
Lynn is my first and favorite butterfly person. The picture on the right is from my visit to her home in Iowa for several weeks during the summer -- many years ago. She is kneeling the front with her brother-in-law, sister, brother, and sister-in-law standing behind her. For just a couple of days all of our visits overlapped. Her son, Gary, painted her house that summer while I was there before he left on one of his world travels. Gary came to Omaha and picked me up at the bus station. Her first grandchild, Wes was born that spring just before I came to visit. Lynn took me to the Iowa state fair where a radio station interviewed me to tell about the great quilts, and livestock, and fun to be had at the fair. I was very shy and I'm not sure the man got me to say much except it was a lot of fun and I liked Iowa. In addition to the state fair, we visited the Earl May trial gardens with a huge bed of flowers laid out like an American flag.
Uncle Bill, the Reverend Bill Taylor, preached at Aunt Lynn's church while he was there. I remember a fly buzzing around his head, but he is not distracted when he talks about God. That afternoon, he took me along on a drive to see the farmland in the area and he preached and drove, and drove and preached, and everything in site just became part of his sermon. We stopped at a small cemetery where a headstone said "Pray for him" under the name of a young man who died too soon. Bill explained with great clarity that we don't need to pray for him now and proceeded to explain why all the way back to Lynn's house. It was a really good sermon. I love Bill's love for God and I am grateful for his influence in me and the whole family.
Lynn watering her garden |

I loved visiting her home, especially when I got to sleep in the front bedroom with lace doilies on the side table and sheets with little yellow flowers. Quiet, peaceful times in Iowa with Aunt Lynn. You wonder how we make life so complicated.
Along the way, I met some of the butterflies in Lynn's life. I hope to tell you more about them in the days ahead. What a great influence it is to have someone who sees people and enjoys them for who they are and who God has made them to be. Lynn is a beautiful butterfly in my life.