Monday, April 30, 2007
Till We Meet Again…
(from Linda)
Well, now we have come to the end of the first school year at Oklahoma Christian…what an experience it has been! And I can happily say that OC proved to be all that we hoped it would be.
Laura has decided to continue in summer school, so we helped her move into the Phase VI apartments. She shed a few tears upon leaving the dorm, her first “home” at OC, but I think we were all were amazed and impressed by the quality and spaciousness of the beautiful apartment she will be sharing with a good friend. Perry and I feel very secure in having Laura in the apartment, since OC apartments are located right on campus.
What do we think after Laura’s experience this year? We are more convinced than ever that Christian education is worth every penny spent and more. And thank you to all the dedicated staff who are tirelessly going the “second mile” at OC.
It has been interesting to receive personal responses from parents located all over the country—you never know who’s checking the blog entries!
We still welcome any comments or questions from those of you who are reading the blogs and pursuing the college trail, just as we were just a year ago. We’d be happy to hear from you and share with you!
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Thursday, April 26, 2007
Baby Steps
(from Perry)
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Last year, Linda and I attended the Parent Orientation at OC. The orientation is appropriately called “Throw Me a Rope.” It really was a beneficial time for us, and I encourage you to attend.
During the orientation, the session leader told us how our freshmen kids would change in just a year. Maturity would slowly be coming and after the spring semester, we would see a new “child.” I admit I was a skeptic, but a year away from home has done our daughter a world of good.
We are still battling over study habits but, I have noticed a young lady with deeper insights into life and faith. Our children live on their parents’ faith and then develop their own. OC has been a huge stepping stone of faith for Laura. She has increased in biblical understanding, in appreciation for prayer, and in valuing simple faith.
She attributes her growth to the environment at OC. There is nothing like a sincere Christian institution to nurture faith. Laura brags on her Bible classes, campus devotionals, yes, and even daily Chapel services! She recognizes that the faculty and staff of OC also play a role in her spiritual development. She has experienced teachers who care deeply for the students and exhibit Christian character to them. OC is more than a job; it is a ministry for these Christian educators.
Time will only tell how the lessons she has learned will impact her life. I do know that she is a different person today than that 104 degree day in August when we made our 700 mile jaunt to the OC campus and set up her dorm room. Looking back, it was a sad day for a couple of parents but has proven to be a worthwhile trip. We are looking forward to seeing who Laura will become when she finishes her degree at OC.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Here Come the Parents Cottontail…Hoppin’ Down the OC Trail!
(from Linda)
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She may be a “big college girl” now (almost ready to move into an OC apartment), but our Laura still likes her Easter Basket! So a special Easter delivery was made for Laura (and a friend, too).
She knew Mom and Dad would never forget her!
Love you Laura!
Friday, March 30, 2007
Heartfelt Thanks
(from Linda)
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Russell and Jeanette Schoof
Many times, as parents of a Christian college student, we have wanted to personally thank some of the wonderful people who provide the scholarship funds for OC students. We received an opportunity to do so when we were recently invited as guests to the fifth annual celebration of OC Associates (held at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum)!
Our friends, Russell and Jeanette Schoof, were among those recognized because of their generosity in providing scholarship money, and we were delighted to be present to see them honored on that occasion. I’m sure that most of the attendees were aware that that many other people are benefiting from their decision to support Christian education, but I feel they deserve a personal heartfelt “thank you!” from families like ours. I have mentioned it in earlier blog entries, but the scholarship money provided to Laura made it possible for her to attend OC. Those who make the commitment to support Christian education are helping to transform lives—thank you!
And as Perry and I continue to keep our own commitment in paying Laura’s Christian college expenses, we still feel it is the sweetest—and best—sacrifice we’ve ever made.
Dr. Mike and Nancy O’Neal—lives commited to Christian education
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
It’s A Small World, After All
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Terry, the Tim Lavenders, and Laura
We’ve had some unusually cold winter weather in the past few weeks. The kind of weather with gusting winds and ice storms that make you dream of the summer days to come. So, I’ve been thinking back to our vacation last June on the sunny beaches of Destin, Florida. We had a great time, but we also had an unusual experience that we still talk about.
While in Destin, Laura and her friend Terry decided they wanted to go parasailing, and off they headed for a great adventure. Perry and I tagged along to watch and to capture the event on camera. The parasailing business was quite lively that morning, and there were several of us standing and waiting in line. I struck up a conversation with a cute young couple directly ahead of us in line and was delighted to discover that we had a lot in common. They lived in Nashville (my hometown), and she works at Lipscomb (my old school). We also had a good laugh over our names—they were the Lavenders and we were the Greenes. A colorful group! As it turned out, Laura and Terry were “paired up” with the Lavenders and went out in the same boat. Since the Lavenders forgot to bring their camera, Perry also took pictures for them.
During all the conversation between us, they asked Laura where she was going to college. When she said “Oklahoma Christian,” I was prepared for them to look puzzled and say “Oklahoma WHAT?” (After all, I knew they were Southeasterners and probably had never crossed west of the mighty Mississippi!) I was the one who ended up with a funny look on my face when Tim Lavender gave a big smile and said, “Oh, my Uncle Mike is president of Oklahoma Christian.” I think my jaw dropped at that moment! (What are the chances of us meeting Dr. Mike O’Neal’s nephew and his wife on the beach in Destin, Florida?) Then, of course, we had a long conversation about OC and “Uncle Mike.” I decided if Dr.O’Neal was even half as nice as his nephew Tim Lavender that OC must be a great place to be. And, yes, OC is a great place to be!
Since that time, I’ve had the privilege to meet and talk with Dr. O’Neal. After all, I had to carry out Tim Lavender’s parting request to us: “Be sure to say hi to Uncle Mike for me!”
I decided it’s a small world, after all.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
“Laundry, Laundry Everywhere, and All the Clothes Did Shrink”
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“Mom, are my sequin-trimmed jeans clean? I want to wear them tonight, and Curtis and Kristen are picking me up in fifteen minutes!”
Sound familiar? Mounds of laundry go along with the addition of children to the family, and teenagers seem to have an inordinate amount for some reason! One of my pet peeves is receiving a month’s worth of laundry at one time, usually including some particular items that are needed “right away.”
When Laura first went away to college, people were constantly asking, “How are you doing?” and “Do you miss her?” Well, of course we missed her, but it took a while for it to really sink in that she was “gone.” In the beginning, it merely felt like she was out with her friends (ever the party girl) or at work. But as it would grow later in the evening, and we would find ourselves listening for the familiar footfall and “Mom-Dad, I’m home!”...only silence continued to greet us. We finally realized she had really gone away!
One regular reminder of her absence for me was the change in the amount of laundry—I had wonderfully smaller loads to do, and I didn’t mind that at all! But some things never change with me—such as working on several projects around the house while doing laundry at the same time and forgetting to put a load in the dryer or failing to start the next load to wash. I am embarrassed to say that I once started filling the washer tub with water, added the soap, and went to get the next load to bring to the laundry room—who knows what happened along the way, but I became distracted by something else…you guessed it…when I went to put the load in the dryer, I discovered there was no load to put in the dryer! It had never made it to the washer in the first place but was still in the laundry basket in the bathroom!
Now I wondered how Laura would tackle the laundry situation at OC, but it seems they have it solved even for people like me (or maybe especially for people like me!) “High-tech laundry facilities” is the answer. The laundry room, only a few feet down the hall from Laura’s room, is full of new “computerized” washers and dryers. If Laura wonders if there are washers available to use, she only needs to check on her laptop computer. If all washers are in use, she will receive an e-mail message when one is available. It is the same with dryers! And she will even be notified when it is all finished—no more running back and forth to check. (A far cry from when I was a child helping my grandmother with the laundry using a wringer washer, adding bluing to the rinse water tub and hanging the clothes out on a line to dry—all of which, incidentally, I thought was great fun at the time!)
And I must mention that one of the nicest features of the laundry facilities at OC is that any cost of using washers and dryers is included in the general fee,
so no more hunting for quarters and getting change!! How much easier can it get?
Hmm…I think I’ll send all my laundry to Laura!
Monday, February 12, 2007
Stay the Course
from Perry
One of the things I have learned to appreciate about OC is the commitment of the school’s leadership to our faith. It is interesting to me that so many schools over the years have drifted far from their original moorings. They have become something different than their original founders envisioned.
Harvard University, for instance, was established in 1636. While it was not explicitly stated to be a “Christian College,” the Puritans established it to perpetuate their beliefs in training Ministers and others. A purpose statement for the college that I found reads, “To advance learning and perpetuate it to Posterity; dreading to leave an illiterate ministry to churches.” In 1708 the school began moving away from its religious anchor to become the secular institution we know today.
It is an easy trap to fall into. We can become so enamored with the world of prestigious academia that we forget our original intent. I am glad that OC sets high standards in academics, yet is determined to remember our Restoration roots. I am glad that it is important to OC to develop the spiritual lives of its students rather than to sacrifice them on the altar of academic elitism.
There are many avenues to help our students develop their faith. Daily chapel is a highlight for most students. Campus devotionals provide inspiration. Mission trips and involvement in local churches encourage practical application to the truths they learn in their Bible classes.
Getting ahead in this day and time almost requires a quality college education. OC provides that. OC also is making an eternal impact which is far more important. I am grateful for such an emphasis!
Perry Greene
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Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Welcome New Year 2007!
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Gifts unwrapped, holiday feasts eaten, precious family time spent together, and kids returned to college classes…out with the old year and in with the new.
It was hard to see Laura packing her bags to go back to school—once again we had to say “good-bye.” What we had predicted and told her would happen to her did indeed happen…she could hardly wait to get back on campus to see all her friends. (Getting back to the grindstone is another matter!) Why were we so sure (besides the fact that she has been a true social butterfly since she was born) that she would be so eager to get back to school? Because that is exactly what happened to Perry and me when we attended Christian colleges! It becomes your “home away from home,” and you can hardly wait to reunite with the wonderful friends you’ve made…“friends for a lifetime” is what we told Laura. You see, a Christian college has so much more to offer than just an academic education. The Christian friendships are bonds that last forever. And that’s what we want for Laura.
Laura and her buddies
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Rose, What Did You Get Me For Christmas?
“Meet Me In St. Louis”
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Each Christmas of Laura’s life we have given her an ornament to commemorate something of importance that happened during that year. And every Christmas, we really enjoy exclaiming over each special ornament and sharing the memories yet once again…the tiny golden puppy in the red wagon reminds us of the beautiful little girl on her bike who faithfully pulled the red wagon holding her cocker spaniel puppy right behind her around the neighborhood every day…or the porcelain crescent moon with a sleeping baby girl nestled in the curve reminds us of the baby girl who was so fascinated with the moon and had to hear “Good Night Moon” every night before bed…and so on. It’s a wonderful tradition for parents to begin with a child as well as a great way to give them a “starter collection” of ornaments for their own tree someday.
With “Starting College” being the big event this year, we hunted for just the right ornament. (No, it wasn’t a hunting knife!) When we saw the tiny ruby red slippers, we knew they had Laura’s name written on them. For if you read our first blog entry of the year, you may know that we gave her a doll-size pair of ruby red slippers upon leaving her at OC in August ( to remind her of our constant love, that Mom and Dad will always be there for her though miles away, and, of course, that “there’s no place like home.” ) So these tiny ornamental slippers were wonderfully appropriate on her second send-off with the same sentiment! We love you forever, Laura!
Laura’s 2007 Ornament
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
“Please, Christmas, Don’t Be Late!”
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Christmas music—you can’t escape it! You will hear it as you’re shopping, on the car radio, on the television, and wherever you go, it seems. (Ah…Josh Groban, Karen Carpenter, Pat Boone’s White Christmas…) I, for one, enjoy every minute of it! I usually begin playing the holiday music at our house right after Halloween (and once I entertained everyone ON Halloween with Christmas music!) I’ve always been one to be rather “unique” in expressing myself—whether it be music, clothes, or home decorating—and not overly concerned with what is popular or “cool” to do (much to Laura’s dismay). Parents can be so embarrassing!
Today I happened to run into a guy that went to college with me, and we really enjoyed reminiscing about those great (and sometimes crazy) days. Even then, as a college freshman, I was doing my unique “Christmas thing.” I not only started playing holiday music early, but some of my selections caused major giggling and rolling of the eyes among my friends. One of my all-time favorites to play was “The Chipmunk Christmas Song” by Simon, Theodore, and Alvin. I played that song frequently, as well as the other songs on “The Twelve Days of Christmas” album by that group. ALVIN!!! My long-suffering roommate endured patiently, but, to my credit, I do love all kinds of Christmas music, so she did hear many other songs more to her liking.
Lo and behold, a few days before our dormitory Christmas party, an upperclassman knocked on my door and wanted to BORROW my Christmas music—she wanted to play it at the dorm party! (And how did she even know I had it?) “Every time I pass your door, I hear that happy music playing—I think it would be perfect for our party, ” she explained. So…my Chipmunks entertained the entire dormitory that Christmas and gained a few followers, apparently.
I asked Laura what Christmas music she and her friends were listening to and she said, “Mostly whatever is on the radio.” She is usually mortified if I’m playing the Chipmunks when her friends are at our house, so I was really surprised when Perry told me that Laura secretly likes the Chipmunks too!
AH HA!!
I wonder what Christmas music will be playing at her college dormitory party…
We are now counting the days until Laura comes home for the holidays, and I know just what music will greet her!
“We can hardly stand the wait
Please Christmas, don’t be late!”
Please, Laura, don’t be late!
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
“The Final Countdown”
(from Linda) .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The time that each college student has anticipated with trepidation and more than a little anxiety has arrived—FINALS week! There is much “burning of the midnight oil,” last minute cramming, and major sleep deprivation as they head down the final stretch.
Now is also a great time for parents to surprise their college kids with a special snack or treat basket filled with “sustenance” for those many hours of work and studying. So we made and sent Laura a “Finals” basket loaded with all sorts of nutritious goodies to ease the pressure of her first finals week experience. We also tucked in a little extra encouragement and love from the Parentals to help her along the way!
If some of you are thinking of “treating” your student, a goody basket is always a nice surprise to let your child know you’re thinking of them. (And if you’re far away, you can always order through the Parent Association!)
Friday, December 08, 2006
The Comforts of Home!
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...Sleigh bells ringing…carolers singing…and kids soon packing to come home from college for the Christmas break! They may be dreaming of not only a wonderful white Christmas, but also of soft big beds, thick fluffy towels, a bathroom all to themselves! ...and all their favorite foods prepared lovingly by Mom (or Dad!) ...the comforts of home they did not know they would miss until they went away to school! So, now many of us parents are eagerly thinking about making preparations for our college kids’ homecoming.
“Traditional” foods may vary, depending on which part of the country from which you hail. In the South, cornbread is a traditonal favorite food. Actually history plays a part in this—during the Civil War (or the War of Northern Aggression, as many Southerners call it!) there was a severe shortage of flour in the southern states. So, they began making cornbread from the corn readily available, and today it is still a a favorite. (Actually, this is how chess pie, another southern specialty using cornmeal, became so popular in the Southern region—it was made from the foods available during the war.)
So our southern belle Laura grew up loving cornbread, and I will be sure to have a batch of Alabama Cornbread for her during the Christmas break. I imagine some day she will be making it for her own family. Ironically, the recipe was given to me by Melody Capshaw, a friend in Tennessee! She won a contest with the recipe and was gracious enough to share it with me. Now Perry and Laura don’t want any other kind of cornbread…it has to be “Alabama Cornbread.” (And I must admit I love it myself…there is always a muffin or two missing before it ever gets to the table!) So, for those of you who have asked me, since I mentioned the cornbread in a previous blog, here is the recipe for you. Even those folks who think they don’t like cornbread usually love melt-in-your mouth Alabama cornbread! (By the way, before Laura came to OC, she checked to see if Oklahomans served biscuits—another one of her southern favorites. And yes, they do! Fortunately, it is not like our vacation in the Northeastern states where she found, much to her dismay, no biscuits served for breakfast!)
Alabama Corn Bread
1 cup sour cream
1 cup cream style corn
3 eggs, well beaten
1 cup self rising cornmeal
pinch of salt
1/2 cup cooking oil
Beat eggs well; add other ingredients and mix together. pour into greased
muffin tins.
Bake at 450 degrees until test done.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Let It Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
(from Linda) .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Today we woke up to a lovely Winter Wonderland—a blanket of glistening snow three inches deep and snowflakes still whirling down! It has been several years since I’ve seen any snow, so it’s actually rather exciting. We talked to Laura at OC, and she told us classes there were cancelled due to the snowstorm. Now that is amazing in itself, because this is only the second time in the history of the school, as far as I know, that classes have been cancelled.
Laura and her friends are going out to “play in the snow,” build a snowman, and have some fun! She told us that some of the students were borrowing trays from the cafeteria and sledding down the hills. (Leave it to college students to be creative—wonder what the engineering students will come up with?)
As for me, I’m going to put another log on the fire and make a pot of taco chili, along with a pan of melt-in-your-mouth Alabama cornbread!
(YUM…Laura, don’t you wish you were home?)
Thursday, November 16, 2006
A Hero of Today
(from Linda) .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
A Real Hero—Dr. Neil Lightfoot with Laura
One of the blessings that comes with attending a Christian school for Laura and other students is the opportunity to learn from some of our great Christian scholars. This week OC invited Dr. Neil Lightfoot to come and present a seminar on “John—The Different Gospel.” What a privilege for the OC campus and all the attendees!
Dr. Lightfoot is truly one of the “spiritual giants” of our time. Being able to learn from him feels similar to me as it must have been for those people gathered at the feet of the rabbi to listen and learn.
Once during the time that we lived in Abilene, I was searching for a Bible course to take at ACU. Perry suggested taking “The Gospel of John” taught by Dr. Neil Lightfoot. Having already taken some of Dr. Lightfoot’s classes himself, Perry knew what a treat was in store for me. But “treat” didn’t really describe it…
My best friend took the class with me, and what an experience we had—a real rollercoaster of emotions, with both laughter and tears.
(I learned to go armed with Kleenex!) There was certainly nothing dull or dry in that class.
As I came home from school with red-rimmed eyes, Perry was not surprised. He knew Dr. Lightfoot’s gift for teaching the Bible and touching the very core of your heart.
We’re so glad (and grateful) that Laura also has the opportunity to be in great Bible classes at OC along with the privilege of hearing visiting lecturers like Dr. Neil Lightfoot. Where else could this happen except at a Christian university?
“The Gospel of John” class under Dr. Lightfoot changed my life—I’m thinking that even as I write this, there may be students at OC experiencing a wonderful change in their lives, too, because of their Bible classes.