8 Weeks

Butterflies have taken on a new
and special place in my heart since Amelia's death.

They are often considered a spiritual symbol for life after death

because of their metamorphosis

from a caterpillar that crawls on the ground

to a beautiful, ethereal creature

that flies in the sky.

So many times since her death

I have been comforted by a little butterfly.

They have appeared at just the right times

and just the right places.

Baseball games, family outings without her,

on the day of Tim's Aunt's funeral.

They have comforted us so often in fact,

that the other day I turned to Tim and with complete sincerity

asked him,

"Do you think God will still send butterflies to us in the winter?"

The symbolic similarities between butterflies

and our little Amelia's passing are numerous.

Some obvious,

others I am just learning of.

The other day at the zoo

Noah and I, along with Lydia & Angee,

visited the butterfly pavilion.

I discovered something I hadn't known about butterflies that day.

I noticed a sign as we made our way through the exhibit.

The sign detailed how a butterfly emerges from its chrysalis.

I was so tickled to read that after emerging from the chrysalis

a butterfly then rest for 2-8 hours

allowing its wings to harden before it can fly.

I instantly thought of our little Amelia

who spent just 2 precious hours on this earth.

How lovely to think of her as a butterfly

that rested in our arms

just long enough for her wings to harden

before she spread her wings and

flew to the heavens.

I love butterflies

and Mommy loves you, Amelia Grace.