The dream

Three years ago today I started my new business of being an independent consultant for Scentsy wickless candles. I started with $115 and a prayer that I could make a $400 car payment so that Gentz didn't have to with his gas check. My dream was to have a cabin built on our land in Aitkin, Minnesota. I had no idea how that would happen Could this new business be a means? I had never made much money in my other direct sales companies. I had promised Gentz I would even go get a full-time job if I had to (shudder) in order for this dream to become a reality. We loved it up here...it was like home. I wanted our children and grandchildren to be able to come stay here and see the place their great-grandparents had lived so happily at the end of their lives.

                                                                            

I felt as if the land were speaking to me when I stood on that wooded hill so  many years ago when I thought it was going to be gone forever. It said, "peace, peace, this is all going to work out..you won't lose this." The how at that time wasn't important - deep down a seed of belief was planted - belief in my dream, belief in this land and belief that God in heaven was aware of my desire to hang on to this piece of family legacy from Aunt Blanche and Uncle Olaf Flessland, from mother and daddy. So today, years later, Gentz is meeting with a man to build the road up to the hill I stood on so many years ago where our cabin is going to be built. I thank God that this is coming to pass. Yes, Scentsy far exceeded my financial goals and dreams and because of that, we are going to be able to realize our dream. I thank dear old Aunt Blance and Uncle Oley, the ones who bought this 100 acre farm and lived there happily for so many years. I thank my dear parents, now both gone, who saw the vision, loved the land and moved up here in 1979. And I"m so grateful that mother hung on to 32 acres of wooded land that included my hill when they had to move away because of their old age. I"m grateful to my dear sweet husband Gentz who loved coming up here as much as I did...for being willing to pack 4 active children into a car with no dvd player and driving 12 hours to stay with my parents in their attic bedroom for several days.

Now, WE are the grandparents, now WE are laying claim to this land like Blanche and Olaf, like Bill and Lucille - now it's Gentz and Jeri. I hope and pray we will have many years of rest and enjoyment in our little cabin in the woods and that our children and grandchildren will come to call it a haven, a safe and wonderful place, a family treasure, a refuge a gift.

Rest in peace

Zoe, my 5 year old granddaughter picking a flower from mother's arrangement.



I haven't written in a while....my dear 93 year old mother who suffered a severe stroke in October died Jan. 1, 2011...she didn't make it to her 94th birthday Jan. 18, but she did make it to 2011!! Many of her grandchildren and children gathered to say farewell to this extraordinary woman in a beautiful, very fitting service Jan. 6 in Minnesota, home of her heart and where she and Daddy had lived for the past 30 years.

It was a beautiful MInnesota wintry day...clean, cold, crisp, the snow sparkling through the trees.  She was buried behind Dorris Church right next to my dad.
Gentz conducting the graveside services. 

Mother's grandsons lovingly carrying her

My sister Becki called it a Celebration of love which it truly was...we loved her, she loved us...we honor her memory..we will miss her. I've talked to so many people who say, oh my mom died 11 years ago and I still want to call her and talk to her and tell her what's going one! I've never been able to relate to that before, but now I believe I can....and the thing is...she is very aware of what is going on as she watches from above, so until I join her in the next life, I can continue to talk to her and share with her. Rest in peace dear sweet mother!






Lucille M. Jones
Jan. 18, 1917-Jan. ,2011