Butterflies

"Without butterflies the world would soon have few flowers."

I LOVE butterflies!

There is something about a Butterfly that brings me happiness. I am not sure if it is the symbolism it represents or the miracle of the caterpillar's transformation into something so exquisitely beautiful. Every time I see a butterfly I think about this beautiful world Heavenly Father has given me to enjoy and the small and simple pleasures he has given me to lift my spirit.

When I see a butterfly fluttering about I am reminded of my own personal journey through this life. I sometimes feel like the little fuzzy worm trying to figure it all out.....

"Butterfly-- that word," she thought. "Tell me, sir, what is a butterfly?" "It's what you are meant to become. It flies with beautiful wings and joins the earth to heaven. It drinks only nectar from the flowers and carries the seeds of love from one flower to another."

"Without butterflies the world would soon have few flowers."

"It can't be true!" gasped Yellow. "How can I believe there's a butterfly inside you or me when all I see is a fuzzy worm?"

I sometimes feel like that fuzzy little worm. So unsure, so afraid...feeling so unworthy of the beauty that I know I am inside.

There have been a few times in my life that I have spun a cocoon around myself. Closed myself into a dark little space, away from the world..feeling so alone, so desperate for a way out..yet quite comfortable wrapped up in the dark. Time passes slowly at first.. then....hours turn into days, which turn into weeks and then months...and then a year passes by... life passes by!

The miracle comes when I am able to look back and see the change... see the transformation. Witness the beauty of the butterfly within my own life.

I have spent the last few years wrapped up in my own little cocoon.. protecting myself the only way I know how. While inside...during very dark times I have felt the pain of growth. I have felt myself being stretched to my limit. Yet, I have felt myself wrapped in something comforting. Like being wrapped in my father's protective arms.

I know of the pain and growth that occurs inside the caterpillar's cocoon. I know the strength and the work it takes for the caterpillar to finally let go and become the beautiful butterfly it was created to be.

I have not fully emerged from my cocoon ... But I AM learning to let go!

And through the mercy and love of God I hope to become what He created me to be.. His Beautiful Butterfly!!

(((::::::Now you can see some of my butterflies::::::)))

This book, Hope for the Flowers, is one of my favorites!

The quotes I used above are from this book.

I have this Butterfly on the front of my scriptures. I received this Book of Mormon from my parents when I was in high school. They had my name engraved upon its cover. This book, more than any other book I have read in my life, has brought me so much comfort, peace, guidance, assurance, and a testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ, and the miracle of His atonement.

The Miracle of Change!

My husband, Keith... knowing how much I love butterflies AND really cool boxes..got me this for christmas. It is now one of my favorite boxes.

Madie knows me well! She bought this little key chain for me last year at school, using the tickets she had earned throughout the school year. When she saw it she thought of me.

It makes me happy. :)

Hayden made this little magnet for me last year at school. He was so happy to give me the picture he drew with the butterfly because he knows I love butterflies!

Out of the blue, my little sister Carrie gave this to me as a gift. For no special occasion at all.. just because she loves me. She saw it and knew that I would love it. It hangs on the wall.. I still have not found the perfect place for it yet. But I will!!

My kids got ~Bendaroos~ for Christmas. Madie made me a butterfly. I stuck it to the inside of my closet door so I can see it every day.

I keep this little butterfly by my kitchen sink. It comes in handy when I need to take off jewelry to wash dishes. :) Plus it is pretty.

I found this lamp at an Antique Shop! When I saw it I loved it and I had to have it. It is such a beautiful, small, colorful lamp. The base of it is a butterfly too. Kinda cool!

I had someone suggest that I keep a little notepad on me at all times for when I have thoughts or ideas or if someone says something that I want to remember. I can then go back later and reflect on those things.. and remember the things that would have been forgotten throughout the day. When I saw this little notepad I thought it was perfect. It is small and fits in my purse and of course... it has butterflies!!

I run across little things like this and have to have it. I love to go to Antique shops and Flea Markets. I am always on the lookout for Butterflies. I love this one especially because I also have a thing for blue and white!

If you haven't noticed yet, I am a collector of many things! I also LOVE little jars, small boxes and trinkets you can hide things in. This one is really cool. It is purple glass with little carvings on the bottom that look like butterflies.

I have more....but I will stop now. So there ya go....you just learned a little something about me. :)

I LOVE Butterflies!