Butterflies

I wonder if the gift of butterflies is something that will continue forever.  I sure hope so, because I love it.  Sure I seek them out whenever I can and I'm certain that I am more aware than I used to be.  However, I am blown away by the timing sometimes.

As we started a 12 hour day at Lagoonland in Salt Lake City, the five of us and Jean walked through the gates and immediately Jean said, "Look, it's Tyler"!  This giant butterfly was following us through the gates and the entry walk.  It was as if he was along for the fun.

On the 4th of July, we were celebrating the start of the day with a Pancake Breakfast at the community center in Paradise, Michigan.  Grandma & Grandpa were with us too.  As we were joyfully walking down to the water through a sea of purple flowers, Bob pointed out a gorgeous monarch butterfly.  Again, "with us" in a great family moment.

Again, during our trip up here to Michigan, Bob and Grandpa took the boys up to the North Shore for a day of swimming and boating.  They had an incredible time together.  When Bob came home, he had recorded a beautiful butterfly flittering along on the beach.  This was particularly heartening because it was "guy time" and Tyler would have been right there with them in spirit :-)

I often day dream about what might have been.  I understand that God has His reasons and knows what is best for us.  Some days when the kids are acting up, I'm not sure how we could have managed raising four young children, but others there is nothing I would rather do.

For now, my grief will be lighter because of the gift of a butterfly.