The Tree Removal

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, full of sunshine and warmth.  We were outside enjoying the weather, working on various projects.  The kids were playing at their fort and there came a point when my husband and I sat on the back porch to watch them and rest a moment.  A simple discussion of where to move my little red bud tree that I had planted last spring led to my husband asking this question, “do you think we could cut that maple tree down in front of the house?”

You see, we have always talked about the need for this tree to be removed.  It was too close to the house and had already dropped a big limb through the roof during an ice storm.

So we walked to the front yard to see just how big it was and if there was a safe place to make it land.  If done correctly, there was only one place for it to fall that wouldn’t damage other trees or the house.  I called my dad to see if he could help.  He brought his truck and chains.  

 Long story short, they chained the tree to the truck and started cutting.  My dad kept tension on the chain (and even left a couple of ruts in the yard from peeling out in the truck...which was nothing compared to the indention the tree made in the ground.)  The kids were playing in the front yard at this point and as soon as the tree fell (right where we wanted it, mind you), they ran over and started climbing.  This became a fun new jungle gym to them.

Not only that, but they started helping pull limbs away as the guys cut them.  We did not ask them to do this.  They saw me and my mom doing so, and they thought it looked like fun. 

Soon enough it was time to get cleaned up and head to church.  The kids had choir practice and my husband and I had a class to attend.  We felt very accomplished though, having cut this huge tree down…a task that had seemed daunting and impossible for years…within an hour of deciding to do it in the first place. 

As the week progressed, I spent a couple of days dragging limbs to the burn pile (with the help of the kids after they got out of school).  My husband would get home in the evening after a full day’s work and start chain sawing more of the tree after dinner.  By Friday, I had all the branches down by the burn pile and it turned out to be the perfect day to start a fire!  

 My dad came over to help (I think he likes to burn brush as much as I do!) and brought his chainsaw per my request.  We are going to be building a new chicken coop and some of the branches would make perfect roosts for them.  

 He helped cut them for me and ended up staying to cut more of the tree trunk into logs.  I have the best dad ever!

Each day the kids had fun either climbing on the downed tree, or helping drag limbs, or loading up the firewood to move to the back yard.  

 They got to be a part of something big.  I hope they remember days like these, and cherish them.  It’s family time.  It’s outdoor time.  It’s contributing to the homestead by helping with the work, although they don’t see it as work.  These are the days I enjoy the most.  I cherish my family.

We have firewood!  And this wasn't all of it.

My Take-Aways:

1. Kids will mimic what they see.  Just like my kids pulling limbs and stacking firewood, there are tasks that get done not because we asked or told them to help, but because they saw us doing them and they thought it would be fun.
2. Kids learn life skills at an early age.  My parents always had projects going when I was little.  I learned so much just by being there with them as they worked.  Now that I am grown and have kids of my own, I know the importance of teaching my kids even if it means slowing down to answer their questions.  Using a chainsaw, burning brush, and stacking firewood are norms that my kids will be very familiar with…skills they can use when they grow up. 
3. It’s the time we spend with each other that counts.  People always caution us as parents to slow down and enjoy the time we have with our kids because it goes by way too fast.  Family time is important, whether you are sitting down to dinner together or working in the yard.  Sure there are times that we need our alone time, but that is not what I look back and reminisce about.  It’s the laughter and learning.   It’s the talking about silly things or discussing serious matters.  It’s watching them grow.  So be a family that does things together and see what a difference you can make.