Renee

I wanted to dedicate a post to Renee. It's not much, but she deserves a lot. I met Renee's mom, Michaelle, at the MTC in the summer of 2008. Michaelle is from Haiti and usually volunteered to be an "investigator" for the missionaries learning Haitian, but this week it was closed. Randomly we were assigned to be together for the French missionaries. After talking a little, she told me about Renee and how she wanted to play an instrument. Shortly after, I got a phone call, and Renee began lessons. Even though there was a time without a smaller cello for Renee, she seemed to love learning about music and the cello. Her memory is stinking amazing! One of my favorite Renee memories was when she was learning Mary Had a Little Lamb. It was a little rough, and we had a recital coming up. I was nervous that she wouldn't be able to play it. At the recital, I helped the cute, shy girl up to the stage, and she played it basically perfectly! She was so excited, and it was obvious that she really practiced. I don't think there is anything more a teacher could want.

Renee was my second cello student, and sadly, her family just moved to Georgia. Well, it was exciting for them. Michaelle hates the snow and couldn't wait to be somewhere warmer. I saw the whole family a couple weeks ago at the memorial service for their four month old baby, Nathalie. She was born last year at 26 weeks and seemed to be doing a lot better after the first month. She was even taken home. I don't know the whole story, but I was glad to be there to help support their family. I saw several pictures of Nathalie at different lessons, and she was a beautiful little girl. It was a very special service, and I was honored to be invited and asked to help participate in a musical number. Hopefully they are doing well in Georgia, and I cross my fingers that Renee will keep up the cello. She was really starting to understand and play well. I am definitely going to miss her and her wonderful family.


I wanted to have some pictures to remember their family, so I may or may not have taken the next few from Michaelle's facebook...

Christmas-- Nathalie



Renee, Marie-Laure (Lolo), and Yael (Yaya)


Michaelle and Kulve-- two of the nicest people I've ever met!