Quilting Bee #44.. For Renee..

Good morning all..it is with great sadness that I meet with you today..I am heartbroken and having trouble seeing the keyboard. Our sweet Renee is in the process of leaving this life. So I will offer up some thoughts about what this amazing woman has meant to me here today if you do not mind to awfully much. Please grab a cup of coffee or tea and join me in celebrating this amazing woman I love so very much.

I met Renee a little over a year back now, I happened to stumble across her blog. A very strange thing happened that day. There was just something about Renee that drew me in..I spent two hours reading all the back posts on her blog..I cried, I laughed I blew coffee out my nose..I adored her from the start. So I left a comment about how touched I was by her writing and pimped her on my blog..she wrote me back.

Way back a year ago I had no way of knowing what a profound effect she would have on my life. She came to visit me often and always encouraged me. She was straight up and told me what she thought in her comments and email...she did not hesitate to let me know she adored me back. I owe Renee a great deal of credit for where I am with not only my artwork..but also the person I have grown into today. Because of Renee, I am now that girl that can step out and be brave..the girl that can Let Fly. You see Renee offered up the gentle strength to me to allow me to do this..she gently took me to the edge of the cliff and told me to spread my swan wings and take flight. She has been my courage and my greatest fan. She has given me one of the greatest gifts ...belief in myself. She loves me for who I am and only sees the beautiful swan when for so long all I saw was an ugly duck.

We were emailing each other back and forth about the fact that I had been considered the dumb one in the family..but had recently found that I was a relatively intelligent woman..this came as a bit of a shock to me..as I had played my roll for years. Renee said something to me that will stick with me forever..and forever changed how I think about myself...a simple,small thought..so typical of Renee,
"Sarah you have gone from Mental Duck to Mental Swan!" I was from then on her swan. This is where my award sprang from..the love of Renee.

She is my dear friend, my confidant, my gypsy sister, my comforter, my biggest fan, my Reiki patient, my soul friend. She is without doubt one of the most amazing women I have ever known. Her strength amazes me, her attitude forever changed me. She will forever be in my heart! She is someone who I deeply love and will deeply miss.

I want to be selfish and wish her to stay here with us..to remain here and be my loving friend. But because I love her so..I cannot bear the thought of her being in pain and suffering. I take comfort in the fact that so many who adore her are waiting for her to join them. Her Mother and Father and of course her dear Sheldon..waiting to welcome here home. Do the angels know what a gift they are getting I wonder..do they?

So today would you please join me in celebrating Renee..because I know this is what she would want from us...to be feisty and celebrate every day, to say Fuck when it suits us and love unconditionally. To be honest and kind with our words and open with our love. To be the very best we can be and help others to find that too! This Swan will try very hard too offer up all of the amazing lessons she has been taught to her by dear Renee. I love her so...I will miss her so. May your passing be gentle. May your family be comforted. You are loved my friend.
Love and Namaste, Sarah