December 10, 2025

 

Two babies, cousins, girls, were blessed and named in the same Sabbath meeting of the Mink Creek LDS Ward. The girls were so beautiful in their white blessing dresses. They were born about a month apart. The first was Ida Nielson, infant of Corey and Savannah Nielson. The second was Jackie Salem Jackson, daughter of Justin and Kaytlin Jackson. Both girls have siblings to welcome them and they share the grandparents of Per and Cassie Danfors and the rest of the Danfors family. Other family members were there to witness this special event.

Thanksgiving is a time for gathering for food, fun and reflections on the many blessings we have. Some residents traveled away, other invited and shared the magic of Mink Creek. Robert and Phee Crosland and other family members drove to the home of their daughter Malia and Jason Kunde in Rigby. Claudine and LaMar hosted an Erickson Thanksgiving with siblings and expanded branches spending several nights: Carla and Mark Nielsen of American Fork, UT, Kristin and Jay Collins of Mink Creek with three of their children, a brother of LaMar's, plus a friend, add Bob and Claudia Erickson, equals a houseful. Another Erickson family, that of Karen and Layne Erickson gathered in Station Creek at Paul and Terrie McKay' home.

End of fall and the holiday brought a Haws group together. Kasey and Julia Haws of Mink Creek, Ken and Lauren Nash and family of Glendale, ID, and California, plus Adam and Camene Haws and family of Sol Vang, CA.

Doug and Kathey Wilcox were up from Utah to their new Mink Creek home that is still full of newness from the days of construction. Julie Workman kept a couple of her grandchildren for an extended stay.

Eldon and Danita Wilcox were able to be up for a mission break. Jesse and Annavelynn Wilcox and son Desmond added to the family festivities. Brad and RaOne Stuart, Danita's sister, journeyed from Utah.

Although the canyon drivers are reporting snow and ice, generally speaking we don't have much staying snow. It continues to surprise us. Mink Creek residents plan on winters with snow. Those in the process of home construction are pushing to make the leak-proof.

December 3, 2025

 Already December?  With the warmth of this fall and no staying snow in our village, only on the mountains the change to December is almost a surprise that greeted as we turned the calendar at the end of the November.

There are some residents still managing to get in some hiking time before the weather makes it nearly impossible. Candy Longhurst and Jamie Stevens report on beautiful crisp mornings, sometimes mingled with wisps of fog, but still worth the effort and uplift of spirit.

Wynn and Cecelie Costley are home after a trip to Brazil. Cecelie had lived in Brazil as an exchange student during her teen years and she wanted to reconnect with her host family. She reported that it was so good to do, the mother of the family had passed away, but the siblings recalled the days with gladness.

The teachers and other workers of the Primary organization were honored with a Primary appreciation dinner recently. The place was the multi-purpose area of the Latter-day Saint meetinghouse. The food was prepared and served by the ward Bishopric members and their wives. There are challenges for those who fill callings with the primary age group that often get overlooked and this was a small way to express thanks..

Christmas thoughts came early for the women of the Relief Society. They gathered to share some ideas on keeping Christ as the important theme of our holiday. Some shared traditions from their past experiences, some ideas were new and original. There were displays of various Nativities, others of Christmas music, holiday themed quilts and personal traditions. The group had a selection of suitable appetizers that might be included in family gatherings, without taking days of preparation and allowing more time for being together with family and friends. Each lady that attended was given a quantity of baking clay with directions to sculpt their own personal nativity, bake it and enjoy the season.