The Great Butterfly Release at the Christopher Farm & Gardens on National Cancer Survivors Day!

Submitted by Barb Bogenschutz

When Jennifer was in grade school she enjoyed “hunting” butterflies in our backyard. She became so good at it she entered her collection in the County Fair and earned a 4H Merit Award.

When her son Gabe showed an interest in “growing” butterflies, Jenny was eager to help him. They ordered what they needed and were very successful.

Jenny’s boyfriend, Adam, wondered if Christopher Farm & Gardens would permit them to release the butterflies during National Cancer Survivors Day. The more we thought about it we all fell in love with the idea.

It was solemn and meaningful for our family considering Jennifer’s recent diagnosis. We are very appreciative we were permitted to release our butterflies to the beautiful and sacred Christopher Farm and Gardens.

Photo Above (taken from video provided by Adam Schlies): Jennifer John Baptiste gently hands off a butterfly for release to her son Gabe as Jennifer’s older son Israel looks on. See PDF (below) for additional photos:

Note from Tim: Perhaps the greatest honor of doing this work is the privilege of hearing and witnessing so many life-affirming stories, stories that deserve to be shared! The greatest challenge is that I am unable to share them all! The greatest benefit is the constant inspiration that I (and I suspect many others) get from these stories!

Stories like this one remind me that the stories of our lives do not just happen to us. Sure, there is plenty in this life that is beyond our control. But as Charles Swindoll observed, “Life is ten percent what happens to us and ninety percent of how we react to it.”