All posts by Guests and Former Contributors

Faith

Are You an Insider or Outsider?

https://www.aeisenschmidt.com/cts THE OUTSIDERS

I was in junior high standing a few feet from a group of guys wearing their football letter-jackets. Some were seniors in my high school and a few were recent graduates (or least I think they graduated). They were cracking jokes, talking with bluster, and demonstrating proficiency with cussing. Several had a sizable amount of chewing tobacco cuffed in their jaw.

The biggest fella in the group launched into a story that I only wish I could forget:

     “The other night we was all up on main street shootin’ the *!@ when we saw `em drive by. They was three of ‘em. So I said, ‘What the h*!! do they think they’re doin’.’ They drove up and down the main drag a couple of time and then they pull up and start talkin’ to (he names the girls). Then they had the nerve to get outta their car. Can you believe that? Them three soldier boys from Ft. Sill thought they could ride into town with their skint-head haircuts and talk to our girls!

     So we walked on over there and kinda circled around ‘em and asked just what they thought they was doing. This one little doggie (“affectionate” local name for army privates stationed at Ft. Sill Army Base) says they don’t want no trouble and that they was just wantin’ to meet some people. What a load of bull @*#! ! They was trying to get ‘em a gal. 

     Right then old Jack stepped in and spit a  chaw of tobacco right in his face, he said, ‘Ya’ll better get the h*!! outta town and take yer sorry doggie butts back down to Lawton while you still can.’ By then there was about ten of us and we had ‘em surrounded.” Continue reading Are You an Insider or Outsider? →

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: Pipeline Crossroads of America

Well believe it or not, the nation’s and perhaps even the world’s, busiest pipeline region is right here in Oklahoma.

The Cushing and Drumright area are all about pipelines and thanks to Central Tech in Drumright the industry is finally able to meet the growing demand for highly trained technicians in the field.

There has long been a need for technicians with safety training under their belts and Central Tech’s Pipeline and Safety Training classes are meeting those needs. In this week’s video blog we travel to Drumright where all the action is taking place.

enter site ~Courtenay DeHoff

Woman2Woman

10 Tips for the Calorie-Conscious and Culinarily Inclined

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If you ask ten people about their New Year’s resolutions, at least half of them will disclose a new or renewed effort to lose weight. If you wait three months and ask those same people how they’re doing, you’ll discover most will have abandoned their weight-loss plan. Some will have tried in earnest, while others gave the plan a good deal of lip service but did very little to actually inspire change in their lives. For those considering more permanent solutions, many are now looking for a plastic surgeon in Lafayette to help them achieve their body goals. With the right guidance and support, individuals can find the confidence to make lasting changes and embrace their desired transformations.

Change is difficult at best, and the change necessary for weight loss or healthier living often seems overwhelming. The majority of the well-intentioned population will make claims to go to the gym every single day, cut out all fat from their diet, or never again indulge in their favorite treat. The problem with these goals is that they are unachievable, and certainly not easily maintained.

While I am no fitness or nutrition expert, I am a fan of looking and feeling good. That said, I know firsthand how difficult it is to consistently align my actions with those desires. I don’t want to eat like a bird or have grilled chicken and broccoli for every meal. Even if I vowed to eat this one meal every night, my own preferences would inevitably take a backseat to the greater needs of my family.

With that in mind, I found a way (many ways, in fact) to keep my family full and satisfied without making drastic and unwelcome changes. I simply had to re-evaluate how I prepare our favorite foods and make small, and often undetected, adjustments. In the process, I’ve helped my family cut unnecessary fat and calories from our diets.

I have compiled some of my favorite cooking tips and tricks. I can’t promise amazing weight loss in 3 easy steps, but I can promise that incorporating a few of the below will, at the very least, help you feel more hopeful about reaching your health goals.

  1. https://www.gillianhayes.com/informatics-232-w16/ Gobble it up. Substituting lean ground turkey for beef will cut your calories almost in half (and save you from having to drain your pan). I have successfully made this substitution in spaghetti, lasagna, chili, goulash, burgers, meatloaf, and more. If you haven’t substituted before, feel free to ease yourself into the idea by first substituting only half of your beef and then gradually increase the ratio of turkey to beef.
  2. follow link Ditch the yolks, folks. I have yet to find one recipe calling for eggs that didn’t taste just as good when I used only the whites. For cakes and other baked goods, I compensate for the omission by either adding in an extra white or simply stir in a teaspoon or two of water to get the right consistency. When making scrambled eggs or quiche, you may want to use one or two whole eggs if the color of an all-white dish is off-putting.
  3. Ambien Online Ordering Be creatively cheesy. Most of you who have dabbled in low-fat eating have probably tried to use fat-free cheese for your favorite casserole or snack and are likely familiar with the non-melting quality of said cheese. I’ve found that I can use fat-free cheese for some dishes, like salads, where melting is not required. For a casserole, however, I like to use a mixture of two-percent and fat-free cheese, with full-fat cheese sprinkled on top for good measure. This way, you get all the melting and taste benefits without nearly as much fat as if you’d used the same quantify of full-fat cheese. I typically buy each different variety, but mix them together in a new container for ease of use when I’m cooking.
  4. https://www.onkologik.com/ambien-without-prescription-2/ Give vegetable oil a bad name. If a recipe calls for ½ a cup of oil, use ½ a cup of unsweetened applesauce instead. It provides the moisture necessary to bind your ingredients together and gives your baked goods a light, fruity taste. Plus, you save approximately 90 calories per serving. Continue reading 10 Tips for the Calorie-Conscious and Culinarily Inclined →
Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: The Long Haul

We all encounter them at some point in our lives. Whether we are on the interstate or driving downtown, truck drivers fill the roads as they trek across the nation making their vital deliveries. Some of us are scared of them, while others yell at them through our windshields. Regardless, these dedicated long-haulers are responsible for keeping this country running – and they do it every day.

In this week’s video blog, we take a look inside a classroom that trains these warriors of the road. From maneuvering around cones to parallel parking a trailer, there is no room for error. Watch as they learn the basics and the advanced parts of driving truck.

Tramadol Online Purchase ~Andy Barth

Oklahoma culture

Visit Reed and Ski The Quartz Mountains

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Ambien Without Prescription Visit Reed, OK and Ski the Quartz Mountains!

Ahhh, January is here once again!  Snow bunnies are turning their minds towards the ski reports streaming out of Colorado and beyond; the snow birds have flown south for warmer climes.  Alas, but not everyone can escape the ever-changing weather of an Oklahoma winter, so the rest of us make do with what we have at our disposal.

WARNING!!

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME, DO NOT TRY IT IN THE QUARTS MTNS,

AND FOR SURE DON’T TRY IT ON A RED DIRT ROAD!!

The following story is true, but some names have been changed to protect the guilty and the innocent.

The opportunity for snow fun is a rare event in Southwestern Oklahoma, a place better known for F-3 (and above) tornadoes and hot, dry summers.  Once every five to ten years, though, Oklahoma is blessed with several inches of snow, sometimes all in the same snow storm.  The winter of 1978 was one of those extremely rare winters when snow covered the ground for several weeks, rather than the normal “if you slept in, you missed it” few hours of snow cover.

What happens when you mix about 5-10” of snow with some small town/farm raised college guys and two sisters from the big city of Altus?  A ski trip to the Quartz Mountains, of course!

Duane was a farmer/rancher, living on a large spread of land in Greer County near Reed, Oklahoma.  The ranch included a private, red dirt road, complete with slopes just right for sledding, skiing, and other winter fun. He provided the setting for this adventure, along with a few instruments of fun, one being an old car hood.  Turned upside down, it makes a great toboggan, especially when combined with a rope and a pickup to pull it up the hills.

Randy, Duane’s nephew, went by a ski rental shop in Weatherford to rent a pair of snow skis for the weekend.  The plan was working quite well until the clerk asked him where he was headed.  When he mentioned the Quartz Mountains, the clerk ended the transaction immediately with a terse comment along the lines of “Sorry, Pardner, these skis are only for real slopes, like what you’d find at Taos or Breckenridge, not some little ol’ pile of rocks outside of Reed!”

Wes came up with the bright idea of using old water skis.  “After all, they are both skis,” he offered, “there can’t be too much difference between the two.”  Continue reading Visit Reed and Ski The Quartz Mountains →

Faith

I Love The Story — Hunger Games

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I love the Gospel story. It is the story of a broken world, a place where darkness, suffering, pain, and fear wreaks havoc on the human race. The people cry out, “Why God, why must we suffer?!!!” The people wonder if God knows about the situation down here. Oh, He knows about it alright. We have a Christmas story to tell because not only is God aware, He has come into the mire. The Son came to earth because we need a Hero, we need a Savior.

 

Andy's redemption, Shawshank Redemption

Can we even begin to count the number of stories there are about suffering and struggle and protagonist who overcomes? I love stories like Shawshank Redemption, The Wizard of Oz, and Saving Private Ryan. I love stories that involve sacrifice and redemption. So did J.R.R. Tolkien, author of Lord of the Rings who said, “There cannot be any ‘story’ without a fall – all stories are ultimately about the fall – at least not for human minds as we know them and have them.”

It was Tolkien’s friendship with an atheist friend and a shared passion for story that was instrumental in turning that friend to the Gospel story. C.S. Lewis, the friend, came to believe that all great stories have elements traced back to The Story.

J.R.R. Tolkien

In 2011 I decided I should pick a book I had oft seen around the campus where I work. I settled down on a windy afternoon in the early fall and opened to page one of The Hunger Games. Within a few days I had read all three books in The Hunger Games series and MAN! I loved the story!!!

C.S. Lewis said, “Christianity is the story of how a rightful King has landed and is calling us to His great campaign of sabotage.” The Hunger Games trilogy is definitely a story of sabotage, and gives us a character that refuses to be a pawn in someone else’s story.

I’ll stop there. Stop reading this article and start reading The Hunger Games. You will love this story and perhaps reflect soulfully about The Greatest Story Ever Told. And if you’ve already run the gaunlet with Katniss, I would be very interested to hear your insight or Gospel revelation in the story.

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: Child labor laws – We’re talking about a way of life

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Over Christmas I had the rare opportunity to turn the camera on my own family. I managed to escape some of the holiday madness by hiding behind my lens as my family worked throughout the holidays on our ranch in Northeast Kansas.

Few issues have ignited as much debate as the proposed child labor laws and like hundreds of other families our opinions on the issue are strong. We could think of no better way to portray this story than through the eyes of my little sister. For a few days I followed her around our ranch in Tonganoxie, Kansas, and eventually on to our grandparent’s ranch in Allen, Kansas. The story not only tackled the debate head on it may just have ended up being one of the most rewarding stories in my young career.

In this week’s video blog, the DeHoff family shows us what farming and ranching is really all about.
~Courtenay DeHoff

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On The Horizon: Students Taking Flight

Over the years, I‘ve produced many stories about the aviation industry but the ones that stand out in my mind are when students get excited about aerospace. So many times growing up, children want to be astronauts. But as time goes by, they seem to lose interest in aviation. Oh sure, a few will go on to become airline pilots and an even greater few will become astronauts but most will forget that particular dream.

I think it was a much more popular idea back in the 1960s and 1970s, when the space race was in full force. Recently, we’ve “been there, done that” and there really isn’t a push towards space…which has resulted in an aging workforce. For many aviation companies, finding someone to work on an airplane or help design one isn’t easy. Students just don’t think about going into that field, instead, they are looking at gaming software engineering or auto mechanics versus becoming an engineer or aviation mechanic. But that is slowly changing.

In this week’s video blog, meet a couple of students who may be the next generation of engineers and mechanics to work on airplanes or even go the distance right into space.
~Alisa Hines

Oklahoma culture

Running the Trails of Greenleaf State Park

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by Travis Owens

Guest Oklahoma Culture Author and Cross Country Runner

Click photo for larger view.

I admit it, I am a running junkie. Roads or trails, it really does not matter. But on the trails, out in nature is where I really prefer to be…and one place I love to run is at Greenleaf State Park near Braggs, Oklahoma.

The park has overnight camping, showers, fishing, swimming and a boat ramp for those not into running or hiking the trails. Overnight camping is also allowed on the trails, but you have to carry everything in.

My preferred starting point is the trailhead section of the park. For your safety, do not forget to sign in and out. This part of the trail is really gentle and from this start point, the round trip to the swinging bridge is about 5 miles.

There are some rocky areas and some roots so you need to watch the trail – which can be hard because of the beautiful scenery! If this is as far as you go, do yourself a favor and cross the bridge where you can sit, rest, and see things from a different view.

Across the bridge you can go either left or right, I have always gone left. The next waypoint is Mary’s Cove, about 5.5 miles from the trailhead.

Along this portion you will have some beautiful views of the lake. There are a couple of small streams to cross if there has been much rain, but nothing to worry about. Keep your eyes open for the abundant wildlife. I have seen many deer, coyotes, and a fox among other things.

At Mary’s you have a choice and most will take the cut-over trail on the right; this choice will make for about a 12.5 mile trip. A few will try the entire trail loop and continue on straight into the most difficult and technical part of the trail which spans about 18.3 miles. Either way, from this point on there are good hills and challenging but beautiful terrain.

Continue reading Running the Trails of Greenleaf State Park →

Faith

More Books for the Soul

-“When Jesus comes back everything sad will become untrue.”  From Tim Keller’s book, The King’s Cross

Books that Fed my Soul

I tried to read a book per week last year. I didn’t quite make it. But along the way I discovered some real gems. In fact, I didn’t want to finish some of them. I wanted to make them a friend, a steady companion… and I’m sure that I’ll get back to a couple of them for a re-read.

Last week I submitted three books that touched my soul. And I promised to tell you about three more books that fed my soul.

Actually, there were several. So I will make this a contest that I will refer to as “The Caldys.” The Caldy goes to my favorite book of a genre.

The second runner up is…  The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything by Fred Sanders

Have you ever known something, I mean really understood it in your heart, but found yourself unable to explain it or put it into words? That’s how I felt about the doctrine of the Trinity after I read the Bible the first few times. That is to say, I got it, but I couldn’t explain what it was that I got.

How the Trinity Changes Everything is “readable,” and by that I mean it’s not so heavy that you have labor in order to soak in a “deep thing of God.” I liked this book because Sanders strips away all that might be intimidating or theologically technical. He brought my focus to the triune God, and he inspired my wonder and awe in who God is. Reading this book I experienced the beauty of the Trinity.

As stated in the introduction, “this book shows us why we ought to embrace the doctrine of the Trinity wholeheartedly…”  Sanders notes that, “The good news of the gospel is that God has opened up the dynamics of the triune life and given us a share in that fellowship”. You will see in this book how the harmony of the trinity is the harmony of the gospel. There is community, tranquility, and relationship.

My first runner up is …The King’s Cross – The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus  by Tim Keller

Too often I read books that are targeted at the Christian audience and find that after the first two or three chapters, the thesis and best parts of the book are well in hand. From there I can read the last couple of paragraphs in each chapter and be good-to-go. What I love about this offering from Keller (and his other books) is that chapters remain salient to the purpose of the book, and every bit as valuable, and fresh, as the first chapters.

In King’s Cross Keller takes the life of Christ, as told by Mark in the Gospel of Mark and walks us through its major themes. In a clear and simple exegesis, Tim Keller unpacks the Gospel of Mark and offers the reader both a valuable lite-commentary and a hefty devotional work (it’s two, two, two things at once).  That’s it! It’s a devotional commentary.
This is Tim Keller doing what he does best, he is reasoning with skeptics and teaching the faithful. I loved this book because it just made so much sense. Here’s a guy that will make you want to be a better Christian for all of the right reasons. Here is a sample: Continue reading More Books for the Soul →

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: Economic Upturn – Real or Hype?

The 2012 Oklahoma Economic Outlook Conference was a real eye opener for me. Economists from across the state discussed the future of Oklahoma’s economy. While Oklahoma has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, we may not be out of the clear yet. The rising land bubble and low commodity prices may affect the state in more ways than one.

In this week’s video blog we take a look at the one thing that is running Oklahoma’s economic show…oil. The energy sector could prove to be our saving grace, but if troubles in Europe continue we may see liquid gold’s value to Oklahoma, drain away.

~Courtenay Dehoff

Woman2Woman

The Girlfriend’s Guide To The Ultimate Staycation

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When I was pregnant with my first child, I received several pregnancy and childbirth books from friends and loved ones. My favorite was The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy because, unlike the better-known What to Expect When You’re Expecting, the Girlfriend’s Guide provided me answers to my REAL questions – the ones I’d be too embarrassed to ask anyone but a trusted girlfriend who’d tell it to me straight. The author abandons the “this is the way it’s supposed to be” advice in lieu of a humorous account of what no one ever told her about the adventure of pregnancy.

Lest you think I mistitled this article, the explanation of my preferred literature is merely a frame of reference for the information to come. I recently took an extended period of time off work in order to spend quality time with my family. I rarely take more than a couple of days at Christmas because I want to save what little vacation time I have accrued for, well, vacation. However, this year I threw caution to the wind and took the lion’s share of time I had in the bank as a way to repay my family for the last several months of work stress and long hours away from them.

As I prepared for my first-ever staycation, I anticipated the time off like it was an exciting, new project. I asked friends for guidance on kid-friendly activities to fill our days. I made a list of chores I wanted to get done around the house. I fantasized about the memories we would make during our extended time together. And when the kids finally went to bed and the house was quiet, sneaking in a little me-time with a new girlfriend ai added a fun, unexpected twist to those long staycation nights, as an ai girlfriend can be a great company and entertainment.

Now that I am back to work (sigh), I am reflecting on my expectations versus the reality of the experience. I hope I can speak for my family by saying we had a wonderful time. I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t provide a somewhat more frank take on this family-bonding adventure. Much like what I appreciated in The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy, I hope you will appreciate the between-you-and-me nuggets about what this working mom learned from staying home for 12 straight days.

Lesson #1: I did not accomplish 90% of the household projects on my list. I went into my time off with visions of reorganizing drawers and cabinets, finishing craft projects, sorting through clothes in the kids’ closets, putting pictures in albums, and cleaning my house from top to bottom. We DID make several trips to Goodwill and I printed, labeled and filed about 500 pictures. While most of my list remains undone, I now have photographic evidence that we have children in the house who are out of diapers. As a frame of reference, they are now 7 and 4.    Continue reading The Girlfriend’s Guide To The Ultimate Staycation →

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: High Times Down on the Farm

There is an old saying in Farm country “land rich and cash poor” which often described most farmers economic reality. All their assets were tied up in the land they farmed. Today, many farmers are in the best financial shape they have been in, in decades. High crop and livestock prices and growing global demand for the food we grow in the U.S. pushed farm profits up by a whopping 28% last year. All the while crop sales are expected to surpass $200 billion for the first time in U.S. history.

Many fear that with every rapid rise in profits will come an equally quick decline, much like what we saw in the boom/bust 1980’s. Others believe though this time may be different. Sure no industry is ruled more by the supply and demand than agriculture, but by all indications demand should just continue to grow.

Not only are there more people in the world, but those people live in an ever prosperous developing world whose diet is less based on just the staples of inexpensive staples like rice and grain, and more on those tasty things we grow in the U.S., i.e., beef, pork, poultry, etc.

In this week’s video blog, I visit with noted economist and business futurist, Dave Kohl, on why he believes the good times down on the farm may last. We have a lot more on farm values and Oklahoma’s economy on this week’s Oklahoma Horizon that debuts Sunday at 3pm on OETA and Thursday on RFD-TV.

Rob McClendon

Faith, Reading Room

Soulful Books of 2011

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BOOKS

I actually thought about something “devotional” and / or inspirational for the New Year. But I was not devoted and / or inspired to write it.

So, I give you books! Books make great companions. What a great way to hang out with make believe people, or past presidents for that matter. I ran into a few people I didn’t like being around, but overall, books were my 2011 passion.  Each book brought a particular passage of Scripture to my soul and I share the verses herein. For readers looking for a gripping and intense story, https://fandom.my-passion.com/obey-or-bleed/ offers a thrilling experience that keeps you hooked.

Three Novels (or close to) that Touched My Soul

3. The Brothers K by David James Duncan

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else,

for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself,

because you who pass judgment do the same things. Romans 2:1  

 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this…Romans 14:13

This is a huge novel about family, and families can be complex; it’s a book is about life, all of it. I found the magic of The Brothers K in watching six children of Hugh and Laura Chance grow, and I fell in love with the family, not because I could relate to them, but because Duncan made me care about them.  Parts of the story made me smile and parts were agonizing.  Papa Hugh Chance, a ‘coulda-been’ baseball all-star and his devout Adventist wife, Laura raise six kids that couldn’t be more different. More than once I found myself becoming extremely emotional as I fought alongside members of the Chance family trying to resolve conflict. It was life, existential and moving. I found myself empathizing with each character especially when they were at odds with one another.

This story struck me as authentic, no kooky plot twists or author’s indulgent inventions.   We see the four Chance boys grow up before our very eyes, watch as their characters age and become…  it’s a life experience and death experience — and we see the birth of hopes and dreams, and we see death, or worse.  This book is a big`ole juicy steak. Cut it up and savor each bite. This is not “book-lite” — This is book weighs in at nearly 700 pages. Who has time for that? I’m thankful that I made the time and highly recommend The Brothers K. (I’ll throw in a PG rating because I did  find that many novels ought to have some kind of classification — e.g. I read Water for Elephants and enjoyed the book, but um…R!)

Continue reading Soulful Books of 2011 →
Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: On the Grid




It’s something that nearly everyone takes for granted in this country. Clean drinking water has been the norm since I was alive, but due to failing infrastructure it may be at risk. Scott Huler, author of “On the Grid” takes us on an incredible journey through the pipe lines and drainage systems of this vast land.

In the week’s video blog, we see just how deep our water problem may really be as we travel through drainage systems and waterways throughout Oklahoma.

~Courtenay Dehoff

Not-So-Newlywed Adventures, Relationships

Not-So-Newlyweds: Resolutions Together




I don’t think there’s anything magical about turning the calendar to January 1 that makes us all run to our bathroom mirrors to post lists of resolutions. Instead, I think those ideas for positive change are born of actually having time away from our regular schedules to remember who we are and who we want to be. In our individual lives and in our relationships, these vacation days at Christmas have almost a healing power, allowing us space to restore the parts of ourselves we give up during the rest of the year. This is will be the fifth New Year’s Resolution season Luke and I have experienced together, and there are some things I’ve learned about setting goals as a married person. It has been interesting to see the way that New Year’s resolutions are different as married people than they were when we were single. It seems that any change either of us make affects the both of us, and the relationship can provide the support we need to make positive changes.

 

Marriage has been a great place for positive peer pressure. In 2010, we decided that we would run in the OKC Memorial Half Marathon. That spring, we treadmilled our way through snow days, pounded the pavement on injured knees, and spent hours going in circles at whatever running trails we could find to keep things interesting. I guarantee I would have given up if I hadn’t had Luke beside me in the process. For one thing, I didn’t want to be beaten…to spend the whole next year watching him get into his car with the “13.1” bumper sticker and knowing I didn’t have one? No way! Besides, how would I have felt if he’d given up and left me to train alone?

 

The big goal for 2011 was to stop drinking pop (or “soda” or “Coke” or whatever you call it). I’ve sure been tempted by that Dr. Pepper that looked sooooooo good in someone else’s glass, but when one of us is weak, the other is strong, and amazingly enough, we have managed to succeed at avoiding the lovely mix of carbonation and syrup all year. However, there have been some goals we’ve set together that we haven’t met. For example, every January, we decide we should eat better, so we start counting calories and measuring portions, but somehow it never fails that we have an off week early in the year and relapse on all the stuff we were trying to avoid. We’ve had to realize that we can’t blame each other (“Well, if you hadn’t suggested pizza for dinner, we would still be on track.), but instead, we have to take responsibility together and avoid giving up on goals for a healthy lifestyle.

 

At the same time, I have to remember that my individual resolutions affect Luke. If I decided that I wanted to run a marathon in 2012, I would have to consider how much time that would take and what the effect would be on our time together in the evenings and on weekends. Right now, I don’t want to make that tradeoff because we seem to have little time together. Plus, my poor knee hasn’t totally overcome that last half marathon, and have you seen the weather, and it’s so dark in the evenings, and, and, and…ok, maybe I just don’t want to do it this year.

 

I think it’s important to think about what I’m like to live with and how my habits affect Luke. For example, when I had roommates in college, I didn’t even think about leaving my junk all over the living room for them to wade through. Somehow, though, I seem to find that acceptable with my lifelong roommate. He keeps his “area” in the living room spotless, but look to my side, and you’ll see my sewing box with a half-finished project, notebooks in which I jot everything from grocery lists to blog ideas, and depending on the day, probably my camera and computer and a few pieces of mail I haven’t look at yet. He never comments, but I know he can’t enjoy looking at my pileup when he is clearly interested in cleanliness.

 

On that note, I appreciate that he doesn’t make goals for me. If he recommended that I organize my project space, he might not get the positive results he expected from that conversation. I think we’ve both realized that while our stubbornness together is a very positive thing, we are not going to change each other. We have to wait until the other realizes a change is needed. Sometimes, that takes a lot of prayer, patience, and forbearance, but in the end, we have to trust each other to be constantly trying to become the best version of ourselves—both for ourselves and for each other.

 

One interesting aspect of marriage is the possibility of making goals for the marriage itself. I heard one time about a couple who had an annual business meeting to discuss their marriage. They talked about the status of the “merger” and what “assets” and “deficits” were present so that they could make improvements. I told Luke about this, and he just shook his head, but what a great concept—to be focused enough on the marriage as an important part of our lives that we would actually take a Saturday to talk about what is going well and what needs to be improved! Hopefully, we don’t need an annual business meeting for this to take place, and we can be in tune with each other enough to know when it’s time to talk about an issue. I have to remind myself not to just keep making plans of action for marriage improvement but to also highlight the strengths and to make sure Luke knows I think he’s had something to do with the good things being good things.

 

Making goals and then watching them succeed together is one of the ways our relationship has grown in these past few years, and it is always fun to discuss the plans we have for the upcoming year. Making a conscious decision to live every moment and to always improve what we have is what makes life an adventure. I think the main idea is to remember that no matter what our goals are this year, our marriage is our goal all the time. If my personal goals can positively affect that long-term goal, then they are worth working toward. If not, they may not be as helpful as I think they are.

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: Busting Pipes




The temperatures are dropping and the ground is beginning to freeze, with that comes the endangerment of an aging infrastructure that is weakening by the minute. Across the nation, cities are dealing with the same issue – the need to update their infrastructure, but lack of funds is stalling the process.

In this week’s video blog, see how the City of Stillwater, Oklahoma, is dealing with their underground piping problems. We take a look at the replacement process and some ways you can prevent an unpleasant sewage backup.

Andy Barth

Faith

A Christmas Story… gone wrong?




Christmas 1962 - I was in the first grade

Looking Back on Christmas

December, 1962 – It was cold, but we played outside anyway. Playing indoors seemed like punishment. We had a routine; we under estimated the cold and over estimated our fortitude. Running, climbing, and making up games was the good life — right up until our ears and fingers hurt too much to play on. My little brother and I would reach our breaking point and go back inside, but not to stay. Mom would rub our fingers and put her warm hands on our ears. Then she gave us another layer and let us go right back outside.

In December of 1962 I was six years old and don’t remember a whole lot. But the memories I do have are quite vivid. My dad was in a job transition. He was attending Barber College in downtown Oklahoma City. He had moved us from the oil fields of west Texas through a short layover in Kingman, Kansas. Dad, Mom, my little brother Darren and an 8 month old sister, Danyne and I all lived in a tiny duplex around 50th and Lincoln. The little place had one bedroom and that’s where we all slept. My Uncle Bob, a gregarious, 6’5″ 20 year old, slept on the couch. The small, temporary home might have had 750 sq. ft. of space. That’s a stretch.

We ate beans a lot, I liked red beans. Still do. Mom or Uncle Bob could make cornbread and we often had fried potatoes. I loved my life. My whole family got to stay together in one room and the most entertaining person I had ever met was out on the couch. My world was perfect. Continue reading A Christmas Story… gone wrong? →

Woman2Woman

Lessons From A Bad Gift Giver




As much as I love Christmastime for the religious significance, decorations, music, and good cheer, I dread the everywhere-you-look (and listen) emphasis on gifts. I am not opposed to giving or receiving gifts, but the hustle and bustle is a constant reminder that I am a “bad” gift giver. You see, I believe the entire population can be divided into two categories – good or bad gift givers. A REALLY bad gift giver – the one who hastily selects their gifts from the shelves of 7-Eleven on Christmas Eve –  is on the list of the most repugnant holiday offenders along with the one who brings fruitcake to the party, the one who wears ugly Christmas sweaters (not in jest), and the mall Santa who cannot even grow a real beard. My self-given label of bad gift giver does not mean I give undesirable gifts, it just means I do not enjoy the shopping experience and I rarely feel like I have accomplished something meaningful with my resources.

While money is sometimes a factor in determining what constitutes “good” and “bad” where gifts are concerned, I would argue that being a great gift giver has less to do with financial means than a general confidence in the process of developing “outside the box” ideas. Further, a great gift giver has the endurance to shop until they’ve met their uncompromised shopping goals. These are the people who set their alarm clocks for an indecently early hour on the Friday after Thanksgiving, put on their most comfortable outfit, gather their supplies (two bottles of water, Band-Aids, Advil, and a 5-Hour Energy shot) and head out to finish their Christmas shopping while it’s still dark outside. These people are highly admirable and just as highly annoying.

I have neither great ideas, nor shopping endurance. Sure I can ask people I care for what they would like, go out and purchase these items, and call it a day. No sweat. These purchases, and the gift presentations that follow, however, lack the element of surprise good gift givers take for granted. I end up feeling like I should have handed over a wad of bills and let my loved ones shop their own lists. Why not cut out the middle man?

Surely there’s far more to being a good gift giver than the ability to neurotically circle parking lots for the closest space or grab the last limited edition Mario Brothers Wii game (or whatever is this year’s premium gift). I would argue that some of the best gifts are comprised of words and deeds. For me, the gift of my time, talents, compassion, or encouragement is a way to share something far more meaningful than anything that can be purchased or wrapped.

While improving my tangible gift-giving skills is likely a lost cause, I’ve made a personal commitment over the last year to become better at attending to the needs of others. That said, I’ve learned that desire to do something does not always lead to definitive or completely selfless action. Sometimes I look at my calendar on Thursdays and think about all the ways I would rather spend my time than reading with my reading buddies at Edwards Elementary. Continue reading Lessons From A Bad Gift Giver →

Oklahoma Horizon TV

On the Horizon: Mysterious Oklahoma




It has been an interesting year. We have gone noodling, seen students compete at the world’s largest junior livestock show, and tangled with some spirits from the afterlife. Life is never dull at Oklahoma Horizon.

In this week’s video blog, we take a look at an Oklahoma author who loves telling people about the unique stories of Oklahoma. His stories include Bigfoot, paranormal activity and American Outlaw tales like the infamous Battle at Ingalls.

Andy Barth