Enough to make one cry…..

Have I ever mentioned what an amazing, caring, and giving family I have…oh I have, well I am going to mention it again.

My Aunt Mimi called me last Thursday to tell me she had three extra tickets to the game of the century being played in Stillwater on Saturday. Those might not have been her exact words, but you get the message. She was curious as to whether or not I would be interested in going. Now before I tell you what my answer to that question was, I would like to give you a few pieces of information regarding this game, this game of the century. OSU was playing, that in its self would warrant an answer of yes, however their opponent was not just any Big XII team, it was the number 1 ranked team. OSU was playing KU, so my answer to my aunt’s question was……..heck yeah I would love to go!!

I am sure you can imagine I had no trouble finding friends to go along with me, after all this was the game of all games. Anyone that had the slightest hint of orange running through their veins would have given anything to go watch this match up. I am not sure it quite equaled the feeling the Canadian’s had today as they prepared for a hockey game that would prove to be unmatched in history, but the feeling the OSU fans had was a close second.

My friends and I loaded up and headed down the Turnpike to Stillwater, arriving at Gallagher Iba arena just in time for the National Anthem, and the introduction to the starting lineup for both teams.



I got ducky bumps (also known as goose bumps) as I waited with anticipation for tip off.



Let the game begin!!!



OSU played a stellar first half.







Second half proved to be a bit more challenging, but that can be expected when the number 1 ranked team is getting their hinny handed to them on a platter.

KU began to show a bit more aggression……..





However the spirit run amped up the noice level....




and in the end the phenomenal ball playing displayed by the Cowboys and noice created by the fans was just too much for the Jayhawks to take.

OSU won 85 to 77



And the crowd went wild.






I have been to a lot of OSU sporting events and I will say all wins are great. But there are few wins that are so exciting they almost bring me to tears, this was one of those wins. I smiled with great pride, not only for a basketball team that knocked the socks of their competition, but for the entire Cowboy nation and all of us that bleed orange and call our Alma mater O S U, I wiped a tear from my cheek and yelled GO POKES!!

The sun set on amazing Saturday in Stillwater, Oklahoma.



Love ya,
Jen

February 27, 1951

Through the eyes and heart of a daughter I see my mother as not only that, a mom, but also a best friend. My mother is my hero, displaying astonishing grace in the face of adversity, valor in times of fear, and unparalleled joy during life’s most rewarding accomplishments. The strength, courage, and wisdom I try to display in my life comes directly from watching a mother live a life of dignity planted firmly in her faith.

My mother turns my darkest days to light through her love, encouragement, and listening ear. She always knows what words to say to give me strength when I feel as though I am so weak I have nothing left to give. I always find a reason to believe when my heart has had enough; and I see the need to give more at times in which I feel like giving up, all because I have the love of a mother who sees more in me than I see in myself.

My life is made better daily due to being blessed beyond measure by the best mother!!



I love you momma, have a birthday as special as you are!!

Love ya,
Jen

A stiletto in the mud

Ohhhh goodness!!!

What a riveting expression I know, however it is the only phrase I can think of which to adequately express my emotions towards all the responses I received regarding my heartfelt glance into the one thing missing in my life. Warnings were shouted out before you dove too far into the longings of my soul, warnings that my words were going to be shocking, in fact they might even knock you over. I suppose my attempts to shelter you all from the blow went unnoticed and the ramblings of a lonely heart were heard by many.

The reaction to this scatter cowboy rambling varied from a co-worker that had the biggest smile on her face when she walked in my office the other day and said “I read your blog last night, how fun”. To my mother, whose reaction was quite the opposite stating “have you lost your mind, you need a cowboy like you need a hole in your head, country life is not you AT ALL”.

It is time for a confession of sorts; I find myself torn in deciphering what my heart really needs and wants and what my mind thinks my life is missing. Although I welcome the thought of a cowboy in my life with open arms, I do have to admit that I am not 100% sure this city girl could hack it in the country. I can say with all the certainty I can muster that my stiletto collection would not survive an hour much less a day in the country. It would not take long before my stiletto got stuck in the mud and my life as I know it would be no more. I would be willing to trade in a pair of heals for cowgirl boots if I fell in love with an amazing cowboy, but only one pair.

As a side bar, visualizing is something I learned to do very well while being part of the Interior Design program in college but I am having a hard time visualizing these feet……….


in stirrups, ridin’ a horse.

We won’t go into how the jewelry,


the pedicures,


and the designer sunglasses would weather the country life.


However, even though I had more “WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?” reactions to my longing for a cowboy commentary, I will remain optimistic. Regardless of the fact that I think I could fall in love with anyone who stole my heart, I also know that in practical terms I would have a better chance at falling in love with someone that spends time doing the same things as I. May be on the running trails, or at the gym, or building a house for Habitat for Humanity, or on the ski slopes, or volunteering at church, or at a photography gathering, or at a race; those seem a lot more practical. In addition I don’t spend a lot of time in the country on ranches. In fact I spend no time there unless I am visiting family. But who needs practicality when we have a life designed to be spent looking at the future through the optimistic lends. Only God knows where this lonely heart will land, I am simply hoping that someday it will land in the arms of a man with Cowboy Ethics, regardless if he drives a truck or a Range Rover, lives in the country or in the city, his heart is what counts.

Bye y’all,
Jen

What got me through the day.

I ran across a passage this evening and it touched me to the core. The tear that rolled down my cheek as I read each phrase letting my soul absorb every word like a sponge, made me evaluate my day. A day which provided fewer smiles and more frustration, less energetic chatter and more silence, a day with a special kind of dynamic required a reevaluation.

If I Had My Life to Live Over-by Erma Bombeck

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the “good” living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my new clothes and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”

There would have been more “I love yous.” More “I’m sorrys.”

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute…..look at it and really see it, live it and never give it back

Stop sweating the small stuff. Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you, who has more, or who’s doing what.

Instead, let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

Let’s think about what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally.

Love Ya,
Jen

First Steps

Many people would call my excitement towards running an obsession I like to call it a passion. Running has been a part of my life for, well, ever. I ran around the neighborhood playing with my friends as a child, I ran in practice and games when I played soccer as a teenager, and as a college student and young adult (yes in my mind I am still a young adult) I ran/run to chase my goal for Olympic gold, or just finish a marathon before I turn 35. Regardless if you want to obtain a flatter tummy, more muscle tone, higher energy levels, weight maintenance, or simply a healthy lifestyle, running has immeasurable benefits and anyone that can walk can run.

I have been asked by friends lately how I got started with running long distances. All the questions have inspired to me write a post about adding running to your life. I am not a running professional, but I have learned through the years from lessons, coaches, and books, a thing or two on taking the first steps at becoming a runner. I would love to open my running treasure chest and share a few of those tips with you today.

As Amby Burfoot has said “all running programs for beginners are the same. They move you from walking, which anyone can do, to running, which anyone can do if they have the determination. The difference between walking and running isn’t speed or biomechanics. It’s determination.” So my friends tie up those determination sneakers, follow the soon to be revealed tips, and you will be a runner in no time flat.

I don’t want to sound too boring, but I must toss out the reminder to make sure you receive a full medical exam before starting any exercise program. Okay I feel better now.

1) Set a realist long term goal.
2) Start working towards your goal. A possible good starting point would be a jog/walk program consisting of 4 workouts per week lasting 20-30 minutes each.
3) Think in terms of minutes when you do your jogging intervals and not miles. The fastest way to fall off a beginning running program is to push yourself too hard too fast. So don’t try to bust out of the gate jogging a mile, try jogging/walking in 2 min. 4 min. intervals respectfully.
4) Don’t try to run, simply focus on a jog, and your jog should be at a pace that is comparable to a fast walk. Make sure you can have a conversation with your jogging buddy, if you can’t slow down your pace.
5) A rule of thumb for a beginner running program is after 10 weeks of working the above program you should be close to running 30 minutes without walking, at which time it would be encouraged to start working on miles per week. Once you are at the spot to think about miles a reasonable mile load per week would be about 9-14

Where should you begin running you ask? That is an excellent question. The best place to start your jog/walk program is at a local track, park trail, or treadmill. These three surfaces allow you avoid the dangers of running on the road, from cars, to the hard surface of concert, to pot holes, and so on. As boring as the track may be it provides a flat soft surface ideal for beginner runners. If you decide to run on city streets refer to ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ item 7.

Amongst all my treasures in my running treasure chest one of the best for beginner runners is a do’s and don’ts list for beginners, designed by Amby Burfoot the winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon. So here you go my friends, enjoy, embraces, use, and conquer your desire to be a runner.

1) Don’t begin a running program without a full medical exam.
2) Don’t attempt to train through an athletic injury. Little aches and pains can sideline you for weeks or months if you don’t take time off and seek medical advice.
3) Do dress correctly. If it’s dark, wear white or, better yet, reflective clothing. If it’s cold, wear layers of clothing, gloves or mittens, and a wool ski cap to retain heat. Sun block, sunglasses, a baseball cap, and white clothing makes sense on hot days.
4) Don’t run in worn-out shoes (check them for broken-down heels or very smooth areas where you push off on your strides). Don’t run in shoes that are designed for other sports, such as basketball or tennis sneaks.
5) Do tell someone where you’ll be running and when you expect to return. Carry some identification and a quarter for a phone call.
6) Do some light stretching exercises prior to your jog/walk workouts to reduce muscle tightness and increase range of motion. You should do even more stretching after the workout.
7) Do watch out for cars, and don’t expect drivers to watch out for you. Always run facing traffic so that you can see cars approaching. When crossing an intersection, make sure you establish eye contact with the driver before proceeding.
8) Do include a training partner in your program, if possible. A training partner with similar abilities and goals can add motivation and increase the safety of your running.
9) Don’t wear headphones when running outside, whether you are training or racing. They tune you out from your surroundings, making you more vulnerable to all sorts of hazards: cars, bikes, skateboarders, dogs, and criminals.
10) Don’t run in remote areas, especially if you are a women running alone. If you don’t have a partner, run with a dog or carry a self-defense spray. Don’t approach a car to give directions, and don’t assume all runners are harmless.

I have one last Amby thought for you to take away. I want you to remember that “you don’t have to finish a marathon, to be a runner. There are lots of great runners who never run 26.2 miles. A runner is someone who runs; it’s that simple-and that grand. Be that someone. Be yourself. Be your own runner, whether the challenge is four times around the junior high track or qualifying and running the Boston Marathon.

Happy running my friends,
Jen

Something is missing.

If you are not sitting down already I highly recommend you do, for this is going to come as a shock to most of you. I have been thinking lately, apparently thinking is all I do these days, but that is a topic for my psychologist not my blog. I have been thinking I need something new in my life. Something that is tough, rugged, warm hearted, genuine, caring, hard working……any guesses? No…you need more clues, okay…open spaces, horses, trucks. For any of you that know me, I am sure I could sit here and list words describing this “thing” I think I need all day and I am not sure you will ever guess, so I will just tell you. Last warning……..are you sitting down? This news knocked me over when the thought originally entered my mind, I have since not only welcomed the idea, but also embraced it. Are you ready………….I think I might need………..a cowboy in my life, or a city boy that has the same values and morals as a cowboy; which I have yet to find here in Tulsa.



I know I know, I may be completely out of my mind. I realize that I have said, probably since the day I learned to talk, that I want to live in the big city casing the American Dream…whatever that is; working my way up the corporate ladder to a plush corner office, traveling the globe, rubbing elbows with the uptown at country clubs and large upscale corporate events, and loving every minute of it. Although I do love the big city, I am ready to have peace in my life; I want to be able to watch the sunset behind the prairie and not behind a skyscraper.



I want to listen to the sound of God’s creatures rather than planes, trains, and automobiles.



I want to go running in wide open spaces and not packed city streets with impatient drivers honking at me because I am in their way.



It may be my age, it may be that I am getting exhausted by corporate America, it may be that I have lived in Oklahoma for 11 years, it may be that I want my career to be raising a family, it may be that I am getting tired of the “city boys”, it may be that I just went to a country concert and hung around cowpeople, (I am pretty sure cowpeople is not a word, but it is going to be today) it may be a lot of things. However, the one thing I do know is it is a desire in my heart for peace, tranquility, and an amazing man to share it with.



Although I am related to the Drummond’s and the Barrington’s, who I am sure, know more cowboys than there are hairs on my head, I am soliciting my best friend’s help. She does not know this yet, but I am pretty certain she will read my blog tonight and soon be informed that I am sending her on a mission to lasso me a cowboy, or a city boy with cowboy traits. She is the chosen one for two reasons, she knows my type in men probably better than I do (I say that but this news is going to surprise her, or may be not), and she lives in cowboy country. Nicole resides in Houston, I am sure there are a plethora of cowboys in her neck of the woods.



I will keep you up to date on any possible developments with this mission I have just sent Nicole on. In the mean time I will simply keep you posted on any men developments here in Tulsa that would be a good starting point.

Love ya,
Jen

As a disclaimer I didn’t take any of these photographs I found them online, and I would have cited the artist for each if I could have found it. Thanks to all the anonymous photographers that added to my blog today!!

Urban Script

I had an entire post all planned out for this evening about something I am missing in my life. However, on my way home from the gym I fetched my mail and this post took a drastic change. My family is not the most prompt at sending birthday gifts, it is a hereditary disease, it has been diagnosed. With this secret being out of the bag I will tell you that in the mail I found a box, a box that had made a journey from D.C. to Tulsa. In this box I found an incredible card from an incredible brother and his girlfriend. Accompanying the card I found this………..



An original from a new line courtesy of my brother's new company Urban Script (I will link the website once he has it more up and running)……



Here are a few more photos………..







I tell you what, I have the most talented brother who has a girlfriend with rockn’ talent, what a pair they make!! Love you two so much and thank you for the awesome birthday gift!

Love ya,
Jen

Reba, George, and a few friends.

It was 1998 the last time I went to a concert at an indoor arena. I will never forget the experience and the memories will forever remain in my heart. Amanda, Leslie, Heather, and I went to see Shania Twain in OKC during their freshman, my sophomore year at OSU. What a time we had singing along, we could have been backup, or at least that is what we thought. We had been practicing after all in our dorm for weeks before the concert.

Let us fast forward to 2010…..Amanda, Leslie, and Heather are now all working mommies and living the mommy life. So besides the fact that none of them live in Tulsa, in order to have a night on the town babysitters are a must for my 1998 pose of concert friends. So if I want to have the “concert” experience again new concert friends must be found. I was on a mission to find those new friends when I heard George Straight and Reba were going to be in Tulsa on my birthday weekend. As time got closer for tickets to go on sale I had lost the excitement of going to the concert; that was until two weeks before the sold out event when a co-worker stepped into my office and asked if I would be interested in going to the concert with her. HECK YEAH!!!! Apparently she bought tickets for her and her husband, but at the last second her husband was not able to go, insert Jennifer!!!

Last night Barb and I went to see the concert of all concerts; well from my experience the best concert, but then again I don’t have a laundry list of experiences to choose from.

The concert opened with Lee Ann Womack......




She did an outstanding job, but I have always liked her music, I am a fan!




Then the Queen of Country........





Reba told a lot of stories, it was a lot of fun to hear her share her experiences.






A duet with Lee Ann.


Memories from the Reba TV show!


Fancy!!!





And now for the King of Country.




I was given direct orders from all the ladies at the office to get a picture of George’s backside, so here you go my friends!










THE END.

It was a great time!!

Love ya,
Jen