Dec 18, 2013

Much of the family of Lana Baird joined with her and husband Ivan McCracken for the last holiday.  Nathan Baird and LaRon and Liesa Baird and family live close by. Tamra and Jason Taylor and their children came up from Woods Cross, UT.  Owen Baird now calls Bountiful , UT, home. Daniel and Heather Baird and family are in Sugar City, ID, and Maria and Devin Flake in Orem, UT.

The Relief Society held their Christmas program entitled “My Gift” on Dec 5.  The evening was centered on keeping Christ in our Christmas celebrations.  Three of the women gave presentations.  Karen Erickson read The Parable of the Shopper, authored by our own Cecelie Costley a few years ago.  Judy Rasmussen’s story combined Easter thoughts with those of Christmas.  Laurel Wilde, told about her nephew, Matt Carter, a Navy Seal, and the sacrifices he made for family and country, particularly his final one.  A local women’s vocal group, The Mountaires, sang a lovely Christmas carol.  The program was followed by a tasting table of small sandwiches, a veggie plate, crackers and a cheese ball, and a cup of wassail.  Each woman who attended brought one holiday treat to share, so that each one could take home a plate of yummy goodies.

Sallee Keller, wife of Vernon Keller, passed away unexpectedly.  Her funeral was Dec 14 at the Mink Creek church.  She had a fun loving personality and she will be sorely missed.   Even after a knee surgery she has had difficulty walking much in the last few years.

One member or another of thee Haws family are still making regular visits.  Peter  and  Loren and their spouses were up from California  for a few days.  I am sure there was a big difference in the temperatures from southern California.

            Cecelie and Wynn Costley are currently teaching English at a college in China.  She reports that their home is close to the ocean.  The winds help in times of weather inversion.  Cache Valley is dealing with inversion right now.  As of today Mink Creek community was above the hazy air, but just dropping down into Riverdale as we drive south puts one into the murkiness.  It isn’t so cold, but just seeing the cloudy air gives one pause to think about the condition of healthy breathing.

            Garland Rasmussen had surgery on a shoulder and seems to be recuperating nicely.  It is one of things that waits until the farmer is done with his fall work before proceeding.

Heidi and Brendan Brown were here visiting with her parents, Richard and Vickie Free.