Did you ever have a moment in your life that was so remarkable that it sent chills down your spine? One that you felt compelled to tell anyone who would listen? (If you are close to me, you have already heard this story and you’re about to hear it again!) Here is my tale of our family’s tiny glimpse of heaven.

My husband, Steve, comes from a very tight Irish-Catholic family. We spend lots of time together and every Memorial Day we have a family reunion at the Jersey Shore, where we squeeze the whole gang into a house on the beach, play games, eat too much, laugh, catch up and watch the “elders” burst with pride as they enjoy their children and their children’s children. We have welcomed new babies with joy and have said goodbye to some very special people. I don’t think a Memorial Day has gone by that we haven’t seen a rainbow sprawled over the ocean and we know for sure that this is a giant hug and hello from loved ones looking down on the fun.

One of the loved ones who passed is Steve’s cousin, Johnny. Johnny was taken from us way too early, losing a tough battle with diabetes that he struggled with most of his adult life. He left behind a beautiful wife, Koleen and an adorable daughter, Katie. Since he died, we have celebrated his birthday together every year in September at his house with a balloon launch. Friends, family, nieces, nephews and cousins by the dozens come by to celebrate his life. We write special messages on the balloons and send them up to heaven and hope he knows how much he is missed and how much we love him! 

Katie, Johnny’s daughter, was three years old when he died. She is now in Kindergarten and just attended her first father/daughter dance at her school this past April. Sadly, Johnny wasn't there to take her but his best friend, John stepped in to escort her to the dance. How sweet is that? As they were taking pictures on the front door step, Katie exclaimed, “A ba-yoon! A ba-yoon!” She ran out to the middle of the front lawn, and picked up a purple deflated balloon that had writing on it. She ran it back to her mother. Koleen leaned down to look at it and her heart stopped. Katie found a balloon on the front lawn that had been mowed twenty times… a balloon that survived at least 10 feet of snow and two ice storms… a balloon that was clearly sent straight from heaven. She looked at the balloon and read the message as if it were written yesterday. It had a little stick figure on it with his arms stretched out with the message “I love you this much”. She turns the balloon over to see “Uncle John” in bubble letters. John sent his daughter Katie a little message that day. I’m sure he wanted to be there to take her to the dance. If he couldn’t be there, he would be there in spirit, and that he was!!!!

I ran into Koleen at the frozen yogurt store recently and she asked me,” Did you hear the balloon story?” I hadn’t, so she proceeded to tell me the story with tears in her eyes. She told me she thinks the balloon was written on by one of my daughters. I asked her to text me a picture of the balloon. She sent me the image and I recognized that it was a balloon that my daughter Molly and I made at the balloon launch! Sooooo cool! As we drove home, I told the girls the story. My daughters Molly and Maggie loved the story and right away were exclaiming what a wonderful gift that was for Katie! My youngest, Mary Rose, was very quiet. I turned to look at her and she was as white as a ghost. I rubbed her leg and asked her “What do you think about that, Mary Rose?” Before I could finish my question she burst into tears….. Through her tears, she was exclaiming, “I’m not sad! I’m not sad!” I asked, “What is it?” As she tried to compose herself, she said through her tears, “Mommy, I prayed for Uncle John to send Katie a miracle….and he did…. He sent Katie a miracle! He answered my prayer!” Wow….. just wow…. I hugged her so hard and cried right along with her. We called Aunt Koleen and told her about Mary Rose’s prayer.

I think if you look hard enough, and open your heart and mind, you can see little messages from above all around you. You just have to be open-minded and have a little faith. This gift from above was undeniable and surely a little miracle for Johnny’s family. It’s one of those stories that is just too remarkable not to share. Feel free to pass it on.

Do you have any little miracles to share? Let’s hear them?