Nothing screams summertime to me more than...

Lightning bugs...yup thats right lightning bugs. I think its so cute that I still get that little flash of excitement as I see them flickering around outside as I did when I was little chasing them in my grandmother's yard putting them into little jars! I still get excited as I see my first ones of the season too! But, did you know that they are actually beneficial to us?!? check this out:

"Whether you know them as Lightning Bugs or Fireflies, these are beneficial insects. They don't bite, they have no pincers, they don't attack, they don't carry disease, they are not poisonous, they don't even fly very fast. The larvae of most species are specialized predators and feed on other insect larvae, snails and slugs. (They are also reported to feed on earthworms.) Adults of some species are also predatory. Adults of some species are reported as not feeding.

These wonderful beetles are also helping humans. The Lightning Bug contains luciferin and luciferase, two rare chemicals used in research on cancer, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis and heart disease." (http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/Galveston/beneficials/beneficial-40_lightning_bug.htm)

Too cool!! Its such a beautiful sight to me. I just came in from walking Zeke and I saw a few lightning bugs as we walked, it was almost like each one that I saw was begging me to lift my eyes and look around at the majesty and beauty that God created that I am so surrounded with. And just as I did that, Zeke and I turned the corner of our block and I got to see what I call the "Butterfly Garden" as I always see the sign that says that in the garden on the corner. Its a wild garden with lots of very tall plants (?) maybe weeds, but I doubt it, they are beautiful none the less...and it looked even prettier thaan I've seen it yet this year. I owe it to the the lil bugs. I wouldn't of taken the time to notice the beauty as I always do everytime I walk Zeke around our block...but tonight God wanted a slow down. I think in the rush of getting extra hours this week and the hurry typical week pulled me away from my slow dance with my Father. I'd like to thank my little lightning bug friends for lighting the path for my intimate dance.

I praise God for the bugs tonight!