My Family History Journey

Today I posted about my Grandpa Watt’s 111th birthday on Facebook.

This is what I posted on Facebook:

Today is Grandpa Watt’s 111th birthday! November 22, 1910. Grandpa is now as old as Bilbo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings series. Grandpa kind of looks like a hobbit because he wasn’t very tall. One of my favorite memories of Grandpa Watt is his smile when I would come in the house to visit. He always seemed to be sitting in his favorite chair in the living room. I remember being so proud of him and Grandma when they went on their mission. Before they left on their mission (I think this is the right timing), my parents had Grandpa and Grandma and many of Grandpa’s brothers, sisters, in laws as well as my aunt and uncles over to our house for a party. I remember listening to them share stories about Grandpa. That is where I learned that he used to go out on the desert by the Big Butte and hunt coyotes in the winter. The story was told of making white gravy from the snow outside the tent and realizing after it was made that it had rabbit droppings in it! I wish so much that that whole evening had been recorded and pictures taken. There were so many wonderful stories.

I was also able to email my Uncle Bill Watt regarding the letter on Family Search written by George D. Watt.

I am excited to participate in the Light the World program this year. I made myself a calendar of activities on Light the World .

I want to take my in-laws and Nicole up to the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers museum this Wednesday. I have always wanted to go there and see what ancestors I can identify.

Had a fun visit with my sisters today about the Storyworth project for my parents. I have committed to work with my brother-in-law Aaron to get pictures and articles scanned that will be put in my parents’ s Storyworth book. I also committed to talk to my aunts and uncles and get their stories about my parents.

I spent a lot of time today working on getting the Angel Tree for the ward ready. Such generous people in our ward..most of the 60+ gifts were taken in just 15 minutes.

A sister in the ward has a contact with a lady who distributes toys to foster kids so I am going to share that opportunity on the Bugler for donations as well. I feel very humbled by the kindness of so many people.

Troywo

My second to the last day of clinical at the University of Utah Medical Center. It has been long day but good day.

I haven’t done much FH today but I did spend some time on Family Search. I worked on a change locations in Thailand. I also worked on some hints. I looked for a great great great great grandmother on the Watt side.

There have been quite a few entries on FB about Grandpa Baldwin. I need to go on tomorrow and figure out how to get them moved to Family Search and send that letter to Uncle Bill.

Today I got up early and was able using the Temple Reservation feature to make temple appointments for the next 5 weeks.

It is my Grandpa Baldwin’s 113th birthday today. I posted on FB about it being his birthday and asked people to share memories.

My aunt Betty called and thanked me for the letter I posted from Family Search about George D. Watt. She had already called my parents about it and was going to call Uncle Bill. I need to email the letter to him as he doesn’t use FB.

I also want to visit Gail and Betty and some of my other aunts and uncles on Saturday next week when I am home. Maybe, i can get their memories recorded while I am there.

So even though I didn’t spend a full hour this morning..I did end up doing some FH through the day.

Part of my own story happened tonight as the Wheel of Time book series by Robert Jordan became a TV series. Gil and I watched the first 2 episodes tonight. I started reading that series before I went on my mission and the last book came out about 5 years ago. It is also something I share with my Dad, Tim and Kevin.

To be honest, I haven’t done much serious family history today. I have done what President Nelson has admonished us to do..”whenever you do something good for another person, you are helping to gather Israel.” Today, I served my in-laws by taking my mother-in-law to the doctor and making multiple phone calls for my father-in-law. I also made beef stew that I will share with family. I visited Holly my ministering companion and ministered to Leslie, Amanda, Jenny and Tina.

Tonight I watched episode 7 and 8 of The Chosen with Gil. If you have not seen The Chosen please look for it on YouTube or download the app..it is free. There is a Christmas Special coming up on Dec. 1. We are going with our friends, the Wrights. It is being shown in movie theaters. You can find out showtimes and locations at Fathom Events. Here is a link to the trailer. https://youtu.be/a9s7OUspzes

I opened up Family Search this morning and this story showed up on my feed. It is a story about my great-granduncle, William Marks Hatch. He participated in both World War I and II. I am so grateful for the rich heritage I have of military service.

Well, I need to contact my Ward Family History Consultant and ask some questions before I link Ann Lewis as Mrs. Lewis to David Lewis.

I did another Connections post. I shared some pictures from our Yellowstone trip in 2004? 2003?

I also used Ordinance Ready and printed out name I can take and do an endowment tomorrow morning. Name is Hazel Amy Ennest born September 1892 in Michigan. She is on my Grandma Baldwin’s line.

I spent some time tonight looking at Memories on Family Search about my great, great grandfather George Darling Watt.

I am amazed at all the information about his life on Family Search. I found out from Memories on Family Search that he has some stories written about his life as a child on the streets of England. The stories are called “Little Georgie” and are in the Juvenile Instructor. I want to find the stories and give them to my Dad, his great grandson.

I was able to go walking with my mother-in-law, Brenda Parkin, today. She is preparing to participate in the Utah Human Race https://secure.utahfoodbank.org/site/TR/Events/General?pg=entry&fr_id=1190&gclid=CjwKCAiAp8iMBhAqEiwAJb94z6hn-3HuvwCWdEG5B1OUiHZRTENEJHzSVdcKUI_ZXlTvYRZSe3a-bBoC9woQAvD_BwE. The race takes place on Thanksgiving morning. It is a great way to support the Utah Food Bank. Our family has participated for many years.

I had to work today and then Gil and Brenda came over for dinner so I am doing a short post. I had planned to interview both of them and record the interviews but Gil, Sr., had been fishing with Gil Jr., at Herriman Pond all day and both were tired.

Gil told a story at dinner of dating a red headed girl who was already engaged and then later meeting her husband on a street in Philadelphia.

Gil St and Jr had a great day fishing and each caught 2 fish. We will eat them tomorrow. They enjoyed great weather especially for this time of year.

I put together a draft of a letter I hope to mail iut to my aunts and uncles this week. The letter asks them to write about Mom and Dad and then we will put it in Mom and Dad’s Storyworth book.

Short post today. I am off tomorrow and have a lot to do.