Prince of the Ladybugs

For some time now my 9 year-old has considered himself "Prince of the Ladybugs." I think the fascination goes back about two years. What I never knew about ladybugs (which isn't surprising) was that they do a complete metamorphosis from the time they are an egg until an adult ladybug. Nolan received a Ladybug Land in his Easter basket and we sent off for the eggs immediately. The eggs were mostly hatched into larvae (which, IMHO, are very ugly creatures) when they arrived. We watched them grow and shed their skin and Nolan watered them faithfully every day.It was an exciting day when the bugs attached themselves to the wall of the Ladybug Land and began to pupate. An even more exciting day happened a week ago when we watched the ladybugs hatch. To me these processes of the natural world just confirm my faith in God. I just don't see how anything this complicated could happen without being part of a Master plan. I'm very scientific, aren't I?Last night we let them go. It was wonderful to see them take flight and to let them crawl on our hands and knees for a while.Do you know how ladybugs got their name? In the Middle Ages when farmers found these little spotted creatures helping to rid their fields of bugs that would eat their crops they named them after "Our Lady, Mary" in thanks.In college, my Biology professor was an Entomologist. The man loved bugs. He talked about them all the time. I thought it was the most hideous class I'd ever taken. I'm sure God has a sense of humor. He gave me boys who love bugs and have made me think they are the most fascinating creatures too. Tomorrow I'll show you the "Prince of Butterflies."