My grandfather passed away over forty years ago but he recently gave me a gift I did not expect and had not asked for. It is a gift within the realm of possibility that healed my heart and reached the depths of my soul.

My story leading to this gift began over ten years ago when my sister encouraged me to hear what her friend and spiritual medium, Jane, had to say. I went to Jane uneasy about what might happen, but willing to listen. Jane began with the reading of my birth chart, which interpreted astrological signs to determine my personality. This was followed by information she was receiving directly from spirit-the Universe. "You need to speak up," Jane said. Did she mean I needed to speak more in that moment, that I needed to be louder? I did not ask for clarification. I typically take a long time to acclimate to a new person and/or environment and I focus simply of listening until I settle in. I also take time to respond to questions because I need to take them in, mull over them , and allow them to settle in my heart before I can offer genuine responses. In this case, no explanation followed concerning what I needed to say or whether there was a specific issue hovering over me-just those five words. Puzzled, I searched my thoughts, looking for what I was holding back: I found nothing for, at that point in time, I did not know it wasn't just one thing, it was everything: my voice-my words-were trapped in my throat. Only recently-over a decade later-have I been able to open my throat releasing what had been locked away.

About halfway through the reading, Jane asked if there was anyone I wanted to talk to. At that time in my life, only a few relationships had passed over, so I mentioned my grandpa and grandma on my mother's side. Jane remarked that Grandpa was "way out doing other stuff." She then asked if he was a cranky man because he "seemed annoyed." He asked her what she was calling him in there for, then acquiesced by saying "hi" and that he was learning a lot. I shrugged it off. I had barely connected with him, even during the years he had lived with us after Grandma had passed, so why should we connect now? That said. I was amazed by the reading in general. Jane knew things she could not have otherwise known about, such as: my mean music teacher from high school; the man I was seeing at the time; and a few experiences from my life. I left with the thought that maybe this stuff was real. Thank you Jane.

I held on to this spark for ten more years, until time and circumstances changed who I was. My parents had recently passed-my dad in September 2015 and my mom in February 2016-just four months apart. It was heartbreaking, but Dad, at eighty-nine, and Mom, at ninety-three, had been ready to go. They had lived a long adventurous life, enjoying their time together with family and friends for over sixty years. Given my earlier experience with Jane, I wondered if it was possible to hear messages from my parents now they had passed away. This curiosity reignited the spark lit, what now seems, a long time ago. Little did I know what lay ahead. Honestly, if I had heard this story, understanding it was my future, I would not have believed it for a single moment.