On Sunday 5 April my blood glucose reading was under 100 for the 14th day in a row!

I finished reading "Typee A Romance of the South Seas" by Herman Melville which I had begun on 10 September.  I have also read "Moby Dick" by Melville.

Herman Melville (1819-1891)

We slept in and got up in time to watch Music & the Spoken Word prior to the morning session of general conference.

LDS Conference Center

The first speaker in the morning session was President Thomas S. Monson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who spoke about the dedication of the Phoenix Arizona Temple and announced the construction of three new temples in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Bangkok, Thailand.  President Monson is harder to understand than in the past.  He spoke about temples.

President Thomas S. Monson

The next speaker was Rosemary M. Wixom, the Primary General President, who spoke about a sister who was grappling with questions and became less active.

Rosemary M. Wixom

The next speaker was Elder Jose A. Teixeira of the Seventy who spoke about the extraordinary role of Christ in our lives.

Elder Jose A. Teixeira

Following the rest hymn we heard from Bishop Gerald Causse, First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, who is from France.  He spoke about the "marvelous work and a wonder" of the Church in these latter days.

Bishop Gerald Causse

The next speaker was Elder Brent H. Neilson of the Seventy who spoke about the parable of the prodigal son and his sister Susan.

Elder Brent H. Neilson

The next speaker was Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who spoke about the arms and hands of our Savior who had reached out to save us on the first Easter. He testified of the reality of Adam and Eve and the need for the Atonement.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

The concluding speaker was President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, who spoke about the first Easter, the Savior's Atonement and Resurrection. His sacrifice is sacred and holy. He spoke on the grace of God.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I e-mailed Carol Messina with our efforts in March in my family history consultant calling.

The first speaker in the afternoon session was Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who spoke about what we believe and our moral agency. 

Elder Robert D. Hales

The next speaker was Elder Kevin W. Pearson of the Seventy who spoke about enduring to the end, constantly coming unto Christ to become perfected in Him.

Elder Kevin W. Pearson

The next speaker was Elder Rafael E. Pino of the Seventy who spoke about understanding the plan of happiness. 

Elder Rafael E. Pino

Following the rest hymn we heard from Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who spoke about partaking of the sacrament weekly and take His name upon us. We live in the days as the Second Coming approaches. The Lord's hand is at work in our lives.

Elder Neil L. Andersen

The next speaker was Elder Jorge F. Zeballos of the Seventy who spoke about his conversion to the Church 47 years ago and his responsibilities as a member of the Church.

Elder Jorge F. Zeballos

The next speaker was Elder Joseph W. Sitati of the Seventy who spoke about the attributes of our divine nature.

Elder Joseph W. Sitati

The concluding speaker was Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who spoke about  the Sabbath day and keeping it holy. Doing family history work.

Elder Russell M. Nelson

This conference made it quite evident that President Monson is not doing well.  He didn't welcome us to conference yesterday morning or say farewell as the concluding speaker today.

After conference we watched the program "Handel's Messiah" on BYU-TV narrated by Jane Seymour. It is a BYUtv original production which examines Handel's life leading up to his debut of the Messiah.  It shows performances of the Messiah and travels to some of the locations where Handel once lived.

Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759)

Jane Seymour

Eileen and I began working on our latest Church Service Mission assignment researching England Tax, Criminal, Land & Wills, and England Reference, Dictionaries & Almanacs. We spent 45 minutes each.

On Monday 6 April Eileen's blood sugar was under 100 at 99 for the first time since we started excluding almost all carbs and sugar from our diet!  I continued being under 100 for the 15th day in a row.

We went to Bryant Physical Therapy and paid for another month.  Then we enjoyed lunch with Ralph and Holly Hughes at Longhorn Steakhouse in Ellijay.  The food was delicious again!

Holly, Ralph, and Eileen waiting for a table

Eileen, Holly, and Ralph

Ralph, Holly, and Eileen

Eileen, Ralph, and Holly

We went to Walmart and bought a three-burner gas grill and propane tank.  They will put it together for us and we'll get it tomorrow.  We'll have lunch with Ralph and Holly again and they'll bring the grill to our house in their pickup truck.

We enjoyed the empty-nester Family Home Evening at church taught by David Echard on D&C 76.  Elder and Sister Rumsey attended.

Section 76

A vision given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, February 16, 1832. Prefacing the record of this vision, Joseph Smith’s history states: “Upon my return from Amherst conference, I resumed the translation of the Scriptures. From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points touching the salvation of man had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled. It appeared self-evident from what truths were left, that if God rewarded every one according to the deeds done in the body the term ‘Heaven,’ as intended for the Saints’ eternal home, must include more kingdoms than one. Accordingly, … while translating St. John’s Gospel, myself and Elder Rigdon saw the following vision.” At the time this vision was given, the Prophet was translating John 5:29.

Afterwards I used what was left on my Walmart gift card to put a few gallons of gas in our car at $2.079.

At home I read the article sent to me by FamilySearch Support about "claiming legacy".  I called FamilySearch about it and then I sent them a message with all the details about several of Brother Bowen's ancestors.

On Tuesday 7 April we slept late and then stopped at the dump and went to Walmart.  Our grill was put together.

We enjoyed lunch with Ralph and Holly Hughes at Okinawa Steak & Sushi Restaurant.

Ralph, Holly, and Eileen

Then we loaded the grill in the back of Ralph's truck and we both went to our house.

Later we were back to town with our tax return stuff to Painter's Tax Service.  I chatted with Jolinda whom I see once a year.

We went to Ace Hardware for new grill tools.  Gas in Blue Ridge is down to $1.959 including Walmart but our Walmart actually went up two cents!! We got some gas at $2.099 and went inside for stuff for dinner for a family in the branch tomorrow night.

At home I put the new grill on the back porch.  Then I went out front and picked lots and lots of dandelions.  I put the old grill on the side of the road in hopes that someone would like it.  They did within a couple of days!

After supper we enjoyed watching the Atlanta Braves score seven runs in the top of the first inning against the Miami Marlins.

I finished reading "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie featuring Hercule Poirot. Excellent!  Eileen remembered who did it and mentioned it to me earlier in the car, thinking that I would remember it, too.  I did not and enjoyed it.

I did lots of research on Gatlinburg.

I finished the 26 October issue of the Church News.  I enjoyed reading about the "Church-produced video explains purpose, sacred nature of temple garments," which can be viewed as part of the article at the link http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/temple-garments,

Two-piece temple garments

Palmyra New York Temple

new stakes in Chile from a district and in Brazil, "Convert shares the gospel with high school football team" in Bradenton, Florida, 

Octavious James stands with his Young Men president,
H. Bowen Summer, before his baptism.

Octavious James with his friends, members and non-members,
following his baptism on May 26.

Octavious James, a running back on the Manatee High School football team,
invited teammates to his baptism on May 26.  Since then, some of
his teammates have been investigating the Church.

and "What will you do with the words of the prophets?" by Sister Neill F. Marriott, second counselor in the Young Women General Presidency. 

Neill F. Marriott

The Braves won, 14-2.  

I began reading the talks by the prophets and apostles from General Conference to Eileen.  I read "The Comforter" by President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, from the General Women's Session.

President Henry B. Eyring

On Wednesday 8 April our combined blood sugar was 187, 92 for me and 95 for Eileen!  I broke 210 pounds at 209.9 and have lost 14.5 pounds since the day we saw Dr. Raisig (2 March).

We went to the food pantry and about 120 families were helped with food.  Elder and Sister Rumsey picked up Sisters Burge and Nettleton. I took a picture of the sisters as Sister Nettleton is heading home from her mission and Sister Burge will be transferred within the mission.  Elder Rumsey helped me with the plastic bags and saw what I did with the cardboard boxes, so he can cover for me when we're gone.

Sisters Nettleton and Burge

Gilmer Community Food Pantry

In the afternoon I read the instructions for our new grill and grilled one of our London broils for my supper.  I cut it into thirds when it was done and put two of them in the fridge for later suppers.

Eileen cooked a chicken and rice casserole for the branch member we're taking supper to along with green beans and some cupcakes from Walmart for dessert.

We took dinner to Angela Cash, who had sinus surgery, at her home in Coosawattee.  Then we hustled to church to staff the Family History Center and Roger Widmann came by for assistance.

Back at home I sent photos to Ralph and Holly Hughes, Sisters Burge and Nettleton, and April Teague at the Times-Courier.

I researched the records that we had looked at with Roger Widmann and made screen shots of them, e-mailing them to him.

I finished reading the March Ensign to Eileen with the last article by Elder Orson F. Whitney of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles entitled "Built Upon the Rock."

Elder Orson F. Whitney (1855-1931)

I especially enjoyed the First Presidency message from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf entitled "Encircled in His Gentle Arms", "Stand As Witnesses of God" by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Hold On to the Rod" by Elder Ulisses Soares of the Presidency of the Seventy, "Put On the Armour of Light" by Elder S. Gifford Nielsen of the Seventy, former star quarterback for BYU and pro quarterback in the NFL, and "Because He Lives" by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles about the Church's powerful Easter video.  The link is http://www.mormon.org/easter.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf 

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Elder Ulisses Soares

Elder S. Gifford Nielsen 

Elder Russell M. Nelson

On Thursday 9 April my blood sugar was only 81!  We took care of income tax business at Painter's Tax Service in Ellijay.  They got in done in one day! With what we owed the federal government and what we get back from Georgia, we about broke even.

We got some more gas at Walmart for $2.099 and headed for the temple.  We did 15 initiatories of Eileen's, eight male and seven female, including her great-great-great grandmother Mary Slee.

Atlanta Georgia Temple

Afterward we enjoyed vanilla and chocolate marshmallow ice cream at d'Lites Emporium.

We did some shopping at Walmart and Ingles.  Our latest palindrome was 99899.

Shortly after we returned home the UPS driver delivered the box of artist's supplies for Eileen from our son-in-law Tom Dowd in Raleigh.  He manages the Jerry's Artarama store there.

I then noticed that between the time we got home and the UPS made its delivery the old grill on the side of the road disappeared! Yay!

On Friday 10 April my streak of blood sugar under 100 ended at 18 days as my reading was 107.  We went to the bank and post office where I mailed a Book of Mormon to the cashier from Walmart, then on to Bryant Physical Therapy.  From there we headed north to Gatlinburg!  We stopped at Ingles in Blue Ridge for gas and filled up for $1.859 with their 10 cent discount!

After driving through Nantahala Gorge we reached the Smokey Mountain Expressway and our odometer reached the palindrome 99999, the reading of 100000, and the palindrome 100001.  Here are some pictures of the area and the map showing Blue Ridge, Murphy, Bryson City, and Gatlinburg.

We drove along a very circuitous US441 to Gatlinburg, for which the map doesn't do it justice, and through the very touristy town, reaching the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort about 4:20.

  

Our building 511 with our car on the right

We had supper at the resort's Westgate Smokehouse Grill in the Lodge, the main check-in building.  We can ride the shuttle up and down the hill to and from our unit 511-24.

After our delicious chicken breast salads (with our own sugar-free dressings) we got the shuttle back to our unit and unpacked.

Eileen on our balcony

The view from our balcony

It is disappointing that the TV channels do not include the Food Network or HGTV channel :(

In the evening we planned what to do tomorrow.

I finished reading to Eileen "Is Not This the Fast That I Have Chosen?" by President Henry B. Eyring from the Saturday morning session of General Conference.

President Henry B. Eyring

On Saturday 11 April we slept in and then drove off the resort to the Great Smoky Mountain Arts and Crafts Community trail.  We visited a candle shop, a leather shop, a woodworking shop, and a candy shop, getting some sugar-free candy.

Eileen outside the candle shop

Eileen in the candle shop

The Leather Works

Eileen outside the Wood Whittlers

Ben and a fearsome warrior

Skipjack oyster dredger

Glades Homemade Candies

Then we visited the Brandywine Pottery store where Eileen saw something she liked but it was on display outside with flowers in it and none for sale inside :(

 Eileen entering the Brandywine Pottery store

Eileen liked this but none were available for sale

We passed a British pub and visited a glass-blowing store, a soap store, and a woodworker.  Then on to Lorelei Candles.

Ben and covered bridge

Eileen with shops in the background

Sparky's Glass Blowing

Misty Mountain Soap Company

Wood worker on his lathe

Inside Lorelei Candle Shop

Inside Lorelei Candle Shop

Inside Lorelei Candle Shop

Inside Lorelei Candle Shop

In heading back to the resort we shopped for groceries at Food City.  They had a wonderful assortment of bottled olives, though no Walden Farms products.

We caught the shuttle to the resort entrance and took the purple trolley as far as the aquarium.  Having just missed the red trolley, we walked along the river to the Christ in the Smokies Museum and Gardens which we enjoyed very much.

After that we caught the red trolley and rode it around and back to the Aquarium, just missing the purple trolley!  One of the fellows boarding the trolley had on a shirt that said, "Keep calm and ask Mom."

We waited for the next purple one, which wasn't long, and took it back to the resort.  Then we rode the shuttle back to our unit and had a rather late supper.

After I read to Eileen and she went to sleep, I finished reading "Buck Peters, Ranchman" by Clarence E. Mulford.  It was another Hopalong Cassidy book of which I've read quite a few.