Transformations



This is Lake Springfield in the fall.  I did not take this picture, but found it online.  It's very pretty!

Fall has come to Springfield.  Each day we notice more and more trees changing into their fall colors, transforming the landscape into a beautiful picture.  The temperatures are cooler, and Rocket Football is in full swing.  We are trying to find new places to do the things we enjoy this time of year – an apple orchard, a pumpkin farm, and area fall festivals.  I’m starting to crave my sister-in-law’s pumpkin dump cake and hot chocolate.  I was able to find the tub with what few fall decorations we have, and placed them around the upstairs.  Candy corn filled the dish on the table last week, and I bought some caramel apples this week.  We’ve also had several days where we were able to open up windows and allow the fresh air into the house.  We’ve pulled out sweatshirts and long pants.  I enjoy this time of the year.

Sarah and Samuel at the Rochester Fall Festival.  We LOVED the kettle popcorn booth!  YUM!

This fall, we’ve also enjoyed some of the projects the kids have been involved in for their classes. Sarah’s science curriculum had a chapter on insects, and so we sent off for caterpillars, harvester ants, and lady bug larvae.  We are still awaiting the ladybugs, but the harvester ants have amazed us with their industriousness and constant activity!  Our favorites though have been the caterpillars.  They arrived here first and were greeted with shrill squeals from Sarah and Sam.  Sarah immediately named the five girls:  Maisy, Daisy, Molly, Polly, and Scarlet.  Sam was very unhappy there wasn’t one boy in the bunch.  He wanted to name one Bob.  We’re not sure how Sarah knew there were no boys, but I didn’t really pursue that with her. 

Our ants not only tunneled through the sand, but completely removed sand and created a new ant hill on the other side of the habitat and continued to tunnel.  Very interesting to watch!

Maizy, Daisy, Molly, Polly, and Scarlet finally arrived!

 After about 7-10 days the caterpillars were four times larger and began to climb to the top of the cup and form their “J’s”.  Within a short time they changed from caterpillars to chrysalises.  We were actually able to watch Scarlet, also affectionately known as the runt of the group, shed her skin one last time.  (I will add, the only reason I know it was Scarlett is because as the smallest of the group, she did things about 2 days behind the others.)  Another 7-10 days after that, we had beautiful Painted Lady Butterflies!



Maizy was the first to make her J.  At least that's what Sarah said!

Finally all five were chrysalises.  Polly's fell down off the lid, but we put her in the butterfly habitat and she hatched just fine!

Hatched and ready to fly!

We enjoyed watching them transform from these ugly looking caterpillars, to chrysalis, to butterflies.  The transformation inside the chrysalis sounds so gross.  Their bodies break down into this gooey stuff where the cells reorganize and form these beautiful butterflies.  We were reminded not to “help” the caterpillars out as they began to emerge from their chrysalises as well.  If we helped them they would die.  Their struggle out of the chrysalis is also a part of this amazing transformation.  We were able to observe them several days and enjoy them before releasing them one warm afternoon.  Their take off was magnificent. 

So pretty!  I'm not sure which one this is, but if you were to ask Sarah, I'm sure she could tell you!

As we observed this process, I was amazed at God’s awesomeness once again displayed in his creation.  It reminded me of the spiritual transformation we go through as we become like Christ.  It also reminded me of a transformation our teenage son Neil is going through, and one Brad and I are going through as parents of a teenager.  Neil is no longer a little boy, even though at times I see him that way.  You know, like that commercial where this little girl who looks about 4 years old asks for the keys to the car, and then you see the dad who says yes.  When they flash back to the girl again, she is this teenager.  Just like that father, when I see Neil, I still remember him as a little guy.  However, Neil is no “caterpillar” anymore.  He is in this chrysalis stage and so are we as his parents.  He is changing into a man physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  He has new opportunities before him.  He has new responsibilities.  His world is expanding beyond our walls.  He desires to do more grown- up things.  He has big dreams, hopes, and goals.  All of it is natural and as God has intended.  I am excited for him.  As a good friend once told her children, “The best is yet to come!”  She is so right.  So many wonderful things await this boy God blessed us with. 

Neil at three months.  Seems like yesterday.

Brad and I are discovering parenting through this transformation from a teen to an adult is not for the weak.  I was foolish enough to think my children would need me more as infants and toddlers than as teenagers.  Parenting the young takes a lot of your physical energy.  Parenting teens is very much a mental task and a spiritual battle for their hearts.  We have taught and trained.  We have given chores and responsibilities.  We have sought God in instilling godly character, morals, and values in Neil’s life.  We have admonished and praised.  We have disciplined and celebrated.  We have laughed and cried.  We have reinforced good behaviors and tried to weed out the bad.  We’ve invested our time in preparing him for his day of release into the world.  This process is being done in small steps, testing to see if he’s ready for these new responsibilities and privileges.  Is he ready to stand on his own?  Is he not?  If so, then it is a victory.  If not, we reteach and train.  Our time with him is so short.  We have only about 2 ½ more years to influence, teach, and train him on a daily basis.  It is during this stage of parenting where Neil is taking what we have taught him, and starting to put it into action.  It is a time where he takes the knowledge he has learned and either applies it to his life (wisdom), or chooses to not apply it to his life (foolishness).   

Singing, Playing, and helping to lead worship for the youth group.

It’s also frustrating as a parent of a transforming teen because while they are in this “chrysalis” stage….you are the most unintelligent person on the face of the earth according to this sweet, precious child you have sacrificed for these ump-TEEN years!  Ah yes, the stage where we are just plain stupid has arrived.  We can tell him something and get an eye roll, shoulder shrug, and huge sigh, or those two words that just SET.  ME.  OFF.  “I know!”  I utterly detest those words.  They should be banned from all teen vocabulary.  The way I see it, if they KNOW then they should DO.  Again, it’s an issue of wisdom verses foolishness.  A fool may know something but a wise man will do something with what he knows.

All dressed up for Rochester's Homecoming Dance.

I will be honest.  This stage is uncomfortable for me as a mama.  This young man before me wants us to just release him now, but he’s not yet ready for complete release.  He is still changing and transforming.  He is impatient; he wants to be all grown up now, yet it’s a process.  We have had to remind him his time will come.  He can’t rush things.  What’s more, he is uncomfortable.  Life isn’t as easy as it used to be.  He has had to learn to manage his time and find a balance with his activities and studies.  He is no longer a little kid, yet he is not an adult either.  As he has started to face some adult things this year, it’s hard to see him hurt and struggle.  Yet, just like a butterfly struggling to get out of the cocoon, if we bail him out from his struggles, we can cripple him or cause him to be unsuccessful.  A kiss, Band-Aid, or boo-boo bunny ice pack can’t fix these things.  For this mama, that’s hard. 

If you look closely you can see the empty shell from the chrysalis in the middle.  You can also see the wings through the transparent chrysalis on the bottom.  So neat to observe.

The butterflies reminded me of God’s faithfulness, His power, His love, and his grace.  He is working even when we can’t see.  While the butterflies were inside their chrysalises, we couldn’t see what was going on inside at the transformation that was taking place, but God did.  Towards their last days in their chrysalis, the chrysalis itself became transparent and we could see some orange and black wings.  We were able to catch a glimpse of what they might look like. We were so excited!  We knew they would hatch out soon.  When they did emerge, they were breathtaking.  I was encouraged as a parent that day.  While Neil is in this time of transformation we can’t always see what God is doing, yet we cling to His promise. Every now and then we catch a glimpse at His handiwork in our son’s life and it’s so exciting!  Very soon he will be going into the world on his own.  I am praying he emerges from these latter teen years as a breathtaking masterpiece of God!  Until that time, I know God is working in his heart and mind.  That gives me peace on the hard days.  It makes the good days sweeter.  It gives me hope for the future.

A time for letting them go!

Once again I am reminded of God’s faithfulness and power from, of all things, a science lesson in a second grade science book!  Fall has come to Springfield.