Trees and Stuff

 Turns out I was wrong about the trees in this post a week or so ago.  I thought that the pine trees on the lot next door that had the green ribbon around them were the trees they were going to cut down when they cleared the lot for the new house.  

However, this morning when I went outside because I was hearing a lot of noise next door, I discovered that the pine trees are basically the only trees they are leaving on the lot!

With a few minor exceptions, (for which I am thankful), most of the beautiful old oak trees are being removed instead.

They had this excavation machine over there picking up the trees that the other "claw" like machine was pulling up by the roots and putting in a stack for the excavator to pick up and put in the trailer to be hauled away.

They had to make a LOT of trips to wherever they were hauling that trailer load throughout the day.

It was fascinating, but sad, to watch whole trees being uprooted and discarded into the trash dump.

However, at the end of the day, there were still some beautiful trees left on the lot, and the view of Still Waters Pond and Goose Island will be lovely for whoever is blessed to live in the new house that will be put on this lot.

However, one fellow was not too happy about this situation.  Mr. Red Shouldered Hawk was calling out his displeasure at this intrusion to his hunting grounds.

I think he was telling me exactly what he was thinking about this issue in some uncensored shrieks.

I told him I was sorry, but he gave me "the look" and then flew away to happier hunting grounds.

Even though I am not thrilled with the destruction of so many beautiful trees, I am still hopeful and praying that we will soon have some wonderful new neighbors. I try to look at this in as positive a light as possible.

Here's some good thoughts from Proverbs 3:27-30 about our relationships with neighbors:

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

When it is in the power of your hand to do so.

28 Do not say to your neighbor,

“Go, and come back,

And tomorrow I will give it,”

When you have it with you.

29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor,

For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.

30 Do not strive with a man without cause,

If he has done you no harm.

And here's what Jesus taught His disciples about this...

Mark 12:30-31 NKJV

30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 

31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 

There is no other commandment greater than these.”

I pray that I will be that kind of good neighbor.

I wanted to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers on behalf of my hubby, who had a medical procedure done yesterday. Everything went very well and his results were quite good, so we are extremely thankful.  He has to have another test tomorrow, which is a follow up to the surgery he had last fall.  And then next week there will be another kind of test.  Then hopefully that will be it for a long time!  The co-pays for these procedures/tests are beginning to add up, but we are thankful that we have insurance (medicare advantage plan) to take care of the bulk of the expense.  And we are thankful that we have the medical technology available to diagnose and also help treat/cure medical problems when they do arise.  We know that God does the actual "curing"/healing, but we are thankful that He has given people knowledge and wisdom to know how to treat our human ills and diseases.  We've certainly come a long way since the days of "bleeding" someone to cure them, which usually just hurried along their death.  Yes, I am very thankful for our medical professionals.

Well, folks, it's time to close for today. It's 94 degrees outside and very bright and sunny. No rain in sight for the next week. We are praying for a break in the weather soon. Still Waters Pond may soon have to be called Still No Waters Pond! LOL.

Take care my friends! 

Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV

24 “The Lord bless you and keep you;

25 The Lord make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace.” ’

Amen.