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 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

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.

Sooners

helping

Sooners

FOR SOME, PLAYING FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF

OKLAHOMA IS EVERYTHING. FOR OTHERS, IT’S

NOT ENOUGH TO ENSURE A BRIGHT & SUCCESSFUL

FUTURE. SOONERS HELPING SOONERS IS WORKING

TO CHANGE THAT.

O f 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 studentathletes

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

Photos by Jim Roberson

Quail Creek Bank Launches App

Since the launch of the Apple Watch last spring,

brands from Nike to Bank of America and FitBit

have been cashing in on having their products

and apps merely fingertip length away from their

consumers.

Usually, app development is expensive in both time and

money investment, but in the right conditions these

investments can have great ROIs for the brand and greatly

benefit the consumer. This is what Duggan Roberts, vice

president of Quail Creek Bank, hoped for when he pitched

the idea to his boss.

“This isn’t an app just for young people,” Roberts said. “We’ve

found that people of all ages appreciate the convenience and

love using it.”

The app, which was rolled out with their LINQ account suite

of services, is targeted at active people who don’t necessarily

have time to stop by the bank to deposit a check or transfer

funds. The mobile app, QCB, which is available for both

Android and Apple devices, allows users to deposit checks,

transfer funds, track finances, pay bills and pay other people

through the app. The Apple Watch app connects to the QCB

app and allows users to view funds available or make sure

transfers and deposits have gone through at the swipe of a

finger.

The app came to fruition when Roberts, who has an IT

background, saw an opening in the market for becoming

the first community bank in Oklahoma to offer tech-savvy

clients more options.

This level of convenience that usually comes with larger

chains of banks also means sacrificing the “relationship

banking” that was the norm for earlier generations. However,

with Quail Creek Bank’s newest suite of services, you don’t

have to pick between investing in a company that invests in

your community or having services that allow you to have

the most convenient banking experiences available.

Roberts, who has been with Quail Creek Bank for over a

decade, highlights the benefit of banking with a community

bank.

“We won’t be building other locations, so providing services

through technology is important,” he said. “Community

banks still offer relationship banking and we invest in and

care about our community.”

This level of technology adaptation is something that other

states (think California or New York) usually get to enjoy,

however, Quail Creek Bank is making sure that Oklahomans

can bank at the swipe of a finger.

Written by Meg McElhaney

Photographed by Jonathan Burkhart

Crossings Community Clinic: Meeting

Needs, Turning Hearts, and Giving Back

Crossings Community Clinic Mission: The mission of the

Clinic is to humbly proclaim the message of Jesus by serving

the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the uninsured.

The scope of Clinic services includes vision, dental, medical

care and counseling through licensed professionals and other

dedicated volunteers.

Twelve years ago, the elders of Crossings Community

Church came together to discuss how their church could

give back to the OKC community. Missions, specifically for

the local area of Oklahoma City, were heavy on their hearts,

so they decided to do something about it. Thus, two years

after the initial thought, the first Crossings Community

Clinic opened its doors to the community. It started out as

a one-day-a-week clinic with occasional evening hours in

a 1,500 sq. ft. building, and now, ten years later, has moved

to a 9 a.m.-5 p.m. clinic Monday-Friday in an 18,000 sq. ft.

building.

Everything is bigger and better—the amount of patients

tended, health professionals working, volunteers donating

their time—but one thing remains the same: the heart and

thought process behind the clinic. Crossings Community

Clinic’s purpose is to share the message of Christ by

serving the health needs of the less fortunate. They use

the Bible verse Matthew 25:36-40 as their guide: “For I was

hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty

and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and

you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me,

I was sick and you looked after me … I tell you the truth,

whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine,

you did for me.”

The clinic caters to the needs of those who are uninsured

or otherwise without access to primary care such as those

who are working temporary jobs, the working poor,

or individuals who are unemployed. Offering medical,

dental, and vision services, Crossings sets itself apart

by remaining one of the few non-profit clinics that still

operate by appointment only. Staying true to the thought

that a community only grows when it is properly fostered,

their holistic approach to healthcare is reflected through

the care for the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of

their individual patients.

Their new location opened its doors in January this year.

Now on average, the clinic sees 50 patients per day. The

clinic employs a full-time physician’s assistant at the clinic

and a part-time doctor consistently on their staff. 60-70

professional volunteers from the OKC metro come and

offer their services at a variety of times. These health

professionals such as doctors, dentists, diabetic educators,

and nutritionists from across the metro area donate their

time to take care of the less fortunate. The varieties in the

skills offered allow each day at the clinic to meet a different

need. Medical patients at the clinic who receive a referral

from the health professional tending to them are able to

receive counseling services as well.

“I hope we continue to see the Clinic as a mission … and

continue our focus to meet people’s needs and witness to

them in a Christian way that impacts their lives… if meeting

a health need gives us a chance to show our compassion and

turns a heart for the Lord, then it’s worth it,” said Dr. Jon

Valuck, a cardiologist who volunteers at the clinic.

Crossings Community Clinic is built on turning healthy

hearts and people toward Christ.

“I do not have insurance, and I was sick and hurting,” Darrell,

a clinic patient, tells about his experience with the clinic. “My

sister told me about the Crossings Clinic … my experience

has been beyond good, it’s been just awesome. Everyone has

been so kind and helpful.”

The heart of the clinic is found in its patients and their

gratefulness. Crossings Community Clinic used its

resources to reach out to the community and transcended

the boundaries of merely helping—they have changed lives.

When their patients come to receive help, they walk away

with something more than physical health; they walk away

with a sense of hope, too. A thank-you note from a patient

sums up the heart of the clinic’s mission: “God bless everyone

for the outpouring of love shown to me!”

Since its opening, Crossings Community Clinic has 37,000

total patient visits, equaling approximately a $14.65 million

value of total care given in counseling, medical, and dental

services. 80,000 volunteer hours give the equivalent of $1.6

million more. They are on track to see 6,000 patients in

2015. They are so grateful for the volunteers who give part

of their lives to help those in need, and they always welcome

volunteers—both medical and non-medical. These staff

volunteers greet and register patients, help with paperwork,

escort patients to various appointments, assist with

managing supplies, and more. Medical background or not,

all are welcome, as some volunteer work includes assisting

with the administrative functions of the clinic. Crossings is

sponsored ministry of Crossings Community Church. Its

material needs are provided by church member donations

and donations from the community. They are always in need

of things, and list a variety of items in need on their website.

The Clinic is located at 10255 North Pennsylvania Avenue,

in Oklahoma City. Donations can be dropped off at the

clinic from 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday through Friday.

Appointments can be made by calling (405) 749-0800. For

more information for donations, volunteering, etc., visit

crossingsokc.org/clinic

Written by Kennedy McAlister

Photographed by Jonathan Burkhart

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.

A Running Legacy

OK RUNNER TURNS 20

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

Christmas Kickoff

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 festivityfilled

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 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.