DEAR ABBY: Our nephew, whom we raised, has offered my husband and me a lovely home to live in during our "senior years." We are both in our 70s, live on Social Security, and I am physically unable to do much of anything, so our nephew has also offered us a weekly gardener and a house cleaner twice a month.
Abby, how are we ever going to be able to repay his generosity? My children are not in a position to offer us much help, but they plan to be around and help with additions to the house, painting and things like that. How can I repay them for the labor they're going to expend? I'm so grateful to all of them and feel helpless to let them know how I feel. -- SO GRATEFUL IN ROMNEY, W.VA.
DEAR SO GRATEFUL: You have obviously been a wonderful parent to your children and the nephew you raised like a son. Now it's time for them to repay you, so please relax and accept it. Because you want to give them something, consider assembling family albums for each of them or a cookbook containing some of your special recipes. I am sure that receiving such treasures along with your thanks and your love will be compensation enough.