Sacramento, California
123rd operating temple
Dedicated: 3 Sept 2006
By: Gordon B. Hinckley
Book of Mormon
Ether 15:1-17
Come Follow Me
Ether 13:13-22; 14-15
Rejecting the Lord's prophets puts me in spiritual danger.
October General Conference
'Focus on Jesus Christ and His Gospel'
Elder I. Raymond Egbo
"Several accounts in the Book of Mormon describe individuals who turned their lives around by focusing on Jesus Christ and His gospel
Consider Alma the Younger. He rebelled and fought against the Church. His father, Alma, prayed and fasted. An angel appeared and called Alma the Younger to repentance. In that moment, Alma began to suffer 'the pains of a damned soul.' In his darkest hours,e remembered his father teaching that Christ would come to atone for the sins of the world. As his mind caught hold on this thought, he pled with God for mercy. Joy was the result, a joy he described as exquisite! Mercy and joy came to Alma because he and his father focused on the Savior."
The main goal for today was to give James another swallow test to see if he could pass it this time and be able to eat and drink something. Sheri, Michael, and I were here when the speech therapist came in to administer the test. He did fine with the swallow test this time and we were encouraged. The therapist said before he ate or drank anything she also wanted to go downstairs and take an x-ray. Stacy came. She and Michael stayed with James while Sheri and I left. We are going to find me another blouse or shirt because I only brought two, and then I am going to Sheri's to take a shower. We are also going to get some lunch.
Stacy and Michael kept us updated via group text about James's progress. They did a cognitive test, which he didn't pass. He got a little confused about who was president. He could only name seven words that begin with F, not including nouns, and they wanted him to know 11. He couldn't draw the time on a clock and he missed some math questions. When he went down to do the x-ray the doctor saw an obstruction in his throat and said he could have no think liquids to drink. He has to have everything thickened and the thickener makes everything taste gross. He is most unhappy about this. He tried to tell the doctor that he has had that obstruction in his throat since he was in junior high but his pleas did no good.
Stacy had to go to work, she delivers for Amazon now, so Michael had Grampa all on his own. It seems they had a good visit. Michael told Grampa some things he hasn't told anyone else. One of them is the reason he doesn't mind going to Tucson for work anymore.
Sheri and I went shopping at Kohl's, but unlike the last time I was there, they had nothing that interested me, so we left. I ordered a top from Amazon and it will be delivered to Sheri's sometime tomorrow.
I did errands with Sheri and then we picked up food. I got a sweet pork taco at Cafe Rio and chicken strips from Chik-fila. We picked up Max from his five hour stay at the gym. He would normally have walked home with a 30 lb. pack on his back, (he walked there), but he knew we had food for him so he let us pick him up.
Back at Sheri's we ate lunch. Ian stayed home from work. He gave the reason that his father-in-law was in the hospital and he was going to visit him. Sheri told him he better visit if that's why he stayed home. It was getting late and I wanted to get back to James. I told Sheri I would take a shower later.
Sheri, Ian, and Evan all came for a visit shortly after I returned to the hospital. James was quite talkative and complained about having to drink thick water. Ian said his favorite drink right now is cranberry Ginger Ale. James thought that sounded great and asked if Ian would bring him some. Sheri and I mentioned that it would have to be thickened and James stuck his tongue out at us. This is the mood he is in today.
Ian and Evan left, Sheri stayed a little longer. James kept asking us for a 'real' drink of water or some cranberry Ginger Ale. Sheri said she would buy him a 12-pack when he left the hospital.
Several people came to visit so Sheri asked me to take her home. I think Alex and Joe were in the room when we left. My brother Dennis called to see how James was doing. During the conversation Dennis said, yea, Vickie is making us pray. He then asked if there was anything he could do for us. I told him to just keep praying.
After dropping Sheri off at home, I came back and parked in the hospital parking garage. While I was still in my car I decided to call Vickie. She had called earlier and I had missed her call. She wanted an update on James. We spoke for a few minutes and then said our goodbyes. I noticed Adam walk by while we were talking so I knew he would be in the room when I got there. Stacy and Michael were in the waiting room with Joe and Alex. Darrel and the girls were here too. Darrel brought cranberry celebration.
When I walked in, I had two bottles of water that Sheri had given me and James said, "you brought me water." He was actually angry when I wouldn't give it to him unless I put in the thickening agent. I went out into the waiting room as did Adam after he had visited for awhile to allow someone else to come in. Darrel and one of the girls went in. James is allowed to eat. Darrel gave him some cranberry celebration and after that James was happy the rest of the evening.
I was so concerned about James sneaking water that I asked Sheri if she would spend the night to help watch Dad. She told me she would, but I needed to check with the nurse. Kate had been his nurse during the day. She knows Trina and her husband is one of the organists at Organ Stop Pizza. I told her we go there every year before Christmas. Anyway, enough about Kate, she had already gone home, and Krista was here for the night shift. I asked her about someone else staying with me and she said only one extra person is allowed overnight. Well, that settles that. He is doing better now anyway. He seems to have had an attitude change for the better. At one point there were so many people here he made the comment: "There are so many people here to see me, it's like I'm a saint or something." Saint James.
I forgot to mention earlier that Jared didn't end up coming. While he was driving to Dallas, he got a call from Kacey that Charlie had a bad reaction to the antibiotic she had been given for her strep and had broken out in hives all over her body. Jared said a prayer and decided the best thing to do was go back and be with Charlie and Kacey. He was torn and now he feels guilty. I told him he should not feel guilty and that he made the right decision. There are plenty of people here to take care of his dad. This evening, we Face Timed and got to talk with him, Charlie and Kacey. James told him he was checking out of this hotel in the morning. They just laughed. Charlie showed us the pictures she, Scarlett and Autumn made for Grampa. Jared said they would send them to us. We can put them up on the wall with Ruby's and Lola's.
At 8:00 both of us were ready for sleep. No more visitors tonight.
Kim and Brian drove to the cabin today. They are going to put up our Christmas tree and do some decorating and take care of Tom. The problem is they cannot find Tom anywhere. They went outside and called and called. My heart is breaking, and we are all praying he will appear. Sheri says he may not come back until he sees either me or dad. This could be true but he knows and likes both Kim and Brian.
Love!!
I am so sad for Charlie
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