Hi,  The date was 10/21/03.  The exact time I don't really know.  I can tell you that it was sunset, right after the sun disappeared.  We were looking towards the south,  just north of the Sanibel causeway, Sanible Island Fl.  We were next to small island known as bird island.  The pictures are all taken of the horizon, not the sky.  If you notice in one of the pictures you can see the horizon, just as the sun was gone.  All of the pictures were taken of that same horizon.  I can get you the mile marker if you would like.  Also, did you by chance notice the shape of the big light and the tiny lights, they had the shape of hearts.  The sequence of the lights were as if they were comming down toward the water were the big bright light was and as if carry the light up to the sky.  You also should know that my family in the picture were looking out at the water where we had thrown a large bouque of flowers immediately following the spreading of my brother Joe's ashes. 

The first experience was while we were out in the gulf of mexico off Sanibel Island. We were scattering my brothers ashes.  I arranged the whole ceremony and wanted it to be very spiritual and beautiful.  I played the guitar and a friend of mine lead us in song.  We sang amazing grace, make me a channel of your peace and then we all held hands and said the Our Father.  We then played 2 sond while we scattered my borhters ashes.  One song was from Josh Grobin called "to where you are".  the other was from Diamond Rio called"I believe".  These songs were played as we circled a bouque of flowers (on a boat)in a Navy burial type ceremony.  My niece took a couple of pictures of the sunset and then right when the sun went down I took some pictures with the same background.  When I took the pictures I heard, seen, and felt staic and sparks.  I jumped back a little startled but due to the deep emotions I just shrugged it off and forgot it until later that night.  I was looking at the pictures on the camera with my brothers son (24) and my niece and nephew and we could not believe our eyes.  A bright light appeared with tiny lights behind it. The sequence of the lights had a pattern as I took the pictures and they come down form the sky to the water and then back up again.  Immediatly upon seeing these picture my nephew exclaimed "that's my Dad"  We all felt the very same thing and as we sharred these pictures the following days everyone was in awe.  Not one person was skeptical surprised me.  When my friend who sang on the boat looked at the pictures she said she witnessed me taking the pictures and she saw "sparks" like around the camera and she saw me jump back little.  She said she wondered what that was.

The second experience was when I was alone in bed crying and I had been in bed for about a half hour.  I was talking out loud to my brother in my grief.  Then something fell off my bathroom counter and I got up to see what it was.  It was a bottle of hairspray.  I got back in bed and I said out loud "Joe, if thats you please do something else so I know its you and that I'm not going out of my mind.  Then a few seconds later a plastic bottle of water that was on my night table made a crackle sound as if someone squeezed it.  I couldn't believe how I just accepted that it was my brother and I wasn't freaked out.  It gave me comfort.

The third expierence was when I was listening to the Josh Grobin song for the first time since we scattered my brothers ashes.  I was crying and very emotional.  All of a sudden my back door flew open and the door alarm went off.  This door sometimes does not stick when it is shut, but it shut and thes the alarm was turned on the night before.  Once agin I felt my brothers presence as if he wanted to reassure me and comfort me.

Later when I shared this with my sister she revealed that she had an experience too.

Was this experience difficult to express in words? 

No

How do you currently view the reality of your experience?          

Experience was definitely real

            Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:         

At the time I was experiencing so much sadness and grief that I just accepted it and didn't give it too much thought.  Now looking back there are no other explainations for these occurances.  I also think that my brother, if he could, would make these communications to me.  He was a very deep thinking and feeling person.  We shared these traits.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?  

No

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:          

A strange acceptance of my brothers presence.  comfort, peace, love

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?          

Uncertain

I still am dealing with sadness over the loss of my brother.  I try to think of these happenings to help me accept what has happened.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?     

the best part is that I feel that my brother reassured me and love me.  the worst part is I miss him so much.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?        

Yes

            Describe:     

I have always been very spiritual and this has elevated me to higher spiritual level.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   No

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?           

Uncertain

There is so much more that we wll never know.  I have a strange feeling that when you die you have a short amount of time lingering here on earth.  Nothing has happened since.

Death Compacts are when two or more living people promise among themselves that whoever dies first will try to contact the other(s).  Have you ever made such a compact?       

No, I have now with my other loved ones since this expereince.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?           

I was still in a very grief striken place.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?          

Yes

The pictures have been seen by all that were there.  We still are in awe over these.  I share them with anyone who is curious.  The other 2 times I was alone.

Did you see a light?          

Yes, In the pictures!!!

Have you shared this experience with others?        

Yes

Most people seem to believe in my experience.  I am surprised at this because I feel like I sound crazy when I tell the story.

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?  

No

Were there any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?            Uncertain, wine

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?        

No