Regarding the strands of love that connect us and being shown parts of the soul’s earthly future to help the soul return:

Rynes, Nancy (2015). Awakenings from the Light: 12 Life Lessons from a Near-Death Experience. [Kindle Cloud Reader Version]. Retrieved from amazon.com Location No.671-683

Regarding not remembering everything from the NDE experience and plans for souls in this life:

Linda G NDE 3649. (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1linda_g_nde.html

Regarding reincarnation:

Amy C NDE 4720 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1amy_c_nde_4720.html

Diane C NDE 321 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from:

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1diane_c_nde.html (for NO reincarnation)

Regarding spiritual maturity:

Deborah L. NDE-Like 7961. (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1deborah_l_ndelike.html

Regarding the destiny of all souls to return to the Light:

Williams, Kevin. (2019, September 18). Juliet Nightingale’s Near-Death Experience. Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife. Retrieved from

https://near-death.com/juliet-nightingale/

Regarding life on other planets:

Sandi T NDEs 9082 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1sandi_t_ndes.html

Roger C NDE 744. (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1roger_c_nde.html

Regarding seeing a bright, loving, wise light:

Williams, Kevin (Sept 26, 2019) “George Ritchie’s Near-Death Experience” Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife. Retrieved from https://near-death.com/george-ritchie-nde/

Melinda G NDE 9029 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1melinda_g_nde.html

Regarding the point which a soul cannot passBrandelyn W NDE 2238 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1brandelyn_w_nde.html

Regarding the heavenly city and life there

Heaven and Hell Stories: Randy Gehling (June 18, 2012) Heaven and Hell Stories Retrieved from

http://heavenandhellstories.blogspot.com/2012/06/randy-gehlings-near-death-experience.html

Williams, Kevin. (Sept 16, 2019) ”David Oakford’s Near-Death Experience” Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife. Retrieved from

https://near-death.com/david-oakford/

Diane G NDE 175 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1diane_g_nde.html

Regarding the “River of Life”

”Shimmering River of Life” (April 25, 2015). International Association for Near-Death Studies, Inc. Retrieved from https://iands.org/ndes/nde-stories/85-shimmering-river-of-life.html

Regarding the levels of heaven

Williams, Kevin. (2019, September 26). George Ritchie’s Near-Death Experience. Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife. Retrieved from https://near-death.com/george-ritchie-nde/

Regarding the options for the soul’s evolution

Storm, Howard (2005). My Descent into Death: A Second Chance at Life. Doubleday. P 56-58.

At the Edge of the Jordan (Amazon)

Sources for Chapter 4:

Regarding transitions on the heavenly plane:

Roger C NDE 744 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from:

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1roger_c_nde.html

Regarding how challenges aid in our growth:

Sylvia W NDE 152 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1sylvia_w_nde.html

Regarding the absence of judgment during a life review:

Glauco S NDE 3674 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from:

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1glauco_s_nde.html

Juliet N NDE 10077 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from:

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1juliet_n_nde.html

Regarding the purpose of a life review (soul growth/learning):

Storm, Howard (2005). My Descent into Death: A Second Chance at Life. Doubleday. p 30 - 37

Regarding the importance of choosing love:

Hafur NDE 3558 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from:

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1hafur_nde.html

Regarding what someone who committed heinous acts on earth would experience in their life review:

Leonard NDE 4046 (n.d.) NDERF. Retrieved from

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1leonard_nde.html

Regarding the tiny moments of compassion that most matter:

Mohammad Z NDE 16083 (n.d.) NDERF Retreived from:

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1mohammad_z_nde.html

Regarding our maturation during our lifetimes:

Jean NDE 32 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from

http://dream-prophecy.blogspot.com/2014/07/life-is-ripple-effect-near-death.html

Regarding the impact of the acceptance of how much we are loved:

Anita M NDE 2766/11068 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1anita_m_nde.html

Regarding how much we are loved by the divine:

McVea, Crystal and Tresniowski, Alex (2013). Waking Up in Heaven: A True Story of Brokenness, Heaven, and Life Again. Howard Books.

Regarding our own magnificence:

Shelia S NDE 9025 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1sheila_s_nde.html

Regarding the importance of self-compassion:

Rynes, Nancy (2015). Awakenings from the Light: 12 Life Lessons from a Near-Death Experience. [Kindle Cloud Reader Version]. Retrieved from amazon.com. Location No. 863, 1136-1179

For death via drowning:

Sandra H NDE 3578. (n.d.) NDERF. Retrieved from https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1sandra_h_nde.html

Jennifer W NDE 7516. (n.d.) NDERF. Retrieved from

http://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1jennifer_w_nde_7516.html

Mary C Neal, M.D. (2017). 7 Lessons from Heaven: How Dying Taught Me to Live a Joy-Filled Life. Convergent Books.

For the details on the “popping” sound and the non-attachment to the body:

Juliet N NDE 10077 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from:

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1juliet_n_nde.html

Roger C NDE 744 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from:

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1roger_c_nde.html

For the different sense of time’s passing:

Anelia G NDE 9108 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from:

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1anelia_g_nde.html

For the vibrancy of consciousness outside of the body:

Barbara D. NDE 8419 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1barbara_d_nde.html

For the comingling of senses:

Bill W. NDE 180 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1bill_w_nde.html

For 360 degree vision:

Leonard NDE 4046 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1leonard_nde.html

For telepathic information transmission and the way the spirit body moves on the heavenly plain:

Gary D. NDE 2428 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1gary_d_nde.html

For youthful appearance:

Penny C. NDE 7234 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1penny_c_nde.html

Sharon M. NDE 7925 (n.d.) NDERF Retrieved from

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1sharon_m_nde_7925.html

For the heavenly city:

John F. NDE 61 (n.d). NDERF Retrieved from

https://www.nderf.org/Experiences/1john_f_nde.html

For the individualization of each soul’s experience:

Storm, Howard. My Descent into Death: A Second Chance at Life

Note: Skip if only interested in getting to the “meat” of the book (which starts in Chapter 3).

Chapter Spoilers (read if you’d like to skip this chapter but still understand the basic flow of the plot):

Aislinn and Dave are on their honeymoon in southern California. Over several days, Dave gives Aislinn some basic surfing lessons. On one of their dinners out, we learn that Pop passed away a few weeks before their wedding. Aislinn and Dave discuss faith. While Aislinn, despite having strong doubts about her faith, lives with a strong sense of purpose, Dave lives with a strong moral compass, but is more of an agnostic philosophy. In the course of their conversation, Dave helps Aislinn to see that being angry with God is still a form of faith.