Renee's Book of Love

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It's been almost six months since Renee died. Not all of my friends and visitors here know Renee, but many of us walked with her during her courageous and gutsy and insightful and inspiring life and death. Saying that she is missed is the biggest understatement that could ever be.
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When Renee died, I committed to putting together a book, primarily for her family and friends, composed of the love stories and relationships Renee had with so many blogging friends.
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So far we have 33 stories written (click on my side bar for the link) and many more expected. I have not written mine yet; many of us struggle to find words to convey how much she handed over, how deeply she is loved.
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I have not put a deadline on submitting stories but I think it's time to do that. When I return home at the end of August, I am going to ask for the support of my local cancer society to apply for a $ 1000 grant so Renee's Book of Love can be published.
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Our memories and tributes to Renee are so precious, but it's become clear that what is most precious is Renee's own words. So this book will include selected posts and essays from her blog.
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I've asked Renee's sister Camille to choose a favorite. I received her reply yesterday: it is the Christmas post when Renee received her We-Treasure-You Chest. You will find that post here today. Whether you knew and loved Renee or not,. I hope her words will bring comfort.
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So. Here is what I am asking:
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1. Please email your love letter and/or story about Renee to me no later than September 5th. It's okay to send along any graphics and images you would like included.
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Please be sure to include your Blog name, and if you don't mind, your real name, your email address, and the city and country where you live so I can credit you properly
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2. Do you have a favorite post by Renee? If so, let me know. As space allows, we'll try to include at least ten of Renee's incredible posts.
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3. Please spread the word. I don't claim to know all of Renee's special wonderful friends.
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Thank you.
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And now, if you have time, here's Senior Angel Renee and her family, grateful for the gifts bestowed upon them from all over the wide world:
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On Christmas Eve I received a treasure chest. It was gold and green speckled and I knew that it would leave an X marked on my heart forever, before I even opened it, I knew it would.
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Christmas day arrived with many bangs by the bats. They did not want to go outside to play; they said it was too cold. So inside they stayed. I fed them a little bit of bat poison and they seemed to fall asleep. Good thing.
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We had a wonderful Christmas dinner with curry shrimp, dhal purrie, stewed chicken, trifle and wine.
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We sang to Domenic ‘Domenicky nicky nicky nicky Domenicky nicky doo.’ We had tea served to us out of jeweled cups poured by Ms. Josephine using her Mrs. Potts teapot. I even got to drink out of Chip. She wheeled it around on its magic cart and how delicious it was to have invisible tea with nonexistent milk and fairy dust sugar. Nathan was quite happy as he scored the best gift for Josephine.

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We opened our gifts to each other and we all thanked and hugged one another. We all loved our gifts, all of our many gifts. We are so blessed.
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When we were done Nathan suggested that we all open the treasure chest and so we did. Oh what fun we had. Oh how blessed we felt.
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We opened the box.
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We gasped.
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You took our breath away. You all did.
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To see the astonishing gifts blossoming in front of us, the treasure was overflowing. Not only with gifts of love but with stunning splendor and glittering unexpected magic.
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We sounded like broken records saying ‘How can people be so generous. Look at this. How beautiful. How talented. How kind. How thoughtful. How humbled we are.’
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What did you do you lovely, lovely friends?
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You have given not only me these gifts, but all of us. You have given my children memories that they will always have. ‘Remember the time all those wonderful people sent all those wonderful gifts for Mom. And not only Mom but Auntie Jacquie too. Remember that Christmas as we all unwrapped something one at a time and marveled together.’
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You blew us away.
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The treasure chest full of treasure did more than make us happy, that would be an understatement. It was something else entirely, almost otherworldly. It was as though you were sitting there with us sharing love and fellowship, right there in that room with the Christmas tree in the corner and the family in awe. You were all with us. It was truly spiritual.
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Blessed be your hands, with which you have touched life in its beauty and in its need. You have given your hand in friendship, held out your hands to those who were suffering, worked with your hands to create. May your hands be blessed and held firmly in the hands of the Eternal forever. ~~ Kosu Boudreau ~~
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I have received many other Christmas treasures too, no they were not in the treasure box, but they were picked up off the sand on the way to the treasure. They were treasure that led me to more treasure; treasure that was just as treasured as the treasure in the box. I have had many dear friends mention on their blogs what has been happening in my life and asking for prayers of loving energy. I have had paintings done and poems written and I want you all to know I will never forget this.
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So many of the things we think about within our lives such as jobs, houses, possessions, etc. they count for almost nothing, really. Our lives are about people, and the people that we love.
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Truth be told, we are all better when we are together, not because we need each other but because of our faith and trust in each other.
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You all remind me that I am doing more than surviving this world and so are my kids and so are all of you. We are all thriving, and one of the reasons is because we have found each other and made love happen! Our hearts have met and that is what is important.
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I hope it is okay with everyone if I don’t mention the gift but just your names. The gifts are amazing and they consisted of paintings and boxes and a sacred spiral and ornaments, and necklaces, and dolls and silk scarves, and more cards and paintings and books and poems, and the most beautiful hanging bird that held a dream, healing eucalyptus, and a Renee Angel and a Jacquie Angel, and slippers that were made with bliss in every stitch and a scarf that I know was made the same way and a tea that was specially made to banish bats and an angel cup to drink the banishing tea. On and on and on they go; but I know that it is your heart that mattered; the heart that you put into the gifts.
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Thank you dear friends:
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Julie-Ann
kj and JB
Silke
Manon
Bella
Sweet Mango
Bonnie
Betty
Angela
Arija
BT
Corey
Marie
Debra
Manon
Laurel
Sarah
Tessa
Ribbon
Constance
Babs
Doris
Mim
Baino
Darla
Elizabeth
Ces
Pam
Deborah
Linda
Sonia
Lori Ann
Kelly
Caroline
Lulu
Annie
Jos
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If I have forgotten anyone, please forgive me, and let me know as I would like to add you to the list. It will be entirely my fault as my brain is a sieve.
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Jacquie, Camille, Nadalene and I sat at Jacquie’s going through the same magical routine with her gifts that were sent to her and she; like me, was humbled too. When Angelique, Josephine, Domenic and I had arrived at Jacquie’s she was crying and very sad. Everyone was able to go see our Mom at the hospital as she is very sick but Jacquie couldn’t just get up and go like everyone else. Jacquie had to stay home and miss our Mom from afar. It isn’t easy for Jacquie. When Nadalene and I left at night instead of tears Jacquie was smiling and ever so grateful for all the kindness that you have all extended to her. She remembered that there is a world that people do care for others. Jacquie asked that I let you all know that she is forever grateful.
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I am forever grateful to each and every one of you for the support that you have shown to me. I am glad to know that you all inhabit part of this space with me.
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Love Renee xoxo