No. 1, 2016

          Winter in Mink Creek means sleigh riding, playing in the white stuff, giggles and shouting. With plenty of outdoor space no one objects. The roar of snowmobile motors is a daily expectation. The scent of burning wood from home fireplaces fills the air. Anyone for a cup of hot chocolate while warming up after a cold few hours? No problem!

           Neighborhood gifts have been delivered and enjoyed. There was a cookie exchange here and there. The youth split up into nice sized vocal groups and toured the community singing Christmas carols.

           Julie and Jared Egley have had a visit from her father. Neil Lemon, from Colorado, was able to stay for several days, enjoying being a grandparent.

           Drew and Hilary Erickson and three children were home with his parents, Bob and Claudia Erickson, a few days prior to Christmas. It was a long drive from Tempe, AZ. Soaking up snow and activities that go with it made the trip worth it. The children learned that getting stuck in the snow or sliding down a slope is part of real winter.

         Keenan Janke, son of Jody and Laural Janke, arrived at his 12^th birthday. He was ordained to the office of a deacon in the Mink Creek LDS Ward this past week.

         Our community expresses appreciation to the county road and state highway crews for the hours they spend, even in the middle of the night, to make our moving about much easier. Those cleared roads make all the difference in greeting the day. Another thanks goes to our local farmers who rev up their tractors or trucks with snow blades to clear areas still clogged with snow.

         Patti and Forrest Christensen took a few days going to Florida to visit Patti's daughter, Sarah Hutchinson. She lives in Naples and they enjoyed the warmth, roaming the beach, gathering shells, riding bikes, in the balmy temperatures.

         Rural life is back to normal. The college set has returned to their various educational pursuits north or south of Mink Creek. The younger set are moaning about getting up early again to catch the school bus. Festive decorations and lights, both indoors and outside are back in storage. 

          Today warmed up enough to make our neighborhood ice rink  too soft for skating.  But it is nice to have some days away from the below zero temps.  Let the New Year, 2016 begin----not that there is any way we can stop it!