Faith as small as a ladybug

We took a trip to California to visit family a few weeks ago. While I'll spare you all of the pictures and stories (go to my Facebook page if you want to see more pictures), there is one cute story that is worth sharing.


One afternoon we were searching for ladybugs in Grammy's garden, and were having horrible luck. I think we found one lonely little ladybug. The girls were determined to find more, but seeing their disappointed faces was heartbreaking. Emma even prayed out loud once, "Lord, please let me find just one more ladybug. Please!" I convinced them that the ladybugs were probably napping, and that we should check back later.

It was at that moment, that I hatched a brilliant plan.

I was shopping with Granny-Great (Gary's grandma) while the girls rested that afternoon, and I shared my plan with her. She was in! So now that I had a partner-in-crime, we went to work.

We headed to a nearby nursery and bought a box full of ladybugs. Granny, always thinking ahead, asked if they had any spare containers so that the girls could each have one to keep their ladybugs in. The lady at the nursery was SO NICE and gave us a spare ladybug container.

We went home, and Granny read to the girls while I went on a top-secret mission in the backyard. I spread the ladybugs - all 1500 of them! - all over the flowers.


I came back inside and Granny suggested that the girls go look for ladybugs again. We presented them with their new ladybug containers and off we went.

They were TOTALLY beside themselves! There were ladybugs everywhere! We couldn't look at a single flower or plant without seeing dozens of them all over. The girls raced with Grammy and Granny-Great from flower to flower, capturing as many ladybugs as they could. They didn't even mind that after awhile, for every one they put in, three flew out!

Emma was just beaming, and said, "Mommy! I prayed that God would help me find more ladybugs and HE DID!" God may have used Granny and I to answer her little prayer, but to see her faith grow like that instantly was so exciting.

Later that afternoon, as she was inspecting her ladybugs, Emma held out a finger and said, "You know, Mom, I've always wanted a bird to land on my finger..."

I grinned and looked at Granny and said, "This one's YOURS!"