Grandpa Shaw

It has been a hard week. Grandpa Shaw's health hasn't been very good as long as I've known him. Usually just a salt deficiency, but nevertheless, I didn't get to know the Roy Shaw I've been hearing about the last few days. He passed away Sunday morning in St. Marks Hospital. Matt and I were there with his parents and his aunt all day Saturday and into Sunday. No one slept. I thought I'd know what to expect because I was with Grandma Bahr when she died. She had dementia for a long time. We had all said goodbye to the Grandma we knew long before her body succumbed to age.So, in a way- yes, I knew what to expect, but not really, no.
Grandma Shaw had a hard time letting go. Seeing her mourn broke my heart. He and Grandma each had 2 blessing during their stay at the hospital. Grandma actually saw two men in suits going to give a blessing in another room and waited so she could bring them to her husband. Though we were all there knowing he would die (and had hours to come to terms with that), though he was not conscious Saturday or Sunday, we all cried when he was gone.


Some things I learned from Grandpa Shaw-
1-He was very proud of his heritage. First thing I noticed when we met, he sent me to the fridge to see the coat of arms magnets. A few variations, but they were all Shaws. Very cool!
2-He was a happy and good humored man. I never saw him without a smile on his face, tho usually neither of us understood what the other was saying (we're both wearing hearing aids, we get it), he dealt with his inability to understand the same way I do. (Those tricks never worked on me Grandpa) A laugh, a 'Yeah', or a look at the closest person for a repeat.
3- Hee Haw is a very funny show! Grandpa introduced me to Hee Haw. I had never heard of it until I heard it was his favorite. (This is one of my favorites http://youtu.be/U9xyKho5grs)
4- Vodka helps you relax. Three days in the hospital and Grandpa didn't sleep. Nurses were getting a little frustrated with him. What was his response? "If you want me to relax you should get me some vodka!" When Matt and I got there on Friday, Melodie was in the room with us when Grandpa asked us to help him up. He needed to go home because "I'm too old to be out this late." So cute!
5- Family! Grandpa never took sides. He loved his wife, his kids, his grandkids and his great-grandkids. He was proud of them. Nothing he ever did brought this to doubt.

I'll miss you Grandpa Shaw! See you on the other side!

There was a song that came to mind in the hospital for a moment, but it certainly wasn't the place to sing it (since no one knew it). I'll put it here. I learned it on my mission. We all sung it when we left the mission field.I can't sing it without crying. (i'll have to guess on some of the spelling, but it sounds the way it's spelled, so should be ok. I love Tongan.)

Goodbye my fielei. E dango e lei le. A'e mane dua ma pae. E dango e yede medeke. E dango e Grandpa Shaw. A'e mane dua moi foi. A'e e dena dela sese.
Oh I never will forget you. Grandpa Shaw e ngalo atu. Oh I never will forget you. Grandpa Shaw e ngalo atu.

Fourth of July!!

Independence Day!!! It was an awesome weekend! Matt has a lot of fireworks from yeeeears ago that he wanted to use up (convinced half of them would be duds). We started with a cul de sac of fire with Neff/Shaws on Sunday. We only used about half of our fireworks. I didn't get any fountains because fireworks are expensive and I knew everyone else would have fountains. I bought some flowers (I love em), worms to entertain the kids, and 2 army cars so Matt could have them charge each other.
For the 4th, we started the day with breakfast with Mom and Dad at the 11th ward, I got to talk Doctor Who with the Halls and then we were off. Transformers 3 with Melodie Shaw. (It was ok. The first one was awesome, the 2nd had the awesome little bad dude that I like- the comic relief. Forgot his name... Frenzy? In the 3rd he's got a buddy with hair.) Anyway-
We went to Wride's after for fantastic hamburgers! We used up all the parachuters (another mother bought more so everyone could catch one. Melodie was really good so we had to keep her out of the game.), the worms.... Matt said it was worm food. When you lit it on fire the worms came out to eat it. Then they disappear in the ground again and leave the skin behind. I think some of the kids believed him. Ho-boy. I love watching him play with kids.
After the cul de sac of fire with Wrides we drove up Highland Drive and got a good spot to watch the fireworks going all around the valley! It was incredible! If the 4th is like this everywhere else in America, I need to check it out! The whole valley was twinkling in multiple colors! I think we'll watch again for the 24th if anyone wants to join us. It's an incredible sight!
Unfortunately we didn't use all our fireworks as planned. We'll use the rest on the 24th. Flowers and Jumping Jacks galore! In the meantime, we're 2 months married and very happy! I'm going to enjoy the next two weeks as much as possible! Matt flies to AZ on the 25th and will be gone for a WEEK!!!! Thank you to all the friends and family who have offered to keep me occupied so I don't get lonely. Love ya!

(please remain seated for a brief rant......

1 in 4 American's don't know who we declared independence from in 1776... if they know it was 1776. There is so much history we don't remember. We need to remember and teach our children about our Founders. The Declaration of Independence was inspired by God! They were foreordained to be our Founders. The Constitution is NOT racist. Even Frederick Douglass said it was an anti-slavery document. Read it and do the math! Blacks served in legislatures before the 1800s! Separation of Church and State is NOT in any founding document. Just a phrase from a letter from Jefferson. If he could see what we have changed it to mean he'd whack us across the head. God is to be involved in the State, and the State is to stay out of the worshiper's way.
This concludes the brief rant. You may now continue with your scheduled blogging.)