Allison's Wedding

While we were in California for Christmas we were blessed to attend the wedding of my sweet high school friend, Allison. The two of us were on swim team together and enjoyed many, many hours together in the pool, talking at school or giggling at sleepovers. It made my heart soar to see her with a man that makes her so happy! Congrats, Allison and Josh! Thanks for letting us be apart of your big day!

During the ceremony

On Those I Love

One of my favorite parts of going back to California is catching up with friends and family I love most. I got my fill of both during this trip.

With high school friends Taylor, Jesilyn and Rachel.

Monterey 2012, part two

On day three in Monterey, we visited the Carmel Mission then headed to the Monarch butterfly sanctuary in Pacific Grove. The butterflies were just warming up when we arrived. I was amazed at how difficult they were to see from the ground. The butterflies spend the night clumped up together high in the eucalyptus trees — they look like leaves. Pretty clever disguise if you ask me!

Monterey 2012

For Christmas we headed to California to enjoy the holiday with my family. After all the gifts were opened we — my parents, two brothers Tyler and Austin, and me and Nathaniel — loaded up the car and headed to Monterey. The day after Christmas my cousin Kourtney, and her husband, Alden, met up with us and we headed to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

The aquarium was awe-inspiring — despite the crowds!

Noel Christmas Art

For Christmas I got busy making "noel" artworks for family and friends — with red, yellow, blue and green ink washes.

In full production mode.

Joy to the World: A Christmas Musical Celebration

In September I was asked to do volunteer public affairs work for my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.) My assignment was to assist in both stake (a group of regional congregations) and multi-stake public affairs matters. First thing on our agenda: pulling off a large Christmas concert. My work started full-force right away as I got together information to share with the media about our concert. I had two press releases printed in the paper at work at — you can read them here and here.

Here's what my first release said:

Oklahoma members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will host “Joy to the World: A Musical Christmas Celebration,” at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 22 at Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave. The free choral and orchestra concert is open to the public. 

“We wanted to share this Christmas celebration with our neighbors in Oklahoma. We believe in Christ and we have much in common with our Christian friends, many of whom have agreed to join talents with us in the choir and the orchestra,” said Walter Hobbs, local church leader and concert coordinator. 

The concert will be Led by Dr. Craig Jessop, former Mormon Tabernacle Choir director. Special guests will include baritone Anthony Eversole and soprano Lisa Howard. 

Orchestra and choir members are composed of people from all faiths in central Oklahoma, with the core choir membership drawn from 44 Mormon congregations in cities such as Stillwater, Ardmore, Woodward, Seminole, Oklahoma City and Norman. 

Favorite Christmas songs performed during the concert include: “Joy to the World,” “What Child Is This,” “White Christmas,” “Glory to God,” “O, Come All Ye Faithful,” “Silent Night” and “Angels We Have Heard on High.”

Caitlin's Art

I helped my friend Caitlin make some artwork for her family members for Christmas. For her brothers, Caitlin used their names and a one-word definition of their name. Each had a different color.

 

Lunch with Betty

Tuesday afternoon I called a potential source to see if she'd mind visiting with me for an upcoming story. I was surprised when she not only agreed to chat, but invited me over to her house for a home cooked lunch the next day. She ended the conversation by calling me "honey."

When Betty answered the door Wednesday afternoon, I was greeted by a big smile and firm hug. Tall, slender, a head piled high with glistening white hair, Betty is the picture of grace at 82 years old. She ushered me into her kitchen where she puttered back and forth — popping buns into the oven, breaking whole wheat noodles in half to boil on the stove, pulling honey out of the pantry — as she told me about her late husband and a marriage that began at the tender age of 16.

I smiled when she told me how young they were. They helped raise each other, she said, and had their first baby when they were "almost 20." I told her people thought I was young when I got married — 10 days short of 21, but her story made me look like an old maid.

She laughed.

"21 is quite respectable, Hannah," she said.

Phone Calls with Barry

Norman has a Christmas parade every year. And a parade wouldn't be a parade without a grand marshal. I called up this year's grand marshal, Barry Switzer, 75-year-old former University of Oklahoma and Dallas Cowboys football coach, to ask him how he felt about the honor. No answer. Left a voicemail.

My phone rings a few hours later. I answer.

"Newsroom, this is Hannah."

"Coach Switzer."

"Uh, yeah, hello. This is Hannah with The Norman Transcript. I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about being the grand marshal in the Christmas parade this weekend?"

Child of God, part 3

I've gifted quite a few "Child of God" artworks lately. I even did one in Spanish to say "Hija de Dios." I've done a few "Hijo de Dios" pieces but have yet to gift them. And I have been lovin' the stripes!

Always,