The Magic of Butterflies

It is so amazing to watch the transformation that takes place when a caterpillar magically changes into a butterfly. Everything about it is miraculous, interesting and unique. From the huge daily growth that we can see in the caterpillar, to the gold dots or fringes on the chrysalis, to the way that it emerges and expands into a beautiful winged creature.

This was a long winter but we had spring all around us in our house. We ordered caterpillars and watched them in a fabulous butterfly habitat. We learned so much about them and were able to keep them for about 2 months. We were even able to get them to lay eggs and had a second batch of caterpillars that we released in our yard.

We have been working on a plan for our butterfly garden. We have researched the butterflies that can live in our area and the foods they need to eat as well as the plants they will lay eggs on. This summer we are going to build it. As the girls care for their little garden I want them to think about how things grow, how we can be responsible for that growth and how beautiful each plant is when it blossoms and grows.

We had so much fun watching our caterpillars grow and hatch. We did a lot of talking during and after our butterfly experience. I want my girls to know that in life we, just like the caterpillar, have to work to grow and to then emerge from our chrysalis into things of beauty that are eternal.

She is Heaven Sent!

I am so thankful for my precious children. They inspire me to be a better person and I have an immensely better life because they are in it.

This year for Kaity's birthday she wanted to do something a little different. She said that because we are so blessed she wanted to do something for someone else. It also went along with our family theme this year of creating magic in our own backyard.

We talked about different ideas - first we had to establish whether she wanted to do something for animals or people. Being the animal lover that she is I felt we had better clarify that. I thought her answer was sweet and profound, "I want to do something for people, because if we take care of the people they can take care of the animals."

She decided her project would be for the Women's Shelter in our town. Her cousin, whose birthday is the day before hers, worked together with her to collect donations for the shelter then we had the party and tied felt blankets for the children at the shelter. We tied a stuffed animal on to each blanket. They looked adorable. Most of all the girls felt really good about their service.

Everyone took home a caterpillar and seeds for plants that feed butterflies so that everyone could make a difference for good in our wonderful world. They also received instructions on how to care for the caterpillar and the butterfly when it emerged from it's chrysalis. It was a fabulous party and everyone left a better person because of the time they spent blessing the lives of others.

"No matter what circumstances you sisters experience, your influence can be marvelously far-reaching. I believe some of you have a tendency to underestimate your profound capacity for blessing the lives of others. More often than not, it is not on the stage with some public pronouncement but in your example of righteousness and the countless gentle acts of love and kindness done so willingly, so often on a one-to-one basis."

--James E. Faust, "You Are All Heaven Sent," Ensign, Nov. 2002, 110