On February 20th 2016, my birthday, we honored my dear friend Zoey by naming a baby in her honor at the Garden of Innocence. You can read the full story of that experience under July 2016 “Honoring Zoey” on this Blog.
Sunday, August 7th 2016, was Zoey’s 4th anniversary of her passing on. I realized this milestone while sitting in church that morning. I thought that it would be a special moment when I would be at the Garden of Innocence that afternoon for a meeting.
I was invited by Elissa Davey, founder of the Garden of innocence, to join her at the Garden that Sunday afternoon for an interview with two sociology researchers. The two PhD sociologists where from UCLA and Rice University and they were engaged in research regarding what causes people like us with the Garden of Innocence to do what we do.
I decided to go to the Garden about a half hour early just to spend some quiet time reflecting on my friend Zoey and all she means to me. Once again I would also reflect on the experience we had when we honored Baby Zoey on my birthday.
I arrived at El Camino Memorial Park and parked my car. The day was spectacular with the sun brightly shining and a cool breeze gently flowing over the grounds. I slowly made my way up the hill toward the Garden.
As I walked I thought, “It would really be nice if there were some butterflies flitting around when I get to the Garden.”
Whenever we have a burial of a child at the Garden of Innocence, there always seems to be at least one butterfly gracing us with its presence. More often than not it is a yellow and black tiger swallow tail. So it wasn’t an extraordinary thought that there would be some butterflies there when I arrived.
I continued to walk and then I thought, “It would really be special if a butterfly would land on Baby Zoey’s grave stone.”
I have very seldom observed butterflies landing on the ground. So this thought was rather extraordinary due to the rarity of such an event.
I arrived at the Garden to witness not one but half a dozen butterflies of varied species flitting around in profusion.
As I stood in awe, I got out my cell phone and started the camera in video mode. I was panning around when lo and behold I captured what I had hoped for on a video! Not only did I capture a butterfly landing on the ground, but it landed on Baby Zoey’s grave stone! Of all the grave stones in the Garden, well over a hundred, it landed on the very grave stone I had hoped for.
Leave it to Zoey to make my day yet again!
I couldn’t believe this was happening. I replayed the video a few more times and shared it with Zoey’s mother. We were both elated at this experience. Once again I had an exceptional Garden of Innocence experience.
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Beautiful experience! Zoey’s Spirit lives on around us all everyday. She was an extraordinary young lady❤️❤️
It’s so amazing how our Heavenly Father works. When word was sent of Zoey’s passing, for me it was very hard to accept. Such a Beautiful young Lady and so young…Why? I remember asking God to please watch over Zoey’s Mom, Dad and Grandparents. I also remember asking God for a sign from Zoey…and soon after the same exact type of butterflies I saw flying. I smiled with tears on my face and said “Okay, Zoey I see that you are doing well and we love you.”