When the Tree Fell Down

Last week the tree in our front yard fell down. We woke up and discovered that the strong winds which made our house creek during our sleep had also managed to tear our crab apple tree from the ground and miraculously did not cause any additional damage. 

Truth be told, we had wanted to get rid of this tree. Other than the one week a year it yielded beautiful rose colored blooms, it was mostly a nuisance. Crab Apples are so tiny and there's not much you can do with them. They would litter our yard and rot into the ground, when our toddler was't busy trying to stuff them in her mouth. 

But, we now had to find the time and energy to chop up and dispose of the tree. And we all know how the unexpected can throw us all for a loop - with our lives planned down to the minute these days. Plus, having two little children at home, we didn't know how soon we would be able to get around it.

No more that two hours after we had discovered our predicament, our next door neighbor had already reached out to lend a hand (and a chainsaw) to help. Another friend offered up their chainsaw for my husband to borrow. And, despite the rain, a plan was made to at least get started on the project over the weekend. 

They converged on our front lawn to tackle the task at hand and in no time another one of our neighbors had come over to help, and then another. Within a few hours the tree was assembled in piles of branches and wood the perfect size for use in our fireplace next winter. 

When we moved into our neighborhood, we were only greeted by one family. But, we understood. These days, not many people get out of their house, let alone develop relationships with their neighbors. Which is sad to me. I grew up with the neighbor kids being some of my best friends. Aaron and I wanted the same for our children. 

You may have read my previous blog about our Memorial Day parties which we started a few years back. I am so glad that we began that tradition. This past weekend is only one of the indicators that our efforts are being rewarded. We wanted to open doors to the relationships we were all missing out on. We have a ways to go, but I can feel a shift in our small pocket of the world. 

What efforts are you making to get to know your neighbors?