Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I can still picture the day we went to the animal shelter to find a new addition to our family. My sister and I had our hearts set on getting a new kitten–you know the tiny, fluffy playful ones. But my mom had a different idea. She reminded us that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that sometimes the best choice isn’t always about picking something new. It wasn’t just about picking the cutest kitten; it was about looking beyond the surface and finding something that truly fit our family. And that's how we ended up meeting the cat who would steal our hearts.

As we sat in the visitor room, the staff brought in a few different cats for us to meet, one by one. Each one was sweet in its own way, but none of them really felt like the right fit. Then they brought in our cat–a gray cat with beautiful green eyes. She was calm, almost serene, and immediately made herself comfortable in the room with us. While the other cats were more energetic or curious, she just sat quietly, looking up at us with those soft eyes. There was something so gentle about her demeanor that made us all instantly feel at ease. It wasn’t about how she looked–it was the connection we felt. We just knew she was the one.

Fast forward a few years, and that decision turned out to be one of the best ones we’ve ever made. She’s the most loving cat we could have asked for. Every day, I'm reminded of what my mom taught me: beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. Our cat is a reminder that beauty isn't always about being shiny and new–sometimes it’s about finding what truly works for you.