Her Voice Magazine - Spring 2024 by Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Journal

By Women. For Women. About Women.

A Brainerd Dispatch Publication

o n i m a C on B A PILGRIMAGE OF HER OWN

PLUS!

SPRING 2024 + Jami’s Journey to Just Juice

+ Online and On Her Own Time

+ The Motions of Grief: Second in a series

Wade Swenson, MD

Mariah Nieman, FNP

Alyssa Manning, FNP

Jessica Nybakken, AOCNP

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CONTENTS + Spring 2024

My Voice

By DeLynn Howard, Editor

Your Voice

Celebrating women over 90 Reader submitted

Her Spirit

Her Table

A taste of spring

The compassionate way By Kathleen Krueger

Her Love

Don’t say the L-word

By Sue Ready Enjoy a taste of spring with Sue Ready as she shares recipes that will be sure to please the palate and give us spring vibes as we wish the snow and cold away.

On the cover:

Stephanie O’Dell stands in front of Passos Valencia at a pilgrim hostel along the Camino, located about 83 miles left to go to Santiago. Submitted.

By Michelle Oie

Her Journey

Jami’s journey to Just Juice By Sheila Helmberger

Her Grief

Second in a series: The motions of grief By Sheila DeChantal

Her Poetry “Unplugged”

By Sue Smith-Grier

Her Career

Online and on her own time By Chelsea Ornelas Read about Kelly Pearson and how her team at Aiden & Oak grew an online side business into a full time job. 4 | HER VOICE SPRING 2024

Her Passion A nostalgic journey

By Sue Ready Expect to be wowed at Jeanie Haurum’s Northern Treasures store, seeing shelf after shelf of Barbie dolls, boy and girl dolls, puppets, Coca-Cola dolls and even a few Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox figurines.

Her Camp

Girls’ Camp at the Cabin

By Jan Kurtz Girls’ Camp flowed from pancakes, through card games, the “Princess Bride” movie, surviving spiders, yelps and laughter, sharing work and life’s little lessons.

Her Travels

Bon Camino: A pilgrimage of her own

By Carolyn Corbett Stephanie O'Dell was lost and needed to find herself. She went on a 304-mile walk to do just that. This is her story.

Her Environment

The power of volunteers

By Alyson Levig Ann Brucciani Lyon’s life motto, “Everything you’ve ever learned in life is of value,” has led her to spend time with the Keep It Clean Coalition.

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HER VOICE By women. For women. About women.

PUBLISHER

Pete Mohs ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Susie Alters EDITOR

DeLynn Howard GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Mollie Burlingame PHOTOGRAPHER

Joey Halvorson

Next Issue of Her Voice: Summer Issue - Publishes Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Journal: June 2024 You can find Her Voice Magazine in over 100 Discover Rack locations in the area or read it online at:

MY VOICE

Trust the process.

Enjoy the journey

BY DELYNN HOWARD

One of my favorite parts about my job as editor of Her Voice is piecing together each issue from story assignments to photo assignments to answering questions about the layout. And what I really love is when the magazine is done and everything comes together, there’s a theme even when it wasn’t intended. This issue is about journeys — some literal and some metaphorical — but they are journeys nonetheless. Step into the magazine with me and find out what path the Rev. Candace Adams has taken in a program called The Compassionate Way (p. 8). Jeanie Haurum took writer Sue Ready on “A Nostalgic Journey” (p. 20) with stories of her doll collection housed in Northern Treasures, a Pequot Lakes consignment and antiques business.

www.BrainerdDispatch.com (Magazine Rack Tab)

Sheila Helmberger interviewed Jami Nelson about her journey to Just Juice (p. 28), a juice product which is on shelves in the Brainerd lakes area.

Advertising: (218) 855-5895 Advertising@BrainerdDispatch.com

Sheila DeChantal spoke with area women who’ve had to navigate life without their spouses in her second in a series called “The Motions of Grief.” (p. 30)

Comments/story ideas:

218-855-5850

delynn.howard@brainerddispatch.com Mail: ATTN: Her Voice Brainerd Dispatch, 506 James St., Brainerd, MN 56401

Just around the bend, you can read about Kelly Pearson who started her online clothing business with just a small boutique on social media. It blossomed into her and her team shipping clothes to thousands all over the United States and Canada. (p. 34) And Jan Kurtz writes about her adventures when she traveled to her family cabin for girls’ camp (p. 38). Whether you’re on a new career path, an educational or spiritual journey or simply just moving through life, keep going. Trust the process. Enjoy the journey.

VOICE CELEBRATE YOUR + uplifting WOMEN OVER 90

Alyce Gibson is my vision of a woman growing old gracefully. When I visit with Alyce, I am constantly reminded of what an interesting life she has lived and how beautifully and enthusiastically she has embraced each decade in her 94 years. Whether it was growing up and marrying her high school sweetheart here in Brainerd, raising three kids and teaching English in Akeley where her husband, Jack, was superintendent, settling into retirement in Baxter (a retirement that included many years of volunteering in elementary classrooms) or as she is presently, Alyce still lives a very full and independent life in her own home. Alyce is a very feisty lady and anyone who knows her will tell you she is one of the Timberwolves most faithful fans. She and Jack had season tickets to the Timberwolves games and enjoyed many years of attending all the home games. Alyce said, “Everybody thought we were absolutely nuts to make that drive from Cass Lake to Minneapolis for a basketball game.” Jack and Alyce were there so frequently the players and cheerleaders knew her by name and became her friends. Alyce no longer makes the trek down to Minneapolis for games, but she watches faithfully on television and records all the action in spreadsheets that her son, Scott, prints up for her. She wouldn’t miss a game, and she makes notes of every play and every player. Oh, and yes, you can count on it that Alyce will be decked out in

Alyce Gibson

Timberwolves garb to cheer on her team, win or lose. I love listening to Alyce reminisce about her life. She is always cheerful and welcoming to anyone who stops by. She talks about growing up in Brainerd as an only child whose parents ran a grocery store. She relates stories of this community back in the 30s and 40s when her dad was the first fireman to drive the city fire truck (because no one else knew how to drive it.) And after many decades of teaching and raising her three children in other parts of the state, she loves to reminisce about coming back to her hometown where she spent many years volunteering five days per week in elementary classrooms. Alyce brings out the best in our neighborhood. Neighbors stop by to chat and have a cup of coffee. One neighbor brings in her mail and another plows her driveway. She no longer drives, but her sons call her every day and are often around on weekends to run errands for her. When I asked Alyce what her secret was for this long and cheerful life, she told me she starts and ends each day with the Serenity Prayer, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Pretty good advice to live by. I’m going to try to follow Alyce’s example. - Beth Passi

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HER VOICE SPRING 2024 | 7

HER SPIRIT

The e t a n o i s Compas y a W + compassion

BRINGING SPIRITUAL SUPPORT WHERE IT’S NEEDED MOST BY KATHLEEN KRUEGER PHOTOS BY JOEY HALVORSON

“I’ve always had a heart for those who’ve been outside the pews.” That’s a statement from the Rev. Candace Adams, who leads a newly formed outreach ministry sponsored by Lakes Area Presbyterian Church called The Compassionate Way. The congregation at Lakes Area Presbyterian Church is small, but they have a big heart for the surrounding community. For some time, they’ve been exploring ways to make a lasting impact in the Brainerd lakes area. When the Rev. Mark Ford, their pastor, reached out to the Rev. Adams for input, she suggested an outreach focused on underserved populations in the area. The congregation enthusiastically supported the idea. In April of 2023, they launched The Compassionate Way with the Rev. Adams spearheading the new endeavor. “We didn’t know what this was going to look like,” shares the Rev. Adams. “There wasn’t a script. We just started experimenting and reaching out.”

8 | HER VOICE SPRING 2024

“I really had to start wrestling with some deep questions. I’ve learned that I need to be willing to be present in that pain, instead of trying to “whitewash” it away. Sometimes, it’s okay not to have all the answers.” Rev. Candace Adams members of the Adams family. Over time, three more daughters and one son joined this forever family through the foster care system.

Even though this new ministry was uncharted territory for the Rev. Adams, she had years of personal and professional experience to guide her. The Rev. Adams, certified through the International Coaching Federation, served as a parish pastor for several congregations. She also served as the chaplain for the University of Jamestown, where she enjoyed close interaction with a very diverse student population. On a personal front, the Rev. Adams and her husband have six children, all adopted through the foster care system. Some were as old as 16 when they first came into their home.

Their kids taught them a lot about the struggles of navigating life in a minefield of trauma and instability. “I really had to start wrestling with some deep questions. I’ve learned that I need to be willing to be present in that pain, instead of trying to “whitewash” it away. Sometimes, it’s okay not to have all the answers,” Adams said. There are many private and governmental agencies available and offering tangible support to marginalized populations in our area. The Compassionate Way seeks to come alongside these agencies and help to fill a less visible, but extremely vital need — someone available to listen, show empathy, and offer spiritual and emotional support and guidance.

The Rev. Adams and her husband, Doug, took in their first foster kids when they were a young married couple in their mid-20s, sisters aged 16 and 11. When family reconciliation was no longer an option and adoption became available, there was no question, the girls became permanent

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The Rev. Adams has been welcomed and established a regular presence in many areas of our community. Currently, the Rev. Adams ministers in several locations on a weekly basis. They include the Crow Wing County Jail, Open Arms drop-in center, Artesian Homes, several recovery homes for those dealing with substance abuse and youthcentered settings. With the ministry still in its first year, she continues to seek additional opportunities and ways to collaborate with like-minded organizations and individuals.

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But that doesn’t mean they ignore the practical needs presented to them. If compassion means “love in action,” then, when appropriate, they do their best to assist. That may mean helping someone find a safe place to stay or donating necessities to other organizations. It’s all about filling the gaps.

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The Rev. Candace Adams works on the computer at her Lakes Area Presbyterian Church office. An example of what The Compassionate Way offers is the Compassion Connection Circle that the Rev. Adams facilitates at the jail each week. The gathering starts with a statement establishing a supportive, “no judgment” zone for the meeting: “We are here, recognizing that each of us are whole, resourceful, and capable. We’re not here to fix each other. We are here to recognize we are on our own journey,” said Adams. The Rev. Adams then shares a short story or thought to consider for the day. The individuals are asked to share honestly about how they are coming into the meeting that day — tired, hopeful, frustrated, etc. They are also asked to share about ways they have received or expressed compassion during the last week. After that, there is a short teaching and discussion time, and a final closing where each Kathleen Krueger has been a full-time freelance writer since 2011. Her book, “Hey Freelancer Go Clone Yourself” shares advice based on the experiences of her successful freelance career and that of her co-author. Learn more about Kathleen on her website: KathleenKrueger.com.

10 | HER VOICE SPRING 2024

individual expresses how they are feeling as they leave the gathering. The Compassionate Way also has a big focus on providing friendship and encouragement to individuals oneon-one. This can be simply sitting and listening to someone who needs to share what’s going on in their life or delivering “Blessing Baskets” to individuals working to start their life on a new path. Since the ministry reaches out to people in an area that spans from Little Falls to as far north as Backus, opportunities to connect and develop community in a safe space online is also being developed. Private weekly Zoom meetings are already being

offered to those interested in that option. New this year is a website being developed to help facilitate a better understanding of what The Compassionate Way has to offer and how to connect with their services. “One of my mottos is ‘To listen is to love,’” says the Rev. Adams. “We need places where we can be authentic and not have to put on a mask, and not say what people want to hear. That is really difficult in our culture.” For more information about The Compassionate Way, contact the Rev. Candace Adams by emailing revadams@hotmail.com or calling 320-905-5453.

Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity

BUILDING HOUSES, Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity BUILDING HOUSES, BUILDING HOUSES, BUILDING HOPE BUILDING HOPE Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity

BUILDING HOUSES, BUILDING HOPE BUILDING HOPE Follow on Facebook Facebooktotostay stayupupFollow us us on to-date getinvolved involved with our to-date get with our Follow usand on Facebook to stay upnextand Women Build next Women Buildhome! home! to-date get involved with our Follow us on Facebook to stay up-

next Women Build with home! to-date and getI'veinvolved our been interested in in woodworking, building and and toolstools ever ever sincesince I've been interested woodworking, building next Women Build home! I created a pig breadboard in high school! LAHFH is the perfect I'veI created been interested in woodworking, building and tools ever since a pig breadboard in high school! LAHFH is the perfect place afor - I am learning skillsLAHFH and staying active. It is I created pigme breadboard in highnew school! is staying the perfect place for me - I am learning new skills and active. It is

I've been interestedtoin meet building ever since rewarding the family and work alongside them place for me - I woodworking, learning new skillsand andtools staying active. It isas we rewarding toam meet theschool! family and work them as we I created a pig breadboard in high LAHFH is thealongside perfect new home. rewarding to meet the build familytheir and work alongside them as we place for me - I am learning new skillstheir and staying active. It is build new home. build their new home. -Bonnie Henningson rewarding to meet the family and work alongside them -Bonnie Henningsonas we -Bonnie Henningson build their new home. I wanted to help others who need assistance and the Habitat builds are -Bonnie I wanted to help others who need andthe the Habitat builds I wanted to help others who needassistance assistance and Habitat builds are areHenningson

definitely worthwhile projects. On my first day, it was amazing to watch all the

definitely worthwhile projects. On my firstoutside day, and ititwas to watch all the definitely worthwhile projects. On my first day, was amazing toare watch all the I wanted to help others who need assistance theamazing Habitat volunteers work together to raise the walls of thebuilds home. I would volunteers work together to raise the outside walls of the home. I would definitely worthwhile projects. On my first day, it was amazing to watch all the volunteers together to raise volunteering. the outside walls theallhome. I would encouragework individuals to consider Thereofare types of work volunteersindividuals work together to raise the outside walls of theare home. I would encourage to consider volunteering. There all types of work encourageabilities individuals to consider volunteering. There are all nails. types of work needed from clean up, painting, to hammering encourage individuals tofrom consider volunteering. There are all typesnails. of work abilities needed clean up, painting, to hammering -Ginger Augustinack abilities needed from clean up, painting, to hammering abilities needed from-Ginger clean up,Augustinack painting, to hammering nails. nails. -Ginger Augustinack -Ginger Augustinack

Whenvolunteering volunteering at Habitat Humanity I know I am helping a When at Habitat for for Humanity I know I am helping a

When volunteering at Habitat for Humanity I know I amwill helping a and warm wonderful family build a forever home that be safe wonderful family build a forever home will be safe and warm When volunteering at Habitat forthat Humanity I know I am helping a wonderful family build a forever home that will be safe and warm toraise raisetheir their family. Working with Habitat had shown me how to family. Working with Habitat had shown me how wonderful family build a forever home that to raise their family. Working with Habitat had shown me will howbe safe and warm greatthe theneed need is for safe, affordable homes our community. great is for safe, affordable homes in ourincommunity. great to theraise need is for safe, affordable homes in our community. their family. Working with Habitat had shown me how -Kathy Wernberg -Kathy Wernberg great the need-Kathy is forWernberg safe, affordable homes in our community.

-Kathy Wernberg

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HER TABLE

+ spring recipes BY SUE READY

A TASTE OF

spring Enjoy some seasonal spring firsts. “No matter how long the winter is, spring is sure to follow.”

- Proverb

Sue Ready is a freelance writer, poet, food writer, book reviewer and former middle school teacher. She is a member of the Northwoods Arts Council in Hackensack and one of the chairs for the Annual August Northwoods Art and Book Festival. Sue blogs at http://sockfairies.blogspot.com with recipes, up north living and travel adventures. Her book reviews are posted on Facebook under EverReady Book Reviews and on her blog.

12 | HER VOICE SPRING 2024

ASPARAGUS, SNAP PEAS, TOMATOES AND RADISH SALAD WITH BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE DRESSING Cook’s Notes: Recipe adapted from eatingwell.com and serves 4. Some optional add-ins to the salad include Ciliegine (mini mozzarella balls) or herb marinated mozzarella balls (deli section) and halved strawberries.

+ SALAD INGREDIENTS: 1/2 bunch asparagus, cut off asparagus spears from bottom about 4 inches up 2 cups sugar snap peas 1-2 cups radishes, thinly sliced 3 tablespoons finely chopped scallion 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1 cup fresh white mushrooms, diced 1/3 cup dried cranberries 1/3 cup Herb Mediterranean Feta Crumbles 1/2 cup toasted walnuts or almonds 1 store bought package of Parm Crisps, coarsely crumbled + BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE DRESSING INGREDIENTS: 2-3 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard Sea salt and ground pepper to taste 1/4 cup dark good quality balsamic (I splurged and used a dark chocolate balsamic, so good) 1/2 cup good quality olive oil 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic

+ SALAD DIRECTIONS: Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Place asparagus and snap peas in boiling water. Lower heat to medium high and boil until al dente about 1-2 minutes. Drain snap peas and asparagus and place the veggies in a bowl of ice water for 1 minute. Drain again. In a bowl add cooked asparagus, snap peas, mushrooms, dried cranberries, sliced radishes, scallions and tomatoes. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and top with crumbled feta cheese, toasted almonds or walnuts and Parm Crisps. Serve immediately. + VINAIGRETTE DRESSING DIRECTIONS: Mix balsamic dressing ingredients in a blender. Taste test to balance ingredients then transfer dressing to a screw type jar and refrigerate until serving. Reshake the jar and refrigerate any leftovers.

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB CRUMB CAKE Cook’s Notes: Strawberries and rhubarb combined with a brown sugar crumb topping create a delicious spring cake. The cake is moist, buttery and perfect for a coffee gathering, brunch or dessert.

OVEN BAKED ASPARAGUS AND MUSHROOM RISOTTO Cook’s Notes: A northern Italian rice dish slow cooked in a broth until a delectable creamy consistency. Never fails to impress as a perfect side dish. The oven version is 100% foolproof and doesn’t require constant stirring. Do not rinse Arborio rice as it’s important to retain the starch for the dish. One cup frozen petite peas thawed could be substituted for asparagus pieces. The recipe serves 6 but since it’s so addicting maybe just four. Recipe adapted from carlsbadcravings. com and it’s gluten free.

+ INGREDIENTS: 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 tablespoons butter, divided 1/4 cup shallots finely chopped 3-4 cloves garlic, minced 1 1/2 cups uncooked Arborio rice 4 cups low sodium chicken broth, warmed 1/2 bunch of asparagus, remove woody ends and cut asparagus into 1-1/2 inch pieces 1 1/2 cups diced white mushrooms 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon each dried basil and parsley flakes 3 tablespoons dry white wine (e.g. Sauvignon Blanc) 1/4 cup heavy cream Optional adding in 1 cup diced ham or bacon + DIRECTIONS: Warm chicken broth on stove, keeping it covered until needed. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter with 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat in a Dutch oven or another oven safe-type pan. Increase heat to medium and saute shallots and mushrooms 3 minutes. Add the rice and stir until well coated with butter and edges begin to look translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and sauté an additional 30 seconds. Add 4 cups warmed chicken broth and seasonings to rice mixture. Bring to a boil, cover with a tight fitting lid and place it in the oven. Bake for 18 minutes or until rice is the softer side of al dente. Blanch asparagus pieces for 1 minute, drain to an ice bath and drain again. When rice is tender, remove Dutch oven pan from the oven. Stir in heavy cream, 1 tablespoon butter, white wine, blanched asparagus pieces and 1 cup Parmesan cheese to the rice mixture.

+ STREUSEL DIRECTIONS: Use a food processor or a pastry cutter to mix 1/2 cup butter, brown sugar, salt, flour, oats and cinnamon until coarse crumbs are formed. Chill for 40 minutes.

+ STREUSEL + CAKE DIRECTIONS: INGREDIENTS: Combine diced strawberries, 1/2 cup softened butter rhubarb, brown sugar, lemon juice and 1/3 cup flour. 3/4 cup dark brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon sea salt Set aside. 1 1/4 cups flour In a bowl beat 1/2 cup butter 1/4 cup regular oats and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. 1/2 teaspoon Saigon cinnamon or 1 teaspoon Add in beaten eggs and vanilla. ground cinnamon Mix until smooth. + CAKE INGREDIENTS: Sift in remaining 1 cup flour, 1/2 2 cups rhubarb, diced teaspoon cinnamon, baking powder and salt into butter/ 2 cups strawberries, diced eggs/powdered sugar mixture. 1-1/2 tablespoons brown sugar Stir until just incorporated. 1 tablespoon lemon juice Gently combine batter with 1 1/3 cups flour (divided) strawberry rhubarb mixture. 1/2 cup butter Spoon into prepared pan. 1 1/4 cups powdered Use a sheet of wax paper to sugar press mixture evenly down into 2 large eggs beaten pan. 1 teaspoon vanilla Top with chilled streusel 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon mixture. 1 teaspoon baking powder Bake for 40 minutes or until 1/2 teaspoon sea salt a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cake. + DIRECTIONS: Cool cake in pan for 20 Preheat oven to 350 minutes, then lift cake on degrees. Spray a 9 x 9 parchment paper to a wire pan with cooking spray. rack to finish cooling. Line pan with parchment After an hour or when cake paper leaving a 2 inch is completely cooled, cut into overhang on two sides. squares removing parchment Smooth out paper inside paper. of pan making sure Optional decadent addition — parchment paper is flush with sides and corners. ice cream or whipped cream.

Stir vigorously until smooth. Place back in oven uncovered and cook 5-10 minutes more. Add more Parmesan cheese right before serving. Season with salt and pepper, if necessary. To reheat, use a little more chicken broth as Arborio will absorb the liquid. HER VOICE SPRING 2024 | 13

HER LOVE + wisdom

Don’t say the

L-Word BY MICHELLE OIE

Why didn’t my college boyfriend want me to say the L-word? We’d been dating for at least a month. The starry look in my eyes must have warned him that saying “I love you” was on the tip of my tongue. They’re just words. Why was telling him how I felt such a big deal?

14 | HER VOICE SPRING 2024

“ Love is wanting the best for someone no matter what it costs you.” feeling? What if a husband is in the Alzheimer’s unit and the wife lives alone, is there no love?” I explain love is not a warm, fuzzy feeling although it can make you feel that way, yes. Then I give them the real definition: love is wanting the best for someone no matter what it costs you. I present to the teenagers that love is a choice, sometimes a very tough choice.

I know now what I didn’t then: these three words have power. They catapult a relationship into a different level of expectation and commitment. It can be a scary introduction, especially if you’re unsure your sentiments will be reciprocated. It’s like inviting a monkey to a party. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now you’re scared to find out what will happen next. Why is love a big deal? What is love anyway? When I ask teenagers in my Healthy Relationships course, “What is love?” I get many answers. I hear, “Love is when you like something a lot” or “Love is when you feel good about someone.” I ask the follow up questions, ”Is love a warm, fuzzy

How do I know love is a choice? I’ve heard stories about it. I’ve seen it. I’ve experienced it. About 20 years ago I was not easy to live with. I was married to that same college boyfriend and we had two toddlers. I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom but we decided that wasn’t in the cards. I hated my life and as a result,

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“When people choose to love us we want to be better people.” everyone around me felt my vitriol. For three years, until I got out of my funk, my husband chose to stay in that house and be a good dad and a faithful husband to an ungrateful wife and mom. I don’t know how he put up with me. I‘m thankful he did because we will celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary in April. Love is a choice. Choosing to love has a ripple effect. In 2021 I started a business because I wanted to help people. After experiencing chaotic stress, anger and sleepless nights I realized the driving force of my business was pride. I

wanted people to see how great I was doing and tell me how wonderful I was. I wanted to feel good about myself. My business did not produce much fruit. Pride caused it to crash and burn. I became very angry at my stupidity. I was embarrassed when people asked, “How is your business going?” What was interesting was how no one judged me or was as hard on me as I was on myself. Everyone had love for me and my business journey. I felt unworthy of this love. Underserved love affects us. It melts a cold heart and fills an empty one. After experiencing love’s

powerful impact in my life I wanted to show others the same undeserved love. Those hardest to love need it the most, right? When people choose to love us we want to be better people. I do want to be a better person. I’ve been fighting my ugly pride with humility. Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less which allows you to think of others more. With humility comes less judgment of others and less selfrighteousness. That didn’t surprise me. What surprised me is that on the heels of humility comes compassion.

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Compassion is a patient, understanding love. Compassion is a window to the human soul. It helps us understand everyone is hurting. We realize anger can come from fear. We see a bitter and offensive nature is a wall to protect against hurt. We understand her addiction is a symptom of the pain of abuse. We understand his jealousy comes from a low self-esteem. When we understand people’s pain and the symptoms of that pain, we have more compassion. With practice, we can truly want the best for others. We can even love our enemies. Humility and compassion allow us to meet people where they are at. We can listen to their stories and passions without preconceived ideas of who we think they are or what we think they should be. This open mind allows us to experience peoples’ awesome inner light and exciting potential. We can’t talk about love without talking about the source of love: God. He is love, and therefore the source of all love. The source meets us where we’re at with humility and compassion. The source sees our awesome inner light and exciting potential. The source

chooses to love us and wants what’s best for us in spite of our anger, bitterness, offensiveness, failures and ungratefulness. It’s impossible for us to love to the capacity and with the fierceness we want to love without the source. We not only need the example of real love to emulate, we need the desire in our hearts to love. We receive this desire by plugging into the source. For my birthday this year I received what I wanted: a portable, batteryoperated vacuum. Out of the box it was brightly colored, light and maneuverable. It was worthless. It did not clean. It could not do what it was created to do. Why? It had no life. It was not connected to a power source. I had to first charge the battery. We are like this new vacuum. We might look bright and beautiful but if we want to truly love others, we need to plug into the source. Truth be told, I don’t always feel like an ambassador of love. When I was a new wife and mom I gave so much love away I felt like I had nothing left to give. Emptiness is a soulful burden we all try to ignore. We often think receiving love will fill the emptiness in our hearts. But I’ll let you in on a

secret — what fills our hearts the most is giving love. None of us love perfectly and unconditionally. We want to. We strive to. But our human ways will always be less than perfect. That’s OK. Be okay with not being perfect. It is in our desire to love and trying to love others the best we can that we discover the gold nuggets in life. When you love others and witness love’s true power, you want to experience it so much more. Stay connected to the source of love and you will have an infinite capacity to bless people with its power. Love people where they are at, even if they don’t deserve it. You don’t even have to say the L-word. Michelle Oie is a Finding Purpose coach, inspirational speaker, writer and soon-tobe author. Her passion is helping people find their unique life purpose. She loves Jeep Wranglers, peanut butter and hitting all green lights driving through Brainerd. Take The Happiness Quiz and learn more at www.michelleoie.com.

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HER PASSION + collector

A Nostalgic BY SUE READY | PHOTOS BY JOEY HALVORSON

“Don’t walk, run! You get more done!” is a motto embraced by Jeanie Haurum. At 80, Jeanie’s life hums with a variety of activities. She’s the sole proprietor of Northern Treasures, a Pequot Lakes consignment and antiques business. She is active in a variety of community activities, but still finds time for gardening, reading, crocheting, enjoying lake life and the outdoors for hunting and fishing. Over the years Jeanie has penned a column for Northland Press in Crosslake called “A Trip Down Memory Lane.” 20 | HER VOICE SPRING 2024

Journey

Jeanie’s commitment and dedication to the Pequot Lakes area is impressive. She recently organized a contest for adopting a city flag. During the holidays she has organized an 1890s caroling group who entertain the public for the Santa’s Bobs Into Town Kick-Off and parade participation. She outfits the men and women in costumes representative of the time period. In addition, Jeanie is on the community education board and helps out with community plays. Jeanie was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa,

and her family moved in 1945 to the Lake Ossawinnamakee area. After graduating from Pequot Lakes High School she enrolled in beauty college which became one of her passions for 50 years. She owned her own salon, Jeanie’s Shoppe, in Brainerd. Her last two years before retiring from her salon, she was also a manager of a salon at Bethany Nursing Home in Brainerd. Jeanie’s bubbly, energetic, fun loving personality has served her well in the hair business as well as being known for lending a listening ear to clients.

One of Jeanie’s personal favorites among her collectibles is a little teddy bear dressed in a military outfit. Fifteen years ago when the old Grace Methodist Church in Pequot Lakes became available, Jeanie felt it was the perfect and unique location for her business Northern Treasures. It offers personalized service and has a reputation for merchandise that’s unique, different and clean. Jean’s business does have a Facebook page and she occasionally advertises in antique flyers but her business is mostly by “word of mouth.” Jeanie’s gregarious personality suits her well for being in this type of business. Jeanie enjoys meeting people who even come from all over the world to explore her shop. A visit there brings visitors a sense of joy, recalling memories of their parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents who owned similar merchandise, all adding smiles to their faces. The store carries antiques and collectibles with a museum that holds a phenomenal collection of hundreds of dolls Jeanie has amassed over the years. Expect to be wowed at Northern Treasures, seeing shelf after shelf of Barbie dolls, boy and girl dolls, puppets, Coca-Cola dolls and even a few Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox figurines. Visitors are impressed with the massive collection of Barbie dolls, some dating back to 1959, and almost all are still in their original boxes. In the mid 60s, Jeanie and her neighbor began making Barbie doll clothes and crocheting outfits for neighborhood children. Jeanie was even making clothes for her son’s Bionic Man. Jeanie and her neighbor at that time used dime store plastic dolls for patterns and then gradually began to purchase Barbie dolls for themselves. As Jeanie’s collection increased over the years she was touched by the generosity Sue Ready is a freelance writer, poet, food writer, book reviewer and former middle school teacher. She is a member of the Northwoods Arts Council in Hackensack and one of the chairs for the Annual August Northwoods Art and Book Festival. Sue blogs at http://sockfairies. blogspot.com with recipes, up north living and travel adventures. Her book reviews are posted on Facebook under EverReady Book Reviews and on her blog.

of customers who would add to it. Today her doll collection has exceeded the space and has strictly become a museum. One of the first dolls she ever received when she was two years old. It was a little girl doll with a painted face and hair. It was named Carol Ann and is now 78 years old. Despite a foot injury which has since been repaired, Carol Ann enjoys sitting in her chair watching the customers as they pass by. Coincidentally as luck would have it many years ago Jean found the same doll (different owner) also with a broken foot but not repaired sitting in a small type of chair. Jeanie added shoes to this new doll. Now Carrie Sue keeps Carol Ann company on the shelf. Jean makes sure the dolls are kept clean and fresh looking. One of Jeanie’s personal favorites among her collectibles is a little teddy bear dressed in a military outfit. It’s jaw opens and it sings Retirement Planning and Social Security Seminar Series. Use the QR code to learn more.

a merry patriotic tune. Other favorites include a Lucille Ball doll, a Howdy Doody and a Coca-Cola one. Jeanie has amassed a reputation of being “Queen of the Cast Ironware” with so many items to choose from. Some other collectibles found there include Red Wing crocks and White Stoneware Pottery Moonshine Whiskey jugs. Being a sole business owner does have its challenges with managing orders, pricing and negotiating with customers, but Jeanie finds it easier to make the decisions herself rather than having employees. Currently the store is closed for the season but can be arranged by an appointment to be open. The store will reopen in the spring. Be sure and make a stop there as a visit certainly will be a trip down memory lane.

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HER VOICE

BUS in ESS Dawn Rasmussen

Dawn Rasmussen

General Manager of Mills GM Dawn began working at The Mills Automotive Group in 2005, initially answering phones in the Customer Care Center before working her way into management, Sales Trainer, and her current position as General Manager of Mills GM. With over 25 years automotive experience earned, her previous jobs included

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22 | HER VOICE SPRING 2024

working in credit, auto insurance, and hospitality. Originally from Virginia Beach, VA, Dawn graduated from Tallwood High School and attended Penn State, and through her career with Mills going on to become a NADA Dealer Academy graduate. Dawn lives in Brainerd with husband Ed and sons Aubrey & Shannon. When she’s not

working, Dawn enjoys “Live music, beach time, family time, and Minnesota Vikings football” she says with a smile.

Reichert Vice President Her Story I started driving school bus the summer prior to my Freshman year at college in St. Cloud. I was able to get paid for my training during summer school and be an Aide on the Special Needs Bus to make money before I got my licensing.

drivers and pay them to train to get their license! We have a great hiring bonus, monthly attendance bonuses, as well as, Holiday and Year End Bonuses currently! We are 75 years locally owned and operated and definitely “Lakes Proud” as we all live here, work here and spend here!

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Ask the Business Banker What is treasury management? Think of it as the solutions to assist businesses in transferring money swiftly and safely. This includes the ability to send wires through your online banking, set up fraud detection measures to protect the funds in your account such as positive pay for the checks you initiate or receive ACH payments and much more. I used my personal credit to start my business. Can I refinance that debt into business debt?

Sarah Kinkeade Vice President / Business Banker Lakes Area

When starting a business, owners often use their personal credit cards or loans. I would recommend meeting with a business banker that can help determine the best loan for you and your business. Your goals may be as simple as refinancing your debt, but you may need additional funds if you are in growth mode and an SBA loan may be a better option for you and your business. Meeting with a banker can help navigate your options and find the right financing for your needs. What is the difference between a line of credit and a credit card, and a how do I chose the one I need? Each option has a spending limit, with the payments fluctuating bassed on what you have spent. A line of credit is designed for a sp pecific business purpose, such as inventory purchases, and ma ay offer better terms than a credit card. Accessing these funds can c vary from moving funds to your business checking nt via your online banking or even an automatic transfer accoun to prote ect against overdrawn funds. A credit card typically has a lower limit and is used for day-to-day transactions. Some credit cards offer rewards for spendin ng that can be enticing, but the terms tend to be less favorab ble. Paying your credit card to a $0 balance monthly can be a grreat way to earn rewards as well as provide everyday fraud p protection on your purchases. I wo ould recommend talking with your business banker about yo our cash flow needs and they can aid in deciphering which (or both) option is best for you! What is the best way to communicate with my business banker? Phone? Email? In person? The best way to communicate should be what is best for YOU and your business! For a late-night question, email is a good option. For a quick answer, a call may be best. Time to grow your business? Then an in-person meeting may be in order. CA012424

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HER TRAVELS + healing

o n i m a C Bon

A PILGRIMAGE OF HER OWN BY CAROLYN CORBETT | PHOTOS SUBMITTED In late April 2023, Stephanie O’Dell went for a walk. A long walk.

In 26 days, she covered 304 miles, as she undertook a journey called the Camino. Her walk took her from Golega, Portugal, to Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. The Way of St. James the Apostle is a pilgrimage of ancient routes across Europe that come together at the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela. For hundreds of years, in order to pay homage to St. James, people wanting to be closer to God would leave their homes to make this journey. Pilgrims still do.

Stephanie O’Dell poses at the monument in Fisterra, Portugal, which is beyond Santiago de Compostela. It is posted as kilometer 0.00 because many pilgrims continue their trip after reaching Santiago and go to the coast at Fisterra which is known as "the end of the world.” 24 | HER VOICE SPRING 2024

Why walk the Camino? Stephanie’s life was in upheaval. She’d recently divorced, become an empty nester and was out of the family business she’d worked at a long time. As her life fell apart, she was grieving the losses. She saw something about the Camino on Facebook, and heard a little about it here and there, but not much. The idea of walking in solitude spoke to her. She wanted to reconnect with God, reconnect with herself — to connect with nature, with history, with other pilgrims. She loved travel adventures and always traveled with other people. Now she felt a strong urge to go solo. The Camino is a spiritual journey. It’s mental, it’s emotional, it’s physical. Stephanie recognized this urge as a nudge from God as the thought kept coming to her. The Camino. The Camino.

“I realized at one point that I had been clenching, clenching, clenching — trying to hold my life together,” Stephanie says. “I had been clenching my fists. My gut. My jaws. And mostly my heart.” She hoped the Camino would help release the clenching that settled in her body’s muscle memory. She hoped to find space to begin unclenching her body physically, as well as emotionally, from the life she’d been desperately trying to hold together for so long.

“At the same time I was walking to Santiago, there was another pilgrimage going to Fatima, Portugal, which was composed mostly of locals. Local churches would bus in Fatima pilgrims and they would set up support stations to feed them things like oranges, bananas, coffee and water. The gal in the neon yellow was with a support station and she generously offered us fruit and coffee even though we were going the other direction. The other gals were fellow pilgrims — Sabine from Germany and Christine from France,” Stephanie recalled.

On her journey, she walked with poles. Over time, the rhythmic action helped her relax, creating space for mindfulness and healing. Feelings of pain, frustration and fear she’d pushed down so long gently arose as she walked. She had time and space to ruminate, pray, sing, think and not think. Stephanie loved the feeling of being all alone, just her in an unknown country, on the other side of the world. She didn’t know where she would sleep or eat, who she would meet or what she would see that day. Everything was new and she embraced it. When she started her pilgrimage in Portugal, she went days without seeing another soul who was walking the Camino. This was especially so the first few days until she reached the hostel where there were other pilgrims. The majority of those she met were walking solo. Stephanie walked alone 70% of the time and found the balance of solitude and companionship perfect. Pilgrims were comfortable going at their own pace. There was no expectation that others would slow down or speed

“This is a group of pilgrims and we made dinner together at a hostel,” Stephanie said. “From left to right, me, Beatrix from Germany, Andy from South Africa, Sabine from Germany, Christine from France and Jean-Paul, also from France. “Pilgrim dinners were a highlight of my Camino. It was so fun to cook and eat with people from all around the world, a great place for conversation and connection. This was located at a hostel in Grigo, Portugal,” she said. up to walk together. Folks who hit it off at the hostel didn’t necessarily walk together the next day. Stephanie would meet new people, hang out, have dinner, and the next morning not even see them as she slipped out quietly. Maybe a week later, she’d bump into her new friends

and seeing them again was exciting. In the hostels, where there might be four people or 40, Stephanie loved the questions that were the same whenever pilgrims met: “Where are you from? Is this your first Camino? Why are you here?” HER VOICE SPRING 2024 | 25

A lot of hostels provided a kitchen where the pilgrims could cook together. Everyone would be connecting and passing food, talking about their day and lives. Everybody had an openness to communicating and connecting, and the bonds were tight almost instantly. “The conversation always got really real,” says Stephanie. “There wasn’t the fluff of ‘I’m good, how are you?’ It was real. ‘What are you learning? What are you struggling with? Where are you in your life?’ It was beautiful.” Stephanie carried a day pack, a backpack and water. Combined, they weighed 26 pounds, 12 pounds more than recommended for her body weight. She wanted to be prepared. Stephanie came to realize the amount of “stuff” one carries on the Camino is a good metaphor for the amount of baggage one carries in life. The lighter the load, the easier the road. As she went, she shed unneeded items from her backpack and her mind. “We choose the things we carry and we choose the things we let go,” she says.

Stephanie O’Dell took this photo upon reaching Santiago de Compostela. “The church in the background is the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the endpoint of the Camino and the burial place of Saint James the Great, the apostle,” she said.

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Those 304 “official” miles Stephanie walked didn’t include times she became lost. Backtracking put even more stress on her already stressed feet. Each day they’d start to hurt 10 miles into the walk. But she couldn’t just stop. She had to get to her next destination, so she kept putting one bruised and blistered foot in front of the other. She’d limp into the hostel where she’d put her feet up, using that hour of rest to find her hostel for the next night. After a shower, she explored the town or hung out meeting people or looked at goats. Her feet would throb all night long, but when she woke in the morning, she’d be good to go and start out pretty fast. The cycle repeated daily. Yellow arrows pointing the way were another metaphor. Absorbed in walking, Stephanie would realize she hadn’t seen one of the arrows for a long time and wonder: ‘Am I lost? Am I on the right path?’ She’d look around for another arrow. She wanted reassurance that God was with her, leading her, especially along the most challenging paths where there were no good stopping places. She had to keep going to reach a safe spot. Sometimes when we find ourselves on a very painful path in our personal lives, we need to keep going, she says, even though all we really want to do is stop, catch our breath and find our bearings. But we must just keep moving ahead, one step at a time.

“The conversation always got really real. There wasn’t the fluff of ‘I’m good, how are you?’ It was real. ‘What are you learning? What are you struggling with? Where are you in your life?’ It was beautiful.” Stephanie O’Dell

Photo by Joey Halvorson

Bon Camino, Stephanie. Good walk.

INIC

2023

VOTED #2

2022

tch

THE BRAINERD LAKES es

Carolyn Corbett wrote her first magazine stories during the five years she spent sailing the Bahamas. Back ashore, she continued freelancing and has over 250 articles published in various regional and national magazines. Carolyn was the professional English and writing tutor at CLC for 3 1/2 years. She loves cats, laughter, lattes and playing with words.

B E ST E Y E

She reveled in the history, architecture, art, cathedrals, infrastructure and cultures of the people. She’d stood alone on the Roman aqueducts. She connected with people from all over Europe and around the world — Estonia, South Africa, The

She walked primitive villages and vineyards, ancient cobblestone paths, bustling metropolises, steep rocky hills and eucalyptus forests. Sheep, goats, a donkey and other animals brought her joy as she walked. Wildflowers were everywhere and the fragrance of honeysuckle was in the air. In nature, she was in God’s glory. “It was very spiritual. Very powerful. There was so much beauty.”

Some people say the Camino begins when one starts planning. Others say it begins when one gets home. Stephanie wanted to carry home with her the openness, realness, curiosity and desire for connection with others. She took a bus to Finisterre on the coast, and before flying home from Portugal, she took time to process her pilgrimage of faith and adventure.

Netherlands, Ukraine, Latvia, Ireland, Columbia, Israel, Nigeria, Japan, Korea.

VOTE D

Regardless of where pilgrims begin their Camino, and they can begin anywhere along the routes through Europe, they must walk the last 100 kilometers to receive their Compostela certificate. Stephanie had a pilgrim’s passport, a credential which was stamped each day to verify her walk. When she reached Santiago de Compostela, the village was like a wonderful Camino family. There were quite few people she’d walked some with along the way. Together they celebrated, relaxed and had fun.

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HER JOURNEY + health

JAMI’S JOURNEY to

Just Juice BY SHEILA HELMBERGER

Jami Nelson knows the importance of healing your mind and body through food. She has used her passion for her own good health and diet to create a business that offers healthy beverages to help others get the servings of fruit and vegetables they might be missing, too. Her fresh juice and smoothie products can be purchased at two local establishments, and she also offers a convenient service that will get them delivered right to your work or home.

Photo by lakesphotography.

Growing up north of the metro, Jami spent weekends at her family’s cabin on the Gull River. As an adult she came to the area to stay and spent 17 years working at some of the most popular restaurants on Gull Lake. During her career she worked for 3 Cheers Hospitality, Sherwood Forest, Jake's Gull Lake and Kelly's. These are the places where she fell in love with the people and community of the Brainerd lakes area. While working 3 Cheers as a manager of Sherwood Forest she says she became interested in the benefits of juicing for her own health. Coworkers noticed her cheerful outlook and energy level. “I would bring in a Mason jar full of juice and soon other staff members started to wonder what I was drinking. “I would let them sample it, tell them what was in it and some of them started giving me $5 or $6 and asked me to make them some.” Soon she was filling orders and hauling flats of juices into work with her.

28 | HER VOICE SPRING 2024

“Things just started to line up,” she says of what would become her future business endeavor. Wanting to learn even more about natural ways to improve her health, she received a Holistic Health Coaching Certification from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, the world’s largest nutrition online institute and she started

to research juice businesses across the country and those located in Minnesota. Jami knew she could use her products to help others take their health into their own hands, too. She learned there were other successful juicing businesses, but she wondered if the Brainerd lakes area was ready for hers. “There was nothing else like this here,” she says,” but I wanted to try.” Then, she hit a hitch in her plan. “Unpasteurized juice is something that is heavily regulated by the MN Department of Agriculture,” she explains. “You have to sell those products directly to consumers. I wanted to keep my juices fresh without going through a pasteurization process. "The pasteurization process heats the juice up to 170 degrees which essentially kills all the good living vitamins and minerals that make the juice so naturally powerful". Also, if someone tells me no,” she laughs, “I just think, well, how can I do it then?” Her bosses in the restaurant industry were not ready to lose her yet. Between them, they came up with a solution. “I found out that if I were an employee at a place, I could make my juice in their kitchen and sell it directly to the consumer there. Just Juice was born. “It was amazing of them; I so appreciate that they gave me that opportunity.” And it turns out she didn’t have to wonder about local interest at all. Running her business within their business, she continued to do her work for the restaurants and spent another handful of hours each week juicing. News of what she had to offer spread word-of-mouth. “As soon as I said yes to this calling, the floodgates opened. It has been opportunity after opportunity.” Now committed full-time to her health and wellness career, she has a license

to use the kitchen at the Crow Wing Food Co-Op by the MN Department of Agriculture. Jami makes a trip into the store weekly to make the fresh juice currently available for purchase in the co-op and at Schaefer's Foods in Nisswa. On Fridays she makes deliveries to employees at businesses in the area and to customers’ homes. Each week she continues to make three staple recipes. The original juice recipe that started it all is an apple, orange, and

“As soon as I said yes to this calling, the floodgates opened. It has been opportunity after opportunity.” -Jami Nelson carrot juice she says has remained an overall customer favorite. “If you haven’t had a juice product before, that one is a great place to start. It offers the benefits of natural energy.” An apple, lemon, cucumber blend is good for hydrating and cleansing. It also uses spinach, kale, or romaine lettuce. An orange, cucumber, carrot, beet juice has a taste that is a little more earthy, she explains. “Beets are good for your heart, muscle recovery and blood flow. I buy as much as possible from local farmers." As seasons change,

she incorporates other fresh items. Jami now participates in corporate wellness retreats, workplace wellness workshops and public speaking engagements. She has worked with NorSon, CTC, Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union and spoke on stage at a Crow Wing Energized Summit. She has been at Off the Rails Market in Brainerd and now offers a unique juicing opportunity for brides and bridal parties the morning of the wedding. She also joins forces with local yoga teachers to create wellness experience events at various locations around the Brainerd lakes. The most popular have been sunrise/sunset hikes, which include yoga and juicing at Ski Gull in Nisswa, as well as yoga and juicing on the shores of Gull Lake at Ernie's over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Next up for Jami is the launch of an online digital course that will teach others how to create juice in their own homes. She is also growing and expanding her coaching programs. She helps women who need clarity and confidence so they can chase their dreams and make them a reality just like she did. Just Juice can be found on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about Jami Nelson, how her products have helped others, including several on a cancer journey, follow her blog, and see how to connect with her at an upcoming event at thejustjuiceco.com. Sheila Helmberger lives in the Brainerd area and is a frequent contributor to Her Voice.

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HER VOICE SPRING 2024 | 29

HER GRIEF

+ moving forward

THE

motions

OF GRIEF

PART 2 OF A SERIES BY SHEILA DECHANTAL Laurie Owen Silvernail is no stranger to grief. On May 3, 2004, Laurie Owen was working from her home office for her cleaning business when her husband Jim came home early from his job at Russell & Herder Advertising in Brainerd. Jim told Laurie he wasn’t feeling well and went into their bedroom to lie down, shortly afterward became extremely ill, and while paramedics were called and did what they could, Jim passed away from a massive heart attack. They have three children together. Jim was 46 years old at the time of his death. In 2016, Laurie married her longtime friend, Brooke Silvernail. The couple created a home together that encompassed joyful memories of both of their past relationships. Brooke’s first wife passed after losing her battle with cancer. In 2021, Laurie sold her cleaning business, and she and Brooke enjoyed retirement and traveling. In May of 2023, after

30 | HER VOICE SPRING 2024

spending the night out of town watching her granddaughter, Laurie came home to a quiet house finding Brooke had passed away in the night. Not once, but twice, Laurie found herself facing tremendous loss. Neola Raasch married her husband Rob in 1958. After his retirement, they decided they wanted to live in Minnesota, as they both had a love of fishing, and Rob liked to hunt. While passing through Brainerd on their way to Wisconsin for their oldest son's graduation from seminary, they had a chance to see a 40-acre farm that had recently gone on the market. Rob remodeled the home and built Neola a tennis court. For 17 years they lived on this property which became a place their four sons loved, and eventually their grandchildren. They grew produce for grocery stores, and Neola sold at the Farmer's Market. In 2003, when they were in the process of making plans to sell the

farm and retire for real, Rob was in an accident when the front-load tractor he was driving tipped over, capturing him underneath. While Neola, who had been following him in a pick-up, raced to the house to call 911, it was already too late. Wendy Vandeputte had a very happy 12 years of marriage to her husband, Steve. In the spring of 2011, Steve sought out help from his family doctor for anxiety. The prescriptions he was placed on took him down a dark road and in an alarmingly short time; his body and brain were altered beyond repair. After more than two years of therapy, treatment centers, spiritual counseling and support from loved ones, Steve lost his battle. Though he had successfully tapered off the meds, the pain and despair were more than he could stand. On Nov. 1, 2013, Steve became a victim of suicide, leaving behind his wife, three children, parents, siblings and countless friends.

LAURIE OWEN SILVERNAIL What changed the day you lost Jim? The day you lost Brooke? Everything. There was no warning either time. With Jim’s loss, I had three young kids. I had to stay strong when I was not at all feeling strong. Brooke’s loss was harder. This time I did not have the kids at home to keep me moving forward, I had retired a year before his passing and no longer had my job to keep me occupied… with the loss of Brooke, I was alone with this grief.

Photo by Sheila DeChantal

When did you begin to breathe again? With Jim, it was towards the end of that first year. With his passing in May, I was busy with the kids over the summer break. When they went back to school it was like a shock to my system to be alone, but I was able to stay busy with work and do

the best I could for my kids. Having things I had to do actually helped. With Brooke, it's still hard, but I am learning to be kind to myself and take each day as it comes with the support of my kids, my family, and my friends. What advice would you give someone else going through something similar? Be kind to yourself. Be kind to your heart. If I hadn’t made it through the loss of Jim, I would never have opened my heart to Brooke. I had quilts made from his shirts for the kids that first Christmas without Jim. In the center square of each quilt, there was a pocket with a letter in it. That letter read ‘Sorrow isn’t forever, Love is.’ That sums it up. I was blessed to have been given two great loves in my life.

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NEOLA RAASCH

What changed the day you lost Rob? Everything. The image of that scene of Rob being caught under the tractor remained vivid, and for a long time would pop up in my mind at any time of the day or night. I would try to replace it immediately with an image of Rob in the arms of Jesus. Rob was the love of my life and always will be. That imagechanging plus the support of a loving family, helped me cope. We still owned the farm. Rob's brother and his wife Helen lived with me for a month, and the boys helped with the auction, and helped find the house — there were a lot of things happening in a short amount of time.

Photo by Joey Halvorson

32 | HER VOICE SPRING 2024

When did you begin to breathe again? There was no choice but for

me to keep on going; there was so much to do, selling the farm, finding a home. I had great support from my family and the kids. I kept a Post-it note on the dash of my car, a hymn — ‘I need thee every hour.’ I would read it constantly. Once I moved into town in early 2004, I joined The Brainerd Center to stay active as well as remained active in my church. What advice would you give someone else going through something similar? I have always believed in my Creator, my Savior, and the Resurrection. His plans for my life are not always how I envisioned them, but I know that His plans are always the best for both Rob and me. My advice is to stay active. Make positive connections in your community.

WENDY VANDEPUTTE What changed the day you lost Steve? My world was ripped apart that morning when he died. I had been preparing for our family to begin healing. I had never believed Steve, who was one of the strongest people I have ever known, could leave us. The heartbreak was at times crushing and at other times numbing. I felt as though I was in a fog for many months. It was the unyielding hunger to love and protect our two younger children (ages 8 and 10) that forced me to keep going. I poured my energy into my children. I remember being grateful for my job and my students at Brainerd High School. I remember thinking, there must be a larger purpose for me that allowed me to wake up each morning and move forward. When did you begin to breathe again? My healing timeline was not a neat, straight experience. While I counted my blessings for the progress my kids and I made after one year of loss, there were many difficult moments — even full years of suffering that followed. The loss of his father and idol was especially difficult for my son. In that sense, it was watching Kyler graduate from high school last spring and leave for college this past fall that allowed me to believe I (we) made it through. With both of our children (Kalina and Kyler), as well as Steve’s grown son (C.J.) living independently, breathing became easier.

Photo submitted.

What advice would you give someone going through something similar? Ten years later, I am about to be remarried. Five years ago, I met my incredible fiancé, Dan, who taught me to love again. Some people never find their soulmate; I have been blessed to meet and grow together with two different life partners. The tragic death of my first husband will always be a part of my story. It isn’t something I will get over, however, I have begun to write some new and beautiful chapters and I am at peace with the life ahead of me.

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For women who face the unthinkable loss of a husband or partner, I want to promise them it will get easier. They need to hold tight to their faith, reach out to others when they need help, find what brings them joy, and tell themselves often that they ARE capable of carrying on. I recommend finding positive aspirations to say aloud daily until they start believing that brighter days are ahead. Because, hard as it is to believe, these days will come.

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Sheila DeChantal is an event coordinator, freelance writer, lover of friends, family, community, creating fun local events, adventures, books and coffee. She is the Friends of The Brainerd Public Library president and the vice president of Camp Benedict.

HER VOICE SPRING 2024 | 33

Kelly Pearson sits at her computer with her helpers, daughters, Emmie, sitting on her lap, and Kylie, working the mouse.

HER CAREER + inspiring

own time

ONLINE AND ON HER BY CHELSEA ORNELAS | PHOTOS BY JOEY HALVORSON

Kelly Pearson and her team at Aiden & Oak get clothes, shoes, and accessories into the hands (and closets) of thousands of women across the United States and Canada, all from the company’s remote warehouse shop nestled in the oaks just outside of Staples. 34 | HER VOICE SPRING 2024

Kylie Pearson holds a shirt, one of the many products her mom, Kelly, and dad, Jamie, create for their online boutique, Aiden & Oak.

“I liked the online concept but wanted to pick and choose the inventory and offerings to customers,” she explained. In the fall of 2016, she launched Aiden & Oak, an online boutique for women offering on-trend casual clothing styles, with a focus on quality, comfort, and functionality for “mom-life.” “I chose to be online knowing that I wanted the flexibility of time to work when Aiden was napping or after he had gone to bed,” she said. She continued to work full time in Staples, and steadily grew Aiden & Oak during her evenings and weekends. The business started in a spare bedroom, took over half the couple’s house, and eventually got its own 1,700-square-foot warehouse shop in 2018.

In 2023, the online-based clothing store shipped more than 23,000 orders to all 50 states and printed more than 28,000 graphic tops which led to a 70% increase in sales over their previous recordbreaking year. Aiden & Oak’s impressive growth has been seven-plus years in the making and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.

A BABY CHANGES EVERYTHING

It all began with the start of a family and a wish for more time. Or rather, more

flexible time. Kelly and her husband, Jamie, welcomed their son, Aiden, in 2016. Kelly relished the time with her son while on maternity leave. “I kept asking myself, ‘What am I interested in, what can I do for a career that would allow me to spend more time with my child, and how can I put my business marketing degree to use?’” she explained. Within her own social media feed at that time, she saw a lot of live selling and direct sales marketing happening.

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In the fall of 2019, Kelly and Jamie welcomed twin girls, Kylie and Emmie. This time around, the return from maternity leave looked quite a bit different and it was clear a change was needed for their family to balance the demands of work and raising three young children. The business was finally in a place the couple felt comfortable to have Kelly make the leap to full-time entrepreneur. The leap has paid off.

FAMILY BUSINESS

Last summer, Jamie joined Kelly working full-time for Aiden & Oak. They also have four part-time employees and even have Aiden, now 7 years old, helping now and then. Jamie’s primary focus is managing their print-on-demand graphics division, which has taken off in the last 18 months.

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Kelly Pearson, left, and her husband, Jamie, stand near their Direct To Garment printer, a machine that helps them create clothing for their business, Aiden & Oak.

“He has such a strong attention to detail which is perfect for printing and tracking the graphics inventory,” she said. “He also handles the daily maintenance of our printing machines and manages all the supplies for them. It has worked out even better than I could have envisioned. For this to be a successful part of our business, we needed someone overseeing it full time and we are so fortunate that he was able

to make the leap as well.” In a single day, Kelly is an IT manager, creative director, lead photographer and editor, model, head of marketing, accountant, and overall business and employee manager. It’s hard work and it’s as Kelly dreamed it would be — a family business and a family friendly business. “Everyone who works for us has children; they’re a parent first,” she explained.

“I’ve benefited from the flexibility of this business, so I want that for my employees, too. If someone needs to leave for a school program, doctor appointment, or pick up sick kids, I want it to be no big deal.” She knows she’s likely working more hours as a small business owner than she did in her previous jobs, but at the same time, she loves the quality time it buys her with her kids.

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“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned — and I learned it from my parents in the photography industry — we must be prepared to pivot, change, and evolve to stay viable.” Kelly Pearson

KEYS TO SUCCESS

Kelly attributes her success to her determination and focus, a network of support, and digital marketing. “When I set this business up, I knew I wanted to do this full-time, but also knew I needed to build it up first,” she said. Jamie has been her biggest sounding board and supporter. “He has listened to me say, ‘What about this? Or what about that?’ a lot” she laughed. “He challenges me with the questions and rebuttal I need, but at the end of the day, encourages me to move forward with what I think is in the best interest of our business.” Kelly is surrounded by entrepreneurs, including her parents, an aunt, and both of her siblings. Her sister, Katie Stumvoll, is the owner-operator of Wildflower Chocolate in Nisswa, Minn., and her brother, Billy Johnson, recently started Rainy River Refrigeration near Lake of the Woods. “We saw how entrepreneurship and running a small business worked for my parents and their lives,” she said. “Each of us kids have had our evolution and experiences of working for different companies which has somehow led us all back to owning and running our own small businesses.” She also credits her first mentor, Linda Steffen of Century 21 Brainerd Realty, who showed her the ropes and started her on her entrepreneurship journey when Kelly started working in real estate right out of college. “Linda made it clear that if you wanted

to be successful in real estate, or any business really, that it needed your fulltime focus and attention. I tried working Aiden & Oak as a side venture for many years, but clearly when I was able to work in the business full time it took off.” Kelly connected with two women who each run similar online businesses and their friendship and guidance has been priceless. “Having peers and fellow entrepreneurs who are willing to share and collaborate has been so helpful,” she explained. “You can’t even put a value to that.” Lastly, she credits social media platforms and targeted online advertising for helping her connect with customers. “I have a love-hate relationship with social media platforms,” she laughed. “They can be such a time suck, but they’ve also served me and my business so well. Using Meta and Google advertising, we can see the return on ad spend and get really deep analytics to help us better understand and serve our customers.”

LOOKING AHEAD

It’s likely Aiden & Oak will remain online only. Kelly says it’s tempting to set up a physical storefront knowing the potential to contribute to her community as a local business. But with a young family, she knows she can’t take the demands of a physical store in addition to the volume their online business is handling. “I have to remind myself of why I set this business up with the structure I initially did,” she said. “The online-only focus is intentional for the time we have available

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and how we want to spend it as a family.” She’s confident Aiden & Oak will continue to evolve and grow. “One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned — and I learned it from my parents in the photography industry — we must be prepared to pivot, change, and evolve to stay viable,” she said. Find Aiden & Oak online, across social media, and via the company’s mobile app. Chelsea Ornelas is a wife, mama to two little boys, full-time marketer, and movement junkie. She loves connecting with people and learning their stories (which means she asks a lot of questions). In 2017, she and three friends hiked the Grand Canyon from rim to rim in a single day. Her favorite phrase is, “Clear is kind.”

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HER VOICE SPRING 2024 | 37

Kari L Crimmins Broker/Owner

Family & Background I am a single mother of two beautiful daughters. We enjoy traveling, trying new recipes, sports, and outdoor recreation. Our Australian Shephard Max is the baby of the family! I grew up in the Lakes Area and love everything about living here. What started your journey in real estate? It was somewhat accidental, actually. I had my license and was selling homes here and there, while working fulltime at a local bank. Unfortunately I lost my job and was divorced shortly after. Suddenly, I found myself in a position where I was forced to find an occupation that was flexible enough to allow me to raise my kids on my own and provide enough income to support us all. I knew I loved selling real estate, but now it was time to pull myself up by the bootstraps and commit to the hard work and dedication of becoming successful with it. How did you decide to start your own business? Someone once told me that if you’re not building your own dreams, you’re building someone else’s. That kind of stuck with me. I put a lot of myself into my career and I love that I’m responsible for my own success or failure. What is your favorite part of your profession? My favorite thing is that I get to help guide a lot of wonderful people through what is usually a huge transition period in their lives. Sometimes it’s joyful and exciting, but often it’s also sad or difficult. Either way I can be there to make the process as easy and worry-free as possible.

North Pointe Realty 227 Barclay Avenue, Pine River, MN (218) 232-2237 (call or text) | www.northpointera.com

I’ve met a lot of great people and have made some unexpected friends. What is something not many people know about you? I literally started my business from scratch without any savings or additional income. I had just enough money in my checking account to pay for my broker’s license, association fees, and monthly website fee. I was newly divorced with nothing but a pile of credit card debt and a dream – not to mention 2 kids to feed. I took a gamble ( I like to refer to it as calculated risk) that has proven to be a success. Today my little brokerage is still growing and I have expanded into short and long-term rental investing as well as other real estate investments. I am passionate about helping others (especially women) who come from meager beginnings find success through investing and home ownership. What sets you apart from your competition? Besides earning a degree in Marketing, I’ve studied digital marketing extensively including a certificate program through Purdue University las year. I’m dedicated to learning the latest digital and social media marketing processes and strategies to implement in my business. Many other agents utilize some marketing techniques, but at North Pointe Realty our core focus is on marketing our LISTINGS for our clients, not just our brand to the masses. Other companies spend marketing dollars on buying leads, we create our own systems and strategies to organically earn buyer leads so that we can put our budget into listings. We’re transparent about our pricing, and we don’t use gimmicks to attract business. Our team will advise on preparing the home, outsource professional photography, videography, etc, and curate a customized marketing strategy for each property. I personally have over 12 years of experience, I understand that my services are a large financial commitment, and I am dedicated to providing value in every transaction.

HER CAMP + adventure

GIRLS’ CAMP AT THE CABIN: STARRING ELLA, AVERY, LOIS AND JAN STORY AND PHOTOS BY JAN KURTZ I quietly poked my head out of my bedroom, trying not to wake anyone on the first day of Girls’ Camp. Who knew when Ella and Avery, my 14-year-old granddaughter and her friend, might wake up? We hadn’t discussed any sort of routine, rejecting agendas as confining. Better to flow with our interests and energy. My friend, Lois, and I were the resident “grown-ups” — in name only — ready to participate or offer suggestions. To my surprise, I didn’t have to be quiet. Ella and Avery were already puttering around the kitchen. “Good morning, chicas,” I greeted them. “What’s up?” Before camp, I asked them for a list of what they could cook and the ingredients for my shopping list. “Would you like pancakes for breakfast?” Ella asked before I could register the change of command. “That would be wonderful!” I literally exclaimed. When Lois appeared, the pancakes were warming under a plate, the eggs were scrambled in the cast iron skillet and the real maple syrup was on the table. Lois and I looked at each other. “We could get used to this!” We agreed, noting the change between last year’s 13-year-olds and now. Besides menus, Lois and I asked them

to bring readings to share. Ella chose Shel Silverstein and Avery brought her devotional book. We generally steer clear of politics and religion, so I was a bit leery. However, when Avery finished sharing her daily meditation, I recognized it. “Avery,” I said, “Our books are both by Sarah Young!” We were literally “on the same” page. After meals, Lois and I took over dishwashing. This is a vintage-no inside plumbing-cottage, so dish duty requires pumping and heating water. Everyone is responsible for filling water pails and kettles. When dishes are done, the water is thrown out on the flower gardens, saving the drainage system from overload and watering the droughtstricken plants. Once finished, it is real water time — the lake! “The preservers are in the boathouse,” I informed them. “The sunhats and whistles are on the porch wall. Whistle in emergencies. Only kayak where I can see you. And, if I ring the bell, come back,” I said, and added, “Hey, wait for me!” The lake water was cold, but offered a haven from mosquitoes. We dove into the refreshing waves with a screech and a gasp, also heard when discovering daddy longlegs spiders and ants in the

kayaks. The squealing reassured us that everyone's head was above water. It was Avery’s first time kayaking and swimming in weeds. She quickly caught on to Ella’s kayak demonstrations and they were off, scooting over the lily flowers and bouncing gently in the east bay. Next came the tractor tire inner tubes, which put them in contact with the lake’s underwater flora and fauna. “I don’t know about this,” Avery grimaced. Yet, a moment later, she took off after Ella so they could collect “mermaid” food among the lily pads. One afternoon, we accepted the neighbor’s invite to ride in their mini pontoon, aptly named, The African Queen, a reference to Katheryn Hepburn’s movie boat ride including leeches, and this boat’s maiden voyage breakdown, requiring us to jump in the lake and tow it through the reeds. This time, it worked, whisking us down the lake at a top speed of 5 mph for an errand and a picnic. We dined on watermelon chunks, Lois’ homemade focaccia bread with choices of hummus with basil and red pepper spreads. Inside one cup holder, we had hitchhikers in the form of a bird’s nest with two little eggs. Mama bird didn’t seem to mind her mobile nest and her babies hatched a week later. HER VOICE SPRING 2024 | 39

While I took my afternoon siesta, the others worked on crafting. The girls painted the lake’s blue rocks. Lois introduced her “reverse” coloring book, filled with pages of random water coloring to be drawn on by the artist. Vintage Spanish LPs made up our soundtrack, thanks to my son’s donation of a small record player. And nature provided songs from phoebes, warblers and vireos. How did I know that? Why, we downloaded the Merlin Bird App. One morning the girls tested it, first by holding it in the air and scooping up recordings of resident birds. “Boy, you can’t fool that app,” Ella reported after both girls tried their skills at making bird calls. “But,” I noted, “you might be driving the real birds crazy!”

Above: Ella, Avery, Lois and Jan, dressed for the hike to the fort in the forest. Below: The fort in the forest.

Midweek we had a town day scheduled around St. Theresa’s Thrift open hours. We started in Eagle River, walking up and down Main

Street, finding a funny T-shirt shop, an ice cream parlor, Grandma’s Toy Chest and a railroad museum. We consumed the double-dip waffle cones, found alligator and kangaroo jerky, bought a Bluey stuffed dog for brother James, and browsed thrift shops. Lois found a lettuce spinner. I found perfect fitting jeans for $3, while the girls shopped for tops. “Do you think my dad will mind these spaghetti strap, midriff camisoles?” Ella asked me. “They only cost $1,” she reasoned, closing her case. To make the fort request come true, we donned mosquito net headgear, long pants, long sleeved shirts and doused ourselves in bug spray. We gathered more logs, large squares of dead birch bark and ferns for decoration. When finished, the girls broke into an impromptu skit, pretending to be two dads surveying their lawns. With hands on hips, swaying back and forth,

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they bragged about their work and compared their new “all-in-one” mowers. “Well,” Avery touted, “mine even does pedicures!” To which Ella retorted, “That’s not very manly!” Girls’ Camp flowed from pancakes, through card games, the “Princess Bride” movie, surviving spiders (ask me about the snakes in my kayak), yelps and laughter, sharing work and life’s little lessons. After packing on Saturday, we gathered at the east bay overlook, wove our arms around each other and gave a communal squeeze. With a sigh, we gazed out on the glistening lake, little brown cottage, the yellow pump and towering pines. It was time to say goodbye for now.

Jan Kurtz’s book, Northern Shores/Southern Borders: Revelations of a Bilingual Life, is available at local stores as well as online with Amazon and Barnes and Noble. It just became available as an e-book, so read away! Check out: www.janetkurtz.com and sign up for her free newsletter: LA PLUMA, covering culture north to south.

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HER VOICE SPRING 2024 | 41

HER ENVIRONMENT + volunteering

Her passion for volunteering is helping to keep Mille Lacs Lake Clean

The Power of

Volunteers

BY ALYSON LEVIG Photo by Karyn Rynda Photography

“Everything you’ve ever learned in life is of value.” A quote and life motto Ann Brucciani Lyon first learned as a toddler while building memories at her family’s cabin on Mille Lacs Lake, which has since rippled out its meaning among the lives she’s touched through her passion of volunteering her time for the sake of others. The lessons began as the family cabin took shape within the relatively wild and undeveloped area of Mille Lacs in 1968. As a young girl, Brucciani Lyon assisted with building the cabin’s rock beds — a job which also helped form her ‘can-do’ attitude and satisfaction of a 42 | HER VOICE SPRING 2024

long, hard day’s work. It kept her motivated throughout her early schooling years and extended toward college at the University of Minnesota where she earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communications. Her first freelance writing project entailed crafting comic books for kids, and before long steered to a managing editor position for three different newsletters for a company she was quite fond of. However, soon afterward, her family situation created a greater need for flexibility so she formed her own company and became a consultant. This

accommodation eventually opened the door for leading volunteer initiatives to help mitigate the challenges she, her friends, and their communities faced. As a creative problem solver, Brucciani Lyon first served as an event coordinator for the Sale of the Century — a mega fundraiser to update the outdated technology in her daughter’s school in Lakeville. The event enabled the school to fund two new technology labs and donate the unsold children’s clothing, toys, and games to Isle — and its surrounding communities — for families in need.

A few years later, Lakeville High School was next and Brucciani Lyon found herself as the events coordinator for three unique events featuring New York Times best-selling author William C. Moyers. The occasions educated thousands in her community on ways to approach and seek treatment for substance abuse at different levels. Subsequently, she applied the knowledge she gained from these events to helping set up a treatment court in Le Center. Seeing her successful past, the Friends of the Heritage Library asked Brucciani Lyon to serve as president to revive

their mission and efforts. She served in this role for four and a half years and oversaw the marketing, finances, fundraising and advocacy activities. She also helped double the sales generated from the group’s annual book sale fundraiser. On top of that, any unsold books were donated to various libraries throughout the Milica, Onamia and Mille Lacs areas to help update their collections and provide books for their fundraising events. Today, Brucciani Lyon’s life motto has led her to become vice-chair of the Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation, and to spend time with the Keep It Clean Coalition in an effort to restore the fierceness and beauty of Mille Lacs she first witnessed as a young child. Ultimately, it only took her four hours to learn about the extent of the leftover garbage and human waste left out on her favorite lake during the ice fishing season, discover the campaign, and join after gaining quick support from local businesses. “To have success, you need to respond quickly to the opportunities that present themselves,” Brucciani Lyon said. And that’s exactly what she did to implement the Keep It Clean campaign on Mille Lacs Lake in 2021.

To start, she applied for grants, wrote letters to help raise money and connected with local businesses to introduce the campaign and discuss its goals of supporting both a clean lake and tourism. Next, she helped the founders of the campaign update their education materials to display a clear, recognizable brand and message for all members to access and distribute. Finally, Brucciani Lyon wrote press releases, gave interviews, and spoke at local events to continue to spread the word. “My goal at Mille Lacs was to create a ‘keep it clean’ culture around the lake to help support the efforts of local businesses and community organizations working hard to mitigate the amount of garbage left by winter visitors,” Brucciani Lyon said. “The end goals are to keep the lake and its watershed area and fishery clean and healthy for all the obvious reasons, including tourism.” Brucciani Lyon helped grow the Keep It Clean Campaign from three lakes — Lake of the Woods, Upper Red and Mille Lacs — to encompass thousands of lakes statewide. The campaign has even gained headway in Wisconsin. With the added support, the campaign became the frontline in the passing of a

DIANE POGATCHNIK Broker-Owner 218-961-1200

new law in May of this year, making it illegal to place garbage and waste on or under the ice on Minnesota state waters. But that’s not all. Brucciani Lyon has also gained funding to take the cleaning of Mille Lacs Lake a step further — locating and removing the garbage hot spots. In 2024, Collin West and his crew from Clean Up the Lake, which is based out of California, will start a multiphase project on Mille Lacs. Phase one consists of West and his team scuba diving throughout the lake, locating and documenting both garbage and aquatic invasive species hot-spot areas. The next phases, which have yet to be funded, will involve the actual act of removing the garbage. “I want to continue to generate awareness of the problem, but also let people know that there are solutions,” Brucciani Lyon said. “Plus, it’ll help make an impact for other organizations and lake associations facing the same challenges.” During her busiest weeks, Brucciani Lyon puts in over 50 hours as a volunteer, but most weekends aren’t that demanding. Regardless, she enjoys every minute as she witnesses the connectedness

it brings about in both people and surrounding communities. It also allows her to meet new people who share her passion for changing the lives of others and using the skills they’ve gained from navigating previous life challenges to benefit the places that they live and work. “Today there’s a loneliness epidemic and many people feel disconnected from others and their communities. With volunteering, it’s the opposite because you’re surrounded by people with different perspectives and attitudes who believe they can solve a problem — and lend their experience and expertise to help,” Brucciani Lyon said. “So if you can and are able - volunteer. The result can benefit you and your community more than you’d initially realize.” Alyson Levig is a part-time freelancer who enjoys being out in nature. Her writing reflects this passion as all of her work engages nature and the wildlife living in it from her point of view. Alyson also maintains a blog in which she publishes some of her writing or hiking adventures, reflecting on the beauty of God’s creation she witnessed. Feel free to follow her adventures at https://pinesandprairies.com/.

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Unplugged

HER POETRY + spirit

BY SUE SMITH-GRIER

I knew right then by Mommy’s look I’d better go outside ‘cause in the house there really was no place that I could hide.

Soooooooooooooooooooo . . .

I picked it up and threw it and it sailed through the air. It landed in some bushes that were growing over there.

I grabbed the cat and went outside; my doggie came out too. I never thought my little brain could really turn to goo.

My doggie started running and he was barking loud. His little feet took him so fast he left a dusty cloud.

Mommy said to play outside is really good for you. She said it keeps your little brain from turning into goo.

The sky was clear, the air was sweet, and I could smell the flowers. I’d been playing tablet games for hours and hours and hours.

He snooped around, his tail wagged, he finally found the ball. He brought it back, dropped it down and sat up nice and tall.

She said I’d like the bugs and worms that crawl upon the ground, and I could see the dragonflies flying all around.

My cat jumped down and rolled around and then ran up a tree. She sat on a great big branch and then she smiled at me.

Mommy said the air is sweet, the sky is really clear and maybe if I had good luck, I’d see a baby deer.

My doggie found an old blue ball and dropped it at my feet. He looked at it then looked at me and then he took a seat.

With hands on hips, an eyebrow raised she told me to unplug, to go outside and look around and find a pretty bug.

My kitty watched me closely to see what I would do. My doggie moved the ball a little closer to my shoe.

Mommy said my tablet would make my eyes go weird, and if I didn’t go out to play, I’d grow a stickly beard. She said that too much video would make me stiff and fat, that maybe I should use my brain and go play with the cat.

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We played fetch for quite a while, almost until lunch. Playing outside was really fun. I like it a whole bunch. Soooooooooooooooooooo . . . I asked my mom if we could eat our lunch outside today. ‘Cause after all I just wanted extra time to play. She looked at me then smiled and said, “I think I’d like that too, and maybe I can make some time to play out here with you.” We ate our lunch and pointed out cloud pictures in the sky. We saw animals and cars and ships slowly floating by. “Let’s play tag!” my mama said. She stood and looked at me. “And this will be our home base here,” she said and touched a tree. “You’re IT!” she called and then she ran, and boy, she was so fast! I knew right then that if we raced, I’d always come in last! She swerved and curved and ducked and dodged and kept away from me. But she kept getting farther from the good old home base tree. Then I finally tagged her, and I headed for home base. I made it just in time to see her smiling, laughing face. I thought because I made it free, she might be feeling bugged, instead she laughed and said to me, “It’s great to be unplugged!”

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(This poem was written for a presentation to be given at the Fergus Falls Children’s Museum in 2020)

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