Once upon a time, a woman was entertaining her wealthy neighbor at tea.

After politely listening to this neighbor brag on and on about her new dresses and very expensive jewelry,

the woman's children were brought in for introductions.

The mother put her arms around her young ones and very quietly and lovingly said to her neighbor,

"These are my jewels."

I was reminded of the pricelessness of my "jewels" one day when I discovered a red tennis shoe in my jewelry box.

It had been carefully placed there by my two-year-old while I was away.