Ken and I experienced a pretty big disappointment this past week. Nothing that was life and death, for sure, but in the space of an hour, we went from being giddy with joy to being crushed when a big landscaping project in our backyard got washed away less than 24 hours after it was completed.
Our landscapers brought heavy equipment into our backyard last Tuesday and by the end of the day, we could begin to see our vision come to life.
The landscaping crew worked for three long days building a dry creek and a stairway designed to become a waterfall when it rains. The crew finished their work on Thursday evening and less than 24 hours later, it began to rain!
Ken and I hardly got any work done the entire day! We were just giddy, standing out in the rain rejoicing at how perfectly our dry creek ran as the water came down the hill as it always does when it rains.
After a few minutes, the water began to cascade down the stairway, just as we’d planned…
Everything was working just as we’d dreamed and planned. But a few minutes later, our joy turned to trepidation as the rain fell harder. In the span of only 55 minutes, almost four inches of rain fell—a gulley-washer like our neighborhood hasn’t seen since we moved here! The water quickly breached the banks of our new creek, but worse, water gushed down the hill, and the flagstone stairway waterfall, built into the hill where rain had already washed a gulley, all but collapsed as the rain carried away the new soil that had been brought in and packed around it. It was pretty sobering to see the power of water, even against several tons of massive rocks!
When the rain finally subsided, we could see that the damage was pretty severe. But as disappointed as we were, we also had to acknowledge that there was a good chance our short-lived landscaping project had kept the water from getting in our basement. This video shows the power of the water.
The grass seed and straw mulch that finished off our project mostly washed away and we’re not sure yet whether the beautiful stairway waterfall can be salvaged. But the dry creek isn’t too badly damaged. Just some river rock that needs to be put back in place between the flagstones. We absolutely realize that this is a first-world problem, and pales in comparison to everything else that is going on in the world. I would say easy come, easy go, but there was nothing easy about the work our great landscaping crew did!
Saturday morning we cleaned up the patio, washed down the furniture, and counted our blessings. Several times, we said, “The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” Yes, we’re sad and disappointed that our big project was wrecked almost before we could enjoy it. But in the whole scheme of things, we know this is small potatoes. We are blessed and grateful, and unlike so many other problems, this one is fixable. Things like this help put everything in proper perspective and teach us to hold material blessings with an open hand.
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Oh, that is sad. But yes, it may have kept water from the basement. Praise the Lord! And it was pretty to watch.
We are trying to look on the bright side. The landscaper is coming today to see what can be done to fix it.
I can understand how disappointed you would be that the time, money, and effort put into the planning and execution of the landscaping project were undermined. What a blessing that the water did not enter your basement!
Yes, amen!
I can imagine how disappointed you must be! I have felt a lot of disappointment in areas recently, God is so good…He has reminded me “Keep your eyes on the Eternal, for that is seen is temporal.” You have a very wise way of putting your problems in perspective! Thanks for sharing this today, we all need to hear it.
I’m sorry you’ve experienced disappointment, Alva, but you are so right that it gives us an opportunity to refocus our eyes on what really matters! And in our case, the timing could have been a blessing in disguise.
Deb, I’m so sorry about your landscaping project. What came to mind while reading your post is the power of the Holy Spirit. He comes at times as a gentle rain, who powerfully cleanses us of all that is not from the Lord.
Thank you for sharing your experience. May the Lord richly bless you and Ken.
Thank you, Caryl. And yes, sometimes the Spirit comes as gentle rain, and sometimes as wind and fire. But always when He comes, it is good. Either way, we’re trying to keep our eyes on what really matters, and on the true prize.
Oh, Deb. How sad to have this happen on the very first rain! I love creeks, and it looked so lovely before the gulley-washer hit. I love that you are still counting your blessings, though. No flooding in the basement and no damage that cannot be fixed. And what a wise observation to hold material blessings with an open hand. I think we all need that reminder. I hope your crew can salvage the project and that it lasts for years to come.
Thank you, Karen. We are feeling very much at peace this morning, no matter how it all turns out.
Thank you for sharing this sad event. I had just read the verse “Give thanks in all circumstances…” and your response was a perfect reminder to do just that. We had a recent disappointment in having to almost cancel our son’s wedding because they got the Covid virus. They decided to go through with it anyways, but with a tiny group and outside at our neighborhood beach. It was simple, but lovely and they have now recovered. God is good no matter what the circumstances bring.
Oh, that IS sad to have to change wedding plans and not have everyone you love and enjoy there with you. But I’m glad they found a lovely alternative. Maybe they can celebrate big soon!If not, they will certainly have a story to tell their children and their children’s children! Blessings!
Oh, gosh, Deb – it was such a cool idea! Thank the Lord no water got into the house and that it can be repaired! More pictures when you and Ken get it back in shape, please… Out here we haven’t had enough rain to wash away the dust, let alone a stream bed.
Thanks so much, Lynne. They came a couple days after the rain and fixed everything almost good as new! We planted a few ferns and some other perennials and will plant more this fall. We were so happy the landscaper was so conscientious!
I am glad you have a good attitude about all that rain. So sorry that your project was hampered by it. I am glad you are safe.
Thanks, Linda. All is well and as you probably saw on Facebook, the landscaper came and put everything back almost good as new!
very useful and informative