Chad in a Bucket

There is a big old cottonwood tree at the very edge of our backyard. It is at that age where it has some brittle twigs and branches that need to be removed.

A couple of years ago we had an early fall snowstorm, while the trees were still in full leaf, and a very large limb broke off, fell into the back yard, did some damage to wires, and dinged the playhouse and fence.

The City crew removed a big branch last summer because it had grown too close the the electric wires that run along the alley.

One summer we even had a small fire in the tree, caused by a squirrel that made a bad move while using the powerline to run between trees. The fire department put out the fire and the tree was not greatly damaged. A section of the powerline had to be replaced, however, and a small section of branch was removed in that operation.

There were still sections needing trimmed. Tree trimming is very expensive. Son-in-law Chad knows someone who owns a truck with a cherrypicker on it. The owner kindly loaned said truck with cherrypicker to Chad, and he has been busy both yesterday evening and today trimming the tree, or what he can reach of it.

It is a rather scary looking job to me--but I am certain that Chad is having a good time doing it!

Chad the Thoughtful

I have a hard time catching Chad for a photo. This was Christmas
morning when he was looking down at a gift.

In olden times, people were often identified by something that was striking about their appearance (i.e., Eric the Red), or something notable, good or bad, that they did (i.e., Vlad the Impaler), or perhaps by their occupation or their geographic/ethnic origins (i.e., Attila the Hun).

If we still followed that custom, my son-in-law could be named Chad the Helpful, Chad the Creative, Chad the Hardworking, or Chad the Thoughtful.

Today I am talking about the thoughtfulness aspect.

Yesterday was St. Valentine's Day. This is not a holiday that means much to me since my Valentine now lives with the saints and my children are grown (no Valentines to purchase/help make for school exchanges, no heart-shaped cookies to bake, etc.). So I was surprised on the evening before Valentine's Day when my granddaughter came upstairs to my apartment with a bouquet of flowers. When Chad was buying flowers for Anne Marie, he also bought a bouquet for me. I love flowers, and was touched by and thankful for his thoughtfulness

This is not the first time I've received flowers from Chad. He likes to surprise with a bouquet at random times.

Chad does a lot of things for me, such as minor repairs around my house, keeping my car clean, or picking up something he knows I'll be needing when he's at the store. Before I sold my house he put in many hours doing landscaping for me.

Chad started coming around our home when he was 16 and dating our daughter. Four years later they were married. All these years of his being part of my family makes him just seem like Son, rather than Son-in-Law!

I am very thankful for Chad the Thoughtful-Helpful-Creative-Hardworking-and Kind.