EDITOR’S LETTER

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is

happiness doubled by wonder.” G.K. Chesterton The Sunday after Halloween, as I was eating leftover candy and putting away

my sculls and ravens for more acceptable general “fall” decor, I heard it: a

Christmas commercial. In fact, it was for Hallmark’s 55 Days of Christmas.

This, coupled with the fact that Christmas decorations are already on sale

everywhere I go, goes to show that Thanksgiving is quickly losing ground as

an American institution, and I won’t sit idly by and watch it happen.

Each year, people claim there’s a “war on Christmas,” but this year, I want us to fight the

war on Thanksgiving.

While the true origins of Thanksgiving may not be widely known, the thought behind it

is indeed sincere. President Abraham Lincoln declared a “national Day of Thanksgiving

and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” This was when it was

declared a federal and public holiday. However, earlier Americans were celebrating long

before that.

In 1777, while the Continental Congress was meeting in a temporary location in York,

Penn., due to the British occupation of our then-national capital at Philadelphia, a note

of thanks was issued. Samuel Adams (the person, not the beer) drafted the First National

Proclamation of Thanksgiving. Congress later adapted the final version, which, in part,

read

“…That it may please Him graciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of

these States respectively, and prosper the public Council of the whole: To inspire our

Commanders, both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom and

Fortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence of Almighty

God, to secure for these United States, the greatest of all human Blessings, Independence

and Peace…”

Our first Thanksgiving wasn’t meant to imitate a festive coming together of the pilgrims

and Native Americans; it was to call upon a greater power while we were at war, trying

desperately to establish ourselves as an independent nation. If there is a holiday worth

celebrating in America, Thanksgiving is worth it. So, hold off on your Christmas trees

and carols and let the turkey have his time.

I hope you’ll join my War For Thanksgiving by expressing gratitude toward family, friends,

and others who have helped you this year. I’ll go first: while we will continue giving

thanks for all of our readers, community friends

and people who are able to keep our magazines

running, we’re also expressing sincere gratitude

for allowing us, artists, writers, photographers

& designers, to practice our crafts and remain

independent. Without you, we simply wouldn’t

have a job. So, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Best,

Meg McElhaney

Editor-in-Chief

The City of Edmond has an incredible amount of activities

on December 5th and we at High Five are happy to give you

a breakdown of the day’s events to ensure that you make

the most of it! From running to shopping to live music—

whatever your interests are, Edmond’s got it for you!

For the fine arts lover:

Musical Theater Christmas Show – Naughty & Nice & a Little

Bit Nuts

7:30pm at the UCO Jazz Lab, come enjoy a festivity-filled

evening of your favorite holiday tunes sung by some of

UCO’s finest vocalists. Reservations are strongly encouraged

– call 405-974-3375. Tickets are $22.

Boys Ranch Town Drive-Thru Christmas Pageant

7:00-9:00pm and located at 5100 SE 33rd St, the Boys Ranch

Town Christmas Pageant has been an annual service to the

community and community visitors since 1971. This living

nativity scene presents the miracle of Christmas. For details

of inclement weather, call 405-341-3606. The event is free;

donations are accepted.

UCO Choirs Concert

Beginning at 7:30pm in UCO’s Mitchell Hall Theater.

Tickets can be purchased online at Mitchellhalltheater.com,

or by calling 405-974-3375.

For the runner:

Holiday Hustle 5K

What better way to begin your holiday celebrations than

with the Holiday Hustle? Located on the Eagle Trail at

Oklahoma Christian University, this event is for everyone.

From the trained 5K runners to the first time 5K runners

to the kid runners (age 4-9 kids’ run), the whole family can

enjoy live Christmas music, local high school mascots, and

a pancake breakfast! The course is a USATF certified course

that is very flat and fast. For extra information go to oc.edu/

holidayhustle

Holiday Lights Run

Starting at 2:00pm, runners of all ages can enjoy a 5K and

1-mile fun run/walk at Mitch Park in Edmond. Registration

is through EventBright.com. For extra information, visit

edmondparks.com or call 405-359-4630.

For the adventurer:

Breakfast with Santa

From 9:00am to 11:00am, children ages 2-12 can enjoy

time eating with Santa. Located in Mitch Park, the $10

registration is required by

November 30th. Call 405-359-

4630 or see edmondparks.com for

more details.

Christmas in Downtown Edmond

Shop Edmond for all your holiday

gift giving. Experience the wonder

of the season as you stop back in

time with carriage rides, historic

tours, visits with Santa, and

musical entertainment! Enjoy a

free carriage ride from 11:00am to

4:00pm. See downtownedmondok.

com for details.

Edmond Electric Parade of Lights

Beginning at 6:45pm and staring

on the campus of UCO, watch as

the moving light display parades

down the streets of downtown

Edmond—a tradition the whole

family can enjoy. See edmondelectric.com for more details.

Edmond Outdoor Ice Skating Rink

There’s nothing like slipping and sliding along the ice with

your friends! Located at Mitch Park (1501 W. Covell), this

outdoor ice skating rink offers open sessions so that you

may come and go at your leisure.

Complete with food concessions,

free adjacent parking, and indoor

restrooms, enjoy a night full of

camaraderie on the ice. Visit

Edmondoutdooricerink.com for

more information!

Mayor’s Tree Lighting and Essay

Contest Awards

Come celebrate the holidays with

caroling, the lighting of the tree,

and the reading of the winning

essays of this year’s Mayors Essay

Contest for 1st-5th graders,

ending the night with a parade!

Event is free; see Edmondparks.

com for more information.

Written by Kennedy McAlister

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season often

leads to an overload of consumerism and stress.

It seems you can’t turn around without the urge

to buy this and purchase that. Though it’s all well

and good to buy fun gifts for your loved ones, the

meaning behind the holiday season sometimes gets pushed

aside with the Black Friday and Cyber Monday madness.

Giving Tuesday (#GivingTuesday), Dec. 1, 2015, is wholly dedicated

to taking time to think of others who truly need help.

The program is a global day centering around giving generously

to those who need it the most. The local Edmond, Oklahoma

City & Choctaw and Harrah communities are getting involved,

too. All it takes is a quick search on givingtuesday.org to locate

a charity that’s participating. A few nonprofits taking part are

HOPE Center of Edmond, Orphan Relief Effort Inc., Regional

Food Bank of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy

and the Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools. So

on Giving Tuesday, take the time to give back to your local community—

you’ll be happy you did.

Written by Katy Fabrie

Blue

Christmas

GRIEF & THE HOLIDAYS I am far from an expert in this realm. In fact,

everything I am about to share I can almost

guarantee was advice I picked up along the way,

as the journey through the grief process does

not exactly come naturally. I can say that getting

through the holidays without your loved ones is…

tough, to say the least. From being too far away on the

map to see them, to losing them to the inevitable, not

having the option to share this season with the ones

you love can be dang near unbearable. For me, this will

be the first holiday season without my mother. Only

time will tell how well I can actually brave the next

couple of months. However, I do have a pretty good

idea of what it will take to keep myself healthy and do

a little more than just go through the motions.

As this season continues to slowly creep up, I cannot

help but almost obsess over the fact that I will not

wake up on Christmas morning to a stocking filled

by “Santa” and seeing the satisfaction she got out of

spoiling me with awesome trinkets. I literally woke up

every single Christmas morning to date to her smile.

It is pretty wild that this tradition not only lost all of

its joy, but it has ended completely. An article I read

from my mother’s hospice team mentioned that there

is always a possibility to start a new tradition, a new

normal. My first thought was that they are crazy for

saying that I can simply replace this tradition with a

new one and be content with it. However, the more I

think about it, the more it makes sense. And the more

I get excited about what it is exactly that I am going to

do in her memory that she will absolutely love and be

proud of. The possibilities are endless.

My boss mentioned in passing that a good way to spin

a situation like this into something constructive and

fulfilling is to do something for someone else. It really

got me thinking… I need to do what she would want

me to do with my time. She would absolutely hate for

me to feel sorry for myself and hide out for a couple

of months (which

in all honesty, seems ideal).

Instead, I am determined to

funnel my energy and

emotions into something

that positively impacts

someone else, in turn, positively

impacting myself.

It will be awesome reaping the benefits

of helping others. However, it is definitely

just as important to help my own self… mentally,

physically, and emotionally. It is okay to feel bad, but

it is also okay to feel good, which is something that I

have to give myself constant reminders about. I have

found that talking about her and sharing the memories

of our traditions with those people in my life that love

her like I do is definitely one thing that makes me

feel good. Another thing that has kept me going this

whole time, is knowing that I am not alone. Everyone

is fighting their own battle. It is up to you to figure out

how you will conquer yours.

Erika Raschke is Director of ATI (all things important) at

High Five Media Group and is a living example that positivity

and vulnerability, along with time, can heal people.

Heritage Village:

A Land Full of

Promise

If you ask elementary-aged children in the United

States about Thanksgiving’s origins, they will likely

relay a story about the pilgrims’ arrival to North

America and the ensuing feast, symbolizing the

budding unity between the pilgrims and the Native

Americans. Though this version is simple, it highlights an

important underlying sentiment. As the pilgrims’ arrived

on North American shores, they also arrived at a new

beginning, full of possibilities and full of promise.

Nearly 400 years later, this spirit of promise still carries on

in projects like Turning Point Ministries’ Heritage Village.

Turning Point Ministries began in 2008, and their goal as

a non-profit organization is to provide affordable housing

for hard-working families and individuals with moderate

incomes.

“If you research the average cost of a new home in Edmond,

it’s well over $200,000,” Josh Moore, president of Turning

Point Ministries, said. “We realized that there is a big gap

there for a lot of people that work and live in Edmond that

can’t afford that right now.”

In an effort to meet this need, Turning Point began building

houses for those who fell into the gap. However, the

ministry is not in the business of simply giving away homes.

“We have all types of demographics in Edmond, but we

don’t necessarily have a group of new homes that are part of

that demographic,” Moore said. “In our minds, it provides

a home for a large group of the population that lives and

works in Edmond and helps make up everything that

Edmond is. Our goal is not just to build homes and sell

them and hand over the keys and walk away. Our goal as an

organization is to try to wrap our hands around the entire

homeowner process.”

This vision is evident in the way that Turning Point interacts

with recipients of its homes. A family or individual is

chosen for a home after meeting eligibility requirements

and completing a comprehensive application process.

Eligibility requirements include demonstrating a need

to live in Edmond, having a stable and reliable income,

and providing a small down payment for the home.

Additionally, applicants must put in 300 hours of service

throughout the community, 200 of which can be completed

with the help of family and friends and 100 of which must

be through work on Turning Point projects. After the

application process and volunteer hours are completed,

homes are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Each family or individual chosen to receive a home is

assigned a mentor, attends classes, and volunteers their time

for the construction of their home and toward community

service. Turning Point focuses on teaching the recipients

the basics of homeownership, including budgeting, saving,

and participating as a good neighbor in their neighborhood

community. Turning Point then sells the home to the

recipient through a low-interest mortgage with affordable

monthly payments.

The ministry has already completed fifteen homes, all

of which are located in Turning Point’s Legacy Station

neighborhood. Now, Turning Point is preparing to break

ground in Heritage Village, a new neighborhood of homes,

located on Fretz Avenue between Second Street and

Danforth. Heritage Village has 37 lots in total, and Turning

Point’s goal is to build two to four houses at a time.

These goals are made possible through various avenues of

generosity. When the project first began to take shape, the

City of Edmond awarded Turning Point Ministries a grant

for $500,000 to provide funding for public infrastructure,

including paving for interior streets and the neighborhood’s

sidewalks, sanitary sewer lines, water lines, and storm sewer

systems. In addition, Bockus Payne Associates Architects

provided architectural design for the homes of Heritage

Village and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church donated

the neighborhood’s playground.

“We were very attracted to the vision they cast of creating

a neighborhood that had a strong sense of identity and

community,” Bruce Bockus, president of Bockus Payne

Associates Architects, said. “To use our gifts and talents as

architects to help others is always a blessing.”

As each new piece comes together, Heritage Village is one

step closer to providing families with new and affordable

homes.

“We’re planning on starting the first two homes in the next

60 days, so we’re getting geared up,” Moore said. Moore

and Turning Point Ministries are not alone in preparing

for progress in Heritage Village, however. On Thanksgiving

Day, downtown Edmond will host its annual Edmond

Turkey Trot, which is one of Turning Point’s biggest

fundraising efforts. As a deeply revered American tradition,

Thanksgiving often encompasses a spirit of giving, and

although the thought of beginning Thanksgiving with a 5K

run may not appeal to everyone, participants are running

for a good cause. All of the proceeds for the Edmond

Turkey Trot will benefit Turning Point Ministries, which

will in turn aid in the construction and development of

Heritage Village. With each step towards the finish line,

another brick can be laid into a wall that will transform into

a family’s new home.

“Last year, we passed the $30,000 mark, which is a huge

goal and a significant fundraiser for us. We would love to

grow that,” Moore said. Turning Point’s current community

partners include Edmond Electric and Citizens Bank of

Edmond, and there are a variety of ways that the Edmond

community, including you, can help Heritage Village grow.

For starters, you can register to participate in the Edmond

Turkey Trot. The event is open to all ages and includes a 5K

run and a one-mile wobble. Early registration for the trot

ends November 20 at 2:30 p.m. Registration prices for the

5K run are $26 with a T-shirt and $20 without a T-shirt.

The one-mile wobble is $20 with a shirt and $10 without a

shirt. The Turkey Trot is also looking for volunteers to help

prepare and work the event. For more information about

the trot, you can visit edmondturkeytrot.com.

Turning Point Ministries is also always in need of both

volunteer and monetary support. Volunteering with

Turning Point provides an opportunity to directly impact

a family by assisting in the construction of their home

or simply helping them to move in to their new home.

You can also contribute through a financial donation or

participate in Turning Point’s sponsorship program. All of

these are opportunities to serve and give back during the

Thanksgiving season.

Perhaps the most inspiring part of Heritage Village’s story is

its location. Though it’s near Edmond’s center, just west of

downtown, this area of Edmond is tucked away and often

overlooked. If you travel north on Fretz Avenue, toward

Danforth, you’ll encounter various twists and turns as the

road curves around the homes of old Edmond, and around

one of these bends, on your left, you’ll see a street sign,

spelling “Promise Road.” This is where you’ll find Heritage

Village – a wide-open expanse of land, sliced through by

two paved roads and sectioned off in places where houses

will sit. If you look closely enough, you can almost envision

a full neighborhood, where families both live and thrive.

The land holds the whisper of future life, and much like

the North American coastline in the age of the pilgrims,

this new development, though nearly empty, is full of

possibilities and full of promise.

For more information on Turning Point Ministries or

Heritage Village, visit turningpointoklahoma.org.

Written by Sarah Neese

Photographed by Jonathan Burkhart

Sooners Helping Sooners

CHANGING LIVES OFF OF THE FIELD

Of the 1,093,234 high school football players

that gleam under the Friday night lights,

only 6.5 percent will play in college. Of the

college stars that we cheer on at bowl games,

bedlam, and national championship victories

approximately 1.6 percent of those young men will make it

to the ultimate level – the NFL. Lets say you are from the

University of Oklahoma (OU) and have made it to being a

professional football player. You’re living a dream, achieved

by very few, and in a career that spans an average of three

– five years, if you are lucky. Taxes, agent fees, and the

procurement of eye popping luxury items will all be tied

to that “big contract” and when the pro career is over, then

what?

That’s where Sooners Helping Sooners, Inc. comes in. Founded

by University of Oklahoma icon J.D. “Jakie” Sandefer III,

this nonprofit stands with the mission to positively impact

the lives of former University of Oklahoma student-athletes

and their families by providing opportunities for personal

development, education and rewarding career paths. The

organization was formalized in 2014 and is currently

headed by the winning combination of Sooner legends Jerry

Pettibone and Jay O’Neal. Despite its strong football ties,

Sooners Helping Sooners, Inc is committed to assisting all

former student athletes, and is inclusive of all sports and

genders.

Two-time National Championship winner, and former

University of Oklahoma coach, Jay O’Neal, at one point in

time also headed the summer job program for OU student

athletes. During that time students were able to garner

summer internships and gain real world experience in their

chosen field of study. Given today’s fierce competition this

is no longer a viable option. Student athletes spend the

majority of their summers away from their families in intense

University sponsored summer workouts. So regardless if an

individual athlete elects to go pro or finishes their 4-year

degree program, their resumes read the same – no corporate

experience.

“They’re walk ons to the job market”, O’Neal said, “raw talent”.

This is a place that may be familiar to many athletes on the

field or court, however, after earning a college degree, this in

no way can be anyone’s desired endgame. Sooners Helping

Sooners, Inc assists these former college student athletes by

transforming what they have learned from playing sports:

hard work, applying oneself, and work ethic, into success in

the job world. By no means is this process a mere handout.

Former student athletes compete, like all new graduates,

for entry level jobs, but instead of having a resume full of

internships, industry experience and references, they have

Sooners Helping Sooners, Inc. as their advocates.

“In the beginning we called up our own resources,” recalls

Jay O’Neal. Many times if they had an outstanding candidate,

they would call upon a friend, and ask “businesses to give

people a try”. Now this was never a guarantee of a job, just an

opportunity to be seen, and given a chance – former athletes

still had to prove themselves in the interview.

From these humble beginnings, our state has benefited

greatly. Sooners Helping Sooners Inc has introduced the oil

and gas, service corporations, pharmaceuticals sales, truck

driving, insurance, banking, and other industries within our

state to an often overlooked, vastly capable group of young

people eager to get into the work force. For Jay O’Neal it’s

more than just helping someone get a job. “Many of them

have families they need to provide for and we help them do

that” explains O’Neal. For this passionate group, it’s about

building a legacy for student athletes at Oklahoma’s largest

university. Former OU tight end, Bubba Moses is part of that

legacy.

Moses was part of OU’s conference championship teams

from 2002 TO 2006 and participated in four Bowl Games

(Rose, Sugar, Orange and Holiday). In 2006 he graduated

from OU with a degree in criminal justice and returned

to his hometown of Houston, TX to work in a juvenile

detention center. “Playing at the University of Oklahoma,

everybody puts you on a pedestal and doesn’t prepare you for

the next [step]”, explains Moses. He also reflects back on his

college years and adds, “Personally, I didn’t take advantage of

the resources that the University of Oklahoma had to offer

because playing football [at OU] is the top thing on your list,

ya know.” For Bubba, a superior athlete that never made it to

the NFL, the reality check came quick. He rationalizes, “As

the years go on, while you’re in school, when you don’t see it

playing out how you want it to play out, then it’s like you’re

stuck in the mud. Then you say, ‘What will I do?’” A few years

ago, Moses met Jakie and his luck began to change. “They put

you in a position to succeed, to be successful” he continues

“They opened up numerous doors for me that would’ve

never opened without Sooners Helping Sooners, and it just

continues to grow.” Today, Moses and his family reside in

Fresno, TX, where he works in oil and gas, due in large part

to his experience with Sooners Helping Sooners, Inc. “They

are a wonderful organization. They are part of my family, and

my wife loves them and I do too as well,” concludes Moses.

For those in need of job placement services, an application

for Sooners Helping Sooners, Inc, is a simple click away,

when you access soonershelpingsooners.com. In addition to

employment, Sooners Helping Sooners, Inc points former

pros in need of financial planners, in the right direction.

Career center sessions are also offered to aid job seekers to

build on their speaking abilities and professional personal

appearance. This model for identifying and preparing young

people to achieve personal aspirations and career goals is

brought to fruition through an ever-growing number of

partnerships, in a diverse myriad of job fields. This particular

vision for empowering former college student athletes is

made possible by the support of businesses and individual

contributions, nationwide as well as one very special

fundraiser – the Barry Switzer Classic.

Held at the Belmar Golf Club, the Barry Switzer Classic

boasts 18 holes of Oklahoma’s best golf in celebration of

Coach Switzer’s birthday and in support of Sooners Helping

Sooners, Inc. Entrants can register as individuals or on the

higher end of the sponsorship spectrum. For a few hundred

ultimate OU fans, this is an event provides up close and

personal access to OU supporters like Oklahoma’s own

Toby Keith and former Sooner players and coaches. The

all day affair features awards, dinner, and an auction with

this bottom line – the majority of all proceeds go to benefit

future former college student athletes involved with Sooners

Helping Sooners.

Sooners Helping Sooners, Inc. is constantly looking to grow

their network and welcomes support from individuals and

area businesses. For more information on Sooners Helping

Sooners, Inc. you can visit their website, get connected on

their app, or simply keep it interactive on social media. In

this season of thanks, I’m sure we all are grateful for at least

one chance someone gave us to better ourselves, in life, and

nothing feels better than giving back.

Written by Carmen Coffee

Photo by Jim Roberson

OC Opens Its Doors

Oklahoma Christian University, with its

popular hashtag #OCisHome, is home to

over 2,000 young adults during the school

year. From all over the country and the

world, the OC community changes lives and

cultivates even the unlikeliest of friendships daily.

“One of the things that makes OC so great is its community.

The bonds between the students are unlike any others I’ve

experienced. I really think that’s because of the students’

like-minded thoughts toward service and reaching out

into the community,” one student expressed. Oklahoma

Christian is giving back to its community in some way

or another every time you turn around. One of the OC

community’s favorite ways to give back happens on Trickor-

Treat night.

The freshmen women’s dorm on OC’s campus, Gunn-

Henderson, opens its doors to the children of the Edmond

community one night during the week of Halloween.

“It’s a great time for the girls to take a breather and

remember the important things,” a former Resident

Director says. “Halloween comes around the time in the

semester when stress levels are getting high—especially for

the freshmen. Their classes have kicked fully into gear and

they realize that it’s a little different than their high school

days.”

The lesson the girls take away from the experience is vital

to OC’s motto: “OC is Home; OC Grows; OC is Mission.”

Their new home, stressful and school-ridden as it may be,

challenges them to grow to be better and equips them with

the tools to do that through serving others.

Hundreds of children pile through the halls of Gunn-

Henderson, greeted by hundreds of college freshmen girls

who are dressed up, decked out, and ready to go. Girls

decorate their doors and halls to welcome the kids for a

fun night. But it’s just as fun for the college girls as it is the

children. Eloise Wright, a current Resident Assistant, says

that the night is great for the girls because it gives them a

chance to interact with those in their hallway.

“I tell them that everything is a perk,” she said. “Gunn

Henderson seems a lot like a dungeon of sorts most of the

time, and I can’t wait for the opportunity to interact with

all kinds of people in our own halls.” Laine Weatherford,

an upperclassmen, recounted her time as a freshman

during the trick or treat night: “Getting to see all the kids

was a blast, but getting see my fellow peers and give back

to the community was even more wonderful. Halloween

is still relatively early in the semester, so it was a great

bonding night for us all to dress in costume and serve the

community alongside each other. You never know how close

a community can grow together until you serve together.

The strongest impacts on the world come from groups of

people who are working together under the same mission.”

In this instance, OC’s mission is to make the world a

homier, more inviting place.

The encouraging community of OC transcends to each

new freshmen class. A current freshman, Rachel Parrett,

expressed why she chose to come to OC: “The people of

OC are full of light that glimmers hope to its surroundings!

I’m so lucky to be in the presence of that light for the next

four years. Everyone cares so for each other on such a deep,

compassionate level and it’s evident on campus every day.

Being surrounded by this love encourages me to love others

deeply as well.” The inviting nature of OC attracts students

from all over the globe and inspires everyone who comes

into contact with it.

A parent and OC Registrar, Dr. Stephanie Baird brings

her child to trick-or-treat night. She comments on the

OC student community from an outside perspective: “OC

does a lot of things to reach out and involve itself in the

surrounding community. [Trick-or-treating is] fun because,

for many people, taking their kids trick-or-treating in the

dorms is an activity that is local and convenient. But I also

think they enjoy it because it is a safe environment. I know

that I love seeing my students in their dorm building and

how excited they get to see little kids dressed up and trickor-

treating on their hallway.”

OC president, John deSteiguer explains in an OC video,

“Home is where you learn. Home is where you grow. Home

is where you take some risks. Home is where you connect.

Home prepares you to go out into the world. It prepares you

to make a living, but more importantly, it prepares you to

make a life. Oklahoma Christian University is home.”

OC teaches kids to take the essence of home with

its inviting, warm nature and infuse it into whatever

community they find themselves. More often than not,

OC shows them that finding the essence of home is simply

seeing the community of people around them in their

day-to-day lives and bringing a light to them. Whatever

the community, whether trick-or-treating, running in the

Memorial Marathon, or volunteering at Feed the Children,

OC makes a point to bring the presence of “home” to it,

making the world a little brighter and more inviting.

Oklahoma Christian University hosts a trick-or-treat night

every Halloween week. This year the event took place on

Thursday, October 29th, from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Written & Photographed by Kennedy McAlister

It’s the best of times, it’s the worst of times, it’s holiday baking. We know the struggles of holiday cooking, and we’re here

to help you out! Whatever your holiday traditions are—conventional or unconventional—we have the perfect options

to make your holiday eating more enjoyable and less of a hassle. - Kennedy McAlister

Arbuckle Mountain Original Fried Pies (3721 N.W. 50th St., OKC)

The famous I-35 Davis, OK stop brings their fried goodies to Oklahoma City. It’s perfect

for the family who likes untraditional holiday desserts—you can order a variety of their

fried pies for your family dinner. Their special holiday pies include raisin, apple raisin

pecan, pumpkin and sweet potato.

Pie Junkie (1711 NW 16th St., OKC)

Featured in Buzzfeed.com’s article, “24 of the Most Delicious Pies in America”, Pie Junkie’s

Drunken Turtle pie reigns supreme. Order their Pumpkin Crumble with a maple bourbon

whip and sweet potato pies, and be on the lookout for their Orange Bourbon Pecan pie! They

consider themselves to be a Gluten-friendly bakery, and they can make truly gluten free pies

with 48 hours notice for customers with celiac disease.

That Pie Place (Food Truck)

A new food truck in the OKC Metro area, That Pie Place not only provides delicious

pies; it creates a fun outing for your family! Follow them on Twitter or Instagram (@

ThatPiePlaceOK) to find where they are from day to day, or visit their website (thatpieplaceok.

com) to find out how you can order whole pies.

Sherri’s Pies (704 SW 59th St., OKC)

Perfect for the hostess who has lots of food to make,

Sherri’s pink-lit interior matches the fun-loving, homey

style of their pies. Order in advance one of their

special holiday pies: pumpkin and caramel apple pecan.

Kitchen No. 324 (Downtown OKC)

Kitchen 324’s savory Chicken Pot Pie features all the holiday

goodness with a twist—a fried chicken leg in the middle

of it! Their dessert pies are freshly made in-house every

morning: coconut crème, pecan, and this fall you can enjoy

a pumpkin pie. Perfect for the family who goes out to eat for

the holidays.

What does it mean to be a runner?

People run for fun, for exercise or for

therapy. People gear up at ungodly

morning hours just to go outside and

pound pavement. People run with their pets, they run with

their iPods, they run with their ever-moving thoughts and

they do so systematically or occasionally or erratically.

A History of Greatness

The OK Runner in Norman knows the myriad reasons

people run. They understand the different types of runners

and the different types of gear each of those runners require.

Opened in 1995 the Norman location of OK Runner has not

only survived for 20 years of business, but they have thrived.

A family-owned business, the original owners of the store

tracked their ancestors’ business back to the 1900s. Such

deep roots was one reason the owners decided to plant their

first store in the heart of Cleveland County.

“We chose running because we knew something about

it and we loved the people who we ran with,” said Gus

Thompson, Partner of OK Runner. “We wanted to figure

out a way to serve them.”

OK Runner expanded its reach in 2006, opening a location

in Edmond in the Spring Creek Village. The mission of OK

Runner is simple: “Give all guests a friendly experience

and provide them with excellent customer service, products

and expert knowledge they need.” It is that mission that

has guided the successful business and the reason it is

celebrating its 20 year anniversary this year.

A Different Kind of Shoe Store

Indeed, local runners remain loyal to a brand in the same

way a runner remains loyal to his or her reliable running

trail. OK Runner has remained successful despite the push

for online shopping. Alive before the almighty internet,

OK Runner has carved out a niche that has been able to

weather the online shopping storm so many other shoe

stores have fallen victim to. Thompson believes its the

customer service that produces such loyalty. Another

edge the business has is its hands-on approach to helping

customers. OK Runner provides foot assessments, personal

analyses and evaluations as well as coaching, injury advice,

clinics, running camps and training programs for its clients,

allowing it a crucial edge over the Amazons of the world.

All of OK Runner’s attributes can’t simply be added to an

online shopping bag—they’re tangible and impactful. OK

Runner also participates in too many yearly, local events to

count, showing its support to the community and people in

it.

“I think there are three reasons the Norman and Edmond

communities have responded so positively to us,” said

Thompson. “First, we’re a locally owned company. We’re not

a national chain. I think a lot of people like doing business

with a small, locally owned-business, especially a familyowned

business. Another reason is we are part of the local

community. We serve with our churches, with our local

government and the Edmond and Norman communities.

Finally, we participate in events. Whenever there’s a local

event like local races, walks or charity events, OK Runner is

there.”

A Stellar Support System

With 20 years of experience comes many ups and downs;

however, it’s the people that keep the employees of the

running shop coming back day after day. A simple scroll

through OK Runner’s website and social media accounts

reveals that the employees value their customers above

everything else. Photos of young, happy, sweaty runners,

elite athletes and middle aged running groups pepper

the pages. The support is tangible. It is this attitude of

acceptance, no matter the skill level or running ability,

that seems to set the OK Runner apart from other cultlike

establishments. Thompson noted OK Runner’s

demographic is diverse and inclusive and one of the reasons

the store has been so successful. Support and an established

support system are two more positive attributes that OK

Runner has. Thompson attributed much of the business’

success to his family’s constant support and involvement

in the business. He also noted the things OK Runner’s

customers appreciate most about the established business.

“Our customer’s appreciate the face-to-face interaction

with our staff. They know they can get more than just a

pair of shoes when they come in. They like to talk about

their training program, their injury history and what’s new

in the market. They respect our opinions, advice, and our

knowledge of the products.”

The employees also make OK Runner unique. It is evident

that they are more like family than coworkers. Their

favorite running moments range from succeeding in their

college-level cross country meets to running in mountain

trails with their pups to becoming NCAA D1 All-American

to Turkey Trottin’ it up with their dads on Thanksgiving

morning. The wide range of interests allows each employee

to reach people in different ways. Those trying to break

their last marathon record are just as welcome as those

looking forward to completing their first ever 5K. In fact,

Thompson mentioned that the majority of OK Runner’s

customers are average, three-times-a-week runners. He

said the belief that all the customers are elite, marathon

runners, is inaccurate. Thompson said the elite runners

make up the smallest percentage of clients, with the second

largest being those individuals who rarely exercised and

were looking for supportive shoes for their everyday life.

The welcoming environment of OK Runner makes even the

most novice runner (or television enthusiast) feel welcomed

and encouraged.

Whether you’ve hit the trails in Edmond or Norman,

OK Runner has been there for local runners. The

business’ anniversary celebration serves as a reminder

of its contributions to the community and its important

placement in both Edmond and Norman. Through its many

outreach programs, running support systems and quality

products, it’s assured that the business will be here for many

more runs to come.

Written by Katy Fabrie

Photographed by Jonathan Burkhart

The thought of having to engage in some type of conflict is frequently accompanied by an impending

sense of doom. This is understandable as, unfortunately, conflict has received a bad rap over the

years—mainly because so often conflict is not handled very well. The product of poorly handled

conflict is frustration, hurt, and even isolation. However, conflict is a part of life, and it’s not going

anywhere no matter how hard we try to rid our lives of it. Does this mean we are destined to a hopeless

life full of useless conflict? Surely not!

Through working with individuals and couples in counseling, or even with groups of men in anger management

and other classes, I have noticed people wrestling with a common theme. Most, if not all, of them desire intimacy

in their relationships. They desire fulfilling and life-giving connection with those around them, but they identify

the main source of conflict in their lives happening in the context of relationships. Why is this an important observation?

First, our greatest joys and our deepest pains happen within the context of relationships. Relationships

are central to life and central to the Gospel. Second, these realities suggest we need a new perspective on conflict,

a new way to think about this ever-present correlation between conflict and relationships.

Well, here it is: INTIMACY is a BYPRODUCT of CONFLICT. To place a finer point on it, INTIMACY is a BYPRODUCT

of CONFLICT DONE WELL. This is really good news! It means the goal of working to connect in

relationships is not to get rid of conflict; rather it is to deal with conflict in healthier ways.

If we desire to experience peace and connection in relationships, we must take on the important task of not only

thinking differently about conflict but also acting differently in response to conflict. Ephesians 4:2-3 gives some

hints about how to get started, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” The Apostle Paul writes this from

prison to the ever-familiar church in Ephesus, a church with quite a history of struggling to deal with conflict

within the congregation. It is important to note that Paul was not offering cheap platitudes about getting along

and being happy; he wrote out of a deep conviction that part of the call of the Gospel is to work towards unity

with those we are in relationship with—not in spite of our differences, but in the context of our differences.

Engaging conflict in healthy ways is hard work … it is important

work … it is necessary work. Engaging conflict in healthy ways is,

in fact, an opportunity for growth and intimacy.

Todd Poe, LPC/LMFT is Pastor of LifeCare Ministry & CareSeries

at Crossings Community Church. Through support and recovery

groups, CareSeries (offered at Crossings on Monday evenings)

provides opportunities for individuals to find hope by participating

with others who are facing similar life challenges. Find details and a

complete schedule at crossingsokc.org/careseries.