New Year’s Resolutions: A time to look back and a time to look ahead

One of my favorite pastors always encouraged our church family to stay away from the January 1 New Year’s Resolutions. His suggestion was to take some time to reflect on the past year and use that as a tool to set realistic and meaningful goals for the New Year.

In thinking about the past year at Boyd Cottages, the first thought that comes to my mind is wow! Our family has almost tripled and grown to include new folks who help to create a thriving community. Last year was a time of inviting so many guests into our Boyd Cottages facility. Our friends from Green River Baptist Church started a Sunday School/worship experience each week. Sunday night services continued each week from our Wayne County faith community. Waynesboro First UMC has gone so far as to refer to Boyd Cottages as the church’s east Campus

U.S. Congressman Marsha Blackburn used Boyd Cottages to host her town hall meeting last summer.

Informational programs on estate planning, elder abuse and VA benefits rounded out the year. School children and volunteers filled the halls at every holiday and celebrated birthdays.

Boyd Cottages provided a place of sanctuary for families dealing with the difficulty of losing a mother or a father. And nothing can top the shout-out to Veterans last fall with a steak dinner and dignitaries saluting these brave men who call Boyd Cottages Home.

A new name and a new face. The facility that for many years was Wayne County Assisted Living is now Boyd Cottages. A nod to our history, changing our name to reflect the accomplishments of the Boyd Family. The Boyd land once included the Piggly Wiggly shopping center, manufacturing facilities and a part of what is now our medical complex.

Mrs. Lillie H. Brewer opted to come out of retirement to serve the health care needs of Wayne County once again. Miss Lillie, as she is called by friends of all ages, has been involved in every major healthcare initiative in Wayne County for over 50 years. And we are all better for it.

So here we are – 2017 and what about those Resolutions? For many, who are familiar with 4-H, this will sound very familiar. “To make the best better.” Boyd Cottages is an incredible facility that many call “Wayne County’s hidden treasure.”

We want to make sure everyone knows what we have to offer. Veterans are a top priority as we work with Congressman Blackburn and others to seek affordable housing and care options for our Wayne County veterans and others. Caregiver programs have already started. A caregiver more often than not is on the job training. We want to do everything we can to let people know they are not alone when trying to figure out how to pay for a loved one’s care, while managing a family and a job. So watch for upcoming seminars that tackle some of these issues. Boyd Cottages has an Activities director. There are rumors of a Spring Fling and many more fun activities for residents and the community.

But most important, we will continue to do what we do best. Boyd Cottages is a home away from home for people who can’t stay at home by themselves any longer. We offer short term stays or a transition to a new home with friends waiting to extend a warm welcome. Our people tell the story best. Check us out at www.boydcottages.com