Father God. Science Teacher Extraordinaire

It wasn't that long ago that the girls were watching a cicada emerge from their shells in our very own living room. Of course, we documented it. And at the end of the cicada post, I mentioned how faithful God was for providing a cocoon for us. Remember?Well, here's the girls carefully inspecting that very cocoon.

Charis (4) and Selah (3) have always heard about cocoons. Read books describing them. Watched the Hermie movie depicting a caterpillar's trek from feeling ordinary to becoming extraordinary. But here...they were getting to see one up close and personal! Ahhh, homeschooling at its best!

We gladly became the little guy's landlord. Seting up a glass "showcase" house for him. Free of charge as long as he promised to wait and emerge as a butterfly during our awake-and-alert hours. Here it is, 1o days after my nephew first found him. "They" (you know, those vague and unknown internet experts) say that the caterpillar only stays inside the cocoon from 9 to 14 days. Though on some sites, They have also said 8 to 12...oh how, I wish They would be consistent.

But at any rate, we know the cocoon is at least 10 days old. Which means that it should be emerging ANY time now (as I type this...the cocoon is now 12 days)

THEN...

....we go to visit Grandma again. And there on her deck, is another newly formed cocoon! What is up with this?! I lived at that house for forever and I never saw a single cocoon!!

Again, I'm thinking it has to be God's blessing our little homeschooling efforts. He knew I was starting to feel less than able, as I stared our first year in the face. So he brought more fun hands-on science projects to our very door.

But it doesn't stop there.

Because then 10 minutes after finding the 2nd cocoon... *drum roll please*

...Charis (4) found a monarch caterpillar!!! Here Selah is holding it out for all to see.

Seriously, can it get any cooler? I had just talked to a friend the other day who mentioned that they got to watch the caterpillar MAKE the cocoon. "Hmm", I thought, "that'd be sweet." And then *presto* God caused my little girl to find one amongst the tall grass at my parent's house. Maybe we should just always do Science Class at my parents house, eh?!

Once more, we were all too happy to take in this little refugee as a roommate for our butterly-in-training.

Here he is "practicing" hanging upside down. He'd hang for a second and come back up. And then do it again. Mom and I joked that he was working his confidence up. You know, the whole dying-to-self thing is never easy. Apparently, even for insects.

Finally! He did the J-shaped, upside-down, hanging-from-a-branch thing!!

Again, we resorted to consulting They to see what the timeframe was: "Caterpillars hang upside down in the j-shape for a full day." they said. Okay, great. That gave us some time. Or so we thought. Less than 12 hours later, I walked in the room to find the caterpillar skirming about, hidden under the lime green covering. Already having started the process.

My friend (Jolanthe) who had gotten to see two caterpillars make their cocoons said it took less than 10 minutes. Literally, Charis (who had been watching the caterpillar all morning) checked to make sure the caterpillar was still hanging upside down, walked upstairs, came back down, and *bam* it was like you see in the picture above!!!

So now, we have two (three, if you count the one at my parent's house) cocoons. And we're anxiously awaiting Cocoon #1 ("ShinyBell") to emerge as a beautiful monarch butterfly!

Thank you, Lord, for giving us these cocoons. As you know, Charis thinks you created them just for us. I happen to think that's the sweetest thought ever...that you'd create life (the caterpillar) just so we could catch it and watch/understand the process up-close and personal. Thanks. You really are into the details of our lives.