This is the second journal for today; it's been a bittersweet day to be certain.

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When I arrived home tonight, there was a package on the counter, addressed to "Beanie".

"What's this?" I asked Mr Beanie.

"It's addressed to you; I didn't open it."

"Yeah, but it's clearly from the peeps; you could have opened it."

I tore open the package and discovered a gift that took my breath away.  A beautiful, hard-cover book, compiling all of the posts, journals, comments and thoughts from all of you here, in the wake of Kiersten's death.  I will post a picture of it later, but it's entitled "Things You Thought Today:  posts on the forum of radioparadise.com in memory of Kiersten, in support of her family and each other"

It opens with Slabby's prayer request, and closes with Antigone's beautiful Christmas wish in the "Thank you, Bug" thread, followed by the  sentence, "We love you, Beanie."

I'm crying again, just describing it. 

The Mr. and I don't know who is responsible for this, or how many of you participated, but this is one of the most profoundly touching, loving gifts we have received in a season where we have learned the true measure of the friendships we keep. 

"Thank you" doesn't begin to express how we feel.   We both have been somewhat worried about how to preserve all the beautiful thoughts and words all of you shared with us; although the electronic town square is a wonderous thing in this new age, the records of our comings and going can be fleeting.  And the grandparents are not as net-savvy as we are and have not been able to see what has been posted here.  Now we can show them.

This is an overwhelming and absolutely beautiful gift of love. 

God, I just don't have the words...

Thank you.