Edmond Outlook - May 2019

Noah & Analise

May 2019

Partners in Progress Communicate Through Smiles Downtown Edmond Arts Festival: May 3, 4 & 5 Dance Group Intention on NBC’s World of Dance At Home in a Mid-Century Modern

Features

It’s quiet. It’s early. I’m on my laptop but I’m not checking my mail or my news sites. I go right to Facebook and start downloading pics of my employees. Is it time to call HR? No, I use the photos for reference. I’m preparing to draw some birthday cards. We have a birthday tradition here at Back40 and the Edmond Outlook, we celebrate with a hand-drawn card and a gift. And this month, we celebrated three birthdays: Andrea, Laura and Jessica.

Since I have some experience doodling and cartooning - the job usually is mine. I’m halfway through my coffee and I’m wondering what I’ve gotten myself into again. It’s just not happening yet. To be honest, I pretty much have one style of drawing - and most every caricature looks the same. Like the character I drew back in the 90s with a nationally syndicated comic strip I created (oddly enough, the comic strip was called ‘Dave’).

It’s not coming together. I feel like sending some Hallmark greetings.

Then I remember...

Last month, after the birthday cards were presented, Rachel, who works on this magazine and with Back40 marketing clients, said she was hoping she would receive a hand-drawn card and not a store bought one. That felt good. I push forward and refocus, sketching shapes in light blue pencil while constantly referencing the Facebook photos. After several attempts, I switch to a lead pencil and start bringing in more detail. I think I am capturing the essence of Laura. Okay, now onto Andrea. And then finally, Jessica. It’s coming together.

What happens when it’s my birthday? What do you get for the guy who draws the handdrawn cards? A card from one of our talented designers, Adrian. See his illustration below of me in my S2000. I don’t think I was drawn to scale. Although, some people would say my head is that big.

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ASK EDMOND

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PROJECT 66: HELPING ENDS MEET

My first job was…

Organization feeds the hungry and touches lives

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LOCAL EATS: KYOTO SUSHI BAR & ASIAN BISTRO

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ANALISE & NOAH: PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

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Fever for fusion cuisine

Oklahoma Christian University program engages special needs children in physical education AT HOME IN A MID-CENTURY MODERN

Local couple takes hobby from collecting to renovating

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DOWNTOWN EDMOND ARTS FESTIVAL

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WORLD OF DANCE Q&A

May 3rd, 4th, & 5th

Dance group Intention competes on NBC’s World of Dance

Business 22

BLUE HAVEN POOLS

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JOURNEY QUILT COMPANY

Creating outdoor living at its best Quilting memories

Columns 28

Dave Miller Back40 Design President

LOUISE TUCKER JONES

I Love Spring

Cover photography by Marshall Hawkins

ADVERTISING l Laura Beam at 405-301-3926 l laura@edmondoutlook.com MAILED MONTHLY TO 50,000 HOMES IN EDMOND/NORTH OKC 80 East 5th Street, Suite 130, Edmond, OK 73034 l 405-341-5599 l edmondoutlook.com l info@edmondoutlook.com May 2019 Volume 15, Number 5

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Edmond Outlook is a publication of Back40 Design, Inc.

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© 2019 Back40 Design, Inc.

PUBLISHER Dave Miller l ADVERTISING MANAGER Laura Beam l GRAPHIC DESIGN Adrian Townsend, Anne Richardson l PRODUCTION Rachel Morse PHOTOGRAPHY Marshall Hawkins www.sundancephotographyokc.com l DISTRIBUTION Edmond 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.

LOCALLOOK

Ask Edmond

My FirstJob Was…

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Erica Bollinger President, The Mustard Seed Agency

Peter Sheetz Professional Insurors Agency

Patrick Hollingsworth, CPA Owner, HSPG & Associates

Lan McCabe Owner, Sweets on the Side

My first job out of college was working at The Dallas Morning News as the sales assistant for the direct mail team. I was living my dream, wearing a black “power suit” to the office every day with big plans to climb the corporate ladder as quickly as I could!

When I was overlooked for the first available promotion to “salesperson,” the blind courage I had from my inexperience and naivete sent me flying into the boss’s office to persuade him to promote ME! The big boss-man agreed to promote me to account executive on one condition… ”I’m not giving you any clients, you’ll have to get out there and prove yourself. Eat what you kill!” So, I drove from Dallas to Lewisville and every suburb in between, meeting with any and every business who would speak with me! Looking back, it feels like a scene from a movie where the smart savvy, businessman gives the young whippersnapper a chance at her big dream! I’m so grateful that he did!

I definitely was not a kid that said, “I want to be an insurance agent when I grow up.” My dream was to become a fly-fishing guide, but after living what I thought was my dream in Breckenridge, CO for a year, life thankfully guided me to pursue a degree at the University of Central Oklahoma. In May 2018, I graduated and began my career as a Commercial Insurance Agent with Professional Insurors. My dream job changed because I wanted to help other people’s dreams come true. Even though I’m not catching fish every day, helping business owners identify and manage risks that could hurt their source of income and life’s work makes up for it.

During summer break while I was in College, I traveled to Catalina Island off the California coast and read the job postings in the Post Office.

I picked a posting for a marina job position and wound up running the retail side of the business for 10 weeks during the summer. At the end of the summer, the owner stuffed a $100 bill in my shirt pocket and said, “See you next year,” and he did. I spent another 10 weeks working on the island the following summer. I made enough money in those two summers to not have to work during the school year and had a great time.

My first job out of college was a hydrologist - studying the movement, quality and availability of water on and below earth’s surface. I had been an intern with the U.S. Geological Survey while studying chemical engineering.

The two combined areas armed me with the tools I needed to succeed in collecting, studying and testing our findings of Oklahoma’s continuous movement of water. I really enjoyed getting to travel around Oklahoma and in time, I also got the rare opportunity to help publish a book with the U.S. Geological Survey.

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FEATURELOOK

Project 66 volunteer, Jim Brungardt

Project 66: Helping Ends Meet

By Amy Dee Stephens

When I arrived at the Project 66 Food & Resource Center, Roy Thomas handed me a shopping cart. My role for the afternoon was “a regular citizen” having financial problems and needing extra food to get me through the month. I expected Roy to hand me a bag of pre-selected groceries, maybe macaroni, green beans and a ham. I did not expect a choice, nor did I expect the personalized shopping assistance of my new friend, Roy. “This isn’t about getting a box of food,” Roy said, “It’s about coming to a place where you are helped. We offer resources and give you an opportunity to share your problems, or not.”

What I learned was that volunteers at Project 66 are trained to dispel the idea that only poor or homeless people need food assistance. With the rising cost of living and more middle class families living paycheck to paycheck, this isn’t the case. Project 66 has seen a 30% increase in visitation over the last year because of the recent teacher walk-out, government shut-down, and the rocky oil and gas industry.

better tomorrow.”

In March, Project 66 expanded its operation in Edmond from a hodgepodge of shelves and old refrigerators to a brand new, larger shopping area that feels much like a regular grocery store. Many business owners in the community offered free and discounted services to get the building ready. This larger facility serves 500 families each month.

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I met many of these volunteers as I toured; those who drive to the local grocery stores to pick up donated food, some board members stocking shelves, a man who comes in daily to sort cracked eggs from good eggs.

Volunteer Jim Brungardt shared his reason for spending multiple days a week at Project 66. “I spent 35 years in the medical industry with people who had plenty. When I retired, I took a part-time job where I “Our mission is to feed the saw a whole different group of people who struggled to ends meet. Now I volunteer to help them because hungry, but in the meantime, make they are neat people, appreciative people. I go out of my build some relationships way to make sure they leave happy and they’ve been treated with dignity.” that help people build a

“Our clients include seniors on a fixed income, grandparents raising grandchildren, college students and single mothers. Sometimes they only need assistance occasionally or during a financial crisis. Maybe someone got laid off or has a family member with cancer. Whatever is going on in your life, we want you to walk away feeling cared for, not judged,” Roy said.

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True to its name, Project 66 first originated in 2010 along historic Route 66 in Arcadia, serving food to the citizens of Arcadia, Jones and Luther. The faithbased organization functions with the help of three part-time employees and 19,000+ volunteer hours a year.

For Roy, volunteering is a way to minister to people’s needs beyond just hunger. Project 66 consults with each client about other community resources that might be needed, from government assistance to counseling services. “I’m not bashful to say that many of us are from local churches, and we want to serve by helping our neighbors. Our mission is to feed the hungry, but in the meantime, build some relationships that help people build a better tomorrow.”

As my “shopping experience” concluded, I was struck by the sheer volume of manpower required to move 780 thousand pounds of food each year! My last question of Roy was, “How can people help?” He replied, “What’s especially needed, what’s most important, are volunteers who make our clients feel cared for.”

Visit www.project66.org for details and hours of operation.

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FOODLOOK FEATURELOOK

Kyoto Sushi Bar & Asian Bistro Fever for Fusion

By Laura Beam Owner Jack Tan

If you find yourself heading to your same go-to restaurants over and over but crave something new to spice things up, nothing hits the spot like fusion food. The unique flavor combos of multicultural cuisines really wake up your palate and introduce you to exciting new tastes you hadn’t imagined. One of Edmond’s newest eateries, Kyoto Sushi Bar & Asian Bistro, is keeping it hot with traditional Japanese fare kicked up a notch with Asian fusion and French flourishes. Conveniently tucked among the shops at Spring Creek, Kyoto’s stylish decor and easy vibe are a hit with lunch, dinner and late-night guests.

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Ramen in the house “We are the only place in Edmond where you can have both sushi and ramen,” Tan notes, “and our ramen is a specialty. The homemade broth is made with pork bone and is cooked for 14 hours. Our most popular ramen is Miso since people are more familiar with it and like the flavor.” Other selections include ground meat, vegetable, Shoyu, Tonkotsu and Tori Paitan.

All about the sauce As owner Jack Tan says, “When you come to a Japanese fusion place, you expect unique house-made sauces and things you can’t get everywhere else.” And this place delivers, with homemade spicy mayo, teriyaki, a delicious truffle sauce, and their popular XO Sauce (as in, hugs and kisses because you’ll love it!) flavored with dried scallops and ginger.

Specialty sips A must-try at Kyoto is one of their creative drinks. “We spend a lot of time crafting the cocktails,” Tan comments. “It’s not a basic drink menu. Everything is self-crafted. The cucumber drinks are especially refreshing and they complement sushi and fresh fish very well.” Try the Cucumber Crisp or Cool Hand Cuke -- the names are as crafty as the drinks.

Make it sizzle One of the menu highlights is the Sizzling Stone Pot. This steamy meal-in-one is layered with mixed veggies, fried rice, seaweed salad and tamago--fluffy wedges of grilled egg--plus a choice of chicken, beef, seafood or steak, all in one savory pot. This hot little number is as visually and tastefully gratifying in a pot at the restaurant as it is in a to-go container at home.

Stop in for Happy Hour from 3-5pm every day and enjoy specials like a $4 California Roll, $5 Tempura Roll or 5-piece salmon sashimi for $7. Look for late night specials, too, Mon.-Sat. 9pm-close and Sun. 8pm-close.

Sushi, please If you’re in the mood for sushi, the extensive variety of specialty rolls at Kyoto does not disappoint. The Oklahoma Crave is a top pick, featuring smoked salmon, jalapeno and cream cheese, plated with tempura, tuna tataki, sweet chili sauce and scallions. Or try the new Fall Break with coconut shrimp, tempura kani and fried onion, finished with seared albacore, fried phyllo dough, masago, eel sauce and spicy mayo. Owner Tan also recommends The Great Wall and Tornado rolls. There’s even a low-carb 12

option, the Naruto, featuring chef’s choice sashimi, avocado and kani, wrapped in cucumber and finished with ponzu sauce.

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Visit 1389 E. 15th St. in Spring Creek, Edmond or www.kyotosushibarok.com.

Laura Beam is a writer and advertising manager with 25 years in radio, newspaper and magazines. Connect with her on LinkedIn or Facebook.

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FEATURELOOK

Noah and Analise

Noah & Analise: Partners in Progress

“It’s taken college students with a heart for kids to excite Analise. Analise is a testament to the good work being done at Oklahoma Christian for special needs children. It’s an environment that inspires Analise to try new things.

She didn’t walk three years ago, but now she does. That shocked everyone,” Skye said. “Now she’s trying to run. And I know that she’s going to talk some day.”

Noah Young and 11-year-old Analise have a special bond of friendship. It’s a bond that defies words because Analise doesn’t speak words. Noah and Analise communicate through smiles.

The program at Oklahoma Christian was begun nearly 40 years ago by Dr. Max Dobson, who taught physical education. Now, the course, which has continued under Dr. Barbara Price, is open to all interested students. “Max was way ahead of his time,” Price said. “I love the awareness this program brings. The college students learn more than the children do. The students learn that these children aren’t less. They may be different, but they aren’t less.”

By Amy Dee Stephens

“You can tell she’s happy by her smile and her facial expressions,” Noah said.

“She doesn’t talk, but she’s definitely vocal. She makes happy sounds. A lot can be said without talking.”

Noah met Analise when he enrolled in a class at Oklahoma Christian University to help special needs children experience physical education. Like most college students, he was nervous about what to expect, but the children quickly taught him that they were just eager to learn and play.

“We pull them on wagons, help them ride tricycles or play ball games, but honestly, they just want you to be their friend,” Noah said. “Analise took a shine to me early on. She’d take my hand, and we’d walk around the gym.”

This, in itself, is rather miraculous. Doctors said Analise would never walk, talk or engage with people. Analise’s mom, Skye Statum, decided they were wrong. “I tried everything to overcome that prognosis, and so did Analise,” Skye said. “When she turned three, she saw a cat and started crawling toward it. She progressed to a walker, and one day she decided she liked to bunny hop. I knew if she could hop, she could walk.”

Analise, who has attended Washington Irving Elementary since kindergarten, rides a bus to Oklahoma Christian twice a week for her P.E. class. Her mom started noticing that when Analise came home from P.E., she 16

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was trying new things, like climbing onto a tricycle or kicking at a ball. The program propelled Analise forward.

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Currently, six Edmond elementary schools participate in the P.E. course, and five other schools are hopelessly on a waiting list, but there’s no more space or timeslots for expansion. Analise’s mom hopes that another site might develop a similar program on behalf of other special needs children, because it has changed her daughter’s life.

If Analise could speak, she would agree. She lights up when she sees a photo of her special P.E. friend, Noah. And Noah signed up for an additional semester so that he could continue seeing Analise.

“Analise is such a great kid.” Noah said. “She’s always smiling. I wish more people could be as happy as Analise is. Children with special needs are just people, like you and me. They have differences, but they are just as capable as we are. I think people could learn a lot from someone like Analise.”

For more information contact Oklahoma Christian University or go to www.oc.edu

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HOMELOOK

At Home in a Mid-Century Modern Local couple, Scott and Ashlee Hill have an eye for Mid-Century Modern style. First inspired to collect furniture with the clean lines and minimalistic design, the couple’s hobby has now blossomed into a passion for renovating their 1949 home in the Clegern neighborhood in Southeast Edmond. Ashlee shared details about their design journey with Outlook Magazine.

How did your Mid-Century Modern style develop?

Our style has developed over our last 10 years of marriage. My husband studied Graphic Design in college and learned a lot about Mid-Century style through art and design history. When we first got married, we had a hobby of looking for cheap Mid-Century furniture. After we moved to Colorado and won a multi-state apartment decorating contest, mostly from our use of the Mid-Century furniture we had, our hobby grew from collecting to renovating. We continue to draw inspiration for our own home from following a group of other “Modders” through Okie Mod Squad (a group on Facebook) and enjoy taking their annual Mid-Century home tour, which showcases other Mid-Century style homes in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas.

Do your decorating and architecture ideas constantly evolve?

Yes, and I hope that continues. As time goes on, we have thought it might be fun to move from Mid-Century style to a more Spanish Modern home incorporating different textures, tiles and colors to fit into one space.

What are popular Mid-Century Modern trends?

Right now, I think Mid-Century has become a very popular trend. You can now find Mid-Century style pieces at big stores like West Elm, Crate and Barrel, and Target. What drew us to this particular style were the clean lines in the design and minimalism behind it. While aspects of the Mid-Century design will be trends that come and go, for us, we find this style to be timeless.

Do you decorate other homes?

We only focus on decorating our own. I draw a lot of inspiration for our own home from online, but I also love to refer to one of our good friends, Sherree Chamberlain (@sherreejane), who designs interiors through her 18

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own company Chamberlain Interior, and now owns another beautiful MidCentury property nearby. I also love being inspired by one of our local Edmond shops, The Gathered Home Shop (@gatheredhomeshop), and the work Gena has done through that space.

Was your home originally a Mid-Century Modern structure or did you renovate?

Our home was originally built in 1949 for a couple. The home’s architects won an Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects for its forward-thinking design. The house was designed before modern HVAC systems were in place, and to cope with the hot, dry summers in Oklahoma, the architects borrowed a ventilation principle from the structure of a teepee.

Cool, outside air came in windows and flowed out in a chimney fashion through the central cupola, which is now a closed skylight. Since then, central HVAC was added and the space was altered in the 90s and early 2000s. It still reflects its original design in the large windows, skylights, and interesting lines inside the home, but it has also unfortunately lost some of its original identity. We hope to restore, renovate and draw out its Mid-Century aspects more as time goes on.

What are the reactions to your unique home?

We love the space, and honestly, it gets quite a bit of attention. We often see people driving by and slowing down because the home is pretty unique and in a surprising area of town. We just had a woman recently who stopped my husband while he was outside and asked if we would be willing to sell. The answer is “not yet,” in case you were wondering.

Is it complete, or are you still updating?

We are still wanting to do more updating. When we first walked through the house, we had looked at about twelve other houses throughout Edmond and Oklahoma City. I stopped my husband while we were inside and said this is the one. A lot of our family thought we might be crazy to have such a vision for an old house, but they love what we have done to the space so far and it has a really bright and peaceful energy to it. Over the next few years, we hope to have a chance to do more. Our dream for this space is ongoing for sure.

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FEATURELOOK

Downtown Edmond Arts Festival May 3, 4 & 5

By the Numbers 41 148

Years and still going. The first arts festival was in 1978 and it has expanded each year since. Organizers describe it as a quality arts event with a hometown feel that’s fun for all ages.

Artists from around the country.

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Art Types: crafts, photography, glass, sculpture, oil/ acrylic paintings, wood & fiber arts, mixed media pieces, watercolors, jewelry, graphic arts and pottery.

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Food Trucks: ice cream, burgers, philly cheesesteak, tacos, and more.

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Performers: school choirs, pop bands, percussion line, dancers, and Edmond favorite Kyle Dillingham and Horseshoe Road.

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Organizers: dedicated community members who spend all year preparing for this yearly event.

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Children’s Activities: inflatables, slides, yard games, mechanical bull, crafts, face painting, character appearances, coloring stations and more.

Pet dogs, please! Only service dogs are invited.

For more information visit www.downtownedmondok.com or the Facebook event page for the Downtown Edmond Arts Festival

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BIZLOOK

Blue Haven Pools

By Maria Veres

When Jayme Allen meets with a new client, he has a simple goal. “I want people to love their pool and talk about how easy it is to maintain,” he says.

As lead designer of Blue Haven Pools & Spas of OKC, Jayme knows creating something beautiful is only part his job. “I can sit and draw cool shapes all day long,” he says, “but at the end of the day it’s got to work.”

The key lies in doing things right from the beginning. Jayme works with clients to plan a structure that’s a good fit for the location and choose a sanitation system that meets their needs.

Blue Haven’s expert construction team takes care of the building process, and the service department ensures that owners enjoy their new pool for years to come.

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Low maintenance is always one of Jayme’s priorities. “A basic recreational pool can be maintained in fifteen or twenty minutes a week,” he says. As part of a large national franchise network, the OKC Blue Haven location has access to cutting-edge sanitation systems that keep water sparkling and safe without requiring hours of care. Their patented OxiPro™ system uses ultraviolet light, ozone, and a very small amount of chlorine to zap bacteria without harsh or corrosive chemicals.

Jayme appreciates the technology and knowledge that’s available through the national network, but he’s also proud that Blue Haven OKC has local staying power. Oklahoma resident Beto Garcia has owned the franchise since 1990. A team of two dozen local employees ensures that clients get expert work at competitive prices. Jayme himself has been with the company for sixteen years. “We aren’t practicing in your backyard,” says Jayme. “If it’s been done in a pool, we’ve seen it.”

With a background in architectural engineering, Jayme designed larger commercial and public pools before coming to Blue Haven. “I wanted to do something more fun and creative, not just designs with concrete everywhere,” he says. “I like

that every project at Blue Haven is different, and every client is different.”

He describes his work as joyful, rewarding, and sometimes challenging. One of those challenges is the lack of regulation around the pool industry in Oklahoma. Jayme takes continuing-education courses and keeps up with changes in the industry to make sure his clients receive the safest, highest quality pools available.

With almost 900 projects to his credit so far, Jayme isn’t planning to go anywhere. “We’ve been through the ups and downs, and we’re still here,” he says. “People can have confidence when they’re investing in a Blue Haven pool.”

Visit Blue Haven Pools & Spas at 200 NE 150th Street or online at www.BlueHavenOKC.com.

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BIZLOOK

Journey Quilt Company

By Maria Veres

Trish Maxwell of Journey Quilt Company treasures the moments when customers first see their finished quilts. “Their mouths drop open, then they smile,” says Trish. “They brought in a pile of old clothing, and now they have a visually balanced fabric scrapbook that they get to take home and use.”

Trish and her team have been designing mosaic quilts for almost five years. They create three main styles of quilts—T-shirt quilts, Legacy quilts, and Shadowbox quilts that showcase military awards.

Quilts can be made in a wide variety of sizes. Each design is completely original, and all quilts are crafted in-house by Trish and her talented staff.

If you thought of T-shirt quilts as a bunch of big, worn-out squares sewn into rows, a visit to Journey Quilt Company will change your mind. Their mosaic designs use only the logos and graphics of

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the shirts, creating blocks of different sizes that are shaped into a beautiful work of art. “Everything we do is about balancing colors and patterns,” says Trish. “Having an artistic eye is a must.”

Legacy quilts also use a mosaic style, but they include a wider variety of clothing items. Many legacy quilts are created as baby keepsakes, and others are made with favorite pieces of clothing from a loved one who has passed away. “We can put in anything that’s fabric,” says Trish. “I literally added in part of a shoe once.”

Shadowbox quilts are the newest addition to Journey Quilt Company’s lineup. Using a service member’s discharge form as a reference, Trish and her team create digital images of the veteran’s awards, medals, badges, and insignia. Then they print these images onto fabric and create a stunning quilted version of a shadowbox award display case.

Trish has been working on the shadowbox quilt concept ever since her own discharge from the Navy in 2000. “At first I was literally recreating those little ribbons out of fabric pieces,” she recalls. Now the technology has caught up with her vision. “The response is mind blowing,” she says.

Owner Trish Maxwell

She has already created numerous shadowbox quilts, with many more in progress.

It’s been a long journey from Navy air traffic controller to quiltmaker, but Trish loves where she’s landed. “This is the most fun job I’ve ever had,” she says. “I’m very thankful to the Edmond community for their support. It’s wonderful knowing that more than two thousand quilts have come through here.” She plans on creating many more. “It doesn’t matter who you are, this is something that works for everyone regardless of interest or age,” she says. “It’s a great way to protect memories.”

To see samples of Journey Quilt Company’s mosaic and shadowbox quilts, visit them at 16516 North Pennsylvania Avenue or online at www.journeyquiltco.com.

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ALOOKBACK

I Love Spring

By Louise Tucker Jones

For those who read last month’s column concerning Jay’s surgery, it was rescheduled for May instead of April, so at the time of this writing I have no news. I thank you for continued prayers for a safe procedure and miraculous recovery, and for the sweet notes I have already received. I treasure your kind words and your prayers for my son.

Jay and I spent part of April in Northwest Arkansas so Jay could spend his birthday with his big brother. He loves playing pool with Aaron as well as visiting the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville. Who knew he would be such an art lover! But oh, my goodness, the spring pollen in those Ozark hills caused both of us to land at the Urgent Care facility with respiratory problems.

And though we enjoyed our visit, we were glad to be back in Edmond on our little acre of land that we call home. I love the beautiful spring colors in our yard. Redbud trees, daffodils, lilies, forsythia, roses, and especially the lilac. It was a favorite of ours—my late husband and me. The first year the lilac bloomed after Carl’s journey to heaven, I went outside and caressed those fragrant blooms.

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Suddenly a butterfly landed on a blossom near me and stayed as long as I did. A gift from heaven.

We also loved watching the fragrant blossoms of the moonflowers open late evening. They shine bright white all night under the moonlight and stay in bloom till the heat of the morning.

When the weather is nice, I enjoy sitting outside on benches that Carl placed under trees that he planted. Some days a brilliant red cardinal perches on a branch near me. Tradition says it’s a sign that someone in heaven is thinking about you.

A sweet thought. Then I miss Carl eight times over—the number of years he will have been in heaven the end of this month. But there is such tenderness in knowing we sat on those benches together while enjoying this little gift of nature that God provided.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Louise Tucker Jones is an award-winning author, inspirational speaker & founder of Wives With Heavenly Husbands, a support group for widows.

LouiseTJ@cox.net or LouiseTuckerJones.com.

FEATURELOOK

World of Dance

Thousands auditioned from across the world, but Kim Massay Dance Production’s group, Intention, was selected to be one of the 14 junior teams competing on Season 3 of NBC’s World of Dance. Outlook visited with the owner and coach, Kim Massay to learn more about their experience competing on a television show.

How did you find out about auditions?

We were called by World of Dance after they saw one of our videos on YouTube, and they asked us to fly to Atlanta for an audition four days later with two routines.

What was the audition process like?

It started in July in Atlanta. Every two weeks we would have another audition process that we would have to go through, whether it would be phone interviews, Skype phone calls or videography things of Oklahoma.

We found out that we made the show in September, and we went to LA the first of October to perform and film the show.

We were there for most of the month of October.

How long did you prepare?

Once we found out we were on the show, we had about 2 1/2 weeks to prepare a routine for the first filming. We would send them copies every few days, and they would send their feedback right back to us for things we needed to correct and change.

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What was the experience like?

The experience was amazing – to be out there on the world of dance stage with all the other groups from around the world, in every style of dance there is – was amazing. To learn the ins and outs of a TV show filming, to be around the judges, and to meet the dancers was an experience we will never forget. Just the opportunity to appear on the show was the win. They had thousands and thousands of junior groups audition. When we went there, it was narrowed down to 14 junior groups.

Which judge was the most intimidating and why?

The most intimidating judge was probably J-Lo because she is such an icon, but our favorite judge was Derek Hough. They were all as nice as could be.

What did you learn from this experience?

We learned teamwork, discipline and how a TV show is created. We also met wonderful friends from all around the world and had the experience of a lifetime.

What’s the next step?

Onward and upward. We are still competing across the United States with our team, Intention. We are going to try to be back on World of Dance again.

We thank Edmond and Oklahoma for all of the support they have given us through this journey. We are so grateful.

For more information on Intention or Kim Massay Dance Productions visit www.kimmassaydance.com

80 East 5th St., Ste. 130 Edmond, OK 73034