090526, Saturday

Weight: 231.7

BP and Pulse: 117/77, 67

GMI: 6.9, Glucose level Three day Average: 154 (143) Daily Average)

CGM: 152 (0435)

Reported Sleep: 6:11

Yesterday's Steps: 4,335

Journal Entry:

I made an unfortunate decision yesterday.

This is Labor Day weekend and yesterday being Friday should have been known to me as a bad traffic day and I did know it. 

Cathy wanted to go to Fashion Place Mall to see if she could find some shoes that would be suitable F for our upcoming vacation. It was fairly early in the day so I thought we had plenty of time to go and get back before the holiday rush hour kicked in. But it was near two PM when we were done.

And that's when I made the wrong decision. I thought it would be easier and more pleasant traffic-wise to drive up Parleys Canyon through Park City and Heber instead of getting on southbound I-15 but I was wrong... Big time wrong. 

As we approached Park City and the turnoff from I-80 to US 40 toward Heber, traffic came to a complete halt. There is only one lane that can make that turn and it was jammed for more than a mile leading up to the interchange. Seriously the traffic was moving, if at all, at less than five miles per hour. So I made the brilliant decision to just continue eat on I-80 to the next southbound offramp that leads to Kamas. 

No problem. Good traffic flow then when we got to Kamas Cathy suggested an ice cream stop at the Ballerina Farms Farm Store in Kamas. After a very nice dish of ice cream we began heading toward Heber and what I thought would be a pretty easy drive down Provo Canyon to our home in Lindon.

Not So! The highway, US 189, was at a standstill from the moment we left Heber. We couldn't even make it to the cutoff that goes over to Midway. It appeared to me that our  "drive" home would be a creak that might last a couple of hours or more... Seriously. We were stopped in absolutely jammed traffic.

So going back to Parleys canyon, I knew, was impossible so I made a uturn and drove back into Heber. From there I drove west on Center Street to Midway then south to the Cascade Springs highway. That road winds almost endlessly to a junction with state highway 92, Timpanogos Highway, that runs from Provo Canyon to American Fork Canyon. This is called the Alpine Loop and it winds through beautiful mountain scenery as a very narrow 20 mph road.

That worked. There were more cars than usual on that route but it was, at least, moving. So I took the route toward American Fork Canyon and we were finally able to get home just before 8 pm.

I think that had we just chanced driving south on I-15 from Fashion Place we would have done better but it I'm not sure. Anyway, we made it.

Come Follow Me:

Psalm 144: 15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.

"Do you want to be happy? Stay on the covenant path. Your life will be easier, happier, and filled with joy. Our Savior is inviting us, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He is the living Christ. He carries our burdens and makes our life easier."

Elder Yoon Hwan Choi of The Seventy, October 2023

"Our family has six children, who sometimes tease one another that they are the favourite child. Each has different reasons for being preferred. Our love for each of our children is pure and fulfilling and complete. We could not love any one of them any more than another—with each child’s birth came the most beautiful expansion of our love. I most relate to my Heavenly Father’s love for me through the love that I feel for my children."

Elder Karl D. Thirst of The Seventy

090426, Friday

Weight: 231.7

BP and Pulse: 114/68, 73

GMI: 6.9, Glucose level Three day Average: 151 (128) Daily Average)

CGM: 134 (0445)

Reported Sleep: 6:30

Yesterday's Steps: 9,405

Journal Entry:

Jake brought all of his kids over for a visit yesterday afternoon. It was good to see them. I remember as a youth that visiting my grandparents wasn't the most exciting thing in my life but these visits strengthen families in many ways and that is perhaps more important than I even realize in my old age. Anyway, the fact that he did that speaks well for him and I truly appreciate him.

Come Follow Me:

Psalm 139: 1 O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

"You may not have heard the Lord call you by name, but He knows each one of you and He knows your name. God has known you individually for a long, long time. He not only knows the names of all the stars; He knows your heartaches and your joys. He knows you perfectly and loves you completely."

Sister Elaine S. Dalton, Second Counselor, Young Women General Presidency, April 2005

090326, Thursday

Weight: 233.0

BP and Pulse: 114/72, 72

GMI: 6.9, Glucose level Three day Average: 149 (115 Daily Average)

CGM: 127 (0510)

Reported Sleep: 7:41

Yesterday's Steps: 10,187

Journal Entry:

Come Follow Me:

Psalm 127: 1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

"The Savior stands ready to accept our humble offerings and perfect them through His grace. With Christ, there is no imperfect harvest. We must have the courage to believe that His grace is for us—that He will help us, rescue us from the depths when we falter, and perfect our less-than-perfect efforts."

Elder Vern P. Stanfill of The Seventy 

090226, Wednesday

Weight: 234.5

BP and Pulse: 117/77, 80

GMI: 7.0, Glucose level Three day Average: 149 (138 Daily Average)

CGM: 143 (0345)

Reported Sleep: 5:08

Yesterday's Steps: 2,934

Journal Entry:

Come Follow Me:

Psalm 119: 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

"We can go to the scriptures. They teach us about Jesus Christ and His gospel, the magnitude of His Atonement, and our Father’s great plan of happiness and redemption. Daily immersion in the word of God is crucial for spiritual survival, especially in these days of increasing upheaval. As we feast on the words of Christ daily, the words of Christ will tell us how to respond to difficulties we never thought we would face."

President Russell M. Nelson, Apostle 

090126, Tuesday

Weight: 232.5

BP and Pulse: 102/73, 73

GMI: 7.0, Glucose level Three day Average: 146 (131 Daily Average)

CGM: 134 (0425)

Reported Sleep: 6:06

Yesterday's Steps: 3,822

Journal Entry:

I'm considering asking to be released as a Temple Worker and serving instead at the Bishops Storehouse on Thursdays. The need for people on Thursdays at the Storehouse is greater than Tuesdays and I think it would be a void match for me. My hearing is such that it's difficult for me to serve in the temple and having to be there at 0500 is getting to be challenging. Plus Cathy and I can serve together at the Bishops Storehouse. We'll see.

Come Follow Me:

Psalm 116: 1 I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

4 Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

"Because Heavenly Father has all power and knows all things, He can see all His children and can hear and answer every prayer. You can come to know for yourself that He is there and that He loves you.

When you know that Heavenly Father is real and that He loves you, you can live with courage and hope! “Pray, he is there; speak, he is list’ning."

Sister Susan H. Porter, Primary General President, April 2024

083126, Monday

 Weight: 232.5

BP and Pulse: 115/73, 74

GMI: 7.0, Glucose level Three day Average: 151 (134 Daily Average)

CGM: 142 (0420) 

Reported Sleep: 7:06

Yesterday's Steps: 8,755

Journal Entry:

Come Follow Me:

The Come Follow Me lesson in We Believe today addresses how we, in general, view our bodies. That is an interesting topic because in a very real way this has a lot of impact on our relationships. One of the things mentioned was that 63% of women in one study were not satisfied with their bodies. And 50% of men were likewise not satisfied. This is kind of a sad reflection on our current mortal existence and, I think, contributes to some of our failures as human beings to become involved in positive marital relations among other things.

As I thought about this, I, first of all, am very satisfied with my body and my wife's body. But as I thought about it I can honestly say that I truly believe that the vast majority of us, if not all of us, have the potential  to be very attractive though many fail. 

But it's an interesting topic with lots of areas to ponder. And I'll leave it at that for now.

083026, Sunday

Weight: 232.3

BP and Pulse: 120/77, 72

GMI: 7.1, Glucose level Three day Average: 154 (76 Daily Average)

CGM: 123 (0410)

Reported Sleep: 7:12

Yesterday's Steps: 9,121

Journal Entry:

Come Follow Me:

Psalm 85: 8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. 

"Obedience brings blessings here and now. Jesus said, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” Happiness and peace are found when we are in harmony with ourselves, with God, and with our fellowmen.

Through obedience we build spiritual strength that sustains us during times of adversity."

President Barbara W. Winder, Relief Society General President, October 1985

"Once we bind ourselves to our Savior through covenant, only we can sever the tie. Jesus never will. As we remain tightly bound to Him, He is bound to us. We can expect His power to bless us with strength and joy even when we are experiencing a steep stretch of life. But if we turn away, we have no such promise."

Elder Brian J. Holmes of The Seventy, April 2026