We have 12 grand children and 7 great grand children and they are spread all over the country.  I has always been a problem trying to keep the children close in spirt.  With the grand children it wasn’t too bad for most of them as we got to see them now and again and most of them at least once a year but as the great grand children come along it is harder because they have parents and grandparents that are active in their lives and the  great grand parents are an oddity but not any more real to many of them than Uncle Web was to my generation.  Just a name of some old people who live a long way away.  So to keep us in their minds we have tried to send a card for the holidays with $2.00 in it so they can buy a small toy or save for a larger one knowing that Ouma and Grandad helped to pay for it.   As they got to be 9 or 10 the cards are not as important, the toys they want cost so much the $2.00 doesn’t amount to anything and with all we have to think about we can’t afford much more than the $2.00 + $1.oo or more for the card and .42 to mail it.  So they sort of drop off the mailing list.  Now I have set up a money account with ING for each minor child that is 8 or older.  They have to be 8 to get a money account, rules of ING so now I can put $2.00 in each of their accounts that goes right onto their debit card and they can spend it or save it as they wish and as they see the money grow they will remember somewhere out there is a couple of old duffers that are related to them and are thinking of them.  I think it is a great way to keep intouch with another generation that we are just too old to understand.  As the five younger children reach 8, I will set up their money account also until then the card will have to do.  Now all I have to do is find some special day each month to send them $2.00 for even if it is just to say “hi”.  I have been spending most of my days this week working on getting all 19 savings and money accounts set up and working and what little time is left I spend sewing on the Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls for Gina and Dyhana.  I have one set done and the other cut out plus two Raggedy Andys for Colby and James.  Today I did a little weeding in the spinach.  I went to get some for dinner and realized that weeding was more urgent than the sewing.  Norman watered the lower garden.  That garden gets more sun so needs to be watered more.  They say we will get 1 to2 inches of rain tomorrow, I hope so but will believe it only when I see it.   The greens and lettuce are still the only things to eat out of the garden so we are finishing up the canned goods and frozen vegetable from last summer.  Still lots of corn and tomatoes to eat and a few greens that will have to wait for a roast or soup  as we like the fresh better to eat as a vegetable at dinner.   Have a great day.