Re: Disappointing Diabetes Class

Sorry that went so badly. It kind of reminded me of taking ethics courses from professors with law degrees versus professors with philosophy degrees, not that either was bad, they just tend to have a different focus. I know that Kimberly has had different experiences with different dietitians and doctors. I think that knowing what your doctor expects as good, better and best for limits is helpful, and then using constant testing to make sure you are within his parameters.

Organic dairy products can be pasteurized, so I don't think there is really a connection between something being organic and not being pasteurized. For example, even raw milk may or may not be organic. What organic does mean is that the cows were fed organic feed (no pesticides, herbicides or artificial fertilizers) and were not given antibiotics or growth hormones. Those would be the benefits you would be looking at in purchasing organic cottage cheese. Unpasteurized (raw) milk and milk products (excluding cheeses aged 60 days or more) are not considered safe by the CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/rawmilk/raw-milk-questions-and-answers.html#legal. 

I really think I can do this.

You only see a dietician twice in a two-month period at the clinic my doctor sent me to. Last night the class was taught by two pharmacists who seemed intent on convincing me that I should be and needed to be on a medication. It made Dad so upset that he left. He said they were treating me like I was brain-dead.

My blood pressure is 118/70 and everything else about me, but my sugar level, is good. I think I want to do as the doctor suggested and try to beat this with diet and exercise. Dad and I walk for 30 minutes everyday. That takes up up to Turkey Hill and then back down. We had to add two more blocks to that today because we went too fast to just come back to the house.

I have lost 10 pounds! (Cheering!) That is just because for the first 10 days (up tomorrow) I do not eat any sugar, sugar substitute or sweetner of any type. I just get to add fruits to my diet tomorrow. I don't miss sugar and I never will. I do like to have my oatmeal with a tablespoon of nuts cooked in and I can have cinnamon which is actually supposed to help.

Eating out yesterday with Aunties and Dad was an adventure because the cafe was one that served only corn for a veggie, iceberg lettuce (not good for my tummy) or potato soup for a side. So I had a roasted turkey steak with a couple of leaves of Romaine and I small scoop of no-fat cottage cheese. (Auntie Helen said that was not good for me because it was pasteurized and I should only eat organic. I don't know where to get that.) Dad ate my rolls as well as his. He had peach pie for dessert and I enjoyed lemon water and the conversation.

I am going to be OK! I really, really think I can do this. I had my remaining five free (on the carb exchange list) veggies when I got home and a boiled egg. Now I just need to find a different class. This one costs $35 a time and was $70 for my first time. If I am going to pay for it, I would rather go somewhere else. The guys said that my medicare should pay about half the cost.

Dietitians‏

Mom, I think you can hire a dietitian and pay a per hour fee that is less than $35. If I were you I would look into that. I would search someone who has experience treating people with diabetes and find one that you can pay per hour and do private sessions sounds like it's cheaper than what you're already paying for the session that's not as effective. Love, Kirsten

Terrific videography - crazy people!

Myrna wrote: So, tell me, does the guy falling off the cliff die? Gordon wrote: Of course he doesn’t die. If you pause the video when he is in the close up picture where you can clearly see his back, you will see that he has a pack on his back which I am sure contains a parachute. If you look at the people doing free fall just before the man is climbing the steep mountain in the snow, you will see they are wearing the same kind of backpacks. The one I worry about is the first cliff climber who is holding on to those ridges sticking out from the face of the cliff. I don’t see ropes or packs. I hope he had a way to be safe if he fell. Of course he probably didn’t fall. That kind of fun is just not for me. Myrna wrote: If it might take my life if I make a false step, it just isn't fun. By the way, Leonard clicked on the other video at the bottom of the one you sent. It did show the guy I was concerned about falling and then his parachute opened. How they keep from hitting the sides as they fall, I'll never know.

Two News Items

Are we getting together for Labor Day?

Richard Dixon has lymphoma. Aunt Eva said he had been having trouble with his back and they found out that was why. He had a cancer there. Jim flew out to be with him. He has a high likelihood of getting better but the cancer is all through his lymph nodes. Jim called Auntie a few weeks ago and told her that she should stop using the credit card that Richard had given her and had been paying for for many, many years so she could pay for her meds, groceries and other basic needs. He wouldn't tell her why. She said she now knew. But, when Richard found out what Jim had told her, he called and told her that she should still use the card. He was paying off all of his debts, true, but did not consider her a debt. At any rate, Auntie Eva wanted me to tell you this news and also ask you all to pray for him.

Shawn wrote: Mom and Dad,

Sorry to hear that about Richard, I am glad Jim was able to go visit him. 

We are going to be at Jackson Hole for Labor day this year.

Love,

Shawn

Myrna wrote: AnnMarie and family and Julie and family will likely be with us and that is all. I think we may plan a day trip. We are thinking of going to Camp Floyd/Stagecoach Inn State Park and Museum for a special event they have advertised there.

Computer Question for Todd

Myrna wrote: Do you think that Dad could learn to use a Dell or other type of laptop that is not a Mac. I didn't have trouble with the HP when I worked at the Herald. There were just a couple of things that I had to do differently. Once in a while, I would go "Rats!" but not too often. He is not really into computers, as you know, but he would like to do some genealogy and I am always using it. Usually, word processing is word processing. Of course, email is email. I cannot afford to get him a Mac. Let me know what you think. You are the only person I have asked. Love you, Mom

Todd wrote: Yes. He would be able to use them. The Family History is all on line now, so if he can use a browser, he can do the family history.

Myrna wrote: Ok. I'll start looking around for a good price. Thanks. I do love and appreciate you.

To Michael

In his letter, Ben said he had seen you. I think that is great--two cousins in the MTC at the same time. 

We would like your box number for the MTC if you would share it. It would be really nice to send a card or do something for you. For example, if you will tell us your size, we could get you a couple of T-shirts and have them delivered to you. That might be faster than having your folks do it. In the OLD days, you could just go to the MTC and drop off whatever you wanted delivered at the front desk. :)

On Tuesday, I found out that I have Type 2 diabetes. That has been a difficult idea to accept. I am on a sugar ban for 10 days. I will take a class in just a few days that will help me know how to live for the rest of my life. I will be allowed "good" carbs and will not be allowed "bad" carbs. I can eat all the veggies I want. There are starchy vegetables that turn into sugar and so they are out. What fun. I am 71-years old. You would think I could have made it just a few more years before this, right? ;)

We had a really good couple of days at the temple on Friday and Saturday. We were as busy as could be. That is always wonderful when so many people come to the temple. We had large sessions as well as lots of weddings and sealings of living families. Many times the temple is crowded all day but the sessions are small because all of the people are just coming to view the weddings. A goodly number of them also want to see the spiral staircase which means they have to be guided in small groups and that takes more of us in order to accomodate. I love the temple. I love working there.

We had another missionary homecoming today. It is different here in our ward with our new bishop. He does not assign a topic but tells the returned missionary to speak about their mission, not in an traveloge style, but in a faith-building manner. This missionary did an excellent job of that. He told us how he had learned to listen to the spirit and used several examples.

One of the nice things about serving in the states was that several of his missionary companions and a convert family were able to be there for his homecoming. The family still lives in Texas but the missionary comps are at BYU.

We had an interesting discussion in Sunday School today. Our instructor, Paul Sutorius, is a retired seminary principal. He was telling us that as we read about Moroni in Alma 46 we should remember that we are being told about a covenant people who are making and keeping sacred covenants. I suppose having been to the same class yourself, you also were given the understanding of the direct association of the Joseph of Egypt story when his brothers, who had sold him, rent his coat. Moroni's rent garment is clearly symbolic of Joseph's coat, which was "rent by his brethren into many pieces" (Alma 46:23).

Bro. Sutorius told us that :"The rent coat or garment was an essential part of Moroni's covenant of liberty. Moroni rent his coat and rallied the people; then the people rent their garments 'in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments' (Alma 46:21)."

Many of the wars between peoples through the ages have been, and still are today, over "dirt," he said. So it was in the times of Moroni. In order for the Nephites to take care of their families, and keep the covenants which they had made, they needed dirt. They needed a place of their own to grow crops. Even today, the church will not build a temple or a chapel on leased ground. The church must own the ground the building stands on. Just as the Mormon pioneers located in the West, away from the problems of the East, so they could keep their covenants, so did Moroni recognize the need for his people to have a place of freedom where they owned the dirt.

Bro. Sutorius built a huge flag pole in his front yard. He flys the American flag and a BYU pennant. He played football for BYU.

We will continue to pray for you and ask Heavenly Father to bless you and help you to learn the language easily and well. We do love you!

Grammy and Gramps

To Ben

You didn't say whether or not you had much of a chance to talk to Michael or not. Hopefully, you got to say more than "hi" and "bye." I think that is great--two cousins in the MTC at the same time. 

It is great to learn that you "did a lot of studying, and have been eagerly trying to complete a task in Preach My Gospel." It sounds like a good use of time and effort. I think I should try that myself.

 

Tuesday sounds like it was wonderful for you. Thanks for sharing Elder Neil L. Anderson's nine things that he said President Monson would say if he had been there.

On Tuesday, my day was not so great. I found out that I have Type 2 diabetes. That has been a difficult idea to accept. I am on a sugar ban for 10 days. I will take a class in just a few days that will help me know how to live for the rest of my life. I will be allowed "good" carbs and will not be allowed "bad" carbs. I can eat all the veggies I want. There are starchy vegetables that turn into sugar and so they are out. What fun. I am 71-years old. You would think I could have made it just a few more years before this, right? ;)

We had a really good couple of days at the temple on Friday and Saturday. We were as busy as could be. That is always wonderful when so many people come to the temple. We had large sessions as well as lots of weddings and sealings of living families. Many times the temple is crowded all day but the sessions are small because all of the people are just coming to view the weddings. A goodly number of them also want to see the spiral staircase which means they have to be guided in small groups and that takes more of us in order to accomodate. I love the temple. I love working there.

We had another missionary homecoming today. It is different here in our ward with our new bishop. He does not assign a topic but tells the returned missionary to speak about their mission, not in an traveloge style, but in a faith-building manner. This missionary did an excellent job of that. He told us how he had learned to listen to the spirit and used several examples.

One of the nice things about serving in the states was that several of his missionary companions and a convert family were able to be there for his homecoming. The family still lives in Texas but the missionary comps are at BYU.

We had an interesting discussion in Sunday School today. Our instructor, Paul Sutorius, is a retired seminary principal. He was telling us that as we read about Moroni in Alma 46 we should remember that we are being told about a covenant people who are making and keeping sacred covenants. I suppose having been to the same class yourself, you also were given the understanding of the direct association of the Joseph of Egypt story when his brothers, who had sold him, rent his coat. Moroni's rent garment is clearly symbolic of Joseph's coat, which was "rent by his brethren into many pieces" (Alma 46:23).

Bro. Sutorius told us that :"The rent coat or garment was an essential part of Moroni's covenant of liberty. Moroni rent his coat and rallied the people; then the people rent their garments 'in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments' (Alma 46:21)."

Many of the wars between peoples through the ages have been, and still are today, over "dirt," he said. So it was in the times of Moroni. In order for the Nephites to take care of their families, and keep the covenants which they had made, they needed dirt. They needed a place of their own to grow crops. Even today, the church will not build a temple or a chapel on leased ground. The church must own the ground the building stands on. Just as the Mormon pioneers located in the West, away from the problems of the East, so they could keep their covenants, so did Moroni recognize the need for his people to have a place of freedom where they owned the dirt.

Bro. Sutorius built a huge flag pole in his front yard. He flys the American flag and a BYU pennant. He played football for BYU.

We will continue to pray for you and ask Heavenly Father to bless you and help you to learn the language easily and well. We do love you!

Grammy and Gramps

Mailing

Just an FYI for you select "lucky" people. You will receive a mailing from Emily asking you to order magazines for her school. Just ignore and throw in the trash. It is required that we send to 7 people and I really don't care about any orders. So when you see it in the mail in about a month, toss it in your "round file". Thanks! Amy Myrna wrote: Thanks for all you do. You are great. Thanks also for Michael's address. We love you!

The two Elder's MTC Addresses

Eva wrote: Myrna, Thank you so much. I looks like Ben leaves there on Sept 19; Michael's does not dy when he goes Also, thank you so much for sharing their emails. See you Wednesdayl love, Eva Myrna wrote: here are the addresses. Elder Michael Trauntvein MTC PO Box #312 CA-ARC 1023 Provo, Utah 84604 Elder Benjamin Bolton MTC #315 CA-FRE 0919 2005 North 900 East Provo, Utah 84604 Myrna wrote: You are welcome! I also did not mention that we are continuing to pray for Richard and are glad to have any news about him. Thanks, M