Waiting For The Perfect Time

Tightly rolled, waiting for the perfect time to blossom..

Don't we all do this? We keep ourselves rolled up in a tight ball, afraid to expose who we really are to the world. Afraid that we will get laughed at or ridiculed. Even worse, people may decide that they don't like us. Then where would we be?

When we think about it in this way we are not just limiting ourselves, but depriving the world. Who we each are is a unique being full of individual talents, thoughts, and ideas, that will benefit the world around us in some way. We may not see how we could possibly do so ahead of time. We may not be able to imagine that simply being ourselves could affect any change at all. Yet, it is in being different that we make a working whole. It is by being yourself that you shine the brightest and can achieve the most.

It may seem easier at times to keep yourself rolled up tightly, but consider how much more you can be if you unfurl yourself and allow the wind to fill your sails..
What a fabulous sight that would be.. just imagine.. each of us sharing our unique beauty with the world!

Which Road Will You Choose?

On a hike one day we came across this lovely choice. Our path split into two, and we were faced with a choice on which way to go. So often in life we come across choices like this. And as in the well known Robert Frost poem below, we look as far as we can down one choice until we can not see any more. Then we turn to look down the other choice, paying attention to every little difference, hoping to find an answer to which one we should choose. 

When faced with such a choice, which do you choose? Do you take the road that is well worn, or do you forge ahead into an unknown direction? Which road entices you?

We chose to head to the right, looking wistfully down the other path as we went. It was a lovely surprise to find as we walked along, that in the end we came out to the very same spot, and had done nothing more than explore a lovely circle of nature!

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear,

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I marked the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

By: Robert Frost 

Caterpillar Adventures

We have had the wonderful experience of having a tree across the street that is home to caterpillars! Of course, this means that caterpillars were caught and brought home to be shown. followed up with the inevitable question, "Can I keep it?!" And when you look into that sweet child's face, full of wonder and excitement.. well.. every mother knows how the rest of the story goes!

The little caterpillar was first moved into a mason jar, but the lid sealed too tightly. It was quickly upgraded to a sprouting jar for it's temporary home. Of course a larger jar, full of leaves led to the introduction of more caterpillars into the environment. When we hit 15 caterpillars I knew I had to do something different..

Can you believe I went to the pet store for the caterpillars? I did. Okay.. not quite true.. I went to the pet store for ds8 when he said, "Mom, the reason I want to keep the caterpillars is to watch them and see how they live.. Maybe we can even watch them turn into butterflies to release!" How does one turn that down?!

We now have a 5.5 gallon terrarium in our house. I know my little insect whisperer will find many insects to fill it over it's life.. What an exciting adventure! And it all started with a fuzzy little caterpillar being spotted on a leaf. I love life!