"Some Ideas for a Happy New Year!"

 

A Visit at Christmas 

2025 is now behind us, and we look forward to a brighter, more positive new year!

Have you made out any new year's resolutions for 2026?

I made out my resolutions a couple of years ago, and I review them almost daily to help me stay on track. I change them as needed.

This year, Greg and I decided that we need to follow the circadian rhythm a lot more. Most specifically, and importantly, we need to turn in earlier at night. We researched, and discovered that people are four different chronotypes. Our type is the wolf. A wolf stays up later at night and likes to get up later in the morning. That's fine, except we stay up too late at night, even for our type. (My parents were both night people, so I come by it honestly!)

We're working on that now, and we're gradually doing a lot better. In a couple of nights, we should reach our time goal. We just need to maintain it.

If you'd like more information about chronotypes, just do an online search. You might even want to take the chronotype quiz to discover what type you are.

Would you like to make some improvements in your life? If so, here are some ideas that you might want to consider, words of wisdom from some experts in their fields-

~"Point your words, your energy, your life in a clear direction, and everything starts to organize around that choice."-Carol Tuttle  https://ct.liveyourtruth.com

~"We cannot let our past destroy the future that God has for us." "2026 is blessed."-Julie Green

https://www.jgminternational.org

~"Don't let 2026 be another year where your desires fade with the holiday excitement, allow it to be the year you see lasting transformation."-Rhonda Byrne, author of "Countdown to Riches."

Greg and I wish you a wonderful 2026. Let this be our best year ever!

(Also, I'll let you know in my February blog post how well Greg and I did on following our chronotype.)

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, February 7, 2026, Becky

A Christmas Open House

Welcome!

Greg and I, and a few of our relatives were recently invited to a wonderful Christmas open house. It was hosted by other relatives, a young couple who are newlyweds. They have a really nice house that was made a lot nicer with their hard work. (We know what it's like, to fix up an old house. Greg and I have redone three of them, and we're still working on our fourth one. Working on our house is actually more like a hobby for us.)

We were greeted at the door by this festive Christmas wreath...

and also by John and Ashley, the owners of the house.

They have done a beautiful job of restoring, furnishing, and decorating their house. 

We could hardly wait to see the rest of the house, so John and Ashley took us on a tour-

John really likes his new man cave.

After the tour, it was time for refreshments, and they were wonderful!

 There was eggnog (my favorite!) and a wide variety of munchies and other tasty treats.

We all enjoyed not only the food, but also the fellowship.

Way too soon, our memorable afternoon was over; we always enjoy being with family. It is time well-spent!

"The magic of Christmas never ends, and its greatest gifts are family and friends." ~The Random Vibes

Gift suggestion: "Down Memory Lane," a nostalgic memoir by Becky Arnott on Amazon. For more information, click on the widget above.

We wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! Love, Greg and Becky

Positive thought: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." -Luke 2:14

Thanks for visiting! Until Sunday, January 8, 2023, Becky

Lessons Learned, a Fresh Start

 

As I looked back on my life in 2021, I wondered what lessons I had learned so I could have a fresh start for the new year in 2022.

To begin with, I learned to think for myself, not to take someone else's word for something that may or may not be true, but to search for the truth that is best for me. And, I learned to stand up for what I believe is right. 

I learned a lesson from someone I know who thought she needed a big change in her life- she moved to another state by herself, and she seems to be very happy that she made that move. So, if there's something you think might make you feel happier, and you think it is the right thing to do, go for it! Remember to live your dream!

Just recently, I decided I needed another white poinsettia for decorating, so I went back to the store to get one. However, when I got there, there were no more flowers in the area where I'd gotten the other one. I started thinking that one might be in the clearance area, so I went there, and sure enough, there was a lone flower that had been tossed on a shelf by itself. I couldn't believe my good fortune! I felt like it was waiting there just for me.

White Poinsettia

I learned that sometimes you're given a second chance on things, and if you are supposed to have it, it will be yours.

After we moved to our new house, I decided that I'd really like to have a pie safe for our kitchen. I went to several local stores, antique barns, etc. looking for one, and I even had several people looking, as well, but to no avail. On a treasure map (also known as a vision board) I'd made, I even had a picture of a pie safe, and I looked at that picture every day, wishing for a pie safe. However, I found out that they had become scarce, that there were not many around anymore.

One day, I decided to look online for the pie safe on a site that featured local antiques and furniture. Instead of a pie safe, I saw a pretty cabinet that looked similar to our built-in cabinets in our kitchen. It then dawned on me that something like this cabinet would be much better in our kitchen than a pie safe would have been.

Newly-painted Cabinet 

We went to see the advertised cabinet, and we decided it was perfect for our kitchen. It was a diamond in the rough; it needed some work so we got it at a great price. Greg sanded and painted it, and now we really like it!

The pie safe would not have looked right there at all. Also, pie safes in good condition are very  expensive now. 

Although a pie safe was on my treasure map, and almost all of the things I have on there have manifested, the pie safe was not one of them thanks to a quote I have on the map, "All this or something better now manifests for me in totally satisfying and harmonious ways with good to all concerned." I'm very thankful for that quote. Sometimes what you think you want is not in your best interest.

It's good to be more spiritual, to look for the good in everyone, to sincerely compliment others, and to make them feel better about themselves. This includes friends, family, and even strangers.

(It's not up to us to hate, disrespect, demean and punish others that we decide are unacceptable. People that do that are setting themselves up for some really bad karma!)

However, it's good to either drop or limit your time with people who are not good for your well-being. We don't need to hate these people, but we do need to take care of ourselves, and to pray for them.

Greg and I have decided that we are only going to allow people into our lives that are kind, supportive, and respectful. Life is too short to do otherwise. We are now going to a beautician who cuts hair well, and is really nice, too. We decided to drop a seamstress who, although she does a good job, seems to have a lot of anger.

Something positive that we are now doing is leaving little papers different places that we visit. These papers have helpful messages on them like website addresses, positive quotes, etc. We do this anonymously, and we hope it's helping others.

Here's a good idea for the new year from Pal's-

Rhonda Byrne, the author of the best selling book, "The Secret," has an important idea for everyone for a better life, to only think of what you want, not what you don't want. Sounds good to me!

Positive thought- We need to look back and try to learn lessons from our lives, and to turn anything we see as negative into something that is positive!

Thanks for visiting! Until Sunday, February 6, 2022, Becky

Small Town Charm

Greg and I live outside a small town in Virginia, and we are surrounded by small towns, and that's the way we like it! Small towns have a certain charm, each one is a little different; there are no carbon copies!

One of our favorite towns that we discovered just last year is Saltville, Virginia. It's just 20 minutes from our house.

The Salt Trail connects our town to Saltville.

 Walking on the trail is fun.

You can meet all kinds of interesting people there,

like talented artist, Nancy.

While you could walk to Saltville, driving is, of course, much faster, which is what we did! 

We were impressed by the neat way this old train was displayed.

We were also impressed by the Saltville Emporium-

They have different people's items for sale here at very reasonable prices. Some of the things are very unique,

like this bench that we bought for only $45.00! 

We're still gradually fixing up our old house and buying a few things that we need at bargain prices. We love the Saltville Emporium. We're planning to go back there soon since they're getting in new things all of the time.

Another place that we really like in Saltville is...

The Lily Pad which is a cafe with sandwiches, desserts, etc.

Great stuff! Yum!

Besides Saltville, there's another small town, Meadowview, where Greg gets our taxes done.

Old Train Depot in Meadowview

Earlier, I mentioned about getting a bargain. Not too long ago, we went to the Country Barn Flea Market and Antique Mall in Hansonville, where I found this beautiful bracelet which was partially handmade for a very reasonable price-

Love the colors!

On the way to Hansonville, we went through Glendale for the first time. Glendale was where my grandfather used to live when he was a boy. His old homeplace is long gone, but my grandmother painted a pretty picture of it from an old photograph.

We're lucky to have that painting hanging in our home.

We do love small towns with their unique charm. Each is special in its own way. 

We decided that in the new year we'd visit more of these towns. Next on our list is Damascus which has The Old Mill Restaurant which we visited many years ago not long after we got married. It must still be pretty good since it's lasted so long!

Positive thought: "What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven't even happened yet." Anne Frank

Thanks for visiting! Until Sunday, February 7, 2021, Becky

 

Positive New Year!

Welcome!

And, a happy and positive New Year!

Here are some positive quotes to help you start the new year right:

"Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day."
-Michael Josephson

"Everything is possible to the one who believes."
-Mark 9:23

"Look for the positive; magnetize the positive."
-Becky Arnott

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."
-Oprah Winfrey

Here are some of my favorite affirmations:

I enjoy being positive and having positive feelings.

I love and approve of myself exactly as I am.

I deserve to be happy.

I fill my mind with positive and loving thoughts.

My future looks great!

Positive tidbits:

For the most part, I try to be around people who are positive and respectful.

I enjoy reading positive and uplifting articles and books.  I especially love success stories.

Positive thought:  "Write it on your heart that evert day is the best day in the year."
                               -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky