December, 2012, already

The local turkeys seem to have enjoyed their holiday.  Large groups gather in harvested fields, gobbling up grain that spilled from combine and trucks.  They are so busy feasting that they appear more like a group of black rocks, until one raises a head, or the whole bunch starts to move to a more abundant feeding spot.

Jamison Daines came up from BYU/Provo to spend the holiday with his grandparents, Dennis and Judy Clark.  A recently returned missionary who served in the North Ogden Mission, he felt a sense of being back in his field of labor.  Dennis and Judy enjoyed a big group of family members at their home.

Glen and Betty Jo Jepsen hosted the feast for three of their children.  Kyle Jepsen flew from Dallas, TX.  Jana and Matt Musgrave and children drove from Ogden.  Kerry Jepsen’s family joined in the festivities but Kerry was absent, out of town for medical stuff.

Mark and Karen Arnout had a houseful.  Travis and Amber Arnout and their three, Brayden, Maci and KrissyLynn, from Heber City, UT;  Lance and Tosha Arnout with theirs, Remi, Ashtyn and Trey of Midway, UT, plus Tosha’s sister’s family, Aaron and Brook Lower of Draper, UT.  All these kept things lively for a few days.

The Haws home was busy for the holidays.  Ken and Loren Nash and children came up from Solvang, CA, to put a little Idaho time in their lives.

Morgan McKay, daughter of Paul and Terrie, has been chosen to represent our community on the Preston North Stake Youth Council.   Tawni Hall, daughter of Brett and Kristi Hall, has turned sixteen and will now be part of the Laurel class in Young Women organization.

            People have inquired about snow in our mountains.  As of this writing there is snow up on top of our highest peaks, but generally things are back to being brown.  I haven’t driven Strawberry Canyon, over to Bear Lake, so can’t comment for that direction.  We have been getting some rain, things are muddied up a bit, but so far only enough snow to blow away with the slightest wind.

Mink Creek’s matriarch, Naomi Wilde, has made the trip to her winter destination down south.  She will be missed and we hope she is following doctor’s guidelines while recovering from knee surgery.  This woman is hard to keep restricted!  The warmth of St. George will be good for her.

            Katherine and Leon Noorda, now serving a humanitarian mission in Thailand, have been involved in delivering wheelchairs to disabled persons.   Recently they were participating in a training session given to potential recipients and their caregivers.  Operating a chair may appear easy, but certain abilities are necessary.  The Noordas were also able to spend some time at Thailand’s Elephant Roundup in Surin.  They mentioned that some parts of this event reminded them of parades, etc. of our Preston Night Rodeo, just the activities, not the size of the participants.