2025 has been a year full to the brim with activities, traditional birthday celebrations, and new opportunities.
As some of you will know, Spence was asked to pull himself out of retirement, once again, to become the interim associate pastor at High River Baptist Church. He has settled into a 3 day schedule, though sometimes the demands stretch into the other days as well. He’s enjoying being involved in ministry again and I’m getting used to being home alone and not having wheels to get out and about whenever I want/need to. We make it work and are content.
I continue to attend a wonderful Bible study at HRBC and jumped into a leadership role this year too, as chair of a women’s retreat committee. It had been on my heart to get one organized ever since joining HRBC 4 years ago. It was well-timed and well attended. The ladies were all greatly blessed by the opportunity to gather together and by Grace Fox’s ministry.
Getting older has brought some health challenges, with both of us now using hearing aids and making more frequent trips to doctors, chiropractors and specialists. Spence’s ulcerative colitis is in total remission, for which we are extremely thankful. My diagnosis as a type 2 diabetic was a shock but it has turned out to be for the best. With help from an excellent dietitian and determined monitoring of what/when and how I eat, I have lost 40 pounds and am feeling great.
Another shock came when I saw a dermatologist who said she didn’t like the look of a mark on my nose. The test came back positive for cancer so I was referred to a surgeon. That experience was much more extensive than I expected. The nurse took pictures as the procedure was done and at one point she asked if I wanted to see them. Then she said, “you’re not a fainter are you?” The huge bandage she applied made me think of Jimmy Durante (remember him?). But the recovery went well and many have said, “you can’t even tell.” I can, but I’m trying not to let my vanity get out of control.
Our girls and their significant others are doing quite well, though Ty has had some health challenges that still aren’t totally resolved and Rick still gets those nasty cluster headaches which keeps him from his work as a psych nurse now and then. Laura enjoys her part-time schedule as a fundraising consultant and Kate has had a couple of promotions with the insurance company she’s worked with for several years. Meagan is busy with her videography projects, at Bamboo Shoots, and she now has a new ‘sideline’ business with Poshmark.ca. Evan still runs his thrift store “trapline” and has done extremely well buying and selling over the past year, as well as working as an LPN at a local senior’s care home.
Our grandkids continue to delight us. Spencer Mark (aka Sparky) turned 4 in October. He’s all about being a very active boy, and Thea’s attends grade one in a French immersion school so she often challenges us with our limited French vocabulary.
When Laura asked what she wanted as a present for ‘graduating’ from Kindergarten, she said she wanted her ears pierced but “Grandma has to come too!” So we did it together!
I’ve done a few craft markets over the past year, with limited success, but it’s been a delight to continue speaking for Christian women’s clubs throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan and for church groups here and there. It was a special delight to give an address to a group at Meagan’s church in Saskatoon in September, just before the annual InScribe conference. It was small but mighty this year, with some excellent sessions and the response to my workshop was encouraging. I continue to meet with a small group of writers here in High River. It’s been a blessing to help mentor some young writers this year. My latest publication, a writer’s memoir, Pond’rings, has received some wonderful endorsements and I’m hoping to have my YA fantasy novel finished early in the new year.
Our Lovely Livy is beginning to show symptoms of the cancer (she was diagnosed almost a year ago). Please pray that she’ll be with us through this Christmas season.
I think that’s about all our news! We wish you all a blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a son is given; and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
marcialeelaycock.com 