Dead Trees

today i got home from spending the night at my friends' house and looked out the window to see several men cutting down the dead tree in front of my apartment building. i was fascinated by the process. one man climbs up the tree in harnesses while others gather limbs. the man who is tied to the tree uses a chain saw to cut part of the branch, while he stands on the other part. he holds on to these ropes and cuts with one hand. i coudn't stop watching this man right out of my 4th story window. the tree is even with my apartment so the man and i waved to each other. as the dead tree branches fell, i could see more and more of the city, the park in front of my apartment and the green of the trees. out with the old and in with the new. it's amazing how much more sunlight comes in now that the dead branches are gone in front of my windows. there was some sadness in watching that tree fall. i was sad that it died. i love trees, and now this one was gone. there will be an empty place, a BIG empty space where that tree was. it had to be cut down though. it had to go. it was dead. it was a fire hazard. it was dangerous with the big heavy branches hanging over the front walk. now, there's a newness around the building.

so i have my furniture now, the dead tree is gone and life is going on.

please pray for:

friends in mississippi who are going through a divorce

a friend who lost her father suddenly

a woman in Dallas who has spinal fluid leaking into her brain

men that cut down trees--it seems like a very dangerous job!

the babies in anchorage.

the babies in st. jude fighting for their lives.

my friend in Lake Tahoe who is organizing a Relay for Life in memory of her friend who died of cancer at 25.

...may the Joy of the Lord be your strength today...