Boxing Day: A 30-Year Tradition of Love

Some traditions become woven so deeply into our lives that they quietly shape who we are.

For over 30 years, our family has gathered on Boxing Day, a tradition begun in 1996 by my sister and her husband and lovingly continued today by her son and his wife. What started as a simple act of opening their home has become one of the most meaningful touchstones of our family life.

Growing up in a family of seven children, this gathering gave all of us the chance to come together, with our parents and many others, on the day after Christmas. Boxing Day was never about what was under the tree. It taught us something far more lasting. The greatest gifts we have in life are the ones we already possess, each other.

As I wind down 2025, I count my blessings first and foremost for family. This year brought the joy of welcoming my grandson and two grand nephews. With each new child, our family grows not just in number, but in love. I often hear my mother’s words echo in my heart, “You can never have too many children or too much love in your life.”

Living with stage IV cancer, with its ups and downs, has taught me something important. It makes it impossible to lose the present moment to fear of the future or regret of the past. Each moment is valued. This year has had so many wonderful moments with family and friends. Moments that always took precedence over the difficult days. Love has a way of doing that.

I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you who follow me here, who have attended book signings, and who have purchased RISE: Living Life Over Cancer for yourselves, for a family member, or for someone you care about. Writing that book was truly a labour of love. I wrote it to bring more love into this world and into others' lives.

As you wind down 2025, I hope your good moments far outnumber your challenging ones. Take time to sit with those moments. Honour them. Celebrate them.

Because in the end, the greatest gift we have is one another.

Love Reigns: A Christmas Reflection

These past three weeks, as I held my grandchild in my arms, surrounded by my grand pets, I was reminded of what my mother, my father, and my Deity have always shown me: the most important thing in this journey we call life is love.

There is a sacred simplicity in cradling a child who melts into your chest with complete trust, and lying beside a grand dog who offers unconditional presence. In those moments, I understood why my father always said he was never a millionaire, but he had something greater, the love of family and friends. That, he believed, made him the richest man in the world.

This season of light, whatever your beliefs or whoever you worship, the story of Jesus reminds us that love is the true measure of a life. It surpasses worldly goods, titles, good health, ill health, and everything we cling to or worry about.

As I sat immersed in what so many lovingly call the best gig in life, grand parenting, I came to understand how deeply true this is. In those moments, nothing else mattered. I forgot about my cancer. I released my to do list. I let go of responsibilities. My only task was to love this tiny human, breathe in rhythm with him, and simply be.

My spiritual advisor reminded me that love is the force that exists beyond our bodies, our minds, and our egos. It is our spirit. It is what remains when fear fades and when the noise of the world softens. This love defies our worries, dissolves our angst, and steadies us in the unknown.

So this time of year, no matter your beliefs or traditions, I ask all of us to pause for a moment and choose love. Not gifts. Not status. Not being right. Not being better or doing more.

Choose love.

For in choosing love, we discover the true meaning of Christmas. A small baby in a manger taught the world the most profound and enduring lesson: love reigns.

My hope for each of you is simple. I hope you have someone to love, and someone who loves you. But the first and most essential love is the love you give yourself. When you embrace yourself, your scars, your cancer, your faults, your regrets, something miraculous happens. They lose their power. They fall away.

That is the power of love.

And that is the spirit of Christmas.

With love,

Betty Jean

🌿 Healthy Blueberry Cornmeal Muffins

There is something wonderful about receiving a gift that truly makes life easier. A friend of mine recently gifted me a used stand-alone mixer, and it has been a game-changer for someone like me who traditionally fares much better as a cook than a baker.

Yesterday, I tested it out by making a batch of chocolate chip cookies. They were uniform in shape, rose beautifully, and were absolutely delicious. Unfortunately, because of the ingredients, those cookies were for my son, a friend, and Ray. They were not something I could enjoy myself.

So today, I decided to make something nourishing, comforting, and healthy for me:

Blueberry Cornmeal Muffins.

These muffins sit right at the top of my all-time favourite list. I love the texture, the pop of blueberries, and the warm sweetness from the creamed corn. They are soft, hearty, and filled with ingredients that support energy, digestion, and taste.

Why These Muffins Are Good for You

These muffins are nourishing and align with my Mediterranean diet.

• Cornmeal and whole grain flour add fibre.

• Olive oil supports heart health and lowers inflammation.

• Blueberries provide antioxidants and natural sweetness.

• Cream-style corn adds moisture without excess sugar.

• Low sugar helps maintain steady energy and supports taste changes during treatment.

• Greek yogurt or applesauce adds protein.

Join me in making these delicious muffins to have on hand for the early mornings of this Christmas season.

Healthy Blueberry Cornmeal Muffins.docx

Download DOCX • 42KB