There is nothing like sitting here by the lake watching the fireflies winking in the warm night summertime air.  It is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I am blessed to live by a lake, along with my husband and children, who are sitting with me.  We also gaze heavenward at millions of stars studding the sky; the breeze is cool and rather pleasant, cooling our sunburned skin.

We repeat this scene just about every night, unless it's storming: if it is storming, we stay indoors, in our cabin, where it is safe, and watch the lightning zigzagging crazily across the sky and hear the booming of the thunder, hoping that our power will hold (and it usually does, unless the storm is a bad one).

The fireflies, though, remind me of little faeries granting wishes for children as they watch them communicating with each other.  That's another thing.  I have learned that whenever a firefly lights up his special light on his abdomen, it means that he is a.) either searching for a mate, or b.) communicating as only they can.  It is marvelous to think what they are doing.

My husband and children enjoy watching the fireflies almost as much as I do.  The children love to try to catch them, giggling, as they race across the yard; meanwhile, I snuggle up next to my husband and think of simpler times gone by.  Watching fireflies is one of my very favorite pasttimes to do with my family, and it is a great way to promote family togetherness.  I just wish more people could have more time to do something as simple or enjoyable, but in the busyness of their lives, they often forget that there are simpler pleasures just waiting to be discovered.