The life of a caterpillar...

This darling little caterpillar...was hanging out on the cement in our backyard, one warm October evening.
Our kids really, really wanted to keep him as a pet.  They wanted to hold the caterpillar, and bring him inside and feed him and watch him grow.  Now, we adults, all know that Caterpillars turn into butterflies (or moth's) but my kids had no idea, so we decided it was time to learn one of the miracles of life, together.

We took that darling caterpillar inside and put him in a Mason Jar. We collected some leaves and sticks and a little grass to eat, and brought him inside to enjoy some time with us.  We went to bed that night, and when we woke up the next morning and our cute little caterpillar had already created his cocoon and was commencing his new journey.

I really had no idea how long it would take for his transformation (or what kind of new life for he would take on for that matter!) but we were soooo excited for it all to happen.
We put The Mason Jar on top of the counter in the kitchen and we looked at it everyday.  My kids would pick it up every so often and asked me if he was really going to "change" into something cool, or beautiful.
"yes it's really going to happen!", hoping that our experiment was going to pan out, so my kids could see this amazing transformation take place.

We keep waiting,
and
waiting,
and
watching.

So imagine my surprise when last week, after I put the kids to bed, I was cleaning up the kitchen and talking on the phone, when suddenly I saw something move in the Mason Jar...I got up close to the jar and HOLY SMOKES it happened!! This amazingly beautiful bright green caterpillar had turned into a rather awesome looking...MOTH!
I started yelling for Cory to come take a look (since I haven't ever done this experiement either) jumping up and down in excitement!!
My kids had been in bed for over an hour at this point so I decided to wait until the morning to tell show them...It seriously was torture to have to wait!.
What if the Moth dies overnight cause it needs food???

The next morning, I got all the kids up and told them I had something exciting to show them.  I took them over to the Mason Jar and there was the Moth. Sitting in the Jar, very still not moving.
Even when I shook that Mason Jar, the Moth was still as still.
I didn't care.  I just talked it up to my kids and they were all amazed with me, that something sooo amazing could happen in 1 short month.
We Ahhh'd over it, and stared until Asher said "uh mom, is it dead?"
Oh crap, was my first thought.
Second thought was, Maybe...
So I took it outside and opened the lid and took all the leaves, sticks etc out.  I also took the cocoon out...

Gross...sorry.
We sat the moth on the step outside. So amazed at the transformation and the new life that the moth will be able to (hopefully) lead now, we totally forgot that he wasn't flying yet.

It stayed right there on that leaf, not moving.  And then...it started shaking.  It's whole body started shaking. It was rather weird. We watched it wondering what in the world it was doing.
I think after watching it for awhile we gave up a tiny bit of hope that it was going to fly.
I thought keeping it in the jar over night may have not been the right decision.
It just kept shaking.  We had sat there long enough watching, that it was time to start getting ready for school.
So, it was time to leave the window.

Everyone left, except Lily.  She sat there.  Watching this little Moth, and waiting for it to take flight.
I asked her a couple of times if it was still there and she said "Yep".  She just sat and watched it.
Then I heard her squeal!! I ran over to the window and that moth was flying around all over the place!  That Lily, knew he was going to fly and he really did!  We all got to watch him fly around for a bit and then he took off.  To start his new life.

I don't know why this little event made such a impact in my life. I'm usually quite logical and I understand why things happen.  But this one, I don't understand. The whole metamorphasis and transformation struck a chord with me.
Just as this beautiful caterpillar can transform into an awesome looking moth, we can "transform".  If we don't like where we are (or even if we are happy, and we want to be something better) we CAN.
We can gather up our "cocoon" of items (for me: family, the gospel, scriptures, books, good friends, and a good blanket) and surround ourselves in them and make a change...for the better.  It is Never to late.

Whatever we want in life, it is right there waiting for us to...want to change and to make the change.

And when it's time...we can take our new flight and move onward in our amazing journey. 


I really loved this experience.
I highly recommend experiencing it for yourself :) Don't let the next caterpillar get away from you. Grab him stick him in a jar and let him inspire you to...

Loves,
Jill