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.