This month our Spotlight falls on a newer member of our parish family. Here, in her own words:

Spotlight
On
Betty Boyce

When asked if I would contribute something for the next issue of the newsletter, I was hesitant. I felt that my life was such a jumble that it would be hard to put it in print. After much thought, I realized that my life was really very interesting and has been a full life. Yes, as all human beings experience, there have been hills and valleys. As my faith in God grew, I was able to let Him handle the valleys when they got too low.

I was born in Detroit and lived there until I relocated to South Carolina two years ago. As an only child, I learned to entertain myself through books and day dreams. I enjoyed books about other countries and often imagined traveling to far off lands. I also liked our family Sunday drives, which usually ended up at Lake St. Clair. The sail boats in summer fascinated me and they too became a part of my day dreams. Fortunately, I still enjoy reading. I have traveled to several countries and spent a year in England as an exchange teacher. I, also, became the owner of a sailboat after I was introduced to sailing by a friend. I completed two courses and later became an instructor for a sailing club located on the Detroit River near Lake Erie. My first boat was an outboard and since I enjoyed racing, I traded up to a 28 foot inboard.

Other hobbies over the years have included photography, modern dance, skiing, crafts and cooking. I've taken a couple of gourmet cooking classes and even worked in a restaurant one summer. I started flying lessons, but gave it up because I felt safer down here on the ground. I suppose you're wondering how I had time for so many different activities. I taught school and had the entire summer off to do all those things I had been dreaming about since I was a child.

I attended Wayne State University and majored in Physical and Health Education with an interest in modern dance. When I graduated I was placed at the high school that I had attended for 4 years. My former dance teacher requested me and that assignment was one of the most satisfying experiences during my 9 years as a teacher. I attended the University of Michigan and received a Masters degree in Guidance and Counseling. The next 20 years was spent counseling middle school and then high school students. I retired in 1986 and in 1994, I returned to counseling as a part time counselor, again at the request of a former principal who needed an experienced counselor for adult and alternative education students. I made a commitment to work for 2 years. I remained there for 9 years, just 2 months before moving here. It was a rewarding experience to be able to help so many students, who had been given a second chance to turn their lives around and I have no regrets for staying on the job longer than I had planned.

You are probably wondering why you haven't heard about my personal life. Briefly, I was married for 25 years and have been divorced for 26. I have two daughters and three beautiful grandchildren. My oldest daughter, Kim lives in California with her husband and my youngest granddaughter, Megan. They are doing quite well and just recently bought a restaurant, which is thriving and has had spectacular reviews. I have not seen Robin, my youngest daughter in quite a few years, due to influences from everyone but God. I use to fault myself for her mistakes, but I have learned to "Let go and let God". I am in close touch with her two children, my grandson, Marcus and my oldest granddaughter, Ashley. They may move here at the end of this school year.

I made the decision to move south due to health reasons. Both me and my Mom were suffering from arthritis and needed to be in a warmer climate. The move has been great for us. Mardell has not been sick since we moved and I am much better, physically, mentally and spiritually. St. Thomas has been good for me. It is like my former church in Detroit (Grace Episcopal). I feel blessed to have found my new church family. It has, also, been good to reconnect with Cursillo and I hope that I can be an asset to St. Thomas and the community.