Grandpa Don

       I have been meaning to post this for a while but I just did not want to relive this experience.  Last wednesday was a really rough day to say the least.  Around 3:30 I get a call from matt at work, I knew something was up because he never calls my work because I don't have cell phone service so he has to call the office.  I get on the phone and he says, "my grandpa just died."  I didn't know what to say.  I just told him I was leaving right now so we could go to the hospital together.  I was in shock, but I was not the only one.  On the way to hospital we didn't really say much.  We talked a little bit about Grandpa Don and fought back tears.
       We arrived at the hospital just a few minutes later.  It was hard to see everyone crying and it just made me cry even more.  I really started crying when I saw Matt's mom and her sisters.  Having lost my dad too, I knew what they were going through and how much anxiety, sadness, loneliness, and heartbreak comes with such an experience.  We didn't really know what happened, we only knew that there had been a car accident. Matt's mom was telling us about Grandma Jean and the condition she was in.  It was really hard for her not only to loose her husband but she couldn't breath very well and crying just made it worse.  We sat outside the emergency room for a while because they didn't want so many people back there so fast.  Matt and Tyler (matts cousin) and Uncle Tom went back to give Grandma Jean a Blessing!  Matt told me that the blessing uncle tome gave was so amazing! He was so happy that he was able to participate.
       A while later I went back.  I was kind of nervous but I really wanted to see Matt and Grandma Jean and also Grandpa Don.  Matt was still kinda in shock.  I went in by my self to see Grandpa Don and it was so hard.  Not only to see him lying there but I just went back to when my dad died.  It was so hard.  I haven't let my self think about in such a long time.  I just started crying.  But I was still trying to put it in the back of my mind.
      It was so hard to watch Matt's grandma in and say good by to her sweet heart.  They really were meant for each other.  They hadn't been apart for many many years.  I really want to be like them and how close they were to each other.  It really was cute to see them together!  Once Jean said good by it was like a heavy blanket lifted.  I was talking to Matt and it was kinda like Matt's grandpa's spirit was lingering until Matt's grandma said goodbye.  You kind of had to be there to feel it but after that there was less crying and people could gather themselves together.  (people were still sad of course)
      So while we were waiting for X-rays to come back for Grandma Jean and aunt Kathleen we asked what happened.  Matt's grandparents were driving back from St. George (grandma was driving) and they got off the exit in cedar by walmart.  They were making a left hand turn but they were following a trailer.  Grandma went to turn and a car slammed into the passenger side but up by the engine.  The air bags went off any everything.  Matt's grandpa was taken to the hospital after being shocked serveral time in the street.  The doctors said that there was a lot of internal bleeding and that it happened really quick, in a matter of seconds Grandma Jean and aunt Kathleen were taken to the hospital in a separate abulance together.  Jean now has two broken ribs, a broken sternum, and broken bones in her hands which she just had operated on a few days ago.
      The funeral was Friday because Matt's parents flew out to El Salvador to see Nate get married there.  The funeral was great.  I cried through the whole thing.  There were so many things i didn't know about Grandpa Don.  He was such a great man!  He loved his family so much.  One thing that i loved about him was that he was always happy to see you and he always treated me like part of the family.  He also loved to do magic.  I never actually got to see him perform magic because his hands could not perform like they used to but i heard he was really good.  The hardest part for me was at the barial sight and people were telling stories about Don.  Jean was the last one to get up and she mentioned how Don would tell her how beautiful she was, especially this last month.  It was so tender and I loved that he still thought she was so beautiful after 50+ years of marriage.  Through his whole life everything he did was for his family. I am really going to miss him and his smile.
      The Saturday before the accident we got to spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa McCulley and I am so glad we did.  We went up in the mountain with them and some other people in the family to gather fire wood for them this winter.  We almost didn't go because the day before we got back from Arizona and we were so tired, but it was so much fun and it is even more special now. I really got to know Matt's extended family better and give service to Matt's grandparents.  Here are just some pictures of Grandpa Don and that Saturday   

Grandpa Don (this one is my favorite)

 

Aunt Kathleen

Donna (Matts Mom)

Aunt Karen

Matt and Me using a Chain Saw

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Uncle Bob and Jason

Aunt Karen

My Pink Gloves!

Grandma Jean, Kathleen, and Karen

Me and Amy (matts sister) I don't know how to turn it right ways

Me and Matt!