I was scanning thru pages of "friends of friends" and ran across one of your messages from August about your partners children and the problems involved. I so hope you have been able to resolve all this satisfactorily in your own mind. I had a bitter stepson that disowned his father when he married me. My husband had been a widower for 5 years (after 57 years with his first wife) when we wed. We kept many mementos of the first wife mingled with our new things but sent a good deal on to the son as he made the comment (probably will never see anything of my mothers now). When my husband passed in February his granddaughter wanted whatever she could of grandpa's. I said your father has everything but I made a special book of photos for her and her children and a couple of jewelry items he had okayed for her. Neither the son or any of the 3 grandchildren came during his illness or when he passed so I figure they told where their hearts were. I am grateful they live in California and I in South Carolina and no more word from any of them since the graddaughters one call. My daughter was here during the illness (from California also) several times and has even moved here to SC to help me on our small ranch since he passed. She misses "daddy" very much. Know that you gave your stepchildren the chance and I hope you are doing well now. Hugs