Coincidences? I don’t believe in them.
My gracious mother, Karen, passed away from ovarian cancer in 2011. I know, kind of a morbid way to start my story, but the following events and “coincidences” are connected and in wonderful ways. She influences our lives every day and we are so blessed…see what you think.
Facebook is wonderful for reconnecting with old friends. After my mom passed, I was fortunate to reconnect with my childhood friend and neighbor, Lori. She was living in another state and had recently joined Jewel Kade, a direct sales company. She was posting a lot of Jewel Kade pictures and I really didn’t think much about it. In fact, I thought “how nice for her, but Jewel Kade really isn’t my style”. (Perhaps you can see where this is going… sort of like a romantic comedy when the girl pays no attention to the guy who’s in love with her, but in the end realizes she’s loved him all along).
Anyway, one day Lori posted a picture of the St. Patrick’s Day charm – a small four leaf clover encased in glass. This particular charm caught my eye because my mom was fantastic at finding four leaf clovers. A few days later, I ordered it. I was going to wear it for my first 5K run (of course, the “Shamrock Shuffle”). It would be like having her with me cheering me on.
Lori also sent along the new Jewel Kade spring catalog, and as I paged through it, I realized that Jewel Kade is so much more that I thought. There was pretty jewelry (some my taste, some not) and all kinds of charms with positive, uplifting messages, and of course, my favorite – the photo charms! There were so many ways to make a personal memory or statement with the metals, charms and canvases. I loved that Jewel Kade pieces could bring comfort and joy in such a personal way. It wasn’t long, and I had signed up as a stylist, (Just to sell to a few friends and gifts, I told myself).
My daughter, Kelsie, has had many challenges and has not been able to develop the skills she needs to have a job. She wears simple clothing and has had very little interest in jewelry or adornments. Like so much of this story, though, I was surprised again as she immediately took an interest in Jewel Kade. The brochures and first samples came while I was out of town and she was in charge of bringing in the packages. She scoured the brochures, memorizing them from cover to cover, and carefully unpacked and displayed our new jewelry. She has become a great helper, representative and salesperson! We’re now “in it together”. She’s learning new skills and gaining confidence. Who knows what might come out of her interest and involvement? I think the sky’s the limit!
I never in a million years saw myself in this position, but I’m surprised and humbled by twists and turns this adventure has taken us. I make mistakes and continue to learn about myself and what I want out of life and this business and how I can best use this opportunity to help my family and others. I have connected (and re-connected) with some truly fabulous women. I’ve become closer to my daughters Lynne and Kelsie (both help me so much) and other dear friends. I’ve been blessed to play a part in making lasting memories through photo charms, jewelry and canvases for those who celebrate family, pets and themselves. I’ve helped make cherished pieces that keep memories close… of a parent, a sister, best friends, or beloved pet.
I love that I can do this. I love that I can be a part of this amazing, growing company and that I can, in this small way, bring happiness, joy, comfort, and strength to so many.
I look forward to seeing where God takes me by sharing this gift with others as He works in me and through me. I look forward to honoring my mom, growing with my daughters, and working with those who join me as fellow stylists, hosts, customers and supporters.
Funny how things work out sometimes…
It took Shamrocks, Love, and Jewel Kade ❤
All things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
When our eyes and hearts are open to seeing God at work in our lives, we continue to see God in the “coincidences.”
Living with Sparkle and Charm 