August 12,2014

       We were visited with a deluge of rain, thunder and lightning. It lasted for quite some time and gave growing crops a good pounding as well as a very long drink of water. One thing about the terrain of our community, most of the water runs down to the bottom of our valley. This storm left marked trails on the dirt roads where the waters descended. As far as I know there were no flooded basements in our homes.

       Two babies were blessed and named in the LDS Mink Creek Ward. Tiny Quinton Keller Jones traveled here all the way from Michigan with his parents, Chelsea and Stephen Jones. Chelsea is the daughter of Glade and Corinne Larsen. Jacob and RaNette Free drove over from Pinedale, WY, to name their new little girl, Zennedy Nayvi Free. Jacob and RaNette just relocated to Pinedale with a new job. He is the son of Richard and Vicki Free.

       The Varsity High Adventure for eight scouts was hiking and camping in Grand Teton National Park. The leaders were Paul McKay, Marco Crosland, Kerry Jepsen and Eldon Wilcox. They hiked to the Lower Saddle in the middle of the Tetons. They hiked four miles with full packs, had a beautiful campsite and got to play in the snow still tucked away about the camp. Those mountains have lots of depth and it was hard, but fun, with many learning experiences along the way. One of those was being able to look to the east, as the sun was going down and see the shadows of those huge mountains in front of you. One member of the troop, Chris Wilkerson, had his 16^th birthday during the trip and everyone celebrated with him. Chris was later ordained a priest in the LDS Ward.

        Wally and Kim Christensen have spent some of our hot July days in Canada. Wally was attending professional meetings as an optometrist. Kim got in her share of shopping and relaxing.

        Chokecherries and summer apples are ready for picking now. There seems to be chokecherries in abundance this year, both domestic and wild. The limbs of trees near our farm are touching the ground they are so heavy with the black clusters of berries. If they are on your summer wish list now is the time.

         This may be my last minkcreek blog for two or three weeks. I am heading down to Utah with some medical problems and I am thinking it will be 2-3 weeks before I am ready to blog. Just thought I had best give you a heads up so you weren't wondering what had become of me.

August 5, 2014

       Cecelie Costley is once again amongst us, after a year's work of teaching English in China. Family members were here to welcome her home. Landon and Amy Costley came up from the Salt Lake City area. Hannah and Spencer Singleton and their boys are having a summer break from the Arkansas humidity and heat. Wynn and Cecelie spoke in the LDS Ward about their Chinese experiences. Kate and Eric Drake and their family were here and then the whole family of seven siblings and children gathered at the Drake home in Plain City, UT, to celebrate Cecelie's birthday.

       It is certainly reunion time in Mink Creek. The family of Ada and Freeman Jepsen held a Brother/Sister Reunion. Three came to the home farm: Dan and Jean Jepsen of Bountiful,and JoAnn and Kevin Auger of Woodland Hills, UT, plus families ended up with 51 family members joining Glen and Betty Jo Jepsen and family for a fun time.

       The Allen/Pearl Christensen family gathered, totaling 96 in attendance. The reunion was hosted at Clare's  newly erected shop and they enjoyed a dinner, with breakfast and lunch the following day. Clare loves to cook! Family activities kept the group going over the two days. Clare and Linda Christensen live in Mink Creek, and children were Devin and Shaundeen Christensen and 5 children of Layton, UT, Tiffany and Lee Kinder with 3 children in Smithfield, UT and William and Janna Wolfley with 5 children of Preston. Another son, Royce and Lorraine Chrstensen, also of Mink Creek, had Colleen Carter and daughters of Preston, and Kevin Christensen and 3 children of Phoenix, AZ. Son, DeVirile and Elizabeth Christensen came over from Dayton. Jeanette Christesen, Donald's widow, and his daughter, Dawna and Jason Hall are all in Preston. Two daughters of the family,Verneal Lowry brought 3 of her children from Tooele, UT. And Clare's twin, Clarice and  husband, Jim Feichko, came from Farmington, UT.

      Katrina Noorda Hunter and her children have been here the biggest part of the past month. Her growing up summers were spent in Mink Creek and it is a habit she does not want to break. Katrina lives in Las Vegas and was visiting her parents, Katherine and Leon Noorda, part-time Mink Creek residents.

       George and Judy Rasmussen have moved from their home up Bear Creek. They have taken up residence in Utah, around Highland and Lehi, to be closer to their children.

       Laural and Jody Janke and their troop of six children took a four-day camping adventure to Yellowstone Park. Seen again, through the eyes of children this park takes on almost magical qualities with its geysers, pools, and other thermal action, beautiful scenery, animals, and tourists of various languages from all over the world.