Question for board members: Connections?

[Pam]

Here's a question that David Cook asked me, that I couldn't answer, because if it's happening, I wouldn't know unless someone shared it with me:

Has anyone from this board made any real life (off board, email, 'face to face' etc.) connections with another board member - that has significantly impacted you (i.e., your ability to cope with loss, the advancement of your spiritual understanding, etc.)

I know that I CERTAINLY have - but they asked about other members - anyone care to share? :)

[Jude]

Do you want us to give names, or are we just sharing our stories?

[Pam]

Just your stories is cool :) If you feel like sharing names, and it's ok with the other person(s), that's great to hear from both of you too...but just the stories themselves would be great.

[Gail]

Pam' I've met a bunch of the people face to face at seminars and gained some terrific email friends through this board. All have impacted my life to the better. The one I have never met in person but feel I already know and who has been the biggest influence in my spiritual journey has to be you.
Gail

[Tanner2]

I thought this was pretty cool. Once I posted something about Gettysburg and someone private-messaged me. She lived in Biglerville (a small town 7 miles from Gettysburg, PA). Well, I live in Biglerville. The more we chatted, the more ironic it got. To make a long story short, I can look out my kitchen window and see her house. Nothing in between us but a field. Not only that, I worked with her sister-in-law for 20 years. And my son and her son took karate lessons at the same place for years. We just never met. We didn't really form a relationship other than emails, but it was cool, non the less.

Nothing turned into a life altering experience, yet. But you never know. I think I'll email her. I haven't talked to her in a while. Thanks for reminding me.

[WPBEAR14]

Too many to name individually. Several including you Pam, through Email and snail mail (I think they know who they are!) And some that I met at seminars in Charlotte and Jacksonville. All have contributed to my spiritual growth and connection to John Edward's message. And there are a few I feel I have know before, too.
But even if I have not connected with them other than through posts, I know many have challenged, confirmed, clarified, or enlightened my beliefs.

Of course if it weren't for this board I would have never attempted to attend the seminars. But reading about how great they are, I just can't stay away. Are there any scheduled before Australia?

(Perhaps a bit off topic.)I feel drawn to introduce more people to John's message all the time. I convinced my mom; and now because my 88 year old mom watches my tapes of JE in her nursing home, the staff are watching occasionally too and talking to me about it.

Thanks for the question, Pam.
Love & light,
POOH

[Amanda]

Oh WOW!


Take a late Sunday night (sometime last fall) in the JE Friends chat room and 3 (silly) tired people.

Add one (GREAT) Beatles song.

And you get a wonderful friendship!!!!!????!!!
(One that far surpasses most friendships I've ever experienced in the "real" world!)

I really don't know exactly how...nor why but, WOW!!

I love you (((((((((((((FRIEND(S)!!!!!!!!!!))))))))))))))))

Thank you (((((((((Pam)))))))))):angel:

[forgiveness]

OMG YES! Besides the wonderful example and influence you have had on me Pam....Angels Mailroom (Adrienne) is someone that posts here and has become a wonderful close friend...


There are many things that we ended up having in common..Then when we found out that we only lived an hour from each other in CT... we had to meet!

The most amazing one is the fact that when we met face to face...she looks like someone who I lost who was very close to me.....It was errie at first...so errie that I couldnt tell her right away...In a way , I think is was a way that my grandmother could make me feel closer to her. I miss her so much.

She and I met because of John's work. Among all the wonderful things that John's work has done for me in my life......meeting Adrienne through it ...is one of the most special. Just like she is!

I was so fortunate to attend one of John's Workshops. Unfortunatly she could not. I had hoped and prayed that somehow she could go ...but it did not work out. But my guides kept on telling me that she would be involved. Now 8 of the workshop atendees have decided to start meeting once a month to talk about the process, the impact of the workshop and how are studies are going. We are all spead out between CT and NY. The person organizing this asked...

"Does anyone know someone who lives at the half way point for all of us which is in the Bridgeport/Stamford area that would like to host it...
OMG...that is where Adrienne LIVES! The other side is so amazing! She has offered to host the get togethers. I cant wait to start meeting. It will be kewl that Adrienne can get a taste of the all day workshop John gave. Just like I had hope and felt it would work out to be!

Thanks for the opportunity to share that!

Hugs!
Angelina

[VTFlowerGirl]

It was specifically because of JE, this board, reference to the "other" unamazing board, that I got into dowsing, as I explained in the topic discussion on SD. Really, that was the beginning of my spiritual journey. Just got back from a cross-border gathering of "the other me's" (dowsers), yet another high-energy awesome day. A whole new chapter of my life began when I opened the door to this dowsing room. When I opened that door I closed the door to fear about death and the unknown and the other spooky things in life like ghosts. None of that scares me now. I have a certain peace and contentment about me I feel. So many things from my pre-JE and dowsing days have been validated for me - feelings about guides, and the presence of crossed over relatives, etc.

As the Grateful Dead wrote so many years ago: "What a long, strange trip it's been." But oh what an exciting one. And many miles to go for sure. We're all students. For as many answers as I get here I develop new questions as well. I take these back for discussion with my dowsing friends. Then there's all the "coincidences" that have occurred regarding the dowers. Too numerous to mention. My world is not so big, the internet really makes it so easy to reach out and touch someone across the globe.

JE opened the door to it all. It's his continual "you can do this," attitude, which is constantly reinforced here that energizes me.

Oh and I didn't mention Ms. Pam yet. Inspirational, wise, taught me a thing or two about many subjects: from computers to Bible study to life itself. Psyquestor, she's top notch too - we even share the same birthday! They both give me patience and understanding sometimes when I lack it. I'm not going to start mentioning other names because I'll never stop. But this place is my energizer, my home, I can be myself and I can ask for help. It feels good to be able to help others here as well.

Significantly impacted? You bet'cha. I live in the boonies but have a circle of friends I connect with daily, without them it'd be a much lonelier life. This place and my JE friends are my spiritual resource library. Don't go to church, haven't in over 15 years. But I'm the most spiritual I've ever been.

Sorry to have rambled on. Good question.

[tigger2001]

I was on the media board and some members had posted about an article regarding John in one of your magazines in the US.
As I am unable to get this mag in the UK, I posted to see if any members knew if the magazine had a web link so I could maybe read the article online.

One member Powerfulpug replied and said if I messaged her with my postal address she would forward the magazine on to me.
As promised she did at some expense to herself, so I sent her a thankyou card and the money to cover the costs. While on the subject let's not forget our wonderful Angelina who ended up with a few headaches to enable members to get a copy of the Afterlife tape. I have promised to send Angelina a tape of our show in the UK based on CO.

That's what is so great about our little friends community, the people on this site will truely go out of their way to help and support one another and let's face it, that is what friendships all about. Even though I have'nt met any of the members personally and living in the UK I won't get the chance to bump into any members at seminars, I feel as though I have a special kinship with you all and feel privilaged to be a member here. ((((THANKS PAM)))) !

[forgiveness]

Lorraine

And let us not forgot the patience you had in waiting for it!

Hugs
Angelina

[AngelsMailroom]

When John says :handofgod "Those who are meant to get the message will...." it is soooo true! I first heard about CO after my brother-in-law passed away. His wife mentioned 'this guy, John Edward' and his program Crossing Over and the comfort she found watching it. Since she lived in San Diego, I didn't think we even got the program here in Connecticut. I finally found the SciFi channel and at 11 p.m. I would zip upstairs and switch CO on!
One night when I turned the TV on, the channel ironically, was showing a "Rosie" show! I have no idea why Rosie would be on at that hour, or even what channel it was on, but she happened to be in the middle of a segment on Harry Potter, with the cast of the movie, making magical recipes. With three grandchildren who cajoled me into reading the novels, I HAD to get a copy of the recipes for them. So I began searching her site. Since it obviously was a rerun, I thought if I looked on the message board perhaps I could find someone who might mention it. I found a few contacts, and also noticed someone who titled her message "When will John Edward be on?". I sent her a note asking if she got info on when it would be on, noting that I only recently learned of him. She answered, signing her name - "Angelina". I couldn't resist responding that I loved her name - I wanted to name my daughter Angela or Angelina (many years ago). We discovered we both had Italian backgrounds, and many common issues and OMG.... we both lived in Connecticut! She spoke of Johns tapes in one of our emails, and I said maybe someday I'd be able to afford them! She offered to give me a set of tapes. She also introduced me to this wonderful site. I was astounded that a person that I had never met would be so very generous. That was the completely unexpected beginning of a wonderful friendship. We met, and she is as beautiful inside as she is on the outside. I am blessed that we found friendship in such an unlikely manner.
:angel2: AngelsMailroom (Adrienne)

[kimk]

You know, I had to think about this for a while. I have made connections by email with several JE Friends and have loved that experience. The kindness and compassion that people have shown me and so many others here has changed me forever. I had no idea that "strangers" could treat each other in such a loving, respectful way. The people I have connected with here have shown me such love and have validated me when no one else in my life understood my journey and for that I am forever grateful.

I have had one profound email experience, last spring, with a woman who ultimately crossed herself- she just couldn't handle another day in the excruciating pain she felt over the loss of her young son. That experience was very sad and painful but I learned so much about reaching out to a stranger to CAV her. That is something I wouldn't have been able to do had I not learned about JE and his message or felt the kindness I feel at this board every day.

I am so very grateful to have this special place to go and feel comfort and support. Being here has led me down many new paths and has given me the courage (that and turning 40!) to say what I believe and not care about what others think. It's a freedom that I cannot adequately explain.

[Jude]

Yes! I believe there are several board members who have made a significant impact on my life.

Besides John Edward, you, Pam, are at the top of my list of those who have contributed to the advancement of my spiritual understanding. :teacher:

By creating this forum and providing such a wealth of information on a variety of subjects, including Biblical Discussions, Spiritual issues, Scientific Studies, and ADC, you have enabled the members of this board to share their knowledge and experience in a safe environment. For this, I thank you.

************

There’s another member here that I’d like to thank for being a good Friend. Although we have never met, we do correspond via e-mail quite frequently. From her, I have learned the real meaning of “giving.”

In sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, she always manages to gather the strength, courage, and wisdom she needs to help others that are in need – physically, emotionally, spiritually, or even financially.

Her kindness and quiet wisdom always shine through in her posts; she is a voice of moderation. :angel2:

*************

Last, but not least, there is another member that I have definitely “connected” with off the board. We have never met in person, but have corresponded on a daily basis via e-mail for almost a year, and I feel as though I’ve known her all my life.

This young woman is young enough to be my daughter, but we have an unbelievable amount of things in common. She lost her mom about a year and a half ago. I lost my sister a couple of years ago. Her mom and my sister were close in age, and she is close to the age of my sister’s daughters. But that was just the first connection that drew us together.

Since then, a wonderful friendship has blossomed. We’ve found that while we share many beliefs and interests, we have also learned from one another. We continue to support and encourage each other on our spiritual paths, as well as the day-to-day business of life. :cuser:

Without this board, we would never have found each other, so again -- thanks, Pam, for making this possible!

[triciab]

I have just had the privledge (sic) of meeting FROSTY for the first time.

I am sorry that I don't have any specific stories to tell about the two of us but can only say in the last 7 months since joining friends and becoming close with Frosty and BlackSparrow - I have found two very "kindred spirits".

When my husband and I sat down to dinner last Friday night with Frosty and her husband (despite my nerves) everything seemed to fall right into place.

Our husbands seem like they were best friends in another life or twins separated at birth - lol - Frosty has banned them from our weekly chats on Friday night - as she said "can't let them on -they'll hog the whole thing - lol".

Funny how you can correspond with someone for so long and build up an affinity/rapport only to meet (despite lots of nerves on both sides) and find that the affinity is confirmed even more.

As I said to Frosty's husband - "there are a lot of nutters out there in internet land".

God bless and take care
triciab:angel: ;)

PS - can someone tell me how i can post a photo of frosty and i here on "friends".

PPS - frosty i know you will read this - please tell me if it is ok to post a photo of us here on "friends" - assuming it is ok with the moderators first.

[frosty]

Tricia,

It was really great meeting you last Friday and yes it was amazing how similar our husbands are.

Just think, but for this board we would never have met and I know that one day soon we will both get to meet Black Sparrow in person.

As for the photo, that's fine with me but not the one that I said was yuk.

luv you

Frosty

[marcia]

AHEM...........Ms Pam, if the story I told you about the Afghanistan project doesn't count, woman, I don't know what would! It's a mere technicality that we have yet to meet "face to face"

Marcia

[Pam]

tricia and frosty, that's GREAT! YOu can email me the pictures as attachments if you want, at

pics at johnedwardfriends.org

It's funny about your husbands - scrambled6's husband and mine ended up talking on the phone several times when she came to visit me here last year, for the Indy seminar. They too, are like twins separated at birth - they have so much in common, including how they view our "involvement" with this website, and the whole subject. They are very supportive, but love to tease us about everything in the world, including this subject - but they both have met John, and have the greatest respect for him.

Now, if I can only figure out how to convince the hubby to let me go to Aus for a seminar....hmmmmm ;) yeah right!

[marcia]

I sent Pam this email yesterday in a lame attempt to explain what a difference this board, it's members and John Edward have made in my life. I tried to put it into words on an earlier thread and it's difficult to do justice, but knowing you all, I think you will catch the drift. I apologize for the length:

Pam,
As Operations Manager, one of my functions is to review employee email. In an email between an employee and his brother stationed in Afghanistan, he was thanking him for a care package. He said, "Always send extras, you wouldn't believe how many people here get nothing or very little and they are always hungry for something that reminds them of home.
There was a time I would have read that and thought, Wow, that's too bad, someone ought to do something about that. Instead, I read it and thought I'M going to do something about this. I asked my office to take on a project putting together and sending care packages to our troops in Afghanistan. The idea caught Corporate's attention and an article about it ran in a publication that goes out to other managers. Before I knew it, I was getting emails and phone calls from other Operations Managers wanting information on how to get started. The lady that ran the original article was flooded with emails from other branches wanting to tell THEIR story, how they took the original idea and made it their own. Those articles ran and caught the attention of our "mother company" and they are planning to do an article about it that goes out to every single employee.
My point is this.....Ive gotten a lot from paying attention to John, more than I can possibly tell even if I had a year to tell it. One of those things is an association with JEF, which is after all YOU and its members, and part of what I got from that association was a change in attitude that made me decide little ol' me could do something to make things a little more pleasant for some service members in Afghanistan and that little seed has grown into a lovely flowering tree.
If you EVER (God forbid) think what you do on that board makes no difference and is small......it's not, it's huge, because it encourages people to be a little kinder to each other and just look where that can lead. As John often says, there are no coincidences, so it's no coincidence I found JEF and it's had and effect on me and in turn something I did had such an effect and brought benefit to so many. If I had sat back and only THOUGHT it was too bad but did nothing, there would be a whole bunch of people wishing America hadn't forgotten they were over there fighting so that we could go back to our normal lives after 9/11. You deserve some credit for the impact this project has had. It's hard to define, but I know in my heart that what I've learned, what I continue to learn from John, and by extension, you and everyone else at JEF gives me the little needed oomph to be the kind of person to have made the choice to try to do something good without asking what was in it for me. Every time I saw a story from another branch about what they were doing, I would just burst with pride and be giddy with the pleasure of knowing how many people were willing to jump right in there with me. I got back much more than I gave.
I hope you can get the jist of this and accept the thank you that's skillfully (ha!) buried in there! When you have moments where it seems it's a thankless job, it's really not. It brings a lot of good and I'm sure there are many more stories like mine from other JEF members (there sure were!)
When hearts are open, good things happen and many many hearts are open at JEF.

So there's how "meetng" Pam, and really all of you here had an effect on me and my blossoming spirituality. Thank you so much!
Marcia

[Fairiedust]

Marcia,

You are a lovely loving person. It's that first step that is the hardest, and after that there are always those who will help to accomplish the goal.

JE is the catalyst for many of us, the personal spiritual searching and finding, but this board is the refrigerator. The machine that feeds and keeps us all running. There isn't any other board or group of people that are as special as everyone here. There are so many out there in our everyday lives that are absolutely clueless. It's always a breath of fresh air to pop in on the board and spend some time wallowing in all the love and caring that comes through. We may not know each other intimately, but we share the best of ourselves.

Thank you Pam, for bringing us all together. Do you think we did this in past lives, got together in some form of radical group or something? We tend to stay in the same circles? Trying to decide how we accomplished this in other lives.

FD

[marcia]

FD,
Wow, I think that's an interesting concept. I hardly think we are all together here by accident, so it's something to ponder. Isn't there some saying about like drawing to like?

[Fairiedust]

Anyone do a past life regression that might include all of us? It is an interesting thought. Now we all get together in cyberspace. How was it done 100 years ago?

FD

[JBannister]

What a question. I could fill a book.
Many of you have taken time from your busy lives to e-mail me.
Often it was when I needed it the most. I want you all to know how much I appreciate your making a connection. Your reaching out. You are very special people.
In addition, I have made what I consider life-time friendships with a few who I exchange e-mail with regularly. It makes no difference that we have never met. We are connected, and you are in my circle forever. I love you.
Awhile back I recieved an e-mail from an infrequent poster. She
had endured two sons and her mother crossing in a year. Something I posted had rung a chord with her. She wrote to thank me. This resulted in a remarkable, life altering situation for me. Tammy said it well. I was "used by the otherside".
Then, coming from such a small, remote area, I had given up on any members living near by. I had always enjoyed reading Phiglillies posts. Always impressed with her insight and sensitivity.
She wrote me. Imagine my shock to learn she lives about 20 miles from me. Phiglily aka Sandra, has both phoned and has come to my house. She radiates. Just walking in the room I felt a bound.
And of course, there is Pam. Hard to believe it was about 16
months ago I posted my first time, a sensitive-issue question.
We were still at Delphi then. Pam posted back the perfect, intelligent reply, answering my question, giving me a sense of peace. I knew I was home.
How she puts up with me I don't know. Being probably the least helpful moderator, I have offered to Pam that I step down.
But no. Pam's patience, love and concern for me helps keep me
going, even during my most difficult times. I am so grateful she
has provided this community for us. Her job isn't easy. I probably
would have shut down a few times. Not Pam. She cares about us.
And it shows.
Julie

[Pam]

You guys - what can I say - you honor me, and I feel like I don't deserve it. I just gave birth to this place, but you are the ones who truly feed and nurture it. If it weren't for you, I'd be sitting here typing to myself every day. And the connections that I have made are countless, but that's not even what's extraoridinary. It's the type of connections I've made.

For example, I worked for several years in corporate america, and had what most people would call a "successful career" in Information Systems for some major companies. I led projects that took me to Hong Kong, Sinapore and Istanbul. I met people from all over all the world, from many different cultures. I received awards for getting a health system's wide area network connected to the internet in record time, so that health care practioners could access the latest medical data and tequniques. I managed a group of 30 technical people for another hospital.

But along the way, I only met a handful of truly giving and spiritual people. In fact, when I look back, most people treated me pretty badly, using me to further their own agendas.

So, now in addition to being a mom, this is what "I do" instead.

My former "career" pales in the shadow of this experience. I don't get paid in money, but I get paid in something that is far more valuable. The experience of having these websites and meeting people via email, the board, or in "real life" as they say on the net - has been an incredible learning experience, and an opportunity to learn, share and grow from my interactions with all of you. Yep, sometimes it's difficult. Sometimes, I myself contribute to it being difficult when I engage in debates that I have no business engaging in ;) But I never forget that I am blessed in every way, for every single one of you. And if I do forget....one or all of you find ways to remind me, whether you realize it or not :)

:love: :love: :love:
Thank YOU.

[VTFlowerGirl]

I don't get paid in money, but I get paid in something that is far more valuable.

And don't forget that guest house I have waiting for you up here in the boonies of Vermont or at my brother's campsite in NYS - anytime you want it girl.

Two things I forgot to mention in my earlier post on this thread were: the opportunity to meet others at the seminars and use the chat room as a base of operations, and probably more importantly - finding a good place to connect with some nice people in a "safe" environment on the internet. Truly safe environments, where there's really moderators who care, and the posts are overwhelmingly positive and inspiring, ooh they're few and far between. The internet can be a very bad, souring experience for some. But if you land here that whole experience can be life changing and REAL - or at least as real as you want to make it.

[marcia]

I was slightly remiss as well. I was fortunate enough to meet up with Angelina, SantaMaria AND Blaire at John's workshop in April. We shared a very special day that went by far too quickly. I wish I was in the vicinity to participate in the break off group, but since I'm not, Angelina, I sure hope you will keep us posted from time to time as to the goings on. I was extremely lucky to meet 3 such nice ladies, especially for such a unique experience!!!!! I should have made that clear earlier and I don't think I did.....my bad
Marcia

[tigger2001]

I just received a lovely letter of powerfulpug today. In her letter she said she has been missing all of us on the site and as soon as she gets her computer up and running she'll be back. We are all in her thoughts.