Occasionally we are fortunate enough to meet someone that we can truly say we admire or someone who affects our lives in a positive way. I have known one such person on a casual basis for about 10 years but it was not until just recently that I realized what a remarkable person she really is. She is my hair stylist/manicurist.

There she was, sitting right under my nose all this time. I didn’t realize until recently what a kindhearted person she really is. Think of it. We encounter people daily, conduct whatever business we need to conduct, but we really don’t KNOW all the people we associate with on a regular basis. We know of them, but we don’t really KNOW them?  Unless, of course, they are a family member or close friend. But, do we even really KNOW them?

I don’t think we get to know anyone until hard times hit.

Back to my manicurist. She is a single mother in her early forties and a successful business owner. I thought that was a remarkable thing when I first met her over 10 years ago; to be so young (in her late twenties) and to own a successful business built on her own.

At any rate, three years ago she told me of her former brother-in-law who was in rehab and of his very young daughter who was in foster care. The young child’s mother had been out of the picture for quite a while. Upon hearing of her former niece’s situation, she agreed with her ex-husband that the child would be better off with family. She agreed to share temporary custody of the young child with her ex-husband until the biological father was released from rehab and once again able to care for his offspring. Even though she wasn’t even related  through marriage anymore, she agreed! I thought it was incredible she would do this because she didn’t have to. She was no longer beholding to any member of her ex-husband’s family.

The child’s father got out of rehab and for the last three years,  he has been caring for his child.

On a recent morning the young girl, 9 years old now, had the unfortunate experience of finding her father passed away in his bed. She woke up and realized he had “over slept” and failed to get her up for school. I will not go into particulars about his death because it would all be conjecture on my part anyway. Nevertheless, my hairstylist has stepped up to the plate again and has agreed to share custody of her 9-year-old niece. She is sharing custody with her ex-husband. Her nest just emptied this past fall when her youngest went off to college. Now it is full again, and she takes on this responsibility with open arms. When I asked her why she wanted to do this, her response was unequivocal, “She is family. I would just like to think someone would have done it for my children if it was necessary.”

I admire you, lady. You have a big heart. It is bigger than mine. I don’t know if  I could do what you are doing.

On to more pleasant thoughts!  Here is a card I recently created for a shoe box swap with others in my Stampin’ Up! group.  I love, love, love this stamp set and framelit!  Hope you do to.

If you have any questions about this card, please feel free to ask.  I would be happy to help you.

Hope you enjoyed your visit here today!

Until next time…

Happy Stamping!