August 25, 2015

          Spencer Wilde, son of Judy and David Wilde, reported on his mission in the LDS Ward. Spencer was assigned to serve in the South Dakota, Rapid City Mission when he began his two years of service. While there some new missions boundaries were formed and his area was included in the North Dakota, Bismarck Mission. A large group of family and friends were here to welcome him home. It has been four and a half years since the five members of the David Wilde family have been together. The three brothers, Aaron, Christopher and Spencer, have all served missions during that time, overlapping the time of entry and release.

            Leon and Katherine Noorda are finishing time in the Provo MTC , preparing to serve another humanitarian mission in Asian countries. This time they are going to Hanoi, Vietnam. Past mission experiences were in Indonesia and Thailand. They will be doing a Welfare Mission.

           Siblings and their families of Colleen Wilde gathered from near and far at the home of Warren and Colleen on Capitol Hill Rd. for a Lewis Family Reunion. Ann was unable to come but her sons represented her side. Bob and Renae Lewis came from Denver, CO. Benson and Julie Lewis live in Sandy, UT, Beth and Buddy Alford in Idaho Falls, Lynn and Steve Cherrington in Santaquin, UT. Lots of cousins attended, the group totaled fifty-five. One night the siblings met at the Bluebird Restaurant in Logan for dinner while the cousins chose Angie's Restaurant for their meal. Everyone enjoyed a hayride and lots of visiting, catching up on each other's lives.

           The County Fair has folded up. Participants have put away their ribbons and other rewards and can now start planning for what interests they might display next year. Even the livestock get a break, not more scrubbing baths, no more spiffing up to look perfect for the judges.

            The bicycling population is practicing on our Highway 36, getting ready for that Lotoja Race that takes place every fall, Logan to Jackson. This year it has been taken one step further with a highway sign down in Riverdale, lights flashing around the request. “Share the road with bicycles.”

I thought we already were.

             An extra blip on the above news about the Noordas heading to Vietnam. They started out fine and then ended up with a delay regarding their visas. They were marooned in California for a few days while things got straightened out. True to form, they found fun ways to fill the time, one was a Disneyland outing. The last message received was that they had arrived in Hanoi.

August 18, 2015

          The family of Shane and Sherrie Corbett have had some great down time down under. Their daughter Brooke flew to Australia in the middle of July. She participated in Downunder Basketball Camp. What a great opportunity! Her parents and brother Austin traveled down to share in the last few days of her visit. The sightseeing, the ocean, kangeroos, koala bears, and family fun were all part of a “once in a lifetime” experience for the Corbetts. A stop in Hawaii and Waikiki Beach was a bonus as they made their way back to Idaho and home.

            Claudine McKague, daughter of Bob and Claudia Erickson, made a spur of the moment decision to spend a few days here in Mink Creek, helping her parents get caught up on some summer chores. She lives in Vancouver, WA, and happened to be coming in this directions with a friend who needed to be in Utah for nearly a week.

           Mark and Karen Arnout hosted a little family reunion when all of their children got together at their place in Mink Creek. Lance and Tosha Arnout and their family came from Midway, UT. Kelly and Adam Jensen and their children live in Rockland, ID. Travis and Amber Arnout and their bunch drove up from Logan, UT. Dustie and Jessica Arnout are from Saratoga Springs, UT. Mark and Karen have been up in Montana at an art show in Whitefish, displaying the metal art they create in the family business. It is a long drive, but beautiful scenery.

           A Wheel Ride scheduled in the community was enjoyed, in spite of the inclement weather. Royce Christensen organized the event. The terrain was back country and the outfits for transportation were chosen accordingly. It was damp, a bit muddy, but still fun for those who participated.

            Our skies are smoke filled, hazy , blocking our usual view of our beautiful mountains. The smoke is traveling with the winds from the western part of Idaho, coming many miles, smudging the world around us. Thus far we have no fires near us as the season's drying takes place.

            With school days coming up fast our community is having less visitors. The home of Tracy and Michelle Gibbs was full to overflowing a couple of weeks ago.

           Lana Baird McCracken drove down to Orem, UT, to take part in a baby shower for her daughter, Maria Flake. This will be Maria and Devin Flake's first child so the excitement is high.

August 11, 2015

         Rodeo weekend and the high school class reunions are the reason for a number of visitors as August gets underway. Jacob and Ranette Free and their two children drove over from Pinedale, WY, to shelp with rodeo parade preparations at his dad's ranch. Richard and Vickie Free raise Paso de Fino horses and enjoy the parade ride.

         The five children of Freemon and Ada Jepsen all gathered together at their parents home, the first time they have all been able to make it for many years, Bruce Jepsen, Dan Jepsen. Marilyn Godfrey, JoAnn Auger and Glen Jepsen, plus all their spouses, had a great time reminiscing about their growing up years on the farm. Although the siblings are now scattered they have kept an interest in their parents home,

        Karen and Layne Erickson enjoyed a visit from their yongest daughter, Connie and her husband Adam Westenskow. Connie and Adam live in Logan

          Three young adult of our community are making marriage plans for this fall. Tiffany Longhurst, daughter of Sheldon and Candy, has an August date with Spencer Wheeler of Parma, ID. Alexis Iverson, daughter of Kurt and Margret Iverson, and Scott Strong of Spanish Fork, UT, will wed in September. Cody McKay, son of Paul a d Terrie McKay, has also chosen September for a wedding date with Kevyn Bruce of Globe, AZ.

        Two young men with recent birthdays were ordained to the office of priest in the LDS Ward. Ben Seamons is the son of Jeff and Jennifer Seamons, Andy McKay, the son of of Paul and Terrie McKay.

         Terry and Hayes Carr and family came up from Utah to visit with her parents, Mary Jean and Larry Rasmussen. Carrie and Ken Melton and their two boys are visiting her parents, Lorraine and Royce Christensen The Melton family lives in Indiana.

        We are having a day here and there where it is feeling like Fall is on its way. It seems a bit early but then this whole year has been on a tipped schedule. Due to frequent rainstorms the countryside still looks fairly green, as though the dryness of harvest is being held at bay.

          Last week sent a couple of storms that had our streets serving as swift waterways as the heavy rain made its way down to the creeks, flowing to the mouth of Mink Creek where it empties into Bear River. There was thunder and lightening popping about, but no reports of damage as a result.

August 4, 2015

             There has been some Christensen Family Reunions around here. That surname covers a large group connected with this community, sufficient to have smaller batches getting together. I know of one taking place in Preston, another out our way.

            Eldon and Danita Wilcox were able to gather all of their children and families together for some summer fun. Three of them live in Utah: Elise and Jeff Hardy in North Ogden, Brittany and Matt Durrant in Salt Lake City, Ami and Tom Fenton in Tooele. Lesli and David Evans live in Savannah, TX. The rest are in Idaho: MaKenzie and Tyson Gunter in Pocatello, Brigham and Jennifer Wilcox in Idaho Falls, Jesse and Annavelyn Wilcox here in Mink Creek.

           Jesse Wilcox was sustained in the LDS Ward as the ward clerk this past week. He replaces Nelson Coleman who is moving to Thatcher.

          Wynn and Cecelie Costley have had several weeks of grandparent fun. Hannah and Spencer Singleton brought their children for a lengthy summer stay. Their home is in Arkansas. Hannah's siblings thay live a bit closer to Mink Creek brought their families up and there was some great cousin hours enjoyed

           The Young Women held their summer camp near Rexburg, ID. Thirteen girls participated with five leaders: Laurel Wilde, Candy Longhurst, Tiffany Longhurst, Terrie McKay and Melinda Jepsen.

Activities included a long hike, a rope course, a trip to the Rexburg LDS Temple, and water fun at Camp Takedown.

          Melissa Colvin and her children have been staying for a few weeks with her folks, Joann and Drew Ford. The Colvin family is in the middle of a move from their home in Nebraska with a job change that will take them to Iowa. This makes for an even greater distance when it comes to family visits.

           Summer apples are falling from the tree branches. If the tree happens to be domesticated, and the apples are sliced with the lawn mower, bees and wasps gather for a sweet feast. It behooves a person to keep that in mind when traipsing through the grass. A sweet sting still hurts!

          The Famous Preston Night Rodeo weekend brought home lots of people and their friends. More details will follow in next week's blog.

            Franklin County Fair commences next week. Day One is Aug 10^th and children and parents are finishing up those last bits and pieces of projects to enter. 4H leaders have their hands full, especially if they are both leader and parent. It is scramble time!