A Blessed Birthday Surprise that radically changed our homeschool

 

A Blessed Birthday Surprise

I remember a time when I felt like my kids were all drifting—not just from each other, but from me, too. Even though we were home together every day, it felt like we were living separate lives. Everyone was doing their own thing, and we hardly spent any time truly together.

Homeschooling had always been about learning side by side, growing as a family. But somewhere along the way, that togetherness seemed to fade. My heart ached for connection.

So on my birthday, I asked for just one thing: I wanted all ten of my kids to go on a walk with me. Just a simple walk along the trail behind our neighborhood. That was it.

Now, you have to understand—my kids are strong-willed and fiercely independent. If they already had something in mind, convincing them to change course wasn’t easy. But when I told them that was all I wanted for my birthday, they (reluctantly) paused their video games and other distractions, put on their shoes—no small task!—and joined me.

As we walked down the street, I realized we probably looked like a small parade. Not that anyone was around to see it—but it made me smile.

The trail led us past the flooded woods, typical of that part of Illinois. These woods were more like swamps, not the kind I loved to explore. Still, we took it in. Patrick said he’d gone back there before, but it was a little spooky.

We all began noticing the beauty around us—wildflowers, buzzing insects, tall grasses swaying in the breeze. I love nature, and I’ve passed that love on to my children, so this became an impromptu nature walk. My soul felt full again. It had been too long since we’d all done something like this. Just being together. I was so happy.

Then I noticed some plants that reminded me of milkweed—the kind I remembered from Ohio, where they were thick and plain. These were different: slender stalks, delicate pink blossoms that reminded me of the Ohio milkweed flowers but prettier. But something in me knew—they had to be a kind of milkweed.

I paid attention because years ago I had raised Monarch caterpillars, feeding them milkweed leaves. My daughter Katie noticed the plants too and picked a few to take home. She pointed out a tiny caterpillar clinging to one of the leaves. I was mildly curious—until we got home.

When I looked closer, I realized—it was a Monarch caterpillar.

Excitement bubbled up. I placed the plant in a jar, and sure enough, the little guy started munching away. Soon we needed more leaves, so Patrick went back to the swampy trail and brought more. The caterpillar grew quickly, gaining bold black, white, and yellow stripes. He was beautiful—and definitely a Monarch.

We started researching again—how long until a chrysalis? How long inside before the butterfly emerged? It had been years since I’d done this.

We learned it would take about two weeks for the caterpillar to form its chrysalis, and another two weeks until it became a butterfly.

All the kids were suddenly invested. They checked on him daily, made sure he had fresh milkweed, and tracked his progress. This little caterpillar became our family pet. When he finally formed his chrysalis, everyone celebrated. We couldn’t wait for the butterfly to emerge.

That tiny caterpillar brought us all together again. It became a shared family project that filled our home with wonder and joy.

And I knew—it was no accident.

God had given me a special surprise for my birthday. He heard the quiet cry of my heart and answered it in the sweetest, most unexpected way. He didn’t just bring us together for one walk—He gave us something beautiful to share for weeks afterward.

Sometimes life feels stale. Ordinary. Disconnected. We can feel disappointed or discouraged—especially when things don’t go the way we hoped.

But God is always good.

He never leaves us—not even in the quiet, messy, weary seasons. And sometimes, He sends a little surprise—just to remind us how deeply we’re loved.

So if your heart feels heavy today, tell Him. He’s listening.

And keep your eyes open. Look for the small signs of His love—like a caterpillar on a milkweed leaf.

You never know how He might bring joy back into your life.

If you let Him.