By Grace

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The day after John passed... I was devestated and decided to hike up to the waterfall John and I had hiked many times. I prayed all the way to the trailhead for a sign that John was ok.

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I sat on a rock before walking to the waterfall for a sign that John was ok.

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I hiked to the waterfall, sitting by the mist crying and praying for a sign. then a family came up to me and said that the entire thirty minutes I was sitting there, they noticed a praying mantis sitting on the brim of my hat. 

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I couldn't see it, but right then the praying mantis peaked it's head over the brim of my hat as if to say "Hello" I was amazed, it was my sign I had prayed for. As I hiked down from the waterfall, about an hour hike, that praying mantis stayed on the brim of my hat. Every five minutes or so he would peak over the brim and say "Hello" in his own sweet way. 

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I knew without a doubt that the praying mantis was John, coming to me as an answer to my prayers and to comfort me and let me know he was ok.

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Just before I got to where I parked my car, steps from my car I sat back on the rock, the praying mantis gave one more peak saying "Hello" and then he was gone. I was planning on sitting on the rock for as many hours as he was still with me. But he must have known it was time for me to drive back home.

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A couple weeks later we arrived in Lava Hot Springs for our PERSEIDS event and tree planting in honor of John. I arrived early and began walking the property to find a perfect spot for John's tree. I wanted it in the highest spot of the property, so I was in that area feeling with my heart and praying to find the perfect spot to plant his tree. 

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As I walked around the area, all of a sudden I noticed something I had never before seen on the property... A PRAYING MANTIS! 

 

Everyone present knew the spot where the praying mantis sat was John's way of letting us know that was the perfect spot for his tree. Thank you praying mantis.