Alabama Mom Takes to Facebook to Find Mystery Woman and Apologize for Daughters' Behavior

When Kyesha Smith Wood found out her 13-year-old daughter and step daughter had behaved at the showing of Cinderella she dropped them off for, she was shocked and embarrassed. So embarrassed, in fact, that she was determined to find the woman they had offended and apologize to her. 

Wood said after the children came back from the movies her son reported that both of the girls had been rude and obnoxious throughout the movie, and were even confronted by a fellow movie-goer. A woman there with her own daughter approached the two girls after the movie and told them that her husband had been laid off and this was the last movie she was going to be able to take her child to for a while and that the girls had ruined their experience. Wood was even more mortified to learn that even when confronted, the girls reacted with disrespect towards the woman. 

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

Determined to make this right, Wood took to Facebook in an attempt to find the woman from the movies. She posted a status explaining the situation and describing the person that she was looking for. During an interview, Wood recalls how she knew it was a long shot but she figured she would give it a try. She wrote:

“This is a long shot, but I'm looking for a woman that was at Tannehill Premier tonight seeing Cinderella at 7pm. I dropped my teenage daughter, step daughter, and son off at the movie. My son later told me, much to my humiliation and embarrassment, that my girls were rude and obnoxious during the movie. The woman I'm looking for addressed them and asked them to be quiet and they were disrespectful. After the movie she approached my girls and told them that her husband had been laid off and this was the last movie she would be able to take her daughter to for a while and my girls ruined that for her. If you are this woman, please message me. I can assure you that these girls are being strongly dealt with and appropriately punished. This rude, disrespectful, and awful behavior is unacceptable and they owe you an apology. My husband and I are having them write your apology letter tonight and we would like to pay for your next movie and snacks out of their allowance. Please message me if this is you. I apologize profusely for their disrespect.”

Much to her surprise, her post was read by Sgt. Jack Self, who shared it on the Jefferson County Sheriff Facebook page, generating more than 245,000 likes. Due to the spreading of the message over social media, the mystery mom, Rebecca Boyd, was able to read the post and come forward. She responded to the post, saying Wood’s message had brought her to tears and she was moved that there were such good parents in the world. She also added that, although she was disappointed in the girls’ behavior, she knew they were good girls, only children, and are glad they are learning their lesson. 

When interviewed by ABC 33/40, Wood commented that Boyd was the “most gracious, kind and forgiving woman” and that she was “so humbled by that.” 

In addition to the embarrassment of the Facebook post, Wood’s daughters will also be writing apology letters to Boyd and contributing some of their allowance towards the Boyd’s next trip to the movies. The publicity over the whole thing even resulted in a few job offers for Boyd’s husband, who had been recently laid off.

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

Mom's Facebook Friends' Picture Comments Lead to Life Saving Diagnosis for her Daughter

When Tara Taylor posted a candid picture of her three-year-old daughter on Facebook she had no idea how glad she would be that she did. While most people who looked at the picture would assume that simple flash had caused little Rylee’s red eye, a few of Tara’s friends knew better. 

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

Tara reported that several of her friends commented on the photo saying that it might be nothing but a glowing eye might signal a problem with the eye so she should consider getting it checked out.Tara took her friends’ advice and made her daughter an appointment with an eye doctor. She will forever be thankful that she not only posted that picture, but that she took their advice because at the eye doctor Rylee was diagnosed with Coats’ disease, an extremely rare disorder that can cause partial or complete blindness in one or both eyes. However, if the disease is discovered early enough, the condition can be prevented.

 Unfortunately, symptoms are difficult to detect until it is often too late- but luckily Facebook friends were able to detect one of the key early symptoms- a glowing yellow eye in flash photography. Thanks to Tara’s quick-acting Facebook friends, Rylee was able to receive the medical attention and treatment necessary to save her vision. 

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

Why This Mom’s Bikini Picture Went Viral

For many families, spring break is just around the corner, or already happening- so if any moms are going on on a beach trip and worried about covering up, blogger and mother of three, Rachel Hollis, has a very important and inspiring message for you. 

After her recent family beach trip, Rachel shared a picture of herself sporting a bikini that inspired over 40,000 shares by other moms. Why was it so popular? Because the picture showed a beautiful, confident woman who was proud of her body and not willing to letting any insecurities get in the way of her awesome vacation. The photo empowered almost 9,500 women to comment, offering praise and support as well as sharing their own body image stories, especially post-childbirth ones.

In addition to the awesome picture, her message beneath it also offered tremendous inspiration for women afraid to flaunt their post-baby bodies. She wrote:

“I have stretch marks and I wear a bikini. I have a belly that's permanently flabby from carrying three giant babies and I wear a bikini. My belly button is saggy . . . (which is something I didn't even know was possible before!!) and I wear a bikini. I wear a bikini because I'm proud of this body and every mark on it. Those marks prove that I was blessed enough to carry my babies and that flabby tummy means I worked hard to lose what weight I could. I wear a bikini because the only man whose opinion matters knows what I went through to look this way. That same man says he's never seen anything sexier than my body, marks and all. They aren't scars ladies, they're stripes and you've earned them. Flaunt that body with pride!”

Her message is more important than ever because women feel enormous pressure to look a certain way and because of this, feel the need to cover up and hide their bodies- even on the beach! So next time you hit the beach, wear whatever you want and just focus on enjoying the sun because you look amazing just as you are.

To find the book series that inspires these stories, click here

Even Ellen DeGeneres Can't Hold Back Tears After Giving an Amazing Teacher the Surprise of Her Life

Ellen DeGeneres is known for her random acts of enormous kindness and her love for surprising others, so when she heard about a heroic teacher in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she just had to acknowledge her amazing deeds on the show. But of course, in Ellen fashion, she wanted it to be a complete surprise. 

Sonya Romero thought she was just a part of the audience during a recent taping of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, but instead, halfway through the show Ellen called her down out of the audience to give her the attention she has long deserved. To show everyone what an amazing person Sonya really is, Ellen and her team had a video prepared that had been secretly filmed at her school. The emotional segment was made up of secret footage of her being the awesome teacher that she is, as well as other teachers, colleagues, former students, and current students talking about why she is such an amazing person. 

Sonya is a kindergarten teacher at Lew Wallace Elementary in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Each morning, she asks each of her students if they need anything to eat or any clothes to wear. With a limited school budget, she often takes money from her own pockets to help her young students out. But her support and caring for her students goes beyond the walls of the classroom. When Child Protective Services intervened with two of her students, being left with no temporary home to go to, Romero stepped in and took the children into her own home. Originally they were just supposed to stay with her for a few days till the school could figure something out, but she has officially been their foster mom for over six months now. 

By the end of the emotional segment, both Romero and her son, who was seated in the audience, were in tears- even Ellen needed a tissue. Ellen then surprised the incredible woman once again by presenting her with a $10,000 donation from Target and another separate $10,000 for her school. 

Click Below To see the segment from the Ellen DeGeneres Show:

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

4 Year Old Reacts to Mom’s Seizure in a Way That Will Make Every Parent Cheer

When Calise’s pregnant mom had a seizure while her dad was at work, the 4-year-old knew exactly what to do. She immediately picked up the phone and called 911. She was able to calmly tell dispatch her age, name, address and that her very pregnant mom was “shaking and having a baby”. Not only was her mother brought to the hospital in time and taken care of, but her baby boy was delivered safe and healthy. 

It is amazing that the heroic little girl was able to not only know to call 911 but also could tell them in a calm voice exactly what was happening and where she lived. Calise was able to do this because her mom, an epileptic, began practicing with her when she was just 2-years-old. When she was asked about the whole experience cute little Calise said, “It was good to ride in the ambulance with mom. And she was really proud of me.” I’m sure any parent would be very proud of their brave child after such heroic actions! 

This story is the perfect example of how important it is to teach your kids exactly what to do in case of an emergency, no matter how young they are. You can never be too careful and kids are never too young to know how to be safe. Even if no one in your family have any health issues, it is still worth teaching kids the proper safety techniques because you never know what can happen or when that knowledge may come in handy. If you are not exactly sure how to start that conversation, there are great online resources that can help you sit down with your kids and create an emergency plan that works for your family. And encourage your other mom friends to create a safety plan with their kids too!

Click below to watch the full video:

To find the book series that inspires these stories, click here

If You Watch One Thing Today It Should Be Google's "Year In Search 2014"

There is no doubt that 2014 was a year of discovery, change, inspiration, and hope. There are countless YouTube videos that have gone viral documenting these great moments as 2014 has come to a close but if you only watch one of them, make sure it is Google’s “Year of Search 2014”. This video instantly gave me chills and I found myself watching it multiple times. If you’ve been looking for some motivation to make this year a great one, this video will definitely provide that for you. 

Click below to watch Google’s inspiring and heartwarming video documenting some of 2014’s greatest moments:

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

All Female Group 'The Mrs' Wants Women Everywhere to Know They Are Enough in this Powerful Video

A touching video is going viral across social media mediums right now with a powerful message behind it. The all female group The Mrs wants women everywhere to know that they are beautiful on the inside and the outside, that they are love and appreciated, and that they are always enough. 

Watch as a group of women stand in front of an interactive mirror and are asked how they feel about what they see in the reflection. Most of the women respond with something along the lines of “okay”, “not great”, “hot mess” and so on until the voice behind the mirror steps in to show them how wrong they really are. 

Watch the moving video and join the fight to let the people you love know that they are enough just the way they are.

Click below to watch and get your tissues ready!

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

Emma Watson Changes the Game With Her Powerful Speech on Feminism to the U.N.

Last weekend at the U.N. headquarters in New York City, Emma Watson delivered an incredibly passionate speech regarding the controversial topics of feminism and gender roles in our society. But with her recent launch of the “HeForShe” campaign, Ms. Watson doesn’t intend to just talk about feminism but actually begin to take action. 

Her speech attempts to dissolve some of the stereotypes that are often associated with feminism, such as the idea that it is a man hating group that calls for female superiority. She reminds us that the true definition of feminism is the desire, not for superiority, but equality among both genders. She invites the male gender to stand up and join the fight for equality, not just for the sake of women but for the sake of all people. With her development of the “HeForShe” campaign, Ms. Watson hopes to abolish the “us versus them” mentality and bring us all together to fight for a common cause. 

It is a long speech, but I promise you it is worth the time. Her words rendered me speechless and filled me with the hope and confidence that change is coming and that we can all work together to make that change happen.

Click below to watch the incredible, powerful speech that brought a room full of world leaders to their feet:

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

Beautiful Robin Williams Tribute Will Move You to Tears in Just One Minute

The world has been saddened by the tragic death of Robin Williams earlier this week. Since then, countless posts and tributes have been created to honor and remember the talented actor and comedian. Out of those countless posts, I think this video is one of the best. In just a minute, this tribute touches the heart by remembering him through some of his greatest roles and Robin Williams himself comforts us through the wise words of his one of his beloved characters.

Click below to view the moving tribute to Robin Williams:

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

8 Facts You May Not Have Known About Robin Williams and His Inspiring Career

Most of you have probably heard the heartbreaking news regarding Robin Williams, who was found dead in his home a few days ago. At only 63 years old, his death was as unexpected as it was tragic. The joy and laughter he brought to multiple generations of people will not be forgotten as we grieve this loss. Comedy will never quite be the same. 

I would be surprised to meet someone who was not familiar with the longtime actor and comedian. His talents spread across several genres, making him popular with adults, children and everyone in between. Mr. William’s impact on film is apparent, take his roles as the Genie in Aladdin, Flubber, Good Will Hunting, and of course Mrs. Doubtfire, for example- and that is just to name a few. 

But there was even more to Robin Williams than most of us knew, making his talent and comedy even more admirable and memorable than it already is. 

Below is a list of facts you may not have known about the beloved actor and his inspiring career:

1. Williams began his career as a struggling street mime in New York City.

2. He helped lift the spirits of many of our nation’s troops in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait during their own struggles.

3. He improvised most of his lines as Genie in Aladdin.

4. During the filming of “Schindler’s List,” Robin would call Steven Spielberg to tell him jokes and bring him some happiness.

Spielberg affectionately dubbed the calls, “comic care packages over the telephone.”

5. In high school, Williams was voted “funniest” and “least likely to succeed.”

Williams would grow up to receive five Grammys, two Emmys, and an Academy Award.

6. His favorite childhood book was “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” which he would read to his kids. 

7. He dressed in scrubs and surprised his friend in the hospital after a career-ending accident.

Christopher Reeves and Robin Williams became good friends after both attending The Juilliard School. Reeves was devastated after an accident ended his career but Williams helped him feel better by showing up to the hospital in scrubs, glasses, and a surgical gown, speaking in a Russian accent. In his book, “Still Me,” Reeves recalls how that was the first time he laughed since his accident. 

8. Williams helped a girl, Jessica Chastain, become the first person in her family to attend college by funding her a full-ride scholarship to Juilliard.

Even as Robin Williams grew into a famous actor and comedian, he never forgot where he came from and how he started out. Williams was always helping others whether it was through generous donations or the gift of laughter. He will surely be missed. 

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

A Bank Uses Its ATMs to Thank Regulars in a Touching and Personalized Way

Certain chains of stores attract more regulars than any others, the local coffee shop or grocery store for example. Another example is the bank. Every day the same customers come through the bank doors, interacting with tellers and using ATMs. After enough time has passed the employees and regular customers often develop a relationship, getting to know bits and pieces of each other’s personal lives. 

Well this bank decided that it was time to give back to their customers in a special and personal way. So they temporarily turned their ATM into an “Automated Thanking Machine” for regular customers to show them how special and appreciated they were. 

The joy and surprise on the customer’s faces is truly amazing and very moving. At some points you can even hear the “ATM” getting a little choked up. It was a little hard for me not to get choked up watching the genuine happiness and gratitude from the customers after receiving their surprises.

Click below to watch the touching video:

These Old Photos Show What Parts of Motherhood Haven’t Changed In 50 Years

Ken Heyman recently uncovered a box of amazing photographs that had remained untouched for 50 years. The 83-year-old photographer had requested his belongings be removed from a closing storage facility and upon clearing the unit out, a box titled, “Mothers”, was discovered. The dusty, old box contained half-a-century old photos of mothers with their children. 

The beautiful images were part of a project for a book called Family, which Heyman co-wrote with anthropologist Margaret Mead. But the pictures represented so much more than just an exciting blast-from-the-past- they showed how, despite the pictures being published so many years ago, they looked strikingly similar to images of mothers with their children today. 

So although certain elements of parenting have seen some changes, these photos revel that the core foundations of motherhood do not change over time, even through decades. 

The chaos, the love, the joy, the kissing of boo boos, the multitasking, all mirrors what we see in mothers with their children today. Seeing this fact through in the eyes and smiles of these mothers in the pictures is not just fascinating, but quite touching and powerful as well.  

Even as we have witnessed a shift in culture, music, clothes, technology, some parenting styles, education, and more- the love a mother feels for her child remains the same. 

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

Colbie Caillat Encourages Women to Feel Comfortable in their own Skin in her Powerful Music Video "Try"

Colbie Caillat has always felt more comfortable in makeup-less skin, and in her new song she shares how she wants all women to be able to feel that way. The inspiring song, titled “Try”, accompanied by a powerful music video highlights how unfair beauty ideals can be and showing women happy and secure in their natural, makeup-free selves. 

Caillat talks about how she got the idea for the music video from personal experiences. She says she knows how trying to hide your faults or feeling insecure about blemishes is something that all women go through. That even women who feel more comfortable naturally worry that other people won’t approve. 

But Caillat didn’t want to just talk about how women should feel more comfortable in their own skin, she wanted to back it up too. So when getting ready for the photo shoot for the album cover, Caillat did not her usual preparations. She skipped the manicure, the hair cut, the stylist, and even requested that her album cover remain untouched by photoshop. Then for the music video, she joined several other women in taking off all make up and proudly wearing their natural faces. 

It is an amazing message to send to girls and I admire not just Caillat for her bravery but also each woman who participated in the making of the beautiful and inspiring video. It is fun to get dolled up every once and a while, maybe even every day, but women should be doing it for themselves- not to impress or feel accepted by other people. 

Click below to watch Colbie Caillat’s beautiful new music video, “Try”:

The Most Creative Ways Moms Can Sneak in Workouts

One of the trickiest aspects of parenting is finding time for oneself, meaning time away from the kids and the spouse. To many moms, going to the gym and working out falls under that category. If you ask me, running around after kids is a workout in itself but for the moms out there who were looking for something a little more than that- there are some ways you can creatively sneak in some exercise between (or during) working and parenting. 

1. Walking the dog

One of the best ways to sneak away from the house for a little while, with a good excuse, and get some exercise is to go for a power walk with the dog. It can be in the early morning or evening time, whatever fits best with your schedule. If you have little kids that can’t be left unattended- take them with you! Pushing a stroller in front of you while you jog or power walk just amps up your workout and burns more calories.

2. Squeeze in a yoga or Pilates class

Even if it means getting up earlier to make this work, attending a class a few times a week can do wonders for your body- and your mind. Yoga not only makes you sweat, it also can be that one hour a day to completely relax, get that to-do list off your brain, and focus on yourself. Plus, it is the perfect place to meet other moms who are there doing exactly the same thing as you.

3. Biking with the kids in tow

This doesn’t quite get you that much coveted time alone, but it does offer one hell of a workout! If you have young children, biking while pulling them behind you is fun and entertaining for them while giving you that leg/butt workout you’ve been searching for. Everybody wins. 

4. Taking the stairs at work

Instead of waiting in line for the elevator alongside everyone else, try taking the stairs at work instead! It might be the last thing you want to do early in the morning or at the end of a long day, but taking the stairs every day adds up to become a great leg work out.

5. Doing crunches during every commercial of your kid’s favorite show

Commercials are back on? Cue the crunches! This idea combines spending time with your kids, an ab work out, and breaks all into one beautiful 30 minute period. 

6. Park farther away at the grocery store

Instead of fighting for the closest spot to the door every week at the grocery store, park farther away from it and walk instead. It seems like a small thing but it’s a great way to burn a few calories and not stress over a parking spot. 

7. Forget hiring a swim instructor and teach your kids how to swim yourself

Unless you are a truly terrible swimmer, everyone wins in this situation! Swimming is a fantastic workout and, more importantly, a lot of fun. Even if you don’t have a pool, hit up your local country club/rec center/or public pool with the kids during the summer and give personal lessons a try. You’re spending time with your kids, saving money, and getting a killer workout all in one. What could be better?

8.  Give gardening a try

Digging and planting in the hot sun is definitely a work out, and not to mention, a good hobby. It can be done at home and while watching the kids. Have them come outside to play in the backyard for a few hours while you work on your garden. 

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

Powerful Always Ad Asks Us What It Means to Do Something 'Like a Girl'

While growing up, or watching your kids grow up, were you ever told or heard someone else being told they do something “like a girl”? Think about what the person who was saying that meant with those words. Was it that they were kicking, running, or hitting impressively and with force? Probably not. Most likely the teacher, coach, parent, or peer meant they were performing below average or in a way that would be considered by that person to be weak. 

But why does doing something ‘like a girl’ have to mean doing something poorly? It implies that acting like a girl or being a girl is something to be ashamed of, to try to change. And is that the message we want to be sending to our young girls as they become young adults? Definitely not. 

I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure not only do I hit like a girl and run like a girl but I also wake up like a girl, brush my teeth like a girl, and go to work like a girl- because I AM a girl. 

We need to be raising our girls to be proud of who they are and what they are capable of. Young girls should recognize all that it means to be a girl. Because being a woman is a beautiful thing. 

When most people are asked who the strongest person they know is, a lot of the time their answer is their mother. 

A woman. 

A strong, independent, resilient woman. So next time someone tells you that you hit like a girl, thank them because they just complimented you. And encourage them to think about the meaning behind their thoughtless statement because their beautiful, strong mother raised them- like a girl. 

This issue is finally brought to the world’s attention in an inspiring and powerful ad by Always. 

Click below to watch:

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

This Story Demonstrates How Even the Smallest Act of Kindness Can Make the Biggest Difference

It is commonly believed by children that if they are not direct participants in the act of bullying, that they are not contributing to the problem. While not being the bullies themselves is a start, it is not helping to put a stop to a long-standing issue. It is so important that kids not only stay away from bullying, but if they see if happening they take a stand and put a stop to it. And one touching story demonstrates this importance, showing that a simple act of kindness can mean so much more to someone than you may think. 

The author of this story begins by talking about walking home from school one day during his freshman year of high school. Just like an other Friday, he was walking home with big plans for the weekend on his mind, when he saw another boy walking home carrying a large stack of books. He found himself thinking that he must be a nerd for carrying all those books home during a weekend, when he saw a group of larger boys running at him. He watched as the older boys ran into him and knocked all the books out of his hands. They then proceeded to trip him and break his glasses before taking off running and laughing. The author recalls how he saw the boy crawling around looking for his glasses with a terrible, heart breaking sadness in his eyes. So he jogged over, picked up his glasses, and helped him gather his books, comforting him by saying, “Those guys are jerks, they should really get lives.” 

With a grateful smile the boy looked at him, relieved, and said “Hey thanks!” After helping him up, he found out the boy’s name was Kyle and he lived near him. He walked Kyle all the way home, carrying his books, and chatting the whole way. At the end of the walk, he invited Kyle to play football with him and his friends that Saturday, and they ended up spending the whole weekend together. 

Over the course of the next four years of high school, he and Kyle became best friends. When it came time for college, Kyle attended Georgetown to study to become a doctor and the author went to Duke on a football scholarship. But the miles between them did not come between their strong friendship. Come graduation day, Kyle was to give the class speech. But the author recalls how, sitting in the audience, he had no idea just how much Kyle’s speech was going to affect him. 

He remembers how Kyle cleared his throat, nervous, and began by saying “Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach…but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.”

Kyle then went on to explain that all those years ago, that day walking home from school freshman year of high school, he had planned on taking his life that weekend. He talked about how he had brought home all those books so his mom would not have to go through the pain of cleaning out his school locker. He goes on to say how it was a simple act of kindness that saved him that weekend. How one boy had helped him after being bullied and showed him kindness and friendship. 

It was not until that moment that the boy realized the deep importance of what had seemed to him like a small act. It is this story and many others that show us the power our actions can have on others, even things that seem small or natural to us. 

So even if your child is not being bullied or an instigator of the bullying, make sure to explain to them how crucial it is to stand up to bullies and show others kindness, because you never know how your actions can affect others- and in some extreme cases it might just be the thing that saves them. 

The Most Heartwarming True Love Stories You'll Ever Hear (Part Two)

Although Valentine’s Day is just one day of the year, we like to think love and marriage is something that should be celebrated every day. The number of inspiring and touching love stories that are out there are endless, and thanks to social media it has become easier for people’s stories to be told. So next time you’re feeling down about relationships, instead of turning on the latest romantic comedy, inspire yourself even more by surfing the internet for romance stories that actually happened. Because these stories are so much better than anything that could be made up. 

Take Lady Van Aefferden and Colonel JWC van Gorkum for example. During a time where a form of segregation referred to as “pillarisation” divided Catholics and Protestants and forced them to live in separate societies, the couple went against what was considered acceptable in society and didn’t let their religious beliefs come between their feelings for one another. Van Gorkum was Protestant and van Aeffereden was Catholic, so their marriage was very controversial. But this didn’t stop them from a wonderful and happy 42 years of marriage. Upon van Gorkum’s death he was to be buried in the cemetery for Protestants, somewhere van Aefferden would never be allowed to be reunited with him. But even in death, van Aeffereden made it clear that she would not be separated from her late husband. So instead of being buried in her family tomb, she opted to be buried in a different section of the cemetery, which allowed for the only separation between her and her husband’s grave to be a brick wall. She then added stone hands holding one another across the brick wall from one tomb to the other tomb, ensuring that they would “embrace for eternity”. Today the famous tombstones are referred to as het graf met de handjies, which translates to “grave with little hands”. 

Liu Guojiang showed his love for his wife by carving 6,000 steps by hand into the mountainside near their small hut, since he was worried that she would get injured on the steep trail. He dedicated 57 years to building and maintaining the steps down the side of the Chongqing mountain.

But that was far from the first time he had done something amazing for his wife, Xu Chaoqing. It started from the first time they met, when Guojiang rescued Chaoqing and her daughter from a rushing river they had tumbled into while washing clothes. The attraction was instant and it wasn’t long after he rescued her that they began dating. The village they lived in did not approve of their Today, they are both buried together in the same mountain side where Guojiang dedicated years of time and energy building those steps for his beloved wife.

ten year age difference, so they retreated to the hut in the mountain where they could live out their marriage in peace.