Happy New Year

 January 1, 2026

If the New Year had a scent, I’m convinced it would smell like a fresh‑brewed cup of hope—warm, comforting, and joy of the moment. It’s the kind of cup you wrap both hands around while sitting at a favorite spot, for me it’s the kitchen table that’s sits in front of my big window.  I can see my part of the world there, and I can see my calendar hanging nearby.

There’s something whimsical about this turning of the calendar. It feels like God gently nudging us, whispering, “Here, child—let’s begin again.” And so, we do. We step into January and step through the door to a new year.

It’s a wonderful feeling that new beginnings are still possible. Or maybe it’s simply that God, in His kindness, built renewal right into the rhythm of our lives. Seasons turn. Pages flip. Hearts reset.

This year, I’m stepping into January believing God still surprises us with joy tucked into ordinary corners and knowing that even when the path ahead is foggy, the One who guides us never loses His way.

I’m reminded of the verse: “Behold, I am doing a new thing… I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” A promise of renewal, even in dry places. A reminder that God’s creativity doesn’t run out at midnight on December 31st.

May your days be sprinkled with delight, your steps guided by peace, and your heart anchored in the One who makes all things new.

Stay tuned to 2026 and be ready for whatever beautiful things God is about to unfold.

From our Bungalow by the Bay

Happy New Year Blessings to All

Until Next Time

 

 

Fokelore and Traditons

 

We’re having left-overs today. Does that mean a double portion of good fortune and wealth? Where did this tradition come from, I looked and found a good many different reasons why, each one leading back to fortune and wealth:

Just a few reasons I found . . .

Black-eyed Peas

There are a couple of popular legends about how and why black-eyed peas came to symbolize good fortune in the U.S.:

According to folklore, the Union Army raided the Confederate Army's food supplies during the Civil War. They took everything edible the soldiers had except for the peas and pork, believing they were meant for animals and not for humans. The Confederates were "lucky" to have the remaining food to get them through the cold winter.

Another legend holds that slaves ate black-eyed peas on January 1, 1863, the day the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect because they were all they had. This, according to the story, is why black-eyed peas have been eaten every New Year's Day since.

Cabbage

One of the main reasons why cabbage became a popular New Year’s symbol is because of its ability to withstand the winter months. It is one of the hardiest vegetables, and it can survive the harshest of conditions. As a result, it became a symbol of resilience and endurance, which people wanted to emulate in the new year. It was believed that by eating cabbage on New Year’s Day, people would be filled with the same resilience and endurance to face whatever challenges the new year brought.

Cabbage is also associated with purification and renewal, making it a perfect symbol for the start of a new year. It was believed that by eating cabbage, people could cleanse and purify their bodies, getting rid of any negative energy and starting the year with a fresh start.

Folk lore and traditions are nice, but the Word of God is nicer!

All blessings are from the Good Lord. Amen

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Isaiah 40:31 - but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Until Next Time