Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday.  She loved the cooking, family, loudness, and hustle and bustle of the whole thing.  She was not able to cook that last Thanksgiving.  I did all the cooking but she was not able to eat either…and this was rare because my mom LOVED her Thanksgiving food…LOL…She tried nibbling, but nothing would go down.  The rest of the family ate dinner and I tried to take care of momma, but she was stubborn.  We had to leave soon after dinner as my kids were in basketball tournament.  That was the last time I saw my mom alive.  She was 56.

I had vowed to her that if she was not better in a few days, that I would come up and take her bodily to the hospital.  My son, Chris, and I were actually going to go up when he got off of work (8am) on the next Thursday (the 4^th) morning.  We never made the trip…not in the way that we thought.  At 7:23am on December 4th, my phone rang.  It was my daddy.  He simply said “Shorty”,(no I am not short but that is what my dad calls me still), I think your momma is dead”.  Very simply put and my world came crashing down.  I yelled at him that this was NOT a funny joke (my dad is a well-known jokester) and he assured me that he was serious so I told him to put my mom on the phone and I would wake her.  I yelled and yelled but she was gone.  I woke up my children by yelling and the devastation began all over again.  You see, we are a very close, loving family.  I am an only child and am to this day spoiled rotten…just ask my daddy.  I called my best friend since the age of 5,  Carla, who is more than a sister could ever be!  She immediately came over and she and I headed to North Carolina.  My children came a bit later with their father.  I did all the things that I should have as far as arrangements etc.  I remember none of this.  What I do remember is washing the very same spot on the counter for days.  I am sure I said the right things and smiled and was a good hostess because my mom would have wanted and expected me to be.  But all the while I was dying inside. 

That was, in effect, my last Thanksgiving as well.  I have not cooked nor eaten normal Thanksgiving dinner since that day in 2002.  I simply can’t do it.  I have tried to no avail.  This was my moms favorite holiday.  How am I supposed to still love and celebrate it?  My family, minus my dad and I, all get together and cook and do all that other stuff.  I sleep.  Depressed, maybe.  Hiding, probably.  Missing my mom and always wondering what I could have done differently, YES!  I guess that is the thing…what could I have done differently to save her for the Thanksgivings to come…maybe gone to take her to the Dr. a day earlier?  Begged her to go anyway…this I did! 

My son, Peabo and I actually saw the wonderful Medium, Lisa Williams, in October and asked mom to give me a message.  Peabo and I teased that if she came through, it would be for my son Chris…He was always her “baby”!  Well, she did come through.  She had this message for me…”It is time to move on.  Do Thanksgiving this year.  It is time.”  She then had Lisa yell out, “Chris, Chris, Chris”!  Well, that alone made Peabo and I laugh our butts off because we KNEW then for sure that it was Momma.  Only MY MOM would let us know it was her by yelling my oldest sons name.  I also have a great friend that keeps telling me that it is time to “talk through this” and move on.  It has been “long enough”.  Well, I want everyone to know that I heard the message from Lisa and I listen to my friend, I really do.  I just do not know if this is the year for me yet.  I am trying and will continue to do so.  I know it is not logical.  I do know that she is in a better place, after all, I am a medium and talk to those that have crossed over all the time.  I just can’t let go yet.  My friend is right, it is time to “move on”.  But how does one do that?  I am just trying to figure that out.  For this year though, I think maybe I will eat Mexican food and read in bed.  Next year may just be the year.

I love and miss you Momma.  I am so very sorry that I did not get you to the Dr. on time.  Rest easy now and know that I am doing my best for you.  I will get there, Momma…I promise you this.  If not this year, perhaps next…but I will get there!

Tentative dates are:

January 23rd: Saskatoon, SK, Canada
January 24th: Regina, SK, Canada
February 1st: Calgary, AB, Canada

May 2nd:  Pennsylvania, USA  (just myself hosting)
May 23rd/24th: Los Angeles, CA, USA - with special guest
October 26: West Palm Beach/Miami, Florida, USA 
 
We also are in the planning stages for Atlanta GA,  New York City, and possibly New Orleans.  If any of you are interested in us coming to your city, please drop me a line so that we can get it in the planning stages!
 
The tour will include messages from both Barb and myself in a gallery type setting, past life regressions/readings, seminars, and Reiki, among other exciting things.  There will also hopefully be CDs available for purchase with signings at a meet and greet! 

Tickets for the January dates will be available for purchase in November/December when Barbs brand new website is unveiled @ http://www.barb-powell.com/ .  Tickets for the other venues will be available as the year progresses.

Click to watch Ghost Adventures/Riddle House trailer

Recently I had the great fortune to work with Zak Bagans, Aaron Goodwin and Nick Groff on the Travel Channels “Ghost Adventures” show.  It aired on November, 7^th.  We did an investigation of the “Riddle House” in West Palm Beach, FL.  I was honored to be the 1^st psychic that guys had ever

used!  The investigation was a blast and there were many exciting things to happen…especially to poor Aaron.  I want to thank all of you who watched and supported me during this new adventure.  I will keep you all updated on any follow-ups that I may have.  Here is some more info on the “Riddle House”.  Enjoy!

“Riddle House”

Death has been in and around the Riddle House since it was built in the early 1900s. First used as a funeral parlor, and later as a private residence, the home has seen its share of tragedy.  But what makes this haunt even more perplexing? In the 1980s, the house was moved across town and it would seem from many modern-day reports that the angry ghosts who dwelled here have followed attached to the building  possibly forever. In 1905, a Victorian “Painted Lady” house was constructed at 327 Acacia Street in downtown West Palm Beach. Originally called the Gatekeeper’s Cottage, the building served as a home to the overseers of the Woodlawn Cemetery across the street.  A century ago, it wasn’t uncommon for families to bury their loved ones with the expensive jewelry they owned in life. Grave robbing was an ongoing problem, and those who lived in the Gatekeeper’s Cottage were expected to keep an eye out for would-be criminals.

Dark History and Ghostly Lore

The first ghostly legend attached to this seemingly-normal house is that of a big man named “Buck” who once worked for the cemetery. The local legend states that Buck was killed in town after an argument spun out of control. Buck’s ghost has been seen walking the grounds around the house and on the porch of the Cottage where cemetery workers would often take their meals. In the 1920s, Karl Riddle became the first City Manager and Superintendent of Public Works. The city of West Palm Beach offered the former Gatekeeper’s Cottage as a residence for Riddle. In addition to his duties as City Manager, Riddle also had to oversee the cemetery. During his tenure at the house, one of Riddle’s employees encountered financial difficulties. He became despondent and withdrawn from his family. Seeing no other way out, Riddle’s employee hung himself from the rafters of the attic. After the tragedy, the beam used to hold the rope was permanently removed from the top story of the house. The suicide was a catalyst for the darker haunting that followed. Karl Riddle’s personal diary recounts how the family had trouble keeping help in the home. The staff reported hearing chains rattling on the stairs and murmuring voices. Many quit, never to return.

Riddle House in Recent Years

After Riddle and his family moved out, several businesses came and went before the building was finally used by Palm Beach Atlantic College as a girl’s dormitory. By 1980, the building was abandoned, fell into disrepair, and was scheduled to be demolished by the city. But fate had other plans for the house. The city donated the building to John Riddle, the nephew of Karl, and John Riddle donated the building for preservation. The house at 327 Acacia Street was dismantled and brought over to Yesteryear Village to go on permanent display in a location designed to send visitors on a time warp to a century ago. Perhaps the setting plays a role in guests tuning in to the haunts.

Paranormal Activity Reported

During the reassembling of the Riddle House, the dark haunting inside reared its head again. When returning to work in the mornings, carpenters would find their tools thrown from the attic and sitting on the ground below. Third-floor windows would also be found mysteriously broken. At one point, reconstruction had to stop for six months because the workers were so shaken up by what they had experienced inside. During the private unveiling of the Riddle House in Yesteryear Village, two unexpected guests showed up to the reception. Dressed in early twentieth century garb, many commented on how dashing the pair looked. Those in attendance assumed the couple to be actors. When an old photo showing the original Riddle House was unveiled, attendees were shocked to see the couple everyone had commented on was actually in the photo. The out-of-place pair was now nowhere to be seen. The Riddle House is one of the most active haunts in southern Florida. One visitor who had arranged for a private tour was struck in the head by a piece of wood in the staircase. The wood seemed to appear from nowhere. A maintenance worker felt she was attacked while cleaning the building and refuses to enter the house again. Other witnesses have spotted a hanging torso in the attic window. Some believe it to be some kind of macabre prop, but learn no such mannequin exists in the attic. Security personnel have seen lights going on and off in the building, and many avoid the house altogether. Places can hold memories long after the inhabitants have moved on. Even when relocated entirely, some entities are bound to the structures around them. The reasons why may forever remain a “riddle”.

A medium is simply an individual that is a channel of communication between the earthly world and the other side.

Empathy is commonly defined as one’s ability to recognize, perceive and feel directly the emotion of another. An Empath is someone that can sense and feel what you or the person you are calling about feels. She feels the vibrations of hurt, guilt, depression, illness, or any other symptom that we experience.

Claircognizant means simply “clear knowingness”. This means that she sometimes…many times…just knows things about you, your health, loved ones, etc. This gift comes through the Crown Chakra (7th Chakra) directly from Spirit.

Clairaudience, “clear hearing”, means that she can hear the spirits who are communicating with her. They may speak to her in words, or they may use other sounds to communicate their messages. This is much like hearing voices in your head.

Clairvoyance, or “clear seeing” means that she uses her mind’s eye to see what Spirit is bringing forth. She may see the actual spirit of the person who is communicating with her or see other meaningful objects, pictures, places, or people who are important to the message.

Clairsentience, which means “clear sensing”, is sometimes called being empathic as well. It is simply being able to sense others feelings and connecting with them through the heart chakra.

Medical intuitive, or someone who sometimes “sees” medical problems in the body. Shelia does this reluctantly and is in no way a doctor, nor does she ever try to diagnose any illness or disease.

Lately I have been asked to recommend books and any other thing that I have found that can help people to open up and learn to work with their own intuitive side.  As I have stated many times before we are all psychic, especially as children, and that we tend to lose some of our gifts as we grow older due to the dogma of our society.  There are many things that we can do to help open us up again and many books out there that are excellent and easy to use.  So finally I decided to start my list here.  I will add to it as I find new books or fall in love with old ones again.  I also will put in some books that I think EVERYONE should read at some point as well as maybe some CD’s or other things that have helped me on my journey.

The 1^st book on my list will have to be a new one that I found not too long ago.  It is called “So you want to be a Medium: A Down to Earth Guide” by Rose Vanden Eynden. “So You Want to Be a Medium?” explains how to improve one’s psychic senses for working in this world and beyond. Through exercises involving meditation, breathing, dream work, symbols, and energy systems, the author teaches how to prepare one’s mind and body for spiritual communication. The book also teaches about spirit guides and elemental energies, how to get in touch with them, and how to interpret their messages. Whether you’re looking to become a professional medium or are simply interested in a closer connection to Spirit, this book enhances your spiritual life.

Next I would have to tell EVERYONE that you should read “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne not once or twice but again and again until it becomes like breathing!  The Secret is the self-help book on the laws of attraction that reminds us that one’s positive thoughts are powerful magnets that attract wealth, health, happiness. It is a very simplistic book that just teaches us all to be more positive.

Next, I would have to say that Doreen Virtue’s “The Lightworker’s Way: Awakening Your Spiritual Power to Know and Heal”  This is not only a book about Doreen’s life, beliefs and path but also one that shares many effective techniques that have helped me and that I feel can help others as well. Techniques taught include working on your own issues and cleansing your own energy/chakras, centering, working with angels and spirit guides, mediumship, healing others and healing the earth. It also stresses keeping your work pure and making sure you are aligned with Love and Divine Purpose. Also stressed is the importance of being aware of your own ego which can get in the way of your work as a lightworker , and ways on how to overcome the voice of that ego.

On the fiction side, I highly recommend Kay Hooper’s books for some fun summer (or fall, winter or spring) reading.  She writes a series about a group of “Special Agents” in the FBI which all possess a 6^th sense (sometimes called “spider sense”).  The different agents all use their gifts to helps solve crimes, usually of the most heinous type!  You can start with the following trilogies: “Stealing Shadows”, “Hiding in the Shadows”, & “Out of the Shadows” as well as “Touching Evil”, “Whisper of Evil”, & “Sense of Evil”.  She has several other trilogies which use “FBI Agent Noah Bishops Special Agents”.  Fun read that can also teach you about many different gifts that some people may possess …and, be honest, we all know that the FBI has to have a unit of “gifted” agents that they use, right???

Also, lest we forget, it is always good to reread the Bible!  There is so much knowledge there to draw on.  I sincerely recommend that people read many different types of religious books, no matter what faith you are.  There is always something to that we can take from them. Remember, when you read them,  if you find something that does not resonate with you, simply lay it to the side and take what fits! 

I guess my biggest recommendation overall would be to simply READ!  There is so much out there for us to learn, so find what you love and research it, or find what you disagree with and research that, or find something that makes you laugh or cry.  Just READ!

Much more to come………….

NEWBORN’S CONVERSATION WITH GOD:

 A baby asked God, “They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?” God said, “Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you.”

The child further inquired, “But tell me, here in heaven I don’t have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy.” God said, “Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel’s love and be very happy.”

Again the child asked, “And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don’t know the language?” God said, “Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.”

“And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?” God said, “Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.”

“Who will protect me?” God said, “Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.”

“But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.” God said, “Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you.”

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, “God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel’s name.” God said, “You will simply call her, “Mom.”

Arnold-Chiari Malformation or ACM, is an uncommon structural condition affecting the cerebellum. Essentially there is extra cerebellum crowding the outlet of the brainstem/spinal cord from the skull on its way to the spinal canal. This crowding will commonly lead to severe headaches, neck pain, loss of balance, tingling in the arms and/or legs, stiffness, and less often will cause problems such as chronic coughing, difficulties with swallowing, and choking. Often the symptoms are made worse with straining.

Untreated, the chronic crowding of the brainstem and spinal cord can lead to very serious consequences including paralysis. In addition they can lead to the development of syrinxes (Cysts in the spinal cord) which may further injure the patients spinal cord and function. When the diagnosis is suspected the study of choice is an MRI scan. These malformations are very difficult to see on CT scans and impossible to see on plain x-rays.

There are many ways to treat Chiari malformations, but all require surgery. The basic operation is one of uncrowding the area at the base of the cerebellum where it is pushing against the brainstem and spinal cord. This is done by removing a portion of bone at the base of the skull deep to the neck muscles as well as often removing a part of the back of the first and occasionally additional spinal column segments.

in layman’s terms ….
The procedure involves removing a small section of skull bone at the rim of the foramen magnum (the hole in the base of your skull where your brainstem/spinal cord goes through) , and then they also (not always) will put a dural graft in the area of the Chiari malformation to allow for more room back there. Also (and again.. not always) they will remove the back section of the c1 vertebra and possibly the C2 also to give the cerebellar tonsils even more room to co-exist down in the foramen magnum with your brain stem/spinal cord. This allows for the free flow of cerebral spinal fluid (and is a great insurance policy against getting a syrinx (cyst on the spine) (or syringomyelia). If you already have syringomyelia, the new free flow of spinal fluid will often allow the syrinx to dissipate on it’s own. In some cases a shunt is installed.

Kelly has had 2 surgeries as I said earlier, but she is a fighter and most times you would never know anything was wrong with her physically. I just wanted to talk a bit about this syndrome so that more people know about it as well as in hopes that there can be more education and research out there!

Hey Friends….I am doing the ‘X’ Zone Radio show tonight at 11pm EST .  Rob McConnell is the host and we will be discussing many things in the psychic and paranormal realm such as Spirit Guides, Angels, Should a psychic tell you when and how you are going to die, and the differences between a psychic and a medium!  You can join in by going to ‘X’ Zone Radio.  Click on the flashing on air button and come on in.  You may call in at 1-877-528-8255.  I will be taking as many questions as I can.  The show lasts only 1 hour so you had better call in early if you want to get through!

Please join me on this fun journey!  We may all learn something new!

Love and light,

Shelia