This is the tree that sits in front of our house.....it has survived 60 mile an hour winds, it was even struck by lightning, it has lost many of its beautiful branches....it has been threatened that it should be removed all together because it isn't strong enough to survive another storm. I say it is strong enough and has proven it's strength many times. Experts predicted it would surely die after the last storm which was the strongest wind and the coldest ice. It didn't die because I believe it wants to live. I remember the birds that build nests in it's limbs and the picnic that children had in its shade and maybe it somehow feels loved. So our tree will go on surviving and teaching us how to be strong in our trials. By next month it will have it's leaves again and it will be beautiful. I can't wait to see how it will fill out with rich green lace, like it has every spring.