I thought it might be fun to talk about the best gifts we've ever received - from anyone.

I'll start, and this may sound ridiculous, but here goes.

When I had two little ones and was pregnant with the third (the youngest two eventually being only 10 months apart) Ross siad I was going to need help with the kids. I said, "I don't need any help taking care of the kids. I just need someone to help clean the house."

With that, he found a woman (now a dear friend) who then came weekly from 9:00 to 2:00 and cleaned around all of us while we were home. She now comes bi-weekly and finds cleaning our home a breeze compared to the good old days.

Anyway, it was the best gift ever because I was able to feel like I had some semblance of order when the kids were little. I have a hard time functioning in a mess.

I have some other favorite gifts from others but I'll wait to post until after others have joined in.

thats a very sweet thing to have done for yo and sweert he noticed and asked what you needed. much more valuabl e than flowers which are nice but considerasion and easing the burden of any young mums a winner directly or undirectly.

a lady dose my irning lol what a joy and why i don't do much then or now but still look smart (ishie)lol.

heers a soppy one but i had done something wrong over a period of time that coused pain to someone from my long distant past. I recontacted them and made my appoliges for hurting them from years ago. I got forgivness. it relived them of some anger and i got forgivness by recognising and acknologin g my behaviour had been wrong.

frends no lol but that was never the intension. that ws always just to say i am sorry but i gained so much more when trying to make up and recognise hurt i had coused.

i don't know if thats a gift or not but it was a surprise and i view it as a gift.

Lovely idea, Dotsie. And I agree…what a thoughtful gift from Ross, I would have loved that myself.

I inherited a beautiful bracelet from my grandmother, which I really loved. When my first son was born, my husband had a necklace made to match the bracelet. And when our second son was born, he had earrings made to match necklace and bracelet. I thought that was so thoughtful, and was moved to tears at the time.

But if I look past material gifts, the most beautiful gift is plain and simply the gift of love. If I feel that comes over sincerely, with no strings attached, no matter from who, It stirs me up and makes my heart ‘runneth’ over with joy.

I am happy to say that I have been the recepient of so many wonderful and "thoughtful" gifts from both my wonderful husbands I dare not try to mention just one here.

But remembering one way back when... My mother knew after my first husband passed away that I was near complete collapse. She and my grandmother came over the house and said they were staying with my baby son and I was going somewhere quiet to relax and gather my thoughts. My mom and I packed me a bag and they called a cab. The taxi drove me from Indiana to Illinois and I was greeted at the front door of The Marriott Hotel. They took my bags and escorted me to a ninth floor suite. In the room were fresh flowers, lilacs, my favorite and a huge basket of fruits. I was told by the manager to order anything I wanted from room service for all my meals, or go to the dining room or coffee shop, that all was taken care of. Also I was down for a massage and facial anytime I wanted one.

I was able to relax completely during intermitant bursts of sadness and the reality I was a widow at 23. I stayed there for eight days totally relaxed but missed my baby so badly I called and my stepdad came and got me.

This gift was the best gift, bar none, I ever received in my entire life. It gave me time to grieve alone and without any interference from cooking, cleaning, new baby stuff or just people trying to be helpful and kind...

I have never been able to thank my mom and grandmother enough for knowing what I needed.

that one very knowlagable and inteligent mamma you have chattie.

certinly a great gift.