Outlook March 2015 by Outlook Magazine

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Outlook March 2015

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March 2015

A Hobby that Goes Crunch As I look through household purchases over the last month I see someone has a new hobby. I see quite a few purchases from Bed, Bath & Beyond. Hmm… a Nutribullet, new knife set, dehydrator, cutting boards, a high end skillet. Someone’s getting into cooking. Okay, its me. I’ve become a chopping, slicing, dicing, organic food fanatic. No, I haven’t gone vegan yet. By the way, how do you know if someone’s a vegan? Don’t worry—they’ll tell you. (I’ve heard you can say that about Crossfitters too). For most of my life my diet consisted of processed and prepared food. My idea of a well-balanced meal was a 16-ounce prime rib and an after dinner cigar, but my wife’s commitment to healthier eating has finally taken hold. And like any hobby I get interested in - it doesn’t take me long to go extreme with it. Lately I’ve been preparing raw meals. Sure, research, shopping and food prep for raw foods may take more time but I find it enjoyable and the rewards are tasty. Plus, I’m finally starting to shed those extra pounds I could never lose and I’m sleeping better at night because my body is not working so hard to digest meals like that prime rib. If I sound obsessed, it’s because I am obsessed. With feeling better. Don’t worry, I haven’t given up on my other obsessive hobbies. In fact I’m taking my little car out to the race track this weekend. I think it’s fair to wager that between sessions I’ll be the only driver noshing on raw zucchini noodles and creamy avocado pesto.

35 Laugh, Think & Cry

Twin siblings inspire each other after the loss of their parents

8 Facts & Figures 10 Louise

Friends in Far Places

17 Food

Breaking Bread Local pastors share their Easter traditions

20 Business

Journey Quilt Company Coffee Creek Church

32 Easter Services 42 My Outlook

Pastor Pete Balaban, School Bus Driver

Dave Miller, Publisher/Back40 Design President

Front cover photography by Marshall Hawkins To advertise, contact Laura at 405-301-3926 or laura@outlookoklahoma.com

OUTLOOK

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

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FEATURES

12 Backyard Bees Suzanne Govett shares the beauty of beekeeping

22 The Tiny House We Built Local couple finds joy in learning to live with less

26 Posthuman Success This Oklahoma-filmed movie is gaining success by appealing to families

28 Discovering with Dino

An Oklahoma native finds a lifetime of work in his ability to connect with celebrities

37 A Dream for Sunbeam

Sunbeam Family Services has big plans for the future

40 Word on the Street Tatyana Fazlalizadeh addresses female street harassment through her public art info@outlookoklahoma.com

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

PRINT PROJECT MANAGER Bethany Marshall

Account Executive Emily Hummel

Graphic Designer Ryan Kirkpatrick

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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l o

f a c

t s

Lucky at Back40 During the birth of my first child, we both almost died. Spoiler alert— we didnt! Reyna One day in college, a friend and I took $7 to the casino to play slots and won $1300 after three spins. Matt M.

Was lost and dehydrated while hiking when I was rescued by a couple who happened to change their plans at the last minute. Brian

My house in SW OKC was narrowly missed by the May 3, 1999 tornado. Laura

Outlook March 2015

I entered a drawing for a bike on the last day when I was in middle school, and the next day I got the call that I won! Jennay

I got free tickets to see Paul McCartney, front row center. Jonathan

I was lucky in tricking my wife into marrying me, and she hasn’t figured a way out yet. Jerry

Wandered off in the country and followed my dog into a pond. Almost drowned when my dad showed up and pulled me from the water. Justin

I was born on St. Patricks day and I was extremely lucky in love. Dave

My dog Calvin is (almost) back to normal after a leg break that resulted in amputation. He is now the happiest threelegged dog! Emily

My house got hit by a dumptruck and I didn’t die. Jon

At a cartoonist convention in the 90s, Dave and I lucked out and got to have breakfast with Charles Schultz. Sandy

Around Town

Is a lack of sleep affecting your daily routine, your weight, your well-being? Attend Somnus Healthcare’s FREE Sleep Wellness Class to learn more about sleeping disorders and how you can correct them. Visit somnushc.com for class schedules or call (405) 312-3117. Severe spring allergies call for expert solutions! Find relief with Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic at one of their convenient metro locations. See ad on page 19, call 2350040 to make an appointment or visit oklahomaallergy.com for more information. Reason to Believe Therapeutic Riding Center is having their annual Spring Family Fun Fest! Join them on Saturday, March 28th from 2-4pm. Enjoy an Easter egg hunt, inflatables, wagon rides and more. Learn more at reasontobelieveranch.org

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Louise

Friends in Far Places by Louise Tucker Jones

I’m wondering how many of you attended the Garth Brooks’ concert in Tulsa recently. I wasn’t there but I’m betting he sang his signature song, “Friends in Low Places.” How could he not? The fans would go crazy and even sing it themselves if he tried to skip it. I enjoy the lively tune but I find that many of my friends are now in “far” places—other cities, states and even countries. I never had pen pals while growing up, so “far-off friends” came as a surprise when I started publishing my writing. I received letters from all over the United States. In fact, I have a wonderful, longtime friend in Alabama because of one of my Guideposts articles. But some of my favorite far-off friends are high school girlfriends who now live in different places. With each passing year, we try to keep in better touch, friending each other on Facebook and texting or calling when life takes a dramatic turn. Who would have thought 50 years ago that we would still be so close? We also try to get together for Girlfriend Adventures. Our latest was in April of last year. My son, Jay and I spent the month of April in Bella Vista, Arkansas, celebrating Jay’s birthday with his brother, Aaron and his family in Bentonville—just a few miles down the road from our rented townhouse. We visited all kinds of attractions, shopped, ate at fun restaurants and had a picnic at beautiful Blowing Springs Park. But there was another special adventure that also took place that month. One weekend, some of my girlfriends came for a visit. From the minute we met for lunch on Thursday until they left on Saturday, we were reliving old times and acting like the teenagers we were when we attended high school together. We were one crazy bunch. At a restaurant one evening, Yolanda was absolutely positive a lady was staring at us for being too loud. Did we care? No! Although Gaylen

Outlook March 2015

Aundrea, Gaylen, Yolanda & Louise at the Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.

did try to give her the old “evil eye.” Is that high school behavior? Of course! And what fun to be so unencumbered for a few days. We took pictures then hung out a bit in the hotel lobby to see what was going on there. One time, the girls piled into the elevator but forgot to punch a button after the doors closed. Everyone was having a ball, laughing and talking, before someone finally realized they weren’t moving. People outside the elevator door could hear the lively conversation and were laughing too. My son, Aaron gave us a grand tour of the beautiful Crystal Bridges Museum where we took more pictures. Such fun. We even threatened to TP an old friend’s house who lived in the area and was taunting us on Facebook. What sixty-something-year-olds act like that? High school friends! There’s nothing like them. I am so thankful for these sweet sisters, especially when I look at the March calendar and see that Carl and I would have been married 49 years this month. I still miss my husband desperately and wonder if he will be celebrating in heaven. Surely they have cheeseburgers and fries—our anniversary meal. I’ll celebrate with the same, then call or text my girlfriends and share my heart. They will be tender and gentle and offer their own special sentiments and memories of Carl—a guy they all knew and respected because he loved their sister-friend so well. Thanks, Girlfriends. Love y’all!

About the Author Louise Tucker Jones is an award-winning author, inspirational speaker and founder of the organization, Wives With Heavenly Husbands, a support group for widows. Email LouiseTJ@cox.net or visit LouiseTuckerJones.com.

Nancy Dobbs

INDEPENDENT SUPER STAR CONSULTANT

341-3107 elegantcandlegifts.com

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backyard by Heide Brandes

bees by Heide Brandes

Suzanne Govett, Beekeeper

On warm Oklahoma days, Suzanne Govett’s yard east of Edmond buzzes with the hum of industrious bees that fly in and out of the two hives she keeps in her backyard. Although she cares for the hives, the bees don’t really rely on her too much. Instead, they go about their business of collecting pollen for honey and building their community. “I love to just watch them,” she said. “I love to check out the pollen baskets on their little legs to see what color pollen they have, see what they are going about and doing. It’s fascinating. Beekeeping is pretty addictive.” Govett, who started backyard beekeeping three years ago, has eight hives today and simply took a local class to get started. In an era when bee populations are dangerously declining, these backyard beekeepers are helping a species survive. In turn, they are rewarded with the sweet payment of honey, up to 60 pounds per hive in Govett’s case. Now, beekeepers are spreading the word that anyone can have a hive, help the bee population and harvest their own honey. It’s as easy as taking a few classes and ordering the supplies.

Buzz About Bees

According to Global Research, in the last half decade alone, 30 percent of the national bee population has disappeared and nearly a third of all bee colonies in the U.S. have perished. Today, honeybees are trucked to various regions of the country just to help pollinate an estimated $40 billion worth of the nation’s agricultural produce each year. Every third bite of food we eat comes as the result of bees and other pollinators, according to the organization, but bitterly harsh winters, severe drought and the increased use of pesticides and fungicides have all led to the bee apocalypse.

Outlook March 2015

Knowing the detrimental effects a smaller bee population could have on society, citizens are clamoring to help. According to Brent Hawley, manager at Beekeeping, Etc., bees are selling out earlier and earlier every year. “The demand for bees is high, and we start selling out of bees by February,” he said. “People understand the issue with the decline in bee populations, and they want to help, so a lot more people are getting hives.”

The Beauty of Bees

Mike Cleveland and Mark Ferguson, partners in Rogue Bees Apiary in Newcastle, didn’t set out to become beekeepers. In fact, they just wanted to make mead, a type of honey wine. “We spent a year making mead, but honey is very expensive,” said Cleveland. “We said, ‘Why not make our own honey?’ So, we started beekeeping, and that sort of took over. Mead is now secondary to the beekeeping.” Now in their third year in business, Rogue Bees has 30 hives, sells hive kits and often mentors other budding beekeepers. continued on page 14

outlookoklahoma.com

Backyard Bees, cont.

The only time the bees sting, they said, is when you do stupid stuff and provoke them. Also, a bee colony will let people know what mood they are in. The hotter the day and the more the sun shines, the happier the bee. Cold, gray and wet days put bees in a foul mood. Most people who visit Rogue Bees fall in love with the idea of beekeeping. Robbie Franz of Norman was one of those people. Franz started his one backyard hive in March of 2014. “I started with a queen and a packet of bees, about 3,000 bees,” he said. “By August, I had 90,000 bees and had two harvests of honey in my first year, which is rare. It’s so easy to raise bees. You hardly have to do anything. In fact, I probably mess with them more than I should.”

Outlook March 2015

Beekeeping Basics

The absolute first thing a budding beekeeper should do is find a mentor, most experienced keepers advise. The Central Oklahoma Beekeepers Association and the Oklahoma State Beekeepers Association both offer mentoring, classes, supplies, advice and more. Seminars and meetings also help budding keepers. At the very basic level, you need a commercial hive designed for bees, bee suits and gloves and the bees themselves. Most of the time, basic start-up costs range between $200 to $400. Beekeeping, Etc. sells starter kits appropriate for beginners. Bee hives and bees are available locally, but you can also order queens and bees via the internet and have them delivered. Yes, bees can be mailed to you. According to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry’s Oklahoma Apiary Act and Rules, beekeeping is legal and encouraged in the state, so long as the bees are disease free. The fee to register an apiary is $10 with a $10 inspection fee of up to 25 hives. “Beekeeping really is very easy, and it is something anyone can do to help the environment,” said Franz. “Plus, it’s fascinating. I can watch these bees for hours.” For more information, visit okbeekeeper.blogspot.com or okbees.org.

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Outlook March 2015

FOOD

Breaking Bread Local pastors share their Easter traditions Decorative hardboiled eggs, fancy hams and even fancier hats— what unlikely companions have mingled through the ages to mark our Easter festivities! The supreme day of Christian celebration deserves every colorful expression. For the dedicated pastors who bring the day to life for eager congregations, Easter is a special day of reflection and warm traditions. And what better way to commemorate the occasion than a feast of biblical proportions?

Easter

in our home is fairly traditional. Most years, after our morning worship services we host both sides of our extended family for the day, and the food is abundant! We stick with the predictable ham (which we prefer to eat cold) and ‘comfort food’ side dishes, but our favorite part of the meal is dessert. Pecan pie is a staple at all of our holiday celebrations. It’s a family favorite that my wife makes from her grandmother’s recipe. Our other favorite dessert

by Laura Beam

which she usually makes only on Easter is homemade lemon squares. They’re just the right mix of salty, tangy and sweet. Our children are still young enough to hunt eggs with their cousins, but rather than stuffing the eggs with candy, their grandparents started the tradition of hiding loose coins in the eggs. You can be sure that none end up un-found! -Ray Griffin, Executive Pastor, Quail Springs Baptist Church 14613 N. May Ave., OKC, qsbc.org

continued on next page

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Breaking Bread, cont.

When

casserole (once again, night before!), Brussels sprouts, corn—whatever looks good and fresh at the store. All of this reflects what is important to us—our time at church together during the morning and our time as family that afternoon. So traditional food is the key. And, of course, with a 7-year-old in the house we have lots of chocolate bunnies. My wife makes a point of buying a white chocolate cross for each of our three boys and we can enjoy that as well. If we’re coming off of a Lenten discipline (like giving up chocolate), it can sure taste good! -Rev. Chris Shorow, Senior Minister, First Christian Church 201 E. 2nd St., Edmond, fccedmond.org

As a

Easter is a bit hectic as I’m working that day! I am ready to crash at lunchtime! But we do have an interesting food tradition. I thought it was perfectly normal until I got married. We serve tabouli as a side dish. It’s a Lebanese side that I grew up with in northeastern Oklahoma and just assumed everyone had that alongside ham on Easter Sunday. My family served it at every special holiday dinner and I was shocked to discover it’s not like sweet potatoes, dressing or green bean casserole for everyone else! -Clark Frailey, Lead Pastor, Coffee Creek Church 1650 Coffee Creek Rd, Edmond, coffeecreek.cc

our family gets together for Easter, we play it pretty straight, with the traditional ham and potatoes followed by an egg hunt with our kids and their cousins. But one tradition that our family has really come to enjoy is when our small group from church gets together on the evening of Easter Sunday. Everybody brings leftovers from their family Easter lunches and we go to town on round two, rocking it potluck style. Good times. -Andy Lashley, Involvement & Communications Minister, Memorial Road Church of Christ 2221 E. Memorial Rd, Edmond, mrcc.org busy pastor on Easter, the Easter meal is a time when I can relax and rest from a long, but very exciting and blessed day to be with my immediate family. So we don’t go to any extremes in making our meal. One thing we traditionally have is a family recipe from my wife’s family—cheese grits. She grew up in Kentucky and they share my theory on food—put enough cheese in it and anything can be good! But grits, and cheese grits, are a staple of Southern comfort food. And we can cook them the night before, heat them up that day and enjoy a feast. Along with ham and turkey sandwiches (remember, easy is the key to cooking on this day), maybe a good potato salad made beforehand, and lots of fresh veggies—steamed broccoli, or a broccoli

Well

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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Outlook March 2015

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BUSINESS

Journey Quilt Company by Morgan Day Trish Maxwell, owner of Journey Quilt Company

Trish Maxwell of Journey Quilt Company is a combination of quilter, artist and storyteller. The business owner and sewing guru creates Mosaic T-shirt Quilts from people’s favorite tees, assembling the swatches of fabric to create a cozy quilt that paints a picture of that person’s life. “By the time we have transformed a stack of t-shirts—trimming, mapping, assembling and quilting them—you feel like you know this person and you’ve become friends. It’s like reading a book. These are fabric scrapbooks of people’s lives.” Maxwell had sewn her first quilt about 20 years ago, but it wasn’t until a friend asked her to piece together a t-shirt quilt for her daughter’s high school graduation that she realized she had a real passion for what she calls the “Mosaic T-shirt Quilt.” She wanted to create something more unique than a

traditional t-shirt quilt in which all the fabric blocks are the same size and lined up in rows. In traditional t-shirt quilts, small graphics can look lost, while larger graphics would be cut off. “In Mosaic T-shirt Quilts, each piece is trimmed down based on the size of the graphic so you don’t lose any of the graphic or have any wasted space,” she said. “Then I create a map and reassemble them like a puzzle.” She also encourages her customers to collaborate on the overall finished product design by selecting edging, backing, binding fabrics, colors and border styles. Maxwell also offers Mosaic Quilt Kits allowing people to write sentimental words of congratulations, wisdom and humor on pre-cut fabric squares using fabric pens. They then return the fabric squares to the shop to be assembled and quilted into today’s modern

version of a guest book or scrapbook. She says that Mosaic Quilt Kits are most often used for family and friend celebrations such as baby showers, weddings and graduations. Having opened its doors in Edmond in October 2014, Journey Quilt Company doubles as a gallery, with customers’ quilts displayed on the walls as they wait to be taken home. You might see quilts themed with dance and cheer, sports, worldwide travel, or even Harley Davidson. Each shirt holds a memory and each quilt tells a story. “I encourage everyone to take a second look at their closet. So many memories exist in the t-shirts we collect. My goal with Journey Quilt Company is to help people protect their memories and enjoy them as a functional piece of art in the form of a quilt.” To learn more, visit JourneyQuiltCo.com, call 340-0444 or stop by 16700 N. Penn Ave., Edmond.

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Outlook March 2015

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Coffee Creek Church by Amy Dee Stephens Pastor Clark Frailey of Coffee Creek Church

For Coffee Creek Church, Easter Sunday is the prelude to a service project that will provide 15,000 meals to hungry children. Community volunteers are invited to join the church in a giant assembly line to compile prepackaged meals. Each food kit, which has a shelf life of two years, is filled with nutritious, vitamin-fortified soy-rice casserole, dehydrated vegetables and other food items. The event, called “Food Packaging Sunday,” falls the Sunday after Easter, April 12th. “Easter isn’t just to remind us of an event in history,” said pastor Clark Frailey. “The message of resurrection should compel us to act. Jesus was restoring the world, and we want to impact the world. Our church’s mission is, “Love God, Do Good,” so we want to do good in our community.” Coffee Creek partners with a US-based

organization called Kids Against Hunger, a humanitarian food-aid organization whose goal is to feed starving children throughout the world. Food is sent to communities facing food scarcity, as well as to local and worldwide disaster sites, such as the Moore tornado. Last year was Coffee Creek’s first year to host Food Packaging Sunday, and the results were impressive. They raised enough money and volunteers to package 12,000 meals in two hours. This year, they have bigger goals and invite the community to sign up for volunteer shifts on their website. The service project will run between 8:30 and 12:30, breakfast provided, and will replace the morning’s regular service. “We work with a branch of Kids Against Hunger out of Tulsa. They arrive in a large truck with all the supplies. We unload the truck, pack the food, vacuum seal the meals, and reload the

truck,” Frailey said. “The group is amazing to work with. They are doing good across the world.” One of Frailey’s favorite aspects of the service project is that children can participate. Everyone above nursery age can work in the assembly line, preparing meals to feed other children. “We are a medium-sized church that is turning belief into action,” Frailey said. “We’re laid back, contemporary and casual, located right on the border between Edmond and Deer Creek. Our church is welcoming and seems to resonate well with folks who like the idea of doing good in the world.” Coffee Creek Church. Fighting hunger 15,000 meals at a time. Learn more at coffeecreek.cc. Learn about Kids Against Hunger at kidsagainsthungerglobal.org.

It’s Like Asking For A Pony And Getting A Unicorn.

Oklahoma City 2520 W. Memorial Rd. Suite B (405) 751-8066 www.nothingbundtcakes.com outlookoklahoma.com

The

Tiny House We Built

by Amy Dee Stephens

Outlook March 2015

Can you imagine living in a 228-square-foot house? Tiny houses are sweeping the nation, and the idea captured the imagination of a twenty-something couple in Oklahoma City. Jill and Corey Hogue are putting the final touches on their new tiny home, and they have no qualms about living in close quarters. For them, the goal is simple—to live the simple life. Committing to a tiny house and building it themselves was not a radical decision. It was the result of a series of life events— some current and some from childhood—and all indicated that the choice to build small met the Hogue’s hopes for the future. “We’re building a life together, and it’s mortgage-free. We’re not going to work our life away to pay a big house bill,” Jill said. On October 1st, the Hogues bought their first load of lumber. Now, the structure is mostly complete, costing less than $10,000 to build. The footprint is 12x24 feet with a 288-square-foot floor. A raised loft bedroom adds 120 square feet of surface, and the 17-foot tall ceilings—despite being done on accident—make the space feel roomier than expected. “We have a really tall house! But Corey’s never built a house, and I’ve never built a house—so pretty much everything we planned changed as we went,” Jill said. “At first, we freaked out when things didn’t go right,” Corey said. “Now it’s like, ‘Oh well, we’ll cover it up with trim.’” “But it’s our house, and we’ve built it, so the changes are all meaningful to us. We may or may not live in it forever, but it’s paid for and we’ve learned so much about each other in the process.” In some ways, the tiny house has been accomplished like an old-fashioned barn raising, because the Hogue’s family and friends have pitched in to help every step of the way. Cousins, parents and grandparents have dropped by to contribute their skills, whether it’s pounding nails or assisting with plumbing. “Building this house has brought our families closer together,” Corey said. “Everyone has contributed ideas.” For Jill’s parents, the experience is a bit like déjà vu because they also built their own home. As a child, Jill remembers helping gather rocks to add to their stone house. “My family was proud of what we built,” Jill said. “Now, my parents are seeing me do almost the same thing on a tinier scale.” Corey had a different childhood experience, growing up in large houses. He remembers walking through multiple rooms in order to talk to his parents on the other side of the house. He looks forward to raising a family in a small space where he can spend closer quality time with them. “If we decide to add onto the house as we have children, we’ll have plenty of room to do that,” Jill said. The Hogues are already adjusted to limited space, as they are living with Corey’s parents during their house construction. They put a lot of stuff into storage that they no longer miss. She’s looking

forward to unpacking and eliminating most of it. “My mother-in-law painted me a glass sign that says ‘Keep it Simple.’ It’s my motto, now,” Jill said. “I want to live life simply and efficiently. To save our money to do fun things, not to have stuff. We’ll be able to travel and afford some land for cattle.” Land. It was the theme that came up over and over while the Hogue’s talked. They both admitted that they wished they could live in the good old days. “I guess you could say I’m a homesteader at heart—I want to live off the land. I want to garden and know where my food is coming from,” Jill said. Unlike the homesteaders who started with land and then built a house, the Hogues are doing the process in reverse. They’ve built the house first. “Buying land that already has a house is more expensive,” Jill said. “And you’re looking for the land you want and the house you want,” Corey added. “So when the perfect time came to sell the house we were living in, we toyed with the idea of getting a mobile home until we found the land we wanted,” Jill said. “Then I saw the TV shows about tiny homes,” Corey said. “Corey’s mom is an architect, and my dad is a handyman, so we decided we could do it,” Jill said. “We’re building our house 200 yards from my in-laws’ house. When we find the land we want, we’ll move it there.” The five-month building project has certainly provided challenges for the Hogues, especially because of the winter weather, which Corey laughingly described as the ‘archenemy.’ The Hogues are proud that much of the house is made of recycled materials and that they’ve paid cash for everything else. The nearly-finished house, with its mis-measurements and creative trim work has been an inspiration to other family members and co-workers, who are beginning to see the appeal of living without a mortgage. “The best thing about building our tiny house has been seeing people working together—like the old days when you relied on family and friends,” Corey said. “We’ve been sponges, soaking up knowledge,” Jill said. “We’ve learned so much, and that has been the greatest gift in building our tiny house.”

outlookoklahoma.com

Luxury Active Adult Community Underway in North East Edmond The City of Edmond will soon welcome Oklahoma’s first neighborhood development geared for Baby Boomers age 50 & above.

Mon Abri, an active adult neighborhood is well underway of its first phase of construction near Broadway & Covell in NE Edmond. Designed with a twist, the age-restricted community for adults 50+ will offer amenities to cater to the Baby Boomer generation. The largest number of births in U.S. history occurred post World War II. This generation has now reached middle age. The youngest of

this boom has just turned fifty. The discerning group of active adults is eager to give up the responsibilities of home and lawn maintenance and embrace the luxury and services provided by developments such as Mon Abri. Some Mon Abri community amenities include concierge services, a spacious clubhouse, fitness center, sports lounge, tornado safe room, walking trails, outdoor living area, fishing pond, social & travel experiences and more. Ron Walters Homes is currently building the first twenty seven luxury homes of the neighborhood. The attractive homes offer open floorplans, expansive windows which provide additional natural light, gourmet kitchens with

granite countertops, fine cabinetry and stainless appliances. Built as duplex, triplex or quad-plex homes, the chalets include luxury features such as fireplace, wood flooring, finished loft spaces and covered parking. Mon Abri will offer homes for lease as well as a limited number of homes with a purchase option. To learn more about this exciting community of active adults aged 50+, call 405-850-1546. Under Construction

Amenities Concierge Services • Clubhouse • Fitness Center • Sports Lounge • Guest House Above Ground Tornado Safe Room • Walking Trails • Fully stocked fishing ponds Outdoor Living area with Fireplace • Group travel trips and activities

outlookoklahoma.com

Posthuman Success by Amy Dee Stephens

The Oklahoma-filmed movie, The Posthuman Project, is not only a hometown superhero—it’s gathering awards faster than a teenager can shoot laser beams from her fingers! Twelve awards so far, and most of the titles start with the word “best.” The teenage superhero movie is unique to the independent film circuit for several reasons, foremost because it’s family-friendly. According to the 30-year-old director, Kyle Roberts, independent films can be very R-rated because, “Filmmakers can do what they want—so they do. But that’s not what I wanted.” Instead, Roberts wanted a production that could be enjoyed by the whole family, without having to pay a babysitter. The philosophy

served him well, as the The Posthuman Project’s largest following is the 6 to 12-year-old demographic, followed next by their parents in the over 30 age group. Roberts described the plot line as: “A coming-of-age story about five high-schoolers who go mountain-climbing before graduation. They are freaking out about going to college and losing their friends, but they are also dealing with parental issues, abuse, disability and bullying. And then, they gain superhero powers which parallel what’s already happening in their lives.” The film is a Comic-Con International Film Festival sensation, proving that the storyline and low-budget special effects are strong enough to capture audiences with high expectations. The movie was created on what Roberts called, “A micro-budget.” Even so, Roberts has a gift for digital effects and animation. He also has a friend named Vahid Farzaneh, founder of Freestyle Productions, a film company specializing in video production and marketing. Roberts met Farzaneh, his future producer, about ten years ago. Back then, Roberts was an Oklahoma Christian University graduate creating hundreds of music videos and YouTube short films. He later started Reckless Abandonment Pictures LLC.

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Outlook March 2015

“I love storytelling where music, visual effects, and art are all rolled into one powerful message—which is what Kyle wanted to create,” Farzaneh said. “And I had a passion for this teen superhero movie and honestly believed I could do it,” Roberts added. The two joined forces in 2012 and spent a year fundraising and putting together a powerhouse team of talent—mostly Oklahomans. The script was written by notable comic book writers Sterling Gates and Matthew Price, and Wendy Parker and Sharee Green joined as associate producers. A casting call went out, and over 500 people from various states auditioned. The five main roles went to Oklahomans Lindsay Sawyer, Josh Bonzie, Alex Harris and Collin Place, with the lead role played by Kyle Whalen, a Texan attending an Oklahoma university. “Posthuman has been a jumping-off point for them,” Roberts said. “They’ve told me that when they audition, having “Best Film,” “Best Director,” and Comic Con on their resume has helped them get roles, even with auditioners who haven’t heard of the movie.” The film is taking off like wildfire, however, and by all indications, it will not remain unknown for long. First, it has done well in the national film festival circuit. “It will be available May 1st and eventually released onto DVD and Blue Ray,” said Roberts. Another indication of the film’s success came in January when the movie had a one-week test run at AMC Quail Springs Movie Theater. “We had three sold-out crowds on opening weekend,” Roberts said, “The AMC corporate contact called, ecstatic. She said, ‘We’ve never seen numbers like this! It’s the biggest independent film opening for AMC ever.’ She gave us another week, and we did 65

shows total. Now we’ll be going to AMC theaters across the nation. Independent films don’t usually go this far! ” Even the music is mostly produced by Oklahomans, with the score written by Steven Battles and 16 licensed tracks contributed by local artists such as Greyson Chance, JD McPherson and O’Fidelis. “Community support was so important in creating this film,” Farzaneh said. “We had lots of companies who might even be considered competitors that helped us with resources.” While Roberts is reveling in the film’s success, he has moved on to his next film project, a 1920s crime film called The Grave. He still enjoys attending the Posthuman showings as an audience member. He remembers overhearing a young girl talking to her dad after the movie, jumping up and down, saying that it was the best movie she’d ever seen. “Awards are fun,” Roberts said, “but winning the hearts of audiences is by far the most rewarding.” To learn more, visit www.posthumanmovie.com.

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Dino Lalli is a born storyteller.

Discovering with Dino by Heide Brandes

With his open face and sincere humor, it’s easy to see why celebrities like Robin Williams, Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks and William Hurt found the Okie boy so easy to talk to. It’s easy to see why Eastwood and Williams would singularly request Lalli for interviews and why, with more than 25 years of entertainment reporting and news under his belt, Lalli keeps growing and adapting. “You know, I realize we aren’t curing cancer here, but every story you do is important,” Lalli said. “I tried to make it fun—for me and for them. I remember to be thankful for getting paid to do a job that I love to do.” From humble beginnings as a child obsessed with films and movies in McAlester to entertainment reporting for Oklahoma City and Los Angeles television stations to becoming the host of the iconic Discover Oklahoma series, Lalli has never stopped working in the field he loves. Now, with the 1,000th episode of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation’s Discover Oklahoma under his belt, Lalli is reinventing himself again as an independent video production company, a documentary film producer and a public speaker. “I grew up with my father’s work ethic. Dad died a day before his 92nd birthday, and he loved to work. He was at work days before he died,” said Lalli. “He always told me, ‘No one is going to outwork a Lalli.’ I’ve always remembered that.” Little Dino was born in 1956 in a log cabin in McAlester, and even as a boy, he was fascinated by television and movies. His earliest memories were of watching John Wayne on film and reveling in the magic of how movies made him feel. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma School of Journalism with a radio and television broadcasting major, Lalli scored his first job at Oklahoma City’s Channel 5. He made producer in less than a month and then was tagged as host and reporter for a show called News Reel. Through the next 20 years, Lalli worked first for various news stations across the country. But he’s perhaps best known for his work interviewing the biggest movie stars as an entertainment reporter. “I was never really nervous. I was excited to interview movie stars, but I wasn’t star struck,” said Lalli. “I did my homework, and it continued on page 30

Outlook March 2015

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Discovering with Dino, cont.

was a job. I think I’ve been more star struck by astronauts.” Lalli became friendly with stars like Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and other celebrities. He found something special in each one of them. “Tom was just a wonderful, down-to-earth guy,” he said. “Julia Roberts was a sweetheart. I developed a fun friendship with Robin Williams. He would call the studios personally to make sure I would be there when he did press.” Lalli also interviewed Clint Eastwood when the movie Unforgiven was released. He called Warner Brothers to score an interview with Eastwood, and spent 10 minutes with the screen legend. Apparently, he made an impression because a year later, Eastwood’s people requested “that kid from Oklahoma” as one of only eight interviews Eastwood was doing for his new film. “They said, ‘Clint requested you,’” said Lalli. “That was an honor. I think it’s because I put them at ease. I let them know I am a fan of filmmaking and I am sincere. I never ask them personal questions either.” Lalli has acted in soap operas, played host to numerous television shows and hosts the iconic Discover Oklahoma television show with Jenifer Reynolds. Discover Oklahoma turned 25 in 2014,

Outlook March 2015

and in December, the show celebrated its 1000th episode. To this day, he still makes television appearances, either speaking about Discover Oklahoma or talking film. Sometimes, he’s even on two stations at the same time. “That scenario is certainly an unusual situation, but one I don’t take lightly,” he said. “It doesn’t happen that often, but I’m very flattered and lucky to have been around long enough to have this rare opportunity.” Now, Dino is starting a new chapter in his book of adventures. Besides starting his own video production company, Clever Name Productions, he’s also actively Dino Lalli at Channel 9 working in public speaking, emceeing and filmmaking. Dino is already starting work on another project as an associate producer, Remember the Sultana. “The USS Sultana was a Mississippi River side wheel steamboat that exploded on April 27, 1865 in the greatest maritime disaster in United States history,” Lalli said. “Very few people have ever heard about it though.” “The most rewarding thing is to be able to work in an industry that I love and to be able to continue to work in the areas that I truly love,” said Lalli. “It’s true when they say that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

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Outlook March 2015

Laugh, Think & Cry

Witty, English literature buffs. Maybe not the words you’d expect when describing the two seniors voted as Homecoming King and Queen at Crossings Christian School. Of course, Candace Osterhout and her twin brother Christian defy ordinary. She’s quiet, he’s not. He’s sporty, by Amy Dee Stephens she’s artsy. She was accepted to Vassar University. He was handed free tickets to the Super Bowl. To hear them joke and laugh together, you’d never know that they are dealing with the recent grief of losing both of their parents to medical illnesses. Candace said that learning to laugh through the tears was something their mother taught them. Candace reflected on that in a recent essay. “It’s part of my nature, a part I got from my mom while she was sick, something that annoyed me while I was going through it but I appreciate now.” Likewise, Christian relies on laughter, choosing to live by the motto of the late sports celebrity, Jim Valvano, who was known to say, “If you laugh, you think, and you cry—that’s a full day.” By that definition, the twins have had many full days recently. Besides facing their senior year at Crossings Christian School, they‘ve received a lot of media attention since the National Twin siblings Football League (NFL) came inspire each other to Oklahoma City with a film crew. Christian’s football after the loss of coach, Chris Roberts and his their parents wife Sarah, nominated him for the “Together We Make Football” contest. They told the story of how Christian bonded with the Roberts family after his dad’s death, and how Christian then moved in with them at the time of his mother’s passing on September 3rd, 2014. “My dad died two-and-a-half years ago from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Then my mom got sick with scleroderma, and I asked coach that, if something happened, could I live with his family—so I live with them now,” Christian said. Christian’s story captured hearts. Football legend Deion Sanders surprised Christian by coming to the school to announce his finalist status. What followed was an appearance on the Today Show where Christian told his story. When Sanders visited the school a second time, he was holding eight tickets to the Super Bowl—Christian won! Meanwhile, Candace was telling her story in a different way— through writing and art. The school counselor encouraged Candace to pour her raw grief onto paper in the form of a scholarship essay. She

wrote about the “increase in casseroles and lasagnas” when her father died. She wrote about the “mountains of monitors” in her mother’s hospital room. And she wrote about how “writing…has saved me. I use it to escape.” Candace’s essay and artwork earned her a full-ride acceptance into Vassar University, an elite and highly-selective liberal arts college in New York where she’s planning to major in English. Christian has his sights set on business, or ministry, or maybe public speaking. He hasn’t quite made up his mind yet. For teenagers with such different personalities, Candace and Christian still have that innate “twin connection” going on. When the two were asked to describe their personalities, Christian didn’t miss a beat in saying, “Okay, I’ll describe Candace. She’s reserved and shy around strangers, but she’s witty and funny. She has a high intellect when it comes to conversation. She has a friendliness about her. I guess you could call her an Art Nerd.” “And Christian is much more outgoing,” said Candace. “He’s not as responsible, but he makes up for it by being fun-loving and people oriented. He’s sporty, funny and he’s always joyful. I’d call him a Smart Jock.” Keeping a close relationship is important to the twins, but one that is becoming more challenging since Christian is living with his coach’s family and Candace is staying with her aunt and uncle. In August, she’ll be moving out-of-state. “We’re invested in staying in touch Christian & Candace Osterhout and making sure that we’re doing all right,” Candace said. “We have to stick together, because we are all that we have left of our immediate family after 17 years. We loved our parents. We love each other, and that helps a lot,” Christian said. “We’ll always miss our parents, but I’m ready to move on. To grow up,” Candace said. “I guess everyone starts a new journey after high school, but it’s enhanced for us.” “I think we’ve had to mature quicker; maybe that’s why we’re ready to grow up more than other seniors,” Christian said. “I’ve tried to put on a happy face and get through it, to laugh at bad situations—but I’m ready to be out of the spotlight,” Candace said. Then she laughed. “Not Christian, though. He’s like ‘Bring it on! People should be begging to talk to me.’” A little humor to cope with the pain. Whatever journey the twins might face next, they know they’ve already faced two of the toughest losses—together. outlookoklahoma.com

ST. ANTHONY HEALTHPLEX NORTH OPENS Facility Features Freestanding Emergency Room and Outpatient Services

St. Anthony Healthplex North is now open to serve the residents of northern Oklahoma City and Edmond, located on North Western Avenue and Memorial Road. The facility includes a full service freestanding Emergency Room, as well as diagnostic imaging capabilities including two x-ray suites, CT scanner, MRI and Breast Center with mammography, bone density and ultrasound. The second floor will be occupied by St. Anthony Physicians Group primary care physicians, including pediatrics, and specialist

physicians. Upper floors provide leased space for additional physicians and health care related businesses. “Our focus is always on providing exceptional patient care that is easily accessible for the community. The location of our new facility provides not only convenient access, but a wide range of outpatient services in an environment that provides high levels of customer service,” stated St. Anthony President Tammy Powell. The new facility includes a comprehensive, state-of-the-art electronic health record integrated with St. Anthony partner hospitals throughout the state, a spacious emergency area with attention to unique lighting, and materials to ensure quietness and a soothing atmosphere. Patientfocused details in each exam room

will offer the feeling of a luxury hotel rather than a clinical setting. The Breast Center also borrows spa-like design features to enhance the patient experience. Patients who visit the emergency room with a non-life threatening illness or condition may skip the waiting room and hold their place online at www.lookforthecross.com. They may wait comfortably at home and then arrive at their designated time. St. Anthony welcomes the opportunity to serve the community with exceptional care consistent with its mission, “Through our exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God.”

For more information, call 252-3400 or visit saintsnearyou.com. 36

Outlook March 2015

A Dream for Sunbeam

by Morgan Day

A community staple for more than 100 years, Sunbeam Family Services has big plans for the future

There’s no doubt about it—Sunbeam Family Services has come a long way in its 108 years. It has grown to be one of the oldest and largest community organizations in the state. The social services agency formed in 1907 when a group of women made it their mission to provide care for orphans in their community. Keeping foster care close to its heart, Sunbeam grew to address the needs of central Oklahoma and now encompasses three additional services: counseling, early childhood education and senior services. Sunbeam does so much and cares for so many—it’s often not easy for the community to fully grasp what it does.“Our blessing is also our burden,” said Sunbeam CEO Jim Priest. “We start with early childhood, we cross the age spectrum to senior services, and in between we do foster care and counseling. If we don’t provide a service that someone among the poor and working poor needs, we network and connect them with people who do.” Most notable organizations are known for doing one thing well. But in Sunbeam’s case, the organization offers four services to the community. “In my interactions in the community, I meet people who say ‘Oh, I thought you only did foster care.’ Or, ‘I thought you only did counseling,’” said Erin Engelke, chief external relations officer. “And the truth is, we really serve all ages of the community.” To paint a picture of its various services, Sunbeam often shares stories about individuals and families who have benefited from the organization’s assistance. Inspiring accounts, like that of a 6-year-old girl who received counseling for anxiety after severe storms rattled

her town, help to encourage those in need. Other success stories include scenarios like a young boy with behavioral issues who found a nurturing environment in Sunbeam’s OKC Educare learning program, a senior companion who volunteered time with an Alzheimer’s sufferer and a woman who fulfilled her dream of becoming a foster mom. Now one of the largest non-profits in Oklahoma, Sunbeam Family Services recently moved into an all-new location at 1100 NW 14th St., Oklahoma City, in January. With early childhood education programs taking place at Oklahoma City Educare, Emerson Alternative High School Early Head Start and Tony Reyes Bilingual Development Center, it now houses its counseling, foster care and senior services programs all in one spot. That’s a huge benefit to clients, according to Courtney Hyder, external relations coordinator for Sunbeam Family Services. “A lot of our families might go to Educare for early childhood programs, but they might also need our counseling services,” Hyder said. “Or maybe they’re a grandparent who is raising their grandkid. Being under one roof, it’s going to make it easier for our clients to access all of our services.” continued on Next Page

outlookoklahoma.com

A Dream for Sunbeam cont.

The amenities at Sunbeam’s new location are numerous. It offers a conference room that doubles as a safe room, meeting rooms to host community groups and a large storage room to house family necessities. The location also has a playroom in the foster care wing and two play therapy rooms with a one-way window to facilitate parent/child interaction therapy. In addition to a new location, Sunbeam is also under new leadership with CEO Jim Priest at the helm since Fall 2014. “It’s kind of a new day at Sunbeam,” Engelke said. “I think it’s a really pivotal time to elevate who we are in the community and shine a brighter light in some degree.” To help do that, Sunbeam will host its first annual SHINE gala April 30th at the Meinders Hall of Mirrors. To emphasize the importance of family and community, the event will mimic a family-

Outlook March 2015

style dinner with attendees sitting at long tables with guests directly across from them. Sunbeam will present one deserving person with the Aspire Award. The first recipient has been chosen—Ray Bitsche, former CEO and member of Sunbeam for 15 years. “We know we have a long history of tremendous supporters, but it’s a great chance for us to promote the stories of the people we serve and either secure additional donations or new donations in support of our work,” Engelke said. Sunbeam also invites the community to an open house from 4-6pm May 7, with a ribbon-cutting planned for 4:30pm. Priest wants to continue the organization’s legacy of trustworthiness and reliability but also respond to new needs. He says Sunbeam will likely invest more in early childhood education and respond to the growing baby boomer population through its senior services programs. Not only that, Sunbeam wants to address prevention measures, specifically regarding the growing number of delinquent and deprived children. Priest’s “dream for Sunbeam” is to offer more services in substance abuse, counseling and prevention. “We don’t just want to deal with pressing problems that are presented to us,” Priest said. “We want to find root causes, so another big area of emphasis will be advocacy, raising people’s consciousness about problems presenting themselves in the community and trying to find solutions to root causes so we’re not constantly dealing with the same problems.” Learn more at sunbeamfamilyservices.org.

Word on the Street by Lance Evans

Tatyana Fazlalizadeh is not your baby. Neither are the other countless women who the native Oklahoman is speaking up for in her art series, Stop Telling Women to Smile. It can be difficult to be a woman in the world. Whether in large cities or small towns, it is not uncommon for a woman walking on the street to be verbally harassed. This experience can be threatening, unsettling and intrusive. Tatyana has had enough of it. “Street harassment is something that I experience a lot. It makes me angry and it bothers me—and I felt that I needed to address it in my art,” says Tatyana. In 2012, she took her movement directly to the people of New York where she witnessed gender-based street harassment occurring on a daily basis. Tatyana met with women from various backgrounds to discuss their personal struggles with the issue. She then photographed them and brought their stories to life with posters that are illustrated from the women’s pictures. The posters were then posted outside. One of the posters features a tagline stating “my name is not baby, shorty, sexy, sweetie, honey...” and other popular street terms that many women have become all too familiar with. “My goal was simply to speak out in an artistic way—for myself and other women who’ve experienced street harassment,,” she says.

Outlook March 2015

What started as a protest in her local neighborhood, grew to be a national sensation. Through the power of social media, Tatyana’s work garnered an immediate and overwhelming response. One retweet turned into thousands and before she knew it, her personal declaration against street harassment turned into a public forum that finally addressed an age-old form of harassment that is too often veiled as compliments that women should graciously accept. “I knew that women would relate to it, but I didn’t realize the extent,” she says. The past year has been a whirlwind for the twenty-nine-year-old artist. Her work has been covered on CNN, featured in the New York Times and numerous other media outlets. She was recently named one of Forbes magazine’s Top 30 under 30. Tatyana created a platform that allowed her to safely tell her story. What she was not expecting was for her story to also reveal the struggles of so many women. “I didn’t realize it would reach so far so quickly. It happened overnight and I wasn’t expecting that.” This is where the power of Tatyana’s art thrives: her personal experiences transcend beyond the lines of her drawings. These are stories that belong to women around the world. They’re images that belong to her community. “I want to create art that is useful to people,” she says. “I

want to be an artist for the people.” The goal of the project also expanded after the positive response. “The goal has evolved to just wanting people to have a dialogue about it and wanting these men who perpetrate to stop and consider these posters and how they interact with women.” She’s taken her posters from the boroughs of New York to various cities around the globe. Tatyana has partnered with a number of different organizations to help raise awareness on the issue of street harassment. Her work has also seen her gain acclaim from some of America’s brightest minds. “College students are extremely engaged and they ask really good questions,” she says. “These are students who are already invested in thinking about women’s rights and feminism. Also, college campuses have very particular issues with sexual assault so these students are also engaged because of that.” Tatyana says that men can also play an important role in ending gender-based street harassment. “Step in and help women if you see them experiencing street harassment.” She hopes that people will think twice the next time they see someone who catches their eye. “Just offer a simple hello and keep it moving,” she says. “Women don’t owe you anything. We’re not outside to entertain you.” Creating thought-provoking dialogue through art is nothing new for Tatyana. Born and raised in Oklahoma City, she earned a scholarship to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. She was able to expand her skill at the university and continued her artistic growth once graduating in 2007. “The past few years I’ve grown more into an adult Tatyana Fazlalizadeh and an artist. I’ve found the direction that I want to go.” While the series continues to garner critical acclaim across the country, Tatyana is hoping to continue expanding the work internationally. She’s gearing up for international Anti-Street Harassment Week in April. “I just want to let the project live on outside.” Part of the process will be letting the project flourish on its own which can be difficult for the artist. “It’s not mine anymore,” she says. “It’s hard for me to grasp, but ultimately rewarding. I’m creating it, but it’s not just for me. I can’t be everywhere so I have to let women have it and use it.” For more of Tatyana’s work, visit www.tlynnfaz.com.

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MY outlook

Pastor Pete Balaban, School Bus Driver by Emily Hummel

How long have you been driving a bus for Edmond Public Schools? Since the fall of 2002. What’s your favorite part about driving a school bus? Dealing with the kids every day. I get to see them when I pick them up and when I drop them off. They share stories, bits about their lives & things that are going on. What makes you a unique school bus driver? The kids seem to enjoy my playful attitude, and yet they respect me as their bus driver as well. I put posters and sayings on my bus to encourage positive attitudes. I think they know that I care about them. What inspired you to become a school bus driver? The original drive was to get a job that would provide health Insurance as we began our new ministry. But it has turned into so much more. We’ve seen some great pictures of you dressed up for Halloween & driving the bus—what was your favorite costume? Probably the sheriff, but I have been a clown, Fred Flintstone, Herman Munster, a professional wrestler, and Hagrid from the Harry Potter stories. What’s the most bizarre or interesting thing that’s happened to you while driving a school bus? I think it’s when you have a lost kid on your bus—one who is not sure where he or she lives or where their bus stop is. You reassure them that you will get them home safe and sound—together we will figure it all out. How long have you been a Pastor for Lighthouse Lutheran Church? I began pastoring Lighthouse the same year, in 2002. Rumor has it you’re a pretty great storyteller. Can you tell us about that? Once upon a time... Wait, you want me to tell you about my storytelling. It ties deeply into my ministry as I undertook a Doctor of Ministry study. My thesis is entitled: “Storytelling is an effective means of communicating the Gospel in the Emerging Culture.” Where do you tell your stories? Besides using stories in church messages, I have been reaching out and doing stories in the community as well. I have been asked to tell “The Polar Express” for several years running for local elementary schools. What do you like to do in your free time? I like to watch OSU sports but I also enjoy watching college, high school, middle school, and even elementary school sports when there is

Outlook March 2015

someone I know participating. After that, I would have to say fostering retired racing greyhounds has been something my wife and I have been involved in for more than 10 years. They are such great animals and become such wonderful family pets! What’s your favorite part about fostering dogs? Seeing the joy when one of our fosters gets adopted into a family of their own! We began fostering after my wife, Marilyn, and I had such a great experience adopting our first greyhound. We decided we’d like a playmate for him, and the group suggested becoming foster parents, so we did. We eventually adopted another greyhound but continued to foster an additional two at a time. We have been doing that for almost 10 years. Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you? I have been blessed with having some of the most incredible people in my life over the years. They have blessed me beyond anything I deserve. I know that God is good; that He loves me—and because of that, I can love others. I believe that love is a decision, and I love you! And, attitude IS everything!

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