A Spring Azure fluttered near Laura’s head. She ducked. She watched as the little blue butterfly darted back and forth across the grass in the yard. Finally it landed on a budding tulip. The glowing springtime sun warmed the butterfly’s wings. Laura tried to look at it closer, but it flew away.

* * *

Laura rode her bike across the yard, back and forth and back and forth. A light summer breeze tousled her hair. Then she stopped. She saw something moving on a bush. A Silver-spotted Skipper had landed to rest there. It was a dark brown butterfly with a bright white stripe across its wings. She saw some golden orange on the wings, too. She came near and almost touched it with her finger, but it flew away.

* * *

Maple leaves, beginning to turn orange and red and moistened by a warm autumn rain, glistened in the sun. Puddles had formed on the garden path in the yard. Laura took off her shoes and socks, and splashed in one of the tiny ponds. She felt the mud ooze between her toes. It tickled. She smiled. Then she saw something on the ground by the next puddle. A large yellow butterfly with black stripes was drinking from the wet earth. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail stayed a long time. Laura watched it finally lift up to glide among the plants in the garden before climbing high into the sky and fly away.

* * *

Snow covered the yard. Laura picked up some of the icy white crystals in her red-mittened hand to see if the snow would pack. The snowflakes fell between her hands. It was too cold. She sighed. No making snowmen today. She looked at the brown, dead flowers poking through the snow on the side of the yard. No butterflies would be coming by those for a snack either. God must have a place for all the butterflies in winter, but where? They had all flown away. Just like each season. Just like time.

* * *

Laura laughed as she jumped with her boots on the last patches of snow in the yard. The snow was melting fast in the early April sun. Every jump left watery footprints in the soggy white stuff. Then Laura stopped and stared. A huge black butterfly rimmed with a yellow stripe and little blue dots floated by her. It was one of the biggest butterflies she had every seen. She only got a glimpse of the Mourning Cloak before it flew up to the tree tops and out of the yard. She supposed it had other yards to visit and other people to greet. But Laura kept staring at where the butterfly had gone. She smiled. The butterflies were back. God keeps them through the seasons. God keeps his children through all time.

* * *

“…he hath blessed thy children within thee…. He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth…. He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes…. He sendeth out his word, and melteth them…. He showeth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation…” (Psalm 147:13–20).

Find all the words of the text quoted above in the puzzle below. Small words might have more than one possibility.

HCLOOWDTANYTUO

ESHOWETHWASHES

UCLIKESEOOETHD

NHOYLIKERTNIIN

THEMHDJFDNDWSA

OASGMIRSSUEJET

MTONMASEDITUTI

HHTROFNNNDHDUO

TITHHWADROWGTN

ESHTETLEMDHMAI

VLYRSCATTERETH

ISRAELTHEANNST

GBLESSEDMLHTGI

NOPUJACOBTESBW