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.