[kakuehl]

Lynn, I wrote a long response to you earlier today and then lost it before I could post it (I HATE it when that happens).

I think the question of what is nature and what is nurture is still an open question. I was amazed to find gestures,etc. that were identical to his bdad's (who died in 2000 and whom he never met). His personality fits much better with mine than with his aparents. (We first "met" when he was almost 33.) Other aspects about him are harder to declare nature or nurture, because all (a & b) parents are college grads and none of us have been in prison or on drugs, our backgrounds, values, etc. are very similar. D was very rebellious as a teen and basically moved in with a friend when he was a teen. Luckily, by the time I came into his life, he and his parents had rebuilt their relationship. (I look forward to seeing all of them at the next birthday party - D's one son in 2 in Sept.)

My best advice is to practice patience and unconditional love. (Easier said than done.) Oh, and pray!