Do you believe?

January 02, 2014

Do you believe that things no matter how big or small they seem at the time happen for a reason? During Aprils service the Pastor gave a beautiful speech about a caterpillar and it's struggle in to become a butterfly. It really touched our family as he related it to April's journey. He talked about how Aprils struggles with her health issues helped shape her into the beautiful women she was. As much as her family wanted to take her pain away it was her journey. It was only fitting that Pastor Steve married me and Rick 9 months later wearing a Butterfly Stole. We released butterflies in memory of lost loved ones and specifically April, who lost almost 25 year battle with Cystic Fibrosis, my business partner Juli who passed away unexpectedly at age 33 due to an unknown heart issue, my Grandfather who died in the line of duty as a Fireman and Rick's maternal grandfather who died when Rick was little. We were not prepared for one butterfly who did not want to leave the box and fly away like the others. Everyone who attended April's service began to tear up as they recalled Pastor Steves story as I reached in an tried to help the butterfly fly. It crawled from my hand to Rick's shoulder. At this point there was not a dry eye in the crowd. Just imagine this frail beautiful butterfly stayed on Rick's shoulder for the rest of the ceremony until half way down the isle when it flew to Rick's dad then over to my grandmother! Yes, it really did and that butterfly hung around until the ceremony was over then flew away. You can see a few photos and view the video from our wedding below. It goes to show that butterfly had a purpose and left when it was ready to go. It still brings chills and tears to my eyes when I remember those moments. We are blessed to have it one video and have the beautiful photos below. So, I ask again do you believe? Do you believe that moments, people and things are put in your path to connect us all in some cosmic way? Our wedding was not the last time we had a random butterfly make an appearance when we needed a little faith. Most recently at the Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk in 2013 there was a butterfly that flew around us at the end of the walk. We all smiled and said Hello April!

Clicks the link to view our Butterfly Release

The story of the butterfly
A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to squeeze its body through the tiny hole. Then it stopped, as if it couldn't go further. He took a pair of scissors and
snipped off the remaining bits of cocoon. The butterfly emerged easily but it had a swollen body and shriveled wings. The man continued to watch it,

So the man decided to help the butterfly. Expecting that any minute the wings would enlarge and expand enough to support the body, Neither happened!
In fact the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around.It was never able to fly. What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand: The restricting cocoon and the struggle required by the butterfly to get through the opening was a way of forcing the fluid from the body into the wings so that it would be ready for flight once that was achieved.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. Going through life with no obstacles would cripple us. We will not be as strong as we could have been and we would never fly. So have a nice day and struggle a little and teach well.

Author: Unknown

Source: http://www.hawaiiswim.org/business/TheButterfly/TheButterfly.html