Winter solstice , 2022

 

The Relief Society Christmas Evening was one to set the holiday into action for those attending. The recreation hall of the Mink Creek LDS building was beautifully decorated with muted lighting. Rather than a dinner there were a variety of appetizers, prepared under the direction of Rebecca Jones, plus a tasty salad. Cecelie Costley shared inspiring thoughts of how to center our lives on Christ, year round, as we strive to be better disciples. About fifty women attended and enjoyed the beginning of this season. Wooden ornaments for our personal trees were take-homes of the evening, made to remind us of the Reason for the season.

“Coming home” is also part of this time of year. The Crosland household is large and needfully so. Recently four of the Crosland children gathered: Rico, a student at BYU/I; Armando, Celina, and Giovanni. Celina is now in Rexburg with her husband Jesse Groesbeck and their daughter Oakley. Gio brings his children and wife Kristine from Franklin where they are in the on-going process of building a home. Armando, drove from the Washington D.C. area and plans to be in this area for several months, working from afar and loving being home longer than usual.

George Rasmussen, former resident of Mink Creek, passed away recently and his funeral was held in Highland, UT, on Dec. 14. George and Judy moved to Nevada to be near the family of their daughter, Sarah and Gordon Thomas.

The Young Women organization of the Mink Creek Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a change in leadership positions. The new leaders are Claudine McKague, president, Casey Christensen, 1^st Counselor, Candy Longhurst, 2^nd Counselor and ReNae Egley, Secretary. Those who were released after several years of service are Jody Rasmussen, president, and her counselors, Lacey Christensen and Amy Baldwin.

Kerry and Lacey Christensen and their kids: Jyllian, Greenlee, Kassidy and Timber have spent a few days in warmer temperatures. They were attending the National Finals Rodeo in Reno, NV. This is a rodeo family and the girls have spent considerable time horseback over the last couple of years as they have competed successfully, in various rodeo royalty contests around the area.

The local deer residents are much in evidence. Visiting yards nightly, even checking out the pet feeding stations. They raided our gardens when there was growing food to be had, even to the pulling up of root crops like beets, carrots. A yard that is snow covered is now full of deer trails as they make their rounds. Sadly, they are also in evidence as they are hit by traffic passing through the night time hours.

December 6. 2022

 

The youth of the LDS ward went to the Ogden Rescue Mission in Ogden , UT, to provide service. This was organized by Young Women President Jody Rasmussen. The youth who participated were Emma and Kate Rasmussen, Jyllian and Greenlee Christensen, Emma Rydalach, Clara Jones, Josie Christensen, Hazen Baird, Conner Iverson, and Devlyn Currie. The group organized the pantry for the Mission and served dinner to their patrons. There were comments made by the teens in this situation that indicated a greater recognition of their own blessings. Adults who accompanied the youth were Jody Rasmussen, Amy Baldwin, ReNae Egley, Lacey Christensen and Bishop Paul McKay.

Winter seems to have blown in during the Thanksgiving weekend. Snow, ice, cold temperatures. The constant line of vehicles that have made their way into our canyons over the past couple of weeks will be pleased with having avoided the recent storms. Our forested slopes have a good start on their winter snow depth. We need the moisture and are grateful.

Jacob and Christy Cheney have a new baby. This little boy was little—five pound, 11 oz, born on November 21. He has two brothers and two sisters ready to welcome him into the family fold.

Reed Swann and his daughter Penny spent Thanksgiving with his son, Charles and Sarah Swann. Charlie’s family live in Donnelly, ID. The Swanns got a storm warning and made the decision to leave a little earlier than planned to come back to Mink Creek. As it was they were chased by the storm as they came. It was worth it to spend time with Charlie’s family.

It would be impossible to count the many Christmas trees that have been hauled out of our snowy canyons this year. The mountain sides are increasing in snow depth with every storm that passes through, but it doesn’t discourage the annual event for families finding their own special tree.

The fog has come rolling in this week, the winter weather wrapping us in that feeling of silence that seems to accompany the shroud. It had settled in our valley, obliterating the mountains, but as the day progressed, lifted to show them still with us. Fog is not a thing of comfort, we hope it doesn’t tarry too long.