Boxing Day, 2012

Snow, beautiful snow, we have been receiving.  It has been the wet and soggy type lately.  When the temperature drops it gets solid.  We do express appreciation to the Franklin County road crew and the same for the Idaho state crews for keeping our roads open.

            Doug Bruderer is home for a few days.  He works in the oil fields in North Dakota and his days here in Mink Creek with his wife Beverly and their family are just not often enough.  I’ll bet this feels like spring, compared to the winter in the Dakotas.

The Community Christmas Party  was this past week and turned out to be a great night.  Everyone met in the recreation hall, sitting at tables festooned with old fashioned lamps, ornaments, pine cones and curling ribbons, courtesy of the Relief Society women.  To start the evening off the Young Women sang a vocal selection “Sing a Glad Noel,” accompanied by Laural Janke.  The serving table was filled with Dutch-oven potatoes, ham, chicken, steamed vegetables, tossed salad, rolls with a variety of cookies and cakes for dessert.  Various families provided the meats and desserts and the Elders’ Quorum were put together the potatoes and vegetables.

  After all tummies were filled to overflowing a Cecelie Costley inspired program began.  Jody and Laural Janke played a trumpet duet to introduce a production that involved both Santa and the Nativity.  Garland Dixie Rasmussen were Santa and his wife, the LDS Bishopric (Kent Egley, Kurt Iverson, Wally Christensen) were costumed as his zany elves.  Music for the skit varied.  A vocal solo by Emily Longhurst.  A quartette: Terrie McKay, Candy Longhurst, Austin Jones and Eldon Wilcox.  The Mink Creek choir sang Joy to the World and Silent Night while the skit finished up with the traditional Nativity scene modeled by Kerry and Lacey Christensen and their new baby Cassidy. The night came to an end with a sing-a-long directed by Cecelie, accompanied by the trumpeters.

                    Jacob and Renette Free and son have been down for a visit with his folks, Richard and Vickie Free.  The temperature here is a bit warmer than where they live near Rexburg, ID.

Nate and Dana Olson have been enjoying  a visit of several days from some  former California friends. Darryl and Carol  are no longer in California and now live in Heber City, UT.  The foursome have managed to keep the close friendship since they both relocated.

Christmas Day in Mink Creek was beautiful.  Blue skies, sun,  crispy cold, a perfect day for sledding after the early morning traditions of the holiday had been observed.  There were families looking forward to a phone call from their missionaries, depending on areas of service, some were calling on Chrismas Eve.   This was a highlight of the holiday for those involved. We have two families that would be getting two calls, with two sons each on foreign missions.

Enjoy your New Year celebrations, keep it safe and happy.