Wood Fire

There is something about a fire that makes things feel more cozy.

When we moved to the mountains 4 years ago, I never realized just how much I would come to love my wood burning stove.

It is our main source of heat, which has taught us what "cold" really means in the mornings, but it also allows heat to permeate our home in a way that is so different from central air or heaters.

It adds a little bit of cozy that so often we skip out on at the end of the day. It adds a little comfort where there is usually chaos. It adds a little bit of joy to a hard moment.

That, along with mindshift changes, has changed the set-up in our home. Our couch does not face our TV but our wood burning stove.

In the early morning hours, I'd rather curl up and watch the new fire warm up our house while drinking my coffee, reading my Bible, and watching my children play.

In the rush of the day, I pause to rest and watch the flames flicker for a few minutes to reset before going about the tasks that must get done.

At the end of the night, it's more enjoyable to sit and watch the fire than it is to watch mindless TV.

My wood burning stove adds some routine to my day. It causes me to slow down and watch the fire to be sure each log is caught, and to keep the heat pumping in the house. It gives me a moment of rest and brings peace to the chaos.

My wood burning stove also centralizes our family. On colder days, you are sure to find us all in the living room--the bedrooms have wall heaters but they don't keep things as warm and cozy as our fire. We spend the time playing, reading, doing school, spending time together here, in the same place. We are not scattered, but together. It creates a gather space, just like a campfire does outdoors.

I never knew the peace a simple thing like fire could bring, but I am so grateful my home has a wood burning stove to heat our home, warm our hearts, and slow down our days.