Updates on Roda Family

I've created another blog which will focus on the Roda clan, and what is happening with with the relatives. It is www.therodafamily.blogspot.com

It's been a long while since I've last blogged, but have picked it up again. This blog about my immediate family will continue, though for the next few days, most of the postings will be on the Roda Family blog.

We Don't Have Any More Grandpas

Shortly after finding out about Dad's fatal heart attack, I was giving Justin and Brian a bath (life has to continue and this was our bedtime routine). I told them that we would see Grandpa and Ye-Ye (my father in law who died almost a year ago) again in heaven. Justin kept asking questions: "When?" "How?" "Do we have to die first so we can go to heaven and see them?"

I did my best to explain to them that we would see Grandpa and Ye-Ye when Jesus comes back. "How long do we have to wait?" It was question after question. After a few minutes of Q & A, the boys went to splashing in the tub. I stepped out for a few minutes to let them play.

I was returning to get them out of the tub, and overhead their conversation. "We don't have any more Grandpas." "No, we don't have any more Grandpas." When they saw me they asked, "Do we still have Grandmas?" I assured them that they still had two Grandmas who loved them very much. They were visibly relieved.

After they were dressed, Brian went to Kenton and told him, "Daddy, we don't have any more Grandpas."

Dad

Thursday was such a LONG day. We enjoyed a 1st grade class fieldtrip at the Science Museum, then the boys played at the school playground with the aftercare kids for an hour. The kids were hungry and tired, so we went home and I made dinner. Just as we sat down to eat, my mom called with shocking news that Dad had just had a heart attack and was having CPR done on him. They were on a flight to San Diego - she would call back. I called Darrell and Beryl right away with this frightening news. Mom called again after the pilots made an emergency landing in New Mexico while riding behind the ambulance. She said that the paramedics were still working on Dad. The saddest call of my life was when she called once again, this time from the emergency room saying that Dad was pronounced dead. I physically became cold and started shivering. The shivers/shakes lasted for almost an hour – partly because I hadn’t eaten since noon, but mostly from shock, I think.

Darrell said he would pick Beryl up, then come over. Mom had asked me to call our relatives in San Diego who were waiting to meet them at the airport to let them know they would not be arriving. Those phone calls were very difficult.

Within the next two hours, Darrell and Beryl, some dear girlfriends, and uncle/aunt and cousins started coming by to support us. The phones were constantly ringing even past midnight as news spread throughout the extended family. It is wonderful to have such a loving and supportive extended family and dear friends to lean on. Just knowing that people are praying for us is very comforting.

March Mini-Lego Build Workshop

Every first Tuesday of the month, Lego store has a mini-lego build workshop where kids are given a mini-lego set to make and take home. The mini-set usually is themed after a specific day/holiday of that month. Of course, March is the month of St. Patricks Day - so the mini-build was a four-leaf clover.

Kevin finishes his clover very quickly, while a Lego staff help Brian start his

Justin and Brian show their finished lego clovers