June N-town

With our move to Amarillo coming up, June marked my last month as the N-town editor. It was definitely bitter-sweet! Check it out here.

Always,

Where Was God?

I recently interviewed the producer of a faith-based documentary about the May 20, 2013, EF-5 Moore, Okla., tornado called "Where Was God? Stories of Hope After the Storm." The movie follows a handful of families and individuals on their road to recovery after the tornado. You can read the full story here.

While I was talking to Steven, the producer, I discovered that one of the women in the movie is a woman I took several pictures of on May 20. I thought her face looked familiar in the trailer and remembered it from the pictures I had taken. I showed Steven and he told me about her.

Associated Press awards

I recently earned two recognitions at the B Division of the Associated Press/Oklahoma News Executives competition.

I earned third place for "spot news" for my story covering the May 20, 2013, EF-5 Moore tornado. You can read that story here.

I also earned second place for "general news" for my story covering the May 20, 2013, EF-5 Moore tornado. And I honestly have no idea which story it is referring to — I think either this one or this one.

Always,

Amarillo by Morning

Palo Duro Canyon outside of Amarillo, Texas

Nathaniel was lucky enough to have graduated with a job. I am at once incredibly proud and jealous! Nathaniel accepted a position with Child Protective Services out of Amarillo, Texas. We are both excited for the opportunities it will provide for him!

Mother's Day

For my May column I wrote about my mamma's — my own mother and my mother-in-law. I gave my mom the column as the card to her Mother's Day gift. She bawled! I call that success! Read my column here.

With my mom and mother-in-law in 2010 at my bridal shower.

Always,

May N-town

May 2014 N-town is DONE.

Always,

On roller derby girls, hot dog costumes, photo bloggers and macaws

Sometimes my job is serendipitously fun. Covering the second day of Norman Music Festival was such a day.

Honestly, I hate writing stories on large festivals like Norman Music Festival because the story relies totally on man-on-the-street interviews. These types of interviews are usually awful and boring, and only occasionally really spectacular — if you're lucky.

The makings of a perfect night at work.

In the Newsroom

The average newsroom isn't a glamorous place. To be frank, ours feels like a dungeon — it's in the back of the building and there's no windows. Most things are aged more than is reasonable. Like the desks. Lord knows when those were purchased. But still, this is where the magic happens.

I sit next to the photographers' desks, and our lead photographer Kyle Phillips often experiments with his camera while I sit at my desk...here are some of his creations taken while I work at my desk.

Taken April 25

Associated Press, take 3

My story on Art Feeds was picked up by the Associated Press and ran in several publications nation wide, including The Washington Times, The San Francisco Chronicle and The Houston Chronicle.

Feeling pretty proud about now!

Always,

April N-town

April N-town done and out highlighting some pretty incredible local arts initiatives. 

Always,

On art, therapy and tornadoes

I spent 12 weeks this spring volunteering for Art Feeds, an art therapy program, in Plaza Towers Elementary, one of two schools destroyed in Moore, Okla., on May 20, 2013, from an EF-5 tornado.

I spent Monday mornings in one of two 5th grade classes, rotating every week. Some of the kids were very open about their experiences with the tornado, sharing stories about their homes being destroyed or their dog never coming home. It was always brought up matter-of-fact. Living in the wake of the tornado, after all, is just a reality of their young lives. Others hardly mentioned it, but brought up other life issues. One week the project was to do a self-portrait. Students were instructed to draw themselves however they saw themselves, inside and out. All but one child drew themselves with smiles. A boy drew himself frowning and crying. I asked him about it. He said he's always sad. He said he's medicated and just feels numb to everything. It was heartbreaking to hear such a young person share something do distressing.

A few weeks later the project was to use cardboard boxes to rebuild Moore the way they envisioned it — fill in all the empty spaces left from the tornado with whatever they want. Students were told they could do anything — from the funky to the practical. The same sad, sweet boy decided he would build a pharmacy — because people still need their medications. Many students still did silly — video game stores, Sponge Bob stores (as seen below), or houses with swings and slides. But others wanted to be sure there were plenty of hospitals and new schools for everyone. It was incredible watching these bright, hopeful minds imagine the future as they reflected on a dark spot in their pasts.

One of the hospitals built by students.

March N-town

Another N-town for the books.

Always,

Associated Press, take 2

I had a story picked up by the Associated Press again! You can read the original version of the story in The Norman Transcript here or the one that ran in The Washington Times here.

This was a fun story to write. It was an honor to meet a father-son duo that love and serve each other so fully. Before arriving at the hospital to meet them, I prepared myself to meet a stand-offish 13-year-old boy who had no interest in expressing affection about his father, let alone holding his hand! What I found instead was a tender young man who love and respected his father and was grateful he was still around. I also wasn't sure what kind of condition dad would be in...but for just having a stroke, he looked great and his speech was pretty darn good. I mean, do you see that smile?!

Valentine's Column

I surprised my love this year with a column written just about him. It was so fun to share my feelings in such a public way and hear Nathaniel and other's reactions about a relationship that is so near and dear to my heart!

The picture that accompanied the column. The two of us at the salsa club in Lubbock, Texas, the summer we started dating.

Always,

February N-town

For the February N-town we did a fabulous Mardi Gras themed photo shoot. Getting the entire thing together was a nightmare, but the end results were beautiful and festive. Plus, my husband modeled and damn, is he hunky!

Associated Press

Check it out...

Do you see it? That's my name next to "Associated Press." My story was picked up by AP. Of all stories, it's this one — but hey, I'm not going to complain.

Always,

January N-town

Another one done. Though this one suffered page-wise — we cut pages when we don't sell enough ads. Wah wah. Regardless. Check it out here.

Loved talking to the new director of the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Emily Ballew Neff, for our Q&A this month. She was an incredibly interesting lady, very smart, driven, passionate but also a mom and down to earth.

Always,

P.S. My face adorns the inside cover in an advertisement. Weird.

I'm a model, you know what I mean?

I can officially add "model" to my resume. The results are in for our jewelry fashion shoot. Check it out:

2013: Highlights

For me, 2013 was a year of many ups and downs. There were a few heartbreaks and also a handful of triumphs. Read on for a recap of my last twelve months.

January:
The year started off with a bang when I found out I was pregnant. I was shocked, thrilled and absolutely terrified.

February:
February started off without a hitch, and I felt incredibly lucky on Valentine's Day to be celebrating a new chapter in our lives — I even made a card themed around how big our baby was supposed to be that week: an olive. Unfortunately, a few days later, I was devastated when I was blindsided by the beginning of a miscarriage.

December N-town

The December N-town cover was all about what makes Norman a remarkable arts community. It was really fun for me to reflect on how much the community supports the arts, as well as look forward to what 2014 will have to offer as far as our arts and entertainment scene goes! Lots of amazing things set to happen in Norman, Okla. Check out the story and edition here.

Always,