Bodie Dak Ralph

 

Saturday, October 2^nd, was a heart breaking and difficult day!I was outside riding my bike at 6:00 in the evening and received a phone call from Nichole.   

Nichole asked, Dennis, are you at home?

Dennis - No, I’m out riding my bike, but on my way home. 

Nichole - Oh, I’ll just tell you when you get home.  But I could tell something was terribly wrong by the tone of her voice. 

Dennis - I instantly said, no, what is it?  I was super anxious and concerned

Nichole - Chani and Ethan lost the baby!

Dennis – “NOO!!  My heart instantly sank and deep sadness came over me.  I tearfully told Nichole that I was close to home and that I’d be there in just a few. 

That night, Nichole and I just sat around wondering what to do, and we told Ava and Eli the upsetting news then texted my siblings. I was able to call my dad and we shared a few tears together.  Here were some of the responses from my siblings:

 Sunny. Darin just shared the sad news about Bodie.  I’m so sorry for all of you.  Wishing you peace and comfort.  Give Ethan and Chani our love. Xoxoxoxo

Darin.  Sorry to hear about Chani and Ethan.  I know you and Nichole were looking forward to being grandparents and you’d be great at it! Love ya?

Don.  Oh no!!! SOOO sad!!  We will absolutely keep them in our prayers. We love the name Bodie.  And, we love you guys

Deborah.  Heartbreaking.  We love them and will pray for them

Deanna.  Please tell them we love them and will offer prayers to heal their hearts

Dale.  That is such terrible news

Grandpa. We extend our sympathy and love.  May Jesus’s arms and love surround you

David.  Thanks for sharing this sad news.  I can only imagine their suffering right now.  I extend to Ethan and Chani my deepest sympathy and a warm embrace of love.  Please let me know how we can help them.  Of course, our prayers will be with them

I then sent them a picture of Chani and Ethan kissing little Bodie

Don.  SOOO sweet and tender! Beautiful baby!  Our hearts go out to your family!

David.  Thanks for sharing these beautiful and tender pictures.  We love you!

Grandpa. Thank you for sharing a tender event with us.  All our love to you

Darin.  Devastating news and I’m so sorry to hear this awful news.  Thank you for sharing the pictures and love you all!!

My family loves Ethan, Chani and Bodie.  They are sad they will have to wait until the spirit world to get to meet our little Bodie

 The next morning, Sunday, Ethan called Nichole early, I’m thinking it was around 6:30ish, and told her she could come to the hospital but that only one person was allowed to come into the hospital for the visit.  I reluctantly had to stay behind at the house, but I had to go outside and go for a walk and clear my head and mind.  I could not just sit around and do nothing. I was too wound up with all the emotions. I proceeded with my walk with no intention of running. It ended up being a 5-mile walk. It was a beautiful fall morning with a perfect cooler temperature of 55 degrees. I headed over to Utah Lake and was looking out over the vast body of water with the roughly 100 ducks, or geese, or whatever type of bird they were, just calmly taking in the fresh rays of sunshine.  It was while out here by the lake, that the extreme pain of loss came over me.  “Oh, Ethan and Chani! Oh, my little grandson! Our little Bodie!” My emotions came all up to the surface.  I was so heart broken that Bodie had to go back “home” and not spend his earthly tenure here with us.  As I left the lake and started walking back, I passed a lady coming from the other direction.  I was visibly distraught with tears coming down my face and unsuccessfully trying to brush the tears away.  She looked at me and kind of did a double take.  I could tell she was thinking, “what the heck happened to him?”  But, it didn’t matter to me what she thought.  All I could feel was that “I just lost my grandson!”  The unstoppable tears just kept coming again and again.  It was a very deep and real pain.  I’ve had the blessing and luxury of immediate family during my 48 years here on earth all live a normal and longer life.  Bodie is my first super close family member to have moved onto the other side of the veil. Then, my thoughts and emotions all turned to just how much Ethan and Chani were hurting and that there was nothing I could do for them. 

 But, at this moment of despair and thinking there was nothing I could do for them, I had the impression that yes there is something I can do and that there is something I have already done.  And, as a family, it’s what we’ve done throughout our lives.  As a dad, along with Ethan’s mom, we taught Ethan to love Jesus Christ and His gospel. Ethan, in turn, felt the love of the gospel and internalized that for himself.  The lasting impressions of the Spirit and his testimony building and strengthening has most undoubtedly buoyed him during this trying time.  Then, my mind started envisioning a picture of Jesus Christ and I became super grateful for His atonement.  His atonement allowed us to overcome physical and spiritual death.  The sting of death is swallowed up in Jesus!

Sunday, October 3rd, I was able to go to the hospital with Ethan and Chani late in the evening.  I was then able to hold my little grandson, Bodie.  He was so light and felt so fragile.  It was beautiful to be able to at least hold him for just 1 minute of time.  Ethan and Chani let me hold him for just a minute.  He was wrapped up in a little blue soft blanket.  I bet he didn't weigh more than a pound.  But, oh how precious that short moment was for me.  I held him in my arms, held him up to my chest and gave him a kiss on the forehead before handing him back to his mom and dad.  "Oh my little grandson, my little Bodie!  I am glad to have met you but I will miss you!" is what I told him

Thursday, the 21st, we were able to have a grave side service for Bodie at the American Fork Cemetery.  Ethan asked me to say a few words, so I felt inspired to write a letter to his mom and dad as if I were Bodie.  Here is the letter from Bodie to his parents that I wrote for him.

Mom and Dad,

I want to speak to directly.  Before coming down to earth I saw so many good people and parents out there.  After seeing and knowing quite a few of them, I simply felt that you were the two I wanted to spend my eternal journey with.   We just had a special connection and bond already.  We had known each other for so long in our pre-earth lives, but you beat me here to earth.  So, I confronted Father and told Him I was ready to come and be with my two special people who were to be my parents.  Mom, I already knew you were special, fun, exciting and a beautiful girl who so desperately wanted to be a mom and would want me.  I could see myself as your son.  Because I love you, I will help you fulfill that wish of being a mom.  And, in return, I will have such a loving home with a mom who loves me for who I am.  I will get to spend eternity with this awesome and special daughter of God with whom I have a special bond.  Father is pretty cool for letting me have one of His most awesome and precious daughters as my mom!

Having such an awesome person as a mom also meant I was going to have a pretty spectacular and cool dad!  Dad, you've probably already had a feeling that I was going to be special before I came into mommy's tummy.  Yeah, you were right! I am pretty awesome!  I know so because Father saved me for the last day because I am one of His most faithful. My love for our Heavenly Father is because of you, dad!  I see how you treat mom.  I see how you love your Father in Heaven.  I see that family means everything to you.  I see that you will do anything for anyone at any moment.  You truly lay down your life for others around you and especially your friends and family.  I am a handsome and good looking boy.  Although, I look most like mom, so I'm pretty sure I get my good looks from Mom and not you.  But, that's ok, dad.  I have some good traits from you as well

Mom and Dad, I'm so sorry I couldn't spend more time with you here on this earth.  It was definitely way too short!  I did want to learn how to ride my bike with you.  I wanted to tell you funny things and make you laugh.  I wanted to go to church with you on Sundays.  I wanted to lay down in bed and read bedtime stories and be cuddled by you with you scratching my back.  I wanted to play basketball and other sports with my dad.  Although, it looks like mom could beat dad, so maybe I'll have to play more with mom.  And someday be a boss to my younger siblings like the two of you were.  But, for some reason, Father asked for volunteers who would be willing to help Him with teaching the gospel to our other brothers and sisters in Paradise.  I felt I had to answer the call.  I had already been so blessed by you as amazing parents, I had to go help others find their happiness.  I will tell you though, the thing that brought me the most comfort was knowing that I could still have the chance of doing those things we want to do together during the millennium.  Well, I thought, since the millennium is just right around the corner, maybe it won't be too bad to miss out on a good short time here on earth in lieu of a better and longer time during that time.  So, in reality, I did not get to miss out on my back scratches or you telling me funny and exciting stories.  Instead, I've just allowed you more time to perfect your stories.  See, we've only delayed and put on hold those precious moments and memories we will soon have.  So, go and continue to have a meaningful time on earth and tell me all about it when we get together again.  We will still be able to laugh and share those awesome experiences together.  I will just keep getting this part of Paradise ready for your return.  Know that I love you and will be anxiously awaiting your return.  I'm keeping my eyes on you, so behave yourself!

With all my love, Bodie