December 29, 2020

 

The Mink Creek community gathered for its annual celebration of Christmas season. This year things were a bit different, as has been all things since March 2020. Keeping in mind the limitations, the social distancing and the wearing of masks, the program was televised into three rooms at the LDS Meetinghouse. It was a showing of videos centered on the birth and life of Christ, with narration by Michael Jepsen and the prompting to follow Him, to Hear Him, to try to do as He does. Following the program the group adjourned to the rec hall for a reading of an original Christmas story written and read by Marty Mickelson, a friend from Lewiston, UT. The book was large on a screen and all ages could enjoy the story telling of a moose family who helped out at Christmas time. Social distancing could be practiced, but it was great to see one another. A treat of cheesecake all packaged prettily and a cup of hot spiced cider were ready to be taken home as the evening closed down. The Relief Society presidency was there to pass out a gift of a hand towel and poem to each sister, attached to it a metal ornament of Christ’s story.

Jimmie and Anna Beth Olson traveled to Richfield, UT, this month for a chance to watch twin granddaughters, play in a volleyball game. Their parents are Jerry and Christine Olson of St. George and Jimmie and Anna Beth took advantage of the game in Richfield as being the closest they would get to Preston in their games this year.

Neil Lemon, Juli Egley’s father, is with us for these winter months. It gives a warm feeling to the whole community to see the lights on in the Bryce Egley home where he is staying, within a stone’s throw of Juli and Jared Egley’s home.

The Christmas Star was very visible from our valley. The lack of street lights simply added to the beauty of it. The local coyotes have been pretty vocal lately, can’t help but wonder if these critters noticed this phenomenon.

Along with the coyotes we have the owl conversations during the moonlight hours. I love going out in the dark to hear their talking. Somehow it carries so clearly in cold crisp temperatures.

The turning over of the calendar in just a couple of days will reveal 2021. After the last nine months of uncertainty and restrictions it causes some questions as to what the next 12 will bring into our lives. Change is always a part of life and we can be hopeful there will be some good changes during this time. “Old acquaintances should not be forgot, and Happy New Year.”

Christmas week, 2020

 

Three storms have moved in during the past week, depositing several inches. Every piece of land in our village is on a slope so it is a bit of a challenge to claim we have so many inches. It might be 4 inches on our lower levels and twice that or more as one gets closer to the entrance of Strawberry Canyon. We are happy to have it, the fall has been super dry. The snowmobiling crowd can hardly wait to visit and play.

With the recent storms that effectively cover portions of the highway surfaces we are grateful for those road crews who painted the center and fog lines of the state/county roadways. Those yellow lines help keep us safe if everyone would heed their meaning. The lines makes staying where one belongs a little easier as we maneuver the slush and possible ice. So far only a little fog, but it will increase in the future.

The Young Women of our community have accomplished another service project. This time they made homemade soup and delivered soup baskets , plus some suitable additions, to the adults who are widows, widowers, or single and on their own.

Charles Iverson, son of Dr. Kurt and Margret Iverson, and a junior at Preston High, earned special recognition for his football talents in being named to the 4A District All conference team, the First Team offense. Congratulations, Charles, on a job well done.

This feat has seemed like an impossibility but it has finally happened. Members of the Mink Creek ward Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been able to participate in ZOOM meetings. Our hills and mountains have caused various barriers to this type of activity, but recently there has been at least three of such gatherings that were proclaimed “successful.” Almost beyond imagination, but true!

I hope you all had skies clear enough to see the "Christmas Star." From the valley of Mink Creek it was beautiful and the night was perfect for this once-in-a-lifetime event, clear and cold.  The planets were visible when the sun went down leaving a lovely streaked blue color on the horizon reaching up to the darkening sky and the 'star'. A wonderful time of this strange year for this to happen.  I consider it an extra gift for the 2020 season.  A positive memory.  Merry Christmas, everyone.

December 15, 2020

 

Ken and Lauren Nash were up from their home in Santa Ynez, CA. Hoping for a taste of winter, it is still a nice time of year to be in Idaho at the Haws family dwelling, soaking up the peaceful sound of Mink Creek as it flows in the back yard.

Ron and Mary Norris spent the recent holidays in Bluffdale, UT, with their daughter, some grandchildren and several more happy faces around that table of feasting.

Laural and Jody Janke and children spent a fall vacation of four days in Mink Creek with her parents, Bob and Claudia Erickson. Coming up from Richfield, UT, they were hoping we might have some snow, but still found plenty of entertainment. One goal achieved was that of harvesting their annual Christmas tree and getting it back to Utah with the evergreen needles still attached. Abigail Janke, their daughter, was just finishing the at-home MTC training and left the next week to begin her service in the Washington, Everett, Mission.

The family of Bishop Paul and Terrie McKay gathered at their home on Station Creek for the holiday. Andy McKay and Morgan and Eli Curtis came up from Logan. Only Cody and Kevyn Mckay who now live in the southwest were missing. Terrie’s parents, Karen and Layne Erickson shared in the bounty of the day.

Chad and Dawnell Greene are missing a son due to long distance. Travis Greene has moved to Florida. Two of the Greene sons, Josh and Robbie, and their families live here in Mink Creek, Heston’s family is in Preston and Izac is in Cache Valley. Only daughter Hannah now fills the Greene nest.

Tracy and Joni Hilliard-Crane came up from Vernal, UT, to do some visiting within the area. They headquartered in Grace, ID, but as Mink Creek is Tracy’s family’s roots there were several stops here. Memories and the Crane and Keller cemetery plots make this a comfortable place for these two. Seeing Tracy it was like having his father, Keith Crane, back in town.

 Depending on your perspective, our weather has improved. Since the last post of the blog two storms have moved through on their way east. The first dropped an inch or two of snow, enough to warrant shoveling the walkway. The second brought in about 4 inches more. When the fall season has been as dry as this past one has been every bit of moisture is welcomed. I had a reader comment that I often write about the weather. I am a farmer’s wife and weather with its ups and downs has always played a very important role in our lives. In this village we pay attention to the weather, 24/7, year round.   

December 8, 2020

 

We were grateful that the last power outage was of a relatively short duration. It served as a reminder to keep our alternate lighting systems handy because there is no warning for the unplanned situations.

A new grand child has arrived for family of Phee and Robert Crosland. Marco and Christina Crosland have a new little girl down there in Texas. She is named Arienna Rae Crosland, weighed 8 lb. 8 oz, and was 21 inches in height. They live in Pilot Point, north of Dallas.

Juliana and Blaine Packer and their children Cedar, Kimber and Casen have been home for a visit with her parents, LaRon and Liesa Baird. They were able to see her brother Dallon in the high school musical. Juliana, who lives in Jackson, ID, came to join her grandmother, Lana McCracken, in watching over her siblings while mom Liesa was able to go on a sisters’ retreat in Park City, UT. Liesa’s sisters and sisters-in-law, joined efforts to create a wedding dress for one of their daughters while having fun just being together. Some came from a considerable distance: Germany, Louisiana, and Oregon.

Some of the Young Women of the community took one of their Saturdays and ventured forth into our nearby forests in the quest for Christmas trees for several residents of our village. The girls were Jyllian Christensen and Emma Rasmussen, assisted by their leaders, YW President Jody Rasmussen, her husband Brett, and ReNae Egley.

Jim and Debbie Harrison left the warmer days of St George, UT, for a cool weekend in Mink Creek at their home here. It is always good to batten down the hatches in preparation for this season’s change.

Ben and Molly Collins Seamons were able to participate in their temple sealing at the Logan Temple. They were married last spring in North Carolina, Molly’s home state. Ben is the son of Jeff and Jennifer Seamons. The following evening family and friends celebrated this event with a “meet and greet” time at the Mink Creek church house. Ben and Molly have spent their summer month in the northwest with summer employment..

We are still dealing with an occasional case of the COVID-19 among our residents. Ivan McCracken got past his quarantine time, but continued having to deal with some after effects for several more weeks. It is good to see him out and about a bit more.

The holiday spirit is spreading with lighted decorations seen in the darkness as one drives through the village. Even with only snow in patches here and there, the time of year helps that isolation in this year of craziness.

December1, 2020, Already!

 

Stetson Ostler was injured in the last Preston High School football game with a complete ACL tear and a complex tear of medial meniscus. He is the son of Stuart and Alona Olstler. Another senior from Mink Creek, Emily Longhurst has had similar injuries playing volleyball for Preston High. Her parents are Candy and the late Sheldon Longhurst. Both Emily and Stetson have had surgery to repair these wounds recently. It is amazing that they have been able to even be walking in these last few weeks, with smiles through the pain.

During the month of November there have been two ordinations in the Aaronic Priesthood of the Mink Creek Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. First was Morgan Keller, the son of Jared and Hollie Keller, to the office of a deacon. Later Challis Jensen, son of Kalee and Russell Bair and the late Shawn Jensen, was ordained to the office of a priest.

Bryce Egley ended the 2020 bike racing season in St. George at Green Valley. He had a win in the Varsity class and the season overall win. He was awarded a very nice beer stein for all of his hard work. Bryce’s dad, Jared, did some racing too and “survived well.” They are looking forward to season 2021.

The road sides of Highway 34 have been the object of a cleanup program. There have been the customary orange bags all up Riverdale Hill and beyond perched on the side of the highway, awaiting pickup by those authorized in this activity.

“Over the River and through the woods” is an annual tradition for many families during the days before and after Thanksgiving. The River is the Bear River at the mouth of Mink Creek. The woods are those that fill the various canyons of the Caribou National Forest that is on the eastern border of the village of Mink Creek. They come to find the tree to grace their homes during the Christmas season and they are successful in their quest.

Have you already turned your calendar over to this last month of 2020? I did, and couldn’t help wondering what unexpected thing might happen before 2021 comes rushing in. It is nearly impossible to not wonder and pretend than life is going along at what we consider normal---because it isn’t.

During the month of November the Family Search site showed me that I have quite a few Puritan ancestors that came over on the Mayflower and quite a few of them died that first horrible winter. If any of your genealogical lines go back to 1620 in the New World we very likely are related. I am ok with that. Merry December as you get ready for your Christmas and being thankful for His birthday.