The Gift Of The Trees 9/23/2025

 Good Morning, 

I just sat down at my desk with a hot cup of Door County Spiced Apple Pie Coffee and it is time to write.

Job 14:7NKJV "For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that it's tender shoot will not cease. 

Psalm19:1 NKJV The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Back in 1993-1994 my wife and I started building our house. We had waited for the right time to start the process after purchasing the land. 

There is always some fine print that you forget about during the building process or just takes you by surprise. 

We were on a tight budget but with some of our own labor the new house was affordable. Then came a surprise. Our landscaping all died and we had to pay to reseed and add other top soil because of a blight in the first soil again. This wiped out the landscape budget. 

Upon inspection of the property after we occupied, we were reminded that a minimum of six trees were needed to call the landscaping complete.

My wife lost her job during that time to downsizing staff and we needed trees. I had enough of stretching pennies and wondering how I could get six trees within 2 weeks. It's not like you can rent them. 

So we took a trip to visit my parents in Watersmeet Michigan for the Fourth of July and some fishing. My wife, daughter and I went to get away from it all. 

As was customary we attended the 4th of July parade while we were there. The floats and walkers were all handing out candy to the kids. A truck came by sponsored by the Ottawa National Forest/J.W. Toumey Nursery/ Forest Service. They were tossing bare root saplings all wrapped nicely out from the truck/float.  I declined taking some because of their size and the fact that the trees seemed to be for the children to pick up and plant

My aunt who worked at the nursery knew about our tree dilemma and told me to grab some. "Free trees" she said". I sent our daughter out and she grabbed about ten of them that no one claimed. I still feel like we pirated trees that day. We all held on to two. 

Once we were home all the saplings were planted and then I called the inspector and he stopped by to see our trees. He asked me. "Where are your six?" I pointed to the six inch saplings and reminded him that it was to be six. No one ever said what size they needed to be. But he passed our inspection. 6 of those trees made it through the first year and are still with us.  They have grown taller and provide homes for squirrels, birds and an occasional cat. 

My aunt and my dad are long gone now, but when I walk the yard, or see the trees heavy laden with snow I see the gift of trees, blessings of relatives who helped us solve a problem, and for God blessing them to grow. Watching those little trees grow is a blessing from above. 

When I celebrate the July holiday and look at the trees, I am thankful for the memories.  I see a parade, family members, and God providing some trees. I see some peace from a National Forest in Watersmeet Michigan. 

Marty