Debb It was so much fun sending to you and just hope I didn't clutter your closet to bad :))) ### 2 arrived today guess you knew when i had some spare time I enjoined crossword puzzle :))) my father likes the searchword so I let him do those :)) also I found 4 eraserable ballpoint pens that I love for I do tand to make a few misstakes now & then . Now for my new Kitchen she sent me 2 pot holder a oven mit & had towel with xmas trees on them :)) going to hang them for the season :)) also spices like oregano,lemon thyme, sweet marjoran, purple basil, rosemaryall from her garden I love the smells thank you secret elf :)) have a few things to get wrapped for santa tonight :)) susie

OH, Tracy! That is SO SWEET!!! Thank you! I've been cookin' up a storm! Enough complaining about making all the fudge for that vendor, as Dave called and told me that someone up there wanted to order 3 pounds of it from me!!! Yippee! So, had to make more fudge, plus that which my hubby wants to put in the "care packages" that we are giving to all the families on my side. And cookies... I had to run the fudge up to Des Moines today, but I had alterior motives for offering to do that - I wanted to badly to go to Michaels and get William some good art stuff. He is such a drawer! I got him a good sketch book, a set of oil pastels, a set of chalk pastels, and some good pencils and an artist eraser. It was all on the cheaper side - each of the pastel sets was $4.99 - no biggy compared to the sets I saw that were upwards of $80!! Anyway, last year I got him one of the cheap artist kid sets, and he has loved that thing! So, this year we decided to get him some "real" artist things. I still want to get some charcoal pencils for him, as I forgot to get those today - Lily was a bit distracting. Oh, and then I got Elizabeth one of the art sets that I got William last year, because she was so envious of that! She'll love it! I am getting so frustrated on waiting on packages!!! I waited until the last minute, but paid the crazy prices people wanted to get it shipped Priority, and figured if it was sent on Monday or Tuesday, I should get it in time! Only one of the 5 packages has made it yet! Then, the stuff I ordered from Amazon for my nieces and nephews - one of the boxes arrived as planned today, but there was one box that was supposed to arrive yesterday, and was in Indianapolis as of this morning. Later today is said leaving Des Moines and out for delivery. So, I watched and watched and watched - finally I looked again around 7 this evening, and it said "Checked back into Des Moines due to external prolems" I'm like, WHAT???? Ugh! Anyway, hopefully it will get here tomorrow or Monday!!! It has the stuff for all my nephews!! Would you believe I have 7 neices and nephews, and not one is over the age of 3??!! Crazy, huh? And here I am with my oldest being 14, and even having stepsons 22 and 23 (or something like that - my brain's not all here this evening!) Anyway, I am hoping my packages arrive, as they are ALL the video games I ordered for my boys!!! If not, I'll be having to go out and buy them new! Oh, then today I got an email with some really good deals for Lily at Amazon, plus William mentioned on other Bionicle he wanted (and I wanted to get, as all the other stuff he put on his list were video games) - but of course to get it shipped now for Chirstmas is $26!! So, we decided to order the goodies, and save the ones for Lily and put a note in William's stocking, saying that he has one more gift coming that's a surprise. That will keep him suspenceful! Okay, the boys have to be asleep by now, so it's safe to go down and get their stuff! Oh, Tracy, the supper sounds so nice! I'm happy you and Ed got to go out!!! My kids have that habit of trying to lick their plates - we always say, "You are NOT a dog!!" : ) (But it makes me feel good that they liked their food so much!) Okay, did I write enough to make up for my absence?? Becki

What would be gained by deleting old posts? Diane's cousin and her mother KNOW where the girls are. They know the girls' names and ages. I can see being less specific in future posts -- not posting where you are going on vaction, the girls' special friends names, news of school field trips, etc. Perhaps if they knew HOW the girls are, how well they are doing, some of this possessive 'attitude' would cease -- if they can see how this benefits the GIRLS. I am impressed with Toni's post on holding out the possibility of some future contact for Megan. It could accomplish several good things -- one being to get Megan off your back until/unless she shapes up -- setting 'the rules' in stone. IF she can put the girls' welfare first, and if the girls WANT IT, she could have *supervised* contact with them from time to time. It's hardly surprising that Megan showed up at your door. You handled it, but YOU WERE NOT PREPARED for it. I don't know if the girls would benefit from counseling. I have thought all along that you could save yourself and the girls grief by seeking some help in advance of crisis. Given the lives they've led, it would be foolish to think that the girls will somehow mend on just biscuits and love. (Goes a long way, but really...) No law will change the fact that these are Megan's children. She's not mothering them. You are. They may need to know they will have the choice of seeing her one day. Maybe they just want to know her whereabouts, to be CLEAR about her role in their lives and your role. You can't 'erase' her -- that makes her a scary ghost. You don't want paranoid kids and you don't want to live behind barbed wire with a snarling guard dog. It's not easy. You knew that. Other people have experience with how to make it less hard on you and on the children -- and, yes, on Megan. There are some win/win possibilities. I am NOT saying you should ignore all danger of 'snatching'. I AM saying there are ways to defuse the situation. See what family counseling is available. Try it. You can always decide to accept or reject what you learn. There may even be a support group of parents in similar situations. (I like self-help groups!)

Well, you certainly have to mention the great grandfather's history in scouting and how proud he would be of your nephew. I would mention that this is an award the carries with it such significance that it is worthy of mention in future job applications as I know of men who consider that such an indicator of hard work, dedication and character that they seek out such employees. Mention that it is a step into manhood, teaching a boy the value of planning, coordinating, giving, responsibility, etc. through his executing and experiencing it all. Then share from the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling: [IF] If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you But make allowance for their doubting too, If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream--and not make dreams your master, If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breath a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!" If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much, If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son! --Rudyard Kipling