Our Angel story began in December 2014 as we were in the final stages of our father's battle with terminal cancer. We hope you'll be a part of this next chapter - and let us be a part of yours. Inspired by all the care and kindness bestowed upon us during our times of need, Beverley and I began making these small crystal Angels and giving them to family and friends as a means of "paying it forward" far and wide. In his final days, our Dad wanted to leave his dear friends with a meaningful gift that represented both his love and his gratitude. This has been a beautiful ending to a story - and also a new beginning - all in the same breath. Dad was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour in May 2013. He was brave and strong, and an inspiration to us all. It wasn't an easy journey but we chose to be grateful for every blessing we received. Every additional month...every act of compassion, kindness, empathy, and friendship. Somehow, I think this appreciation for all that is good...even in this kind of tragic situation...made the journey a little bit easier. It certainly did for Dad - who had so many reasons to be angry and disheartened - yet he drew tremendous strength from accepting and appreciating the positives in every single day. We are now in that place of tremendous loss and sadness, while also feeling a sense of relief knowing that he's in a better place. We lost our Mother to a complex battle with Lupus and Lung Cancer in 2007, so we are familiar with the loss of a parent...but truly - it seems like the only way through is one day at a time. That said...we're choosing to fill each of those days with the same positivity and gratitude that helped us to this point, and we know that there are many others out there that could use a little hope, strength, or encouragement. And with that, our Angel story must carry on. "A Circle of Angels" is a place where we ask people to post a picture of their Angel, along with who gave it to them and what it means to them. Our hope is that as we sell these little trinkets (for charity - see www.kembadesigns.com for details) that people will 'pay forward' their Angels and as such, our community will get larger and larger. Thank you, friends - for joining us, supporting us, and believing in the power of positivity. Imagine our world if we focused on all the blessings in our lives - big and small - instead of what's missing. Imagine what our days would be filled with if we recognized all that we had to be grateful for - which would simply make what we have - enough. Imagine if we were always there for each other - strangers, friends, colleagues, neighbours...to stand by one another in our times of need. It could be a beautiful thing - and we hope you'll want to be a part of it. Love always,
Kristen and Beverley
