020526, Thursday

Daily Vitals: 

Weight: 231.2

BP and Pulse: 160/119, 126

GMI and Current Glucose Level: 7.2, 145

Reported Sleep: 7:09

Yesterday's Steps: 1,741

Journal Entry

Come Follow Me 

Moses 7: 33 And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood;

"Brothers and sisters, we do see too much conflict, anger, and general incivility around us. Fortunately, the current generation has not had a Third World War to fight, nor have we experienced a global economic crash like the one in 1929 leading to a Great Depression. We are, however, facing a kind of Third World War that is not a fight to crush our enemies but a conscription marshaling the children of God to care more about each other and to help heal the wounds we find in a conflicted world. The Great Depression we now face has less to do with the external loss of our savings and more to do with the internal loss of our self-confidence, with real deficits of faith and hope and charity all around us. But the instruments we need to create a brighter day and grow an economy of genuine goodness in society are abundantly provided for in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We cannot afford—and this world cannot afford—our failure to put these gospel concepts and fortifying covenants to full use personally and publicly."

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Apostle 

020426, Wednesday

 

Daily Vitals: Wt. 232.8, GMI: 7.2, Steps (previous day): 2,624, BP: 162/118, Pulse: 130 

Reported Sleep: 6:21, Glucose: 124 @0415

Journal Entry

My glucose levels have been too high, partly due to my infection and partly due to my not eating properly. Dr Welch prescribed insulin possibly on a temporary basis in order to bring my glucose levels down to a healthier level. So he prescribed insulin which is administered by injection for me on Monday afternoon and was hoping I could get started on it that night. But between the doctor and his staff and the various people at the pharmacy the order didn't get through on Monday. On Tuesday morning I was able to go to Walgreens and get my insulin which came in an injectable preloaded syringe.

Tuesday afternoon I attempted to inject my first dose and find that there were no needles to go with my syringe. The young man who sold me the syringe at Walgreens neglected to say anything about needles. So I called the drug store which is a challenge to get through all prerecorded messages, etc. and found that, yes, needles were necessary. The doctor had actually prescribed needles but no one had mentioned that to me. So I said to the nice man at the drug store that I would come in and get the needles... It's about a ten minute drive. He said they didn't have needles in stock, they had ordered them and they would be in tomorrow. But they did have needles that they sold off the shelf and they were available for $10. 

So we drove to Walgreens and I got my needles and took my first ever insulin injection last evening. It is now 0530 and my glucose (blood sugar) level is at about 120 which is, I'm told, good. 

My blood pressure and pulse are still way too high though. And my infected foot, though seemingly improving, is, of course, still a problem. But we're working on that. Other than that, I'm in pretty good health for an 80 year old guy.

Come Follow Me 

Moses 7: 30 And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever;

"Enoch, to whom the Lord revealed so much, praised God amid His vast creations, exclaiming reassuringly, “Yet thou art there."

This same special assurance can see each of us through all the seasons and circumstances of our lives. A universal God is actually involved with our small, individual universes of experience! In the midst of His vast dominions, yet He numbers us, knows us, and loves us perfectly."

Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Apostle 

020226, Monday

 

Journal Entry

Somehow I lost what I had written on this date. My foot and lower ankle were swollen and discolored because of infection. Cathy and I (mostly Cathy) spent most of the day trying to get my foot treated and medication to combat the infection. It's really difficult to describe what it means for me to have a wife like Cathy. She will do anything to help me. I'm going to try to include a photo of what my foot looks like today - Tuesday -  which is a bit of an improvement over what it looked like yesterday.

Come Follow Me

Moses 7: 18 And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.

"Please note: Zion is people; Zion is the saints of God; Zion is those who have been baptized; Zion is those who have received the Holy Ghost; Zion is those who keep the commandments; Zion is the righteous; or in other words, as our revelation recites: “This is Zion—the pure in heart.”

Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Apostle 

020326, Tuesday

Daily Vitals: Wt. 231.7, GMI: 7.2, Steps (previous day): 1,804, BP: 173/120, Pulse: 111, 

Reported Sleep: 6:00

Journal Entry

Most of my life today and for the next few days will be devoted to trying to get my foot healthy. After my original foot injury was discovered in August of last year and finally was "cured" I still continued to feel some pain in that right big toe. I pointed this out to Dr. Phillips and he felt that he could operate on the toe and shave down the bone some and that would solve the problem.

The pain wasn't bad, in fact it was only occasional and I felt that I could easily live with it but I didn't want to have the toe get worse again so I agreed to the surgery. Cathy agreed and we both felt it would be beneficial to go ahead with the surgery. But this infection is far worse than the original infection and I'm worried about the final outcome.

I hope we have it under control now but it's too early to celebrate. In the mean time, I'm out of commission for probably at least another week.

Come Follow Me 

Moses 7: 21 And it came to pass that the Lord showed unto Enoch all the inhabitants of the earth; and he beheld, and lo, Zion, in process of time, was taken up into heaven. And the Lord said unto Enoch: Behold mine abode forever.

"The attributes of Christ are acquired in the “process of time” by intentional progress along the covenant path. Christlike attributes adorn the lives of those who strive to live with goodness. They fill homes with gospel light, whether the floor is mud or marble. Even if you are the only one in your household who follows the injunction to “seek after these things,” you can contribute to the spiritual furnishings of your family’s home."

Elder L. Whitney Clayton of The Presidency of The Seventy 

020126, Sunday

 

Daily Vitals: Wt. 231.2, GMI: 7.2, Steps (previous day): 960, BP: 157/118, Pulse: 130, 

Reported Sleep: 7:08

Journal Entry

Come Follow Me 

Moses 7: 18 And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.

"Please note: Zion is people; Zion is the saints of God; Zion is those who have been baptized; Zion is those who have received the Holy Ghost; Zion is those who keep the commandments; Zion is the righteous; or in other words, as our revelation recites: “This is Zion—the pure in heart.”

Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Apostle 

013126, Saturday

Daily Vitals: Wt. 233.9, GMI: 7.1, Steps (previous day): 2,929, BP: 171/114, Pulse: 134, 

Reported Sleep: 5:54

Journal Entry

Come Follow Me 

Moses 6: 63 And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me.

"Wherever we live in this world, we see the glorious rising sun, which bears record of the Light of Christ that fills our hearts and enlightens our minds. The mighty rivers and the meandering streams bear record that the Savior is the source of the living water that can quench our thirst for spiritual things. The lilies of the field and even the smallest sparrow bear record of His generous and personal care."

Sister Susan L. Warner, Second Counselor, Primary General Presidency

013026, Friday

 

Daily Vitals: Wt. 234.3, GMI: 7.0, Steps (previous day): 2,210, BP: 155/112, Pulse: 128, Reported Sleep: 

Journal Entry

Come Follow Me 

Moses 6: 59 That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory;

"First, the invitation to repent is an expression of love. When the Savior “began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” it was a message of love, inviting all who would to qualify to join Him…If we do not invite others to change or if we do not demand repentance of ourselves, we fail in a fundamental duty we owe to one another and to ourselves. A permissive parent, an indulgent friend, a fearful Church leader are in reality more concerned about themselves than the welfare and happiness of those they could help. Yes, the call to repentance is at times regarded as intolerant or offensive and may even be resented, but guided by the Spirit, it is in reality an act of genuine caring."

President D. Todd Christofferson, Apostle