Happy Birthday Roderick

Dear Roderick

Happy Birthday! How are you doing?  I know the answer.  You are doing great and I am so happy to know that but I miss you so much.  We are having a party for you and I so wish you could be here physically but I know you will be here in spirit.  This year has been a rough one trying to live without you in the house.  I never knew how much your energy brought to our home but I know you love to see the bond that has formed between Tyler and Angeline.  They miss you, you know?  Also your dad and I, we have learned to hold onto each other through it all.  All four of us, we hold onto each other and the love we would like to give to you we now give to each other.  I know you want us to be happy and I know that you see the big picture and the reason why we should be happy so we choose to live by faith and focus on the blessings so that our struggles and grief can shrink evermore. 

I will forever be grateful for what you have brought to our lives and the 16 years you were with us.  We are forever changed for having you with us.  We will continue to enjoy your presence with the memories and the life lessons you left with us.  Your life has not been in vain.  As you enjoy the happiness of heaven remember to look down on us and cheer us on.  When you look down from heaven and see us make wrong choices pray to God for us to show us the way.  We want our life to continue to bring joy to those around us but especially to the Father who loves us so much and who’s love you experience now in a way that we cannot comprehend. 

Your friends and your cousins they love you so much.  I can only imagine the joy you feel when you look down and see how they celebrate you and that they choose to do it by giving and sharing love rather then by becoming bitter and angry.  Yes the ripple effects of your life are not going to end soon.  Your life was a giant splash and the ripples go on and on and on. 

Thank-You so much Roderick for everything you’ve given us and for everything you have been to us.

Love You Always

Mommy

What a day it must be for you in heaven today, celebrating your first birthday there.

I’m trying to imagine how birthdays are celebrated in heaven, and oh, the cake, how good it would taste.  I’m wondering if you were patient to wait with eating the cake before the birthday song is sung? :)

I can’t join you for your party but I’m sure you’ll watch us celebrate down here. This morning I missed you walking up close to me and bragging about your height, and being in better shape then me, witch of course I’m not going to argue now that you have the angels help you with your workout. Teasing you with the peach fuzz on your cheek would be fun, but almost a year has passed since I’ve seen you so who knows how many of those would still be there?  It’s been sooo empty without you, many time’s I look around and wonder, was it a dream that you were part of our family, or was it real? It was so real. So real that until this day I can’t understand why you don’t come join us for your favorite meals or different activities. 

Your short life here has taught me how important it is to live life to the fullest and what an impression you leave when you move on from here.

I really miss you Roderick, the word “miss” doesn’t fully describe it but don’t know how else to put it.

Have a heavenly birthday

Love you

Dad