I'm A Believer..

As many of you know, I'm a skeptical person by nature. Never before have I believed in such things as a "higher" force, demons, ghosts, ESP, witches etc etc.

Last night I had one of those dreams that simply feels real. One of those dreams where you swear it really happened. Where you wake up & you can remember every word, every touch, every smell. I woke up thinking "that was just weird". I had dreamt about my "brother-in-law" Chris. Chris was super young (in his very early 30's) when he passed away due to heart complications on July 12, 2007. Chris & Kyle had a special bond - they were inseperable. Kyle referred to him as "Elmo Chris" (because at the time he couldn't pronounce "Uncle") & would get so excited whenever he would see Chris. They would play hide n seek & cars for HOURS! Kyle spent the better part of his early toddler years with Chris by his side. When Chris passed, Kyle was so incredibly young..too young to process the word "death". So instead we told him that Elmo Chris had gone on vacation. For months Kyle asked for him & for months we reminded him that he was still on vacation. Someday, when I'm good & ready, I will talk to Kyle about Chris. I will share all of the wonderful memories I have of the two of them together.
So back to my dream: In it we were at Kyle's 6th Birthday Party (which will take place this afternoon). Chris was drinking a beer when he made his infamous comment.."It doesn't get any better than this!!" He would say that all-the-time - when we were hangin in the backyard having a cookout, relaxing up in Vermont on the deck etc. In my dream he was talking to Jim about how big Kyle has grown - as if he hadn't seen him in a long, long time. He said something to Jim about how cute he looked in his Star Wars shirt.
I woke up feeling as though the birthday party had already taken place. It was so weird! Then..
Not ten minutes later I actually felt a bit spooked, for lack of a better word. Quickly that feeling turned warmed, comforting.
You see, Kyle woke up & immediately went to look out the window. He saw the sun shining, the blue sky & said "Mama, today is a GREAT day for a birthday party! It doesn't get any better than this!" The very next thing he said after that was "I think I'll wear my Star Wars shirt today, since it's my favorite".
I'd have to say that in that very moment, as I felt the goosebumps forming on my arms, I became a believer. I know for a fact that Chris will be watching Kyle's birthday party today. I know that if he had it his way he would be here in person to watch it. But since he can't he sent me a message reminding me that although he's not here in person, he's certainly here in spirit.
We sure do miss you, Elmo Chris. And you're right..It doesn't get any better than this, buddy! I know right now you're watching over us, drinking either an iced coffee or a beer. And while I'm sad that you never got to meet Bella in person, you've probably met with her in her dreams already. If she wakes up one day saying "Let's Go Red Sox!!" i'll know for sure...