Outlook December 2013

UFC Fighter Johny Hendricks A Soldier’s Christmas Who Wants a Hippopotamus?

During the Holiday Season more than ever, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our progress possible.

And in this spirit we say, simply but sincerely

Thank You and Best Wishes for the Holiday Season!

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Outlook December 2013

THE ENDLESS THRONE BEGINS

A NEW MUSICAL

BY RYAN MALONE

Armstrong

C O N C E R T – G O I N G

A S

Auditorium

I T ’ S

M E A N T

T O

B E

outlookoklahoma.com

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Outlook December 2013

December 2013

My wife left me this month.

Just for a week. Actually six days. She went to a conference in Atlanta. In our 23 years together, this was the longest stretch Sandy and I have been away from each other.

Double parked at Will Rogers, I watch her wheel her ginormous suitcase into the terminal and she’s gone. I’m thinking no big deal. Six days. I got this.

Later in the day, she calls before she’s off to attend an evening function with her colleagues. She’s attending the Weston A. Price Foundation Annual Conference—all about health, nutrition and wellness. Our conversation is cut short because the oven buzzer is going off. My frozen pizza is done. Six more days until Sandy gets home. I will eat better tomorrow.

The next day I get home from work and ask “How was your day?”

No one answers but that doesn’t stop me. I continue to engage. The cats grow bored and leave. But the dog is riveted. Five more days.

It’s Wednesday and my granddaughter, Aubrey, is here for the night. She and Sandy always watch Dance Moms. It’s their thing.

Tonight it will be our thing. I watch and ponder my acceptance speech for “Papa of the Year.” Four more days until Sandy gets home.

In the morning, Aubrey hops on the school bus and I head to the laundry room. I can run a design firm and publish a monthly magazine, but somehow I can only figure out how to operate the dryer 21 minutes at a time. So 21 minutes times three and my jeans are dry. Three more days.

Friday evening and I find myself watching the TV show Scandal.

I don’t understand the character relationships and I am missing nuances of the plot. Sandy would explain these things to me. I miss her. Two more days.

Saturday is unseasonably warm. I can’t say I miss my wife as I ride her motorcycle up Route 66. I make sure I put it back exactly as she parked it. She’ll never know. One more day and Sandy will be home.

Today’s the day. I check her itinerary. Apparently, when she booked her return flight, she hit the make my husband pick me up at the height of OKC traffic button. So here I am stuck in stop-and-go traffic just north of the airport, but I don’t care. Now I’m down to minutes. I got this.

38 My Outlook

DaYoung Jung is the Sugar Plum Fairy in OKC’s The Nutcracker

8 Facts & Figures 10 Louise

The Miracle of Christmas

15 Food

Millie’s Table Food Faves

18 Business

Armstrong Auditorium The Water4 Way

22 ‘Tis the Season

To advertise, contact Laura at 405-301-3926 or laura@outlookoklahoma.com.

Dave Miller, Publisher Back40 Design President

Front cover photos

by Marshall Hawkins

FEATURES

12 A Hippopotamus for Christmas

The classic Christmas tune makes a comeback.

20 12 is Enough More family means more love to go around.

25 A Few of Our Favorite Things Advertisers share their Christmas traditions.

28 Pet Food Pantry Reaching out to pet owners in need.

31 Fighting the Good Fight Johny Hendricks is a knockout!

35 A Soldier’s Christmas

OUTLOOK

80 East 5th Street, Suite 130, Edmond, OK 73034

405-341-5599

www.outlookoklahoma.com

Celebrating From Afar

info@outlookoklahoma.com

Volume 9, Number 12 Edmond & North OKC Outlook is a publication of Back40 Design, Inc. © 2013 Back40 Design, Inc.

PUBLISHER Dave Miller

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Karen Munger

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Laura Beam PHOTOGRAPHY Marshall Hawkins www.sundancephotographyokc.com

PRINT PROJECT MANAGER Bethany Marshall

Account Executive Emily Hummel

DISTRIBUTION The Outlook is delivered FREE by direct-mail to 50,000 Edmond & North OKC homes.

Articles and advertisements in the Outlook do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Back40 Design. Back40 Design does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising by the Outlook does not constitute endorsement of the products, services or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. The Outlook assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.

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f a c

“I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas” was originally recorded by Oklahoma native Gayla Peevey in

1953

60 years later the quirky song is seeing a resurgence on the Christmas music scene!

Learn more on page 12.

This December there are

84

adoptable pets

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Outlook December 2013

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A slice of pecan pie has 64% less calories than a slice of pumpkin pie.

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Each year, more than

3 billion Christmas cards are sent in the U.S. alone.

DaYoung Jung has been dancing for over

14 years

This holiday season, she will be playing the Sugar Plum Fairy in OKC Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker. See what she has to say about the performance on page 38.

g

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Around Town

Experience a Cozy Country Christmas with your family at Parkhurst Ranch Dec 6-7th for only $10/family. You’ll stay warm with hot chocolate and cider on a scenic wagon ride and play games with Santa Fe Santa & Calamity Claus. Visit parkhurstpumpkinpatch.com for more info.

Now open! Willow & Whale, OKC’s newest treasure trove for curated finds, offers designer picks of vintage and new furnishings, unique art and accessories. Come shop during the open house and ribbon cutting at 5211 N. Western, Friday Dec. 6 from 10am–6pm while you enjoy goodies and giveaways.

Spread holiday cheer by making a gingerbread house this year! Enter the 5th annual Gingerbread House Contest, a free event taking place at the Edmond Historical Society & Museum on December 14th. Register at edmondhistory.org.

outlookoklahoma.com

9

Louise The Miracle of

Christmas

by Louise Tucker Jones

Growing up on a farm in the fifties was absolutely magical at Christmas. Though we had no telephone, TV, or indoor plumbing, we had a small shallow pond to skate on when the temperature dipped below freezing and acres of snow to tromp through.

But best of all, we had a community gathering at our school gymnasium with children dressed in bathrobes, sheets and tinsel to play the parts of Mary, Joseph, shepherds, kings, and angels. While the young ones acted out the biblical Christmas story, the high school chorus sang the message—Silent Night, Away In A Manger, We Three Kings and more.

A huge Christmas tree, so tall we had to use ladders to decorate it, dominated the area close to the stage. When the holy pageant was over, someone ran to the microphone and announced they heard sleigh bells. The gymnasium, packed with people, became absolutely silent as Santa Claus, with his red suit, big belly and white beard, made his grand entrance with a hearty “Ho, ho, ho.” Applause erupted and children jumped up and down as Santa began calling names from the mountainous pile of presents under the tree. Packages that parents had brought so their kids would get a gift from Santa.

At the end of the evening, each person went home with a brown paper bag filled with hard candy, chocolates, nuts and fruit. I would lie awake that night reliving the magical moments of the evening. As a young girl, I loved the fact that I always got a new dress to wear to the program, my favorite being a red one with a full skirt and jingle bells sewn into the rick rack trim. Starched, crisp, can-can slips gave the skirt its flare and I loved the little jingle-jangle when I walked.

As a high school student, the words of the Christmas carols reverberated in my mind, reminding me of a Savior who came to earth. I pondered that story over and over. During summer nights, I often placed my pillow on the windowsill of the open window beside my bed and admired the starry heavens with a bright moon shining in on me. After the Christmas pageant, I would glance through that

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Outlook December 2013

ice-glazed window, picturing the angels splitting the black, night skies with Jay and other children glorious splendor and announcing their getting ready message of the Christ Child’s birth to shepherds in for their Christmas the field. What a wonder! program

Today, I can attend a number of elaborate Christmas productions at different churches and venues, but I miss those long ago pageants with children gracing the stage in holy attire, stumbling over a few speaking lines. I miss the closeness of community supporting each other. It didn’t matter if you were rich or poor, young or old, you were part of the family in our rural school and church celebrations. I even miss those brown bags of goodies that my siblings and I would dive into at home, trading out the things we didn’t like.

In our present, fast-paced world, how many of us slow down enough to ponder that first Christmas when Jesus Christ came to earth as a baby? The Prince of Peace, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, born in a stable to a young, virgin maiden. Angels sang. A star lit the eastern sky. The greatest miracle ever, yet most failed to see it.

Some of us still miss the miracle of Christmas. We look at the gifts instead of the Giver. The mundane instead of the miraculous.

The hassles instead of the holy. This year, why not choose to be different? Look for the real Christmas. You just might find it in a child’s Christmas play when a petite, tinsel-clad angel announces to the audience, “For unto you is born this day . . . a Savior which is Christ the Lord.”

Wishing you a Blessed Christmas!

About the Author Louise Tucker Jones is an award-winning author and inspirational speaker. Author and co-author of four books, her work has been featured in numerous publications.

Email LouiseTJ@cox.net or visit LouiseTuckerJones.com.

outlookoklahoma.com

11

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

by Amy Dee Stephens

The Vacuum That Truly Cleans. And Lasts.

Gayla Peevey never dreamed that her once-famous song, “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” would experience a boost in popularity sixty years after its recording. Now a new generation, the grandchildren of the original audience, has rediscovered the song, and Gayla is surprised to find herself in the role of celebrity once again.

“I can’t believe the song has been resurrected and is getting more popular every year,” said Gayla (Peevey) Henderson. “I was off living an ordinary life for years and didn’t hear anything about it until about five years ago. Then I started getting media calls from Australia, Ireland and all over the world.”

As a child, Gayla was often mistaken for Shirley Temple because of her blonde curls, but it was her unique sound that made her famous.

Gayla was a 10-year-old girl living in Oklahoma City when Columbia Records noticed her voice and stage presence on a local television show. They offered her a recording contract in 1953, and her first album landed her a spot on the Ed Sullivan Show. The hippo song shot to the top of the Christmas charts, selling over half a million copies.

At the time, only one other Christmas song, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause,” had done so well. It was sung by Jimmy Boyd, another one of Columbia’s handpicked child singers. Gayla and Jimmy performed several songs together and continued their friendship into adulthood.

Unlike Jimmy, Gayla was a one-hit-wonder. Gayla attributes that partly to the fact that the next few songs she recorded “weren’t very good songs” and that her parents lacked the marketing training

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Outlook December 2013

to further her career. When fans began stalking the house, her parents decided to uproot the family and move to California to live a “normal” life. Gayla raised a family with Cliff, her husband of fifty years, attended church socials and rarely gave her former celebrity life a thought.

Now, new and nostalgic fans are coming back into Gayla’s life.

This time, she feels more prepared to face the flurry of publicity that occurs each winter. As a career, she had a creative knack for writing commercial jingles and eventually ran her own advertising agency for 15 years. She also developed a popular website iwantahippopotamusforchristmas.net to document her childhood story.

In December 1953, the Oklahoma City Zoo approached the Peevey family with the idea of granting Gayla’s musical wish—a hippo for Christmas. Zoo Director Julian Frazier felt confident that Oklahoma children would donate their pennies to purchase young Mathilda, a hippo from the Bronx Zoo. By Christmas Eve, Oklahomans had raised the required $3500, so Gayla was at the airport to greet her new present and officially donate Mathilda to the zoo.

“Mathilda was just a baby, so she wasn’t that big,” Gayla remembered. “As a kid, I didn’t grasp the enormity of it all or the major promotions that were going on. Cameras followed me everywhere,

and I was getting bags of fan mail—but for me, it was just fun.”

Now it’s fun again! Three years ago, the Oklahoma City Zoo hosted Gayla as their guest of honor to celebrate her significant role in heralding the zoo’s first hippo. Gayla feared that no one would show up, so she was surprised to be treated like a celebrity by a crowd of adoring fans.

She led a hippo sing-along, which was so popular that it is now an annual event at the zoo. “It’s surreal to step back into that performing role, because I’ve been a normal person all these years,” Gayla said.

Although she claims normality, few people can boast of a hit song, or the vast hippo collection that has begun to spill out of her house and onto the lawn. Not everyone has a stream with a stone hippo in the backyard. Though she didn’t start the collection, family, friends and fans keep giving her items, so she doesn’t mind finding places to put them.

“It’s rejuvenating to know that people still love the song and remember that I was part of Oklahoma’s history. It’s been a wild ride,” Gayla said. “Looking back, I can honestly say that if you’re going to have a hit song, make it a Christmas song because it comes back every year!”

This year, join the hippo sing-along at the OKC Zoo where Gayla will be joining the crowd via Skype at noon on Saturday, December 7th!

outlookoklahoma.com

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Outlook December 2013

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FOOD FOOD

Millie’s Table

by Laura Beam

owner millie shores with her staff of longtime cooks

Many of us were lucky enough to grow up with family dinners as a sacred centerpiece of home life. Mom toiled in the kitchen with pots and pans galore, kids took turns “doing dishes” (loading them in the dishwasher…and grumbling about it) and hearty aromas filled the air, beckoning everyone to the table. In retrospect, it was magical. In reality, it was hard work.

The art of a well-prepared, home-cooked meal revolutionized the American dinner table in the 1960s. As Julia Child captivated audiences with her witty, exuberant cooking passions, she left an enduring mark on the home dining scene.

Food—both preparing it and eating it—was at the center of a joyous life and even the simplest meal was an event to be relished with family and friends.

The Child-like thrill of a finely finessed meal is not lost on our society today. Yet our schedules are often far more packed than our freezers and our cars run more than our ovens, leaving little time to plan and prepare the foods we crave. For many busy professionals and on-the-go families, the homemade, frozen Take-n-Bake entrées, veggies and desserts at Millie’s Table have brought their own families back to the table. Apparently, the guilty pleasure of raiding someone else’s freezer stays with us long after our starving college days and the tempting aromas wafting from our own ovens and stovetops still carry a robust sense of accomplishment.

First opened in 2007 as Super Suppers, Millie’s Table changed its name in 2011, reflecting the namesake of its owner, Millie Shores. Staffed by a group of moms who have long been cooking with love for their own families, this home-cooking haven has become a staple for metro-area residents seeking madefrom-scratch meals.

Whether stocking your freezer with a few favorite entrées to have on hand, ordering a pick-up dinner to feed a crowd, calling ahead for daily Hot Meals To-Go or stopping by after a hectic day for Take-n-Bake entrées and veggies from the freezer, Millie’s brings variety to the table with style and ease. Equally renowned for superb catering, Millie’s Table is a consistent favorite for full-service or drop-off catering for business functions and special events.

“We use tried-and-true recipes from my staff and some of our customers,” Millie explains, “with fantastic new recipes being added all the time.” Stop in on a chilly winter day and you may find the catering manager, Roe MacDurmon, sampling her newly concocted version of apple pie or mint chocolate truffle

bars. And if you happen to get to be a tastetester while you shop, all the better!

Customers especially love the extensive Healthy Menu Items like Parmesan Chicken with Creamy Sage Sauce, boasting just 290 calories per serving. Flank Steak, Tilapia, Roast Beef, Pork Marsala and Salmon are also low-cal favorites. Custom dishes such as gluten-free creations are also available upon request.

Millie doesn’t even mind if you quietly take credit when you serve one of her fabulous meals. “I’m like your hairstylist,” she graciously concedes, “I won’t tell and no one has to know. I once had a customer tell me she’d been married seven years before her husband ever learned she couldn’t cook!”

Millie’s Table is located at 1333 N. Santa Fe Ave. in Edmond. Call 330-9156 or visit milliestable.com for details.

Laura Beam is a business and food writer and 20-year advertising and marketing executive in radio, newspaper and magazines.

Share new business tips and trends with her on LinkedIn or email Laura@outlookoklahoma.com.

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FOODFAVES

by Laura Beam

Running Wild Catering

Lucille’s Restaurant

Café Icon Sushi & Grill

Once you’ve set a date for your holiday office party or special event, make your next call to this renowned catering company. Nothing sets the mood like the food, so the more options you have, the better! Their expert staff will guide you through every detail of food selection, serving options and professional bar service. They can even help plan your venue, décor and entertainment. Whether your occasion calls for a full-service meal or platters of tasty nibbles, you’ll find endless options on their phenomenal menu. Choose seasonal comfort foods, gourmet creations, specialties like Italian and Mexican foods, or let your imagination run wild with unique chef-created items just for you.

Whether you throw a laid-back party with a fun taco bar or host the black-tie event of the season, trust the food to these pros!

Looking for an exciting way to treat your friends and relatives to a taste of Oklahoma’s rich heritage while they’re in town for the holidays? Take a short drive to Mulhall where our state’s Land Rush days and Wild West ways captivate guests at the ultimate dining destination. Hearty homestyle foods like chicken fried steak, catfish, steaks and Lucille’s to-die-for homemade pies are as legendary as the Western furnishings and artifacts. Enjoy the Sunday brunch buffet from 7am-11am for a feast of chuckwagon proportions, serving up steamy homemade biscuits, gravy, waffles and all the trimmings. Afterwards, stroll through the historic four-corner area and see the covered wagon and 1894 sandstone bank building.

Experience a little slice of Vegas in Edmond!

Be dazzled! Edmond’s hottest new sushi bar and grill is turning heads and lighting up the lunch and dinner scene with an electrifying menu and mood of Vegas-style proportions. Ultra urban and warmly sophisticated, this swanky yet family-friendly hot spot will forever change your idea of what a sushi joint should be. Like the chic décor, the menu is dressed to impress with a stunning display of sushi and sashimi and a show-stopping lava stone menu—a unique and interactive dining experience.

Entrées like filet mignon, lamb and seafood are freshly prepared and served ready to cook, at your table, to your personal taste. Treat your holiday guests to an unforgettable meal when they’re in town. Call for catering too!

Call 751-0688 or browse the diverse menu at runningwildcatering.com.

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BUSINESS

Armstrong Auditorium

by Paul Fairchild Presenting This year’s Musical “David”

This December, Edmond’s Armstrong Auditorium continues its much-loved tradition of offering world-class biblical musicals. In 2010, the 823-seat symphony hall opened its doors with “Elijah.” Last December, the Armstrong International Cultural Foundation treated a standing-room-only crowd to the story of “Jeremiah.” This year’s show, “David,” will fill the house again.

The musical revolves around the story of David, proclaimed King of the Israelites, after slaying Goliath the giant, and then spending years in hiding from King Saul. It’s a story of love and sin, a story of good and evil, and a story of war and peace. Ryan Malone, the writer and composer, captures it all with eye-popping sets, a magnificent orchestral score and even Irish dancing.

“David is one of the most important figures in the Bible. His journey from boy to king—from transgression to redemption—is told in vivid detail like no other. God made some incredible promises to David that really stagger the imagination,” says Shane Granger, Armstrong Auditorium’s Marketing Director.

“His journey is a model for all men, and the more clearly we see his life, the more clearly we can begin to understand our own incredible human potential.”

Armstrong Auditorium is going big with this production. “David” includes more than 100 cast members. The show features more than 200 costumes and three enormous sets. Malone is confident that audiences will enjoy themselves. He’s no stranger to big productions, having produced last year’s debut musical, “Jeremiah.” He also composed

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Outlook December 2013

“Song of Songs,” a choral rendition of the Bible’s Song of Solomon, and he’s the regular producer of The Philadelphia Church of God’s many choral albums.

“The biggest challenge with ‘David’ was condensing the prolific biblical account into a narrative that fit into what our cast and resources would allow. I think the show highlights the most salient parts of David’s rise to power and his time on the throne. And there are elements of the story that are not typically brought out. We’re sharing the history of David in a fresh light,” says Malone.

David will be performed December 26–29.

Tickets are on sale for $8 per person.

For more information, visit armstrongauditorium.org or call 405-285-1010.

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The Water4 Way

by Paul Fairchild new well drilled in china, providing water and economic stimulus

Everything starts with water. That’s the conclusion Water4 co-founder, Richard Greenly, arrived at during a 2005 business trip to China.

In an outlying, underserved, impoverished community in one of the largest nations on earth, he watched as villagers struggled with poor health, lackluster farming and no education.

All for want of clean water.

Solving the villagers’ water problem became his personal quest, and he and his wife founded Water4 in 2008. Since it’s inception, Water4 has worked in over a dozen countries across the globe, changing the lives of a quarter of a million people.

It’s a good start, but there’s a lot more work to do while 780 million people around the world live day to day without access to clean, drinkable water. But Greenly is undaunted. “We’ve proven it works. We’ve seen it change lives. We’re ready to fix this problem anywhere and everywhere.”

It’s not so much that the water isn’t there.

It’s right under the ground. But getting it out requires an unconventional, low-maintenance, inexpensive and durable solution that can function in areas with little to no infrastructure.

Greenly, a geologist and co-owner of an Oklahoma City pump distributer, PumpsOK, turned to his lifelong friend, Steve Stewart, after founding Water4, and together they worked to create a system unlike anything else they had come across in their research.

They took a hard look at the worldwide water crisis—what aid efforts worked and what didn’t. After creating a unique hand pump and a highly effective manual drilling system, Greenly and Stewart decided that simply drilling water wells for people in need wasn’t the solution.

They decided the key to the problem was to put the locals in business drilling and maintaining

+

their own water wells. Water4 trains and equips members of rural communities to drill and manage wells in addition to repairing and fabricating their own drilling tools.

The Water4 method doesn’t just provide access to clean water, it creates a truly sustainable solution by empowering the locals to provide for their own water needs. By allowing the local men and women an opportunity to drill wells as a livelihood, it stimulates the local economy as well as improves the overall condition of the region.

“It all starts with water — food, health, agriculture, education, the economy. And once the equipment is in place, the only other necessary element is personnel,” says Greenly. Drilling is now a vocation in many of the places we’ve served.

They’re getting the water. And everything else slowly follows.”

For more information, visit water4.org

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19

The Babbs have 12 children.

Yes, an even dozen, a full house,

12 Is Enough

by Heide Brandes

a good mix, a large brood, a small herd.

They are your typical American working family…with 12 kids.

“We’ve answered all the typical questions people always ask,” said father Brian Babb. “We never planned to have 12 children, and we never looked at it as a burden. Our children were gifts, and it’s just fun to have a full house. People always assume you’re a kook or something when you say you have 12 kids.”

For all intents and purposes, the only reason people make a big fuss over the Babbs—besides their welcoming attitudes and friendly natures—is the fact that their family is so large. In this day and age when having four kids is considered brave, most people can’t imagine having such a full house. “People always tells us, ‘Oh, I’d have another but I don’t have the time,’ or, ‘We’re waiting until we can afford to have a baby,’” Brian said. “If you keep waiting for the right time, you’ll never do it. It’s the same with kids. It always works out.”

For Laura and Brian Babb and their family, a full house means more fun, more family and more festivities. They can’t see why anyone makes such a big deal of it. But, with 12 kids comes a certain amount of challenge, like the logistics of getting everyone to various sports practices and doing laundry. December is a rough month, hosting five birthdays and Christmas to boot, but it’s all in a day in the life of the Babbs.

“When we go to school, everyone asks, ‘Oh, are you a Babb?’” said Anna Laura, one of the younger sisters. “People know who you are.”

The Babbs are, of course, Mom and Dad but also, from oldest to youngest: Andrew, Peter, Leah, Philip, Hannah, Rebekah, Mary Kathryn, John, Sam, Anna Laura, Ben and Abby.

Welcome to the family.

A Full House

Laura and Brian met while they attended college together in Dallas, but after the oil bust in the 1980s, Brian didn’t complete his final year in college, studying to become a petroleum engineer, and instead went to work for his father. Soon after college, Laura and Brian married and had their first two boys, Andrew and Peter. “Then we started seeing articles about how petroleum engineers were needed, so we decided it would be good for Brian to go back and finish school,” said Laura.

20

Outlook December 2013

Brian graduated and began working with major oil companies in Midland, Texas. After 12 years and 11 kids, they moved to Oklahoma in 2002.

Abby was the last to join the Babb brood.

“We’ve been raising kids for 27 years, so it’s nothing out of the ordinary for us,” said Laura. “But, I did realize even back then that large families were not the trend. But, both Brian and I came from large families. I had five siblings and he had six, so that’s what we were used to.” Although the Babbs never set out to have 12 children, they didn’t fight against it either. “We didn’t do it for religious reasons, but we were open to God’s plan,” said Laura. “He had a plan, and we let it happen.”

Sibling Simiplicity

For such a large family, the siblings all seem to get along. Andrew, Leah and Hannah are out of the home already and Rebekah started college this past fall. The five-bedroom house in Edmond includes a bedroom for Mom and Dad, a bedroom for the girls, a bedroom for the boys, a spare single room for the oldest child and a playroom.

“You always have people to look out for you,” said the youngest, Abby. “When there are 11 other brothers and sisters, you’re never lonely.

There’s always someone to play with.” Sure, brothers and sisters bicker.

Sometimes they even fight. But if one of the kids is gone overnight, the others miss him or her. They like to share rooms. Ben, a spunky little dark-haired lover of lizards, likes to see his sisters squeal when he brings out his pet bearded dragons.

“They all get along for the most part,” said Brian.

Even the logistics of raising such a big family isn’t as difficult as

Left: Brian, Andrew, Peter, Philip, John, Sam and Ben Right: Laura, Leah, Hannah, Rebekah, Mary Kathryn, Anna Laura and Abby

one might imagine. While the Babbs do not go nuts on planning where every cent goes, they aren’t spending irresponsibly either. Because the children are involved in various activities, planning and organizing how to get the kids to their practices and appointments can be a little tricky, though the older siblings help out with driving too.

“Laundry doesn’t even overwhelm me,” said Laura. “I have a system. Everything is hung up, except sock and underclothes. Everyone has a spot on the rod in the laundry room and everyone has their own laundry basket. It’s their responsibility to come get their own clean clothes, though a few do use their laundry room as a closet.”

While some larger families draw names for Christmas, the Babbs choose to buy presents for each child and let each child buy gifts as they see fit.

The family focuses more on celebrating individual birthdays instead.

“Because of the size of the group, it’s a lot more fun. The house is never empty,” said Brian.

“You have more fun with more people. We never have had horrendous times with logistics, and, now that some of the kids are older, we have some time for just the two of us too.”

Raising each child—especially through the tough teenager years—becomes less complicated with each child. “Once you’ve been through it three to four times, it gets easier,” said Laura. “You know what to expect and you feel much less worried when they reach an age where they start to withdraw or want their independence.

You know it’s going to be painful—painful for them, for you. They have to figure it out. But then one day you turn around and you see your child and think, ‘Wow. He’s an adult. He’s making adult decisions,’” she said. “We are very proud of our children.”

Abby, however, is the last child, and is eight years old. The Babb household will be strangely silent when Abby moves out… but maybe not so much. Already, the older ones are getting married and starting families of their own. “It won’t be an empty nest,” said Brian. “We’ll have the grandkids then.”

outlookoklahoma.com

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A Few of Our Favorite Things In the course of daily business life, Outlook magazine is honored to also share in the personal lives of our clients and colleagues.

Enjoy a heartwarming glimpse into the traditions and nostalgic moments that create holiday memories for the hardworking families who bring you, our valued Outlook readers, the products and services you love.

rowing up, my family had a Christmas tradition that we didn’t “G put names on our gifts to each other. We would just wrote something like “To: ABC from Dad” so we didn’t know whose gifts were whose…just had to remember your own codes. As we got older, my parents would make us wrap our own presents from them—until my dad realized that I was sticking my hand in the box to see if I could figure out what I was getting. I stopped that when he gave me jumper cables. I had no idea what they were!”

—Mille Shores, Millie’s Table

look forward to mashed “I always potatoes & sweet potato casserole!

I also love shopping for my nieces, nephews and cousins—makes me feel like I’m a kid again!”

—Andy Nelson, Nelson Lawns

year we will no doubt preempt “T his the Thunder game on Christmas

Day with what will hopefully be a friendly game of family hoops.

No Christmas would be complete without a private, extended family screening of Christmas Vacation and some late night music courtesy of the family musical troupe known as the Wynn Brothers.”

—Joshua Morphew, Baxter Electric Plumbing Co.

he Kregger family cranberry relish is always a hit for the “Tholidays!

Use an old-fashioned crank style food processor to grind up two peeled apples, two peeled oranges and one bag of cranberries.

Add a cup of sugar or sweeten to taste.”

—Paul Kregger, Kregger’s Floors & More

y family gets together every “M Christmas in the New Mexico

Mountains. We set up an assembly line with everyone from my wife and I, our children and even the grandkids and we make dozens and dozens of

tamales. It’s great fun! We eat some during our Christmas stay but most are frozen for later consumption or given away to friends who like good hot Mexican food. They aren’t for the faint of tongue, but they’re delicious!”

—Dr. David Minyard, OK TMJ & Sleep Therapy holiday season my family makes “Everypeppermint white hot chocolate: 2 cups half & half, 1 cup milk, 1 bar of white baking chocolate, and 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract. Melt together over low heat, pour in a mug, and add a candy cane. It’s Christmas in a cup!”

—Dr. Trevor Courouleau,

Edmond Hearing Doctors

carrying on a tradition “Besides from my own childhood of

listening to Elvis Christmas songs while decorating the tree—which my family considers a form of torture—there are two things I look forward to about Christmas. One is getting together with family on Christmas Eve for a soup dinner and games. Before the evening ends, we read the story of Jesus’ birth from the Bible and reflect on what it means to us today. Also, because we love seeing homes decorated for Christmas, the past few years we’ve taken poinsettias to different neighbors whose homes we particularly enjoyed and thanked them for blessing us during the Christmas season.”

— Jennifer Ayotte, Crossings Community Church

a Christmas Eve candlelight service, we return home “F ollowing to a dinner of linguini with white clam sauce, salad, and crusty Italian bread. Desserts are a blend of the old and the new: Grandma Connie Bruno’s delicious New York cheesecake (in honor and remembrance of a lovely, loving mother) and Kristen Murphy’s fabulous, frosted sugar cookies, our newest and treasured tradition. To quote my son, Mike, “Food is love, Mom!” Truly, isn’t love what Christmas is all about?”

— Jean Murphy, Haggard’s Furniture

outlookoklahoma.com

25

(minimum of 300 sq. ft.)

Time to say out with the old tile and carpet and in with new wood floors. Are you dreaming of new wood floors, but dread the mess associated with tearing out your tile? Are you tired of your 70’s carpet, but the thought of working with unreliable installers stop you in your tracks? Kregger’s Floors and More is here to help.

Not only does Paul Kregger and his crew offer outstanding friendly and dependable service, but they have also created a system that elimnates many of the hassles most associated with tile removal.

Their new dust collection system minimizes the dust. Although their technique is not dust-free, Kregger says it is “light-years ahead of the rest.”

With most companies, replacing tile can take a week or more. Besides eliminating much of the dust, with Kreggers, your floor can be free of tile and prepped for new flooring in no time. “Most people think that the task of replacing tile is more construction than they want to deal with. With our manpower and no ‘middle man,’ your tile can be gone in as little as one day!” said Kregger.

The installers are what set Kregger’s apart. This ensures customers are getting someone who knows and shows skills he’s familiar with to install their flooring. “In some stores the installers are folks the

store has known maybe a day, mabye a year. It’s hard to say. At Kregger’s all of our installers are long-time employees or family members.”

Edmondite Christy Dowell says, “We have a home full of Kregger’s floors! New wood floors, tile floors, rugs, a shower and soon to be carpet.

Paul and Chris and the rest of their crew have been a pleasure to work with; always courteous, respectful and punctual. They are also very trustworthy. We left our home to them for a week and came back to beautiful wood floors. It seems to me that ‘satisfaction’ is their number one goal... and I am completely satisfied! I highly recommend Kregger’s Floors and More.”

Must mention Outlook magazine. Exp. 12/31/13 26

Outlook December 2013

Kreggers is now offering an unbeatable $5.99 psf on genuine Mohawk hand-scraped wood floors installed. “What every customer is looking for is great quality at a great price. With our low overhead environment, they always get a great price and workmanship that’s second to none.”

For more information call 348-6777 or stop by the store at 2702 S. Broadway in Edmond.

If wood’s not what you’re looking for, come browse through our amazing selection of carpet and tile!

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W

Pet Food pantry

hat do you do when money is tight and you don’t have enough money to feed yourself, not to mention your pet?

Many seniors and homeless people in central Oklahoma share their own hard-to-come-by food with their beloved animals, increasing the risk of malnutrition for both. Kim Pempin and her

by Heide Brandes

husband Mike saw this scenario far too often. While traditional food banks helped provide needed nutrition to people, very few helped with pet food.

In many communities like Oklahoma City, however, organizations now exist that distribute pet food to needy pet owners.

The Pet Food Pantry of OKC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing hunger in pets and the people who love them by providing pet food and pet services to low-income senior citizens, the homeless and veterans. “By providing these people with pet food, we are doing more than just feeding their pet—we are helping keep food in their own bowl,” said Kim. “No one should go hungry. Also by helping feed these pets, fewer animals will end up in rescues and shelters.”

Kim has shared her life with animals since she was a child.

Already involved in animal rescue, she found her calling when she heard about a dog named Avalanche that lived at Grace Rescue Mission in Oklahoma City. She knew the mission was feeding the poor and the homeless, so she decided she would donate food for the hound.

“I told them I would bring them pet food, and I literally dropped off the food on my lunch hour one day,” Kim said. “They were so thankful, and I heard God’s voice in my head saying that this could be something bigger.”

With that thought, Kim pulled her friends together to find out if any organization in Central Oklahoma was giving pet food to the poor for their animals. Besides a lone temporary shelter, no one was. “I came

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Outlook December 2013

back and started doing research. I studied other pet food pantries around the country and contacted them,” Kim said. “Then, I just came up with the name and filed the paperwork. I knew that if we were going to do something like this, we had to do it right.

The Pet Food Pantry started in June 2010 in the Pempins’ garage, and Kim and her husband began delivering pet food to the elderly who were referred to her by other organizations. The need grew, as did the volunteer force. Six months later, the Pempins expanded the operation to a storage building and then added a second one.

“I was delivering to 15 or 16 people at the time. Now we have 85 seniors on our delivery list, in addition to the homeless. Their pets are mainly cats and dogs, but we even have some people who own birds,” said Pempin.

The Pet Food Pantry teamed up with the Rescue Bank of Houston, a clearinghouse for donated pet food for organizations around the country. After expanding yet again, the Pet Food Pantry is a fulltime operation for the Pempins and the board of directors. Pallets of 20-pound dog food and cat food line the walls and are separated for delivery to seniors each month. Then the volunteers travel around the metro area for deliveries.

Each client fills out detailed paperwork. They are required to meet some expectations, like not chaining their dog up all day or not reselling the pet food that’s donated. Also they are required to eat their own food and to only feed the donated pet food to the animals.

“We had one volunteer who saw a lady receive her delivered meal, open it, and feed the food to her dog,” Kim said. “She said the dog was hungrier than she was. This is why we do this—to keep people and pets from going hungry.”

After three and a half years of operation, the Pet Food Pantry continues to grow. After the tornadoes in Oklahoma this May, the scale increased as they rushed to help with pets displaced by the storms. They provided more than 2,500 pounds of food for the Animal Resource Center in Moore following the storms.

The Pet Food Pantry is currently accepting applications for volunteers and donations. Although pet food donations are accepted, monetary donations go further.

For instance, a donor could buy $100 worth of pet food, but through the Pet Food Pantry’s partnership with the Rescue Bank of Houston, Pempin can get 1000 pounds of food for the same amount.

“There really is a need for this, and we can and do make a difference,” she said. “No one deserves to go hungry.”

For more information or to donate, visit petfoodpantryokc.org.

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30

Outlook December 2013

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sports

fighting the good fight

by Paul Fairchild

Edmond Memorial High School graduate Johny Hendricks is not a contender. He is the #1 welterweight contender in the rough, hard-hitting world of UFC fighting. On November 16th, he stepped into the octagon to challenge longtime champion Georges St-Pierre for the belt—15 pounds of engraved metal and leather that marks its wearer as the UFC’s best mixed martial arts fighter. Both fighters were glad to hear the bell that ended the fifth and final round, the last chapter in a 25-minute story peppered with St-Pierre’s lethal jabs and Hendricks’s trademark, devastating left hooks.

In the weeks approaching the fight—easily the most important of his life—Hendricks often looked back at his Edmond Memorial and OSU wrestling careers. As a high school wrestler, he brought three state championships to his alma mater. As an OSU Cowboy, he was equally fierce, garnering two NCAA Division I wrestling titles. He placed second during his senior year—due to a last-minute call. This, Hendricks says, is where he truly began to see the value of sportsmanship. Along with that came a pretty good sense of humor. “It’s also where I developed my work ethic and the art of not losing!” he jokes.

When the final bell rang on November 16th, “Happy Beard Guy,” as fight fans have lovingly dubbed him, threw his hands in the air and made his trademark victory dash across the octagon, both beard and smile living up to the nickname. Only seconds later he collapsed on the

mat when judges revealed a controversial split decision that meant he’d be going home without the championship. One story was over. A new story began—a tale of sportsmanship squared off against a fierce determination to win.

Edmond Memorial High School wrestling coach Darren Huff is always floored when he watches his ex-student fight. He describes Hendricks as a dazzling freestyle wrestler with a gift for finding answers to unsolvable puzzles in seemingly no-win scenarios. But he’s never taken aback by Hendricks’s humility. “Johny’s work ethic is

“It’s also where I developed my work ethic and the art of not losing!” he jokes. second to none. He went above and beyond then and I’m sure he does now. He’s an incredible wrestler and if he’d made the choice, he could have been an Olympic champion. No doubt about it,” says Huff.

There are at least one million fight fans out there that agree with Hendricks’s former coach. They each paid upwards of $50 to watch him face St-Pierre in one of the most anticipated pay-per-view events in UFC history. Floor seats at Las Vegas’s MGM Grand, which hosted the fight, topped $1,000. Despite the belt being given to St-Pierre in front of countless fans, Huff knows Johny will handle the loss with the right atttude. continued on next page

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31

fighter, cont.

Great sportsmanship… because I want to show my daughters that you can be a good competitor, win or lose.

When there’s a fight on the horizon, Hendricks spends more than 16 hours training each day. Knowing that he’ll be staring down the business end of a UFC champion’s jabs inspires focus. But, he says, focus without balance in his life wouldn’t serve him well. Grace under pressure and sportsmanship in the face of a controversial loss are byproducts of a healthy perspective and a natural balance in life.

Spending time with his family recenters him. Beyond that, fishing and hunting take his mind out of the ring for a bit and bring him back to the world at large.

“The reason why I want to show great sportsmanship is because not only is it the right thing to do, but I want my daughters to see how I act and show them that you can be a competitor and want to win.

There is another side to that story too, and that’s losing. Losing sucks,

32

Outlook December 2013

but it happens and I want my kids to be both good winners and good losers,” he says.

Hendricks’s grace in the face of loss is, to say the least, being tested.

Immediately following his controversial win, St-Pierre announced that he’d be taking time off from UFC fighting. It was an unorthodox victory speech and a clear denial of a rematch for Hendricks.

If St-Pierre retired, the welterweight belt would be up for grabs by the top-ranking contenders. But walking out of the octagon with belt in hand—by dint of a controversial split decision—and announcing time off was another way of saying, “It’s mine and I’ll get back to the rest of you on my own time.” And that’s a hard thing for an opponent to hear. It’s a hard thing for fans to hear. But Hendricks took it in stride, leaning on sportsmanship.

Nothing’s written in stone, yet. There’s still a chance that Hendricks will face St-Pierre again sooner rather than later. There’s nothing sure about the situation except Hendricks’s desire to wear the belt. The sportsman in him has already shaken off the sting of loss. The competitor in him will hold onto it, using it as a powerful motivator to train for the rematch he so desperately wants. And until the chips fall, Hendricks extends a simple invitation to St-Pierre: “Just get back in that octagon with me. I can’t wait for the rematch.”

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“Johny taught me as much about the sport as I taught him. When the coaches were tearing their hair out over difficult losses, he was showing us how to lose and come back from it gracefully,” says Huff.

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Outlook December 2013

by Lance Evans

What do you want for Christmas? It’s the question that everyone is asking this time of year. As many of us prepare to stuff our stockings and fill our living rooms with the wishes of our loved ones, it’s easy to forget about the simple things that actually keep us warm well beyond the holiday season.

Specialist Andrew Wood gifts us with liberties and freedom year round. Currently, he is serving our country overseas in Afghanistan.

After graduating from Bishop McGuinness in 2010 and completing two semesters at OSU, he decided to join the Oklahoma National Guard and has been deployed since the summer. He originally enlisted to help with college expenses, but he quickly discovered that the National Guard was the place for him. “I love every bit of it,” says Andrew. “I’m with a great group of people and that alone makes it better. Knowing that I’m doing something that benefits everyone back home—that’s a reward.” This year, Andrew will spend the Holidays away from home

and he will also celebrate his 23rd birthday in December. “It will be my first Christmas deployed,” says Andrew. He looks at his fellow soldiers as extended family members and is hoping to enjoy some down time with them this holiday season. “A lot of the people who I’m with are on first deployments as well. We’ve grown very close.”

No one can replace the family that Andrew has back home, but his mother is grateful that Andrew is surrounded by loved ones. “That is what keeps me going,” says Liz Wood. “Coming from a military family, I know how important the bond is. The camaraderie, the friendship, the brothers in arms— continued on next page

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A soldier…, cont.

it gets a soldier through it.” This year, Liz has one thing at the top of her Christmas list. While speaking with her over the phone, her tone clearly reveals her sole desire. “Did you get to speak with my son?” she asks. “I’m so jealous.” As her voice shakes and more questions follow, you can only hope that the responses over the spotty cell phone service offer some level of comfort to the concerned mother. “How is he doing?”

After reassuring her that her son is in great spirits, Liz quietly breathes a sigh of relief and begins to open up about her youngest child. “We were very surprised when he joined the military,” says Liz. “He joined about three or four weeks after his older brother.” Andrew is the youngest of Liz’s three children.

Although it came as a surprise to friends and family members, she says they fully support Andrew’s decision. “We could not be more proud!”

Liz says that everything changed for Andrew one night at his job.

He was busy working the night shift as the front desk clerk at a hotel.

Andrew’s entire family— Liz and his father Forrest Wood, his older sister April and big brother Jon—are all anticipating Andrew’s safe return. There is one family member in particular who is anxious to see his best bud— Andrew’s dog Argos. “It’s really all about the dog, if you know Andrew,” says Liz. Prior to leaving for boot camp, Andrew had an endearing request of his family members. “He was getting on the bus and some of his last words were, ‘if there is any way that you can send me Argos, please send him to me.’”

Since Andrew’s deployment in June, Liz’s communication with him has been mainly through thoughts, prayers and daily Facebook messages. “I haven’t spoken to him since he left,” says Liz. “I message him every day!” Andrew might not always have enough time to message his loved ones, but he says that he constantly “It may not seem like your thoughts and prayers get to us, but every little bit matters.” feels a strong connection with them. It’s these binding ties that are helping him get through the holidays. “It’s hard One of the overnight guests happened to be an agent with the Federal to know how much you care about your family, but it’s even harder to Aviation Administration who also worked with Bell Helicopters. know how much they care about you,” he says. Andrew believes that Andrew has always been interested in helicopters and, as his mom everyone can afford to send a small gift to all soldiers who are separatcalls it, “mechanically inclined.” After talking with the gentleman, ed from the ones they love. “It may not seem like your thoughts and Andrew was inspired to follow his dream which eventually led him prayers get to us, but every little bit matters.” to the National Guard.

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Outlook December 2013

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MY outlook

by Bethany Scott

DaYoung Jung, Ballet Dancer Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker How long have you been dancing?

I started dancing in Korea when I was 12, and I’m 26 now.

How does it feel to be a lead in the Nutcracker?

The sugar plum fairy is one of my favorite roles and is a magical part of The Nutcracker.

It’s a very mature role compared to Clara, the little girl. However I enjoy both and they are both very challenging.

Why do you think the Nutcracker has remained as a holiday standard?

The Nutcracker is a symbol of Christmas, and it is easy to watch because the ballet isn’t too classical. Everyone can enjoy it!

What is your favorite part of the musical?

The second act. You get to see all of the different types of dancing— Spanish Hot Chocolate dancers, Arabian Coffee dancers, Chinese Tea dancers, Danish Marzipan dancers, Russian Candy Cane dancers… I love it! And, of course, the Sugar Plum Fairy dance!

What is your favorite ballet? Have you had a chance to perform it?

When I was a child, The Nutcracker was my favorite ballet and I always wanted to have a lead role. I’m so lucky my dream finally came true!

What is the most important part of preparation for you?

Coffee. If I don’t have coffee, I can’t do anything!

Besides the Nutcracker, what are your favorite holiday-themed plays or movies?

I like watching Home Alone...I love that movie!

What is the hardest part about ballet?

It’s hard to control my body. We get tired so easily, and then working with point shoes on it can be difficult for a woman dancer. It’s difficult to keep healthy and in shape all the time.

You are originally from Korea. What is life like in Edmond compared to there?

Edmond is very quiet, and I like that it’s a small-town. There are no big buildings. Edmond is very clean and has very nice people.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I like to play golf. I just started learning it, but it’s too cold to play now!

I also like watching movies.

Anything else we should know?

The dancers for the OKC Ballet performance of the Nutcracker are working really hard every day. We want to show our audience everything we’ve got because we appreciate them coming to see us!

For ticket information, visit okcballet.com/nutcracker.

NUTCRACKER THE

DEC. 13-15 & 20-22

CIVIC CENTER MUSIC HALL PRESENTED BY

JASON & JULIE HAMILTON

405.848.8637 okcballet.com 38

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