Warm Blessings

Well it took all day long but we'll be warm this winter! We have such wonderful hard working children that have together with friends brought in a bounteous load of firewood from the hills. The Lord has truly blessed us this year!

There is nothing quite like the heat that comes off  a fireplace. It is warm and welcoming. It is immediately satisfying and it warms a room into a cozy wonderful place to be.

I can't help but reminisce back to growing up when we would visit our grandparents way up north each year at Christmas. My grandparents used wood and coal to heat their house and every time I smell wood smoke now - even twenty years later - I am reminded of the special times we spent there with them. For me our fire place brings back those special memories every year. I remember the home made chocolates, family visits, family meals, playing pool in the garage, the ceramic room, the root cellar and so much more. Grandma loved plants and filled her windows with them. I remember trying to play songs on the old out of tune piano that had keys that were missing the ivory, the snow outside, the occasional snowman and walking down the driveway with the sled. Those were good times. I was blessed with memories of my grandparents that are special to me - even though they lived so far away and we didn't see them often.

Jay and Helen Leavitt Home

It is interesting how when we filter out the busyness of life, looking back, the things that are left are the moments we have had to spend with special people at special times. The busy things that filled our time  in order to get there are forgotten, but the moment remains a part of our memory - as though frozen in time, treasured and cherished for the warm blessings that they are. What a joy it is to revel in special memories - focusing on the good things in life. It is like standing before a warm, cozy fire on a cold winter night, loving life.