January 28, 2014

Traveling in the early hours of the day, when the sun is at just the right angle, makes the snow covered fields sparkle in the cold air.   It is as though the Master Sower had broadcast the land with diamonds for the enjoyment of the earth’s inhabitants. 

There has to be something good about this cold weather.   One of our residents was watering his skating pond the other night, putting on layers to freeze into a nice smooth surface just waiting for fun.

The family of Mark an Karen Arnout were gathered in force:  Lance and Tosha Arnout with daughters Remi, Ashlyn and son Trey of Midway, UT.  Kelly and Adam Jensen with Sydney, Riley, Emma, Michael and David from Rockland, ID. Travis and Amber Arnout and children Maci, Krissy, and Brayden from Heber City, UT.   And, from Dallas, TX, Dustin Arnout and a girlfriend, Jessica Rogers.

Tamra Taylor and her two youngest girls were up from Woods Cross, UT.  Tamra is the daughter of Lana Baird McCracken.  Lana and her husband, Ivan, enjoy having some grandparent days with this family.

We are happy to announce the graduation of Katiana Baird from Preston High School.  This event took place at the end of this last semester, the beginning of January, 2014.  Katiana, daughter of LaRon and Liesa Baird, is still doing lots of learning, some at home with her mother, others at the LDS Institute classes held in the Preston Seminary building.  Her smile adds much to this village.

Jeff and Camille Knutson enjoyed a weekend visit from their son Tony and his wife, Camille Knutson and their three children, Simon, Porter and Lucy.  The family lives in Stansbury Park, UT, and enjoyed having sleigh riding not far from the Knutson home.

Mink Creek has quite a big group of young people involved in ballroom dancing this year.  Three guys dance with the Preston High School teams:  James Baird, Ty Breadall, and Travis Greene.  Strictly Ballroom teaches eleven teens:  Angelo and Celina Crosland, Jacobi Johnson, Haylee Hatch, Nicole Beardall, River McKay, Shelby Larsen, Johnny Iverson, Andy McKay, and Clair and Clay Jepsen.  They all look so graceful and upbeat it the performances.

            We are concerned about lack of moisture we are receiving this winter, and rightfully so.  However, I have just returned from a visit to southern Oregon/northern California, and they are in a time of drought.  Their need for some wet weather is greater than ours by far.  People in this part of the nation who are happy with a mild winter don’t realize how important those winter storms are to our well being.

            Our southern slopes are bare of snow; the northern slopes still retain a little. The temperatures are still plenty cold, too cold for a good snow storm.  So far we have had very few gloomy, bad air days, one of the perks of living a bit above the lower part of Cache Valley.

            The Mink Creek LDS Ward has been involved with one of the Heritage Homes branches for the month of January.  Members have taken Sunday meetings, Family Home Evenings, Relief Society and even some Mutual activities to those residents.  One of the latter was a take off from the TV show Family Feud that they called Ward Feud.  They had taken a survey of answers to specific questions of the entire Mink Creek Ward.  Sounded like fun.