My Family History Journey

September 22, 2021

Frodo and Bilbo Baggins Birthday

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy are some of my favorite books. I have read them multiple times as well as watched the movies many times. I still cry when all the people bow to Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin at Aragorn’s coronation in The Return of The King.

I was able to spend some time today in my garden harvesting and watering. It is so satisfying to pick the green beans, cherry tomatoes, tomatillos (lots of those), okra, cantaloupe, and dig up a few potatoes.

I also spent some time working on getting my garden expansion area ready by digging a trench for the fence to go and putting in some bricks that will form the base the fence will rest on.

I pulled weeds in the backyard. We had few weeds because it had been so hot and dry until it rained last month and then, like magic, many green weeds appeared. Water is truly lifegiving even for weeds.

I am learning to be a soil scientist, at least an amateur one, by listening to Youtube videos, TED talks and participating in Kiss the Ground Advocate training. The more I learn about what constitutes healthy soil and how to make rich, organic, alive soil that grows multitudinous vegetables and fruits..the more humbled and awed I am by the creative intricacies of sunlight, dirt, water, rock, bacteria, protozoa, nematodes, etc. It is an extremely complex process that has been going basically under our very feet for thousands of years. Scientists are just barely starting to really figure it out.

Here is a link to the Kiss the Ground documentary trailer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3-V1j-zMZw

I got earthworms, Red Wrigglers, mailed from Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm in Pennsylvania, this summer. I am using them to eat my food waste and create worm castings which will help regenerate my garden soil. I also bought a composter from Amazon and the compost is almost ready to put into my garden expansion. Becoming a worm farmer and composter has been a very interesting and somewhat messy process. I am learning a lot and am excited to keep learning and growing in my understanding of how to utilize the amazing food waste that I used to just throw in the trash.

September 20, 2021

It was my day off..I am not sure what that really means. I did sit on the couch and read 3 April Conference talks which doesn’t happen on my working days.

I did some finance tasks and ordered a book for the LDS Earthstewardship book club. The book is The Earth Shall Appear as the Garden of Eden. It is a collection of essays from LDS authors on nature. I am excited to start reading it. I also read a story in the Orion magazine. Peter who runs the book club has a subscription to Orion and he brought the magazine’s out to me a couple of weeks ago. It has been very enjoyable to read the stories and poetry.

I spent quite a bit if time grading papers and working on things for BYU clinical. I didn’t finish but I made some headway. I wanted to get my lesson plan for Wednesday and Thursday classes ready but I will have to work on that in my free time tomorrow.

Gil and I went this evening to Home Depot and bought the wood/supplies needed for the shelving and work bench in my shed. I am excited to help Gil get the shelves put in place.

A very important thing I did today was to get names to take to the temple. I have a goal of going to the temple at least once a week. I am doing an endowment session on Thursday afternoon. I will do sealings next week. I love the technology behind the Take a Name Ordinance ready function on the LDS website. It allows me to see how each name that I take to the temple is related to me. I had no idea until I started using this function, that I have so many ancestors from the Alsace Lorraine area of France/Germany. I would to visit there someday and maybe meet some of my distant relatives. The connection is through the Lemmon line. Such an amazing blessing to be part of the gathering of Israel.

“Irrespective of age, we mourn for those loved and lost. Mourning is one of the deepest expressions of pure love…Morevoer, we can’t fully appreciate joyful reunions later without tearful separations now. The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life.”
President Russell M. Nelson

I read this quote in Sis. Aburto’s April 2021 conference talk and thought it was pretty profound. A great argument for focusing on love and joy at all times.

Fall colors near Montpelier, Idaho

September 19, 2021

Catching Up..a common theme in my life

Lunch at Garcia’s Restaurant in Idaho Falls, Idaho on September 14, my parents’ 58th Wedding Anniversary. Hiking Taggart Lake Trail in Grand Teton National Park on September 12. Caprese Salad from This Sandwich Place in Logan, utah

Making tinfoil dinners at our cabin at the Snake River RV and Cabins in Hoback Junction. Nicole and I had portobello mushroom in our tinfoil dinner rather than hamburger..delicious.

  • Our home sweet home
  • Jess and Samantha
Fall Family Vacation in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Gil and I participated as volunteers for Lotoja Bike Race on Wednesday, September 9 at registration packet pickup in Farmington, Utah. Friday we drove to Logan and helped with registration there until around 9 pm. We drove to Montpelier, Idaho and stayed at the Super 8 Motel. We got up at 5:30 and drove to Feed Station #2 in Strawberry Canyon about 20 miles west of Montpelier. We worked there handing out water bottles to riders at mile 54 of the 200 mile bike race. Then we drove to Hoback Junction and Snake River Cabins arriving before the girls made it there.

Gil at Lotoja Registration in Logan. Feed Station #2 Strawberry Canyon on Lotoja route. Fall colors near Montpelier, Idaho.

This week I had early morning clinical at Orem Rehabilitation on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Saturday I had my first clinical at University of Utah Medical Center. I will need to get some pictures from my students.

Today I worked for Intermountain and listened to Welby 1st Ward Sacrament meeting. I also listened to some great music by Matthew West. He wrote a song called “Do Something” that seems to express what I am trying to do with my life. (109) Matthew West – Do Something – YouTube

I am trying to read a conference talk a day in preparation for October General Conference. Krista, my sister, gave me this wonderful journal and I am learning so much as I read, ponder and record. I have missed a few days this month so I have some catching up to do.

Monday, September 6 Labor Day 2021

I worked today at my job as a Utilization Review nurse for Intermountain Healthcare.

I am very concerned about the number of people who are being admitted to the hospital who are very ill from Covid. Most if not all of them are NOT vaccinated.

My fellow nurses, certified nurse assistants, physicians, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, housekeepers, etc who are working at the bedside are tired and exhausted. I want to do something for them that really makes a difference.

Today is going to be short because I didn’t get up early enough to do my scripture study and my Family History. I have an appointment to do an endowment session in the morning at 6 am at the Jordan River Temple. I am excited to go to the temple.

Finally…

It is July 14, 2021. I started working on creating this blogsite in January 2021. I have gone a month and sometimes more at time without touching this. I finally decided on Sunday that I just need to launch this site and then use my study time in the mornings to work on this site.

I am not writing this really for anyone but my family, some friends, maybe some neighbors and colleagues who might be interested in my thoughts, activities and creativity.

I call this site My World Creating because I have learned, am learning, that I am truly a co-creator with the Lord. I am trying to create a Christlike home and life for myself, my wonderful husband, Gil, and our beautiful daughters and whomever else lives in our home. I am also trying to help family and in-laws and friends create healing and safe homes through my ministering efforts.

I chose today to launch because I was able to return to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for the first time in 18 months. I am so grateful to be back in the temple. I have already made my next appointment!!

I am excited to share the things I am learning from books, podcasts, Zoom presentations, personal experience, the scriptures and so many sources.

Right now I am reading the book, actually listening on Audible, to Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming. Fascinating read because it talks about multiple ways to help reduce the devastating effects of global warming. There are some of the things that are discussed that I can do: conserve water, plant a garden, eat a mostly plant-based diet, eat locally grown, seasonal foods, drive less to name a few.

I recently volunteered for a group called LDS Earth Stewardship. I help with the monthly Zoom meetings. Sister Sharon Eubanks of the General Relief Society Presidency spoke at this group’s Fall Forum in 2020. https://ldsearthstewardship.org/learn/news-events/2878-fall-forum-2020

Sister Eubank asked three question and one of them has really given me a jolt. Her questions:

  1. When we waste what others desperately need, what are the ramifications to our physical hearts and our unity?
  2. When we look at our own creations, or the creations that we’re a part of, how do we feel? How do we feel being in God’s creation and what is that experience like for us?
  3. How can we frame the discussion so that we stop having the same unsuccessful conversation between people who believe in protecting the earth and people who believe in protecting business?

My own garden this year has been such a source of comfort, peace, wonder, awe to me over the last 18 months. I just picked my first handful of green beans today! Here are pictures of other produce I have harvested in the last few months.

I am officially working from home now. Intermountain Healthcare has no plans to move Utilization Review back into the hospitals. I even found a standing desk at Costco that is helping me avoid sitting for long periods of time.

I was vaccinated for Covid-19 in January!!

I started using the app NOOM on March 31 for weight loss and so far I have lost 20 pounds!! I have more energy and my clothes fit much better. It is a wonderful journey I am on with NOOM and I so appreciate all that I am learning about food, emotions, eating, stress, thoughts, choices, etc. I personally think that everyone should use the app because it helps one learn how one thinks and makes decisions and learning those things is helping me become a much better person. A much more thoughtful, engaged, and present wife, mother, daughter, friend, employee, sister.

I didn’t launch this day. I started working on other things that I needed to do and never got back to this but it is good information.

Another beautiful flower picture taken by Gil, my husband

Finally, a beginning

I started working on developing a blog of my own January 2021 but I have just kept putting off launching it because it is not ready.

I am going to launch my blog and then my challenge will be to work on it daily. I plan to share my Family History efforts and my daily study findings because those are things I need to be doing everyday anyway.

I feel overwhelmed with the many wonderful opportunities I have in my life! I don’t know how to use the talents, abilities, experiences, resources and time the Lord has so freely given me. I want my efforts to equal more than just my efforts because I really don’t see how to do all the good I want to do and all the good the Lord needs me to do. “Where much is given, much is expected.” I have long felt that I am not performing at the level that is possible. As I have prayed and fasted about it, the Lord has helped me understand that I have to act in faith and not rely on reason or my own scheduling, time management ability. If I do the basics, daily prayer, scripture study, and an hour of Family History work, it will all fall into place in His timetable.

You might ask what is “all?”

“All” is a developing disciple of Jesus Christ who has a positive impact on my husband, children, family, in-laws, neighbors, friends, co workers, students, community and country and even world. “All” is family names researched and taken to the temple on a weekly basis. “All” is life stories recorded my own, my husband’s and children’s, my parents and in laws and friend Gerrie. “All” is helping others who are struggling find joy in doing Family History. “All” is having my garden be fruitful and persevering food from my garden and others. “All” is starting a non profit social business that helps others people find peace, healing, belonging and joy in doing gardening, their own family history and contributing to greater good. “All” is creating a healing home and welcoming those who need healing into my home. “All” is learning to live outside of my comfort zone. “All” is living a life of creation, beauty, love and healing.

So, I am starting today September 5, 2021! Launch day for My World Creating!

Beautiful flower taken by Gil, my husband

Introduction

My name is Shelly Watt Parkin and I am a resident of West Jordan, Utah. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am wife to Gil Parkin, Junior and mother to Jessica, Samantha, Cassandra, and Nicole. I am the oldest daughter of Max and Serena Watt. I have been a Registered Nurse for over 35 years. I am working on creating a world for myself, my family and my community that incorporates the best of my religion, my experiences, and the knowlege gleaned from many wonderful resources and the ideas of so many with similar concerns and goals.

Shelly at Colorado National Monument outside of Grand Junction, Colorado in October 2020.