*chuckles* Thanks Audrey:) I must agree-- This rent-a-kid aunt business is the way to go! All the perks--none of the pains;) k
--- On Wed, 9/22/10, audreydc1983 <audreydc1...@yahoo.com> wrote: From: audreydc1983 <audreydc1...@yahoo.com> Subject: [Zen] Re: Sharing religions To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com Date: Wednesday, September 22, 2010, 2:41 PM That's a terrific story, Kristy! It made me smile. :) I love to give gifts to children, as I will have none of my own (due to choice). My cousins are having kids left and right, a friend's sister is having a baby boy, and there are many of my friends who already have terrific children (my brother-in-law and sister-in-law just had a daughter, too!). Sometimes, I feel that I'll never stop crocheting baby afghans! LOL! The awesome aunts and uncles in this world are a blessing to parents - often with time and money to spare (often, not always), they can nurture and teach children in ways that parents can't (or are unable to). The joy on a child's face is a hard thing to match - perhaps later, you can teach him about service to others, and about being humble. For now, he gets to be a kid! :D ~Audrey --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, Kristy McClain <healthypl...@...> wrote: > > I must whole-heartedly agree~~ >  > While I do not have children-- I spoil my 4-yo nephew endlessly. He is a > true sports-nut;) His current passions are golf, basketball, and > football. I recently sent him a box of "surprises". >  > An official college football jersey... official golf-ball set of that team, > along with a huge box of matching tees . Plus a golf towel, glove, > "Golf-Aid" first-aid kit to carry in his bag. >  > To make matters worse.. thinking to myself that its time he starts learning > about $$ now that he is officially in pre-school, I sent a digital football > piggy-bank, along with rolls of coins to deposit, and  practice his counting > skills. (Someday he'll realizes that those jerseys cost anywhere > from $30- $50--thats a lot of coins). >  > Yes~ those funds could have been spent on service to others. >  > He was very excited when he opened his goodies, and immediately put on > the jersey to go to a football game with his parents. >  > It made my day.. k