Earlier this week I ordered groceries online and had them delivered to my home. It wasn’t much, just a few things I was running out of, mainly half and half. I met the delivery person outside where he’d parked his vehicle in front of the house. After handing me the parcels he said, “Let me take a picture of your pretty little house, to confirm delivery.” I turned to look at the house and smiled because it did look pretty, but it hasn’t always looked as picturesque as today.

Here’s what it looked like a year ago.

That is my internet connection laying on the ground. This wasn’t the first time these trees have rained firewood, but by His grace, it was the last. Being inside the house and listening to this occur during the night was a terrifying experience. You could hear every branch snap and crash but couldn’t see where they landed until morning light. Thankfully, good neighbors helped with the cleanup, but I was at the end of my rope with these trees, so I got serious about hounding my landlord for them to be trimmed and maintained which he complied.

This is just one of many horrid experiences I’ve been through while living here. When I think back over the years, I’ve gone from being frantic during the chaos, to standing in the middle of the house meditating on God’s promises for protection. Storms blow through our lives, but when we don’t have any control over what’s happening around us, we can control the amount of peace we hold within. Living in this house has strengthened my faith and trust in a power much greater than myself and after a series of storms, the outside reflects what I hold inside.

Here’s my yard one year later.