Not every gift begins as a plan; some begin as a rescue. Nori’s story started on a snowy Christmas Eve, found shivering on Norwood Avenue with no tags, no chip, and no home. My sister-in-law carried her in from the cold, posting notices and searching for an owner. None ever came forward. But in that in-between space — where fate holds its breath — Nori found Chris. My mother-in-law had never had a dog before, but sometimes love arrives uninvited and undeniable. From the moment their lives touched, they became inseparable. This keepsake was painted for Chris, a way of honoring not only Nori’s face but her place in the…