what was your best present ever?

Well fins, when we finally got ourselves straightened up or so we thought, my hubby bought me an english bulldog as my christmas present. He got a good deal on her. He bought her from the guy we bought our house from. I have one thing to say about bulldogs, well actually several, Angel is a huge eater, can clear a room in a matter of seconds, and is very stubborn.

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lol, I know about bulldogs clearing a room!!! Yep, my Howie is a huge eater, too, and VERY stubborn. They sure are great with kids, though, and they think they are lap dogs!

I agree, Angel loves the kids. She pounces on them the minute they come home from school. We took her back to my grandparents over thanksgiving and she did the unthinkable and we rolled windows down and opened the back windows. We knew she did it because she looked up at us and gave a bark. Does your Howie slobber alot?

Wow, best present...

My 3 kids - (3 gifts in one, what a bargain! LOL!) I'd have to say my 3rd was the hardest-won present I've ever received though - nearly killed both of us getting him here!

Tammy...Yep, Howie slobbers, and she snores like a 300lb man! She has spots on her tummy and it's hairless, so it looks like a pig tummy. Does your Angel get nasty pimples on her wrinkly snout?

Yes she does. The vet said it is K-9 acne. Angels belly looks like a pigs belly also. Her snoring is unbelievable. She can outsnore my hubby. LOL

I would have to say my best present was my oldest granddaughter, Katelynn. My son was subpoenaed for a paternity test in August 1999, in Clinton County, which was positive. He had a 1-year-old daughter he had never been notified before this time that he had. Katelynn was taken away from the mother for severe neglect. To give you an idea of what Katelynn went through, when she was 2 months old (which was in February when it was about 20 degrees at night), her mother couldn't stand to hear her crying, so she took her down to her car and left her in the car overnight (without heat or food)by herself. Katelynn's mother and her mother's husband always had several beer cans laying around, which was also documented in Children's Services' notes. Katelynn was also found on more than one occasion to be at home alone when Children's Services stopped by (this was when she was 6 and 9 months old). Still, they gave Katelynn back to her mother and still my son wasn't even notified he had a child. Needless to say, my son and I were enraged. He said one way or another, he was getting custody of his child. I told him I would help him any way I could. We went to several court hearings (these were held in Clinton County, three hours from where we live) besides going to Clinton County's Children's Services every Saturday to visit Katelynn. Then came the overnight visits. We would drive out to Clinton County on Friday afternoon, take her home and then drive her back on Sunday afternoon. This went on for a month. My son missed so much work during this time, but he didn't care. He was going to do whatever it took. Luckily, his boss was understanding. We had so much snow that year, and it began early. The court hearings were always held at 9 a.m., so several times when there was snow, we would leave home at 4:30 a.m. just to make sure we were there on time. We went to every hearing and were there for every visit. Unbelievably, they were still leaning towards reuniting Katelynn with her mother. They had Katelynn's mother going to parenting classes, which she attended half the time. We really started losing hope because it seemed no matter what my son did, the judge was still in favor of giving custody back to the mother, despite Children's Services' recommendations that my son be given full custody. Finally, not even a week before Christmas, my son was awarded full custody of Katelynn, my first grandchild, with the mother having supervised visits by Children's Services. Katelynn is going to be 8 years old this year, and I thank God for her every day. She is so precious. No other present I've ever received comes near to matching that.

Thank goodness the judge decided to make the right decision. I bet you enjoy every minute with her. It is horrible what happened to her. I hate to hear things like happening to children. It literally infuriates me when people mistreat babies and young children.

I agree with you completely, Tammy. That's why it's such a joy to see her growing up to be a happy, normal little girl. And it's wonderful to see the bond she has with my son. He's such a good dad!

Ahhh, that's so sweet dbaker. I always wondered what went through people's minds when I would hear of all these things being done to babies. People are really sick. It really, really, really disgusts me when I hear of a baby or even a young child being sexually molested. That is just sick. Another thing that bothers me is, women that would be a good mother can't have babies. Then there are the ones that don't deserve to have any kids, but have 4,5, or even 6. I'm not criticizing anyone, but I go to work everyday and bust my butt off, then you have these ones that have numerous kids, just sitting on their butts collecting a bigger welfare check.

That is a wonderful story about Katelynn. Our God is an awesome God, isn't He?

Oh wow, Katelynn is definitely the best gift ever. I'm so happy for you and your son!

Good discussion going on here and I am delighted to see how much we all love our family :D Yes Lorri, our God is an awesome God :D

However, I can tell you about a gift that is quite unique. You can gift a STAR to your beloved one, yes it????????s possible. There are millions and millions of stars in the galaxy and not all of them have been named yet. International Star Registry is engaged in it. They can help you name a STAR. You can select a no-name star and assign it the name of your fianc????e, wife, husband, kid w/e you wish. From then on the Star will be tagged with that name in the map of our galaxy and it will remain unchanged as long this universe is there. Isn????????t it interesting :lol:

I have heard about the star program..You can also give an endangered animal, like a walrus or a wolf to a friend or family member too!

I have done the star program, A friend of mine lost her 3 yr old son 3 yrs ago just after thanksgiving and he loved the stars, so I had a star done in his name for her. She said that has been the best gift ever to this day.

Fins, There is one particular Christmas I will never forget. My dad was a coal miner and was having to work Christams Eve. He went in early about 4 oclock in the morning. I awoke to the coal tipple whistle blowing. This was a sign of trouble at the mines. We went to the mines and my father and his best friend were trapped. We waited and held vigil there all day and night. At midnight which was Christmas Day my father was brought up. He was alive but he back was broken. His best friend was in his arms and did not make it. From that time on I was truly thankful to the Good Lord for all of my blessings. I could have been the child that lost her father that day. KYSIDE38

oh gosh..When I started this thread I had no idea how emotional it would end up...I'm so glad, it helps me get to know all of you even more. Keep these wonderful stories coming, this is incredible.

I read an article online which says Christmas gifts are stresses and we should stop shopping for Christmas. I could not agree with the author. It????????s so disappointing to see people judging Christmas gifts with its usefulness!!!

I have made a post about it in my blog. Please read it. I am so upset after reading the article and some corrosive conflicts are eating me up. I need your support friends, please correct me if I am wrong.

http://stanley.yesdebtfree.org/2006/12/09/about-stopping-shopping-at-christmas/

Oh wow...Christmas time is so special. "The Gift of The Magi" is such a terrific story..It shows how a poor young couple sacrifice what is most important to them to buy the other one a present. I think the author of that article missed the point when he quoted from that story.

Gifts are important..And they don't have to be expensive. An ornament that my little boy made in school means everything to me, as do little gag gifts that show my husband is thinking about me. For me, there is absolutely nothing stressful about shopping for Christmas..Except the crowds.

Sorry I haven't been back here for awhile. Thanks, guys, for all your wonderful comments.

I have also heard of the star program. What a wonderful idea that is.

Kyside, what could have been a disastrous Christmas for you and your family turned out to be the best Christmas ever. I'm so glad for you!

I agree with you, Stanley and Fins, Christmas without gifts wouldn't be Christmas. I think it helps to teach our kids to give. One year, we had a friend who had just gotten divorced and had three small children. She wasn't going to be able to afford Christmas for them. My older son and daughter were about 12 and 13 at that time. They told me that the money I was going to spend on them for Christmas I should spend on presents for my friend's kids instead. We all went shopping, and my son and daughter picked out the gifts. They were excited to see my friends' kids open the presents that they had picked. Of course, I also bought my kids a couple of gifts, too. But I think they had more fun watching rather than opening gifts themselves.

Boy, I'm just full of Christmas stories this year!