Recently I read a woman in Washington State named Joyce. Here is Joyce's story about her daughter Shanti and Spirit...

On March 24th, 2001 our daughter Shanti was on her way home from an overnight camping trip with her boyfriend Aaron. He was driving and Shanti was asleep in the front passenger seat. Neither one had on their seatbelts.

Aaron fell asleep while driving and the car hit a cement abutment going thirty five miles per hour. Shanti was killed instantly and Aaron, after being partially thrown through the windshield, suffered a severe head injury. He died twice in the helicopter but was revived both times and ultimately survived.

Needless to say a parent's worst nightmare had become a reality for us.

Shanti was a bright light in this world. You met her, you loved her. She had a beautiful smile, a gentle nature, and a lust for living each day to the fullest. She had just graduated from college with a B.A. in Spanish a language she loved and spoke fluently in her travels to Costa Rica, Spain, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic. She was a ballet dancer and loved to Salsa dance. She was a lover of children and would have made a wonderful mom.

Shanti touched so many lives we had to hold her memorial service in the high school gym. We have survived this because we have a big family, including friends, who have held us up and reminded us that Shanti's love continues to flow through us out into the world.

Some people don't understand how we can continue to see Aaron, let alone have him come to our house for dinner. We tell them that first of all Aaron's life has been changed forever. He has a long scar on his forehead and suffers from seizures and is going to have brain surgery to remove the scar tissue that is causing them. And secondly {and most important} we are doing what Shanti expects us to do and that is all about forgiveness and LOVE. Shanti taught us the importance of living each day in this existence with a bright light and loving heart and we are blessed to have her in our lives.

We feel that Shanti's passing put us on a new path. She led us to Ellie and Crystalinks and The Flower of Life. She has shown us how to look at this reality in a different light with open minds and loving hearts.

With love,
Joyce Marlow

Date: March 24, 2002, the first anniversary of Shanti's crossing
Place: North Bend, Washington
Camera: Digital camera
Comments: This was the only picture on the disc with spirit orbs and sepia tones