Mika and Jordan 2010

 

 

Happy Birthday Rod!  7 Aug '09 

 

WORDS FOR IT 

"I wish I could take language

And fold it like cool, moist rags.

I would lay words on your forehead.

I would wrap words on your wrists.

"Im so sorry," my words would say - 

But so much better.

I would ask them to murmur,

"Hush" and "Shh, shh, it's all right."

I would ask them to hold you all night.

I wish I had a language

That could daub and soothe and cool

Where the pain blisters and burns,

Where it turns yourself against you.

I wish I could take language

And heal the wounds

We simply have no name for.

The pain, beyond language."

- adapted from Julia Cameron Poem 

 

 Our last Valentines Day, February 2007  

 

 

Some things Rod wrote, "I remember our first Valentines like it was yesterday... 10 Years later and I am more in love with you.  You have helped me so much in the ministry.  I hope you enjoy your life as much as I am enjoying mine!                                                                               Can we have 10 more like the last 10?  It seems like it just keeps getting better and better!"

 

I almost can't believe that it has been a year...  It feels like "forever" and yet it feels like yesterday.

Here is where I started today a year ago:

"I am worn out from groaning;  all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.  My eyes grow weak with sorrow..." Ps 6

"How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?" Ps 13

"...for I am lonely and afflicted.  The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish."  Ps 25

"My bones are in agony.  My soul is in anguish.  How long, O LORD, how long?"  Ps 6

"Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief."  Ps 31

I can look back and say that I am a better person now (if I can say that), and I wish that Rod knew me for who I am now.  I feel comforted by God and all my friends and family.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."  Matt 5

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."  Ps 34

 "(The LORD) heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Ps 147 

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Rod heard the song "I can only imagine" for the first time during his visit to the US earlier the year.  It became his favourite song and he played it many nights while cleaning the kitchen.  He was great at cleaning the kitchen even though the singing part did not go too well!  His non-existant singing talent did not keep him from singing even louder than the stereo.  Rod's love for the song was the reason I chose to use it for the video. 

 

Dear family and friends

Please help me capture those many stories, great adventures and meaning Rod added to all of our lives. I would love to add it to this website - pictures will be great too. Just email it to me.

With love, Linda

 Where we are now:

We love our new home in Watkinsville Georgia.  The boys love their school and can't believe how lucky they are to eat lunch at school - their lunch menu is a hot topic when they get home after school!

I signed the kids up for baseball and wished that Rod was here since I know nothing about baseball - I only know how much he loved playing it... 

 

 

 

Rod in the Central African Republic. For more photos, see his biography.

Ps

I painted on the Ironman route in memory of Rod - he did the Ironman last year with his friend Neil.  It felt strange watching it this past Sunday without Rod, his hero Mark Allen was there, Rod would have LOVED to talk to him about their racing days some 20 years ago.

 

Thank you to Pieter Myburgh for setting the site up for us and for your continual help.