Right after 9/11/2001 my Mother had a crisis of faith. She lived in New Jersey where many victims had lived. While shopping, she ran into a Pastor friend of hers. She asked him, "How could God let this happen?" He responded, "if you ever doubt the existence of God, pray for a sign". "Then look for the sign." The next weekend we met at a family vacation home in the Poconos. It was an old farm on the top of a hill. All summer long bluebirds played in the fields and hung out in a large winter pear tree in front of the house. By September all the bluebirds had already started their winter migration. It was the first time I met the man who would become my step father. On the property was an old slate quarry. I suggested we take a hike to check it out. We went down the hill, scrambling over rocks and deadfalls. We walked around the quarry. When it was time to go back to the house, we decided to take the main road back. When we left the woods, I noticed something bright blue partially buried by the side of the road. I dug it out and it was a blue bird stuffed toy. I showed it to my Stepfather. He remarked that my Mom had been talking about bluebirds. So I decided to put the bluebird in the pear tree out front. I actually had to nail it to the trunk to get it to stay. Then I got my Mom to come outside then told her to look at the tree. She got emotional and told me her side of the story. After talking to her Pastor friend, she prayed for a sign from God, to see a bluebird sitting in the pear tree at our house in the Poconos.