Next Meeting 9/20/11

Hi Ladies! If you weren't able to join us Tuesday, no worries! We have several moms that only come once in awhile. Come when you can, we are happy to have you. If you would like regular reminders, please send me your email address and I will put you on our evite list for the meetings.

Here is the part of the DVD we watched on Tuesday. It is the introduction to MomSense!

Also, we are having a Coffee/Playdate on Monday, September 12th at the Chick-fil-A on Apalachee Parkway. Join us at 9:30am-even if your little ones are in school, we would love to meet you! I will have info and registration forms too.

Come join us!

God doesn't want us to be shy with our gifts, but bold, loving, and sensible.

-2 Timothy 1:7

The first 2011-2012 Meeting will be Tuesday, September 6th at 9:30am. This will be a great day to catch up with old friends, meet some new friends, and learn some MomSense!


We can't wait to see you. If you need childcare, please RSVP to leahevanson@gmail.com.

Planning Meeting!

Please join us tomorrow, May 31st, for a 2011-2012 planning meeting at 9:30 in Room 217. While you're waiting, check out the new MOPS International MOPS Shop: http://www.co-store.com/MOPShop.

Year Wrap UP

What an exciting year this has been! I can call our little group truly blessed by the grace of God. It has been a challenging and fun time getting through our entire Momology curriculum. I know that each time we were able to glean some new insight into the world of Mothering. I have truly enjoyed getting to know all of you. You brighten my day each time we come to MOPS, and I can’t imagine this year being successful without you. 

What was your favorite guest speaker? Which one bored you to tears? If you would like to have some input about next year’s group, please consider serving on the steering team. Our group is only strong as the people we have organizing it, and I would welcome some helping hands. 

I also wanted to inform you of my request to the church to allow us to reduce our membership fees. If they agree to it, it may mean that we will have to step up our fundraising for next year. I welcome any creative/easy/fun ideas in this area.

I would love to see our little group grow (not too big!) in order to reach some moms that may need the fellowship that our group brings. Think back to the beginning of the year- where were you when you walked in that door for the first time? How do you think our group could be relevant to other moms if we were able to greatly reduce our membership fee?

MOPS International Email 3/14/11

Some food for your mommy brain from the International Email this week....how true it is!

A Great, Safe Place to Play

By Rhonda Headley

I’ve recently been babysitting an increasingly mobile seven-month-old who has just mastered sitting up. I thought such a milestone would allow me to snag a minute to myself. With her set up in the middle of the living room, surrounded by her favorite assortment of toys, I’d be free to check out for a few minutes. I carefully placed an array of colorful teething toys, cuddly toys and noise-makers within her arm’s reach for her to explore, make music with or just drool over.  

"God gives us
everything we need,
yet we still want
what we shouldn’t."

Great idea right? Wrong! I failed to factor in an infant’s curiosity. It took her no time at all to discover the off-limits zone. She dropped the toys and scooted and rolled her way to the computer desk, the basket of diapers and to the pile of shoes on the floor. While I admired her determination to try out the computer, eat a diaper or gum a boot, I knew I had to redirect her. Calmly, I scooped her up and repositioned her in her circle of toys, praising it as a great, safe place to play for a while. With a grin and a grunt, she was on the move, headed straight for the off-limits zone yet again. While later telling a friend of the baby’s exploits, she chuckled and remarked, “Well, isn’t that just like human nature? God gives us everything we need, yet we still want what we shouldn’t.” My friend’s observation gave me pause. How often do I get distracted by what’s just beyond my reach? How do I tell the difference between things that are good to strive for and things that will bring me harm? How encouraging to know I’ve got someone looking after me too and gently redirecting me to a great, safe place to play.
 
Dear God, how often you reveal my own tendencies through the actions of my child! Thank you for your gentle redirection in my life and the great, safe place you’ve prepared for me. Amen.

Children's Clothing Swap!

Our first annual Children's Clothing Swap is set for Saturday, April 30th. Please visit our Facebook event page for more information:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=181380471906710.

The Circle of Momology

We had a great meeting on Tuesday! We talked about the Circle that makes up all the people in our lives. Our families, friends, and community all contribute (in good and bad ways!) to our personality as moms. We sometimes have to make hard choices about who we spend our time with, and what type of company we keep. God is an amazing mediator between all of us, sometimes. Navigating these relationships can be tricky, but we rely on our faith and love to help keep us on track with what God wants in our lives.

Thanks for coming, ladies. Can't wait until next month...marriages and love!