Arnulfo Gonzales Jr.

Cibolo, Texas

I recently received some bad news relating to the house we live in right now. Shortly afterwards, I drove my daughter to Sally’s to pick up a few beauty supplies. Before she got into the car, I broke down crying as the recent news about our home is really taking a toll on me. My daughter went into the store, made her purchases, and walked back out several minutes later. She approached my car and noticed there was a red feather stuck to it, which made both of us smile.

We drove home and sat outside on our porch. Suddenly, a beautiful red cardinal appeared a few feet away from me and at eye level. After a minute or so, the cardinal flew away. It was a peaceful moment that made me think of my late husband, Arnulfo, and provided me with a true sense of inner peace.

BELIEVE FOR COMFORT
In Memory of Dave Fogerty

Michigan (Imlay City, Almont and Sterling)

My father passed away on July 19, 2019 and before even receiving word of his passing, I saw a bold red cardinal in one of my trees. Over the past 2 ½ weeks, I saw a red cardinal on two separate occasions resting on the railing of my deck. Two days earlier at my sister-in-law’s house, a beautiful red cardinal was sitting on her fence. This morning, I saw another red cardinal resting in one of my trees.

I am a typically a very skeptical person, but not anymore. I have never actually believed in something so much and it is so comforting!

BEAUTIFUL REMINDER
In Memory of Joseph Thomas Gurule

Gold Canyon, Arizona

My father passed away two years ago in November. We were extremely close, and he would call me every day just to check on me. My Dad knew I had a fondness for birds, because every time we talked on the phone, he heard birds singing in the background.

On December 3rd I was in a local public park and a bright red cardinal flew over and landed nearby. I was blessed with this cardinal’s presence for an hour and a half. This felt so special to me, so I went back to the park and saw the cardinal every day for the next three days.

Two years passed and I moved out to Gold Canyon, Arizona. On December 3rd a stunning red cardinal visited my backyard. I placed a large birdcage in my backyard to provide a safe place for the cardinal to eat. Almost immediately, the cardinal flew into the cage to enjoy a meal and look around. To this day, the cardinal continues to visit. The cage door is secured to remain open so the cardinal can come and go freely. I keep pinching myself and feel so grateful. Every day I get to enjoy this red cardinal and its beautiful mate.

Red cardinals are an incredible reminder that our loved ones are still with us and watching over us. I truly believe this! The little red cardinal in my backyard brings me more joy than anyone could ever imagine.

BELOVED BROTHER
In Memory of Isaiah Miller

Martinsville, Indiana

My brother and I were living together when he passed suddenly on December 31, 2018. I had always looked up to him while growing up. One Sunday he left to go visit a friend and never returned that night. I was not worried as it was not unusual for him to stay over at a friend's house. The following evening, I was waiting for him to return home from work but was instead greeted by two police officers who informed me that my brother was pronounced dead and I would need to contact the coroner. This was a very tragic event for me to deal with.

The day following his funeral, I woke up to the sound and sight of a red cardinal pecking at my window. I walked to the window and the cardinal remained still and just stared at me.

At the time of this event, I did not realize it was a spiritual sign from Heaven.
I recently learned that it was a sign from my beloved brother and feel as though Isaiah was trying to tell me that everything will be alright and that I should not be sad.

BELOVED FAMILY
In Memory of Several Family Members

Harsens Island, Michigan and Chesterfield, Michigan

My mom and dad passed in 2010 and Emma, another family member, passed in 2018. While going through difficult times and losing family members, I began to frequently see a male and female cardinal hanging out at my house. I also observed them while eating lunch in town in Chesterfield. I always see them in the woods when I pull up to my workplace. I often think about my parents during lunchtime and see a male and female cardinal flying back and forth throughout the trees. I enjoy these moments because it is wintertime and there are no leaves on the trees. The cardinals still look happy and give me such a tremendous sense of peace.

BELOVED GRANDMOTHER
In Memory of Marie Ann Mattioli

Woodstown, New Jersey

It was a typical Monday afternoon for me, and I was heading to work at a local nursing home. I had no way of knowing that I would soon be blessed by a special little visitor.

I always stop at the cemetery to visit my grandmother on my way to work. When I arrived at the cemetery, I went to her gravesite and collected all the old flowers. I began walking toward my car with the old flowers to replace them with new ones. While walking, I observed something red on the hood of my car. At first, I thought it was just a leaf, but as I got closer, I realized it was a red cardinal! I slowly opened my car door and put the old flowers inside. The cardinal was not moving, so I walked closer and attempted to guide it to fly away. It remained in the same spot and much to my surprise, the cardinal let me touch it on the top of its head a few times. In that moment, I realized that it was my Guardian Angel, my beloved grandmother! I became teary-eyed and asked the cardinal to tell my grandmother that I love her and miss her dearly. The moment I finished speaking, the cardinal flew away to deliver my message.

This unbelievable moment will never leave my heart and I will now always be at peace when visiting my grandmother’s gravesite.

BILL’S BLESSING
In Memory of Bill Schubert

Clearwater, Florida

On October 14, 2020, a stunning red cardinal visited my backyard. I typically
see blue jays, so this was unusual and exciting. I immediately grabbed my cell phone and captured several photographs of the cardinal. Later in the evening,
I received heartbreaking news that my best friend of 25 years had passed earlier that day.

I showed a few of my cardinal photographs to my niece and she shared with me the extraordinary spiritual connection there was with the red cardinal visiting and my best friend’s passing.

I believe with all my heart he visited me that day.

I love you, Bill.

BIRDFEEDER BLESSINGS
In Memory of Merritt Nellis and Elina Morgan

Ormond Beach, Florida

My beloved husband Merritt passed in December of 2019 from Metastatic Breast Cancer. I was his sole caregiver for five years as we do not have family living down here. My best friend and neighbor Elina reassured Merritt that she would always take care of me. Before and after his death, Elina was always there for me.

Merritt passed the day before my birthday. Elina went to the funeral home with me and then took me out to dinner for my birthday. Merritt’s passing also came just 10 days before Christmas, which is why I did not feel like traveling up North to visit with family. Elina invited me to the Christmas Eve service at her church and then to dinner with she and her husband. Elina also invited me to her home for Christmas dinner with their children and families. She told them that I was now a part of their family, which really made me feel special.

Over the next few months, Elina provided me with ongoing support by inviting me to go on shopping trips, out to dinner or even to simply join her for tea on her porch.

In March of 2020, our country was hit with the Covid-19 pandemic and our world completely changed. On March 21st, these changes escalated significantly for me when Elina suffered a massive heart attack at age 63 and died. She left behind three children and four grandchildren under the age of seven. She was an incredibly special person to me, so losing her completely crushed my soul. She was my entire support system after my husband died and was a special person to so many other people. Elina was always giving or doing something nice for someone else. I am not an overly emotional person and do not cry often, but I sobbed every day for at least six weeks. I could not go anywhere because of Covid-19 and felt completely lost.

About a month ago I decided to put up a birdfeeder in my backyard because watching birds is so relaxing. I did not see any birds visiting for a few weeks, but finally observed two beautiful cardinals on my birdfeeder! A male and female cardinal started visiting my birdfeeder every day. I know exactly when they are at the feeder as they chirp the entire time. This made me so happy and I was so excited that there were two cardinals!

Yesterday I went to a garage sale and purchased a couple of large, empty pretzel containers. I explained to the homeowner that I had planned to store my birdseed in them and mentioned the two cardinals. She immediately told me about their spiritual meaning. I arrived home and searched the internet to learn more about the spiritual beauty of red cardinals. I appreciate and enjoy my two little friends so much more and look forward to my daily birdfeeder blessings during such a difficult time.

BIRTHDAY BLESSING
In Memory of Barbara L. Muller

Cape May, New Jersey

On my youngest son's 16th birthday in March of 2015, he requested that we visit my mother's grave who had sadly passed away just 11 months prior. While fixing my hair in preparation to visit her grave site, I was speaking to her in my mind. I explained that we would be visiting her soon and asked if she would send us a sign when she feels our presence. I said it could be anything, such as a bird or a cloud, just please try to let us know you are there, Mom.

We arrived at Saint Mary’s Cemetery and began placing Easter decorations onto her grave site. A few minutes later, a bird began singing in a tree nearby. I looked up and saw a bright red cardinal looking down upon us while singing his song. I felt my heart smile and immediately told my son about what I had asked of my mother before we left the house. I then explained that the red cardinal singing was a spiritual sign from his grandmother, and her way of wishing him a Happy Birthday.

I know that my mother was there to give my son a birthday blessing, and it was truly amazing.

BLESSED BELONGINGS
In Memory of John William Harden Jr.

Kenwood, Ohio

We recently had to make a devastating decision to take my father
off life support. After he passed, one of the nurses from the hospital gave me a bag filled with his personal belongings. After arriving home, I opened the bag and resting on top of his clothes was a ceramic red cardinal. My dad was not a collector of nick knacks,
so I am unsure as to why the cardinal was placed in his bag but consider it a spiritual sign that my dad is in Heaven!

BLESSED BIRTHDAY
In Memory of Catherine Webb

Little Rock, Arkansas

My beautiful mother passed one year ago on January 24th and ever since, I have been hoping to receive a spiritual sign from her.

Today is my birthday. I am at work with a client and was just looking outside through a window. Suddenly, my eyes fell upon three magnificent red cardinals in a nearby tree! I immediately thought of my beloved mother and cannot imagine receiving a birthday gift any more special than this moment.

Thank you for visiting and giving me such a blessed birthday, mom!

BLESSED BY ART
In Memory of Anna Norton

Vero Beach, Florida

My beloved mom was in hospice November 18-21, 2020. She was in a beautiful room with a bird feeder that was visible right outside her window. On Thursday and Friday, my niece Kari Ann and I observed a pair of cardinals eating from the feeder a couple times a day. On Friday we saw the male more often and named him Art after my stepdad because my mom really loved cardinals. We mentioned this to the nurse and the aid, and both said they had never seen cardinals at the feeder before.

Kari Ann had to fly back home on Saturday morning, so it was just me and Mom before my sister-in-law Kathy visited in the afternoon. We were blessed by Art who sat outside the window for most of the day, not eating, just looking in through the window at us. The nurses told us it was important to let my mom know that it was alright to go and that we would be alright. I kept telling her that Art was outside the window waiting for her and it was time for her to go and be with him. I asked her to please send me lots of cardinals so that I would know she was alright. My mom’s vitals dropped steadily that afternoon. My favorite nurse Stacey was on duty and I asked her who was scheduled for the night shift. Sadly, I learned it was a nurse who was not very friendly. I thought to myself, Mom, if tonight is the night, please go before the 7:00 pm shift change! Would you believe that at 7:00 on the dot, my beautiful mom took her last breath?! Stacey’s keys were in her hand to leave, but when she saw and heard our buzzer ring, she came running back to my mom’s room and stayed with me until my brother Bob and his wife Kathy arrived.

Since my mother’s passing, I see at least one red cardinal outside every day! I also see them randomly appear in my social media newsfeed. I believe these are spiritual signs from my mom who wants to reassure me that she is alright!

BLESSED BY NANA
In Memory of My Nana Zoey

Martinsburg, West Virginia

I recently lost my Nana Zoey who had been living with my family for the past year. Although her doctor said she had six months to live at best, she fought hard and lived for over a year. All her family and friends knew she was a fighter! My Nana was undergoing treatment for cancer and was also on dialysis. She had endless pain and at one point even slipped into a coma. Unfortunately, my Nana became very frail and immobile. She had fallen multiple times and was unable to make it to dialysis which often results in death. My family and I were forced to come to terms with the fact that Nana was nearing the end of her life.

Two nights ago, my siblings and I went into her room to say our final goodbyes. We all sensed that this would be the last time we would see her. My Nana often told us that she observed her deceased mother as a red cardinal. This beautiful memory inspired my sister to ask our Nana if she would show us a spiritual sign, such as a red cardinal, after she passed. My Nana then replied, "I will try my best." Later that evening, my Nana passed peacefully in our home.

My siblings and I drove to my Dad's house for a change in scenery and the opportunity to grieve away from our home. Shortly after arriving, we were hit with a massive snowstorm which trapped us inside the entire day. At one point, we were sitting near a large window. My sister pointed outside at the fence where she observed not one, but four cardinals! She then turned to me and said, "Nana is watching over us!” The cardinals remained in the yard for nearly four hours.

I am most often a realistic thinker, so typically a skeptic when it comes to signs. However, in this moment, I wholeheartedly believe that my Nana was with us. Despite my grief, I felt extremely peaceful and incredibly blessed by my Nana.

BLESSED IN BOSTON
In Memory of a Baby Starling

Boston, Massachusetts

In the early morning on May 23rd, I looked out my window and observed a small
dark in our driveway. I ran outside to discover it was a baby Starling bird and it was barely moving. The Starling’s wing appeared to be injured. I remained with the bird
for two hours before bringing it to the MSCPA in Boston. Crying on the car ride there,
I entered through their ER Department, but had to go back outside. The veterinarian had to examine the bird in the box while in my car due to the bird flu. I was told after
a quick look that the bird was healthy and probably just stunned. I returned home wondering if the veterinarian was right. I put the Starling in our backyard for the remainder of the day while keeping a close watch. I could hear the baby bird crying
for its mom which broke my heart. I brought the baby Starling inside my house to protect it from predators because it was defenseless.

The next morning, I put the baby Starling back outside for the day and prayed that
its mother would return. As the day progressed, the baby Starling became weaker.
I poked several holes in a box, put a towel in the base, and placed the baby Starling inside. As I was talking to the little Starling, it took its final breaths. I felt so helpless and defeated. Despite calling two wildlife centers and visiting the MSCPA, I felt as though I had failed this baby bird. For a long time now, I have felt like an empath to animals, so this situation was very upsetting to me.

I had to leave for an appointment, so the box was left safely in my garage. I returned home a couple hours later with hope in my heart but found the baby Starling was still motionless and not breathing. I began crying again, walked out of my garage and towards the side of our home. We have a six-foot fence with posts running all around the perimeter of the house. The fence is VERY close to a set of stairs that lead to our kitchen door. As I walked up the stairs, I tried to regain my composure before walking indoors to see my folks. I looked up and suddenly saw a male and female cardinal resting on top of our fence and they were looking directly at me! I burst out into tears instantly and in that moment, the female cardinal flew so close that she almost landed on me. Instead, the female cardinal landed on a fence post that was less than 12” away. I truly felt as though they were letting me know that they were there for me. Someone in Heaven wanted me to know that I was not alone. A few seconds later,
the female cardinal moved further down the fence, looked back at me, then flew away, followed by its mate.

I have never experienced anything like that before in my entire life. What I found so interesting is that during both days I cared for the baby Starling, the male cardinal was watching me! Tomorrow I will give the sweet little baby Starling a proper burial in our backyard. This was such an emotional event for me, but I feel so blessed here in Boston with the unexpected presence and support of two beautiful cardinals!

BLESSING FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of Dad, Mom, Grandma, Mrs. B. and Mike

Port Saint Lucie, Florida

While sitting outside with my patients during a quick break, I was having a conversation with one of them about red cardinals because she noticed a red cardinal that is tattooed on my left arm. She was unfamiliar with their spiritual meaning, so I explained it to her. She then told me that a red cardinal often appears near her bedroom window and that many of her loved ones are in Heaven. The very moment we finished talking about it, a red cardinal flew over our heads and landed in a nearby tree. We both broke down crying at this incredible blessing from Heaven.

I still see the red cardinal often, along with its mate, and hear them calling out to each other. The peace I feel when seeing them will always carry me through from one day to the next.

BLESSED MORNING
In Memory of Lois and Ray

San Antonio, Texas

A couple of weeks ago, I was having a rough morning. I went outside to let my dogs out and was standing on my back porch. I just happened to look up front toward my bougainvillea and observed two cardinals flying around the branches. The cardinals flew away but returned several times, always just fluttering around. I stood outside for about 15 minutes before they finally flew away. I felt the presence of my mom and dad and truly believe they were stopping by to see how things are going for me. What started off as a rough morning, ended as a blessed morning!

BOOMER BLESSINGS
In Memory of Boomer

Anderson, Indiana

Ever since our beloved Bichon Frise “Boomer” passed away, we
have been visited by cardinals on dates that have special significance to him. At first, the cardinals appeared outside the bathroom window, perched in a bush just a few feet away. A pair of cardinals also appear frequently. My wife has a strong sense that the female cardinal is our favorite Aunt Gaye who passed on, and the male cardinal is symbolic of our beloved Boomer. Gaye and Boomer always enjoyed seeing one another whenever Gaye would visit.
Aunt Gaye was a sweet, chatty gal and the female cardinal is the very same, as she often rests in one of our bushes and chirps frequently while the male cardinal sits nearby.

Up until today, the last cardinal sighting we had was outside our kitchen window in late December of 2020. Today is National Pet’s Day! I was in the kitchen, glanced outside a window, and saw a lone male cardinal perched on our bush. He remained in the same spot for several minutes which allowed me to capture several photos.
At the same time, my wife walked into the room and I said, “Look! A cardinal! I haven’t seen one for months!” She looked at me and said, “I just posted Boomer’s photo on Instagram a little while ago for National Pet’s Day!”

I am so grateful for the Boomer Blessings and feel very strongly that the cardinal was him!

BRIGHTER SUMMER
In Memory of Dianna Brown

Hamilton, Ontario

In December 2019, my mother in-law passed suddenly and unexpectedly. My husband and I have lived in our home for five years and not once have we seen a cardinal. My sister-in-law lives close by and has never seen a cardinal in her yard either. This year, both of our homes now have a pair of cardinals raising their offspring in our presence! We cannot help but to feel that Mom is with us, which will certainly make this summer a whole lot brighter.

BROTHERLY BLESSINGS
In Memory of My Baby Brother

Chicago, Illinois

A few years ago, my mother was pregnant with my baby brother. From the very beginning, we felt a strong, loving bond with him. Sadly, my mom suffered a miscarriage which left us all feeling completely devastated. I had never seen my mom suffer such anguish like this before. It was heartbreaking.

Our bond with my baby brother continued, which was so unusual because we did not have an opportunity to meet him in person. I had dreams of myself playing games with a little boy. In the dreams, he hugged me and expressed that he loved me. I always woke up feeling as if my little brother was in the dreams, which was such a comforting feeling. I thought of him every day and felt his spirit was tied to mine.

For some unknown reason, I stopped seeing the little boy in my dreams. This made me feel as if I was forgetting about my baby brother. I was no longer feeling a spiritual connection. Perhaps it is due to the fear and lonesomeness I am experiencing in my life right now. It feels as though I am “paused” but my life continues to “play” on. Maybe I am so overwhelmed by my own life that I have forgotten to think about those I love, here on earth and in Heaven.

Very recently, I woke up early one morning, feeling pain and sadness. I made myself some tea and decided to sit outside on my porch. I opened one of the windows and was quietly staring outside into my backyard. The sun was giving my pale face warmth, the wind was blowing through my hair, and the sounds of birds chirping felt very comforting. A few minutes passed and suddenly a bright red cardinal flew past my window. I was speechless and in complete
awe of the cardinal’s beauty. For some reason, during that moment,
I immediately thought about my baby brother.

Later that day I went on the internet and searched the meaning of red cardinals. I was overcome with emotion from the information.

“A red cardinal is a representative of a loved one who has passed. When you see one, it means they are visiting you. They usually show up when you need them most or when you miss them. They also make an appearance during times of celebration as well as despair, to let you know they will always be with you.”

I thought about the stunning red cardinal and my baby brother for the rest of the day. It is ironic that my baby brother came to visit me in the form of a creature I have always feared. This Cardinal Experience was a perfect example of how fear can really move us in life.

My “brotherly blessings” have returned! Once again, I feel the warmth of our spiritual connection while thinking about my baby brother during the day. At night, I often dream about the sweet little boy who continues to hug me. I am so grateful for these dreams because they reassure me that everything is going to be alright!

I will love you forever, my sweet baby brother!

BUSHFUL OF BLESSINGS
In Memory of Kenny Fuselier

Moss Bluff, Louisiana

One day shortly after my dad passed, my mom was looking outside and saw something red near the water. There is a large cross tie fence with brick nearby as well, and she thought the red was one of her hibiscuses. We walked about half an acre toward area she saw red and soon realized it was a bush with up to 20 red cardinals on it. We immediately pulled out our cell phones and took several photographs. Later that day, we went through our photos, only to find photographs of the bush without cardinals and of the crane we had photographed that was down near her boat slip. There was not a single photo on either of our phones, which was both shocking and disappointing.

My mom believes it was my dad because in all her years living there, we only saw cardinals once in a blue moon. On the rare occasions they stopped by, my dad always pointed them out to my mom. Ever since my dad passed, they have been visiting us every day. I like to think it is his way of letting us know he is here in spirit and will always be watching over us!

CAMP CARDINAL
In Memory of John B. Mullins IV

Columbus, Ohio

Ever since my son passed away, it seems as though all the cardinals in our area have set up camp in my back yard. It is not unusual for me to see 20 or more cardinals at one time! I will always welcome these beautiful birds to Camp Cardinal because whenever they visit, I feel a strong sense of John’s spiritual presence, which brings me immense comfort.

CANASTA CARDINAL
In Memory of Dorothy Booth

Charles City, Virginia

For years my mom has been telling me she had asked her mom to send a cardinal when she got to Heaven. My aunt also asked her to send a sign. They knew she would be in Heaven but still desired a message from her. I believe this was because the three of them have always been so incredibly close.

On January 20, 2019, I experienced the most amazing event at my aunt and uncle’s house in Virginia. My daughter and I stayed with them while in town for my grandma’s Celebration of Life service after she went to be with the Lord on January 9.

My daughter, parents, aunt, uncle and I were sitting around the dining room table yesterday playing Canasta, my grandma’s favorite card game. Suddenly, we heard a loud thud against the kitchen window. My aunt and uncle went outside to investigate. My aunt came back in and said they did not see anything. A couple minutes later my uncle came in carefully holding a red cardinal in his hands! He had hit the kitchen window and was completely stunned. We were in complete awe. This was a sign from Heaven above to let us know that my grandma was there, safe and happy! The cardinal remained inside for several minutes while we each petted it very gently. My mom and aunt both held the cardinal, which was incredibly emotional for all of us.

After a few minutes we carried the cardinal outside, hoping he had recovered and would fly away. My aunt held him in her hands and was encouraging him to fly, but it kept holding on to her and then hopped onto my mom. For nearly eight minutes, they stood there holding the cardinal, which was also holding onto them. They decided to place him onto a tree branch, where he sat for a minute and then flew off into the sky!

I cannot adequately describe the way this beautiful event made us feel. I will never experience anything like this again in my entire life. I was in the presence of a miracle.

Just a few hours earlier, my mom and I had been talking about the cardinal sign she requested from her mother. She asked God to make it happen in an unimaginable way. In her mind, she thought it would occur near our home in California, as we do not see cardinals there. The Lord answered the prayers of my mom and aunt and did so in a way where there is no doubt whatsoever it was a sign from my grandmother to her sweet, caring, beloved daughters.

Paul says in Ephesians 3, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

The Lord went so far and above the prayer requests of His two precious daughters. He sent the sign and literally placed it into their hands. The Lord’s kindness and goodness, His comfort, His peace, and His glory surrounded us on this day, and we will cherish it forever. There are no words.

CAR CARDINALS FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of William Roloff

Emigsville, Pennsylvania

Up until my grandfather’s death in 2016, I had never seen a red cardinal bird.

One day not long after my grandfather passed, I came home from work and out of nowhere, a beautiful red cardinal was resting on my car. It remained there for quite a long time.

My grandfather on my mom's side passed in April of 2020 and ever since, there have been two male cardinals either on or around my car. The size of the cardinals is ironic because one is very thin while the other is rather plump. My grandfather was an extremely thin man, and my other grandfather was on the heavy side.

When I arrived home the other day, there were four cardinals on and around my car. The original two red cardinals were there, but they also had the company of two female cardinals. I think one of the females is my grandfather’s wife who passed in 2004 and the other one may be my boyfriend’s mom.

I just found it awesome that I had never seen a real red cardinal in my entire life until after my grandfather passed. I am now blessed with four beautiful car cardinals from Heaven! I want to make sure my new friends never leave, so I will be sure to fill a birdfeeder and hang it on one of my trees!

CARDINAL COINCIDENCE
In Memory of Pixie and Patches

Westfield, Indiana

My long-time cat companion, Pixie passed in December 2019.
When I drove away from the vet's office, I spotted a red cardinal in the woods alongside the road. Every day after that, a male and female cardinal were spotted in the woods behind my home. I felt the cardinals were visiting me and Patches, my other cat, who was in decline.

One day in the spring, I looked outside my window toward an area where I used to have a bird feeder. It was no longer there, nor were the cardinals and I really missed them.

On one of Patches' last days, I looked out the window and saw the male cardinal scrounging in the area where the bird feeder once stood. It was as if the cardinal was spirit of Pixie, beckoning Patches to join her.

After both cats had passed, I did not see any cardinals visiting my home. Without my beloved cats and my beautiful cardinal friends, I felt very lonely. Patches was buried on a friend's country property and she observed a cardinal on Patches' final resting place! In fact, my friend has continued to see a red cardinal hanging around her property every morning!

Today, I was feeling sad as my cats were all I had besides my work.
I looked out my window, and to my surprise, the male and female cardinals were in the area where the bird feeder used to be.

I believe the cardinals are the spirits of my cats letting me know that they will always be with me, even if not physically present. It is strange yet beautiful to have experienced so many cardinal sightings. On top of all of that, the cardinal is the state bird of Ohio (where Pixie and Patches came from), and Indiana (where they spent most of their lives). Plus, my undergraduate college's mascot is a cardinal. In literally every direction I turn, there seems to be a “cardinal coincidence” … and I will continue to embrace them all for ongoing peace.

CARDINAL COMFORT
In Memory of Keith Lindley

Dickson, Tennessee

My son Keith passed suddenly on February 13, 2020. Sadly, I did not have an opportunity to speak with him beforehand because he was unconscious and on life support. My heart was completely broken. There were so many things I wanted to say and hear, but never had the chance.

Today while washing dishes, I prayed that the Lord would send me a spiritual sign to reassure me that Keith was at peace in heaven. Specifically, I asked if he would send me a red cardinal. In that very moment, a bright red cardinal landed on a tree in my backyard and looked directly at me! We have been living here in this home for a few months now and this was my very first time seeing a cardinal. This was the sign from God I had just prayed for, and it brought me an overwhelming sense of comfort.

CARDINAL COMMUNICATION
In Memory of Debbie Garza

Saint Louis, Missouri

My Aunt Debbie passed away early yesterday morning. Today I was at my friend’s house and we were sitting outside talking. Suddenly, a bright red cardinal landed on her fence and looked right at me! It was such an interesting moment and caused me to stop talking. I stared at the cardinal for several minutes and waited to see if it would try to communicate with me. The beautiful redbird stared right back at me, which I felt was a form of cardinal communication to deliver a message from Heaven.

I had plans to see my Aunt Debbie tomorrow and it would have been the first time I had seen her in six months. Sadly, she passed, but I feel as though this stunning red cardinal was representing her personal and special goodbye to me.

CARDINAL COMPLIMENT
In Memory of Everett L. Henson

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

My father passed on Father's Day in 2020. On the morning after his passing, I went into my study to make his funeral arrangements. I glanced up to look outside my window and suddenly a beautiful red cardinal appeared. The cardinal began to hop a little closer to my window. I have heard many stories about cardinals being “spirit birds” which led me to call my husband so that he could see the bird as well. The cardinal remained still until my husband reached the window. We both stood quietly in awe of this beautiful little red bird. I walked out of the room and opened our front door which is not far from the window in my study. The cardinal hopped onto the front porch, looked in my direction, hopped back down, then lingered in the yard for a few minutes before spreading its wings and flying away.

Both my husband and father shared a fondness for maintaining a beautiful yard. My father visited often and would always lean down, touch the grass, and compliment my husband on his “pretty yard.” The cardinal spent a long time walking around in the grass, which was in the exact same area that my father used to compliment. I also have a direct view of this area while sitting in my study, and my father knew that.

I was so happy to be blessed with this unique Cardinal Experience with my husband. We had never seen this cardinal before, so it was incredibly comforting. Although we have not seen the cardinal since, we are certain it will return again to admire our yard and provide us with another cardinal compliment!

CARDINAL CONNECTION
In Memory of My Daddy and Stepdad

Newark, Ohio

Early one morning, I went outside to sit on my porch. I was really missing my daddy and stepdad who have sadly passed on. I looked up at one of my trees and discovered a red cardinal. Suddenly, the cardinal looked at me and then directly into my eyes. The moment was surreal. I smiled and cried at the very same time.

I have never locked eyes with a red cardinal before. This beautiful and unexpected moment made me feel whole again. My cardinal connection has reassured me that my daddy and stepdad are thinking about me and love me very much!

CARDINAL CONVERSATIONS
In Memory of Several Dear Friends

Mattituck, New York

As a stage four cancer survivor, I made numerous friends in my support groups over the years. Sadly, I have lost many of those friends and several were close to my heart.

I have always loved birds, especially cardinals. Recently, a red cardinal has taken to landing in a birch tree on my property. Once, on a whim, I listened to his call and then whistled his call right back. The cardinal repeated its call to me and then waited. I thought it was just a fluke. I again whistled the cardinal’s call. The cardinal waited for me to whistle back, then slightly changed its call. We went back and forth for at least ten minutes.

I went outside early the next morning and again whistled the cardinal’s call. In less than a minute, the gorgeous red cardinal flew over to my birch tree and we began whistling back and forth for several minutes. I recorded several videos our wonderful “cardinal conversations” and would love to share them with others! I have never communicated with a bird like this before. It is such a comforting and beautiful feeling, as I wholeheartedly believe this cardinal is a spiritual sign of my many friends who have passed.

CARDINALS FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of Denise Hayes

Crestwood, Kentucky

My sister-in-law recently passed away and I am having an extremely difficult time coping. I sit at my kitchen table every morning and look outside through my bay window. Almost every morning I see cardinals in different areas of my yard. I am especially fond of the red ones as I have heard that they are spiritual messengers from Heaven sent by a loved one.

I love you, Denise and until we meet again, I will embrace the cardinals from Heaven for peace.

CARDINAL PARTY
In Memory of Margaret Crystal

Chicago, Illinois

While running on my treadmill, I looked out into my backyard and observed a flock of northern cardinals. There were six to eight male and female cardinals flying around and playing for about five minutes. I called out to my wife and kids so that they could also enjoy the cardinal party. I continued running as one of the red cardinals flew about five feet away from my window. The cardinal then flew just two feet from my daughter’s window before landing upon the sill where it rested momentarily. My entire family observed the cardinal party and it felt so special to all of us.

I was very curious about the cardinals visiting our home and decided to research what it could possibly mean. A google search led me to the discovery of Cardinal Experiences. The cardinal party immediately became far more meaningful as my Grandma Crystal had passed at age 98 just one week prior.

My grandma taught me a reverence for nature and this final goodbye was a great experience for me because I was unable to be there when she passed due to the pandemic.

CARDINALS OF LOVE AND SIGNS FROM ABOVE
In Memory of Mary Emma McCraw

Melville, New York

On March 22, 2008, a little red bird flew to my side during the darkest moment of my life – I had just received the news that my sister Mary had lost her life. I was standing outside in the breezeway of my home, lost in grief when a beautiful red cardinal landed on the shrub in front of me. He took my breath away; he was such a vibrant sight. For a moment, my pain disappeared. The very next day I flew to Texas to prepare for my beautiful sister’s wake. As I was driving down the main road to the funeral home I couldn't believe what was flying right next to me. Not one, but two beautiful red cardinals, racing me to the home. The little red bird was just the beginning to many signs and each synchronicity that showed me there is more after this life and there is more all around us.

A few months later, I started a blog titled in honor of my sister Mary because she was an AMAZING light of love. Her light shined wherever she was our entire life. I was three years older and felt blessed to be viewed as her star. I loved that she often called me her Silly Sis. She loved you before she knew you – it was in her DNA. In the early stages of blogging to my Mary, amazing things started happening. Signs were EVERYWHERE. I documented each amazing occurrence one by one and my faith grew as these confirmations revealed my sister was still with me. My grief lessened and hope prevailed. My little red bird kept appearing at crazy places and special times (along with making a home in my backyard), making her appearance to me along with each fun synchronicity! I giggle just thinking about her.

I am alright today but feel sad at times when missing her physical presence, her amazing Mary smile that lit up every room she entered, and the loving energy she always radiated to everyone in her contact. Sharing my Mary's story has given so many people hope, so I will continue to cherish her memories and share her signs of love to help others heal from their loss too. Also, with a
soft nudge from above, Little Red Bird Chirps was born on Facebook. It is a comforting place to visit that confirms what the little red bird is – a sign from above!  

Grateful, loyal and blessed to call Mary my sister.

CATHEDRAL CARDINALS
In Memory of Anna Orlando

Trail Creek, Indiana

I was with my beautiful mother when she passed, which was only a few hours ago. My father and I left the hospice center and drove to his home. We each grabbed a cup of coffee and sat outside on his patio. Suddenly I started to hear sounds that were more like music.
It sounded like a beautiful song was playing inside a cathedral.
I looked up and realized the sounds were coming from one of my father’s trees. I gazed all around its branches and discovered the tree was filled with cardinals, many of which were singing! I was completely mesmerized by their physical beauty and comforting sound.

I embraced this incredibly special moment with the cathedral cardinals and immediately thanked my mother for letting me know that she made it.

CELEBRATING IN HEAVEN
In Memory of Carolyn Tubbs

Port Sanilac, Michigan

I had a wonderful mother-in-law who died tragically a little over five years ago. Two months later, I lost one of my best friends to cancer. It wasn’t long before I found myself sitting next to my younger brother’s ICU bed who died several weeks later. Nine months later, I was at my dad's bedside as he passed from this world. Seventy days later, I suffered yet another heartbreaking loss, while watching my father-in-law die. Shortly thereafter, I lost my favorite person who was so incredibly special to me … my beautiful grandmother.

Suffering the loss of so many loved ones within a short period of time caused five years of unending grieving. Sometimes it is still hard to catch my breath, but I consider myself blessed that I was able to be there for each person, as I loved them so dearly.

During this very difficult time, my husband and I moved into his parent’s home which is located on a lake and surrounded by nature. We never saw cardinals here until this winter. Four pair of cardinals visit our home every morning! My heart smiles when I see them, imagining it is our loved ones celebrating in Heaven while they fly around and eat from our feeder! My mother-in-law really loved birds and I truly believe she sent the cardinals to show us that everything is alright.

CHANNIE’S CARDINAL
In Memory of Channie Langston

Norfolk, Virginia

My grandmother recently fell ill, and I was informed by my family that she would be going into hospice at home very soon. I am in the military and was stressed out, trying to think if it would be possible for me to go on leave and see her before she passed. My dad advised me that I should wait for her funeral, as he believed she would likely pass before I arrived.

My beautiful grandmother went to Heaven on Wednesday. Just three days later, I received notification that traveling for her memorial services would be highly unlikely due to the travel restrictions as a result of the global pandemic, COVID-19. I was incredibly disappointed but remained hopeful as I really want to be able to say my last goodbye.

I awoke Sunday morning and felt sick, so I remained in bed until the afternoon. A dear friend of mine stopped by to drop off fruit and orange juice, with her wishes that I would feel better soon. While in mid conversation, I glanced through a window and noticed a beautiful red bird standing in my backyard. I immediately stopped talking and told her to look outside at the stunning red bird. She walked over to the window, looked outside, smiled and told me it was a red cardinal, and a symbol of a loved one who has passed that is visiting to comfort your soul.

Without a doubt, this was my Grandma Channie’s cardinal. I was overcome with emotion and so incredibly grateful for this Cardinal Experience!

CHARLIE’S CARDINALS
In Memory of Charlie Siegle

Fairfield, Ohio

The day after my husband passed on suddenly, several male cardinals appeared around our home. I observed them in the trees, on my daughter’s car antenna, and in bushes. It was amazing to see the number of red cardinals present at one time.

Four and a half years later the red cardinals still visit me frequently, although just one or two at a time. I am still in awe when thinking about the day I saw all of Charlie’s Cardinals. I miss him very much but know that he is at peace.

CHERISHED MEMORY
In Memory of Linda Stanaford

Williamsburg, Kentucky

Two days after my mother passed, a gorgeous red cardinal landed on the banister of my porch. The cardinal remained there for nearly five minutes. It then flew over to a tree about 10 feet away and rested on one of the branches. The cardinal lingered there for nearly 20 minutes while flying from limb to limb.

Peace filled my heart as I watched this magnificent creature. I will cherish this Cardinal Experience as another beautiful memory with my beloved mother.

CHRISTMAS BLESSING
In Memory of David “Ryon” Alcon

Cortez, Colorado

Our son Ryon passed in 2008 at the age of 26 due to natural causes. I miss him every day, and he has been on my mind and in my heart a lot lately.

Christmas was Ryon’s favorite holiday. Today while going through boxes in our garage, I found a small box with a red ribbon wrapped around it and it was marked “Fragile and Breakable.” I did not recognize the box and had no idea what the contents was. I carefully opened it and inside discovered the most beautiful Christmas ornament with a red cardinal on it! I absolutely love it, and it now has a prominent place on our Christmas tree. God is good!!!

CHRISTMAS CARDINALS
In Memory of Patricia Bartokvich

Lackawanna, New York

After a great snooze, I woke up and walked over to our kitchen window that overlooks our side yard. It is a nice sized property with an old and rather large silver maple. We get many birds and occasionally a cardinal or two. On this very special morning, I spotted a cardinal in front of me in the silver maple. I then scanned to my left and there were two or three more. It just got better, as I looked at a distant Willow bush and saw four, five or six more!

I immediately thought of my cousin Patty who had passed away only recently after battling cancer. In the last several years, we have had a few discussions on life after death and while there was a little skepticism, I could tell by the look in her eyes she believed, as I do.

As I continued to watch 10 to 15 beautiful cardinals hanging around our yard for a solid half hour, I thought about my conversations with Patty affirming eternal life. I was also thinking about the Christmas tree she had been decorating, especially the last couple years, which only had Cardinals on it.

Without a doubt, I think Patty sent the beautiful Christmas Cardinals to my home as her way of letting me know for certain that she is at peace in Heaven with the rest of her loved ones.

CHRISTMAS PHOTOS
In Memory of Vera Gorden

Scottsdale, Arizona

Christmas is upon us and one day I was getting ready to take Christmas photos of my two-year-old daughter and my dog Myrtle. I happened to look outside through a window and observed a female cardinal lying on the cover of our swimming pool. I walked outside and toward the cardinal to make sure it was alright. I slowly reached toward the cardinal and it jumped up into my hand. The cardinal then perked up and started singing to me! I held it gently and talked to it softly. The cardinal paused while I spoke then talked back to me with her song. While still holding the cardinal, I reached my hand up to the sky and said, “thank you” and in that very moment the beautiful cardinal flew away!

I could not stop thinking about my late great grandmother Vera who loved birds along with all animals. In fact, she was my soul inspiration for animal rescuing and anima training. My great grandmother’s birthday was just three days away from this incredible moment and I feel she gave me such a beautiful gift. We preserved this unexpected blessing with photographs which will always be our most memorable Christmas photos!

I love and miss you, grandma!

CHRISTMAS WITH CURT
In Memory of Curtis Young

Auburndale, Florida

Today is Christmas in the year 2020. It is the first Christmas I have spent without my husband, Curtis who passed March 7 after a lengthy illness. While looking outside, I noticed a female cardinal sitting perfectly still on the ground next to my patio. The beautiful cardinal remained that way for a period of about 20 minutes until her mate appeared. The male cardinal also sat calmly and looked in my direction for at least 10 minutes. I truly felt as though this Cardinal Experience was Curt's way of spending a few minutes with me on Christmas as he knew that I would be alone all day. I could not have imagined a gift any better than this one!

CLAUDE’S CHRISTMAS BLESSING
In Memory of Claude “Henry” Withers

Corydon, Indiana

My 90-year-old father, who had been healthy until April 2020 started declining with heart issues. He fought the good fight, trying to get well, having three heart surgeries over the next few months. He still had a bucket list which included another cruise on the Steamboat American Queen. He had come home from the hospital on the Steamboat Southland. Unfortunately, we lost him on December 9, 2020.

I have heard the story of cardinal visits as being the spirit of a loved one. There is a wooded area right outside my back door. Normally my back yard has birds of all sorts including cardinals. I have looked outside often over the past couple of weeks, hoping to see a red cardinal. Finally, this afternoon, a red cardinal flew into my backyard and landed in a bush right next to my back porch. Tomorrow is Christmas and it would have been my Dad's 91st birthday. This beautiful moment caused me to break down in tears. I am so grateful to have been blessed so close to my Christmas and my father’s birthday!

COFFEE WITH CARDINALS
In Memory of My Loved Ones in Heaven

Rochester, New York

I was having coffee one dreary day and had absolutely no gumption to do anything. While staring through a window, I observed a beautiful cardinal in my front yard. After taking a closer look, I counted six female cardinals hunting for seeds! This beautiful moment gave me such an overwhelming sense of peace. I smiled while thinking about my loved ones in Heaven: My mom, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and a dear friend named Laurie. I truly hope to enjoy coffee with cardinals again and again.

COLLECTIVE JOY
In Memory of Doris

Green Bay, Wisconsin

During the Covid-19 quarantine, I was by myself and caring for my mom who suffers from dementia. My husband was hospitalized and gone for 48 days. There were many moments where I was at my wit's end. Fortunately, I observed an increased cardinal activity outside and soon realized a pair was nesting in my climbing rose bush. This was so uplifting for me and brought me happiness that was nowhere else to be found. The little nestlings appeared today, providing ongoing enjoyment for my mom and husband, right along with me.

This beautiful little cardinal family has brought such collective joy to our family and for that, we feel incredibly grateful.

COLORFUL CARDINALS
In Memory of Jose Manuel Romero Ascencio

Candor, North Carolina

My husband passed away on May 14, 2021. I was deeply saddened as
he left behind our 11-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son. My world flipped upside down, his family turned against me. I feel so far away
from him. I cannot even visit his grave and that has truly shattered my heart. We were together for 12 years.

While driving to my parents’ home, I saw a yellow flash in a tree alongside the dirt road. I slowed down, looked over my shoulder and saw a yellow cardinal resting in a tree! For some reason I started to cry but did not understand why. I did not think much of it until the following day when I saw a vibrant red cardinal. A few days passed and I again saw the yellow cardinal.

Yesterday marked one month since his passing and I continue to see cardinals every day. A couple of tiny birds also landed near my feet, and I truly sense the presence of my beloved husband.

I had to research if the cardinal visits had any spiritual meaning, because
to me these did not feel like coincidences. Thankfully, I discovered the spiritual symbolism of cardinals. I believe that God is sending me comfort through colorful cardinals, but I still wish my husband were here with me.
I remain strong for my children because I am the only person they have left. Some days crush me emotionally, but then I see a cardinal and my worries melt away!

COMFORT AND STRENGTH
In Memory of Mary VanLaningham

Dyer, Indiana

My beautiful mom passed on three years ago during the week of Christmas, which made the holidays extremely challenging.

Lately, I have been having struggles in my life that frankly make me wonder why I bother to continue. I have been missing my mom so much lately and know that she could help me to overcome these struggles. She always had such great advice and always pointed me in the right direction.

I never knew that cardinals were associated with spiritual visitors until Mother’s Day when my daughter gave me a yard plaque with the phrase “If a cardinal visits your yard, it is said to be a Heavenly visitor”. After reading the plaque, I decided to call on my mom to visit me as a cardinal. I prayed for her to provide some comfort.

A few days went by and as I glanced outside, I observed a bright red cardinal in one of my front yard bushes! It seemed to be looking directly at me through the window! I have since seen the beautiful red cardinal many times now. It rests in the same bush, and sometimes it even sings. I feel it within my heart that cardinal is my mom returning to provide me with comfort and strength when I need it most.

I love you mom and miss you so much. Please be with me always in the form of the beautiful red cardinal!

COMFORT CARDINAL
In Memory of Lilla A. Toledo

West Palm Beach, Florida

On October 19, 2020, we were getting ready for my mother’s funeral. I was completely heartbroken at the idea of having to say goodbye to her. We were walking outside and suddenly a bright red cardinal flew by. Somehow this sweet little red bird gave me such an overwhelming sense of comfort!

COMFORTED BY CARDINALS
In Memory of Robert Young

Oakdale, Minnesota

My amazing father passed away recently and yesterday I picked up his urn and ashes. Today I placed them in a beautiful spot near a window in my living room. A few minutes later, a bold red cardinal landed on a tree limb just outside the window! The cardinal stayed there and was looking inside for several minutes before flying away. I felt my dad’s presence and now feel so incredibly comforted by cardinals!

COMFORTING CARDINAL
In Memory of My Mother, Carol

Acworth, Georgia

I literally have goose bumps right now! Seven weeks ago, my Mother Carol had a stroke and almost 2 weeks later she passed while in the hospital. I was with her and while she appeared to be sleeping, I said, “I love you” several times before she faintly replied, “I love you too”. Shortly afterwards I left, and just 20 minutes later, a representative from the hospital called me to say that my mom’s heart had stopped, and she had passed. I was completely devastated.

A month and a half have gone by, and I still think about her often. Today at work while retrieving something off the printer, I looked out a nearby window and observed a bright red cardinal. The beautiful bird tapped on the glass with its beak and continued to hover in the same area. The cardinal remained there for a minute or longer. I mentioned this to one of my coworkers but wasn’t thinking much of it at the time. I went back into my office to print something else. As I reached to retrieve my document from the printer, I again looked outside and noticed that the red cardinal was still there! At that point I thought it was unusual for the cardinal to still be in the same area. I pulled up the shades to get a little better look and it immediately flew away.

I just told my girlfriend about what happened, and she told me that many people believe red cardinals symbolize a loved one who had just passed and returns to watch over you. After researching the meaning of red cardinals on the internet, I found the website for CARING CARDINALS®. I have goose bumps while sharing this story and wonder, could this have been my mom? I feel like she is watching over me and it is so comforting!

COMFORTING COUSIN
In Memory of Tommy

Papillon, Nebraska

My cousin Tommy lived in Massachusetts and my home is in Nebraska. Tommy was born with only half a heart and spent most of his life in the hospital. At age four, he came to visit me and was the happiest little boy I had ever met. Two days later, Tommy had heart failure and passed.

Every day wherever I go while driving, I see a red cardinal. This has been going on for over a month now. I cannot explain how special this feels to me. It is incredibly comforting because each time I think about my sweet little cousin, Tommy.

COMFORTING REDBIRDS
In Memory of Deanna M. Mobley and Sidney Bedell

Ellenwood, Georgia

One year after my sister passed, I suffered the loss of my father. I often sit outside on my deck and while thinking of them, beautiful redbirds appear and stay for quite a while. I miss my sister and dad so much because they were my best friends. Sometimes I wonder if my life would be different if they were still here. Ever since the Covid pandemic hit our country, things have been difficult. There have been so many occasions where I needed their opinion. Redbirds always give me comfort as I truly feel as though my dad and sister are watching over me. I wish there was a way for me to communicate with them, but feel so grateful that my comforting redbirds are always near.

COMFORTING VISITS
In Memory of Carl Disalvo

Bayville, New Jersey

A vibrant red cardinal has been flying around the outside of my house for several months now. I have always embraced this little redbird as a spiritual sign from Heaven.

Early this morning I was sitting at the kitchen table while looking outside through my front window. I was admiring my Holly tree and thinking about my late husband, wondering if he is alright. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a big red cardinal began pecking at the window! I was truly astonished! It was flying and tapping on the window as if it were responding to my thoughts and saying, “Here I am!”

I believe that my husband has been watching over me the entire time. It is so special to see and feel his presence whenever a red cardinal is near. Although my heart is still very heavy, I feel incredibly blessed by his comforting visits!

CONFIDENCE CARDINAL
In Memory of Ronnie Strickland

Kernersville, North Carolina

My dad passed away unexpectantly eight years ago on Thanksgiving morning. We were supposed to be getting together for a huge feast, but instead ended up comforting each other after the shock of what had happened.

I now refer to my life as either before or after my dad died. I think of him daily and wish I could still talk to him to receive his great advice. He was a one-of-a- kind man and meant so much to many people.

My Cardinal Experience occurred during the first week of my new job. I had worked at my former job for 6 1/2 years and it was a difficult decision to leave. I had some reservations about the change, fearing it would be difficult. In the days leading up to my new job I often wondered what advice my dad would have given me. I tried my best to listen for the answer and I eventually decided to take it.

While sitting at my desk at work, I saw something flash out of the corner of my eye. I looked toward the window and saw the most beautiful red cardinal I had ever seen. He looked incredibly strong and confident. For some reason, I immediately felt at peace with my decision. I had a strong sense that this was a spiritual sign from my dad that I need not worry anymore because I did make the right decision.

I told my daughter-in-law the story, and for Christmas, she gave me a beautiful plaque which I displayed it in my office. The plaque reads, I will always be with you and it is paired with an image of a red cardinal. I was so touched and curious by this gift that I researched the significance of cardinals. I soon discovered that they are symbolic of loved ones in Heaven and they may appear during good times and bad.

Yesterday was a terrible day at the office and I began to question my decision to leave the comfort of my previous position. Guess who showed up today? Yep, the red cardinal, and in that very moment, peace filled my heart. I felt calm and knew that everything would be alright.

CORDOVA CARDINAL
In Memory of Deron Davis

Cordova, Tennessee

While getting ready for school today, I felt a chill and then realized that my window was open. Since we are now in the winter season,
it is very cold outside. I walked over to close my window and immediately stopped. Directly in front of my window outside is a large tree. Much to my surprise, there was a gorgeous red cardinal resting on one of the tree’s branches and it was looking directly at me. I smiled and stared at the beautiful cardinal while also thinking about my beloved Uncle Deron.

COUNTRY CLUB CARDINAL
In Memory of Jackie G. Faucette

Columbus, Mississippi

When I was only four years old, I remember a day that I spent with my father and his best friend Charlie while they were golfing. My mother was working so they were stuck with me! Naturally, I would climb out of the golf cart every time it stopped. I ran around to see what I could get into while they searched for their golf balls and took their swings. They had made it up to one of the greens while I was out running around and while I was standing on the green, a male cardinal landed on my head! I did not move a muscle. My dad told Charlie to run into the club house and get the Polaroid camera but by the time he got back the bird had flown away.

Two weeks later and at just 40 years old, my father was diagnosed with terminal lymphoma and lived for only 18 months. Ever since his passing, cardinals have attempted to fly into my house on numerous occasions. The cardinals even try to fly into my car! get in my car! I have observed 3 to 4 males playing in the grass together which I think is unusual as well.

Despite the loss of my father, I feel so grateful for the memory of my country club cardinal and the many blessings I receive from cardinals today!

CREATIVE ANGEL
In Memory of Kalin Emily Sawatzky

Aylmer, Ontario

My daughter Kalin died three months ago, and she was only 21 years old. Kalin was an artist and painted a picture of a cardinal for my mother, her grandmother, who has dementia and lives in a nursing home. I always park in the grass beside my daughter’s grave whenever I am visiting her. Frequently, while I am at her grave site, a red cardinal will visit and rest on the mirror of my vehicle, which provides me with such a true sense of peace.

DAILY BLESSINGS
In Memory of Sandra L. Glover

Knoxville, Tennessee

I currently live in my parents' home in Knoxville, Tennessee. My Mother died in 1982 and Father died in 1998. Both parents loved seeing the cardinal family that lived in a bush right outside my bedroom window. They built several nests and raised numerous baby birds over the years. Perhaps I took this cardinal family for granted as I did not realize cardinals are known to mate for life.

On October 8th in 2018, my best friend Sandy passed away. I miss her terribly as we talked at least once a day, every day, for multiple years. One day a beautiful female cardinal landed on my windowsill. With tears in my eyes, I said, "Sandy!" The cardinal remained there for several minutes and stared at me as if she wanted to talk. I have been blessed by this moment repeatedly, as she visits me every morning and throughout the day, just as I had stayed in contact with my best friend Sandy!

DAILY VISITS
In Memory of Rudolph Lee

Wade, North Carolina

My husband passed in the early morning hours on May 4, 2019. While waiting for the funeral home to arrive, I stepped out onto my back porch to take a few deep breaths. Soon after, both of my daughters joined me. While consoling each other, we looked across the yard and observed a vibrant red cardinal sitting on our fence. This beautiful sight became such a special moment and it left us speechless.

Ever since our Cardinal Experience, a pair of cardinals make daily visits to my home. If the bird feeder is not filled, the red cardinal will fly over to my window and capture my attention. If I miss an opportunity to see the red cardinal on any given day, it feels a though I have lost my husband all over again. Fortunately, I rarely miss his visits and they always give me peace.

Rudolph … I love you!

DELIVERED BY DUKE
In Memory of Kevin Duke

Houston, Texas

My husband passed in April of 2020, leaving behind myself and our two dogs.

I recently went in the backyard to feed my dogs and saw a bright red cardinal sitting on a pole.

Today I went in the backyard again to feed my dogs. One of my dogs named Duke was barking at something on the other side of the gate. I turned and looked but did not see anything. I continued walking toward my dogs which were both under a big tree. I looked up into the tree and saw a beautiful red cardinal.

I have heard many spiritual stories about cardinals but was not really know if they were true. I never imagined being blessed with a story of my own. I feel as though Duke delivered the news that he could sense my husband’s presence. I now have such a strong sense of peace and will always smile whenever a red cardinal is near.

DOUBLE THE LOVE
In Memory of Mary Jane Klaybor

South Bend, Indiana

My Mom passed away on August 12, 2018. The one-year anniversary of her passing is approaching, which has led me to think about the many stories I’ve read on the Caring Cardinals™ website where folks have asked their loved ones for a "sign". I know that my mom is always with me, but I also asked her to show me something … anything … so that I would know for sure. A few days went by, and as I was looking outside, a red cardinal landed on a branch that was extremely close to the window. A few seconds later, another cardinal landed right beside the first one. These were the most vibrant red cardinals I had ever seen. There are many mothers who try to double the love for their children and this moment was no exception. My heart smiled as I simply said, Thank you, Mom!

EASTER BLESSING
In Memory of Barbara Iske

Sterling Heights, Michigan

Almost 16 years ago my great aunt passed away unexpectedly at the age of 57. At the time, I was only six years old. I do not remember much about her but was always told that she had been a sweet, caring woman who loved her family very much.

My first cardinal sighting was about six weeks ago. I was at my aunt and uncle’s home taking care of their dog while they were away. A couple of days prior, I was having a conversation with my dad about what had happened to my late great aunt. When the cardinal appeared, I had a strong feeling that it was a spiritual sign from my great aunt. Later that evening, I had a “conversation” with her. I told her about school, my new job, how much I missed her and how I wished she were still here. Talking to her really helped give me some relief from many of my frustrations.

The second cardinal sighting was Easter of 2021 when I was celebrating at my aunt and uncle’s home with my grandparents there too. My great aunt was my grandmother’s little sister. I began thinking about my great aunt and how she had a close relationship with all of us throughout our lives. Suddenly, a red cardinal appeared and in that very moment, I knew she had come to say hello and join us in our Easter celebration. Although my great aunt is not here in person, she is still watching over us through cardinals and other special ways!

ELAINE’S LOVE
In Memory of Elaine Braun

Virginia, Minnesota

My beloved wife Elaine passed just four months ago. Today, she came to visit me, and I was brought to tears. I was looking outside and observed a gorgeous red cardinal. In over 25 years of living in this home, I have never seen a cardinal. It was also the first red cardinal I have ever seen in my life and believe it was a spiritual sign from Elaine. I feel as though my heart has been touched from Heaven by Elaine’s love!

ELANA’S GRATITUDE
In Memory of Elana Wysong

Chesapeake, Virginia

I woke up this morning to the sound of a bird tapping on my bedroom window and chirping. When I looked out the window there was a red cardinal standing on the air conditioner. We stared at each other looking into each other’s eyes for about five minutes before it flew away. Shortly after, it returned and this time it was chirping much louder. It stayed for just a few minutes, looked directly at me, then flew away.

I am just 10 years old and was so excited to share this moment with my grandmother. Not long ago, my grandmother told me that a cardinal sighting like this is called a spiritual sign. My mom and grandmother had a good friend named Elana who was killed last year. We have been spending time with Elana’s mother and 3 of her 4 children, ages 4, 6, 13 and 17. I believe this was a spiritual sign from Elana, to thank me for spending time with her children and to thank all of us for helping out with her kids.

EVEN THOUGH I’M LEAVING
In Memory of Kevin Lee Watson

Rockingham, North Carolina

I lost my dad on January 4th of 2020 and shortly after he passed, someone told me about Cardinal Experiences. I started to see cardinals everywhere, most of which were male. I obtained a new job and every morning a red cardinal would fly out in front of my work truck. That alone was enough to make me believe that my daddy was watching over me.

One day I was thinking about a song that I wanted to play for my dad in the hospital but had forgotten. It is a beautiful song by Luke Combs titled Even Though I’m Leaving. While visiting my dad at the cemetery, I decided to play the song out loud. Halfway through the song, I closed my eyes for a split second and opened them back up. In that very moment, a beautiful red cardinal flew right in front of my face and directly over my dad’s headstone. I immediately stood up and was felt instant relief from the pain I was feeling. I knew right then and there it was my dad, and he heard me playing the song. This was such an incredible moment to experience!

Recently, I was backing up my truck but stopped after seeing a red cardinal in the driveway. The cardinal was looking directly at me, so I blew a kiss right towards it. Immediately after, it flew towards me and landed in a tree directly beside my truck.

Cardinal Experiences are real, and I strongly believe in the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals. If you are going through a loss or a tough time, your angels will check on you! Keep your eyes open and your head up. Everything is going to be alright.

EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT
In Memory of Janine Segreto

Delray Beach, Florida

My daughter Janine passed in 2005. Grief never leaves any parent who has suffered the loss of a child.

On September 18, 2020 I was blessed by an angel experience while waiting for my partner who was visiting a customer. We parked in a parking lot filled with several other vehicles, and he went inside. While sitting in the car patiently waiting for his return, I heard a tapping sound on the back window. I thought the sound was my partner signaling me to open the door. I turned to my right and observed a beautiful red cardinal resting on the rear-view window. I remained silent and was in complete awe. The cardinal remained there for a few seconds and long enough for us to acknowledge each other.

I believe Janine came to give me comfort because she knew that I never had a chance to say goodbye. This extraordinary moment with my angel gave me a true sense of inner peace.

FAITHFUL FLYBY
In Memory of Michael Collins

Orland Park, Illinois

On the day of my father’s funeral, I was in my backyard with my two brothers-in-law. We were looking at an issue with my sump pump that occurred after heavy rains that fell the day prior. My brother-in-law spotted a red cardinal and when I turned to look at it, the bird flew directly in front of me! The cardinal stopped and fluttered in front of my face for 2 to 3 seconds before flying over my house and landing on the other side of the yard. We all stood there looking at each other in amazement and knew it had to be my father doing a “faithful flyby” to let us know he will always be near.

FAMILY BLESSING
In Memory of Bob, Carol, and Rob Maines

Norman, Oklahoma

My father passed over eight years ago and this year my mother passed in January followed by my brother in June.

Just last week, my husband asked me if I had seen any spiritual signs from my beloved family. I often feel their presence or see the signs that they leave me, but I had not felt or seen anything for a few weeks at that point.

Yesterday, while I was cooking dinner, three beautiful cardinals landed on a tree outside my kitchen window; there were two males and a female. It brought tears to my eyes and I was so thankful for my family blessing and to know that they are still with me!

FAMILY LOVE
In Memory of My Family Members

Buffalo, New York

I recently observed a female cardinal perched on our fence, and when she flew away, I followed. The beautiful cardinal flew to a nearby tree to join her mate, a magnificent, bright red cardinal. This was the very first time I have ever seen two cardinals together at one time! As I quietly observed them, they reminded me of the unconditional family love this spectacular pair symbolizes. Watching them felt so peaceful and such a lovely sight within the nature of my own backyard!

FAMILY OF FOUR
In Memory of Papaw Hayes, Mamaw Henderson, Papaw Henderson and Uncle Rick Henderson

Miller, Ohio

Today, I went to spend time with several of my beloved family members who are all buried in the same cemetery. I visited my Papaw Hayes who passed in 2018. I was emotional and crying while thanking him for everything he did while I was growing up. I told him about my life; how much I loved and missed him and asked if he was proud of me. I told him that I had always looked up to him and was always so proud that he was my papaw. He had such a great personality and I told him how much the community thought of him. I explained that I had just left an interview and it was unclear to me whether I was headed in the right direction. I expressed that my love life was not successful and told him how much I admired the marriage he and my mama had, and that I wanted the very same for myself. I made a lot of mistakes along my path, but I just wanted him to be proud of me. I just kept asking him to be proud of me. I also mentioned a few memories that I cherished, one of which was how he would always bring me m&ms. He had a sweet tooth, which is where I got it from! His passing was extremely hard on me and I admitted it was tough going to the farm without him there. Overall, I felt good after our chat as I had even laughed a lot which was unexpected.

In the same cemetery, my grandparents and uncle lay at rest in a row. They all passed within a few years of each other. I went to visit them too and told them about life after high school. I expressed how much I loved and missed them. I laughed at some memories we shared and a few special moments as well. I told papaw that I had not played checkers since I last played with him. I then told each of them that I hope I have made them proud. I shared some of the same troubles that I shared with my mom, and how I planned to reunite with her. To each one, I asked if they would meet me at Heaven’s gates when my time came. I expressed how much I missed them and reassured them we would all be reunited again at some point.

I left the cemetery, and while driving, I spotted a bright red cardinal in the road. It looked right in my direction. I gasped and yelled, “Hi.” I immediately thought of my Papaw Hayes and knew it had to be him. It flew away as my car continued down the road. I felt so happy! This was ironic because just a few days earlier, I had seen a social media post about how cardinals are embraced as visitors from Heaven.

I continued down the road for about a 1/2 mile when two red cardinals flew right in front of my car. I smiled so big and thought, “Oh my goodness! I cannot believe this is happening! My grandparents heard me and came to visit to reassure me they are here. I actually feel their love and know they are so proud of me!” I began to cry and was overwhelmed with happiness as I had just witnessed something truly spectacular.

While continuing to drive, I felt guilty for not spending as much time talking to my uncle as I did my grandparents. I acknowledged that he was taken far too soon but did not mention any special memories I had shared with him. At that very moment, I saw a red cardinal in the field to my left and I knew it had to be my uncle!

This was unbelievable … I saw four cardinals after leaving the cemetery. They each sent me a message to let me know everything would be fine. I cannot stop thinking about how lucky I am to have experienced such a magnificent moment after visiting my beloved family members!

FATHER’S DAY FEATHERS
In Memory of Daniel Linfante

Glendale, New York

As my family sat together in our backyard on Father’s Day celebrating my husband who recently passed, we observed a bright red cardinal on our roof. We looked up and immediately my daughter asked, “Mom, do you think the cardinal is a sign from dad, because last night I was talking to him and asked that he send a sign so that I know he is still with us.” I told her that it was very possible!

We Googled the meaning of a red cardinal and soon discovered they are embraced as spiritual messengers sent by loved ones in Heaven! A couple hours later the cardinal came back and we all got to see it! I was joined by my son, daughter, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law while we observed the cardinal again, this time capturing its photograph.

This special moment made Father’s Day so special and left us all feeling incredibly happy!

FEATHERED BLESSINGS
In Memory of Carol Wilder

Arlington, Virginia

My mom passed away in September 2017. In June of this year, about a month before what would have been her 79th birthday, I noticed a pair of cardinals in my yard for the very first time. They seemed to go out of their way to make me notice them. Separately, my sister had also started noticing the cardinals, but neither of us mentioned it to the other until one day when we saw the male cardinal at the same time. We both said aloud, “I think that’s mom.”

At that point we had not ever heard about the spiritual connection of these magnificent creatures. I wanted to get cookies decorated like cardinals for my mom’s birthday celebration. While trying to find cardinal cookies online, I learned about the special meaning of red cardinals.

Not long after my mom’s birthday, I was leaving the house and the male cardinal flew down my driveway and landed right in front of me before I entered my car. I was able to snap a couple of photos before he flew away.

As I backed down my driveway, I noticed a feather on the lower part of my windshield. As I started driving, the feather made its way to the middle of my windshield. It stayed there throughout my drive and I snapped some photos along the way. It was about a three-mile drive. When I got to where I was going, the feather was still there. Of course, I kept it.

The next day while I was cleaning my garage, the male cardinal stopped by and chirped away. After he left, I was walking on my driveway and I dropped what I was holding. When I bent down to pick it up, I found another feather. Once again, I kept it.

This September my sister and I had a celebration of life for our mom in Hawaii, a very special place for her throughout her life. We had two biodegradable sea turtle urns that we put some of her ashes in, along with one feather in each, and released them at sea. On the morning of the celebration, a red cardinal came to visit. It was the first time I had ever seen one in Hawaii. Throughout the rest of my time in Hawaii, I spotted several more. Cardinal visits are a true blessing!

FEATHERS IN FLORIDA
In Memory of Lawrence Alden “Larry” Day

Orlando, Florida

After experiencing the sudden loss of a close friend, I endured a lengthy period of grieving. My friend Larry and I had several mutual friends and shared a lifetime of hilarious memories.

Several months after his passing, Larry’s parents invited my family to join them in Florida for a much-needed vacation. One afternoon while relaxing at the resort’s pool, I was sharing one of my favorite Larry Memories with his parents. In the middle of my story, a beautiful red cardinal flew over the swimming pool and landed onto our balcony. There were over 100 balconies, yet this little red cardinal chose ours. We sat quietly in awe and stared at the cardinal for several minutes before he flew away.

For the first time since Larry’s passing, this beautiful moment provided us with a true sense of inner peace. Although my photograph is extremely blurry, my memory of this moment will remain crystal clear forever.

FEEDER OF FAITH
In Memory of Payton Carter Pettigrew

Keller, Texas

Shortly before my nephew passed, we purchased a bird feeder and displayed it in our backyard near a house window. We had little to zero birds interested in eating there. My nephew endured a difficult battle with cancer. Shortly after his passing, we started to notice two cardinals coming by regularly to eat from the bird feeder. They would stop by several times a day and several times per week. We see Payton, the red cardinal, and what we like to call his girlfriend, a brown cardinal, coming by to visit us, sing and eat.

It really feels special and we will always say hello to Payton every time we see him at what has become our feeder of faith.

FIVE FEATHERED FRIENDS
In Memory of Carol Napodano

Hawley, Pennsylvania

After my mother died, I was not getting any feelings that she was still with me. I had read that if I asked her to show me something as a sign, she would. I had never seen a red cardinal near my home,
so I picked a cardinal.

I was thinking about her while driving and asked her to show me a cardinal so that I would know she was present. Within seconds, a bold red cardinal flew past my car and almost hit it! I knew in that moment it was her.

Ever since I was blessed with this incredible moment, I see not one cardinal, but FIVE cardinals in my backyard daily. Literally every single day and several times throughout the day, I am blessed with three female cardinals and two male cardinals. I felt such joy in my heart when she brought me just one red cardinal, so the five daily cardinal blessings have left no doubt in my heart that my mother never left me. Her body is gone but her spirit will remain with me forever.

I moved to this home almost two months ago. As I sit here now looking out the window, I am watching the five feathered friends that my mother sent to me yet again today!

FLOWERS, FEATHERS AND FAITH
In Memory of Edgar Marsiscano

Pembroke Pines, Florida

Just three days ago, I lost a dear friend to the Covid-19 virus. Edgar fought so hard while on a ventilator for 12 days. I really thought he was going to make it, but God had other plans.

Yesterday I was meditating and silently asking Edgar to send a sign from above to let me know he was alright.

Today I visited a mutual friend of ours, and we sat outside in her beautiful garden while maintaining social distance. Several birds stopped by to feed and bathe. My friend went inside her home for a few minutes while I remained in the garden. I was admiring the flowers and birds, when suddenly a beautiful redbird caught my eye. I was in complete awe while admiring its bright red feathers as it flew so gracefully across a large section of the garden filled with bright yellow flowers.

Just as the redbird flew away, my friend came back outside. I of course described the gorgeous redbird and she told me it was a cardinal. She also said that they rarely visit her garden. In that very moment, I knew that it had to be a spiritual sign from Edgar. I could feel it in my heart that this was the confirmation I needed. This unexpected moment made my friend and I so happy. At the time, neither of us had any idea that red cardinals were spiritual messengers from Heaven!

I will always enjoy peaceful moments with my friend in her garden, surrounded by flowers, feathers, and faith.

FLYING FOOTAGE
In Memory of Mary Clagg

Lesage, West Virginia

My mom was recently in the hospital after suffering a stroke. On the morning she was admitted, a bold red cardinal appeared on our security camera. We have never seen a cardinal near our home before! I am not sure if it was my dad’s angel or my mom letting me know that she was alright. Either way, it certainly gave me an overwhelming sense of peace.

FOLLOW WITH FAITH
In Memory of Lonnie Anderson and Mark Anderson

Laneville, Texas

My father and brother recently passed just two weeks from each other. My dad's death was anticipated as he was battling metastatic prostate cancer, but my brother’s death was a complete shock, to say the least.

My father and brother were especially active in church. My brother served as an usher in his community for more than fifteen years. My dad built the second Anadarko Church of Christ where his grandfather built the first. Although my daddy was sick much of the time, he never missed service. Even when his sight had failed, he attended both services every Sunday. My brother passed on October 17th of last year. While I was driving home from his services, a nurse from the hospice center called to inform me that my dad had just passed.

A red cardinal now visits my home at least once a week, always resting on the fence in the very same place. In the footsteps of my late father and brother, I will follow with faith each day for the rest of my life.

FOUR LITTLE ANGELS
In Memory of Vyleigh Kathryn-Sue Peavley, Clay Edward Peavley, Amelia Paige Peavley, and James Grant Peavley

Lafollette, Tennessee

I have been drawn to cardinals throughout my entire life as they have brought me peace and helped me feel closer to God whenever I am in their presence.

My husband and I moved into a beautiful, new home last fall. We tried repeatedly to attract cardinals into our yard, but failed, so I eventually gave up.

On January 28, 2021, I went into early labor unexpectedly at only 18 weeks pregnant. I was carrying quadruplets after fighting infertility and many failed treatments. I lost a life-threatening amount of blood, and after being flown to the hospital by helicopter, we discovered that there was no chance our babies would survive. I continued to lose blood while laboring for hours and almost died. I birthed all four babies, saying hello and goodbye to each of them at the same time. They were so beautiful. I held onto the babies and named them, knowing they were little angels. We had two boys and two girls. Losing all four babies was the absolute hardest thing I have ever experienced. Three days later, we buried them on the mountain alongside my late papaw.

A couple of weeks later I went to visit my four little angels at their gravesite. I drove home and was having the roughest day so far since losing them. I was sleep deprived, depressed, angry, and confused.
I got out of my vehicle, walked around the corner of my house into my backyard, and started to walk up the steps to go inside. In that moment, my heart dropped, and I froze in place as my eyes fell upon FOUR CARDINALS! To make things even more unbelievable, I took a closer look at the cardinals and discovered there were two males and two females!

How on earth does this happen?! GOD…that is how! I have absolutely no doubt in my soul that my four little angels were letting me know that they are alright. My babies sent me such a special message from Heaven when I needed it most and I will cherish this beautiful moment forever. I will also always be grateful for the peace and hope that cardinals bring to those who suffer a loss.

FRED’S FLYBY
In Memory of Fred Fritchel

Saint Paul, Minnesota

I was recently at my goddaughter’s birthday party who had recently lost her husband, Fred. At one point during the day, a magnificent red cardinal fly by my goddaughter and brushed its wings along her hair!

This was a beautiful moment and she truly hopes the cardinal was sent by her late husband Fred!

FROM HEAVEN TO PHOENIX
In Memory of Barbara Herring

Phoenix, Arizona

My mom passed away from pancreatic cancer on May 4, 2020.

Christmas was always a special holiday for our family, spiritually, and for celebrating together as a family. Christmas 2020 was our first time attempting to celebrate since my mom had passed. We all felt a strong void with her absence. On Christmas morning, my husband, daughter, and I were sitting in our family room while I was opening my Christmas present. For some strange reason, I looked up and glanced outside through our patio window. I smiled so big, as directly in front of me was a red cardinal sitting in one of our bushes. I was overcome with joy and immediately thought of my mom! I told my husband and daughter to look outside and they both agreed that the cardinal was stunning. The cardinal’s feathers were bright red with bright orange on its chest. The cardinal was gorgeous, and we could not stop looking at it. I went outside onto the patio to take a picture and record it, but it quickly flew away.

We have never seen a red cardinal here in Arizona! I believe that my mom’s spirit flew from Heaven to Phoenix to celebrate with us on that beautiful Christmas morning!

FROM THE HEAVENS ABOVE
In Memory of William and Linda Fisher

Brookfield, Florida and Greenfield, Maine

When my father passed in 2017, my Mom and I were shocked as it was caused by unexpected complications from an Angiogram. Four months later, we visited my Aunt in Florida. The day after we arrived, I was sitting outside in the sunshine when a bright red cardinal flew closely by and looked directly at me. The following day my mom suffered a major heart attack. It took 33 days for me to get her back into her own home. My husband and I cared for mom during the next eight months.

I had never seen cardinals before until I was staying at their home in Florida. One day I was thinking about my dad and suddenly a beautiful red cardinal landed on one of their trees. Every day for several months a red cardinal continued to visit their home.

My mom went to be with my dad in Heaven in 2018. They were born in the same month and died in the same month one year apart. While cleaning their home, a male and female cardinal would visit me regularly. To this day, I often see a male and female cardinal resting in a tree near my home in Maine. It is incredibly comforting as I know it is my mom and dad visiting me from the heavens above!

FUREVER LOVE
In Memory of Ducky

Slidell, Louisiana

I have owned a lot of animals in my life which includes several rescued dogs. The first dog I rescued was a Beagle who often got into trouble, but it always made me laugh. After rescuing a 2nd dog, we moved to a home with a bigger yard and a swimming pool. We allowed the dogs to swim as well and they really enjoyed it.

Time passed and we ended up rescuing more dogs, one of which was a Basset Hound that unexpectedly bred with my Beagle. Three puppies were born and initially, I was not thrilled. I named each of them based on their patterns as they came out. The first one was a female and I named her Ducky because it looked as though a duck was on her forehead. We kept two of the puppies and gave the third one away, which brought our total dog count to seven.

Ducky was special to me because she had such a happy demeanor. She got along with everyone, including the rest of the dogs. She really loved her duck treats! When Ducky was about six months old, I shut down the pool because nobody was using it. Instead, I added several goldfish, hoping it would help to keep the mosquitoes under control. Every time Ducky went outside, she would stand by the pool, bark at the fish, then run around it trying to chase them.

I added pumps and a few other things to keep the pool water stable for the fish. They had grown much larger by the time Ducky was one year old. One day Ducky was watching the fish swim and caught one, which made the other dogs go crazy. Every day Ducky spent 4 to 6 hours around the pool, occasionally catching another fish.

Ducky and I had such a strong bond; she was always at my side. One day during autumn of last year, the dogs got out. I chased after them but only retrieved two before the police came and told us we had to go back inside. I was so angry. I took time off from work and posted signs everywhere. A few days later, I received a call that someone had seen a dog on the side of the road near my dentist’s office. When I arrived it was raining hard, but I knew immediately it was Ducky and that she did not make it. I wrapped her up in a sheet and towel, then brought her back home. The other dogs could still smell her and began to paw at her. My fiancée and I were crying along with the other dogs. I told my fiancée that it hurt more than when my Dad passed.

I ended up getting Ducky cremated and kept the pool like it was for Ducky’s memory up until this spring, as it was becoming too much for me to maintain. The pool was drained, and I donated the fish to a friend’s Koi farm. They had each grown to almost a foot long and weighed nearly a pound while living in my pool for the past three years. For a few days, I walked down into the empty pool and tried to relax. Each day a red cardinal appeared and would hop around the pool. Yesterday the cardinal returned, but this time it ran up to another level and continued running until I could no longer see it. I believe it was Ducky letting me know that she is still with me but wants me to move on. I will “furever” love that dog.

Featured Stories
This Page features our growing collection of real-life Cardinal Experiences with titles that begin with letters G through L.

Cardinal Experiences
A Cardinal Experience is defined as the moment a red cardinal appears unexpectedly after the loss of a someone special. A cardinal may appear while you are experiencing a difficult time or even as you are celebrating a special occasion.

Share Your Story
For those who have been blessed by a Cardinal Experience and would like to share it with us, please submit your story via the form provided on our CONTACT Page. Once your story has been published on our website, we will send you an email with a link to your story and a complimentary memorial photo in memory of your loved one. Please allow 4-6 weeks for your beautiful story to be published.

GARDEN BLESSING
In Memory of Scott Brandon Simon

Boca Raton, Florida

My son Scott passed on September 23, 2018 and was only 29 years old. I miss him and think of him every day.

The other night I was dreaming about Scott, but in the dream, he was only 8 years old. I woke up and immediately reached for a photo album which featured photographs of Scott beginning from the day he was born. Looking at the photos made me happy yet also sad.

My sadness continued throughout the morning, so I decided to go outside in my yard to do some gardening. I was hoping it would help to alleviate my sadness. The weather was nice as I began to work in my garden. A few minutes later, a beautiful bright red cardinal landed on a bush that I was currently trimming. The cardinal was just inches from my face and looked directly at me. Suddenly, it flew up and was so close to the top of my head that I could hear its wings fluttering! The most beautiful peaceful feeling came over me instantly. I smiled from the inside out, knowing this was a spiritual sign from my Scotty boy, letting me know that he is at peace.

I believe that my son knew that I was having a difficult day and wanted me to know that he will always be with me. He knew that I needed a special sign and that I would recognize it through a beautiful red cardinal.

GARDEN OF PEACE
In Memory of Patricia Sexton

Windsor, Ontario

Shortly after my dad passed away, cardinals started to appear in my back yard and on my front porch. I would often talk to my Mom and tell her that I believed the cardinals were sent by my Dad to watch over us. This went on for nearly ten years.

Just four months ago, my Mom passed away. I was feeling so sad throughout the entire morning. Fortunately, the sun began to shine, so I went outside to tend to my garden. It gives me feelings of peace and comfort while caring for the plants and flowers in my garden.

I was missing my Mom terribly and began to think about how sad I was. My eyes welled up with tears while I was watering the plants. Out of nowhere, a gorgeous red cardinal appeared! It stood on the ground directly in front of my feet and was singing! This unbelievable moment brought on an overwhelming feeling of joy in my heart! Without words, I embraced it. My Mom’s spirit was sending me love and comfort in the best place possible … my garden of peace.

I am so incredibly grateful for these beautiful moments in life and will hold this cardinal blessing close to my heart forever.

GIFT FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of Evelyn Peterson

Clarkston, Michigan

My husband and I were in the car eating a carry out lunch for his birthday. We were overlooking a cemetery that happened to be right next to the restaurant’s parking lot. There were a variety of trees, and several cardinals were eating the tree berries. I was explaining to my husband that when a cardinal appears, it means that an angel is nearby. In that very moment, a red cardinal flew towards our car, landed on the side view mirror, and stared at me for several seconds! I believe it was my grams who I was closer to than my own mom. I miss her so much and think about her every day. This was an amazing and unexpected moment that I will never forget!

GOD AND MY DADDY
In Memory of Eddie A. DeFriend

Bossier City, Louisiana

It was a very rainy day in April 2017 when my Daddy passed. My husband, sister and I had been visiting with him all day at the hospital and left around 5:30 in the evening. The hospital’s front entrance featured a half circle drive that was completely covered with a large awning. As we exited the front door, I silently asked God to give me a sign so I would know that he had come and taken my sweet Daddy home.

While standing quietly out front, we just stared at each other with extreme sadness and grief. Suddenly, two beautiful red cardinals flew side by side under the awning and directly in front of us! It was the most extraordinarily peaceful and reassuring blessing I could have ever imagined!

I know there is a God. He held our hands and warmed our hearts on this very special day. I still see red cardinals in my backyard often, and sometimes it is even two males together. In my heart and mind … I know it is God and my Daddy checking in on me.

GOD’S BEAUTY
In Memory of Joey Burkhalter

Elgin, Texas

I had never heard about the spiritual beauty of cardinals until they started to appear after my husband's suicide.

I think about my husband every day and miss him so much. After 37 years of being with the same person, I am now living alone with our dogs on 10 acres. We were together ever since I was 14 years old and married when I was only 17. We were married for 34 years, and I was unable to have children so the two of us spent a lot of time together.

My husband passed two years ago and ever since, cardinals rest and roam around a special tree on our property located in the front of our home. This area is also where I feed deer. God's beauty is everywhere, and I notice it now more than ever! The cardinals amaze me the most because it seems they want me to see them daily. A beautiful red cardinal will fly across my path every time I drive away from my home, and then again when I turn onto my road when driving back home. The cardinals always flew by so quickly and unexpectedly, which made me afraid that I would hit them.

Observing God’s beautiful red cardinals cross my path so frequently taught me to slow down a little. Each fleeting moment has become the most special part of my day. Two years have passed, and I feel so blessed that the cardinals continue to fly by when I leave and return home. There are also several cardinals that enjoy resting on one of my trees and I enjoy watching them every day throughout each season. When I look outside or if I am driving in my car, I always hope to see the cardinals and admit that it is disappointing when I don't.

The daily presence of God’s beautiful cardinals is why I believe my husband, dad, cousin, Aunt, and childhood friend are also watching over me. God has continued to help me to survive the pain and grief that I experience daily. My husband is now in a glorious place, and I couldn't be happier for him. I will join him one day forever, with our Lord and Savior. Until that time comes, I will focus on the beauty that surrounds me. God’ beauty comes in so many forms, but none are quite as special to me as the beautiful red cardinals that watch over me daily.

GOD’S GARDEN
In Memory of Robert W. Weaver

Port Saint Lucie, Florida

My mother, brother, daughter, and I were together for a memorial to honor my dad who recently passed.

My dad loved looking out the window and into the yard, watching a variety of birds and lizards rest and roam in the trees and on our patio. My mom read a beautiful poem about God’s garden and said that my father now walks the garden in tranquility.

In remembrance, we wanted to celebrate his life, so we planted a flowering tree. The tree has many flower buds, but as of yesterday, not one had yet bloomed.

However, today was special as one flower had opened completely. We placed a bird statue next to the tree and went inside to reflect. While inside the house, I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. We looked onto the patio and there sat a bright red cardinal along with a female cardinal perched on top of the planted tree. She flew down, met the male on the patio, and they bopped around the patio for a few minutes before flying away. What a special gift.

On the wings of a tiny bird will the soul be carried.

GOD’S GRACE
In Memory of Ben Coty Sr., Helen Coty, Donald Coty Sr., Donald Coty Jr.,
Iris Wesley and Darryl Bradley

Kansas City, Kansas

My heart has been hurting so badly. The man I loved broke my heart, my brother died on June 9th of this year, and in just two days it will be Thanksgiving. I have lost my parents, both brothers, my sister, and my best friend, and I miss them all so much.

Today, November 24, 2020, I was forced to take a detour onto a street I have never been on before. While stopped at a light, I looked over toward a large tree and in that moment, seven redbirds flew out then landed back onto the tree! I immediately began to cry and felt my heart literally rejoice for God’s grace.

How ironic it was to be blessed by seven redbirds all in one place at the same time! This beautiful moment gave me an overwhelming feeling of peace during such a difficult time. I will remember this Thanksgiving blessing from above today, tomorrow, and always!

GOD’S GRACE AND LOVE
In Memory of Justin Crutsinger

Denton, Texas

I was working in the lobby of our Post Office and thinking about my son when I saw the most beautiful red cardinal outside. I was unable to take my eyes off this magnificent crimson creature.

My son Justin died on July 13, 2019 in a horrible motorcycle accident. Justin was an amazing person. He never met a stranger. I did not quite realize the countless people my beautiful son had touched until we had his memorial services. Justin was so goofy and always joking around. He was happiest while making others laugh.

I miss him every day. What makes me cry the hardest is knowing that his son will never know him personally. He will never feel the deep love his father had for him. When my grandson turned three, I was once again mourning the loss of my son. I was thinking about the special events that Justin will miss and the many things my grandson will be unable to experience with his father.

Every time I look at my grandson, he reminds me a little more of his daddy. God knows my heartache and wipes my tears with His grace and love. I believe God sent the glorious red cardinal to me as a spiritual messenger offering peace and comfort during my mourning. God always eases my anxiety about Justin's eternity. Without a doubt, I will see my precious son again.

GOD’S PEACE
In Memory of Nathan Sharp

Port Neches, Texas

My son passed just two weeks ago. Today, while drinking my coffee and looking outside, I observed a beautiful red cardinal in my yard, and it was extremely close to where I was standing. The cardinal remained there, allowing me to receive and feel God’s peace.

I believe that all is well with my beloved son Nathan and feel it deep within my heart that he is now at peace in God’s presence.

GRATEFUL FOR GRAMS
In Memory of Aletha

Horseheads, New York

My beautiful Grams passed away in 2013. Several years went by without a dream or a sign to let me know she was still with me. I repeatedly told my family that she would love for us to all be together at my home. I reminded them how much she really enjoyed being present when there was any type of family “action.” My Grams was the “glue” that held us together, so it has been very difficult for our family to reunite in one place since her passing.

In 2017, we were finally all together to celebrate Easter, and it was the first time since her funeral. At one point during the day, my mother noticed a beautiful red cardinal outside. The redbird was repeatedly landing on my husband’s truck and looking directly into our home. This was our sign and my entire family was so excited!

Easter Sunday is a truly meaningful day, but now even more special to my family because we received this incredible sign I had been longing for. This was the most special holiday ever because my Grams let us know she is still with us!

GRATEFUL GARDEN
In Memory of John Selkirk Bryce

Warkworth, Ontario

My father-in-law passed away on October 30, 2018. In spring the following year, my husband and I planted a memorial garden in his memory. We planted several of his favorite shrubs and flowers. We also added a bench so that my mother-in-law or my husband and I can sit and share memories or sit quietly and think about this man who was incredibly wise, giving and deeply loved by his family and friends.

Each time I sit in our memorial garden, without failure a stunning red cardinal appears. I also always hear their beautiful song within the wooded area nearby. I always give thanks for this glorious sign! It brings me tremendous comfort, as it lets me know that my father-in-law is sending his love whenever we are thinking about him in our “Grateful Garden.”

GRATITUDE
In Memory of Lorraine Domante

North Brunswick, New Jersey

Today, November 23, 2020 I lost my sweet cousin who was like a sister to me. She has only one surviving son, who I have known since he was a baby. He is a grown man now, and alone family wise. I reached out to him today via text to send loving thoughts and share a few memories about his mom because I know she would have done the very same for me. I wanted her son to know that he still has family, and we will always love him. He responded with such gratitude and love.

This afternoon I was standing in my kitchen and something caught my eye at the window. I looked up and observed a beautiful, vibrant red cardinal resting on a tree branch. It took my breath away. I started to cry because I am very aware of the cardinal’s spiritual symbolism. In this moment, I felt my cousin’s presence; I believe she wanted to thank me for reaching out to her son today. What an incredibly beautiful sign. I now know for certain that my cousin is watching over me as she always did throughout her life.

GUARDIAN ANGEL
In Memory of Jesse M. Vasquez

Leander, Texas

I met my husband Jesse 26 years ago. We went on our first date on August 27th and were never apart. On July 26, 2020, my Jesse passed.

We loved each other very much. Quite often, we would sit outside when the sun was going down and watch the cardinals fly around. It always amazed us whenever we saw several red cardinals flying around together; they were so playful and only occasionally stopped to rest.

I now see Jesse flying around, which is his way of letting me know he is here and watching over me. I love and miss him so very much. I know he is sorry for leaving me and visits daily to remind me that he still loves me. He is my guardian angel and I thank him often for continually flying for me.

I love you, Jesse!

HANDHELD BLESSING
In Memory of Seth Johnson

Newaygo, Michigan

It is January 2021, the middle of winter here in Michigan, and we just had freezing
rain last night. I looked outside and thought a red cardinal was stuck onto the perch
of our feeder. I calmly walked over to the feeder and the cardinal remained on the perch. I moved closer and gently picked up the cardinal, fully expecting it to be stuck, but thankfully it was not. The cardinal climbed onto my finger and even allowed me
to walk around. I returned the following day with my roommate and his daughter.
They had an opportunity to hold the cardinal as well, and we were in complete awe. This was such a rare event, and unlikely it will happen again. I feel so grateful that
we captured a photograph of this incredible handheld blessing!

HANDHELD FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of F. C. Minton

Henrico, Virginia

Today on June 5, 2020 I saw a car stop out in the front of my house. I walked over to discover they were saving a red cardinal that was resting in the street. I immediately told them I would take care of it. I reached out and the cardinal hopped right into my hand. It was so calm and even let me brush its feathers while sitting in my hand for nearly 20 minutes.

We were unsure as to why the cardinal did not attempt to fly away, so we contacted a rescue service. Just as we provided water the beautiful bird, it flew away toward the side of our house and then into a bush that held a nest. Moments later, we observed the cardinal fighting with another bird.

I later learned that red cardinals symbolize a loved one from Heaven who is checking in on you! Had I known this, I would have talked the cardinal’s ear off, as June 1st marked 14 years since my dad left this world. This magnificent creature was handheld from Heaven! I believe this was my late father checking in on me and it was probably the coolest experience of my entire life!

HARRY FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of Harry Reed Jr.

Turner, Maine

Earlier this month I discovered my boyfriend who had passed away from a drug overdose. I felt extremely hurt and broken as I have so many unanswered questions.
I sought the help of a Medium and they told me that Harry would find ways to visit me. The Medium told me to look for red cardinals and said something very unusual. I was told that Harry had left a gift for me inside his toolbox, and I was supposed to use that gift on Sunday. I went home, found Harry’s toolbox, slowly opened it, and my jaw dropped … there was a bible inside!

On Sunday I felt a little upset because I did not feel Harry’s presence and therefore did not say “good night” to him. I woke up this morning to let the dog out and a vibrant red cardinal flew right past me! The cardinal landed in a nearby tree and hopped onto a few branches before landing directly in front of me. This amazing creature stared at me and began chirping. In this moment, I knew it was my Harry from Heaven!

HE CHOSE ME
In Memory of Chris Brown

Franklin County, Virginia

For the past few months, a cardinal has been visiting and resting on my porch railing. The cardinal is red and so beautiful as it rests on the railing chirping so loudly. Each cardinal visit is so special to me, because 19 years ago I lost my husband. Just a month ago my boyfriend of two years left me and it was not an ideal breakup, but we are trying to remain friends. I am praying for a reconciliation of our relationship as I prayed for this man.

The cardinal continues to be the highlight of my mornings and afternoons. It seems the cardinal rests on my porch railing and chirps loudly to notify me it is there and ready to be fed. I always see and hear the cardinal, then immediately go outside to leave out food. I feel so blessed that this cardinal chose me.

HEALING WITH HERBERT
In Memory of Dr. Herbert Mathew Carmon Jr.

Missouri City, Texas

My husband died in October 2020 from bladder cancer here at our home. Every day this December, a red cardinal appears and pecks at our kitchen window. The cardinal does this repeatedly throughout the day. I have been grieving continuously since my husband died. I feel as though the cardinal has somehow returned with a message from him as my husband knew how much I loved him. I believe this vibrant red cardinal, repeatedly tapping on our window, could be my late husband telling me not to cry for him. I hope this beautiful cardinal continues to visit as it is such a unique and powerful way for my healing with Herbert.

HEAVEN SENT
In Memory of Antonio Briseño Sr. and Antonio Briseño Jr.

Uvalde, Texas

In 2004 my brother Antonio passed away in a tragic car accident at the age of 17. I was only 10 years old at the time and it was completely devastating. My role model and best friend was gone. I was in so much pain and couldn’t understand why my parents were suffering through a nightmare that no parents should ever have to experience. We immediately and frequently had a little red visitor who often perched itself on the tree that was donated to our family in memory of my brother. The tree is a Texas Ash and it sits right outside my mother’s window.

Years have passed on, and so have other loved ones in our family. We lost my grandfather and then my grandmother. I couldn’t help but to question my faith after also losing two close friends that I grew up with. The most astonishing part about this is that after every loss, a new cardinal joined the others on the tree located outside my mom’s window. Despite the beauty of the cardinals, I felt angry for having lost so much.

I tried using science as an explanation to the cardinals’ relationship with us. My “science logic” was not good enough to get by this past September. My father became ill and tested positive for Covid. He was not doing too well but was expected to make a full recovery. We had spoken on the phone every day until the morning of September 16, 2021. I was alone and outside working on my pickup truck my mother called me to tell me that my dad had to be intubated and put on a ventilator because he took a turn for the worse. My heart felt so heavy, and I just knew that this was not going to be the outcome I hoped for. I burst out into a loud sob, overcome with worry about my daddy, and feeling so helpless. Almost instantly after saying goodbye to my mom, my physical body felt immense pain. In that very moment a beautiful red cardinal with such a strong presence and confidence flew by and landed on a tree limb about 6 feet away from me. If only I could tell you what my emotions were when I saw the cardinal. It felt as though my late brother was present and trying to tell me that he was there to take our daddy back home to God. As if speaking to my brother, I pleaded with the cardinal “Please don’t take dad AJ, I still need him; I cannot do it without him.” The cardinal didn’t flinch; he continued to stare at me as if it felt my pain, but God wanted my dad back in Heaven. I felt a little comfort in my heart by the cardinal’s presence, but my world was being torn apart and I couldn’t understand why. A few hours later, I got the horrific news that my daddy left us to be with his son and God again. This by far has been the most difficult part of my 27 years of life.

Our family of cardinals continues to grow and provides me with so much hope. I know the cardinals understand me, and truly believe they are Heaven sent. No odds or ratios or animal science can explain how the cardinals interact with us at the right time. When we need hope, they seem to be right there willing to provide it.

Today, a new red cardinal has joined the family, making it three males and two females. As hardened as I am, a south Texas outdoorsman, the protector and provider for my family, the cardinals’ love, affection, and understanding bring me to my knees and have hot tears rolling down my cheeks. I know the cardinals are sent by my family and friends in Heaven, and I know they can feel the love I have pouring out of my heart for them. The best part about all of it is that I can feel their presence and love too. I am no longer a skeptic; cardinals are angels from Heaven.

For my father Antonio Briseño Sr. and my brother Antonio Briseño Jr., we will love y’all forever and will miss you until the day we reunite again.

HEAVENLY HOLLY
In Memory of My Beautiful Sister

Doylestown, Pennsylvania

I recently lost my sister due to cancer. During her last few days, a cardinal started building a nest in a small holly tree next to my garage door. Out of the five eggs laying within the nest, only three hatched. This has been my home for 25 years and I have seen a cardinal nesting here until now. I am not religious, but this is quite a remarkable coincidence. Nature is so beautiful!

HEAVENLY HUNT
In Memory of Dennis Fulkerson

Victoria, Texas

It has been 10 years since my father passed of lung cancer. My son Weston had a difficult time losing his Pawpaw Dennis which occurred shortly after their last hunting trip on December 6, 2010. We all made sure that my dad was comfortable and that he was where he loved to be the most. My dad was so appreciative for the opportunity to join Weston on this hunt, even though he was unable to participate.

On December 13, 2020, Weston and I went to visit my dad at the cemetery on what would have been his 80th birthday. It was a rainy day, but that did not stop us! During our visit we talked about the amazing Cardinal Experience that Weston was blessed with a few years ago…

On March 18, 2017, which was Turkey Season, Weston went to our Deer lease to check on the feeders. Weston approached his feeder and discovered a bright red cardinal. Weston had previously placed a cage around the feeder’s base to prevent squirrels from eating the corn. The cardinal was resting inside of the cage! Weston gently removed the cardinal and was so excited that he captured a photo of himself holding it. That same day, Weston brought home two “Toms” and his Pawpaw Dennis would have been so proud! Weston had a close relationship with his Pawpaw Dennis and hunting was their favorite thing to do together.

Weston arrived home with the turkeys and shared the photographs, which immediately made me cry. I told him that his Pawpaw Dennis was there with him during the turkey hunt, which one might also refer to as a heavenly hunt!

I am certain that if God needed a good hunter, my Dad would have been in line for that! Weston and I love and miss him every day, but we know he is at peace.

HEAVENLY MESSENGER
In Memory of Anja Duquette and Joanna de Tombe

Pickering, Ontario

Recently, I was telling a friend about a spiritual cardinal story that occurred in relation to my mom and sister. In early 2015 my mother had been told that her eldest daughter, Anja (my sister) was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer. Anja was in the hospital and wanted very much for my mother to come spend time with her. Unfortunately, our mom had developed a bad cold, which is not ideal due to Anja’s condition. My sister was disappointed as she really wanted to see her, but she understood why it was not possible. We remained hopeful that my mom could visit Anja after she got over her cold. Over the years, my mom and sister often had disagreements. While they loved each other, it was not expressed very often. It seemed Anja had things that she really wanted to express to our mom, and I am sure it was her love. Sadly, Anja lost her cancer battle before our mom had an opportunity to visit her. We were all shocked as Anja passed a short time after her diagnosis.

A few days following Anja’s passing, a bright red cardinal started to appear at my mom's windowsill. It would flap its wings and tap persistently on the window. This went on a few times a day for several months. One day my mom said, "Either this bird is trying to get in or it’s trying to tell me something!"

Not long after, I was in a religious bookstore and saw a red cardinal accompanied by a little card that read:

I am a messenger to tell you we are never far apart
My spirit will live on forever, there within your heart
When you see a cardinal, you will know it is true
I am never far away because I am always here with you

I stood there wondering if my mom’s cardinal was a messenger sent by God to express Anja’s love since Anja was unable to express it during the short time while she was still alive. I purchased the cardinal gift, gave it to my mom and read the message to her. I suggested that perhaps Anja wanted her to know that she is truly at peace, and my mom thought it was so lovely.

The following day, my mom called to say that the tapping sound had stopped! Over a week went by and there was still no sign of the cardinal. Almost a year later, my mother passed away and I can't help but believe that my sister had wanted to ease our mom’s sadness for not having seen her and also to say "goodbye" because it didn’t happen when they were both still alive. Through that persistent cardinal, God had shown Anja’s love. I believe in my heart that the beautiful, bright red cardinal was a heavenly messenger. My mom felt such peace and comfort when she saw the cardinal at her window and when she received my cardinal gift from the religious store. Discovering the spiritual symbolism of cardinals was instrumental to our healing.

I look forward to seeing a red cardinal or two in my future, and until then will continue to pray that my mom and sister are at peace.

HEAVENLY PROTECTOR
In Memory of Joseph Balsamo

Belford, New Jersey

My wonderful husband passed on October 3rd in 2019. Ever since this past spring,
a beautiful red cardinal has been visiting our yard. This brightens my day as it reminds me of my husband who loved to bird the birds. I often hear the cardinal chirping for hours on end. It did a little research and learned that when a male cardinal sings alone, it is often claiming its territory and warning other male cardinals to stay away.
I feel as though it is my beloved husband
Joe trying to protect me from Heaven.

HEAVENLY VISITOR
In Memory of Kay A. Engler

Naperville, Illinois

My wife laid dying in her hospice room while my son and I were sitting next to her.
The shade was pulled up on the glass door in her room, which led outside. We were both startled when a very large red cardinal landed right outside the door and began looking at each of us. The cardinal remained there for quite a while. We did not move and continued to watch the bird for several minutes until it flew away.

My wife passed away early the following morning. This beautiful moment left my son and I feeling as though the cardinal was a heavenly visitor sent to spend time with
my wife.

HEAVENLY WIRE
In Memory of Leonard R. Bell

Cynthiana, Kentucky

My dad passed on December 4th, just three days after my 50th birthday. The following spring, a red cardinal would often rest upon a telephone wire near my home. It would tweet up a storm and then just fly away. That is exactly what my dad used to do; he would stop by for a visit, chat away,
and then just get up and leave!

One day I was doing dishes and heard a bird tweeting outside. Tweet-Tweet-Tweet. Then, I heard a cat meowing. Meow-Meow-Meow. I went outside, walked around, and then looked over at my deck. My outdoor cat was sitting on one of the deck steps and a red cardinal was resting on the deck railing. The Stainless-Steel bowl was near my cat and it was completely empty. I smiled so big as it was obvious that they were both waiting for it to be filled with cat food. In that moment, I just knew that the cardinal was my dad’s spirit!

This unique cardinal left that year, but I now an abundance of cardinals that visit my home on a regular basis. Although the chatty cardinal on the heavenly wire has not returned, it was there to get me through the first spring without my dad!

HE FOLLOWS
In Memory of Roger Allen

Prosperity, West Virginia

I have moved three times since losing my beloved husband Roger. Each time, a red cardinal has followed me. I truly feel Roger’s spirit with me, especially when a little red cardinal is nearby.

2020 has been an extremely difficult year for everyone. I have missed Roger more than ever while being so isolated in my home. As the weather became colder, I put up a birdfeeder and was immediately greeted by a stunning red cardinal. Not long after, I counted five male cardinals, two female cardinals, and a red-headed woodpecker. I have also seen mourning doves, black-capped chickadees, sparrows, a blue jay, and a squirrel! I have never seen so many different types of birds eating at one feeder and they all seem extra hungry this year!

While growing older, it seems I see birds less frequently than in the past. The cardinals and their friends are certainly here now, and that makes me incredibly happy!

HERE, KITI
In Memory of Kiti Jo Gregg

Nashville, Tennessee

Losing those we love is incredibly painful which also includes the loss of a longtime four-legged family member. December 5, 2020 was an incredibly difficult day, as my husband and I had to make the painful decision of sending our sweet, brave, little dog to Heaven due to a rapidly growing cancer. Ever since, I have been struggling and miss her every day.

16 1/2 years ago my youngest daughter and I were shopping and saw a man with a box full of puppies. We already had a longtime pet dog that we loved very much at home. I did not want another one, but God knew better. Before we left the parking lot, my daughter rolled down her window and asked the man what kind of puppies he had. He promptly walked over to our car, placed a puppy in her lap and just like that, we had a new puppy! My daughters named her “Kiti” because they thought it was funny to say “Here, Kiti!”…to a dog!

Kiti was a typical active puppy (to the point of making us a bit crazy) but as she got older, we knew there was something special about her. Kiti watched over our older dog when his health declined and was there when he passed. On two separate occasions, Kiti saved our house from burning when she woke me up after I had left chicken boiling and fell asleep. Kiti was there when each of our daughters grew up and left home. She was there for me when my husband was on the road countless days and nights while touring with his band. Kiti was always by my side, whether on the couch or in my bed.

On December 29th at 5:45 in the morning, I turned on the back porchlight and opened the door to let our dog outside. It was an unusual time for this dog to go out, but it would have been a normal time for Kiti. As I stood at the door waiting for our dog to come back in, I noticed a silhouette of a bird that was perched on a plant holder hanging inside our covered porch. It calmly moved onto a lower plant holder and was now directly facing me. I could see it more clearly and realized it was a big red cardinal. We have lived here for almost 30 years, rarely see cardinals, and have NEVER seen a cardinal inside our covered porch. The beautiful bird sat there for several minutes while looking directly at me. I looked down and noticed that it was perched directly over a little igloo doghouse that had belonged to Kiti. In that moment, my heart knew that Kiti’s spirit trying to help me!

A couple days later, the same thing happened again! The cardinal was in the same exact spot, but this time my husband was able to see it as well. No matter how much noise was made or what lights were turned on, this gorgeous red creature never flinched. I talked to the bird for a few minutes to express how much I loved and missed my sweet little Kiti.

I now find myself looking for the little red cardinal at the end of each day. Sadly, it has yet to return but I will be patient and look forward to seeing it again. I am just so grateful that God uses these beautiful cardinals to send messages of comfort that truly help so many broken hearts!

HER LOVE
In Memory of Caroline Esposito

Youngstown, Ohio

The morning of my mother-in-law’s funeral service I woke up in bed and was listening to a bird chirping loudly and continuously. I was staying at my friend’s house and using her daughter's bedroom. I told my friend about the bird chirping and she said it is a red cardinal and its nest is in a tree right outside her daughter's bedroom window.

During the entire time I was at my friend’s home, this cardinal repeatedly appeared in front of me. On one day, it landed on the steps of their swimming pool that I was in.

I believe the red cardinal is a sign from my mother-in-law that her spiritual presence is with me and that I will be alright. My mother-in-law raised me practically from the age of 16. She accepted me into her family from the day we me and she loved me as if I were her own daughter.

On July 2, 2020, I was alone with my mother-in-law while she was here for her last night on earth. My kids told me she wanted to be with me because I was who she felt the most comfortable with.

I love my mother-in-law and miss her dearly. I will however feel a true sense of peace whenever I see a red cardinal as it is a symbol of HER love for me.

HE SENT THREE
In Memory of Addison Smith

Deltona, Florida

Just hours after my husband’s passing, I was standing at the head of his hospital bed and looking out the window. Suddenly, three male cardinals suspended with their wings flapping for what seemed like five or 10 seconds. Then, they quickly flew frantically from limb to limb.

Due to the timing and location of this beautiful moment, I felt as though it was my husband sending me a message as if to say, “I am alright and free from all my pain and suffering.”

This was such an uplifting experience and I will carry it with me forever.

HIGHLIGHT FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of Adnan El Zein

Saint-Lambert, Quebec, Canada

I woke up early on the morning of May 8, 2020, which was my birthday. I was thinking about how incredibly challenging life has been for me and my family lately as Covid-19 is separating us in distant continents! I looked out my kitchen window and the very first thing I saw was a beautiful red cardinal. I had never seen this bird before, so I did a little research and quickly discovered that it was a male northern cardinal.

I felt my late father's presence through this gorgeous red cardinal, and it was such an incredible feeling. Seeing this magnificent creature was a highlight from Heaven and it continued for the next several days!

HIS WINGS
In Memory of Tom Carreiro

Cleveland, Tennessee

It was a routine Friday at 3:00 am for my future husband and me. We were both awake due to our schedules at Cracker Barrel. Tom held a General Manager position whereas I am a Retail Manager at different locations. Tom was required to be there every Friday morning at 5:00 am so we were both awake. After he left for work, I climbed back into our bed and felt so grateful to have three more hours of sleep. I drifted back into a deep slumber but awoke to the sound of our dogs barking excessively loud. I reluctantly got up, made my way to the living room, and noticed a movement at our front door. As I drew closer, the image became clear; it was a man in a uniform. My first thought was that something must have happened in our neighborhood, but the words and moments that followed were devastating, life-altering, and immediately took my breath away.

I opened the door and had learned that my best friend, my love, and my soulmate was now gone. Tom had suffered a massive heart attack on the way to work. He was gone before his car came to a complete stop. He had no time to even realize what had happened. Had he known he would have fought with absolutely everything he had.

I stumbled through the rest of the day, feeling as though I was in a complete fog. This continued through the night and up through early Saturday morning. Something woke me up around 4:15am, which was about the same time Tom had passed the morning prior. I rolled back over and held his pillow tight, then tears began to flow from my eyes.

Some time later, I forced myself to climb out of bed and wander into our den. I made a cup of coffee, walked outside to our deck, and that is when it happened. The most amazing, vibrant red cardinal flew straight as an arrow toward me, then veered sharply just as it became close to the house. The cardinal stayed near my home all day long! Two days later, this beautiful red cardinal has remained close by. I have often observed it swaying on the branches of our Willow tree that we planted in our backyard last year.

I believe this is my Tom showing off his wings. He loved his God and he loved me. My world will forever be changed, but my love will go on. I will look for his love in every breeze that touches my face, every sway of our tree, and song within the wind. I will love you forever, Tom.

HOLDING HEAVEN
In Memory of Bruce Westberry

Mint Hill, North Carolina

My cousin Beverly introduced me to the possibility that red cardinals often visit those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. She lost her son, Tommy, a few years ago unexpectedly. Not long after his death, Beverly was sitting out on her deck and a red cardinal landed on the railing and began to chirp. My cousin said she started talking to the cardinal and after a short while, it flew away. The cardinal began reappearing on a regular basis and each time, she would talk to him.

One day, Beverly told me that she thought the cardinal was Tommy coming to check on her and to let her know that he was alright.
At that point, I felt compelled to do a little research on cardinals.
I discovered several stories of how birds and animals present themselves to comfort someone who is grieving after a loss.

Not long ago, my Dad passed, and I loved him dearly. Shortly after he died, my aunt, who was like a mom to me, also passed. Two of my dearest family members were now gone. Sure enough, within a few days, a red cardinal appeared. I had noticed an entire family of cardinals that had moved into one of our trees. It seemed that whenever my husband and I go outside, the cardinals appear.

One evening while we were eating dinner, my husband noticed a bird had somehow flown into our screened porch, so he got up to free him. A few minutes later, he returned and said, “Look at the bird that was inside our porch.” He opened his hands slightly to reveal a beautiful red cardinal. It was as if he were holding a piece of Heaven, and it left our entire family speechless.

Yesterday, I received a few photographs from a cousin on my Dad's side of the family. Within the past year, she lost her husband to brain cancer and has been experiencing immense periods of grief. The photographs featured a red cardinal perched on her deck. I could not believe my eyes and will be sending her the information I discovered relating to the spiritual beauty of red cardinals. She needs to know that her beloved Gary is visiting her!

When our cardinals visit, I talk to them as if I am talking to my Dad and my Aunt. This may sound strange to some people, but a red cardinal really does soothe a grieving soul.

HOLDING SOULS
In Memory of Lynnette A. West and Robert A. West

Highland, Michigan

Last year in 2021, my brother Bobby died of lung cancer. He lived for five years after his diagnosis, which was 3 1/2 years longer than his doctors expected. I thank God for every one of those days. I live in California, while Bobby and my parents lived in Michigan. Prior to Bobby’s passing, I flew to Michigan because I had sensed that he needed me. We were only 18 months apart and had a wonderful bond.

Just a day and a half after Bobby died, my mom was admitted into a hospital. I remained in Michigan for most of the year because my mom remained in the hospital. We brought her home in October so she could be in a place she loved the most. On October 15th, my mom passed away.

My Dad still lives in the same house that he built with my mom over 51 years ago. I stayed with my dad in Michigan because I was so worried about him. It was nice to be home in a place that had so many memories, as this was where I grew up. I always enjoyed sitting on the balcony to watch the birds visit our bird feeder.

Over time, I noticed that whenever I was on the balcony, a red cardinal would appear. Initially I thought it was just a coincidence, but silently wished it was my mom, because my mom collected cardinals. The last gift I gave to my mom was a beautiful figurine featuring a cardinal pair perched on a tree limb. The cardinal continued to appear at our bird feeder and after finishing its meal, would fly over to a tree, rest on a limb, and look directly into my eyes. I couldn’t look away, and wondered why this was happening.

I am back in Michigan at my dad’s house and sitting on the balcony while watching the male and female cardinals. These special birds truly comfort me because I believe they hold the souls of my mom and brother. I know they are here because this home is so special. This is the only home my brother and I have ever known, and my mom put her heart and soul into building it with my father. This is also a place of comfort for my mom because the man she loved for 60 plus years is still here. My mom is watching over my dad, and I know she will continue to feel his love for her.

HOLLI IN HEAVEN
In Memory of Holli Tranum

Lawrenceville, Georgia

On February 15, 2016, I lost my sister Holli tragically to lung cancer, which was
a shock as she had never smoked, was a vegetarian and a wonderful nurse.
I experienced many sad moments but carried on while often hoping and praying
for a sign from Heaven.

On March 9, about three weeks after my sister passed, I was blessed with an undeniable spiritual sign. I had just picked up Holli’s car and was bringing it back home for my son. While driving, I saw a bird dart in front of my windshield. I quickly looked in my rear-view mirror and to my horror the bird’s wings were flapping, but it was unable to fly. I knew it had to be injured and very likely, in pain. I immediately thought about my sister and wondered what she would do in a situation like this.
Due to her love and devotion toward all animals, I made the decision to stop and try
to help the bird. I turned the car around and was terrified of finding a mangled bird. Instead, I found a beautiful red cardinal with a bright red beak laying on the roadside. It was clearly injured and unable to fly, but there was no blood or other signs of injury, so I remained hopeful. I quickly nudged the bird into a small box that was in my car and headed off to our old vet that we used while living in Lawrenceville.

I arrived at the vet but was informed they do not treat wild birds. They directed me
to another vet but was told they also do not treat wild birds. They did however recommend a vet in the area named All Species. Before driving to the clinic,
I observed that the cardinal went from calling out in pain to sitting peacefully in the
box and it was even glancing over at me. I continued to pray silently, "Please dear God, let me help something to live. Please let this bird live. I do not want to see any more death."

While I was driving to the third vet’s office, the cardinal was moving around slowly
and then began flying around inside my car. I was trying to remain calm and focus
on driving safely, but often glanced at other drivers who were giving me very strange looks. I assume it was because there was a red cardinal flying around the inside of
my car! After several minutes, the cardinal perched itself peacefully onto the front dashboard while looking out the front window and occasionally, over at me.

I arrived at the final vet and he asked if I was willing to accept the responsibility of rehabilitating a wild bird, and I said absolutely. He then asked me to bring in the cardinal and I informed him that it might be a little difficult. He looked confused, so I explained to him that the cardinal was flying around the inside of my car and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get it back inside the box. He seemed very optimistic that the bird was flying and suggested that I open the car doors and wait to see if it would fly out.

I went outside and opened all four car doors. A couple of minutes later, the stunning red cardinal flew out of my car and into the woods which was about 200 yards away. Watching this magnificent red cardinal fly was such a beautiful scene. Sadly, my mobile phone battery had died so I was unable to capture its photograph, but this moment will be preserved in my mind and heart forever!

Throughout these events, I was thinking about my late sister, Holli. After arriving home, I told my family all about it. My mother was very intrigued and after a brief google search, she discovered numerous websites featuring the spiritual symbolism
of red cardinals. Together, we learned that when a red cardinal appears, it is a sign from a departed loved one. It certainly felt like God was letting us know that somehow, some way, despite our severe pain, everything would be alright.

With Holli in Heaven, we felt overwhelmed by the unusual yet beautiful events that took place on this day. I feel so blessed for this Cardinal Experience and will continue to hope and pray for peace.

HOME SWEET HOME
In Memory of Lois Hill

Owens Cross Roads, Alabama

My Mom passed nearly 21 years ago. My Dad had cancer and was being extremely difficult to care for one morning, which had me feeling upset. I heard a noise outside my front door, so I opened it and a red cardinal flew inside! It took a long time for me to get it back outside; far too long to admit. Eventually, the cardinal was back outside and flying free in its own home of nature! Later that day, I remembered that red cardinals were my mom’s favorite bird. This thought really made me smile and led me to believe that my sweet mom was with me that entire day, giving new meaning to the phrase Home Sweet Home.

HOPE FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of Sunny

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

A stunning red cardinal has visited my home several times since I lost my younger brother. The cardinal’s first two visits were very quick, but it still made me smile. Lately, a pair of cardinals have been visiting my home and resting near one of my windows. The beautiful female cardinal has been much closer to my window. A few days ago, the female cardinal was on the top of a tree in our backyard and was singing. I imagined she was calling out to her mate for some reason. At first, I was doing dishes and did not notice her until I walked toward my door. The moment I saw the female cardinal, she flew away.

During the week of these cardinal sightings, I was missing my brother a lot. Seeing and hearing the beautiful cardinals gave me such a strong sense of hope and assurance that my brother will always be with me.

HOPE IN MY HEART
In Memory of Dorothy English

Manchester, New Hampshire

I lost my mom unexpectedly just four weeks ago. She had been battling cancer and had won! On the morning of her last treatment, presumably just upon walking, the doctors believe she suffered a sudden heart attack. It is possible that she lost consciousness first, as there were no signs of pain, and she looked very peaceful.

Mom and I were best friends. We spent all our free time together enjoying nature, birds, the beach and nice walks along the river or trails. We lived close to each other and often shared stories over the phone about the birds in our own backyards. We loved birds, especially cardinals. Every time we saw a red cardinal, we both felt as though it was my mother’s mom checking in on us.

A few days after my mother’s death, a bright red cardinal and a subdued female started to visit my yard throughout each day. During one occasion, I was in my living room working at my desk, which overlooks four sliding glass doors into my back yard. Something caught my eye, so I looked up and observed a female cardinal repeatedly running into the slider and pecking on the glass. It was not a sunny day, so I do not believe the cardinal saw its reflection in the glass. The cardinal continued to run into the slider several times, as if to get my attention. The male cardinal was resting in a nearby tree while watching over his mate. I went over to the door, leaned down and began talking to both cardinals as if they were my mother and my grandmother.

This same cardinal pair returned to my yard every day for nearly a week, but now I only see them occasionally. The female will often rest on the balcony off my bedroom in the mornings, while the male rests in a tree below, as if it is escorting or protecting the female.

I wish these cardinals would visit my home daily, as seeing them gives me such a strong sense of peace. It feels as though my mom and grandmother are hanging out with me while also keeping each other company. I love and miss my mom so much but have hope in my heart that the spiritual beauty of cardinals is true and look forward to seeing my best friend again soon.

HOPE RESTORED
In Memory of Ivan Szigeti

Medford, New York

About a year after my father passed away, on his 2nd birthday anniversary, I came home during my break to speak with my mother. While we were talking, a beautiful male cardinal appeared outside the living room window and was making its presence known to me. Days later, the male cardinal returned with a female cardinal. I continue to see this beautiful cardinal pair quite frequently, especially on difficult days while feeling as though my hope is lost. In addition to the male and female cardinal, there appears to also be a baby cardinal!

I am so grateful that my hope has been restored by one of God’s most adored creatures, the cardinal!

HOVERING WITH HAPPINESS
In Memory of James

Mayfield, Kentucky

This is not a long story, but the anniversary of my son's death is coming up, and I have been feeling sad and depressed. This evening I was staring outside through my front window. Suddenly a red cardinal began to hover back and forth in front of the window. Several minutes later, the cardinal flew away. I did not think much about it until the cardinal returned and seemed to be hovering with happiness, staying a little bit longer this time. After the cardinal flew away, I had an incredibly calming feeling come over me and believe it was my son James telling me that everything will be okay!

HUNKYDOLL IN HEAVEN
In Memory of HunkyDoll

Hollywood, Florida

I had a male Tabby cat named Hunkydoll who was almost 19 years old. The very moment I suspected he was ill a red cardinal began to appear in my backyard every day.

Not long after, I displayed a lighthouse bird feeder in my yard and his mate began to visit me as well. I named them Ruby and Topaz, and really enjoyed watching them as I felt they were the spirits of my parents or my cat’s mom and sisters.

Early one morning, Hunkydoll came inside after spending some time out in my backyard. He never attempted to hurt any of the birds and always admired the squirrels and butterflies. I heard Hunkydoll’s jaw cracking and immediately brought him to his veterinarian who referred me to a dental surgeon. The Covid-19 Pandemic prevented me from getting him in for several weeks. I was finally able to schedule an appointment and learned that Hunkydoll had a cancerous tumor that had fractured his jaw.

I had the tumor debulked and his teeth extracted, then brought him home. During his recovery period, Ruby and Topaz visited every day which brought me so much joy. They would begin singing their little hearts out as early as five o’clock in the morning. Hunkydoll did alright for a couple of months, but then took a turn for the worse. On Sunday, June 28, my fierce little lion began slipping and was on his way to Heaven. During this time Ruby appeared and sang louder and louder until Hunkydoll passed over the rainbow bridge to Heaven. I hope he has met my family of humans and all the animals he grew up with that predeceased him on the other side.

The presence of Ruby and Topaz during my surreal loss provided me with such spiritual comfort. The cardinals were more giving than any person I know. My baby Hunkydoll in Heaven was my sweet little lion and I will never forget him.

HYPNOTIZED
In Memory of Giovanna Roberto

Stamford, Connecticut

My Nana passed on November 25th which was the day before Thanksgiving in 2020. She was surrounded by her family while transitioning to the other side. I knew that she could hear me, so I kept asking her to please be with me and show me spiritual signs.

Ever since that day, a beautiful red cardinal visits my home and often peeks into my window. The cardinal is so beautiful, and I believe it is my Nana checking on me! I smile instantly every time I see it and feel so incredibly captivated by its beauty.

Cardinals are beautiful symbols of our angels that just hypnotize you. I feel so happy and blessed for these special moments with the cardinal, as they are certainly making my grieving period a little bit easier.

I BELIEVE
In Memory of Salim B.

Howell, New Jersey

My husband passed away in February and shortly after his death, my little red cardinal friend began to stop by the house every morning. I explained to my 10-year old son that he was a visitor from Heaven and that he will be there whenever he needed him. I saw the little redbird every day for quite a while. One day a Baltimore Oriole appeared and after that, I was no longer seeing the red cardinal. My son however, continued to see the vibrant redbird every single day. I researched the spiritual symbolism of Baltimore Orioles and discovered they are a sign representing that even though you are going through the hardest part of your life — the worst is over. I am a firm believer that birds speak to us in ways that no one else can!

I HEAR YOU
In Memory of Mark

Quincy, Maine

One recent afternoon, I was on my back deck and quietly talking to my deceased brother, Mark. I had been receiving many signs that I thought were from him, but obviously had no proof. I simply asked my brother if he could hear me and if the signs were from him. I then asked him to send a red cardinal to me. I wanted to know for certain that my brother was still with me and could hear me. Two minutes later, a vibrant red cardinal flew into my yard and sat upon a tree branch. I was in complete shock! I never expected that to happen, let alone so quickly. I had never seen a cardinal in my yard before and have lived here for 27 years.

Since this day, I have seen a red cardinal in my yard at least once a week. A month has passed since my first Cardinal Experience. Today I went outside and asked my brother to send another cardinal to me. A minute later, a stunning red cardinal flew directly in front of me! It was unbelievable!

My brother passed on November 30, 2019. Today is June 4, 2020 and I still feel his presence all around me. I have no doubt that Mark sent the cardinals to say, “I hear you.”

IRISH CHRISTMAS BLESSING
In Memory of My Uncle Vincent

Eastern Kentucky

My Uncle Vincent was visiting from Ireland and passed from a heart attack at 7pm our time which was midnight on Christmas Eve in Ireland. This morning, on Christmas Day, I looked outside at over six inches of snow that had fallen last night. While looking around, I observed a pair of cardinals under the roof of my front porch. The cardinals were nibbling on dogfood that had recently spilled. I have never seen cardinals in that location before, as our dog is usually somewhere in front of the house. The male cardinal was the plumpest cardinal I have ever seen. I immediately thought of my Uncle Vincent who passed last night due to the Cardinal Legend, not the size of the cardinal as my Uncle Vince was in great shape for his age. What a wonderful and unexpected Irish Christmas Blessing on this Christmas Day in 2020.

JOURNEY TO HEAVEN
In Memory of Elizabeth Lagree-Murray

West Seneca, New York

My 92-year old mother's health had been failing for a couple of weeks. A beautiful pair of cardinals had appeared at my bird bath during this time. They would stop by often for a quick drink and a bath. I had never seen them in my garden before my mother’s health began to decline.

On the morning I was to meet with the Hospice doctor to evaluate my mother's health, a beautiful male cardinal landed outside my window and peeked in at me. He sat there for a moment, cocking its head, and seemingly trying to get a better look at me. As you can imagine, it was a difficult and emotional morning for me. After seeing the cardinal, I felt a big weight lifted off my shoulders.

By the cardinal’s appearance, I knew that my mother was going to be alright during her journey to Heaven. She would be looked after by a heavenly loved one. Realizing this gave me such an overwhelming sense of peace.

My mother died a few days later. I have not seen the cardinal pair at the bird bath since, but that will not stop me from hoping. I have faith that they will appear at another time and bring me peace.

JUSTIN’S VISIT
In Memory of Justin Thomas Jennings

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

My son died in his sleep at age 41. There was no foul play or drugs involved. They said he passed of natural causes. Four weeks after he passed, I was in my bedroom looking out at our backyard through my sliding glass door, which was open. Suddenly, a bright red cardinal flew inside my house and landed on a large stone that rests on my desk. The cardinal looked right at me then flew out onto a perch on my patio. This all happened within a period of only five seconds, but it was one of the happiest feelings I have ever experienced in my life!

KAUAI BLESSING
In Memory of My Grandma

Poipu, Hawaii

I was recently going through photographs from my last trip to Kauai in 2013. One of the photographs was a red cardinal, which I had completely forgotten about. That trip was the best, yet the hardest ever. The man I thought was the love of my life betrayed me and upon returning to the Mainland, we broke up. I have not been back to visit Kauai ever since.

I decided to break the spell and return to where my heart had felt so at home. I looked up the meaning of seeing a red cardinal and learned that it is embraced as a spiritual messenger sent by a loved one in Heaven. Cardinals were always my grandma’s favorite bird. I believe my beautiful grandma was sending me a message back in 2013 and again now, to let me know that she is there for me and everything will be alright!

LAUGHTER AND LOVE
In Memory of Joseph Cunningham

Center Valley, Pennsylvania

My grandfather was the light of my life and last June, he passed away. He was always so incredibly supportive of me and my family members. He was always there for us whenever we needed him.

I will forever cherish the memories of my grandfather singing and laughing, which never failed to put a smile on my face. His passing was very hard on myself as well as my entire family.

It has been almost one year since he passed, and we still think of him every single day. My entire family is currently self-quarantining at home due to the global health crisis brought on by COVID-19.
One day my mom and I went outside to go on a walk and noticed a vibrant red cardinal sitting in a tree within our backyard. My mom laughed and said, "That cardinal reminds me of Pop Pop because his favorite color was red!”

I was elated to see a sign of my grandfather watching over us during a time of struggle and fear. Ever since we saw the cardinal, it has returned to bless us daily with its gorgeous songs. We often laugh out loud while observing the cardinal playing with a mirror that we put outside for its own entertainment.

These are spiritual signs of my grandfather providing laughter and love to keep us positive every day. I am profoundly grateful for the joy he has brought, and continues to bring, to my entire family.

LEI’D TO REST
In Memory of Carol Wilder

Oahu, Hawaii

My sister and I held a special Celebration of Life for our mom on the North Shore of Oahu on the one-year anniversary of her passing. The reason for that location was because our mom went to high school and college in Honolulu. She also visited Hawaii on a regular basis throughout her life to visit her best friend and a small group of very close friends. On the day of the celebration we gathered together with family and friends to celebrate our beautiful mom.

On the morning of my mom’s celebration, I was enjoying a peacefully quiet moment alone outside when a red northern cardinal landed on the ground below my balcony. This set the tone for what turned out to be a beautiful and joyous occasion later that day.

With everyone gathered together, we scattered Orchid petals into the ocean and set free two biodegradable sea turtles that were filled with cardinal feathers I had found near my home. A pregnant woman and her three children were nearby enjoying themselves while also respectfully observing our celebration. Suddenly we noticed the mother and her children leaving the beach in a rush, so we asked her if everything was okay. We quickly learned that she had just gone into labor and was heading to the hospital! Everyone in our group clapped and cheered as we continued to celebrate the passing of my mom’s life and now the beginning of another. This was a truly touching moment that reflected the Circle of Life.

A few days later, I went to Maui with my sister and two of our best friends. During the first morning there, I was relaxing in our condo and enjoying our breathtaking ocean view. Out of nowhere, a vibrant red cardinal landed on our balcony railing and remained there long enough for me to capture his photograph! The following morning, a female cardinal stopped by and stayed long enough for me to snap her photo as well.

These blessed experiences occurred at a time when I needed them most. I know in my heart it was my mom letting me know she was alright and that we celebrated her life in a truly special and loving way.

LILAC LOVE
In Memory of Vonda Clark

Independence, Missouri

My mom was fighting incredibly hard for a second time to beat cancer. This past November, her health was declining rapidly, so my older sister made the decision that my mom should get the best treatment available at a top-rated hospital in Omaha Nebraska.

She was admitted into the hospital showing such strength and bravery. My mom was fighting for her life, but her organs were shutting down, causing intense pain and suffering. I soon learned that she would not be coming home and hearing this news ignited the worst feeling I had ever experienced. From that moment on, my world changed.

I live in another state and was preparing for our trip to Nebraska to see my mom. This was an emotional time as I would be seeing her for the very last time. I went outside with our bags and walked toward the car. Suddenly a bright red cardinal appeared and was flying around our Lilac tree! I stood quietly and felt myself in a daze while watching the cardinal flutter around the tree looking for a place to rest. This moment felt so special and was very comforting.

I went back inside the house, got the rest of our things, then left for Nebraska. We arrived at the hospital three hours later only to discover that my mom was on life support. I said my final goodbyes and shortly thereafter, she passed.

The following day we returned home, and I came across a post on social media which explained the meaning of seeing a red cardinal! I clicked on the link and learned that red cardinals are spiritual messengers sent by loved ones in Heaven to watch over us. I immediately remembered seeing the red cardinal right before driving to the hospital. I believe it was sent by my mom who wanted to say, “I love you” and “I will always be with you.” While many people may refer to this as a spiritual sign, I like to call it my Lilac Love!

LILY’S LOVE
In Memory of Lily Morrison

Darien, Illinois

One morning I was in the middle of making coffee and straightening up the house when I happened to glance outside. In that moment, a beautiful little red cardinal walked up to the sliding glass door. The bird looked inside as if it were trying to figure out how it could get inside. As I walked closer to the sliding glass door, it hopped over to the side of the deck and then disappeared. I thought to myself, "Now that was very unusual!” I have never seen a bird do anything like that before and wondered if there was any meaning behind it.

Not long after seeing the cardinal, I received a call from my son who told me his dog Lily needed to be euthanized as she was not doing well. The veterinarian stated that she had liver failure and that she was too weak for surgery. They had already gone to great lengths to try and keep her alive, but even with surgery she would continue to suffer.

My son and his girlfriend had to make the most difficult and heartbreaking decision to let her go. We spent time with her, said our goodbyes, and made sure she knew how much we loved her. At only four years old, Lily passed away peacefully in the loving arms of her mommy and daddy on January 26, 2021.

Our hearts have since broken into twenty million pieces. Lily was a very smart, beautiful, and happy dog who loved to play with her baby sister, Roxie. They really enjoyed running in the snow and chasing after bunnies. She will forever be in our hearts, thoughts, and memories.

This morning I looked out the same sliding door and a red cardinal flew into a tree that was directly in front of me. The cardinal looked so beautiful up against the snowy branches. A few minutes later, several male and female cardinals landed all over the tree. They stated long enough for me to notice and as if they knew I had, then flew away all at the same time.

I called my son to see how he and his girlfriend were doing today. I then explained my experiences with the red cardinal over the past two mornings.

I believe the red cardinal was a sign from my mom who had recently passed away on June 18, 2020. I felt she was letting me know that someone would be leaving yesterday, and today was confirmation as Lily was welcomed into our heavenly family. I think my mother was letting us know that Lilly is alright and with them now. Seeing the red cardinal was very comforting to me, but it will still take time for the pain of her loss to subside.

Today, the sky and the trees remain still. It seems to be a little less gloomy and a little brighter outside. All I can do is look up, smile, and say “thank you.”

LISTEN TO THE BIRDS
In Memory of My Father

Cincinnati, Ohio

On Father’s Day weekend in 2020, I visited my father who at one point told me to “Listen to the birds.” Just two days later, he died from cancer.

Every day since he passed, a redbird has appeared. Today I was in my SUV looking at his videos and photos while shedding tears. I glanced up and saw a beautiful redbird flying towards my window. It glided over and landed on a tree limb nearby. The redbird remained on the tree branch long enough for me to capture its photograph. It was the most beautiful red cardinal I had ever seen!

Immediately following this beautiful moment, my spirit was lifted, and I knew that my father was watching over me and wanted to let me know that he is alright.

LITTLE CHARLIE CARDINAL
In Memory of Charlie

Sayreville, New Jersey

I am a huge animal lover who does volunteer work in shelters as well as fostering them. Three years ago, I was fostering an older dog named Charlie who had some special needs. I had already adopted four wonderful dogs, but Charlie was a little extra special and quickly became my side kick. My pets are loved and treated as if they were my own children. They mean everything to me and are basically all I have. They help me just as much as I help them.

A couple of weeks ago I noticed Charlie was having problems. I took him to the vet and due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the veterinary office will not allow anyone inside. I drove him there and received “curb-side care.” The vet took blood from Charlie to be tested.

I soon learned that Charlie’s kidneys were failing and had to give him an IV drip every day which was extremely hard for the both of us. Under normal circumstances, the vet would have been doing this, but Covid-19 has changed everything for everyone. The daily IV drips continued for about eight days and provided us with a few good days.

The night before I decided it was time for Charlie to be with God and end his suffering, I held him in my arms throughout the night and into the morning. I was able to find a vet who allowed me to be with him as they put him down. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life. Not only to make this decision but to hold him while he took his last breath. I have been dealing with so much pain and guilt ever since, sometimes wondering if there was something I could have done. I was a lost soul and thought about how Charlie had saved my life in so many ways.

Early one morning I was outside drinking my coffee while crying my eyes out. Suddenly a beautiful red cardinal flew over and landed onto a nearby fence. For some reason I felt something inside me say that it was Charlie’s spirit, letting me know he sees and feels my pain. I knew absolutely nothing about the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals at the time. All I knew is how the cardinal’s presence made me feel on the inside.

Two weeks have passed, and I continue to be blessed by this gorgeous red cardinal every morning and afternoon. The other day I was in a parking lot and talking to a close friend about Charlie when a red cardinal flew in front of our car. I found it so odd, yet incredible at the same time. In the very moment I was crying and talking about Charlie, yet another red cardinal appeared.

This morning was the first time that I did not see the cardinal near my home. I hope it is only due to the rain because I really look forward to its visits. This beautiful cardinal is the reason I was able to stop questioning whether I made the right decision for Charlie. This cardinal is also the reason I now have faith, which is an incredible feeling.

It is bizarre how and why things happen in life. The feelings and thoughts I experienced, immediately after seeing the red cardinal, caused me to perform a google search and find out if a red cardinal had any spiritual significance after a loss. I could not believe what I was reading because it shared the exact feelings that I experienced. I felt so strongly that the cardinal had something to do with my sweet little Charlie. The guilt will likely always be there, but I feel better knowing that Charlie will always be with me, just in a different way.

My heart hurts so much, so I am going outside right now and have hope in my heart that I will see my “Little Charlie Cardinal” again soon.

LITTLE RED ANGELS
In Memory of My Beloved Family Members

Stafford, Virginia

I have always believed that angels are present to help us, but my husband does not share the same belief. One day I was calling out to the angels above and asking for help. I walked over to my kitchen window and looked outside. A few seconds later, numerous red cardinals flew into my backyard! There were so many that I was unable to count them! I immediately called my husband over to look at the cardinals and even he was surprised!

I received another special sign just a week later at a local convenience store. The following week, I received a text message from a psychic. She informed me that I am surrounded by light and I have great energy. She also stated that I have a sign from the universe about my good energy and the light which shines around me. I am profoundly grateful whenever I receive a spiritual sign.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my Cardinal Experience with the little red angels. Wishing peace, love and happiness to all.

LITTLE RED FEATHER
In Memory of Michael Turo

Ithaca, New York

Two years this July, I lost my wonderful father. He raised me, so I took it very hard.
At the beginning of autumn following the one-year anniversary of his death, many memories of my dad flooded into my mind. Fall is hunting season in our area. The smell of the fresh air, strong coffee and crisp leaves made my heart ache for his presence. I had always felt that a sign from him would ease my pain. One day I
was walking my kids to the bus stop, and while approaching my car, I spotted what appeared to be a tiny leaf stuck to the driver’s side window. While leaning in to remove it, I discovered it was the smallest red cardinal feather I had ever encountered!
My heart swelled instantly as it felt like a true sign from my daddy letting me know he was with me. I was so overwhelmed with gratitude. The feather will always remain with me in a crystal jewelry box engraved with my name on the silver lid … a gift from my father.

LLOYD’S LOVE
In Memory of Lloyd Willie Byron Barnes

Little Rock, Arkansas

My son Lloyd required surgery to remove a blood clot that was at the base of his brain. I was in Georgia on the day of his surgery but spoke with him before he went into surgery. That was the last time I said, “I love you”. The doctors removed the blood clot, but something went wrong while he was in recovery and he was put on life support. The following day he was declared “Brain Dead.”

Lloyd passed at age 35 on May 26, 2019 and it was the most painful day of my life. I have been having a difficult time since the 1st of May as this month holds the one-year anniversary of his passing. I do not want to be sad but often find myself crying because of missing my son so much.

Over the past year, I have seen a redbird on two separate occasions. Today was my third redbird sighting since Lloyd’s passing. I was sitting on the couch with the blinds pulled all the way up; partially up is my normal routine. I was looking outside at one of my trees and suddenly a redbird landed on one of the branches near the window. God spoke to me and said, “Take a photograph of the redbird!” I got up without hesitating and quickly snapped its photograph. Afterward, I researched the meaning of redbirds and began to cry. At that moment, the Holy Spirit was letting me know that my son was alright, and he is watching over me.

I will forever treasure my Cardinal Experience as I truly felt Lloyd’s love when the redbird landed on the branch and looked my way as if to say, “Momma, I got you.”

LOOKING WITH LOVE
In Memory of Jerry “JJ” Jarrett

Paducah, Kentucky

My mom and dad were married for almost 60 years when he passed away. My mom sat by his side up until the very end when he lost his battle with cancer on May 1, 2017. My mom was extremely loyal and devoted to my dad.

On March 26, 2020, an extremely bright red cardinal landed on my mom’s windowsill outside of her apartment. The stunning cardinal was looking directly at my mom while she was resting inside her apartment. The redbird appeared to be looking at her with love for several minutes before flying away.

My mom shared her special moment with me shortly afterwards, and she believes that it was my dad visiting her that day. Since the cardinal had love in its eyes, I believe it was him too.

LOVE ANGELS
In Memory of Perry, Kaitlin, and Paw Lyle

Lake Arthur, Louisiana

Three years ago, and shortly after my father-in-law passed, I started to notice a redbird visiting often in his favorite tree that he sat near quite often.

In April of 2020, two new redbirds started to appear. That same month, my niece Kaitlin lost her life at the age of 24 due to domestic violence. She was sweet, silly, and loved life. I noticed another redbird that would always run and hop around on the ground, which was comical as I would chase it around with my camera in attempts to capture photographs. One day I looked up at my daughter and said, “That is cardinal is Kaitlin and I think she is laughing in Heaven while trying to make me look crazy!”

Two weeks later, I learned that my dad was killed while on the job as a head lineman in Welsh Louisiana. This crushed me to the core. While sitting outside and crying, thinking about my father’s death, a beautiful redbird appeared. I stopped crying, smiled so big, and said, “Okay, Paw Lyle, I see you.”

I have since learned what the physical characteristics are of the male and female cardinal. While sitting outside, I have observed and realized that I have two male cardinals and one female, which I believe are my love angels. To make things even more special, the one-year anniversary of my father’s death is approaching, and I just found a cardinal nest with eggs in one of my trees!

LOVE FROM LLOYD
In Memory of Lloyd Faulkner

Frisco, Texas

My husband Lloyd passed almost four years ago and soon afterwards, a red cardinal started to appear often in my side yard. To this day, the cardinal still visits me! In the beginning, it would first arrive at 5:00 in the morning, but now visits at least twice a day. Today it arrived with two or three gray fledglings!

Cardinals were never in our neighborhood until after I lost my husband. My little red cardinal looks at me through the window and sometimes flies right into it. Most often, it sits on a planter hook and looks right at me through a window. I have also seen both male and female cardinals visit and capture their photograph whenever possible. I was so surprised to see the cardinal babies today! I just know in my heart that this is spiritual love is from Lloyd!

LOVE TAPS
In Memory of Bobbie Manorath

Markham, Ontario

My Mom passed away on November 20, 2022, at 2:51pm, making yesterday the 5-month anniversary of her passing. My mom was admitted to the hospital and passed away due to the negligence of the hospital.

Living without her has been extremely difficult. My mom was one of just a few people who loved and cared about me, so losing her left me feeling isolated and alone. My mom always had an attitude towards me for my nonsense, but she was my best friend. My mom is the only person I would want to see right now for one more hug, one more kiss, and one last smile.

Today I was sitting in my living room, and I heard a tapping noise from somewhere else in the house. I slowly walked around the house to find where the sound was coming from. While approaching a window, I observed a vibrant red cardinal sitting outside the window and it was pecking at the glass. I stood in one place and watched the cardinal as it physically hit the windowpane with its bill. Initially I was concerned about the noise, thinking it was a problem with my house. Discovering the sound was a beautiful red cardinal made my concerns disappear.

This left me wondering if there was any spiritual significance with seeing a red cardinal. I searched the subject of red cardinals on the internet, and I came across the CARING CARDINALS® website. Reading and learning about the spiritual beauty of red cardinals provided me with the reassurance I needed. I now know that my mom is watching over me. Best of all, the “love taps” on my window during today’s Cardinal Experience confirmed that my mom made it to Heaven!

LUNA’S LOVE
In Memory of Carolina Villacis

North Bergen, New Jersey

On February 5, 2020 I lost my best friend, my role model, my only sister.

Carolina was diagnosed with stage 4 of an unknown cancer in October of 2018. She fought hard until she could not take it anymore and was only 28 years old when she left us to live a better life in Heaven.

Labor Day 2020 was the first time our family reunited for a small barbecue since Covid-19 struck our country. We ate, joked around, and caught up on each other’s lives. Suddenly, a little red cardinal flew over to us and landed on my cousin’s head. The bird would not leave, and it soon felt as though the cardinal was a part of our family. The beautiful redbird then flew over to the table and landed near my plate. It nibbled on my potato salad and meat, which were my sister’s favorite foods. This little bird brought such unexpected happiness to my entire family. Later that evening, we all went to our respective homes and the bird also left, or so I thought.

The next morning, I woke up feeling nervous and sad. It was the first day that I would be returning to my job and sending my son to daycare after spending 11 months with him at home. I walked outside with my belongings toward my car which used to belong to my beloved sister. Suddenly, the red cardinal flew right next to me. I smiled so big and said, “Hey, birdie…Good morning!” I honestly thought it was going to leave after that. I opened the door to my apartment and the cardinal flew inside and straight to my son’s bedroom. I could not stop crying. Somehow, I knew it was a spiritual message from my sister who wanted me to know that everything would be alright. Carolina was so excited to become an aunt and kept herself up on her feet until my son was born. I knew she would find a special way to wish him good luck on his first day away from his mommy.

Ever since our family barbecue, the little red cardinal has not left our side. We open the windows and doors, but the cardinal, which we named “Luna,” will not leave. It appears to be most comfortable with my mom as it often lands on her head and plays with her hair. It also rests on my mom’s shoulder while she is washing dishes or cleaning the apartment.

Although we do not physically have my sister with us anymore, I always feel her presence lifting our spirits and making sure we are alright. God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.

Featured Stories
This Page features our growing collection of real-life Cardinal Experiences with titles that begin with letters M through R.

Cardinal Experiences
A Cardinal Experience is defined as the moment a red cardinal appears unexpectedly after the loss of a someone special. A cardinal may appear while you are experiencing a difficult time or even as you are celebrating a special occasion.

Share Your Story
For those who have been blessed by a Cardinal Experience and would like to share it with us, please submit your story via the form provided on our CONTACT Page. Once your story has been published on our website, we will send you an email with a link to your story and a complimentary memorial photo in memory of your loved one. Please allow 4-6 weeks for your beautiful story to be published.

MAGICAL BLESSINGS
In Memory of Coleman Keane

Dorchester, Maine

I never imagined it would be possible to experience such magical blessings.

On three separate and unexpected occasions, I have seen a red cardinal. The first time was the morning of my dad’s funeral on April 27, 2020. It was a rainy day and while I was looking outside, a red cardinal flew into one of my trees.

Since that day, I continued to look outside and was quietly praying for the cardinal to return. Finally, on May 15, 2020, my little red visitor stopped by again to visit in the afternoon, right before a rainstorm hit.

The third time was today, May 16. I was talking on the telephone to
a friend who was checking on me. I had been crying and told her about my first two cardinal sightings. While we talked, I was staring outside my window. We continued to carry on talking about various things. Suddenly, I stopped our conversation and screamed loudly with glee, “My bird’s back!” I reached for another telephone, hoping to capture the cardinal’s photograph, but it flew away. It was so beautiful! I would have loved to capture its photo as this time it was in a tree much closer to the window than the two previous times when it was in another tree, much further away.

I love my dad dearly, so these cardinal blessings truly warm my heart. I imagined that some people might think I was crazy, but after seeing the red cardinal three times now, I am a true believer. I still feel my dad’s love and feel incredibly blessed knowing he will always be here with me.

MAGICAL MOMENT
In Memory of Patsy and Dennis Hammitt

Montgomery, Alabama

My kids and I were shopping in a store that my Mom and I often went to before my parents had passed. For some reason, I could not stop thinking about them. As we exited the store, a vibrant red cardinal flew by my truck and landed on a tree right in front of us. It was a magical moment and I could feel that my parents were with us. Thank you, Mom and Dad ... We love and miss y'all every day.

MAJESTIC ANGEL
In Memory of My Father Art

Glen Burnie, Maryland

My father passed last month, and it was the hardest thing I have ever experienced. Within the past month, a beautiful red cardinal has made his home in my backyard. Today out of just talking with a friend, I mentioned it to her, and she said, "It is your father watching over you!" Hearing her say this brought me great joy! Another friend told me about the Caring Cardinals® website which led to me sharing my story.

Peace now fills my heart, especially when I see my majestic angel serving as a simple yet powerful reminder that my father is always with me.

MESSAGE FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of Keshone Sabier Young

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My son Keshone passed unexpectedly at the age of 24 on October 27, 2020. I have never experienced so much heartache and pain until now.

The day following my son’s death, I was sitting in my backyard and looking up at the sky while talking to my beloved son. I smiled but also cried while thinking about all the memories we have shared together. I prayed that God would give me a spiritual sign to reassure me that my son is alright. Minutes later, a red cardinal appeared on the gate in my backyard! I have never seen a red cardinal prior to the passing of my son. This moment brought me such peace and, so I wondered if the cardinal’s visit had a special meaning.

After a little research online, I discovered that red cardinals are in fact embraced as spiritual messengers, sent by our loved ones in Heaven! This gave me such immense joy to know that my baby boy sent this beautiful red cardinal to let us know he is alright! I am so thankful to God for allowing me to know my baby is at peace with this extraordinary message from Heaven.

MESSAGE RECEIVED
In Memory of Grace Catherine Clark

Platte City, Missouri and Leavenworth, Kansas

I am neither religious nor spiritual and tend to question many beliefs, but I do feel it is important to celebrate the theories of others.

On May 9, 2020, my life-long friend Grace lost her multi-year addiction battle and passed from a drug overdose. While many only saw Grace for that part of her life, I recognized so much more. Grace brought such beauty, creativity, and sunshine into this world.

Over the years, Grace’s drug use had become worse, which eventually led to nearly every relationship with family and friends to be severed. I remained in contact with both she and her father and promised Grace that I would neither judge nor give up on her. Unfortunately, this would mean during and after her life ended. Grace’s father is devout within his religion and had no doubts whatsoever that Grace went to heaven after her passing.

Grace was my one and only true friend throughout my entire life. Others came and went, but she was the one that remained. Losing her felt like a part of me left with her. I still have so many loved ones here, yet this was a significant loss and left me feeling so alone.

Over the next few weeks, I began to see a red cardinal wherever I went. On some occasions I would be with my husband, while other times I was alone in my car. Each beautiful cardinal brought me a sense of peace that I was unable to explain.

This morning, I was gazing through social media posts and noticed a post relating to the spiritual significance of cardinals. In this moment, I realized that Grace was visiting me, and it completely took my breath away. My heart became so full and I will never let go of this feeling.

Thank you, Grace … Message received.

MICHAEL’S MESSENGER
In Memory of Michael “Mike” Stone

Buda, Texas

Cardinals have always been special to me whenever I see them. To me, it is God made visible.

My husband of 45 years passed away on February 8, 2020. After my family and friends went back to their regular work and school schedules, I found myself sitting alone at the kitchen table, struggling with the loneliness. I started crying, closed my eyes and said, "Michael, you've got to help me. You need to make your presence known. I miss you. I need you. Please help me." I opened my eyes and looked outside through my kitchen window. A beautiful female cardinal was resting on our back fence! A few seconds later, it swooped down to feed in my neighbor’s yard. I got up, ran closer to the window and began crying again. This time I was saying, "Thank You! Thank You!"

Cardinals do not pass this way often, if at all. I have lived in this house for 10 years and have seen a cardinal only once before, so I am incredibly grateful for this Cardinal Experience with Michael’s messenger.

MORGIN’S MESSAGE
In Memory of Morgin Haug

Newark, New Jersey

In May of 2020 I lost my granddaughter quite unexpectedly.

Morgin was born with heart problems and had several surgeries growing up. She had a major surgery at Philadelphia Children’s Hospital at the age of 13 and continued on under the care of a cardiologist. After that surgery, she was doing extremely well. Thanks to God, the amazing surgeons, and her incredible doctors, Morgin had an amazing life.

Morgin excelled at her job as a merchandiser which was stressful at times. Despite all she had endured, Morgin never let it interfere with her life. She packed so many things into 33 years, such as traveling all over the country for vacations and weddings.

In May, she passed unexpectedly at her home. They have no idea what happened, but believe it had something to do with her heart. Ironically, Morgin passed exactly five months after her father passed.

About a month ago, a dear friend told me about the spiritual meaning of red cardinals. The following day, I was gazing outside through a window and saw a bright red cardinal sitting in my rose bush. I went outside and slowly walked a little closer to the cardinal, which did not even flinch. The stunning red bird looked right at me and in a soft voice, I said, “I know it's you even though your eyes are so tiny.” I was overcome with emotion and just know it was my beautiful little Morgin! I went into my home, looked outside a window, and watched the cardinal fly away so gracefully.

I believe Morgin wanted let me know she is alright and that she loves me. I am so incredibly thankful for Morgin’s message from Heaven!

MUSIC TO MY EARS
In Memory of My Grandmother

Stittsville, Ontario

During a particularly difficult time in my life, I felt immense joy while sitting in my backyard and observing a red cardinal visit frequently. I felt a connection to the cardinal and felt as though it was my grandmother watching over me and giving me reassurance.

Last week, my son and his husky noticed two baby birds on the ground that were practically lifeless. There was a nest directly above where the birds were located, so he carefully placed them back inside of it. A few hours later we checked on them and they were back on the ground. They were just forming pinfeathers and you could see mites crawling on their bodies. They appeared to be extremely irritated by the mites which must have been biting their skin and caused them to flee their nest.

The baby birds, also known as nestlings, appeared to be just a few days old. We decided to take care of the nestlings ourselves and began with research on how to remove the mites. We then learned what nestlings eat and how to administer the food. We purchased a hand feeding bird formula and biological grade mite removal. Within one day, the nestlings were mite free and eating food through a syringe. During this time, we had no idea what type of birds they were.

Around day four of caring for them, we observed the red cardinal and nestlings communicating with each other and felt delighted with the possibility that we were caring for cardinal nestlings! We wanted to continue feeding them but decided to try and reunite them with their father. We observed closely to see if the male cardinal would help or hurt them. Much to our surprise, he started to feed them almost immediately! The father cardinal would leave and reappear his bill full of food every 5-10 minutes. He continued to feed them for several days until one decided to fly off with him. They must have been about 21 days old and considered fledglings which is the age they start to fly. The other fledgling continued to visit, so we observed it and fed it for another day. The mother cardinal never returned, and we are not sure why.

The following morning, the fledgling flew into the tall cedar bushes to be with his father. We can still hear them tweeting, which is like music to my ears!

This experience has filled my heart with joy and has brought us all so much love and happiness. We documented our entire journey with helping the cardinal nestlings survive through the very beginning of their lives. I loved the moment we first discovered they were cardinal babies and will cherish our time with them forever.

Thank you to the cardinals for choosing me to look after your babies; it was an honor!

MY ANDY
In Memory of Gene Andrew “Andy” Shumaker Jr.

Freeport, Texas

My significant other, Andy, was dealing with a great deal of turmoil in his life and started to drink heavily. I have a teenage child living at home which is why I forced him to leave and stay with his parents. He was very depressed and refused to take his medications properly or even at all. Andy loved us a lot, but our home was not the environment for him with his state of mind. He was not at all happy about going to stay with his parents, but I was upset and left him with no other choice.

Just last week, Andy took his own life.

I was sitting on my balcony where we had lived together and having a talk with my sister. I was crying uncontrollably due to feeling so hurt and empty without Andy. Suddenly a red cardinal came out of nowhere, landed in my yard and remained there during our entire conversation. We have lived there for over four months now and I have never seen a cardinal there before. Due to my spiritual beliefs, I knew why the cardinal was there, and once again this sweet little red creature brought me so much peace.

This beautiful redbird continues to visit my yard every day. Red cardinals have visited me after I lost my sister, dad, daughter, and mom. I believe in the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals so strongly that I even have them tattooed on my back. Andy knew why redbirds were so special to me. I feel it in my heart that he sent the cardinals to me, just like the rest of my family whom I have loved and lost.

I will soon have a new tattoo designed on my back in memory of Andy. I will always love this man and know that God will get me through this period of grieving. Whenever I see a red cardinal, I will feel his presence and it will always ignite my everlasting peace and love for my Andy.

MY ANGEL
In Memory of Gustavo Garcia

Chicago, Illinois

Every time I am feeling sad, it seems as though my angel knows and comes to visit me. I can hear the cardinal singing and chirping, calling
out to me from a tree in my backyard. I always stand up, walk over to
the door, and say, “Hey my angel, where are you?!” The cardinal is
vibrant red and it always flies across my path or near me. I will never forget these moments, many of which are recorded on my cell phone.

I believe this is the cardinal’s special way of letting me know that everything will be alright, and it always makes my day.

MY ARMY ANGEL
In Memory of Pedro Joseph Costa Chesley

Baltimore, Maryland

Pedro was a quiet, soft-spoken 20-year-old Army Reservist who loved
his life and his fresh career in the military. He was living his childhood dream of one day becoming an Army General. As a Reservist he was
also a sophomore attending Morgan State University on a full scholarship. Pedro had just landed his dream job with Lockheed Martin and was scheduled to begin his employment three days before his life was taken by gun violence in Baltimore City, Maryland.

Pedro was more like a grandson than a nephew to me. I helped raise him as a child and witnessed his many struggles that he turned into success. Pedro was a high achiever who strived to be the very best that he could be. He reached for the moon to accomplish his goals and dreams.

I will always remember the very last time I saw Pedro. He was at my daughter’s wedding on November 1, 2020, and we sat together at the same table. I introduced him to other guests, and made it known that he was in the military. I will never forget the smile he wore on his face after so many quests thanked him for his service and for protecting our country! I could see the pride in his smile. I will never forget the beautiful time we shared together on that evening.

Just 21 days later, Pedro was shot multiple times and died at the same hospital where I watched him being born. His sudden death has taken away a huge part of me, but I am so grateful for the spiritual blessings from above. I have seen beautiful red cardinals appear on my patio and in the tree of my backyard yard. I constantly see a red cardinal that perches on a tree in the front of my house. Each time it appears, I have no doubt it is Pedro’s spirit bringing me signs of hope, peace, and everlasting love.
I believe it is his way of assuring me that he is alright and wants me to be alright too! Pedro will forever be in my heart. Thank God for his spiritual reminders and spiritual support. Gone but never forgotten.

MY BELOVED MICHAEL
In Memory of Michael Alan Stevenson

Fort Mill, South Carolina

My son Michael was only 29 years old when he passed. He had been living with an addiction to Xanax for nearly two years. One day he decided to try and stop on his own. He soon began experiencing withdrawals and sleep deprivation, but he did not give in. He also began hallucinating and was unable to focus on reality, yet he never stopped trying. He went into a hospital on a Sunday in June of 2019. The physician gave him a sleeping pill and sent him home. The following morning, he took his own life. His toxicology report was clean, so we knew that his paranoia, sleep deprivation and hallucinations prevented him from recognizing reality.

I was staring out my kitchen window a few days later and saw a gorgeous red cardinal fly from one of my trees over to my neighbor’s truck. It continued to fly back and forth for several minutes, and I remember thinking how incredibly beautiful it was. I had lived in this home for six years and this was my very first time seeing a red cardinal. Sadly, it did not even occur to me that this was a sign.

Shortly thereafter, my daughter started telling me about the many signs her brother had been sending to her. I asked him to please send another sign, because I needed to know that he was still with me. I woke up the following morning and the red cardinal had returned! This time it was at my garage door and flying from the passenger side mirror of my car over to my garage window. I continued to watch the cardinal flutter around, land on our fence and then eventually fly away.

Two months passed by and this cardinal continued to visit me in the early mornings. On Christmas Eve, my daughter and her husband stayed overnight as it is our family tradition. This was the first time Michael was not with us (physically). I woke up early Christmas morning and looked outside, but there were no signs of my special cardinal. In the afternoon, we all walked out together and went into the garage to look at the lawn mower given to my daughter and her husband for Christmas. Just as we stepped outside, the beautiful red cardinal flew directly into a window, fluttered around in front of the glass and landed on our fence. After a few minutes, he flew away.

My son has repeatedly shown us through the cardinal that he is still with us. It is now the end of January and I continue to see this spectacular red cardinal, which I fully believe is an ongoing spiritual sign from my beloved Michael.

MY BEST FRIEND
In Memory of Rosemary Sutton

Kansas City, Missouri

My mother once told me before she died that she would come back to visit me as a cardinal. She loved watching the cardinals, especially while they rested on her giant cedar tree during the wintertime. She loved the contrast of the male and female cardinals up against the white, glistening snow on the green cedar.

I have frequently observed many cardinals in my neighborhood since my mom passed away two years ago. Today, I went to a store to pick up some final gift items for my daughters’ Easter baskets. My wonderful sister-in-law called me to chat, so instead of immediately going inside the store, I decided to park my car and talk to her for a few minutes. Suddenly, I heard a ruckus near my passenger side window. I looked over and there was a female cardinal pecking at the window while chirping loudly. It proceeded to fly back and forth from my mirror to the store. The cardinal repeated this action at least ten times before flying away.

I immediately felt a sense of peace, knowing it was a spiritual message from my mom. However, my concern is that I am unable to decipher her message. This beautiful female cardinal was trying to get my attention in such an urgent manner. I am at a place in my life of uncertainty and looking for some answers as to which path to take.

My mom was my best friend and I miss her terribly. I will continue to look for spiritual signs, especially beautiful cardinals, as I know that my mom will send them to let me know she will always be with me.

MY CARDINAL CALL
In Memory of My Mother, Father and Aunt

Black River Falls, Wisconsin

Several years ago, I experienced three great losses within a period of only 15 months. The first was my mother who passed just 10 days before Christmas in 2006. Then, I lost a very dear aunt in October of 2007. Easter Day in 2008 my father passed away. Needless to say. my grief was overwhelming.

My father loved cardinals which appeared often in his yard. Not long after his death, we began to see several cardinals in our yard. Shortly thereafter we moved across the state. My grief was extreme, and it continued until a vibrant red cardinal started to appear regularly near our home. I would hear his call and felt as if he was calling for me to look out the window, and I did. He would sit on his perch and stare directly at me through the window.

I decided to learn the call of the cardinal. While outside, I call for him and he calls back from a distance. Eventually he flies toward my direction and lands on a tree branch directly above my head. We continue calling back and forth for several minutes each day.

I believe it is my dad, mom and perhaps other family members who have passed on and were reaching out to me with their love and support until my grief had passed. I always feel so blessed when calling back and forth with this gorgeous red cardinal, and it has most certainly peaked my belief in the afterlife!

MY CARDINAL CONNECTION
In Memory of my Mother

Miamisburg, Ohio

I lost my mother several years ago and think of her often, especially during the spring and summer months as she loved flowers and nature. I have been struggling in my marriage and feel very lonely, often wishing my mother were still here for counsel.

It is wintertime here in Ohio and extremely cold outside. I was looking through my bedroom window while crying and suddenly a bold red cardinal landed on my tree. This glorious creature remained in the same spot for nearly two hours. For the past four days, the cardinal has visited me and rested in the same tree.

I have since learned that when cardinals appear, angels are near, which naturally made me think about my mom. I now have this beautiful cardinal connection that has given me an ability to feel God is always in my presence. I am certain that no matter how I may be feeling on any given day, I am truly never alone.

MY CARDINAL “PA”
In Memory of Larry “Pa” Thompson

Madisonville and Bowling Green, Kentucky

This past October marked the 20-year anniversary of my late grandfather’s passing. Not long after, my mom and I began to receive visits from a vibrant red cardinal. Immediately, I knew it was my late grandfather! He visited us often at our home in Madisonville and continues to visit us now at our home in Bowling Green.

We shared the spiritual meaning of red cardinals with my niece and then told her about our multiple Cardinal Experiences. She really enjoys looking for cardinals and other birds. She even helped my dad build a bird feeder which is now filled with seeds and hanging on a tree near my home.

While heading to the Nashville zoo one day with my mom, sister and niece, we noticed that a magnificent red cardinal was following us all along the way! This happened again when my parents and I took my niece to Dinosaur World in Cave City. It was incredible.

I believe in my heart that this was my grandfather’s way of letting us know he was still with us and would continue to watch over us! I really enjoy sharing these Cardinal Experiences with my niece because she never had an opportunity to meet her late great-grandfather.

MY CARING CARDINAL
In Memory of Dan Triezenberg

Orland Park, Illinois

I live in a condominium and always hear the birds chirping and singing, but never see them. My dear friend Kim created a bright and beautiful flower garden on my balcony for comfort while my son Dan was dying from Cancer.

One day while looking outside, I saw a gorgeous red cardinal resting on a bush near my balcony. He looked directly at me and then flew away. I felt it was a sign from God that Dan was going to Heaven soon, and it gave me such an overwhelming sense of peace. On this very same day although in Florida, my friend’s daughter had a red cardinal fly into her office building! He also looked directly at her and then flew away. This was yet another special message from the Lord that my son would soon be in Heaven.

Just two days later, my son lost his battle with Cancer.

I think of Dan often and miss his presence, but my caring cardinal has provided me with peace and comfort that will never leave my heart.

MY COMFORT CARDINALS
In Memory of Tina Robin Styles

Atlanta, Georgia

Almost 35 years ago, my youngest sister Tina left our home with a friend who had just received a new car. Tina was only 19 years old at the time. Several hours passed but she never returned home. Late that night, I received a telephone call and was told she had been killed in a car accident within 30 minutes after leaving our home. In that moment, I knew that life for my family would never be the same.

The very next morning, our backyard was overrun with both male and female cardinals! They were zipping back and forth while also chirping loudly. I was astonished by how many there were and watched them fly around fast and free for several minutes. I stood quietly and fully embraced this magical moment with my comfort cardinals.

All these years later, cardinals are still special to me, as they represent my many loved ones who have passed. Cardinals have impacted my life greatly, as they are a symbol of God's constant comfort, presence, love and care for His children!

MY DAY WITH DADDY
In Memory of Robert Wayne Robbins

Franklinville, North Carolina

My daddy was confined to a hospital bed in his living room and dying from cancer. I was holding his hand and talking to him, although he could not respond with words. His bed had been placed in his favorite spot near a window. As I was sitting by my daddy's bedside, a red cardinal flew onto the bush located near the window. The cardinal looked in directly at me as if it had something to say. I did not think much about the encounter until later the same day when I saw another red cardinal walking in the grass just outside the front door of my daddy's work garage.

These two events caused me to pause, which soon led to me to research the meaning of red cardinals. I quickly learned they are embraced as spiritual messengers sent by loved ones in Heaven.

Just a few days later, my daddy passed.

Every time a red cardinal visits me, I know that God has sent it to remind me of my day with daddy and to let me know he will always be with me.

MY DO-OVER
In Memory of Several Family Members

Glen Gardner, New Jersey

I am currently in 8th grade and have been experiencing significant changes in my life due to the mandated quarantines related to the global pandemic, Covid-19. The year-end school events were cancelled which was beyond disappointing. In late March and early April of 2020, I lost four family members, three of which were due to Covid-19. This has been an extremely challenging and devastating time for my entire family.

The days continued to pass, and it is already the middle of May. I spent some time having graduation photos taken while wearing the red cap and gown sent to me by the school. Afterwards, I sat down at our kitchen table to do the new “digital signing” of friend’s yearbooks. Suddenly, a red cardinal walked up to the sliding glass door and looked at me. It began pecking on the window and after a few minutes, flew away, so I went back to signing the yearbooks.

This morning I woke up and was thinking about the red cardinal and had a strong feeling about looking up what their meaning is. I did a quick search on the internet, discovered their spiritual significance, and immediately started to cry. I told my mom about the cardinal visiting me and told her that I needed a “do-over.” My mom said that she hoped it would come back. I prayed to God for the red cardinal to visit me again and then went to my bedroom to watch a few YouTube videos.

I opened the blinds in my bedroom, hoping the cardinal might come back. I sat down and started to watch YouTube videos, but was unable to stop thinking about the cardinal. I left YouTube and did another search for the spiritual meaning of cardinals. This time, I found the Caring Cardinals® website the Page where people share their Cardinal Experiences. I began to read one of the stories and suddenly a beautiful red cardinal landed on my window ledge. I was in total shock this time! I got up slowly and placed my hand on the window, but it caused the cardinal to fly away into the woods. I went outside to get a closer look, but it flew further away and high up into the sky. I said “goodbye” to the little redbird and began to pray, asking God to thank the angel who visited me. I also said aloud, “Whoever that was, I miss you and love you so very much!”

I am incredibly grateful for my “do-over” as it gave me the chance to appreciate the red cardinal’s presence as much as it deserved.

MY FATHER’S FLOCK
In Memory of Roman Vos

Butner, North Carolina

On May 15, 2016, my dear father passed away at four in the morning from Lung Cancer. During that morning, the hospice nurse was there and shortly afterwards he was transported to the funeral home for cremation.

Later in the afternoon, a flock of cardinals rested on a tree in the front of our home. They were there just momentarily, but of course their presence did not go unnoticed. There were several cardinals, just too many to count. I had never witnessed this before myself but heard others describe the very same thing. It was such a special and beautiful moment.

My father was quite the bird enthusiast, so I believe his memory was being honored by the cardinals or he was telling us through them that he was alright, and we should carry on as usual.

MY FLYING CAR-DINAL
In Memory of My Grandma

Kansas City, Missouri

Early in the morning on a Saturday, I drove to my mother’s home to take her grocery shopping. As I pulled into her driveway, I was thinking about my grandma who had also lived there but passed away about 12 years ago. Suddenly a bold red cardinal flew straight toward the driver side window, looked at me and then flew over the hood of my car. I sat there for several minutes and just cried. I had been thinking a lot about my grandma over the past few weeks and was missing her terribly.

Seeing the beautiful cardinal was so unexpected and certainly made me think about my late grandma. I feel so blessed and will never forget this special moment with my flying car-dinal.

MY GIFT FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of Martin Heit

Long Island, New York

The Covid-19 Pandemic has made everyday life challenging for everyone, my family included. There are no words to describe the emotional grief and toll we have also endured over the past two months.

My Father, Martin Heit, was the kindest, most brilliant man any of us will ever know. In April of 2020, he passed unexpectedly after a new cancer treatment went awry, along with other contributing factors.

To say the world has lost immense knowledge would be an understatement. My father was nearly 90 years old and he was feeling perfectly fine just one week prior to his passing. He was talking about painting with his grandsons, spoke about my Mom (his wife of 68 years) and even his views on the pandemic and economy. He felt it would take many more months before things returned to normal. He said that he believed there will be a vaccine, just like there was for Smallpox. At the end of our long telephone call he said, “Okay, Maddy…Gonna hang up now.” After hanging up, I smiled and walked away. There was just so much love from this father to his daughter.

My father was no ordinary man. He was an inventor, a history buff, an artist, a Korean War veteran, had been a private pilot, photographic engineer and so much more. To us, he was superhuman, so it was with such overwhelming sadness that he was gone.

Fast forward to his birthday, which was July 4th. My family was to have gotten together, and I was trying my best to make it through the day. We had all been looking forward to celebrating his 90th, a birthday he so deserved to see. I even purchased a birthday balloon; a little something in his honor. As it was to have been his most special day, I felt completely depleted due to many tears. My husband and I happened to be out driving that July 4th, when the most beautiful red cardinal appeared, so we pulled over and stopped the car. We were blessed with this beautiful moment two months after my father passed.

I never expected a spiritual visitor and the cardinal turned out to be my gift from Heaven. I believe my father wanted to let me know that everything is alright now. I am so grateful for the small wonder of nature that gave me hope and shined a light when I thought there was none. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that I experienced my father’s spirit that day. My husband feels the very same way. I want to bless this beautiful and sweet spiritual messenger bird, who will hopefully visit me again someday.

MY GRANDPARENTS GREETING
In Memory of Rita and Luther Thompson

Omaha, Nebraska

While helping my parents move everything out of the house that my beloved grandparents had lived in, I decided to work in the garden. I had just finished splitting some of my grandma's beautiful peonies so that we could transplant them at my parents' new home. While standing in the garden next to my grandma's statue of Mary, we discussed the best way to get it into the car as it was extremely heavy. Suddenly, a beautiful female cardinal flew so close to my head that I had to duck out of the way. I looked up and there was a male cardinal in the tree to my right and the female cardinal landed on a tree branch to my left. Both beautiful birds were less than six feet away. This was such an incredible moment that left me feeling as though my grandparents were saying hello.

MY KEVIN CARDINAL
In Memory of Kevin Jeffrey Clark

Maxton, North Carolina

I had the pleasure of loving a wonderful man named Kevin Clark. We were childhood boyfriend and girlfriend, and later got back together as grownups after Kevin's sweet mother Virginia passed. We loved each other dearly and always. We were together for 13 years until one morning Kevin's liver had failed. He was hospitalized and on life support for five days and passed on Mother’s Day in 2014 of liver failure.

I knew that my life would never be the same. I miss him dearly every day. As the one-year anniversary of my dear Kevin's passing approached, I started to notice a beautiful red cardinal in my yard and on my car. It visited me every day, early in the morning and late in the afternoon. The cardinal would rest in my trees, on my porch and occasionally at my side. I named it My Kevin Cardinal and talked to it often, because I am familiar with the spiritual meaning of the cardinal.

Six years have now passed, and my Kevin Cardinal is still here with me. I will never believe anything other than this is my Kevin looking, speaking, and watching over me. I look forward to seeing the cardinal every day, as it is a constant and beautiful reminder that my Kevin will always be with me.

MY LOVE
In Memory of David Murray

Des Moines, Iowa

My husband passed away on February 3 in 2017. Shortly thereafter, I sold my home and moved into an apartment in Des Moines. I had so many "visits" and dreams of him during the second year after his death, and they always provided me with strength. For some unknown reason, I stopped receiving the signs. I began to pray daily, asking him to visit or show me a special sign, but nothing happened.

Early one morning while saying my rosary, I noticed a bird near my balcony. The bird was repeatedly flying from one end to the other. It finally landed near my window, which enabled me to see that it was a female cardinal. I embraced the moment as a special sign from my loving husband who wanted to visit me in a unique way.

A few days later, I looked outside and noticed a spectacular red cardinal resting within the branches of a tree in full bloom. It seemed like it was resting there forever. I was completely mesmerized and unable to take my eyes off the cardinal. I even caught myself talking to it. While looking directly into the cardinal’s eyes, I asked, "Is that you, my love?”

In my heart, I know it was him. I felt it. I still look for the red cardinals often. I miss my husband very much, but now realize he will always be with me, just in many different ways.

MY MOLTING MESSENGER
In Memory of My Beloved Son and Daughter

Oak Ridge, Tennesee

I have a ground level patio in front of my house with a small garden. In 2019, I started to throw shelled peanuts into my garden for the birds. It is so enjoyable to watch the colorful variety of birds that come by for their daily treat.

One day I noticed a red cardinal that was chirping and seemed to be intentionally looking in my direction. I started talking to it and eventually, the cardinal flew over and landed on my outdoor table! This red cardinal became one of my absolute favorite daily visitors.

In late summer, my sweet little red friend lost his feathers and became very distinguishable due to a small area above his wing. This little patch never filled in with full feathers, so I always recognize when my molting messenger is nearby. It was such a delight to see him during the winter months!

It is now April and I have seen him every day this spring. This funny little redbird is really making me laugh with its territorial behavior.
It challenges all comers, especially any other cardinal. I often observe it chasing other birds with its head held low and wings extended widely! Once the area has been cleared, it moves around and flutters in my direction.

For several weeks, I left five peanuts on my outdoor table before going back inside. Once returning outside, I noticed that my little red friend had already enjoyed a couple of them. Any time I forgot to leave out the peanuts, “Mr. Hungrybird” would attack the container. Therefore, I am now very diligent with my routine of leaving out exactly five peanuts every day.

This handsome red cardinal is my molting messenger, and I am so grateful for the pure joy it gives me every day and throughout each season!

MY MOTHER’S MESSAGE
In Memory of Maria Magdalena

Winter Park, Florida

My mom passed a few days ago and I was not able to say goodbye. I have been feeling so guilty about not taking care of her, but she lived in Puerto Rico and I live in Florida.

Today I was looking outside from my balcony while crying. Suddenly, a beautiful red cardinal appeared, and I immediately thought about my mom. The cardinal appeared again later that afternoon.

I believe my mother wanted me to know that she is alright, and she is not suffering anymore. I sensed that she wants me to be strong and happy. I felt such immense comfort when the cardinal visited that I am planning to get a red cardinal tattoo!

I feel so blessed by the little visitor from Heaven and truly believe it was my mother!

MY MOTHER’S MESSENGER
In Memory of Anita Perlmutter

Houston, Texas

I worked in sales for a major website, and fortunately, they allowed me to work from home. My mother was living in New York and had just turned 90 in April. She was diagnosed with Dementia and was unable to live alone, so I moved her in with me in Texas so that I could care for her. We spent the next 2 1/2 lovely years together.

My mom’s Dementia worsened; she was barely able to speak and could no longer stand up. I made the difficult decision to place her into a nursing home where she lived for the last six months of her life. I visited my mom every two days. During my last visit on a Wednesday, she was not eating nor drinking which made me very worried. At the end of my visit, I kissed her forehead and whispered, “Ma I love you.” I left and had planned to visit her on Mother's Day with a special card.

Two days later, I was working at my desk which faced my front window. Suddenly I heard a loud banging on the window. I immediately looked up and observed a red cardinal grabbing onto the outside edge of the window. The bird was repeatedly banging onto the glass as if it were trying to tell me something. The cardinal had an angry expression on its face that haunted me. I had never seen a bird grab onto the window and act like that.

A few hours later I received a call from the nursing home that my mother was on her last breath and come quickly. When I arrived, she had already passed. I returned home, contacted my employer, and they gave me the day off. On this same day, I observed a young boy across the street (who I had never seen before) outside and playing a flute. This was the first and only day I ever saw and heard him play.

I had never heard about the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals until someone mentioned it to me. Over time, I started to hear more and more stories about other people’s Cardinal Experiences. I am bewildered and awe struck from what I experienced today with the red cardinal.

My mom was buried here in Houston while holding her Mother’s Day card and a rose. God bless you mom. Thank you for helping me so many times throughout my life. I miss you so much.

MY NEIRO
In Memory of Neiro

Belle Rose, Louisiana

My pet was recently attacked by a neighbor’s big dog, required surgery, returned home after six days in the hospital, but never made it through the night. Sadly, he died in my arms on the way to the hospital. The next day I drove home and was greeted by a gorgeous red cardinal resting on a tree branch. I knew instantly that it was my beloved Neiro letting me know that he crossed the rainbow bridge, and he was alright.

MY PROTECTOR
In Memory of Mooque Bishop

Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey

On November 6, 2020, my oldest son passed unexpectedly at age 33 from a pulmonary embolism.

Today while sitting on my porch and thinking about my beloved son, I observed baby cardinals and blue jays near one of my trees. I then looked down and saw a beautiful red cardinal. I had never seen a cardinal with such vibrant red feathers! I reached in my pocket to grab my cell phone and captured a photograph. The cardinal remained still and waited, as if it knew I was taking its picture. A few seconds later, the cardinal flew away into the sky. I remained there quietly and felt such a strong sense of peace. I believe my son finally reached out to me. He wanted me to know that he was with me and that he will ALWAYS be my protector.

MY RARE BIRD
In Memory of Joshua Egloff

Austin, Texas

In June 2018, my 22-year old son died instantly in a car accident. Our family and friends were in complete shock. I began to learn more about my son through his many friends and realized what a "rare bird" he really was. To this day, our entire family along with his friends are still grieving his loss. Josh liked to stand out in a crowd and was known for making sure everyone noticed him. He was incredibly fun and not at all arrogant.

Last Christmas I was still suffering from intense grief, so I would often work on jigsaw puzzles to try and help my mind to focus. I was working on a Christmas scene puzzle which featured a red cardinal.
I began reading the puzzle box which provided a variety of Christian meanings behind cardinals, colors and more. It explained that red is for the blood that Jesus shed for us. I found it very interesting and special that red cardinals are embraced as heavenly visitors.

A few days later, I was working on it again. I decided to take a little break and looked out the window just as a white bird flew nearby.
I was speechless as it looked like a white cardinal! I wondered if white cardinals even existed. I really wanted to capture its photo but did not have a camera nearby and did not want to look away.

I did some research and discovered that white "albino" cardinals do exist! I learned that there are about 1 out of 1,800 and most are "partial albino" with hints of pink, just like the one I saw. I felt something so special and remember perking up with internal joy!

I know that my son is in Heaven, yet his spirit is still here with us and shows up every now and then. As I say, Josh was very confident and always liked to be different. Thank you, my sweet Joshua for being my "rare bird" and standing out to remind me that your spirit is still here. I love you to Heaven and back, your mama.

MY SAINT LOUIS CARDINALS
In Memory of William Bennett

Lilburn, Georgia

My amazing dad died after a rough battle with prostate cancer, which was also during the Covid-19 pandemic. My dad refused to go to the hospital because visitors were not allowed because of the pandemic restrictions. As a result, my mom took care of my dad until the very end. I stayed over and helped them as much as possible. Caring for my dad was incredibly difficult for all of us.

On the morning that my dad passed, I went outside for a few minutes to get some fresh air. Almost immediately I observed two bright red cardinals flying around and hanging out in the yard. In that moment, I had an overwhelming feeling the cardinals were somehow connected to my dad.

Cardinals have continued to appear ever since and each time, I have the same wonderful feeling. So often, a red cardinal will appear unexpectedly, and it always seems to be when my dad would have wanted to be there as well! I love and miss him so much and will always appreciate every moment that a beautiful red cardinal appears.

There is also an ironic reason as to why red cardinals are now so special to me. Ever since my dad was a little boy, his favorite sports franchise was the Saint Louis Cardinals!

MY SHADOW
In Memory of Shadow

Arlington, Texas

I had a dog named Shadow for 14 years that I adopted from a shelter when he was two years old. My Shadow was a gray Schnoodle and he was a perfectly behaved dog with soulful brown eyes. However, he was very old and sick, so I had to make an incredibly difficult decision to let him go so that he could truly rest in peace. We made his last day so special, part of which included giving him a delicious cheeseburger. Thankfully, Shadow crossed the Rainbow Bridge very peacefully.

I lost my other dog Bingo to a stroke less than a year later. One day while having a conversation with my sister, she shared with me something I had never heard before; the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals. Ever since, I have prayed that I would see two cardinals together as it would be so comforting to know that Shadow and Bingo were together and at peace. It has been countless years since I have seen a cardinal in my backyard, but I remained hopeful.

The world is presently fighting a global pandemic known as Covid-19. I am a teacher and now quarantined at my home due to the school closings. Yesterday in the early evening, I was sitting on my sofa near our sliding glass door. I had been working on my laptop but decided to take a little break. I looked outside and was admiring how beautiful and peaceful it was. In that very moment, two red cardinals flew up to the fence! I stared out the window with my eyes wide open in shock as one of the cardinals lingered for several minutes. Bingo was always silly and darting around so
I imagined he was the cardinal that quickly flew away. My Shadow had to be the one that lingered. My prayers were finally answered … Shadow and Bingo are together!

Later that evening, I opened my “photos app” and received a reminder that read: “On This Day Last Year - March 29, 2019” which also featured a photograph of me holding Shadow on his last day. I sat there speechless and could not believe the beautiful red cardinal came to visit me on the exact anniversary of my Shadow’s passing. It was just unbelievable and truly made my Cardinal Experience more meaningful than ever!

MY SON TOMMY
In Memory of Tommy Murray

Nashua, New Hampshire

Today was a particularly rough morning as it has only been 3 1/2 weeks since my son Tommy passed away. I visited his workplace for the very first time yesterday, which was a far more emotional experience than I had expected.

My emotions have lingered into today. This morning, I was waiting in my car outside of a mechanic’s shop to pick up my husband. I was overcome with grief and found myself sobbing, wondering if my son knew just how much I loved him. From what I understand, when a parent loses a child there is always a level of guilt associated with their death, whether it is justified or not. This is something I struggle with daily on top of the grief from losing my child.

I continued to cry most of the way home while desperately trying to think of a way to keep myself distracted the remainder of the day. Shortly after arriving home, my cats began going crazy at our sliding glass door. I walked over and expected to see a squirrel on the deck, but instead saw several birds flying around in the back yard. I live in a townhouse, so it’s very likely a neighbor threw out birdseed or a few pieces of bread. There were a variety of birds, two of which were vibrant red cardinals that were chasing each other.

I did not view this as a sign from my son Tommy because I have
seen these beautiful red cardinals previously on several occasions.
I continued watching the birds and then suddenly a little baby cardinal flew up and sat on a branch right above my deck! It was so tiny compared to the adult cardinals that were flying around. This sweet little cardinal sat facing my sliding glass door long enough for me to take several photographs, and then he flew away.

I believe it was my baby, my son Tommy, who still lovingly called me Mommy at 31 years old.

*This heartwarming story was shared by Tommy’s Mommy. Her sister also shared a wonderful story which is named My Tommy.

MY SON WILL ALWAYS SHINE
In Memory of Ryan David Ervin

Durant, Oklahoma

One day in the early afternoon, I walked into our backyard to refill our bird feeder. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining so brightly. While walking toward the bird feeder, I observed a bird resting on the grass. Once closer, I discovered it was a beautiful red cardinal. It did not move or fly away, so I carefully picked him up to make sure he was not injured. My husband captured a photograph because I felt nobody would believe I had an opportunity to hold a northern cardinal. I gently placed the cardinal back down onto the grass and sat down next to him. He remained just a few inches away from my feet for the next 40 minutes before flying off into the bright blue sky.

Red cardinals are very special to me because nineteen years ago, I lost my son when he was only eight years old. He had made a birdhouse out of a milk jug, and a male cardinal was the first bird to land inside of it.

This was the most magical blessing I have ever experienced. I believe this was my son letting me know that everything was going to be alright and he will always be with me.

MY SOULMATE
In Memory of Karen L. Howard

Gilman, Illinois

My Wife, who was my soulmate, passed away on March 16, 2022. Her death has devastated me, and I have felt completely lost ever since.

Today, May 21, 2022, I walked into our kitchen and looked outside through one of the windows. I stood motionless as my eyes fell upon a gorgeous red cardinal resting on the frame of our patio swing that my wife loved so much! The cardinal looked directly at me for a few minutes and then flew off into the trees in our backyard.

I truly believe this special moment was a visit from my beloved wife who wanted to tell me that she is alright and will be waiting on the other side for me when I pass on. I am not normally a believer of spiritual signs from Heaven, but this Cardinal Experience felt so real. I had an overwhelming sense that it was my beautiful wife telling me "I am alright; please live your life and I will be in Heaven awaiting you when your time on Earth is through”.

MY SWEET PAPA
In Memory of Leo Hobbs

Gassville, Arkansas

I am so blessed to still see and feel the presence of my beloved papa after his passing. Every day, the same bold red cardinal rests on my bird feeder and looks directly at me as if to say hello and to let me know he will always be with me.
It always gives me joy to quietly observe the cardinal, even when it flies out of sight.

Bryson misses you too. Love you, papa.

MY THIRD BLESSING
In Memory of Zane Trachta

Bridgeport, Texas

On December 15, 2022, I lost my youngest son Zane in a car accident. As a mother this was my worst nightmare, which I prayed to never endure.

Zane’s funeral was on December 21st. Our family and friends joined together in a beautiful church to honor Zane’s memory and say our goodbyes. Upon returning home, I received a text message and photo from my oldest brother. The message explained that his Game Cam captured a photo at 3:33pm on December 15th, which was very close to the time of my son’s passing. The photo revealed a gorgeous red cardinal flying while looking directly into the Game Cam. This was just unbelievable to me, and I was overwhelmed with emotion. The date and time gave me no doubts that Zane was telling me he was safe and at peace.

The cardinal image was captured at 3:33pm. I was born in Anchorage, Alaska at 3:33pm. The number 3 has always been my lucky number. I have 3 sons and Zane was my 3rd son. All my sons have known that the number 3 has been special to me, so this was a beautiful way for Zane to communicate with me, and to reassure me that he is truly at peace.

The Game Cam captured the most beautiful photo I have ever seen, and I love that the cardinal is looking directly into the camera. God is so good, and my heart is filled with peace, because I know He will take care of him for me until I am up there to wrap my arms around him again one day.

MY TOMMY
In Memory of Tommy Murray

Dracut, Massachusetts

I lost Tommy just three weeks ago. My pain, sadness, and emptiness are still so very fresh and raw. Tommy is my godson and nephew, but he has always felt like the son I never had. He is my sister’s son and my parents’ grandson, but in all honestly, he is a son to our entire family. As you can tell by my words, I am not yet ready to speak of Tommy in the past tense.

A few days ago, my father found an unopened Christmas card in Tommy’s nightstand and it was addressed to “Auntie Dee” which is me. As I held the card close to my chest while sitting at my parents’ kitchen table, I closed my eyes and was thinking about Tommy. I fought an onslaught of tears and was not at all ready to open the
card. For some reason I glanced up and looked outside through a small kitchen window. Suddenly, a vibrant red cardinal fluttered by, just long enough to catch my eye. I quickly jumped up and pulled my parents along to look outside through the kitchen window … and there it was. A stunning red cardinal was walking among the twigs and branches in the backyard!

My Tommy came to us in a time of need just three short weeks after his “resting.”
My parents were not familiar with the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals, so I did my best to define a Cardinal Experience. Truth be told, prior to this experience, I was not a believer in Cardinal Experiences, but MY TOMMY came through and here I am!

Thank you, Tommy, for giving us this gift. I love you, bud!

*This heartwarming story was shared by Tommy’s loving aunt. Tommy’s mother also shared a wonderful story which is titled “My Son Tommy.”

MY WINDOW WATCHER
In Memory of Douglas Judge Sr.

Scranton, Pennsylvania

My dad always loved bird watching, and his favorite birds were northern cardinals.
He often said to me that when he was no longer here on earth with me, I would never wonder if he was watching over us from Heaven.

My dad had a life-saving surgery on November 1, 2017 to repair an abdominal
aortic aneurysm. The surgery was successful, but he never seemed to regain strength. On December 16, 2017 he was admitted to the ICU in a Philadelphia hospital where he had another surgery performed. He had developed serious infections in the artery and for the next 29 days fought hard to recover, but he lost
his fight on January 14, 2018. While he was fighting to recover after the December surgery, my siblings and I traveled three hours almost daily to be with him. We also wanted to make sure my mom was by his side as well.

It was a Sunday morning when I stood by my dad’s bedside and held his hand as he took his last breath. I left the hospital for the last time and drove home while holding my mom's hand the entire way.

Two days passed by and I woke up in the morning with my first anxiety attack. I had no idea what was happening at the time. I had no control over my emotions, was unable to stop shaking, had difficulty breathing, and felt extremely scared. The only thing I could do was pray. I prayed for God to send me a spiritual sign that my dad was with me. A couple minutes later, I heard the beautiful sound of a bird singing and looked outside my window. My eyes feel upon a bright red cardinal that was resting on the bracket of our awning. I remained still while the cardinal looked directly at me! In that very moment, I knew without any doubt that my dad will always be with me.

NANA’S VISIT
In Memory of Roberta Marie Davis

Augusta, Georgia

My daughter Roberta was at her house with her husband and one
of their grandsons when suddenly a red cardinal appeared at their front door. The cardinal was looking through the screen door as if it wanted to go inside her home. She called out to her husband and grandson so that they could see the cardinal. While they all stood quietly watching, she told them the cardinal was her beloved Nana visiting. My grandson spoke to his great grandma for a few minutes before she flew away.

This was not the first time my daughter observed the cardinal on
her front porch, but it was a new experience for her husband and grandson. This made my daughter extremely happy that she was able to share this beautiful moment with them.

NANNY’S SONG
In Memory of Gert McGrath

Lee’s Summit, Missouri

Earlier this week I lost my grandma and the last few days have been
harder than expected. I was feeling badly and began hoping for a spiritual sign from Heaven. A few minutes later, a female cardinal landed on my front porch and began to chirp, and it sounded like a beautiful song.
This incredible moment that I experienced today helped me tremendously. This was the exact type of sign that I needed from my grandma!

NATURE’S BEAUTY
In Memory of Chuck Ward

Fort White, Florida

My dad passed in August of 2018 from a rare and aggressive form of dementia. This dementia took my dad from a completely independent and capable individual to being fully dependent and needing 24-hour care within only one year’s time. My father passed in just under 2 years after his diagnosis. We did not even have a formal diagnosis until 4 months prior to his death. Most of those two years were spent in a whirlwind of complete chaos and confusion. Every day I struggled knowing that we were not facing Alzheimer’s, but it was similar as he was forgetting executive function, not people. What was happening to him, and why was it was happening so rapidly are questions that haunted me daily.

After my father’s passing, I went through a complete spiritual overhaul with my grief. I learned much during that timeframe and am still learning so much even today. My dad has sent me several undeniable spiritual signs beginning two days after his death. While my ego tried to explain them away, my heart knows them for what they really are.

In August of 2020, I was diagnosed with cancer. I had surgery that month but six weeks later, there were already new growths at the surgical site. My care team decided to take a “watch and wait” approach, against my wishes, and planned to reevaluate six months from my six week follow up, which is scheduled on June 8th. During this period of waiting, I feel the tumor growing and my symptoms have returned. This is where things get complex…

Over the past few weeks, I have frequently observed a red cardinal near my home. The cardinal often exchanges whistles back and forth with me. Up until now, I have been blind to the beauty of nature. I feel as though there was something very unusual, special, and significant about this cardinal and its interaction with me. I thought of my dad instantly after forming this cardinal connection but did not know if there was meaning behind it.

While shopping one day, a woman approached me claiming to be a medium. She told me that my dad was coming through to her with an urgent message for me. She said that I should not accept the care plan given for my cancer. She told me I was sick and that deep in my heart, I knew that. She insisted that my dad was saying to get a second opinion. This message came from a place of concern and love, which motivated me to start looking into it.

Over the past month I have had four complete strangers reach out to me with messages from my dad. It has been mind-blowing to say the least. As a result of these experiences, I scheduled an appointment with a professional medium. Once again, my ego was getting in the way and trying to explain away these completely random events.

During my session, the medium asked me if I had had any experiences with a cardinal lately and I sat there in complete shock. That very day I had captured an incredible video of my beautiful cardinal exchanging chirps with me. She told me that my dad was with me and planned to stay with me, knowing that I need him right now. The medium’s mention of a cardinal would have been far less significant if I was still out of tune with nature.

This new connection to nature has been present for only a week. The interaction between the cardinal and myself has already had a profound impact on me, both spiritually and emotionally. This is the reason it gave incredible meaning to the cardinal being mentioned by the medium.

I am choosing to take all the other incidents more seriously. I am actively seeking a second opinion regarding my cancer. While I will still go to my appointment on June 8th, I intend on having a “Plan B” in place, regardless.

All in all, I believe that I will be alright in the end. I have my dad and the beautiful cardinal to thank for I had lost all faith regarding my health care team and was tired of fighting them. Years down the road, I will get to watch my kids meet major milestones in life. I will never stop thanking my dad and the striking red cardinal for lending me the opportunity.

As I sit here writing all of this, the beautiful cardinal is in the tree next to me happily singing away. Nature’s beauty is beyond measure.

NEST OF LOVE
In Memory of Ronald Lee Duvall

Ocala, Florida

My father’s passing was one of the hardest experiences I’ve endured so far in my lifetime. I have faith and consider myself a Christian, but after watching my father die, I’ve wondered if my dad went to Heaven. I found myself wondering if my dad can he hear me when I talk to him and is he always nearby.

It is true that over time, the loss of my father became a little more bearable. I am not as depressed, but I still think about him and miss him every day. Sometimes I hear a song or smell a scent that reminds me of him, which causes me to burst into tears.

A few weeks ago, I was sitting on my patio having coffee and I noticed a female cardinal building her nest in a shrub that was just five feet away. Each morning during coffee time, I watched her bring bits and pieces to build a nest. Soon after, the beautiful female cardinal laid three light blue speckled, eggs. The mother bird sat on her eggs daily and less than two weeks later, two of the eggs hatched. I was able to capture photos of the eggs and nestlings each day! Finally, the third egg hatched, revealing three freakishly, yet adorable, newborn cardinal nestlings. The male cardinal joined its mate and helped feed their babies.

One day while observing the cardinal family, I remembered that cardinals appear when our Angels are nearby. I did not understand why an entire cardinal family was brought to me, but then it dawned on me that my mother and father had three kids,
me being the middle child.

Each new day I peeked into the shrub and captured a photo of the cardinal nestlings.
I was careful to not touch anything to ensure the baby birds would continue to be cared for by their parents. One of the babies stood out from the other two; it was always awake and had its mouth open, ready to be fed. This same cardinal grew a little faster as well.

Today the fledglings left their nest! I watched mom and dad dance around the shrub on the ground as if to say, “It’s alright to come out now!” The fledgling that was the most eager moved to the back of the shrub, sat on a branch, and looked directly at me. This adorable fledgling did not flinch when I slowly walked closer to say hello.
I continued talking to the baby cardinal in a soft voice while it stared at me. The other two fledglings made their way down and out of the bush. Meanwhile, I continued talking to the third baby cardinal and it was even chirping back at me. This was the most beautiful gift I have ever witnessed in my life!

I decided to look up the meaning of cardinals and found the CARING CARDINALS® website. If the spiritual symbolism of cardinals is true, I believe that my dad is still with me. It was truly amazing to observe each moment in nature with the cardinal family.
I love that not one of the birds ever seemed fearful when I was nearby. I truly believe this was a sign from my dad to let me know he is always near and still feels my love!

NESTING IN PEACE
In Memory of Randall Franklin Register

Singer Island, Florida

I have been fortunate enough to have the same pair of cardinals building nests all around my property for a few years now. During the first year, our landscapers accidentally cut down one of the nests that was holding nestlings. I brought them inside and cared for them even though my boyfriend is frightened of birds.

The following year, the cardinals built their nest directly behind our fence. It was in an area that I often like to sit outside on a beautiful day.

This year they built their nest in my Gardenia bush. Fortunately, the nest is located at eye level which allows me to observe the nest from a distance and capture photographs. I feel so privileged for the opportunity to watch the cardinal babies grow!

I have three Chihuahuas and believe they made the nest inside the Gardenia bush for a reason! My dogs roam freely in the yard and will therefore keep predators away, such as cats and possum.

When I see a red cardinal, it reminds me of my late father who was murdered when I was only eight years old. I never knew him due to an unfortunate situation with my mother who died unexpectedly.

I recently had a near death experience and the biggest was when I contracted double pneumococcal pneumonia. I was put on a ventilator for eight days and my family was told that it was unlikely I would make it through the first night. I remember seeing my mother, my spirit guide, and even Jesus himself. My mother was shaking me while I was on the floor of an ambulance and saying, “It is not time! It is not your time yet! Wake up!” The spirit guide was a black wolf with yellow fiery eyes, and it led me through tall wet grass under a fence to help me escape. I fought hard and thankfully survived.

Seeing the cardinals provides ongoing, peaceful reminders of my parents and grandparents who are all in Heaven. I feel so incredibly blessed that this cardinal pair chose my property and it gives me such joy to see them nesting in peace.

NEVER ALONE
In Memory of Amy Hagiwara

Mililani, Hawaii

My sister Amy passed in 1997 when she was just 10 years old. She had suffered brain damage due to a virus when she was a baby, and even though she was 10 years old when she died, she was still basically a baby developmentally. We always knew she would have a shortened life span due to her brain damage, but her sudden death while sleeping was completely unexpected. I was only 14 years old when Amy passed.

Shortly after her death, a red cardinal took up residence in a tree outside of our home. My parents and I were not familiar with the spiritual significance of red cardinals at the time, but we instinctively knew Amy must have sent the beautiful bird to us. Red cardinals have continued to return every year, and to this day I can identify their call.

I now have my own home which is just a few miles from where my parents live. After a few years, red cardinals eventually found me at my new home as well. Amy has even branched out by sending me other red cardinal "signs" including a crossword clue and answer, a postcard of a red cardinal appearing directly in my field of vision at a gift shop, and even sent a red cardinal to my reiki master's dream to use him for passing along a message to me! She also sent a red cardinal to me all the way to Sedona, Arizona when I was there for a spiritual retreat last year!

Amy always seems to send a red cardinal when I need spiritual support, and I always feel comforted by them. Each red cardinal is a beautiful reminder that even when I feel alone, I am not. I feel so blessed to have Amy and so many other loved ones who provide me with ongoing support from the other side.

NEW BEGINNINGS
In Memory of Covid-19 Victims

Hillsborough, North Carolina

This is not your usual Cardinal Experience, but I felt so compelled to share it and hope it provides you with peace and the hope of new beginnings!

My boyfriend and I have been dating for over a year now. He is from New Zealand and I and from the United States. On the day after Thanksgiving in 2020, his Visa expired, and he was forced to return home to New Zealand. He left with me not knowing when or if I would ever see him again.

He is a professional soccer player and we both waited patiently with the hope that he would be offered a contract here in the United States. Days and weeks turned into five months that passed without news, without a contract offer, and as it seemed, without hope.

I moved back home to be with my family. Each day apart from my boyfriend has had its fair share of uncertainty, lonely nights, sadness, and wondering when will this end. I decided to apply for a Visa to New Zealand a month ago but have yet to hear any news. Each day I present and leave my future in God’s hands.

Last night I had an unusual feeling that something good was going to happen. Much to my surprise, I received a letter from New Zealand Immigration stating that no decision had been made at that time, but they would make a formal decision within 15 days if I could provide them with additional documentation. While it was not a “yes or no” it was finally something that filled me with hope that I might finally be reunited with the person I love most who is across countries and oceans.

This morning I prayed for discernment and direction. While standing in my driveway, I called my best friend to share the news with her and asked that she pray for me. She then asked me, “Do you feel peace about your situation?” I paused and suddenly, a bright, beautiful, red cardinal landed on my fence directly in front of me.
I remained silent and it then flew right in front of me. I then simply responded to her with “yes.” The entire time I was on the phone, the cardinal was there. I felt so strongly that the Holy Spirit was near, and I knew that He was with me.

Since this magical moment, I have learned that red cardinals are symbolic of new beginnings and they are also spiritual messengers sent by loved ones in Heaven. At this time, it is still unknown to me whether I will receive the Visa and be reunited with the love of my life. We have been separated by oceans, countries, closed borders, and a global pandemic. Hope and Faith remain in my heart that He will bless me with a new beginning. I felt a strong need to share my story and reassure others that they are not alone, no matter what they are going through during this incredibly challenging pandemic. God’s plans are perfect, and I am praying that you will be blessed with your own Cardinal Experience just as I received mine. I know He is near, He is working, He is present, and He is with you.

NEW PATH OF LIFE
In Memory of Maybelline, Marguerite, Dottie and children, Shirley and Floki,
and all my fur babies

Carthage, North Carolina

I lived in a camper with several pets for two years but had to move in with my parents after my father suffered a stroke. I felt heartbroken to leave behind my pets and little haven. Tragedy struck and my animals disappeared. For the following three years I was unable to go back into my camper.

I was in a relationship with a wonderful man for five years, but for some reason, things felt off. I recently met a man who wanted to purchase my camper, and every time he would stop by, a red cardinal would land on one of the windows. Also, each time I went to my camper, a red cardinal would be in the yard. Prior to these sightings, I always felt a dark cloud glooming over me. Ever since meeting this new, wonderful man, a red cardinal would appear during each of his visits, and I felt my sorrow disappear. I never believed in spiritual signs, but he explained to me that the red cardinal was a spiritual sign from Heaven.

Perhaps this seems insignificant to those who have lost human loved ones, but my pets were my children and they provided me with immense comfort. My greatest sorrow was losing them, and I had experienced such overwhelming sadness with their absence each time I went back to my little haven.

Maybe God chose a different path for me through this new person, as I have recently learned that red cardinals are also signs of a complete and monogamous relationship. I believe that God and my fur babies in Heaven are telling me it is alright to let go and be happy on my new path of life.

NOT SO CAMERA SHY
In Memory of Cheryl Stout and Angie Davidson

Harrisburg, Illinois

Early one morning around 5 am, I heard the strangest noise coming from the direction of a window located toward the back of my house. I wondered what the sound was while walking in that direction. As I looked outside, there was a bright red cardinal trying to get closer to the window while releasing a high-pitched sound!

A few days later, I heard the same sound and immediately knew it was one of two angels – my mother or my sister. I quickly walked over to the window and there were two red cardinals trying desperately to get my attention. My heart smiled so big.

About a week later, I received a “movement” notification from the security camera that monitors the front of my home. I immediately checked the footage and on my front porch were two red cardinals, chirping loudly and taking turns flying into the camera! I felt incredibly loved and so happy at how relentless they were with their efforts to get my attention.

I have daily conversations with my mother and sister. I even had a dream last night about my sister and she looked so beautiful. I woke up this morning and both red cardinals were on my front porch, once again alternating their flight patterns into the camera and chirping very loudly. I think it is safe to say that my mother and sister are not so camera shy, which leaves me feeling very blessed!

NURTURED BY NATURE
In Memory of Doug Campbell

Lansdale, Pennsylvania

Two days after my daughter got married, I was sitting at home when a baby bird flew into my sliding glass door. I looked out the window and observed a male and female cardinal were perched on the divider fence on my balcony, and quickly realized they were the fledgling’s parents. They must have been guiding and protecting their baby who was learning how to fly. The cardinal pair watched so devotedly and stood close as the fledgling attempted a couple more times to fly. Finally, it was strong enough to fly on its own.

My daughter’s father passed about four years ago. Observing the cardinal parents and fledgling felt as though this was a sweet message of nurturing and caring to show me that our daughter had taken wings of her own and had flown away strong and loved.

OUR ANGEL
In Memory of Annette Bryson

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

For the past two weeks, my sister-in-law Annette was hospitalized with COVID-19.

Annette was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes at age three. At the age of 60 and after a 2-year waiting period, Annette was finally gifted with a Kidney and Pancreas transplant. My wife Janet went to New Jersey after Annette’s surgery and provided three weeks of care and companionship during her recovery.

A few months later we received wonderful news from Annette that her doctor declared she was no longer diabetic! Annette was still required to take antirejection drugs which probably meant she was in a compromised state.

We became extremely concerned after hearing that she was hospitalized with the coronavirus. Two weeks had passed, and she was still in the hospital. One day we observed a female cardinal hovering outside and pecking at our window. Seconds later, we received a telephone call from a doctor in New Jersey who informed us that Annette’s organs were failing. A few days later, the female cardinal was again fluttering around our window. Immediately afterwards, we received a telephone call from a medical professional in New Jersey who informed us that Annette had just passed. It was April 24, 2020 when the Lord ended her suffering. The following morning, my wife walked downstairs and witnessed the same female cardinal resting on the window ledge and looking inside our home.

Perhaps we were unknowingly in touch with Annette or their late mother, Ma. We believe in our hearts it was the good Lord sending us a spiritual message to let us know that our angel, Annette is now resting peacefully.

OUR CHRISTMAS CARDINAL
In Memory of James Kuffel

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

My father passed away on Christmas Eve five years ago. Christmas was his favorite holiday and cardinals were his favorite bird. It is no surprise to me that his favorite color was red!

Around the time of his passing while we were at his home, there was a gorgeous red cardinal hanging around all by itself. I was so surprised when the cardinal allowed me to get close enough to capture its photograph and I will cherish those photos forever.

A couple months later, on Valentines’ Day, we held a Celebration of Life to honor my wonderful father. We went back to his home and there was another red cardinal. It was incredibly special to see another red cardinal because I had been looking for them since his passing but never saw one.

When you see a red cardinal, you can just feel when it is a loved one in Heaven visiting you. Other times it is just so incredibly peaceful to see a redbird in nature!

OUR LISA
In Memory of Lisa Sheridan

Saint Petersburg, Florida

I heard a bird singing outside in the morning shortly after hearing the news that a classmate from college had passed at the age of 45. The sound was filled with high notes and beautiful sounds. In that moment, the cardinal’s song caught my attention, causing my head to slowly turn and look through a small garage window. I walked towards the window, looked up and out towards the trees and there it was. I saw the bird. It was a bright red cardinal with its chest held out and was full of life. I believe the cardinal was Lisa or a spiritual message sent directly from her to exclaim, “Tell the others I’m OK. Look at me now!”

Institutionally, all I could do was raise my hand to touch the glass in acknowledgement that her message was received. I then sat down at my kitchen table and wrote this poem:

Redbird
This morning I heard you passed
I heard a birdsong
Sounding through the window
My hands touched the glass
There you were
Redbird
Bold and beautiful
Triumphant and jubilant
Our sweet bird of youth
Our Lisa
May sweetness always be in your heart
Now resting in the light

OUR LITTLE PETIRROJO
In Memory of Renato Chavez Garcia

Lima, Peru

My son Renato passed on the 13th day of April in 2017 at 19 years of age. Renato had been fighting a rare form of cancer for just over a year. One of my three sisters, Carmen, who lives in Texas, told me a story of a cardinal visiting her the day before he died. She was at her son’s school talking to the receptionist when she pointed and said, “Look behind you.” That was our first cardinal sighting. Carmen told me the story after I asked her to create a cardinal bookmark to give out as a favor for those attending Renato’s first month mass. The bookmark reads: “I might lose battles, but I will not lose my faith, nor the will to keep going with my God.”

As Catholics who live in Perú, it is customary to celebrate a loved one during a mass one month following their passing. While the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals is not commonly known here in Peru, I liked the idea of remembering Renato through cardinals from that point forward.

“Whenever you see me, I’ll remind you that I am fine.”

In the beginning it was just a beautiful little cardinal story, but cardinal visits soon became a beloved tradition for our entire family.

In April 2017, Carmen came to Lima for the funeral and was going to stay for just a few days, until a serendipitous incident changed her plans. On Friday, when it was time to go to the airport, she was unable to find her passport which would allow her to return to the United States. A couple days prior, she had given her carry-on bag to her daughter Alex to use because her bag was in no condition for traveling. (All I will say about this is that Alex has a mischievous cat! You can imagine the rest.)

Carmen looked everywhere but was unable to find her passport. She called Alex in Chicago and learned that it was indeed inside the carry-on bag. This was shocking as my sister is a little OCD and always checks the pockets whenever she empties her bags. She tried expediting shipping from Chicago, but it was impossible, so she had to apply for a temporary passport the following Monday.

Carmen offered to help me clean Renato’s room, which would not have happened had she flown back home as planned. That weekend my three sisters (Rossi, Betty, and Carmen) joined me and we put ourselves to work with cleaning Renato’s room. We spent the entire weekend together and even had some time to get ourselves pampered.

On Monday, I received a call from Carmen when she was leaving the consulate after picking up her passport. She asked me, “Pila, guess what I saw in the consulate!” I promptly answered, “The cardinal.” Carmen replied, “Yes, a little red cardinal flying from branch to branch and chirping loudly. It was such a happy cardinal!”

A couple of weeks later which was May that same year, a red cardinal appeared to my sister Betty when she opened her kitchen window. It was a loud bird call that sounded like a whistle. Betty ran and called her daughter Jessica, and both went outside to record the cardinal with their cell phones. The neighbors thought they were attempting to catch Pokémon!

We call the cardinal ‘petirrojo’ in Spanish. The ‘petirrojo’ continued to appear at family events such as the Baptism of my sister’s grandson who was born a few weeks after Renato died. It visited my older sister Rossi at her house when we had a family gathering and at my cousin Patty’s home on her birthday. It went to the beach to see little Luisma and appeared for Renato’s girlfriend on the streets of Lima. The ‘petirrojo’ even made it to Chicago to visit Alex and Nico at their new apartment.

A ‘petirrojo’ follows me on my long walk through the Olive Grove Park when I go to work. It is always flying and singing, making an obvious effort for me to notice it. A ‘petirrojo’ also shows up at a sports facility where I have a basketball league and where Renato used to be the referee.

During the current Covid-19 pandemic, it comes to the park in front of my mother’s house where I also live. Sometimes it visits with a friend and we would like to believe it is my father, whom Renato was close with.

When do we see cardinals in Lima, Peru with this frequency? Never. Lima’s climate is a desert with a polluted city. The cardinal’s appearance has also come along with so many other incredible things, like the flowers I received on Mother’s Day one month after Renato’s passing. They were delivered by a stranger with a big smile saying they are from someone who loves you very much. To this day, I have no idea who sent the flowers.

It may seem something overstated, but since Renato’s death, the cardinal has been with us at countless places and on numerous occasions. I feel the cardinal is my Renato’s soul and why I feel his presence. The cardinal always helps me to remember that I am not alone and that he will always be our little ‘petirrojo’ watching over us.

OUR PEACEFUL GOODBYE
In Memory of Ann E Fiordaliso

Brooklyn, New York

My mom was in the hospital due to an incident that occurred at her nursing facility. On May 17, 2020, my sister called me early in the morning and told me the hospital called. They had been attempting to reach her since the prior day and said we needed to get down there right away.

I immediately went outside to walk my dog before leaving. Moments later, a beautiful red cardinal appeared on the sidewalk just a few feet away from me. I stopped and it remained there while looking toward the ground. I wondered if it was a sign from my late father, urging me to get to the hospital quickly or if it was my mother saying goodbye.

When we arrived at the hospital, my mother was not alert and was in the active stage of dying. We said goodbye and thankfully do know that she heard us. My kids were also there and had an opportunity to see her. I gently expressed to my mom that she could rest now and be with dad. We wished her a heartfelt goodbye, then I whispered to her that it was alright for her to go. Just moments after my oldest daughter arrived in the room, the doctor came in and told us that my mother had passed. We felt such a true sense of peace knowing that my mom waited for all of us to say goodbye.

It is my now my belief that the cardinal I observed earlier that morning was my mom saying, “I will wait for your peaceful goodbye.”

OUR VIENNA
In Memory of Vienna

Doylestown, Pennsylvania

We recently lost our Doberman Pinscher Vienna. She was the love of our family's lives. She died this past Monday of lymphoma and was only 8 years old. Our sweet Vienna left us much too soon. We were, and still are, completely devastated.

Just last night, while my wife, daughter and I were watching television, we were also talking about our Vienna and how much we missed her. I expressed to my wife that I hope dogs go to Haven when they die, because I want to see our Vienna again someday. Less than a minute later, a beautiful female cardinal landed on our deck table in the backyard.

I immediately said to my daughter, “Did you just see that? It was a female cardinal!”

She acknowledged that she did see the female cardinal, then asked, "You know what seeing a cardinal means, don't you dad?"

I honestly had no idea and told her “no.”

She then said, “God sends a cardinal from Heaven to let you know that your loved one is alright.”

I did not believe it. My daughter said, "If you don't believe me, Google it.”

I immediately Googled the meaning of cardinal visits and was in complete shock to discover that they are in fact embraced as spiritual messengers sent by loved ones in Heaven. The shock I felt when learning this is still with me! My daughter was right.

I realize that the cardinal was not red, but it was still a beautiful female cardinal and we believe this was a spiritual sign sent by our Vienna from Heaven. We miss her terribly and are still devastated, but also have a true sense of faith knowing that our Vienna is alright.

OUR WORLD INCLUDES HEAVEN
In Memory of Barbara Ellen Johnson

Jackson, Mississippi

Many people believe that a red cardinal symbolizes a loved one who has passed away. Some also believe when you see one, you are being visited by your loved one in Heaven. My mom would say this quite often, but I never realized just how serious she was about her beliefs. She would often see a red cardinal and tell me it was her mother whom we called “Grandmere.”

After my mom passed away in March of 2016, I naturally looked for red cardinals in our yard. I saw several, but they did not make me feel any better. A few days after her passing, my wife and I arrived home after attending church. As we entered through our front door, a gorgeous red cardinal flew inside our home right along with us! Several minutes later, my wife was able to gently capture the sweet little redbird in a blanket. We captured a photograph and quickly released him outside.

I never claimed to understand everything in life, but this event made me realize that our world includes Heaven.

PAPPY’S PRESENCE
In Memory of William Cipra

Rilton, Pennsylvania

About 10 years ago I lost my grandfather, which was heartbreaking as he was my
best friend. We were inseparable. My grandfather called me his “Little Sweet Cheeks”. We always watched the birds together, and he taught me all about gardening and the outdoors.

Years ago, my grandfather told my father (his son) that I have a special talent for singing and he was going to help me show everyone. The first time I sang was at his funeral in honor of him. I now use singing as a special way to remain connected to my grandfather.

Cardinals have been one of the only things that have helped me while grieving.
I normally see cardinals while I am driving, but they also visit my home and rest in a tree or a bush. I miss my grandfather more than anything in the world and feel so grateful for every cardinal that crosses my path.

I have seen a cardinal every single day since losing my grandfather, but never paid attention to how much I was seeing them until recently. While taking my Driving Test,
a beautiful red cardinal landed on one of the barrels while I was parallel parking. In that moment, I knew that my grandfather was there watching over me. The cardinal rested on the barrel the entire time I parallel parked. I broke down into tears as I could feel his presence with me.

To this day, whenever a cardinal appears, I always say, “Thank you, Pappy; I know you are here.” Cardinals have truly helped me to get through many tough situations.
I will always be my grandfather’s “Little Sweet Cheeks” and he will always be my cardinal. I love you, Pappy!

PARENTAL BLESSING
In Memory of Janet W. Bussie and William H. Bussie Jr.

Fort Mill, South Carolina

My mom lost her battle with pancreatic cancer on March 19, 2018. I have truly struggled with my grief after losing her. On January 20, 2020, my dad had a massive heart and died.

I traveled from my father’s home in Charleston back to my home in Fort Mill. The day before my dad’s memorial service, I woke up and was overwhelmed with sadness. While crying uncontrollably, I asked for a sign to reassure me that my parents were alright and that my brother and I would be okay as well.

I walked outside to the backyard and was speechless, as there before me were several male and female cardinals resting on our fence! They showed no signs whatsoever of fearing my presence. One of the red cardinals flew over near me and landed on top of the grill. He stared at me for the longest time and I remained still while this incredible moment consumed my heart. Several minutes passed by before they flew away.

I have never seen so many cardinals together in my entire life.
I know that my mom and dad wanted to tell me they were alright
and that we would be okay too. Although I had prayed for a sign,
this was so unexpected and the most incredible parental blessing
I could ever imagine!

PARENTAL PEACE
In Memory of Darlene and Manuel Buck

Smyrna, Tennessee

I lost my father in May of 2011, and I lost my mother in March of 2020. Shortly before my father passed, we discussed and agreed that I should take care of my mother until he could do it again. My mother passed and a few days later, two beautiful cardinals appeared in our front yard. The cardinals returned every day for a week straight and then went along their way. I embraced the cardinal visits as a spiritual sign that mother and father are finally together again and are at peace in Heaven.

PASSENGER FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of Silvia Eberhardt

Winter Garden, Florida

One day I was loading my car which required several trips in and out of my house.

At the time, I was in tears from chronic pain that was brought on by my breast cancer treatments. I suffer every day with severe pain which is often unbearable. I walked outside and toward my car with the last load and climbed in. Much to my surprise, there was a passenger from Heaven inside my car! A red cardinal was resting on top of my dashboard. This cardinal was Heaven sent. I believe with all my heart that it was my mother trying to lift my spirits and she certainly did! My beloved mother came to say hello, to provide me with encouragement to never give up, and to show me that she will ALWAYS be with me!

PEACE AND JOY
In Memory of Alice McLafferty

Toronto, Canada

On September 27, 2020, my mom passed while both my sister and I were by her side. Our grief has been difficult at times, but I now have a sense of peace knowing that she is alright.

I have two daughters and my mom would often stop by our home just to catch up with us while sitting on our back deck. My mom was always a big part of our lives. A few days after my mom passed, I looked outside at our back deck and observed a vibrant red cardinal. The cardinal was looking inside my home directly at me and my daughter. This was the first time I had ever seen a cardinal back there, so this moment was extraordinary and left me in complete awe. After a few minutes, I felt deep in my heart that this could somehow be a spiritual sign from my mom.

The following day I looked outside and again observed the beautiful red cardinal on our back deck. After a few more unexpected visits from this unique bird, I decided to do a little research and soon discovered the spiritual connection and symbolism of red cardinals.

Not long after my Cardinal Experience, my sister received a gift from a friend -- lounging pants featuring red cardinals! We continue to receive little signs from red cardinals and each one warms our hearts. One of these “coincidences” is what led me to the Caring Cardinals® website. The same gorgeous red cardinal continues to appear on our back deck which even makes my daughters smile as they also understand what this special bird symbolizes.

My mom was not a huge animal lover, but she really did appreciate birds. I am currently looking at bird feeders to set up outside for our sweet little visitor. This red cardinal and the new discovery of its spiritual symbolism has provided me with an overwhelming sense of peace and joy as I now know that my mom is alright, and she will always be with us.

PEACE FROM PERCY
In Memory of Percy Lewis James

Bowie, Maryland

Today is May 1, 2020 and I am sitting here at my desk which is located near a double glass door. I heard a noise outside and looked toward the door. I noticed a red blur through the blinds on the door and quickly realized it was a red cardinal. This feisty little redbird was repeatedly flying into the door as if it wanted to come inside.

This was such a special moment for me because at the time, I was sitting quietly at my desk, not looking forward to getting properly dressed to attend a graveside service for one of my best friends, Percy James. At the most perfect time ever, I received peace from Percy through one of God’s most spectacular creatures, the cardinal.

As seniors, we became close friends when he was my liaison Deacon while I headed up the men’s ministry at our church. Percy and I talked almost every day about everything under the sun.

It was an extraordinarily beautiful moment when the red cardinal appeared as I was thinking about Percy. It seemed as though I could hear him saying to me, “Awww, man … It’s gonna be alright!”

I miss you already, Percy.

PEACEFUL BLESSINGS
In Memory of Kendall J. Forbey

Richmond, Virginia

This past Christmas Eve I was styling my daughter's hair when she noticed a bold red cardinal that was resting on my husband's truck. On Christmas Day, the cardinal was resting on my truck. The cardinal has continued to hang around our trucks every day ever since. The most recent time I saw him was on January 15, 2022. I believe with all my heart that the cardinal is a spiritual messenger sent by my son in Heaven whom I lost to gun violence just six months ago. Kendall was only 28 years old. This vibrant red cardinal is such a peaceful blessing, and it truly comforts my soul to watch him for hours on end.

PEACEFUL HEART
In Memory of Art and Anne Blose

Prospect Park, Pennsylvania

During the summer of 2021 my parents passed away within just two months of each other. Losing my parents within such a short period of time was completely devastating.

I’ve read stories about people communicating with their Angels in Heaven through dreams and other ways, but I have never experienced anything like that. I have not
felt their presence in my house, nor have I ever walked into a room and smelled their scent. For the longest time, I believed that when my parents passed, they were just gone. I thought they moved on to the next world and I would never feel their presence again.

I have known for a while that cardinals are embraced as spiritual messengers from Heaven. I remember seeing a cardinal or two occasionally last year, but my grief prevented me from understanding the significance of their visits. I did a little more research on cardinals and started to feel that whenever I saw a red cardinal, it was my dad checking on me. My parents have a beautiful bush that looks like a tree next to their back steps. Whenever I would see the red cardinal, it was in this bush. I always smiled at the red cardinal, said hello, and would tell him how much I missed him. During these special moments, I felt completely at peace. Over time I realized that it was only the male cardinal visiting, which made me wonder if my parents were together.

For the past few weeks, I have seen a red cardinal in the bush at least once a week. Today was different! As I watched my dogs playing outside, two cardinals landed in the bush, and I swear they were looking right at me. One cardinal was a beautiful, brilliant red with a black mask. The other cardinal was smaller, mostly brown with hints of red on its wing and tail feathers and had a black mask. My mouth dropped and I was breathless. I knew this had to be a male and female cardinal. The cardinal pair looked at me and I looked right back at them. I immediately started sobbing, but happily. I truly believe it was my mom and dad. This incredible moment brought such peace to my heart and was one of the best experiences in my life.

After almost two years of searching for spiritual signs, I now finally know for certain that my mom and dad are together and will always be watching over me.

PEACEFUL PARENTS
In Memory of Verna and Alden Wold

Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

Today is May 10, 2020, the first Mother’s Day to celebrate during the global pandemic, COVID-19. The temperature outside is unusually cold and the skies are a dull gray. Normally I purchase beautiful flowers today and hang them out on my patio as a special way to honor the memory of my late mother. Sadly, I was unable to carry out my tradition due to the stay-at-home orders.

I had pebbles engraved with the names and birth dates of my loved ones in Heaven, which I always display on their birthdays and special occasions. Today I placed each pebble on my bookcase and sat down with my iPad to type a note to a friend. Suddenly, I felt a “presence” on my left side. I look up and over toward a window that was about six feet away. I immediately observed a beautiful red cardinal. It hopped up onto the window ledge, peered inside and looked directly at me. We were looking eye to eye for at least 15 seconds with the glass as our only barrier. I quietly whispered, “Thank you. I hear you.” The cardinal was not at all startled when I spoke. It continued to look at me and then flew away.

This beautiful moment has reassured me more than ever that my parents are at peace.

PEACEFUL PASSING
In Memory of Linda Pepin

Westminster, Maryland

I am a veterinarian and was performing a difficult euthanasia under her favorite tree for an elderly dog with each owner present. Right at the most stressful moment, a red cardinal began to sing and continued to sing until the pet passed peacefully on to the next realm. My beloved mother always asked me about my veterinary house calls when we talked. I believe my mother was present that day to calm me down and reassure me that everything would be alright. I am so grateful she was there to make it such a peaceful passing.

PEACEFUL PRAYERS
In Memory of Loydell Payton

Little Rock, Arkansas

I recently lost my father-in-law on Inauguration Day who died of complications from Covid-19. For the past year I frequently see red cardinals in my yard throughout the day.

Last month, a day before my father-in-law was admitted into the hospital, a red cardinal appeared. My husband saw it too and told me that sometimes when I am in my prayer closet praying, a red cardinal appears outside.

This morning there was a red cardinal in one of my trees. I captured several photographs because I truly believe the cardinal is a sign from God to let me know my loved ones in Heaven are always near.

PEACEFUL PRESENCE
In Memory of Russell Ledsome

Tuscarawas, Ohio

My fiancé had a strong connection with his grandfather who was almost like his father. When he was a child, he did everything with his grandfather and continued to enjoy time with him even as he grew older. I came into the family and instantly felt a strong connection with his grandfather as well. He became like a 3rd father to me. After a while, my fiancé and I moved in with his grandfather
to help provide care, as his health was declining rapidly. Shortly thereafter he passed, and my fiancé went off the deep end. It seemed all we did was fight. While arguing, a beautiful red cardinal flew by us and rested in a tree that was in the front of the house.
An incredible sense of peace came over us. We immediately felt
the calmness that his grandfather always had about him. His grandfather’s peaceful presence was felt while we spent time
telling stories of the incredibly wonderful person that he was.

PEACEFUL REMINDER
In Memory of Sean M. Walton

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

My husband passed away suddenly just two days before Thanksgiving in 2019. Two days following his funeral, I was sitting in my car, looked up and saw a magnificent red cardinal that was resting peacefully in a tree. This was extraordinarily special as I had only seen a red cardinal once before in my entire lifetime.

This beautiful moment will never leave my heart and mind. I feel as though God sent me this spiritual sign as a peaceful reminder that my husband is in His presence.

PEACE WITH PAWPAW
In Memory of Lowell “Pawpaw” Good

Allen, Texas

My Pawpaw passed away on May 12th in 2022, less than a month after he celebrated his 88th birthday. He was an amazing person with a big heart, loved to laugh and tell silly jokes. He loved birds, had many bird books, and taught me all about them. My Pawpaw was so proud of his bird-themed wall clock which featured a different bird species for each hour and would chirp every hour.

The weather here lately has not been ideal; only gray, cloudy skies. I just looked out my office window and saw a beautiful, bright red cardinal. I was so lucky that it remained close by and long enough for me to snap a few pictures before it flew away. In this moment I felt such a strong sense of peace and knew this was my Pawpaw's special way of saying hello. I think about him daily and will miss him for as long as I live. I feel blessed to have had such a special Pawpaw in my life.

PERFECT TIMING
In Memory of Liezabeth Otero

Spring Hill, Florida

My mother passed in December of 2018, just one day before my birthday. She had been suffering with diverticulitis and needed surgery. My mother was terrified, but I was able to help her obtain treatment because I work in the gastrointestinal medical field.

On the same day that my mother passed, I had a conversation with her just two hours prior and reassured her that she would be alright. My phone was cut off and I was triaging patients all day. The doctors I work for attempted to reach me repeatedly. Someone finally reached me, and a coworker drove me to the hospital. Along the way, she told me that my mom had a heart attack, but at the time I remember thinking she would be alright. I thought to myself, “My mother is the strongest person I know, and she will get through this.” She already survived a heart attack prior to this one. I kept thinking that I just needed to remain positive.

When we arrived at the hospital, they already knew my name, but I was still not thinking anything negative about it. They informed me that my mother had died.
I panicked and broke down crying hysterically. How could my best friend, my mother, whom I did everything with, be gone in an instant when I had just spoken with her
two hours earlier?!

I felt so defeated, guilty, hopeless, and responsible because I tried to help her get the treatment she needed, but this was the result. I begged her to not have the surgery until after the holidays, but my mother was head strong and refused. On a day when I should have been happy for God giving me life, I was left with agonizing pain and not wanting to celebrate another day.

Ever since my mom’s passing, I have been trying to get along and push forward with my life. I still find myself crying frequently and desperately wanting to speak with my mother.

Today it was raining, so I decided to do some cleaning. I lit a candle and looked outside through a window. Almost immediately I noticed a beautiful redbird sitting peacefully on the branch of a tree. I remained motionless while observing the cardinal, then realized it was looking directly at me!

I have never seen a redbird around my area prior to this moment and it was the most perfect timing ever. This brilliant little redbird appeared before me right as I was crying and looking out the window. This provided me with such a strong sense of peace and comfort. I could not stop thinking about it, which led to me researching the meaning of red cardinals. I soon discovered that red cardinals represent a loved one from Heaven stopping by to say they miss you, they love you, and they will always be with you.

PLANTED LOVE
In Memory of Ermilinda Maria Donato

Uvalde, Texas

I recently purchased a new, beautiful plant and was having a conversation
with my husband about it. I expressed to him my desire to plant it at my mom’s gravesite. I made lunch and while resting in our home, my son looked outside and exclaimed, “Mom! Look outside! There is a redbird!” I immediately got up and looked out the window to see a magnificent redbird resting on the plant! I immediately broke down in tears. This was the most beautiful moment I have ever experienced!

POP’S MESSAGE FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of Raymond D’Uva

Livingston, New Jersey

In June of 2020, I lost my loving father to COVID-19. He was my hero and best friend. Although his death was a tragedy, I am so grateful for having an opportunity to say goodbye to him in person, and that he went peacefully.

Since my father’s passing, I have frequently seen cardinals and robins visiting my backyard. Today, something incredible happened and it was amazing to watch! I observed a male cardinal, female cardinal, mourning doves, and robins all together in one general area of my front yard.

I have heard that all three of these birds are said to be spiritual signs from Heaven. For this reason, I am confident that the spirit of my dad was visiting me to let me know that he will always be with me. It has been difficult for me to adjust without him, so seeing these birds together really made my day. I wish he were still here physically, but I will see him again, and now realize that he never really left.

Thank you so much for the sign, Pop!

POQUITO’S CARDINAL
In Memory of Poquito

Hixson, Tennessee

Shortly after my 16-year-old Chihuahua passed, I saw a bold red cardinal resting on a tree branch near my window. I had never seen a cardinal in my yard prior to this, nor have I seen one since. I believe it was my dog visiting to tell me that he had crossed over the Rainbow Bridge and that he is alright!

POURING WITH LOVE
In Memory of Katrena “Tina” Centrell Smith

Pinola, Mississippi

My Best friend since 1995 passed away on July 12, 2021. I was recently sitting outside with a group of friends while it was raining. Suddenly a gorgeous redbird appeared, and it took my breath away because I remembered hearing that a redbird will often appear after a loved one's death. It perched onto a can for several minutes, flew away, but returned shortly after and landed even closer to us.

I am beyond grateful that my best friend found such an extraordinary way to let us know that she is alright, and she is watching over us with love. Thank you, Lord; I truly needed confirmation that Tina is at peace.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
In Memory of Sergio Salinas

Brownsville, Texas

About one week after my husband was buried, I was praying with my rosary. Suddenly I heard a tapping sound and looked toward a window that has a beautiful view of my front porch. My eyes immediately fell upon a stunning red cardinal that was tapping its bill up against the window. Prior to this Cardinal Experience, I have never seen a bird, let alone a cardinal, come inside my porch. This moment brought me such extraordinary peace that I believe my prayers were answered.

PRAYING FOR THOMAS

Stanstead, Quebec

My big boy Thomas went missing over a week ago and the other day I saw a magnificent red cardinal at my bird feeder. Today, the male cardinal was at my feeder again and then a female cardinal joined him.

I rarely see cardinals and hope this is a sign that my fur baby will come home soon. I will continue to pray because Thomas is not just my pet; he is my pride and joy.

PRETTY REDBIRDS
In Memory of Phyllis C. Mardis

Montgomery, Alabama

We recently lost my mother after she lost a terrible battle with cancer. Once she reached the terminal stage, we brought her home so that she would be among loved ones as she transitioned. This was the saddest yet most beautiful time of my life. We had opportunities to hold her hands and love on her as she prepared to be with the good lord.

Lately, I have been sitting on my porch in contemplation and frequently observe redbirds visiting my home. Sitting within nature and seeing such pretty redbirds provides me with a true sense of peace.

PROTECTIVE PARENTS
In Memory of Henriette Rochon

Hammond, Ontario

My beloved mother passed about 13 years ago, and I was recently blessed with a Cardinal Experience on the day my she would have turned 90 years old.

I have been experiencing electrical problems, so an electrician came to my home to determine what was causing the problems. He had to change four electrical outlets that were either burned, wire cooked, too old or not installed with the right voltage. He expressed to me that he was extremely surprised my house had not caught on fire. He checked the electrical panel and discovered that the ground was all black which meant my house has been it by lightening.

My electrician left and I repeatedly thanked my angels for protecting my home from burning down. I looked outside and noticed that a thunderstorm was headed in my direction. I then observed a cardinal pair fly over and land upon a tree that was directly in front of me. The female cardinal was looking right at me and I naturally thought about my mom since it was her birthday. I began to talk to her and thanked them for keeping me safe!

I believe the cardinals were my parents showing me that they have been continually watching over me and protecting me!

PURE DEDICATION
In Memory of Tanya Rodriguez

Farmingdale, New York

Since springtime, I have been observing a red cardinal living in one of my neighbor’s trees. I noticed that he found himself a beautiful mate and decided to name them Charlie and Lucy.

I purchased a large bag of birdseed with hopes that it would encourage them to stay around for a while. Charlie often flew over to retrieve my seeds and would then fly back to his tree. I assumed that he was feeding his mate, Lucy.

A few weeks later, I discovered that Lucy had been laying on eggs inside her nest, because one day I saw a cardinal nestling laying on the ground. I named him Baldy because he didn’t even have Head feathers yet and thought it was unlikely to survive. Fortunately, Charlie was nearby, closely watching over little bald baby.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I have been staying home which has enabled me to enjoy more time with nature. I have been feeding Charlie and watching his four little offspring grow. Before they had an ability to feed themselves, Charlie would fly over, open the seeds, fly back, and feed them to feed each little nestling. As time went on, they became fledglings, learned how to fly, and quickly discovered where I leave out the bird seed.

I really enjoyed capturing photographs of Charlie while feeding Baldy and the others.
It makes me so happy to now watch each fledgling crack open the seeds and feed themselves. I will be incredibly sad when they leave but hope they will not venture too far away. I wish they knew just how much I have appreciated their company. Perhaps in their little bird heads, they will miss me, Mama Nature, and all the beauty that surrounded them near my home.

Charlie and Lucy showed pure dedication as parents and worked as a team, which is something that many of us humans should learn by.

RED CLOUD CARDINAL
In Memory of June Niles

Red Cloud, Nebraska

Due my mother’s failing health, she lived with my husband, children, and I for almost five years up until her death.

My mom was from Red Cloud, Nebraska which is over an hour from where we lived. One of her final wishes was that she wanted her funeral to take place in Red Cloud, Nebraska. This was an easy wish to grant.

While my mother was living with us, she developed a friendship with a hairdresser named Heather from Holdrege. My mom expressed another wish, asking Heather if she would style her hair for the funeral. Without hesitation, Heather graciously agreed.

My husband and I drove Heather to Red Cloud so that she could honor my mom’s wishes. As we were driving home on a highway, Heather and I were talking, and I told her how nice my mom’s hair looked. She said, “It was an honor for me to style her hair, and I just hope she would have liked it.” In that exact moment, a red cardinal flew in front of our windshield and landed on a guide wire in front of our car! We both smiled at each other and started crying!

I have been blessed with several Cardinal Experiences, but this one is my favorite!

REDBIRD RV
In Memory of Florence Cleo Wambeke

Tyler, Texas

My retired Sister Flo unexpectedly passed two years ago on November 24th which was the day before my 60th birthday.

Prior to Flo’s passing, I told her about my plan to purchase an RV and we discussed becoming “Snowbirds” together. We were so excited about traveling because Flo had rarely traveled anywhere. We decided that Tennessee and Texas would be ideal places to begin our adventure.

About a year later and just prior to winter, I purchased a used Class A RV in Montana. I spent the next six months getting it ready to travel, loaded my Jeep onto a trailer, and headed to Texas with my adult niece. We had no idea or real plans for what was ahead. It was our desire to carry out my sister’s wishes. We held onto faith that she would ride along and guide us.

My RV broke down just four hours from our first destination which left us stranded for two days. The repairman was so gracious as he did not know the circumstances of our trip yet charged me next to nothing for his labor.

We finally arrived at our campsite late at night and were completely exhausted. My RV broke down the moment we arrived and parked at our designated spot. Despite this troubling issue, we were relieved to at least be in a safe spot and went to sleep.

The following morning, I opened the curtain and heard my niece calling out my name. She yelled for me to hurry up and look outside because my favorite bird was looking inside our window! I immediately walked over and sure enough sitting on a tree was a beautiful red cardinal looking inside my RV. The cardinal slowly made its way up to the top of the tree, sat there momentarily, jumped on my roof, and then flew away!

I have been a longtime believer in the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals and feel as though this was my beloved sister’s way of saying she likes it here and would like me to stay for a while. I just hope she has a plan to get me back home before her birthday on June 14th.

RED-WINGED MESSENGERS
In Memory of Facunda and Modesto Borrero

New Port Richey, Florida

One beautiful morning in December of 2019, I awoke to the sound of a bird chirping and little taps on my window. I was going through some changes during this time and wondered if this was a sign. I lifted my blinds and observed a red cardinal flapping its wings and singing happily. At that moment I felt special connection with this fascinating creature.

The red cardinal began to visit often, bringing me joy and making each day better. The cardinal began to visit at least five times a day, every day. A female cardinal joined the male on my window every morning and they often sang together. This was strange yet fascinating because I felt inside my soul that the cardinals were my grandparents saying hello and visiting me. They passed when I was only 14 years old, which was difficult as I saw them often and was especially close to my grandmother.

My aunt helped me to construct a birdhouse and I also started to leave out birdseed on my window every day. Not long after, baby cardinals started to visit me as well. The window seemed to be their comfort zone. Each morning while singing near the window or on top of the bird house, the cardinals wait for me to pull the blinds up so they can see me. Occasionally I will knock on the window or whistle and instead of soaring away, they fly right to me.

I recorded several videos and captured countless photographs so that I can preserve each special moment with these beautiful little creatures. I just cannot believe they visit me every day. I named the red cardinal “Red” and the female cardinal “Brownie” and consider them to be my red-winged messengers from Heaven.

I recently did some research about cardinals online and discovered that we have a special connection. This is such an incredible experience and I am so thankful for it. To this day I still think about my grandparents and believe they are watching over me. The cardinals still visit every day and I am incredibly grateful for the immense peace they bring to my life!

REMEMBERING REMY
In Memory of Remy

Jenison, Michigan

On June 12th in 2018 a piece of my heart left when my “other half” passed. My beautiful dog Remy was 7 1/2 years old when she passed. Remy had been my “Velcro” and my daughter's best buddy ever since she was eight weeks old. Remy was two years old when our son was born, and soon became his “partner in crime” for the remaining five years of her life. She would lay underneath my son’s crib and come find us if he woke up crying. Remy would cuddle with my daughter and was right there to comfort her one night when she had a seizure. Remy listened to my daughter better than she listened to me at times. We were incredibly grateful that Remy was so loyal to both of our children.

After losing Remy, I immediately understood other people’s grief after losing their own pets. I think of Remy driving my car as her collar has hung from the rearview mirror ever since she passed. Lately, I seem to cry for her at least once every day with guilt for letting her go. Remy taught me so much about the love and loyalty
a dog can have for its family, and how much dogs are like people. Remy was a pit bull which is viewed by some as a vicious breed, but she was my “special girl.” She was very introverted and preferred to be around a small circle of only those she trusted and loved. Remy ignited my passion for her breed and helped me to use my voice to speak on behalf of all dogs, especially pit bulls. Dogs DO express their emotions and moods through their body language and various sounds. I want to help others open their minds and learn how to understand what dogs try to say and/or show us.

While growing up I learned that red cardinals are a sign of an angel or loved one visiting. For quite a while now, every morning when I arrive home from work, a red cardinal is resting on either my side mirror or the hood of my Jeep. I believe this is Remy’s way of letting me know that she is always nearby.

I miss you so much my baby girl and hope you know that I will ALWAYS love you!

RENEWED FAITH
In Memory of Mary Ann Zinn and John Diebel

Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan

A little over two weeks ago I lost my dear friend, Mary Ann. She was so special to me because I could share almost anything with her. During this awful time of worldwide illness and pain, I had been looking forward to having burgers or lamb chops with Mary Ann in the future, as we loved them both! My immediate reaction to the terrible news was that I had lost a very special “sister” with whom I would never again be able to “dish the dirt or the dinners” and I immediately felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness. Later that afternoon, I was in my sitting room which looks out across my covered patio to the garden. Suddenly I was startled by a flock of at least six red cardinals which had flown under the large awning and suddenly appeared at the patio door. Three or four fluttered around the patio for a few minutes, then flew away while two or three others continued to flutter around the door.

Early this morning I received a heartbreaking phone call with the news that my dear friend John had passed a couple of hours earlier. John was like a brother to me. Even though his passing was a blessing, it was still devastating for me. We had been friends since back in our school days. We were both writers and had even written our first song together back when we were sweet sixteen. Our spouses had been good friends for many years as well. We had visited each other’s homes in various parts of the country and went on several cruises together. When John's wife died, we continued to visit and spend time with him. After my husband died, John did his best to pick up the pieces. We shared many dinners together, talked several times a week and continued sharing our love of music and theater. A few years ago, John suffered severe memory loss and
had to move from his lovely home into an assisted living facility. Eventually he was moved into a nearby memory care facility.
When I visited him for the final time, I was one of the last people
he recognized.

This afternoon I was sitting in my favorite chair while gazing out
at my patio and garden. As I was wiping away a few tears, three cardinals appeared! One cardinal hopped up onto a patio step.
A second cardinal perched on the back of a wrought iron chair
and was looking at me through the glass door. The third cardinal
was flying around under the patio awning. After several minutes,
all three cardinals flew away and left me completely mesmerized!

I had heard bits and pieces of the “red cardinal phenomenon” in
the past but never paid much attention. I have lived in my home for nearly fifty years and have seen cardinals in my garden, but never anything like this! I believe that Mary Ann and John are saying a proper adieu rather than just "running out" on me. My faith is renewed! I truly hope Mary Ann and John are with their spouses
and mine as well. Until we meet again, my loved ones.

RESTING REDBIRDS
In Memory of Douglas Lewis

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Yesterday my son was in my room and looking out the window when he noticed a vibrant redbird in a tree. He immediately told me, so we went outside on my porch. A few minutes later, I finally saw the beautiful redbird resting in a tree directly across from where we were. It rested upon a branch for several minutes while we were admiring its beauty. After a few minutes, the sweet little redbird flew away towards my apartment.

Douglas was my boyfriend of 15 years and losing him has been incredibly difficult. I have been seeing beautiful redbirds resting in trees ever since his passing. The spiritual beauty of cardinals is so real. Whenever I see a redbird,
I feel the presence of Douglas and know that he will always be with me. Each cardinal blessing will continue to warm my heart and provide me with moments of happiness that I truly need.

REUNITED
In Memory of Phyllis Pitzer Crawford

Fremont, New Hampshire

My father passed in September of 2004 just five days after celebrating my parents 50th wedding anniversary. Since then, every time a cardinal flew into our yard, I would always smile knowing that my dad was near and watching over me.

A few years after his death, my mother was diagnosed with dementia. She had re-married an old friend from college, and when her health began to decline, he was not caring for her properly. He would leave her alone, was not always feeding her, and even fired the caregivers we had hired to help my mom, so my brother and I removed my mother from his care. He took us to court but thankfully the court found in our favor and I was able to care for my mother until her death on November 21, 2020. As I was going through this entire ordeal, I was longing to speak with my dad to get his advice and to find out if he approved of how I was caring for my mom.

Exactly one week after she passed, I was in my basement and happened to look outside through a window. Much to my surprise, there stood a brilliant red cardinal and its beautiful mate! Ever since I spotted the cardinal pair together, they have been visiting our bird feeder regularly. I am convinced that my dad is bringing my mom to show me that they finally reunited in Heaven and they are so happy.

It brings me such peace to have these beautiful birds visit my yard and I will continue to look for both male and female cardinals every day all year-round.

RICKY THE REDBIRD
In Memory of Ricky

Roseville, Michigan

I have seen a vibrant Redbird looking into my basement window on at least four different occasions. During two of its visits, the Redbird tapped on the glass with its beak, attempting to capture my attention. It worked, but the moment I looked up at it, the Redbird flew away.

I look forward to experiencing many more of these special moments with my Ricky the Redbird as they really warm my heart and calm my soul.

ROAD FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of Beverly Johnson

Smithfield, Rhode Island

My grandmother, who has been extremely close to me since birth, passed rather suddenly in October of last year. I have struggled
with her loss immensely and constantly ask for signs from her. My grandmother was an avid bird lover and cardinals were her very favorite. We had a cardinal etched onto her coffin, and I received a cardinal tattoo along with her handwriting.

While driving to work today, I passed a small female cardinal in the middle of the road. For some reason, it was resting upon the yellow lines. I was not quite sure if it was a cardinal, so I turned around and drove back toward it. I pulled up slowly and looked out my front window. There it was, a beautiful female cardinal, sitting upright but motionless in the middle of the road, with its feathers fluffing up each time a car sped by. I quickly pulled over, grabbed a sweatshirt, and slowly walked toward the cardinal. I leaned down to carefully pick up the bird and was thinking it must be injured, but as I became close, it flew away!

If this was not a sign from my gram, I do not know what is! I found my gram on a road from heaven and will never doubt her presence with me ever again.

ROCKING REDBIRD
In Memory of Alice Martin

Jekyll Island, Georgia

My mother and I always enjoyed trips together to the Jekyll Island Club Hotel in Jekyll Island, Georgia. While there, we would rock in the rocking chairs on the large veranda and people watch. That was just something that we enjoyed doing together during every trip.

Last week while visiting there with my son, we walked out of the hotel office and over toward the rocking chairs. Suddenly a vibrant red cardinal came out of nowhere and perched upon the middle rocker. This is the area that we most often sat in. This immediately gave me chills, because I know my mother was sending me a reminder of what we used to do and how we enjoyed these special times together. I smiled and said out loud … ”I know you are here.”

ROGER’S REDBIRDS
In Memory of Roger Reynolds

South Point, Ohio

April 30, 2020 was the day my dad’s battle with Pancreatic Cancer came to an end. A few hours later, I drove back home.

Now home, I was sitting quietly while looking outside through a window and immediately noticed a vibrant red cardinal resting on a tree branch. Suddenly, another cardinal appeared. I knew instantly that my dad was with me. As I continued watching the redbirds, several more cardinals appeared throughout my yard and in the same tree. I attempted to count them but stopped at 10 because I was so overwhelmed with emotion. What began with one gorgeous red cardinal, ended with far too many cardinals to count. This magnificent sight brought so much comfort and reassurance that my father was with me. I quietly smiled as hot tears rolled down my face.

My dad knew that I was hurting and needed comfort, so he showed up in a big way! He wanted me to know that he was with me again!
I have always been a believer of comforting cardinals from Heaven, but this moment really blew me away. I will continue to believe that my dad is near whenever I see a cardinal. It will serve as a constant reminder that everything is going to be alright.

ROLE MODEL IN HEAVEN
In Memory of Juan Evangelista Ruiz Sr.

San Antonio, Texas

The day before my dad passed away, I woke up to care for my grandson Mateo.
I walked outside and something beautiful immediately caught my eye; a red cardinal as distinguished as he could be. In that moment I was not sure if it was my dad.
Later that day in the afternoon, my sister Julie sent me a text to let me know our
dad's feeding was going to end, because he was no longer able to swallow.

My son-in-law picked up my grandson so that I could spend time with my dad.
At 10:30am the following morning, my dad passed on. Many rosary prayers and blessings were said prior and after his passing.

After my dad was taken to the funeral home, I went back to our house with my sister and all our children, to try and get some sleep. While drifting off, I remembered seeing the cardinal and sent this message to my sister Julie:

Yesterday morning I saw a red cardinal in my yard. He had been hanging around for about a week. It is said that the red cardinal is a spiritual sign that someone from the Heavens is watching over you. I think dad had already passed on. He was beautiful, confident, and looked around like a bird with purpose.

I believe my dad already had a purpose in Heaven and God gave him a job,
an important job at that. One thing my brothers, sister and I received from my
dad was the importance of having an unconditional love for others no matter the circumstances. My dad taught us to have a love for people who may be perceived
as less than perfect. No matter a person's dislike of my dad he always blessed
them as Jesus did.

I love you, Daddy.

ROSIE REDBIRD
In Memory of Rose Pizzitola

Canyon Lake, Texas

One week after my sister Rose passed away, my son and his family came to visit for comfort. My six-year old granddaughter was up early one morning enjoying her breakfast while I drank my coffee. The rest of our family was still asleep. Suddenly in a surprised and startling voice, my granddaughter said, “Grandma — There’s a redbird on the rail!” Resting on the handrail of my deck was a bright red cardinal. I replied, “Yes, that is Aunt Rosie letting us know that she is in Heaven; she is alright, and she is happy.”

A little while later her mother woke up and joined us. My granddaughter jumped up from her chair and exclaimed, “Mommy — Aunt Rosie was here!” Her mother looked at me with a bewildered expression on her face. I quickly explained that my sister Rose had sent a red cardinal as a messenger to let me know she was safe, happy and in Heaven.

Every single day for the next week, a vibrant redbird sat in a tree next to my deck. It was seldom that I had seen a red cardinal before that time. Rose loved to sit inside and watch the birds through windows. She also had a wonderful book about birds and enjoyed looking at it often. It was only fitting that she would send a red cardinal to let me know she was alright. I miss her so much but love when she sends me a Rosie Redbird!

Featured Stories
This Page features our growing collection of real-life Cardinal Experiences with titles that begin with letters S through Z.

Cardinal Experiences
A Cardinal Experience is defined as the moment a red cardinal appears unexpectedly after the loss of a someone special. A cardinal may appear while you are experiencing a difficult time or even as you are celebrating a special occasion.

Share Your Story
For those who have been blessed by a Cardinal Experience and would like to share it with us, please submit your story via the form provided on our CONTACT Page. Once your story has been published on our website, we will send you an email with a link to your story and a complimentary memorial photo in memory of your loved one. Please allow 4-6 weeks for your beautiful story to be published.

SAMMY’S SOUL
In Memory of Samuel Lionel Levitas II

East Northport, New York

I will never forget when my telephone rang in the middle of the night with the news that my ex-husband Sammy had passed. I was unable to fall back asleep. I cried all night and into the following day without pause. Even though I felt this would eventually happen to him, I was completely unprepared for my emotional breakdown that followed.

We were divorced and I was aware of his addictions but could never fathom what it would feel like to lose him. My heart was heaviest the day following the call. I held strong, masking my tears and grief so that I could focus on my daughter while providing comfort and support at the news of losing her father.

During a moment of calm, the most profound thing happened.
I was in the kitchen and leaning over the counter while looking at photographs of Sammy on my cell phone. I had an unusual feeling, as if someone told me to pick up my head, so I did. I looked out the kitchen patio doors and saw this perfect little red cardinal on the deck and peeking into my house. He had walked up to the door and was looking right inside. This was the first time any bird has landed on my deck. I snapped a photo of the cardinal to capture this beautiful moment. I immediately recognized what was happening;
it was Sammy, showing himself, all bright and pretty. I softly said to him, “Be free. I forgive you. Be at peace”.

Addictions weigh heaviest on those who love the addict, but after experiencing this moment, I truly felt that everything was going to be alright. I felt peace and thanked God for that moment, that gift. Sammy’s soul is now at peace, which was something he had previously struggled with so hard to find. That beautiful red cardinal showed up as if to say “Hey, it’s me! It’s going to be alright.” From that moment on, my grief began to fade and was replaced with a true sense of comfort and was on my way to finding peace.

SAVANNAH’S SONG
In Memory of Savannah Lynn Kube and John Halling Anderson

Hudson, Florida and New Port Richey, Florida

This past Sunday I was at a friend’s house for a barbecue. We were all sitting around chit chatting when a red cardinal flew up and landed on a potted plant about 10 feet away and started singing very loudly. In fact, it was so loud that we all stopped talking and turned to look in its direction. The moment we looked at the cardinal, it stopped singing and just stared right back at us. Our eyes locked with the cardinal’s eyes for nearly 20 seconds long! Eventually the others turned back around and continued talking, but for some reason I was unable to look away. I felt a strange sense of calm and well-being. Eventually, I looked away and rejoined the conversation with my friends.

I have never one to look deep into the spiritual meaning of things but did recall people saying that cardinals represent loved ones who have passed. About a week had passed and our moment with the cardinal had occasionally popped back into my head. I was so intrigued when it happened but did not think much beyond that … until today.

Just 10 minutes ago, I went outside and sure enough, another very persistent red cardinal was in one of my trees and singing very loudly. I was observing the cardinal for about 30 seconds before the singing subsided at which time, we locked eyes. I have been on this earth for 30 years now, living 27 years in Florida and three previous years in upstate New York. I have never observed cardinals so close together, nor have I locked eyes with them or heard them sing so beautifully. The feeling I experienced was the most unusual part of all. I felt as though the cardinal wanted to reassure me that all was right with the world and my life.

I have always been skeptical of the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals, but these two sightings felt far too extraordinary for me to not acknowledge. I personally think my beloved daughter Savannah was trying to say hello and to comfort me because she recognized I am very tense due to Covid-19 and the rioting. I feel my daughter’s spirit giving me moments of peace while reassuring me that eventually, everything will be alright.

I also have a 3-year old son and I am particularly worried for him to grow up in this world. After the cardinals visited, my concern lessened and in this very moment, I sense someone is trying to tell me that my son will be alright. I believe the cardinals were sent from Heaven to sing “Savannah’s Song” of comfort and reassurance. I sometimes wonder if she had help from her grandpa (my dad) which is a wonderful and comforting thought to feel that they are still with me.

SEEING THE LIGHT AT NIGHT
In Memory of My Father

Leawood, Kansas

Late in life my father started caring for cardinals in his back yard. He did this for several years after retirement. He would put out special seed and keep water out for them even in the winter months. He even tried to keep the squirrels away from their food by scaring them when they attempted to take the food from those he intended.

Sadly, but after a long life, he passed away in the family home with most of his ten children and their families in his presence. He actually passed away around midnight on one of the coldest nights in January. All of us had a chance to speak to him before he passed away. Soon after my brother contacted the funeral home to advise them of his passing and they soon arrived about 1:00am to take him from the home. My brother asked me if I would bring the funeral home employees in through the back door of the house which was only made evident by a single bulb next to the door to break the darkness of the very cold winter night. The employee paused at first and asked to wait to enter until after he put on his jacket as he saw the family indoors. Moments later as I opened the storm door to enter the house a cardinal came from the darkness of the night and fluttered between our heads and the light, startling both of us, before disappearing into the night.

We entered the house explaining to family members what had just happened. My sisters reminded me of my father and his connection with the cardinals during the last years of his life. When I got home about 3 a.m. and couldn't sleep in my quandary of what I had experienced with the cardinal as my dad was leaving his home. I googled different combinations of the words: death, light cardinals and life and to my surprise found that there was certainly a connection between his passing, our connection and his new life.

I often see a cardinal fly over the hood of my car during times of personal problems or landing close by during situations when I'm alone and a friend or family member will make life a little better. Now, at times, my mother appears with him in his visits as she is also deceased. I believe he also chose me to startle the evening of his passing because of my occasional problems with my faith in the past. It really is a pretty awesome experience to share with others when the situation allows.

SEVEN IN HEAVEN
In Memory of Terresa, Fred, Will, Brendon, Ellie, Payton, and Emma

Crestview, Florida

On July 9, 2011 God called home seven members of my family.

This past July 9th was the 9-year celebration of their call to their forever home. As I sat at the kitchen table, looking out to backyard where bird, chipmunk and squirrel feeders are set up in their separate comfort zones, I began to daydream and think about the moments in time God had giving me with my loved ones.

My daydreaming turned into praying and asking God to give me a sign that my loved ones were still together. When I opened my eyes and looked out the window, just 10 feet away on two bird feeders were SEVEN baby cardinals! Their feathers were ruffled from what may have been their first family outing. I also observed the proud "Puff Daddy" with his chest sticking out as he sat on a fence about 15 feet beyond the bird feeders. The daddy, a gorgeous red cardinal, was watching over his sons and daughters very intently. I was motionless while my heart filled with the warmth of seeing what God had sent to answer my prayers. I was completely captivated by this unbelievable moment and had no plans to venture into another room to retrieve a phone for capturing photographs.

This special gift from God will be forever imprinted in my mind and heart. Thanks be to God and to Leesah Marie Noon who has been instrumental in helping me associate various cardinals with my loved ones. Thank you to Leesah for continuing to bring comfort to me and so many others!

SIGNS FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of Evelyn

Atlanta, Georgia

I have recently experienced so many overwhelming things in my life and literally every single day, I see red cardinals in all areas surrounding my home! I have seen and heard the cardinals so often that I can now identify the sound of their call.

I am completely amazed at my connection with this specific bird. I have suffered the loss of many loved ones along the way but have been unable to determine which one the cardinal may be symbolic of. Perhaps it is my grandma who passed a few years ago. I dream about her constantly and she is included in my prayers and so much more. I believe these cardinal sightings have been signs from Heaven and I sense that this is the message: “I am okay; everything will be fine; keep holding on; remain patient and be strong!”

I hope this reaches someone who needs it, or just reassurance that the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals is very, very real.

SIGNS FROM KELLY
In Memory of Kelly Ann Marie Frost

Colchester, Illinois

On March 26, 2021, my life changed forever after learning that my beautiful daughter Kelly had passed. Shortly after receiving the news about her passing, I was at home and sitting inside the car with my sister-in-law. I was talking about my daughter through tears when suddenly my eyes fell upon a cardinal resting inside my lilac bush. This was the fattest and brightest red cardinal I had ever seen in my life. The cardinal remained there just long enough for me to capture its picture.

The following day, I was standing outside with my cousin and was telling her about what I had experienced the prior day. She pointed to the same lilac bush and resting inside was now a female cardinal!

A couple days went by and I was again outside, resting on the front porch with my husband. I was talking about our daughter and was extremely emotional. He looked over at one of our trees and resting on a nearby branch was a female cardinal.

A few days went by and I was sitting on my back deck while silently asking God to please help me get through this day. I then looked up and saw a beautiful female cardinal in my backyard.

I have lived in my home for three years now and had never seen a cardinal on my property until after my daughter passed. I believe with all my heart that the cardinals were sent from Heaven and are spiritual signs from Kelly!

SPECIAL ANGEL
In Memory of Jerome

Spring, Texas

Earlier today I attended a funeral for someone who was special to me. During services, I felt incredibly sad while reflecting on our friendship. As I looked up toward Heaven, a red cardinal flew by, landed in a tree, and disappeared. This is one of two cardinals that I have seen within the past two months. I believe this was my special angel stopping by to reassure me that he is truly at peace.

SPECIAL BOND
In Memory of Pat

Greenville, Michigan

I have a special bond with some of my patients that I provide at home healthcare for. On Thanksgiving in 2019, a red cardinal landed on my deck and at the same time, my telephone was ringing. The call was the son of my patient named Pat and he wanted to let me know that she had passed about a half hour earlier.

Since that day, the same red cardinal has visited my yard every day since. This cardinal has a black mask but does not appear to have a crest. If the bird seed is running low in the feeder, he flies onto my roof and sings. He has also landed on my mailbox and sits outside my bathroom window.

I have a tattoo in memory of Pat as she was special to me. I believe this beautiful red cardinal is Pat watching over me, which gives me such comfort every time it visits my home.

SPECIAL MOMENTS
In Memory of Lane Gregory Mathis

Ada, Oklahoma, and many other locations

The very first time I was blessed by a Cardinal Experience was two weeks after my son Lane passed. A couple of days prior to the memorial service, I left my apartment to pick up my kids and saw two beautiful red birds, which immediately made me think of my son and his dad. On the day of Lane’s memorial, I saw a redbird in a tree after leaving my apartment.

Not long after, I drove to Georgia to visit a friend and saw a redbird twice while traveling. On Father’s Day, I saw another redbird on five different occasions while driving to and from my parent’s home. I visited my parents again on July 4th and saw another vibrant redbird on my way there, in their backyard, and upon leaving. On another day, I observed a redbird while driving home after giving an ACT test. A few days later I was walking out of my apartment and as I glanced over my left shoulder, a redbird flew towards me, dove toward my face, fluttered its wings, flew around the building toward the back, and then finally landed. I recently went on a floating trip and while driving home was thinking to myself that it was surprising that I did not see a single redbird. At that very moment, two redbirds flew over my vehicle.

Today, I saw a redbird fluttering in a tree and began to think about how my multiple redbird sightings. I consider each of these special moments as spiritual signs that my son is safe in Heaven and with God.

SPECIAL SIGNS
In Memory of Norman Gregor, Jr.

Waterford, Michigan

When my dad was in the process of passing, my brother said to him, “Send us lots of signs, dad.” I didn’t really think about it until a stunning red cardinal landed outside one of our house windows and stared directly inside at my son. We remained quiet and stared back at the cardinal before he flew away. My dad loved my son SO MUCH and they were very close. I believe with all my heart this cardinal was my dad.

We see signs from red cardinals constantly now and I always feel my dad’s presence. The ironic thing is the cardinals fly away before I can capture their photograph, which really makes me laugh because my dad did not enjoy having his photograph taken either.

I miss my dad so much, but these special signs are such a blessing and they continue to carry me through each day.

SPECIAL SMILE
In Memory of Marlene Trudy Scheid

Cincinnati, Ohio

In April of 2012, my Mom was diagnosed with adrenal gland cancer and unfortunately, lost her battle on July 14th that same year. As my Mom’s health was failing, we started to see a red cardinal in her backyard almost every time we looked outside. My Mom was convinced it was her brother, my Uncle Jack, who had passed away eight years prior. She believed it was his spirit visiting to comfort her and to also bring her home. This was the first time I learned about what red cardinals symbolize.

After my Mom passed away, the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals was confirmed many times and I learned it is both magical and real. I believe it wholeheartedly, because I have been blessed by red cardinals daily since my Mom’s passing. No matter where I am, a little red cardinal appears, such as in my yard, at the park, at a ballgame and even flying in front of my car as I drive down the street. I know it is her and just can't help but smile each time and say, "Hi Mom."

In April of 2018, my son and daughter-in-law blessed us with our first grandchild, Hannah Paige. I was at my son's house visiting one day shortly after Hannah was born. We walked across the street to show her to their neighbors. As we stood on their porch, I glanced at my son's yard and then told him to look on his fence. What was there? A red cardinal. I then said, "Grandma came to see Hannah too." Seconds later, the cardinal flew across the street into the neighbor’s yard and landed in a tree not more than ten feet from us. All we could do was smile at each other.

In February of 2019, my daughter and son-in-law gifted us with our second grandchild, this time a boy, Colton Jack. The moment my daughter became pregnant, she saw red cardinals in her back yard daily. Colton was born two months premature and after he was brought home, a red cardinal began to visit daily. The cardinal rested under the awning of their back patio, perched just a few feet from their kitchen window. I told my daughter the red cardinal is her Grandma and she is watching over her and Colton. She feels the very same way.

The presence of this red cardinal has been so comforting and is a gift we hold in our hearts, not our hands. There is no other explanation for why a red cardinal visited us during these special moments. We look forward to more unexpected visits from our little red friend and each time … we will smile.

SPECIAL SWING
In Memory of John Matthews

Saline, Michigan

I just watched a beautiful red cardinal perch himself on the top of my outside swing. This swing is special to me because I used it often with my late husband at our previous home. The cardinal was looking directly at me through the window in my living room. I tried to capture its photograph but was not fast enough. It was incredibly comforting to have the cardinal visit today, which is the 6th anniversary of my husband’s death. I am still crying. What a beautiful sight, yet bittersweet.

SPIRITUAL BEAUTY
In Memory of Teresa Guest

Charleston, South Carolina

My dearest friend, sister, and prayer partner of over 10 years lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in April 2020. She was diagnosed in October 2018, which was the day before my father lost his battle with liver cancer. The doctors gave Teresa just six months to live but she proved them wrong. Even during her battle with cancer, she encouraged and prayed for me while I was grieving the loss of my father. She was always the friend who never let me give up on myself or life. She never let me lose hope, even when my depression was trying to swallow me whole.

I have been missing Teresa so much. The other day I picked up the phone to call her. Although seven months have passed, there is still an innate nature for me to call her daily. She was my bestie since 2008 and we talked almost every single day.

This afternoon Facebook reminded me of a memory from three years ago when we were on a beach and acting silly. Naturally, my heart sank, but a few hours later, I received an unexpected blessing. I opened my back door and my eyes immediately fell upon a beautiful red cardinal that was resting on my back porch! I have been in Charleston since 2013 and have never seen a cardinal until now.
I think that my sister Teresa or my dad knew that I needed some spiritual beauty, especially during the craziness of the current pandemic in 2020.

SPIRITUAL BLESSING
In Memory of Martina Badonie

East Jordan, Michigan

I have a vivid memory of walking outside one day with hopes of receiving a few minutes of solace. I looked toward the trees behind my house because quite often there are birds and squirrels moving around in that area. Watching nature always gives me peace. A bright red flash instantly caught my eye. As I looked closer, I observed a gorgeous red cardinal resting in one of my trees! The cardinal remained there for several minutes while I quietly watched and smiled.

My mother had always been a spiritual person, so I decided to do a little research to find out what red cardinals might represent spiritually. I went on the internet and immediately discovered the Caring Cardinals® website. I then discovered that red cardinals are symbolic of loved ones in Heaven! I immediately began thinking about the memory I had with the beautiful red cardinal and realized it occurred the day after my mom passed from a prolonged illness.

Since discovering the spiritual meaning of cardinals, I have been going outside for quick breaks to try and get a little sunshine. A few days ago, I prayed out loud for my mother to send another cardinal. I felt that if I could see another one, it would reassure me that she is truly resting peacefully. My neighbor has a bird feeder in their yard. Today, I was looking at their bird feeder and noticed a bird with brown and blush-colored feathers. I watched more carefully and soon realized it was a female cardinal. I recently saw a flash of red in one of my trees, so they may eventually have babies! I felt so relieved after receiving this spiritual sign from Heaven. I received more cardinals than I even asked for and have no doubts that my mother is at peace.

Learning the spiritual symbolism of cardinals is incredibly comforting, as I loved my mother very much. Without any doubt, my mother would be elated to know that I will feel at peace from all spiritual blessings, especially hers.

SPIRITUAL FLIGHT PATH
In Memory of Mateo

Pleasantville, New Jersey

It has been 15 years since my brother Mateo died by suicide. It is helpful for me to use the words "died by suicide" as opposed to “committed suicide.” Simply put, it is the invisible disease of mental health challenges which is the actual culprit. Loss from this is termed as "complicated and traumatic grief" which are words I never knew existed.

Since my brother’s death, I have sought answers for what I continued to assume was a physical illness via tests, various diagnoses, and minor surgeries. I had many conversations with doctors and counselors, but due to the nature of my loss, most individuals and professionals are very reluctant to discuss this type of traumatic loss.

I recently began seeing a new doctor who shared his thoughts on suicide loss, not by discussing it but instead by suggesting and referring loosely to the spiritual nature of life via Eastern type medicine. I am well-schooled in utilizing breathing techniques and yoga to help with anxiety and a shattered heart, but I still needed clarity and now feel so much better. Prior to talking with this doctor, I was tired, weary, and felt so lost. I was simply existing and not living.

Last night was chilly when I walked into my backyard garden which is in disarray and desperately needing a winter cleanup. I went outside to refill a cup with fresh breadcrumbs for the birds. The cup always needs to be refilled but has never been completely empty in over 10 years until today! While adding the breadcrumbs, I was thinking to myself how unusual it was for the cup to be empty. About 15 minutes later I peeked through my sheer curtains and was stunned by what I saw! There was a brilliant red cardinal, about 12 inches long, scampering around on the cement. I did not have a camera nearby and just continued watching the bird because I did not want to lose sight of this beautiful creature, nor did I want to scare it away. As I continued watching the cardinal, it flew over to my white fence where it remained perched as if to say, “I have arrived!” I could not help but stare and was completely transfixed by its beauty. I wanted to freeze this experience in my mind forever. Suddenly it became clear to me what my new doctor has been saying. He told me, “The healing strength is within you. Just stop, breathe, be still and watch.” He also said that often what we feel we need is sometimes right in front of us and “when the student is ready, the teacher appears.” I now felt like that student was me. I was ready to listen and learn during my grief, which never actually leaves us. I began working in my backyard garden, atop a cement patio, by adding a variety of wildflowers and flowering shrubs into numerous containers. I created a buffet of mismatched colors and sizes, hoping to attract birds and butterflies. There was little activity until September 2020.

My doctor chose not to prescribe medication for depression as I had already tried so many in the past. Ironically, the last thing he said to me was “Just when you may think the bowl is empty in life (as with the breadcrumbs) nature will surprise you with a gift of beauty and it will remind you of the joy that still remains in life; the gift of you. Begin to recognize and embrace passion, compassion, grace, and love. You need to be open to welcoming them when they arrive.”

I have never been one to seek, search, or believe in spiritual signs or messages until today. This strong, prideful red cardinal arrived to tell me, one on one, that my time to begin to live again has arrived. The cardinal remained so still that it truly captured my heart and blessed my spirit; it gave me the hope to begin to believe in life and in myself.

I believe that today’s visit by my beautiful cardinal was a message “flown from above” by my brother Mateo. As the cardinal flew away, a jumbo jet soared overhead, leaving a plume trail in the sky that looked like the letter “L” which was perhaps for “Love.” As my new cardinal friend flew away, I realized that the jet was also a sign as Mateo was an airline pilot! My cardinal arrived, just as was intended, delivered his message via his presence, celebrated his arrival with the airplane above, and left me feeling as though my spirit and soul were blessed with love. This moment inspired me to begin to take small steps forward when possible and to not judge the size of each step.

“When the student is ready the teacher appears.” I was ready, although did not realize it. Thank you, Mateo and thank you to all those behind the scenes on earth and in Heaven above! Love does conquer all and is a gift that keeps on giving. Today my gift arrived, and I will be forever grateful.

SPIRITUAL GIFT FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of My Husband

Florissant, Missouri

I lost my husband in 2018. My birthday was just a few days ago and I was feeling a little sad about spending it alone. I was parked at a nearby recreation center and was sitting in my car when a beautiful red cardinal made several attempts for me to notice it. The cardinal flew around the trees and my car, as if to beg for my undivided attention. I was mesmerized by its beauty and continued watching it for several hours! This was a spiritual gift from Heaven that I never expected, and it came at the perfect time. It seems I was not alone on my birthday after all.

SPIRITUAL HEROES
In Memory of Roger Leon Parker

Chesapeake, Virginia

One day the weather was so beautiful that I decided to take a telephone call outside near my home. I walked over to a bush that grows up against the house. Suddenly, two beautiful red cardinals began fluttering around nearby. I looked down at the bush and observed an unusual and dark coiled branch that I had never noticed before. I moved a little closer to get a better look at the odd branch which caused both cardinals to aggressively fly toward me. This startled me and I immediately backed up about six feet away.
A few seconds later, the “unusual branch” started to move and then slithered out from the bush! It was a long, thick, black snake! Yes, I freaked. One of the cardinals hopped on the ground in front of the snake, which caused it to move away from me. I ran into my house to get help and upon return, all three of the creatures were gone.

Both cardinals warned me and then protected me from the snake,
so I view them as my spiritual heroes. This moment was the most unusual yet gratifying experience I have ever encountered, and I
will never forget it!

SPIRITUAL PRESENCE
In Memory of My Mom

Hyde Park, New York

My father has been deceased for a very long time, but about a year ago I started talking out loud to him. I was asking him to send a sign just to say hello. Up until that point, I had not received any spiritual signs from him.

The following day, I was looking outside through my kitchen window and saw a red cardinal resting in a bush. Each day thereafter I would see one or two cardinals in the same bush and occasionally in my magnolia tree. This continued every day and each time I would say “Hello, Dad!”

My mom became sick and after a few months she passed away which was just seven months ago. Since her passing, up to 10 cardinals visit my home daily, resting in the same bush and magnolia tree. I often walk over to the kitchen window and if a red cardinal is not already there, it will appear seconds later! I have also witnessed up to 10 male and female cardinals appear instantly, no matter the weather!

I am so incredibly grateful to see these beautiful creatures every day. It is truly amazing to me because I had never seen cardinals all too often before this. They have been visiting me consistently for about a year now. Every day I say hello, ask how they are doing and thank them for their visit. I feel as though the daily cardinal visits are special messages from my parents in Heaven. This is the most beautiful way I could ever imagine feeling the spiritual presence of my parents.

SPIRITUAL SALUTE
In Memory of Jim Patrick

Athens, Georgia

I have been in the Army ROTC Program for the past four years, dreaming of becoming an Army Officer since middle school.
My grandfather, Jim Patrick, is a big piece of the reason why.
He retired from the Army long before I was born, but he shared countless stories of his time in service and collectively, they left a huge imprint on me.

I often imagined how special it would be for my grandfather to
watch me during my commissioning ceremony which was scheduled for May 8, 2020. Sadly, he passed on January 26. As it turns out,
my graduation ceremony was cancelled, and my commissioning ceremony was held online. For these reasons, the day felt far less special than I had often imagined.

Fortunately, my sister came into town to spend some time with me. We drove up to the University of Georgia campus and she captured a few photographs of me walking through the notorious arches as well as few other iconic places. We saw red cardinals literally everywhere we went during the entire day!

We left the campus in the late afternoon and drove home. While entering my neighborhood, we were greeted by yet another red cardinal. Later that evening, my sister and I were talking about the many red cardinals we observed, and she explained their spiritual significance to me. I had no idea!

I now feel so confident that the red cardinals were my grandfather! He would have wanted nothing more than to see me become a Second Lieutenant. I knew he would find a way to attend the ceremony, even though it was not held in its traditional manner.
I felt such incredible peace knowing he was there, as my
grandfather was one of my biggest supporters throughout my
entire college and military experience. I cannot imagine any greater gift than the “Spiritual Salute” I received from my grandfather on such an important day!

SPIRITUAL SEBASTIAN
In Memory of Michael Sarna

Columbia Heights, Minnesota

I have a yard with many trees and was blessed by a Cardinal Experience three years ago in June. A stunning red cardinal started chirping loudly at me, so I chirped back. Every time I go outside, the cardinal chirps at me. I named him Sebastian and his lady friend Beatrice. They share my feeders every day and are just so cute together. The other day he was on my roof looking at me, peeking above the gutter. Today he rested on the deck rail twice. He also loves to sit in my apple tree in the winter and stares at me through the window. In the wintertime when it snows, I often see a flock of red cardinals.

The red cardinal surely enjoys my company and I enjoy his. Spiritual Sebastian is such a beautiful reminder that my beloved brother is always nearby.

SPIRITUAL STARE DOWN
In Memory of Richard McNair

Brandon, Florida

I have lost my grandpa, father-in-law, and my daddy all within a period of only two years. I have two bird feeders that I watch every day and it is the highlight of my days. Many birds come but it is mostly cardinals. I enjoy the cardinals so much as they often just sit on the birdfeeder and look in my window at me as if we are having a spiritual stare down. I love it! I have captured countless photographs of the cardinals that visit. I even captured the beautiful moment that a male cardinal was feeding a female cardinal, which resembled a sweet kiss.

All birds are beautiful, but seeing the cardinals is a constant reminder that my family is checking on me and will always be with me.

SPIRITUAL STRENGTH
In Memory of Agnes Elder

Deltona, Florida

I was the full-time caregiver for my late husband for nearly four years. As time went on, it became increasingly demanding and stressful. About halfway through this time period, I was becoming physically and emotionally drained. I often found myself thinking about my late mother who was the most selfless, caring and strongest person I have ever known. I told her repeatedly that I could never be like her.

One day while stepping outside for fresh air, I heard the wings of several birds flapping and watched them fly away from my yard. At the same time, a stunning red cardinal flew toward me and landed on our water fountain. The cardinal just stood there motionless while staring at me, even as I took a few steps in its direction. I felt such an overwhelming sense of inner strength and peace. I know in my heart this was a message from my mom. She wanted to reassure me that I was in fact capable of providing the daily care my husband needed.

This incredible moment gave me the spiritual strength I needed to continue providing daily care for my husband. I remained his full-time caregiver for another two years. While cardinals do not visit my yard daily, they do seem to appear when I need them most!

SPIRITUAL SWING
In Memory of Leo Hobbs

Gassville, Arkansas

I was standing on my front porch just looking out at a distance when something caught my eye. My head turned to the side and I observed a gorgeous red cardinal sitting on my bird feeder which is a white swing. The cardinal remained there while I stood on the front porch. I believe it was a spiritual message from my Papa, letting me to know that he is still alright and at peace.

Every day that has since followed I have been praying that life for everyone will become better … We all just need to have loyalty and respect!

STEERING MY PEACE
In Memory of Joseph Andrew Nemits

Sebastian, Florida

It has been almost three years now since my son Joseph passed. He sends spiritual signs to me almost daily and I feel incredibly grateful for all of them!

I was recently blessed by a Cardinal Experience during one of my many difficult days at work. After making a delivery, I walked back to my truck and discovered a beautiful red cardinal that was sitting on my steering wheel. As I moved closer, it did not even attempt to fly away. The gentleman who walked out with me after the delivery also saw the cardinal and asked me if I knew what the cardinal represented. We were both is complete awe at the cardinal’s beauty.

Always in my heart … My son Joseph … Forever 19.

SUMMER OF 2016
In Memory of Michael Joseph Stobaugh

Ball Ground, Georgia

My beloved son Michael passed suddenly on March 25, 2012 from a brain aneurism. Soon afterwards while visiting my sister in Arkansas we were driving slowing down a dirt road when a flush of redbirds flew in front of our truck. I told my sister and brother-in-law that it was a spiritual sign from Michael. This was just the beginning of my Cardinal Experiences which occurred during several difficult years.

During one morning in the summer of 2016 and on Michael's birthday, I spoke out loud and asked my son to send me a spiritual sign. Later that day, a glorious redbird landed on our patio umbrella. I stood quietly and watched the cardinal through our kitchen window. This beautiful bird was looking at its reflection in the window and trying to fight himself. I was so delighted to watch the cardinal as I knew it was a spiritual sign from my Angel Michael Joseph.

Throughout the rest of that same day, whichever room my husband and I walked into, the cardinal would follow and appear at a window. We also observed him attempting to fight himself while looking at one of the rear-view mirrors on my car. He was incredibly feisty the entire day!

The summer of 2016 will always be remembered for the magnificent red cardinal appearing on my son’s birthday. I will forever cherish every photograph that I captured during my Cardinal Experience that lasted all day long!

SUPERMARKET FLOWERS
In Memory of Donna Booth

Shady Shores, Texas

First allow me to begin by saying that my mom’s favorite color was red. She loved red!

My mom lived in a town home and one night, my mom’s neighbor Betty left her car running all night, killing them both of carbon monoxide poisoning. My mom was only 74 years old, and I was obviously devastated.

My mom missed both of her granddaughter’s weddings and will also miss the birth of her great grandson in September. This has been extremely hard on me! She was such a loving mom and I miss her dearly.

This morning I left on my morning run while listening to my music. I stopped for a moment and recall saying out loud, “Mom, I miss you!” Just as I said those words, a red cardinal flew right by my face! I felt so strongly that it was her and began to cry. Through tears, I said, “Mom, I know that is you and I am sure you are trying to tell me that you saw the girl’s weddings! I know you were there, and I know you will always be with me!” At that very moment, my running music, which is always set to Classic Rock or 80’s Workouts, went to a song called Supermarket Flowers. That song always makes me think about her. I began crying so hard that I could not continue running. They were such tears of joy. I felt my mother’s presence and I felt peace.

SURROUNDED WITH LOVE
In Memory of My Beloved Brother

Roxbury, Massachusetts

I am currently in a deep cycle of transition while shedding old energy.

Today at least 10 red cardinals came to visit me, and I felt so incredibly blessed. May people believe that when you see a cardinal, an angel is near. Today, the cardinals surrounded me with love.

My brother recently passed, and I believe that he was responsible for this beautiful magic.

SWEET CARDINAL O’ MINE
In Memory of Nancy Lloyd

Richmond, Virginia

The most amazing experience happened to me today while I was in the garage working on a few projects. I was listening to "Sweet Child ‘O Mine” by Guns N Roses on the radio and was singing while reminiscing about my late grandmother. Suddenly, a beautiful red cardinal flew into the garage! This cardinal literally flew over my head and it was so close that it touched my hair! I looked up in shock as the cardinal spread its wings, chirped loud and looked directly into my eyes. The cardinal proceeded to fly in circles around me twice before flying back outside. I have never felt such intense joy and positive energy before!

This incredible moment with the cardinal has made me feel much more confident about my ability to maneuver through the difficult times I am facing. I know deep within my heart that this was a spiritual sign from my grandmother who wanted to let me know that she will always be with me and watching over me. I really enjoyed my special visit from my loved one and the beautiful cardinal.

SWEET OLD GALS
In Memory of Anna Mae Craft and Gloria Jean Russell

Dayton, Ohio

On Christmas Eve 2020, my husband and I were in our living room having a deep conversation about our dearly departed (his mother and my grandmother) who are both so deeply missed. We were wondering "where" they are, if they are alone, what happens after we die, and a few other thoughts. We started to share stories of Christmases past and we both started crying. Suddenly, something caught my eye through one of our windows. I looked outside an observed a magnificent redbird land on a tree that was directly in front of my line of vision. I said to my husband, "Look at the redbird outside in this cold weather!” My husband looked outside and while I was looking at him for a reaction, he said, "There are two!" I looked outside again and sure enough, another redbird had landed right next to the first one! We both smiled while watching them for about 15 seconds before they both flew away.

We believe this was divine intervention and a sign from our sweet old gals who want us to be at peace knowing they are in fact alright!

TALK TO ME
In Memory of Francisco Medina

Houston, Texas

My father passed from COVID-19 complications in January 2021. His death was sudden and a shock to me and my family. I am having a difficult time with his death as the thought of living the rest of my life without him seems like an eternity. I believe my father is with me in spirit and today I had a beautiful sign that proves it is so.

I have been going to therapy for personal reasons prior to my father’s passing. I was just beginning to feel like myself again and started to add longer periods between appointments. After my father passed, I contacted my therapist to schedule an appointment to obtain help processing my loss and dealing with my grief.

During the appointment, I spoke with my therapist about my father and my difficulty with accepting that he is gone. A moment later, my therapist told me that while I was expressing these things to her, she saw a bright red cardinal on a tree outside her window. She said that it was the first time she had never seen a cardinal through that window! My therapist then said to me how special it was to see this spiritual bird at the very moment I was talking about my father.

Dad, thank you for speaking to me today. I love you and miss you so much. I hope you will talk to me again very soon!

TANNER’S TAPS
In Memory of Tanner Chason Hendry

Seminole, Florida

In 1999, I lost my son Tanner to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome when he was just 3 1/2 months old.

Tanner was the first grandchild for my mom, and she took his death almost as hard as I did. At the time, I lived in Alachua and she lived in Seminole. After the funeral and a period of grieving time, life began to move on.

One day my mom was in her guest room sewing when a bold red cardinal flew up to the window seal and began to tap on the window with its beak. It then flew away but returned a few minutes later. The cardinal returned and continued to tap on the window almost every day for nearly two weeks. A few days in, my mom went to the window and tried to communicate with the bird. She found it very unusual as this had never occurred at her home until after Tanner’s death.

My mom called me at home on a Monday and told me about her experiences with the cardinal. She was 100% convinced that it was the spirit of Tanner coming to tell her that he is safe, and everything will be alright. My mother’s spiritual belief is why we think of sweet Tanner whenever we see a red cardinal. Incidentally, my little Tanner was a redheaded baby boy.

Sadly, my mother recently passed, so now the meaning of cardinals is twice as special to me. I believe red cardinals are one of God’s most magnificent creatures because He chose them as spiritual messengers to help us stay strong after the loss of family and friends that we love.

TAPPING FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of Charlotte Seiger

Suwanee, Georgia

In 2017, I was a happy and young individual and was looking forward to my graduation. One day I learned that my grandmother had fallen ill with a very destructive form of cancer. My grandmother was one of the strongest women I have ever known, and she displayed that by fighting the cancer throughout each day and night. She fought tooth and nail to be able to see me one more time just to say goodbye. Although I had an opportunity to see her before she passed, I was never able to say goodbye. I had to watch a video of her where she had lost her memory and thought it was my birthday. My grandmother died just two days after Christmas in 2017.

Losing my grandmother was one of the most devastating things I have ever experienced. I have a difficult time dealing with death
and up until her funeral, felt as though I were in shock. During the funeral, I broke down in tears, especially when the person reading the eulogy stated how close my grandmother was to Jesus Christ. She devoted her life to God and her Savior Jesus, faithfully attending church every Sunday. In her last words, she wanted to
be remembered for her strong faith and was a true inspiration everyone around her.

It is now May 2020 and I am currently homeless. Despite my circumstances, I am fine, but continue to pray daily that good things will come. I was asleep in my car last night, while parked near several trees. There are covers in each of my windows with little space to see inside. I awoke to a “tapping” sound on my window and thought it was acorns falling on my car. The sound became erratic, so I moved a window cover and found myself staring eye to eye with a beautiful red cardinal that was perched on top of my side mirror.
It had been tapping on my window to get my attention! I was still disoriented from being woken up and sadly, scared it away before falling back asleep. A few hours later, the tapping sound returned.
I peeked outside and it was the same red cardinal standing on my mirror. I was exhausted and so cloudy-minded that I scared it away again and went back to sleep.

A few days have passed, and I just learned about the spiritual significance of red cardinals which has left me regretting that I scared it away. This little red cardinal has brought back so much love and happiness into my life and has completely changed my attitude and outlook. I truly look forward to hearing the tapping from Heaven! Until then, stay safe and be kind!

TEARS OF JOY
In Memory of Pete and Alma Flowers

Asheboro, North Carolina

For many years, I have fed wild birds, particularly during harsh weather and enjoy watching them at the feeders. For a while now, I have not consistently filled the feeders. Even so, I still noticed that cardinals would appear, even when the feeders were empty.

Due to the recent icy weather here in North Carolina, I am back to filling the birdfeeders often. I have not seen any cardinals yet, but figure it is because there was not always birdseed available.

Yesterday, I was in an outbuilding, and found a few photographs of my father and mother who passed away in 2004 and 2012, respectively.
I miss them dearly, particularly since I live basically as a loner. To say the least, I became teary eyed when I found the photographs. While looking at them, I heard a familiar sound and looked out into the trees. Resting on a treetop was a beautiful red cardinal singing its heart out! Tears began to flow again!

I don't know what kind of sign this could be, but it meant so much to me. My cardinals (I also later heard the female) have returned and it was such an incredible feeling that this happened at the same time I was thinking about my parents. Maybe this was a spiritual sign from them! I will never forget this heartwarming Cardinal Experience!

TESTIMONY OF FAITH
In Memory of Maxine I. Lothlen

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Last August I lost my mother and have been praying to connect with the red cardinals that frequently fly over my backyard.

On Mother’s Day this year I was filled with sorrow and was struggling with the loss of my mother. While outside, I observed a pair of cardinals in my backyard that were flying from limb to limb. I was finally able to capture a photograph of the male cardinal with its vibrant red wings fully extended while in flight and it was stunning! In one of the photographs I captured a stream of light cascading down beside the cardinal which made the photograph look spiritual.

I immediately called a friend of mine and sent them the photo. We both agreed the cardinal was my mother sending her love and protection from Heaven.

The very next day, I walked out in the backyard to get a closer look, hoping the cardinal would visit me again. Much to my amazement, the male cardinal flew out of a tree and perched itself on a telephone wire above where I was standing and looking up at him. It then began to sing for me and was hopping back and forth from the telephone line to a nearby tree limb. The cardinal remained perched for quite some time and several minutes. This was so comforting as the previous day was the first Mother’s Day I have experienced without my mom. I have never heard a cardinal sing, nor have I observed a cardinal remain perched for a long period of time, so today was truly special.

I thanked God for my Cardinal Experience and prayed right there that everything will be alright. Each time I begin to feel sad about my mother’s passing, I will think about this red cardinal and its testimony of faith.

TEXAS BLESSING
In Memory of Patty Horton

Houston, Texas

My beautiful, kind, and loving mother, Patty Horton, passed on March 23, 2020.

My mother’s birthday is December 6th and I saw a beautiful red cardinal just two days prior in 2020. I heard a loud, constant chirping while still in bed. I never typically pay attention to the birds, but this chirping was extremely loud and made me curious. I immediately got out of bed to look outside into my atrium and was speechless. I could not believe my eyes. There resting on a tree was the most vibrant red cardinal I have ever seen! I quickly grabbed my cellphone and captured several photographs.

Today is December 6, 2020 and my mom's birthday. For some reason I began thinking about the red cardinal. I wondered if the cardinal would ever return, which led me to Google the question, “Where have cardinals been spotted in Houston, Texas?” I immediately discovered the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals and was completely shocked! Naturally, my beloved mom immediately came to my mind. I truly feel as though my mom came down from Heaven to say, "Hello, I love and miss you, and hang in there, kiddo!"

I am filled with wonder and truly hope the cardinal will return! This was such a BEAUTIFUL experience, followed by a special gift to discover its meaning on my mother’s actual birthday!

Thank you, God for letting my mom come down to visit me!

THE BEST NEST
In Memory of John Beckman and Al Beckman

Denison, Texas

Next month will be a year since my baby brother passed at the young age of 39. A few weeks ago, we noticed a bird’s nest was built in a “Christmas Cactus” which hangs outside our front window. After taking a closer look, we discovered it belongs to a cardinal pair and there are two cardinal nestlings inside. The irony is that my brother is the father of two young boys. Without a doubt, this is the best nest!

THE CAMPING CARDINAL
In Memory of Julie

Orlando, Florida

Shortly after the loss of my beautiful daughter, I went camping with my family which included my granddaughters who had just lost their mother. We were incredibly blessed every day while at the campground, as a bold red cardinal would visit our campsite. Each day the cardinal would rest on the branch of a tree near whatever area we chose to gather and sit.

This “Camping Cardinal” provided such a special feeling inside all of us. We will hold onto this memory as a reminder that Julie will always be with us.

THE CARDINAL COTTAGE
In Memory of My Daughter

Tallapoosa, Georgia

My daughter passed away in March of 2016. There was no comfort for me until one day I was sitting by my window and a little red bird appeared. He was so beautiful, and I always considered male northern cardinals as strikingly beautiful, but never more so than the day he first appeared right outside my window. Cardinals appear in my yard every day now, and naturally they are always welcome! I named my house The Cardinal Cottage after this little red bird that brings me so much comfort. I truly believe he is a messenger from Heaven!

THE CARDINAL LIVES ON
In Memory of Diane Burti

Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania

My sister died suddenly when she was 68 years old. At the time of her death, our mother was 98 years old. While staring outside my kitchen window, a bright red cardinal appeared on an electric line.
I was directly at the cardinal and began speaking to it. I told this beautiful redbird that my mom lives 12 miles away and how on earth would I find the strength to tell her that my sister, her daughter, had just died.

I drove to my mother’s home and sat down. Just as I began to talk, she stopped me and said, “Carol, wait a minute! What is that red figure on the lamp post looking in at us?”

Yes! It was a bright red cardinal … and so, the cardinal lives on!

THE COLOR RED
In Memory of Marie Miller

Medford, Maine

My mom passed about 15 years ago. She absolutely loved red and even dyed her hair red. There is a vibrant red cardinal that lives in a tree located near one of my house windows. Whenever I look outside, the cardinal is looking through the window and directly at me. This always fills my little red heart with an overwhelming sense of peace, as I think of my mother and feel the presence of her beautiful spirit.

THE GIFT OF INNER PEACE
In Memory of My Parents