July 15, 2008

• Beauty Born

  We have butterflies!

  Sunday morning Isaac went out to the kitchen to check on the butterfly progress and was excited to discover that our first two butterflies had been “born”!  I was a little disappointed that we missed the big moment, but quickly realized that we had four more opportunities to catch the “big moment”.  After we returned home from church, we spent some time observing and playing with our newborn friends.  We brought them fresh cut flowers from our garden, hoping the feed them if they were hungry after their long sleep.  They didn’t seem much interested in the flowers, surprisingly, but they were docile and friendly and we were able to gently handle them. 

  

  One of our first-born’s

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

  An empty chrysalis.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

  Checking out the flowers.

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

  It’s feet feel sticky!

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

  Notice the two dots on the lower wings?  That tells us it’s a boy!

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

  Making friends.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

  This chrysalis is nearly ready to hatch.  The walls are becoming more transparent and you can begin to see the familiar monarch wing pattern showing through.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  In the morning (Monday) two more of the chrysalises were obviously about to hatch.

  

   

  The chrysalis cases become almost as clear as glass!

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  We decided to release our first two butterflies (both males) to give the next butterflies more room.

  

  We brought the cage outdoors and opened it.  Isaac says goodbye. 

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

  At first the butterflies seemed reluctant to leave.  I turned the cage around so that the opening faced the morning sun….

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

  One of the butterflies took flight!  It flew high up into a nearby oak tree where it alighted on a leaf and rested in the sun.

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

  The second monarch followed suit, landing only a few feet away from the first one in the same tree.  They stayed there, sunning themselves, for over 1/2 hour!  When their wings were closed, they were almost impossible to see.  We could only glimpse them because we knew where to look, and occasionally they would open their splendid orange and black wings, almost like they were waving at us!

   

   

   

   

   

   

  We closed up the cage with the remaining 4 chrysalises and brought it back inside.  I walked away to get a cup of coffee and Isaac announced “Another one is hatching!”  I rushed back and opened the screen for a better look, then grabbed my camera to record the action.  Because it happens so quickly, I missed most of the beginning and didn’t get very good video.  However, the next chrysalis (#4, if you are keeping count) began to open soon afterwards, and this time I was prepared!  Here is video of both “births”.  Naturally, I think the whole thing is fascinating, but it really doesn’t get “good” until about 3 minutes in, when the second butterfly begins to emerge.

   

  Here are a few more pictures, showing the growth of the wings.

  

  The first set (lower ones) of wings are covering the abdomen.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

  The tip of the second (upper) set of wings is just barely peeking out.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

  Now both sets of sings can be clearly seen.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

  Both butterflies are at full size.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Update this morning:  6:00 AM — I woke up and went to let the dogs out, then checked on our butterflies.  The 5th chrysalis was open and the newest butterfly had just slid out.  I watched it closely for exactly 11 minutes, seeing the wings grow to full size.  Watching with my eyes instead of through a camera lens gave me a better perspective.  I could really observe how the abdomen contracted while it was pumping up the wings.  I will never tire of watching this transformation miracle occur!  For me, it is a vivid illustration of how painful changes in our lives — places where we cannot see what the future holds, and cannot imagine what the next step is — are all a part of God’s great plan for us.  We just need to hang on, be patient, and trust God to bring us through the uncertainty and change into a beautiful new place.  It gives me hope.

  LOOK THROUGH EYES OF HOPE AND SEE A BUTTERFLY INSIDE THE CATERPILLAR, HOPE KNOWS THAT BEAUTY IS WAITING TO BE BORN IN THE UNLIKELIEST PLACES … Thea Miller Ryan

   

  Beauty is waiting to be born all around you, and even in you.  Especially in you.

   

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