Tis The season to talk about Joy. Tis the season.

There is something about that first heat that you feel from the wood stove when you first light it in the morning. You know the house will be warmer soon. You smile just a little as you place that cold water on top of the now crackling wood stove, thinking of the hot coffee to come from it. Yes, while the world rushes around on the last shopping day before Christmas, trying to package just a little more joy into one or two more presents, you find your joy in the simplest of things...heat, warmth, and coffee.

My mind drifts back to images from my visits to Zambia, Africa where we would chuckle at the men and women huddled around small fires along the roads in the early mornings. We thought it humorous that one could be cold when it was over 65 degrees Fahrenheit outside. Yet, here I am looking just as silly to some iglou dweller I suppose. I mean it is only a brisk 10 degrees out. (grin)

Well, the coffee is hot now, and the room has lost it's early morning chill. Be safe out there, have a Merry Christmas, and remember ... the old wood stove starts fires really well on those pesky credit card bills.

P.S. - Becareful Santa! The chimney here is hot!