Getting Firewood

Last year we learned that there were stacks of free firewood in the Cypress Hills that people could come and help themselves to once they had purchased a permit. With that knowledge, we decided to look into how much was still there and if they still had it, to go and get as much as we could to provide heat for the winter.

We were delighted to discover that there was sufficient wood to meet our needs still waiting to be harvested. We made two trips to gather firewood for our winter heating needs. The first trip was made with just a small portion of our family. They brought back a huge stack of 3-4 foot logs which we worked together to cut, split, and stack for winter use. It looked so beautiful seeing neatly stacked wood in our woodshed, piles of wood that would provide the heat we needed through the winter. There is nothing like the heat comes from an wood fire.

The following week we rented a larger trailer and headed out as a family. It was a beautiful day, though there was a light snow falling. Arriving at our destination, we began to cut logs and stack them in the trailer. Some of them were huge in diameter and required four of us to lift them up onto the trailer. As we worked a light snow began to fall. It made the area beautiful. A little bit of a fog descended upon us, cloaking the woods in a softness and evoking feelings of peace and warmth within us.

We came home with a lovely large pile of wood. The second load succeeded in nearly filling our woodshed. As we worked together as a family to take care of the wood we had Myles and his dad cutting with the chainsaw, I worked at the splitter, and the kids fed the splitter and then carried the wood to the shed and stacked it. It was a very good and rewarding family work project.

I have heard it said that wood warms you three times. First when you cut it, second when you split it, and third when you burn it. But as I pondered our day, it is obvious that wood can warm you in a fourth way. For working together to provide for the needs of the family warmed and strengthened our family bonds. 

This project, this activity, warmed our hearts together as we worked in a unity, being one in purpose to succeed in completing this temporal task. I am so thankful for the supportive children that I have been blessed with. They seldom complain when we do work projects. And I know that this is a great blessing for in today's world many children are not encouraged or required to take upon themselves any kind of responsibility. My children thrive with responsibility. Responsibility helps them to know their trusted and valued. We always feel so good after having worked together, even on hard projects. Each time we burn some of this precious wood I remember the special feelings of that day, and my heart is warmed with joy and gladness.