I wrote these words in August of 2010:
We’ve read that a white oak tree spends two hundred years growing, two hundred living, and two hundred dying. Branch by branch, ours is dying.
Over the years I have recorded my children sitting in front of this mighty white oak tree many times. While my children are young and constantly growing, our Big Ol’ Oak saw it’s youth hundreds of years ago, long before we were born. So now, as we thrive, it declines. It seems that each time we visit, another branch has fallen to the forest floor. Nevertheless, the Big Ol’ Oak it will always be; champion tree in our neck of the woods.
I’m not sure that I can remember even the year that marked the first time Seth and Keats came racing in the house shouting that they had discovered an enormous tree in the forest behind our house. I know they begged me to hike to it with them, but I am not sure if I went that day, the following week, or even the next month. I am not sure how much time passed before I sat the boys down for a picture with “their” tree.
And though we’ve spoken of this ancient white oak tree as if it were ours for many years, it has officially belonged to three others during the time we have lived in our house. The acreage it lives on has passed from landowner, to developer, and finally a couple years ago, to a builder. We live in an expensive part of the country, and we never could afford to buy the land ourselves. Early this year, Jonny sent the builder an email, asking what his plans were for the lot on which our tree resides. He informed us that he would be building a house there this year. Though our tree wasn’t directly threatened, our dreams of ever truly calling it ours would end. It may sound silly, but I cried. Jonny wrote and asked the builder if he might consider selling the lot to us instead, and he agreed to meet us on the land to discuss the possibility.
Last week, after all those years of hoping and waiting, and one mama’s pleas to a builder, not to build a house on the four acre lot next to us, but instead to sell it to us at no profit to himself, the papers were signed and the Big Ol’ Oak is officially ours.
We have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, including four acres of forest, and one dear old white oak tree.
(early spring 2007)
(summer 2010)
Margret says
Congratulations!!
Linda says
Oh my that is so very wonderful! Love the post and the last pic was so great.
Holly Hollyson says
I love you guys, I really do. So much inspiration in one tree
Nicole says
What a gorgeous tree! God is so good!
Sarah says
Thank God! I am just SO so happy for you all! I had to read your post twice! Congratulations. We all know you will love that land well. Can’t wait to hear more! Happy Thanksgiving from Northern California.
Bree says
That’s awesome! Congratulations! How our Father blesses us <3
Isabel says
one of the most touching posts of yours that I’ve read… congratulations!
Barbara says
Congratulations on your new piece of land! Are you holding a naming ceremony? We left behind a not so old tulip tree in our backyard in TN we named Christina Rossetti, and I cried when I left her, so you’re in good company with tears and trees. We took picks of me as a tree hugger the morning of our departure. I’m so happy to hear you’ve been able to claim your Oak for your own.
Mikaela says
Your story is so beautiful, I could almost cry. That your family would honor time and history and an incredible tree in this way. That the builder would see how much you loved this tree and give up a chance to make a profit because of that. What a gift to your children–four more acres and a stunning tree!
Andee says
Oh you made me cry. I love that story and I wish you all the best of luck with your new piece of land!
Missy says
Wow, I just can’t believe you were able to buy it – both that he would sell it and that you had the money! What a blessing when things like that come together. How special for your family.
mamabyrd says
So very happy for you and your family.
linda gaylord says
Congratulations on your family becoming the Guardians of the Great White Oak!!! Hooray! So awesome and so epic! Sounds like an idea for a children’s book,an adventure/fantasy epic tale,with the ancient white oak as the central theme/main character.the photos of your brood beneath the tree already echo a band of eleven adventurers,perhaps? That sounds like a future family project in the works,doesn’t it? Enjoy your beautiful land and tree for generations to come…
teresa says
I’m so happy that you made this for your family! Do you have plans for the land?
Susana Galli says
That is some good news!! So happy for you!
Brooke says
Wow! I am impressed by the builder and your family’s tenacity! Congratulations.
Naomi says
Ginny, how absolutely wonderful!! I’m sure it was such a struggle, between wanting a larger house and budget concerns and everything else. So glad your patience has paid off. Isn’t the goodness of God and people (builder) sometimes astounding?
Jenn W says
Ginny, your story has me crying happy tears this morning. What a beautiful Thanksgiving gift. God bless the kind developer that listened to his heart and sold your family that precious tree and land.
Christine says
What a wonderful story, and you are so awesome for making it happen!! : )
Mary says
precious, wonderful, and happy Thanksgiving! (and God bless that builder)
Sue says
So happy for you!
Heidi! says
This is what Thanksgiving is all about. That beautiful tree that has seen so much history in its time will finish it’s life seeing the history of your family. It will live on in the hearts of your children. What a precious ending for such a wondrous old oak.
Shannon Dennis says
How absolutely wonderful! How can it be? God’s blessings for sure! Congratulations and many dear and happy memories be spent roaming that land!
alexa says
Congratulations! A nice gift for you all! Hope you enjoy it for many more years to come!
Erin says
This never happens!! You are a very fortunate family and I’m very happy for you.
A Little Blue Dragonfly says
Oh, Ginny!!! Congratulations! So over-the-moon happy for you! 🙂
Laura says
So happy for your family (and the tree)!
erin says
So incredible. Congratulations!
Dawn says
That tree could not have hoped for a better advocate and friend. This makes me smile. Thank you for sharing!
Jennifer Bauman says
This just made my day. Thank you for loving that beautiful tree
Jennifer
kimberlee says
Hooray! What a most wonderful, awesome purchase! I am so happy for you all!
Jen R says
Beautiful. Just beautiful. How moving and blessed we all are. -J
Marnya says
Beautiful story! Congratulations!
jm says
I have not been able to get this story out of my head (or heart) all day long. It is the nicest and happiest thing I have heard in a long, long time.
Charlene Cason says
You and your family are truly blessed. Blessed. 🙂
sonrie says
Wow! What a great story and faith in humanity. Thanks for sharing and a toast to many years of family play time in the forest.
lori says
That is awesome! I am so happy that that old tree is saved for your family to enjoy. It is so nice that the person agreed to your offer.
thecrazysheeplady says
Oh! What an awesome treasure!!!
Kelly says
Ginny, I’m in tears. What an amazing story, and what a beautiful world it is.
erinn says
what a lovely story, and a magnificent gift.
i love (and hate) the book The Giving Tree because i find the ending so sad; this is the opposite. a beloved old tree gets to spend its golden days with a family that adores it, and children to climb it and find safety and shelter in its shade and boughs.
denise says
: )
Diana says
Aww! Dear old oaky is now your 8th child. So happy for you whole family.
Caitlin says
How wonderful!!! Maybe you can build your special family home on your own property?? Where the tree is in view outside your kitchen window? 🙂
Trista says
Oh that’s such wonderful news!! Ginny you create such beauty in the world with your prayers- in this case you preserved beauty! Congrats you the family for your land stewardship!
Jg. for FatScribe says
As I always tell my children, if you don’t A-S-K you don’t G-E-T. It’s a very biblical notion; even Christ said “you have not because you ask not.” There are times for being bold, and there are times for earnest supplication. You landed on both! What a great example for your kids.
Fortune favors the bold! … “fortes, inquit, fortuna juvat”
Missy says
I totally agree! I always tell my husband that it doesn’t cost you anything to just ask.
sustainablemum says
How wonderful! Here’s to many more memories to record and share in the future.
Jenn says
Wonderful news! Every good and perfect thing! 🙂 So happy for you and your family. Isn’t it wonderful how the Lord blesses us with the big and the little.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Jennifer Hammer says
Wow! So awesome! Money well spent:)
Briana (justamouse) says
congratulations!!!
julie says
I cannot believe this post. imagine if you had never asked. Dreams really do come true. God is so good. He so always gives us what we need, but He also delights in giving us what we want. Praises Praises to the Almighty. He truly is Christ the King.
Christy says
Amen to that!