The Butterfly Effect

The phrase refers to the idea that a butterfly's wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that may ultimately alter the path of a tornado or delay, accelerate or even prevent the occurrence of a tornado in a certain location. The flapping wing represents a small change in the initial condition of the system, which causes a chain of events leading to large-scale alterations of events. Had the butterfly not flapped its wings, the trajectory of the system might have been vastly different. (Thank you wikipedia!)

Have you ever asked yourself "Why am I here?" Why do I live in this house, in this city, in this state? Why do I go to this school? Why am I with this person? Why do I have this job? Why am I doing whatever it is I'm doing right now? Believe it or not, there is an answer to any of these questions. Usually if you look back to yesterday, to last week, to last year, to last decade...you will find your answer somewhere. I find it very interesting to think about the tiny (or large) decisions that have led to where we are now. Cause and Effect, Domino Effect, Chain Reaction, whatever...you get where I'm going with this. For every choice there is a consequence, for every action there is a reaction, so if you really want to know why...simply look at the reaction (your current situation) and rewind to the action.

My question: Why am I mommy to Adelyn? Let's find out...

Keep in mind this is going to be a VERY simple breakdown since we might not be good enough friends to really get down into the nitty gritty. Also, this is as direct a line of events as I could think of. It could actually break off into lots of little chains, such as past relationships, why I chose to go to BYU and other details...but I'm trying to keep this short and like I said...less personal, so you can just deal with that.

• Adelyn was born because I got prego
• I got prego because...well I think we all know that one- let's jump to getting married
• Jared and I got married because he proposed and I said yes
• He proposed because we fell in love
• We fell in love because we were dating for a year (and we're both awesome)
• We were dating because at the end of our terrible first date, Miles invited us to the boys house to watch a movie at which point the date got better
• We went on that first date because Rebekah set us up
• She set us up because she didn't want to go on a blind date alone
• She picked Jared because I had just wrapped up a different relationship so I didn't have a date
• She wanted me to go because she liked me and we were friends
• We were friends because we went on Rob's boat together and became friends
• I went on the boat because I was friends with Rob and Kevin
• I was friends with them because I met them first when I moved to King Henry
• I moved to King Henry because my friends Cami and Rachel wanted to move there
• We were friends because me and Cami were roommates at the dorms and Rach lived next door
• Cami and I were roommates because we didn't have anyone else to room with at BYU freshman year :)
• We knew that because we became aquintences over AIM after we met when I went to homecoming in AZ with Brendan, senior year of high school
• I went to homecoming with Brendan because he didn't have a date (probably cause he and Cami had broken up) and I was his mysterious penpal that he hadn't seen since 7th grade
• I was his penpal because we met in Los Angeles when we were in the same honors choir in middle school
• I was in that choir because my mom and dad paid for lots of singing lessons (not to mention dancing/gymnastics/theater/cheerleading/baseball/etc) growing up
• They did that because I liked to sing and they love me
• They love me because they are my parents
• They are my parents because I was born to them
• So basically I am the mother of Adelyn, because I was born :)

So now that we know WHY!...we come to what this post actually started about, the Butterfly Effect...what if we went back and changed just one of those tiny little choices. What if I had never gone to Los Angeles to the honors choir many many years ago? I never would have met Brendan, who introduced me to Cami, who picked King Henry, which led me to Rebekah, who sent me to Jared, who gave me my Adelyn. And I suppose I could be a million other places instead...but that's what did happen and here I am.