Beth Ann Kriel:  

I always wanted to be a pro football player or in a pro-marching band when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a crazy idea. As it turns out, they were right. Everyone knows that women can't play football and there is no such thing as a professional marching band unless maybe one is in the military. I like to listen to music, attend concerts or go to praise and worship services. Music has always been a big part of my life, and continues to play a roll in bringing me much joy. I have sang in church choirs, mass choirs and on worship teams at VBI and VCC and have led worship in the prayer room at Victory Christian Center while teaching there and also in our home as we hosted Bible Study/Small groups in our home. I sing solos when I go and minister at times. I still pick-up my flute and play some and played that in the prayer room on a few occasions and in a small church orchestra at Carbondale A/G. My children both have taken after me and love music as well. Bradley, our son, played the trumpet in the Jenks High School Band and later in Oklahoma State's Cowboy Marching Band. Jamie, our daughter, took up where I left off playing the flute at Jenks and Victory Christian School and later singing in the vocal music department at Jenks. She now plays the guitar and sometimes leads worship. Her latest endeavor is learning piano and keyboard and is studying to be a music teacher. My husband, Randy, and I have enjoyed being a part of our children's education. We especially enjoyed being involved in the Jenks Band Boosters Club and traveling to band contests as it brought back some fond memories of my band trips. We like hanging out together, and when the kids are in town or we are where they are, we enjoy going to ball games, concerts, or just hanging out on the river, lake or whatever body of water is nearby. Brad and his wife, D'Etta, lived in Peoria, Illinois for a season, but have recently moved to Pittsburgh, PA. Our next big trip is to go see the home they have purchased and have been working on there. I also enjoy traveling with Randy when he is going to a city of interest on the job. However, he goes to a lot of small towns in Oklahoma and Texas where there is not a lot to do or see. Sometimes he travels so much that I go along just for the ride and to spend time with him no matter where he is going. I think that our most memorable trips of recent years have been when he went to New Orleans to upgrade cotrol systems in a refinery almost a year and a half after Katrina hit. To see the destruction of Katrina in person was amazing. Just seeing coverage on the news did not prepare me for what we witnessed as we drove along the coast from New Orleans through Mississippi and neared the Alabama state line. Also, all along the coast and in New Orleans FEMA trailers were still in use and many fami...Expand for more