Grandscape!

Hey girls...
If you missed our last meeting... you missed a good one!  We visited our last MOMOLOGY dvd lesson!
We listened to Shelley Radic talk on how God wants to have a personal relationship with us, and walk through motherhood while holding our hands!  Pretty awesome stuff!  We also had two lovely ladies give us their testimonies on how they allow God to permeate their past, present and future in mothering!  Tuesday we heard from Kelli Shelton and Wednesday we heard from Kelly Switzer!  I also put down some of my thoughts on this subject on my personal blog here!  I am so thankful for these girls and their transparency!  First up... here is Kelly Switzer's words!!!

 When I first attended a MOPS meeting, I expected to make some friends and get some parenting advice. I never expected the most valuable parenting advice I would receive would be to honor God in the way I raise my children. Proverbs 22:6 states, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Since then, I have made an attempt to include God in all aspects of my life, especially in trying to bring my girls up to love, honor, obey and glorify God in all that they do. The best way that I do this is to invite God into my home and my heart every morning.



I try to wake up early so that I have some quiet time with God before my girls wake up. I spend time reading God’s word and praying for the insight and wisdom so that I can understand how these words written so long ago are relevant to me. I have a Mom’s Bible that has devotions for every day of the year spread throughout. Sometimes I focus on a devotion that speaks to an issue in my mothering that is heavy on my heart. Other times I search out scripture by what is familiar, and sometimes I just flip blindly and pray that God would show me what to read. The devotions spread through the Bible help me to understand a particular passage and how it relates to my role as a mother. Then I pray. I try to pray specifically for my mothering and different aspects of my children’s lives. I have to remember that I need to pray for God’s will, turn it over to Him and stop telling Him what I think is best because He knows better than I do. On the days where I need just a little more sleep or I want to check my email before the girls get up and I skip my time with Jesus, I find myself struggling in my relationship with my girls. I am prone to lose my temper or to just ignore poor behavior because I don’t feel like dealing with it at the time. This isn’t fair to me or to my family.


I am also trying to teach my children about the power of prayer. We pray before meals, at bedtime, sometimes in the car, and when the need arises. I love the times when I find Maggie praying on her own without prompting. Sometimes she prays for a toy she wants but sometimes she prays for other people and for her family. Even Molly who isn’t 2 yet sits down to eat and starts saying Amen. These are some of the sweetest things!


Another thing we do is read the Bible as a family. Maggie has an illustrated children’s Bible that they love me to read from. Even when we aren’t reading together, she will look at the pictures and tell the story from memory. It is so fascinating to me when she is retelling a story that she learned at home or church. We also look for children’s story books with a lesson. The book that stands out the most is Mad Maddie Maxwell. This is a story about a little girl who lost her jump rope and accuses all of her siblings of stealing it. She isn’t so nice about it and her oldest sister helps her to find it in her messy room. After they find the jump rope, her sister teaches her to pray to God for forgiveness and then to go to her other siblings and ask their forgiveness also. We have turned to this story countless times because its message is so pure and it is a story that my girls love. We have even retold it as Mad Maggie Switzer.


I am still so new in my walk with the Lord and I question if I am really able to be a godly mother and if I am equipped to teach my children about a Lord and a Savior that I am still learning about. It is in these moments of doubt when I need to rely even more on Jesus. I am comforted and can feel the love that Jesus has for me. He died for me, He loved me even before I was born, and He loves me despite my sin and imperfections. He loves me even on the days when I don’t give my day and my mothering over to Him and if nothing else, I can teach my children about this love. “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:7-12

I hope you are all having a blessed week!!! 

In Case you Missed It

What a great week at MOPS!  We were fortunate enough to have Christina McPherson and Erin Ramsey with us to speak about the differences between raising boys versus girls.  Here's a recap of the information they shared with us:

Erin talked about raising and homeschooling three girls. She always encourages their "inner princesses."  All girls have a deep desire to be loved and cherished.  Her girls say that Jesus is their prince and their castle is in Heaven.  She believes manners and obedience start when young and unconditional love is paramount.  Erin honors her husband with words to model wife and mother character for her girls.  She believes it's important to limit media usage and supervise what the children are watching.

Erin mentioned learning your children's love language.  This helps you understand your kids better and communicate more effectively. (you can find out your child's love languages here!)  She also talked about discipline's role in parenting.  We should define boundaries, begin teaching respect when the kids are young.  We need to distinguish between willful defiance and childish irresponsibility.  Erin shared how prayer has helped her to be a better mother and keep a more peaceful home. Be sure to avoid impossible demands and always let love be your guide.

Christina is a homeschooling mother to three boys.  She said that some of the things that boys really need are a mom who builds up their dad, to be taught responsibility and to be allowed to be adventurous.  She said that the most important thing we can teach our boys is who Christ is.  As mothers, we can model humility by asking for forgiveness and also find favorite things to do with your son.

Here's a list of "You Should Knows About Boys:"
1.  They are innately competitive and aggressive
2.  We have to build their self esteem
3.  Boys don't think about outcomes; they are risk takers
4.  Boys are just boys

Another fantastic week of MOPS with wonderful women.  See you next time!
   

Stranger, Danger? To ice or not to ice? When do I move him to a booster?

Happy Thursday to you all!

Boy have I been enjoying this weather!! I hope you have been able to get out and enjoy this weather! I see spring/summer right around the corner! Guess what else is right around the corner? MOPS at Real Life! Yeppers!!! THIS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, 9:30 am!!! This week we will be hearing from an Orange Country sheriff's deputy who is also a certified EMT. He will be talking to us about child abduction prevention/action, car seat safety, and basic first aid!
If there was ever a meeting to invite your mom friends to, this is it!!! Don't miss it!!

Our outreach for this month is items for our Real Help hospitality team! They just completed a project so their resources are low. Let's get them ready for their next project! See the list below for examples of what they can use for their next project! You girls always knock our outreaches out of the park!! Real Help hospitality is so thankful!!! (don't forget... don't bring anything perishable!)

Individual Snack Size of Chips
Individual Snack Size of Snacks (chex-mix, cheez-its, trail mix, etc.)
Coffee (large canisters)
Individual coffee creamers
Sugar packets
Plastic Plates
Paper Towels
Cutlery (mostly forks)
Styrofoam cups

While spring and summer are right around the corner, we are still in the thick of flu and cold season! Please remember to be vigilant in making sure our kids are healthy before bringing them to MOPS! Our goal is to keep our MOPPETS program as healthy as possible! We LOVE to share, but not the yuckies! You can re-read our wellness policy HERE if you need some clarification! Also, if you could please remember to bring an extra set of clothes for your potty training kiddos that would help our MOPPETS team better take great care of your little one if they have an accident! Our MOPPETS team does NOT want to send them home in wet clothes or naked , but they are running out of loaner clothes to change them into if an accident occurs. Thanks girls!!

Enjoy your weekend and see you all Tues/Weds!!!
Blessings,
Kelly Gooch
Lydia Todd
Amanda McKnatt

In Case you Missed It

What a great meeting this week!  After a short video montage of some of our favorite MOPS moms talking about motherhood (I could watch the woman who sits in a closed room with a toddler yelling in the background, all day!) we were visited by a panel of  experienced moms.  Monica, Sue and Helaine have all been through the pre-school days with their children and were able to provide some big picture wisdom.  They discussed everything from extra-curriculars to bonding and picking battles.  It was so interesting to see the common threads even though everyone had their own point-of-view.   Each mom reminded us to remember that these years are only a "season" in our lives.  The potty training, tantrums and sleep issues will only last a short time and before we know it, our little ones will be in college...We have to keep our eyes on the big picture and enjoy all the moments. 

We only have FIVE MEETINGS left, ladies!  If you know a mom who isn't plugged in to MOPS, don't let another day go by before you invite her to our next meeting. 


 

Last Week at Mops

What a great meeting about healthy "Mom Relationships" last week!  We started out with a great craft project to benefit military families.  A repeat from last year, we designed greeting cards for children whose parents are deployed.  They are given a complete set of cards for the whole year--birthday, Christmas, Valentine's Day, etc..  We watched a video which showed us just how much these simple cards mean to the families and the military personnel.  Sometimes we may forget what a simple note from home can mean to someone. 

We watched a video about mom relationships and then had great discussion on letting people in to create deep, meaningful friends and support.  It reminded this mom just what MOPS is all about.  Let's remember to share our wonderful organization with everyone; friends, family and strangers in the grocery store! 

Can't wait to see you next week at MOPS!

This Week at MOPS at Real Life

Happy New Year, MOPS!


If you ask most moms, their number one concern when it comes to parenting is discipline and behavior.  Most of us deal with these issues on a daily (or hourly) basis. Robin Miller gave us some wonderful information on raising children the way God meant us to. Robin gave us clear direction on why discipline is important and how she uses it in her own home with her four children. Although we all know it, a friendly reminder that consistency is key, gave this mom a much need wake-up call.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the topics covered, along with a pertinent bible verse to support it:

Disobedience—Ephesians 6:1 “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for the this is right.”

Blaming and Making Excuses—1 John 1:19 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrightousness.”

Arguing and Contention—Philippians 2:14 “Do everything without complaining or arguing.”

Complaining and Ingratitude—Proverbs 15:13 “A happy heart makes the face cheerful.”

Lying, Deceit—Proverbs 12:22—“The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.”

Hitting/Biting/Kicking—1 John 3:15 “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in Him.”



Robin also discussed the issue of spanking or “The Rod,” as mentioned in the bible. The following verses support spanking as a means of discipline: Proverbs 24, Proverbs 22:14, Proverbs 23:13, Proverbs 29:15

Some helpful parenting resources used in the Miller home include:

For Training in Rightousness by Pam Forster

Along the Virtuous Way by Gary Ezzo

On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo

Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp

Romancing a Child’s Heart by Monte Swan

To Train up a Child by Michael Pearl

The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones

Little Boys Bible Storybook for Mothers and Sons by Carolyn Larsen

Little Girls Bible Storybook for Mother and Daughters by Carolyn Larsen

Bible Nurture and Readers Series by Rod and Staff Publishers



If you are interested in a parenting seminar, “Growing Kids God’s Way” will be offered at Real Life in February.

This Week at MOPS

We began our meeting with some delicious food and a fun mug exchange.  Everyone will be sipping coffee, tea and hot cocoa from their new mugs!  After a discussion about Holiday traditions and plans for the next few weeks, we were treated with a visit from Mitch McKinney, Lead Pastor at Real Life East.  A huge thank-you to Mitch for traveling and spending some time in a "room full of concentrated estrogen." 

If your Christmas Season is anything like mine, it's full of peace, love, joy and magical memories...Wait, that doesn't sound exactly right.  It's often difficult to remember the true meaning of Christmas when things are so crazy but Mitch gave us some tremendous information about what to do when life gets hectic and we don't feel like we can manage it all.  We don't have to do it on our own!  That's the GOOD NEWS.  See a recap of the message Mitch gave us (as stolen by Melinda Gill's Facebook page because it was so much better than my notes.) 

Peace, by Pastor Mitch McKinney (from Real Life CC, East Campus)....as shared with MOPS this Christmas season.
A "Goodness Sandwich" is when the middle is as good as the top and the bottom!

The top, John 14:1 NIV...Jesus Comforts His Disciples "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me."
The bottom , John 14:27 NIV... Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
The middle, John 14:2-26 NIV...well that is where the "Goodness" comes in... 2 "My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus the Way to the Father 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.7 If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit 15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” 22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

Our next meeting won't be until January 4th and 5th but there will be informal gatherings with your tables the week of December 21st.  Have a blessed Christmas Break and we'll see you in 2011!!!




.

If You Missed This Week at MOPS...

You missed a compelling meeting about forgiveness.  It's something we all struggle with on a daily basis.  Whether it's the big things in life or the little tiny issues that cause us to harbor bitterness and resentment, we are all faced with task of forgiving someone. 

We were fortunate enough to have some wonderful women speak to us this week.  Kerry Gross and Jamie Mann shared some deeply personal accounts of forgiveness in their lives that allowed them to move on and heal.  Each personal story allowed us a glimpse into their lives and the peace that they felt once they finally forgave.  We also watched a video featuring Beth Moore about loving difficult people.  In the video, Beth stresses the power of an apology and talks about the "Refiner's fire."  You can see more of Beth Moore at http://www.lifetoday.org/.

Throughout the morning, we had discussion questions about forgiveness in our own lives. 



1.  True or False?
     A person should not be forgiven until they ask for it
     Forgiveness includes minimizing the offense and pain that was caused
     Forgiveness includes restoring trust and reuniting a relationship
    You haven’t really forgiven others until you have forgotten the offense
Does it surprise you that the answers to all of these questions is FALSE?  Which of these seem most true to you?
2.  Share a story of forgiveness you have witnessed, or share a story of how a person responded to evil       with good. What did that mean to you? How did it make you feel?
3.  Why is it so hard to forgive people who have hurt you? How will it affect you if you don’t forgive? How will it affect you if you do forgive?

A person's wisdom yields patience; 
it is one's glory to overlook an offense..  Proverbs 19:11

In Case You Missed It...

This week we put together our Homeless Care Packages to have in our cars.  When we see people in need, we have something to give them.  Everyone really came through with donations to make this project a success. 

Our MOMOLOGY video series continued.  This week's topic was "Finesse."  The Panel discussed different ways you use finesse to navigate motherhood.  From potty-training to temper tantrums, we all use our own style to make it through the major and minor aspects of being a Mom.  It's so important to remember that we all have our own style and personality but we're all moms and we can learn something from each other. 

Don't miss the next meeting when a few guest speakers discuss FORGIVENESS.  Just seeing that word conjures up emotions.  And couldn't we all brush up on our forgiveness skills?  Join us, won't you?

This week at MOPS

It was a PINK day at MOPS at Real Life this past week.  You all looked pretty in pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness.  This week's Topic was Core:  Who Am I?  The DVD discussed a mom's personality (playful, powerful, proper and peaceful) and how your core influences her mothering.  Understanding our own personality as well as our children's brings clarity to our strengths and struggles in the act of mothering. 

This week's discussion questions included:
1.  Share something about yourself that reveals your personality type.
2.  How have you seen your personality influence your mothering style?
3.  Is your child's personality the same or different from your own?  How do you navigate that?
4.  What is one part of your personality that you can utilize this week as you mother your kids?
For more information on determining your personality profile, check out http://www.personalityprinciples.com/. 


Our next meeting dates: Nov. 2 and 3…. Finese: our mothering styles—learning to accept mothering advice from others and tweaking it to fit our personal mothering styles. 

Don't forget, the Real Life Fall Fest is next Friday, October 29th from 4-10pm. Log onto http://www.getreallife.com/ to get your wrist band for rides.  See you there!

This Week at MOPS

We hope everyone's heart was changed in some way this week after hearing Michele Barnes speak.  Michele is Real Life's Business Administrator and is on the Worship Team.  In addition, she and her husband, Dr. Jeff Barnes opened Wellspring Christian Counseling Center together.  Michele talked to us about female relationships and just how important it is to find a few true friends to confide in, confess and tell us when we're wrong.  Michele referred to these true friends as "Soul Sistas," which her daughter used to define her truest friend who knows her inside and out.  Here's the outline from Michele's speech:

God and Soul Sista’s

I. Women often feel alone even in a crowded room


a. We feel as if no one really understands us


b. We can not share the deepest part of ourselves






II. Why do women feel alone?


a. Look at creation


b. Each thing God created became more intricate and wonderful


c. We think God’s great symphony ended with His most prized creation; a man created in God’s own image.


i. Walked and talked with God


ii. Appears to be perfect ending


d. God said that it was not good


i. Eve was missing


ii. Eve is God’s flourishing touch to His creation symphony


e. We sometimes miss the significance of this


i. Women were also created in God’s image; to reflect His image in a different way than man


f. God desires an intimate relationship with every individual


i. Woman was created to demonstrate this desire


g. Satan deceives us into feeling alone so that we will not develop a Godly, intimate relationship with each other


i. Vital to our emotional well-being


ii. Vital to our spiritual well-being






III. Root causes for not creating intimate relationships


a. Pride – Proverbs 16:18


i. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”


ii. Pride destructs…especially relationships.


b. Exalting Pride


i. Constantly showing off the accomplishments of our children.


ii. Exaggerating, because the simple truth doesn’t get enough reaction.


iii. Serving or volunteering just to be noticed.


iv. Feeling entitled to star treatment, especially during times of sacrificial work.


v. Maneuvering for a preferred position in our extended family, community, or workplace.


vi. Luke 11:43


1. “You’re hopeless, you Pharisees! Frauds! You love sitting at the head table at church dinners, love preening yourselves in the radiance of public flatter.”


vii. When we exalt ourselves, we aren’t exalting God; we are seizing the credit that belongs to God and claiming it as if we achieved our position through our own merit.


c. Worthlessness


i. Deceptive form of pride that masquerades as humility, but is really a reverse method of attracting attention.


ii. Women who overwork and let others take advantage of them.


iii. Women who have a difficult time accepting help, gifts, or compliments because they don’t feel worthy, or who feel like it’s shameful or awkward to need help.


iv. Perfectionists who secretly try to prove they are worthy by absolutely controlling some area of their lives.


v. Women who are down on themselves and are constantly pointing out their shortcomings, failures, or areas where someone else is better.


vi. Many women tear themselves down so that someone will notice and build them back up.


d. Pride from a judgmental spirit


i. Attacks others be devaluing them and tearing them down


ii. Women who are critical


iii. Women who are irritable


iv. Women who are intolerant


v. Women who are argumentative


vi. Women who are self-righteous


vii. Attacking others and trying to change them is commandeering the place of the Holy Spirit in other people’s lives.


e. Pride that ignores others – women who are too proud to receive input


i. Not being teachable. The attitude of “I already have my act together” closes women to the efforts of others to speak into their lives.


ii. Remaining stuck in bad patterns. Some women see their past and their personality as a trap in which they’re stuck, instead of realizing they can choose either to stay the same or change their behavior. For some, the statement “You need to accept me the way I am” is a smoke screen they use to avoid changing bad habits.


iii. Never admitting fault. This is the “hard of hearing” woman, who doesn’t seem to perceive or internalize any words of correction, advice, rebuke, instruction, or warning.


iv. Ignoring others is a refusal to be influenced by those the Holy Spirit is trying to use to speak into your life – telling God: I’m fine just the way I am.


f. Second root cause is hidden insecurities


i. Due to childhood abuse


ii. Due to past betrayal in an important relationship


iii. Due to perceived physical defects or deficiencies


iv. Due to perceived personality deficiencies


v. Psalm 27:10


1. Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.


vi. Isaiah 54:10


1. For even if the mountains walk away and the hills fall to pieces, My love won’t walk away from you, my covenant commitment of peace won’t fall apart. The God who has compassion on you says so.


vii. 1 Peter 3:3-4


1. What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition. Cultivate your inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.


g. Third root cause is hidden sin.


i. Confess the sin to God


ii. Repent and move/RUN in the opposite direction


iii. Confess the sin to a trusted friend who will pray for you and hold you accountable to your decision to flee from sin.


iv. James 5:16


1. “Make this your common practice: confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.”


2. When we confess our sins to each other and pray for each other we will live together WHOLE and HEALED. A great lifestyle!


v. When we are living right with God, our prayers are POWERFUL! – verses 17-20:


1. “Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring them back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the way of error will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”






IV. What do we need? A Soul Sista’!


a. Helps guard are hearts and souls from the enemy


b. Phrase came from my daughter, Morgan, and is how she describes her relationship with her best friend Nikki


i. They share their deepest longings, hurts and fears with each other


ii. They know the other person as well as they know themselves


c. What a soul sista’ isn’t


i. It’s not just a surface relationship


ii. It’s not a sexual relationship


d. What a soul sista’ is


i. An intimate relationship without walls


ii. A friend we can go to and share our most secret shame, our deepest needs and our most joyous triumphs


iii. Someone who helps guard our souls from Satan’s lies, tricks and schemes


iv. Helps restore the intimate relationship with God that we each desire.


V. I want a soul sista’!


a. I prayed for years for a soul sista’


b. Discovered that to find a soul sista’, you must first “be” a soul sista’


c. Throw off those things that hinder a soul sista’ relationship


i. Comparisons


1. When we compare ourselves to others, we either come out better, causing pride, or come up short, damaging our self-esteem


2. We each have wonderful God-given gifts to offer each other


3. We should embrace each other with acceptance and love


ii. Gossip


1. Galatians 5:15


a. “If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”


2. 2 Timothy 2:16


a. “Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.”


3. Proverbs 17:9


a. “Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.”


4. Ephesians 4:29


a. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”


d. Why does my soul sista’ relationship work?


i. No pride aloud. We each have eliminated the pride that hinders friendships and have allowed ourselves to be open, honest, and vulnerable in this relationship.


ii. God-esteem has replaced self-esteem. We have allowed our value to come from God instead of from others. In this way we do not feel the need to compare ourselves to each other.


iii. Confidentiality. We know that the things we share in confidence will stay in confidence. Because of this, we can confess our short-comings and sins and eliminate any hidden sin in our lives.


iv. No Judgment. We know that we will not be judged. This does not mean that we do not confront each other’s sin, but it is only out of love and for the purpose of holding each other accountable and this is something we have committed to each other that we will do for each other.


v. Laughter. We enjoy each other’s company. We share the same humor and can laugh together.


vi. Love. Most importantly, we love each other with the love of God. We understand that God has placed us in each other’s lives to show His love to each other. Our relationship is an example of the intimate relationship that God wants to have with each of us.


DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Have you currently or in the past made comparisons to other women? If so, how has this affect your own self-esteem as well as your relationship with other women?


2. How has gossip hurt your friendships?


3. Do you currently have a “soul sista’”? If so, what makes this relationship so valuable to you?


4. If you don’t have a “soul sista’” what is it about this kind of relationship that you find appealing?


5. Name the one biggest hindrance that currently exists between you and a “soul sista’” relationship.


6. What will you do today to help eliminate that hindrance that you identified above?


Thanks to everyone who brought in items for our Homeless Kits.  Keep them coming as we'll be collecting all month long.  We are also continuing to collect pre-school friendly snacks for the Fall Festival at Real Life.  We only have one more meeting this month before we'll need the snacks for the MOPS booth on Friday, October 29th. 

If you couldn't make it this week, you were missed.  We will see you in two weeks!

Real Life Fall Festival

Ladies, as mentioned at the meeting last week, the Real Life Fall Festival will be Friday October 29th from 4pm to 10pm..  MOPS will be sponsoring a booth at the Festival so we will be needing a few things.  First, we need volunteers to man (or WOman!) the booth for one hour shifts.  We already have a few volunteers but we'll need more to run a game for the kids, hand out snacks and talk about MOPS to our community members who may not know about it.  Please email Jen Dziadosz at dzjen@hotmail.com if you're interested in working the booth.  Your help is greatly appreciated.  The other thing we'll need for the booth is snacks.  We're looking for non-sugary snacks for the little ones:  Teddy Grahams, granola bars, fruit snacks, crackers, pretzels, raisins, etc..  You can drop these snacks off at the next two MOPS meetings leading up to the Fall Festival. 

Paradise (Park) in Pictures!!!

A big thanks to everyone who joined us at the MOPS kickoffs at Paradise Park and the Real Life Playground last week. If you were not able to join us... we MISSED YOU!!!

We're all so excited for our first MOPS meetings on September 21st and 22nd!!!  Whether you're registered or not, we can't wait to see you.  Remember, meetings are Tuesday at 9:30am, Tuesday nights at 6:45 and Wednesday mornings at 9:30am..  Click here for more information.
See you soon,
Blessings,

pics by: Amnada Psenisky

KidsLink Downrange

Remember last MOPS season when we made greeting cards for children of deployed parents so they could send them out?  Each of the recipients were sent a postcard to send back to MOPS with information about themselves and a prayer request. 
Here's some information on Matthew:
Matthew has two brothers and two sisters.  He likes french fries and pizza and he loves to play with Nerf guns.  Please include Matthew and his family, including both parents who are deployed. 

If you'd like to learn more about KidsLink Downrange:  Connecting Military Kids of Deployed Parents, click here.

Meeting Re-cap, May 18th!! Summer Schedule!

END OF THE YEAR WRAP UP!!

I can't believe that our 09-10 MOPS year has come to a close already!
What a year!! We are so blessed and honored that each of you have called MOPS at Real Life your MOPS home!! We are looking forward to all that is in store next year!
It is going to be good!

In the meantime... we have arranged for you to have some activities and times to connect through the summer! ALL DATES, TIME, VENUES are subject to change!! Watch for evites or emails!! This is a great time to invite your friends that are thinking about joining us next year for MOPS!!

Fun with our kids:

June 1st: Lake fun at the Womack Resort!!

10am—1pm

Contact: Lydia Todd

June 15th: TBD— look for EVITE

TBD

10am -- 1pm

Contact: Renee Tindol

July 6th: Story time, crafts, snacks fun

Real Life TBA

10am —12 pm

Contact: Erin Ramsey

July 20th: splash pad fun

10am –1 pm

Contact: Kelly Switzer

August 3rd: Jumpin’ Joey’s

10am– 12pm

Contact: Stephanie Fedorovich

August 17th: Monster Mini Golf

10am– 12pm

Contact: Vanessa Vasquez

Fun for just us MOMS:

(dates and times— TBD)

June: Movie/ Game night

Denise Field’s house

Contact: Denise Fields

July: TBD— look for EVITE

Contact: Pam Amaral

August: Plaster Cottage

6:30pm– 8:30 pm

Contact: Kelly Gooch

And of course, don’t ‘miss out on STEAK ‘N SHAKE nights!!

Every Tuesday night starting June 1st—August 17th!!

Clermont— HWY 50

8pm—whenever we kick ourselves out!!!

Come, eat (or not), talk , connect!!!

** all events will require a headcount for space, food, & supplies!

Please keep an eye on your inbox and the blog for details!

In most case an EVITE will be sent**

SEE YOU THIS SUMMER!!!!!!!!

Meeting Re-Cap, May 4th!!! Launching Pad!

We are launching into summer!!!  I can't believe it is almost here!!  I know my kids are over the moon excited!! Today we had different stations which each had some different summertime activities that we can do with our kids!!   We had everything from file folder games to Peanut butter play dough!!!  I knew you would all ask so without further delay... the recipes for the play dough!!!

Peanut Butter Play dough

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
2 cups powered sugar

Mix ingredients in a bowl then store in airtight container.

*let kids play with dough on a sheet of wax paper

If you or your child has peanut allergies... I highly recommend using the  recipe below!!  


Salt Dough
1 cup salt
1 1/4 cups warm water
3 cups flour

Day one-Pour 1 cup salt into large bowl, add 1 1/4 cups warm water and mix. Add 3 cups flower and mix. Knead into ball and seal in plastic bag and refrigerate.

Day two-Mold into anything you desire.

Day three- Paint it and enjoy!



Okay ... on to BABY NEWS:  ( I just love this part!)
Pregnant:  Sarah S.
Having a girl:  Susan B.






MOPS 2010- 2011 PLAN!!
Really exciting stuff is going on at MOPS at Real Life!!!  We started out 2 years ago with about 24 ppl attending our first meeting .  It has grown by God's grace into 110 registered mom's!!  If we had everyone show up on 1 meeting we would have to pull out more seats and tables!!  The Lord is good and really knows that there is a need in Lake, Orange, and the surrounding counties for us mom's to come together and take this journey together!!!  NO MOM ALONE!!!  We firmly believe that!!!  Motherhood is hard and one of the best and most important jobs on earth....  we don't need to do it alone!  So... with our plan for next year , we are going to be able to make sure that NO MOM  is alone!!!

We are going to be having 3 meetings!!!!!!!!!!!  WHAT??????????  Did I just say that out loud!!  Yes, maam I did!!!!  We will have a tues. morning meeting  , a weds. morning meeting, and a night meeting!  The meetings will be in the same week so we will still have our week off of MOPS.  The night meeting will fall on either a monday night or tuesday night to allow for childcare! (details about the night group are still being worked through!)

The 2 morning meetings will mirror each other so you won't  miss a thing!!!  2 morning meetings will enable the mom who works part time to be able to join us!!  If they work MWF... they can come to our Tues. meeting.   If they work T or TH.,... they can attend our Wednesday meeting!!    The night meeting will enable the working mom who works full time to attend and connect with other moms-- also single mom's can have a couple hours to chill , connect, and re-group!!

Also with 3 groups comes places for you to get involved!! Our coordinators for next year, Kelly Gooch and Pam Amaral can't do it alone!   We need Hospitality team, Service team!!!  We will need discussion group leaders as well!!  If you have a passion for MOPS and making sure NO MOM IS ALONE, then shoot us an email ,and we will help see where there is a place you can get plugged in!!

The theme for next year is MOMOLOGY-- 
the art and science of mothering!  
MOPS registration is $21.95 until May 31st.  You can pay by cash, check (made out to MOPS international), or CC at our next meeting on May 18th.  After May 31st registration will be $23.95 for next year!   With your paid registration your benefits include:

~ you get to pick your MOPS day! 
(we need for you to pick one day to attend-- we will be capping the first group at 60 so we don't have 10 on one day and 80 on another day!!  Oye!!!  The vision is to  have room for growth on both days and help us with our childcare numbers!!!) 
~Momsense Magazine
~Mom e-mail
~MOPS logo reusable tote bag that says, " friends don't let friends mother alone"
~MOPS bumper sticker
~"No mom alone" 2- in 1- frame magnet
~MOPS bag tag for luggage, purse, diaper bags

Registration process:
~fill out registration sheet
~Bring a check, cash or CC to pay
~Pay and pick your MOPS day

Simple as pie!! I am sure there will be questions, and concerns re: this process and the new plan, but we are so excited to have each and every one of you on this journey with us!  Please shoot us an email at mopsatreallife@yahoo.com if you have any more questions, and we will do our best to answer them! 

Our next meeting is May 18th!!  It is our LAST meeting!!  collective sigh!! :o(  We will be having our end of the year wrap up, having some giveaways, and sharing in more detail our summer time activities.  Girls, motherhood doesn't take a break in the summer so neither do we!!  You won't want to miss some of our MOPS girls share with us about their MOPS year, and how MOPS has impacted them this past 8 months!! It is going to be a great wrap up!!!

The next meeting will also be the last day to bring $$ for the Bodin Family!  If you feel more comfortable writing a personal check .. . you can make it out to :  Crosspointe Christian Church-- w/ Matt Bodin in the MEMO line!!! 

Okay... I know this was a mouth full and an ear full!!!  We are excited and challenged!  Have a great MOTHER'S DAY!!  We love you all!!
Blessings,

Meeting Re-cap, April 20th!!

SUMMERTIME SKIN CARE was our topic today!! Here in Florida , we LOVE the sun, surf, and sand! Do we really know how to take care of our skin? Do we know how much is too much?
Our special guest speaker today was our own Nicole Casavant. Nicole works as a PA-C at South Lake Ob&Gyn with her husband Matt!!
Her background in dermatology came very handy for our talk today!!

There are three kinds of Skin Cancer:

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Melanoma

DID YOU KNOW?
Skin cancer is the number one form of human cancer.
50% of all cancers diagnosed in the US are cutaneous.
One in five Americans will develop a skin cancer in his or her lifetime.
Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma accounted for >1.2 million skin cancers in 2009
Melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma caused approximately 11,500 deaths in 2009

HERE ARE SOME SOBERING FACTS:
2009
Total skin cancer deaths
11,590

Non-Melanoma skin cancers
2,940

Melanoma’s
8,650 (over half)

RISK FACTORS for Skin Cancers:
Caucasian decent
Those who burn rather than tan
Those with Red hair
Those with Blue eyes
Older Adults
Hx. Of sever, blistering sunburns as children or teenagers
Abnormal moles
Persons with 50 or greater moles currently on your body
Those with a family history of melanoma

HOW DO I PICK THE CORRECT SPF FOR ME?

15 SPF X 15 MINUTES UNTIL SUN BURN = 225 MIN OR 3 HOURS AND 45 MINUTES.

30 SPF X 15 MINUTES UNTIL SUN BURN = 450 MIN OR 7 HOURS AND 40 MINUTES.

This is the spf x's the amount of time it takes for you to burn... this will tell you how long you have to stay in the sun before needing to re-apply!!

When choosing a sunscreen...keep in mind!!!!!!!

UVA – CAUSES AGING

UVB - CAUSES BURNING

NEED TO ONLY PURCHASE SUNSCREENS THAT HAVE BROAD SPECTRUM COVERAGE W/ BOTH UVA & UVB


OTHER PROTECTION TIPS:
Avoid deliberate sunbathing
Wear wide brimmed hat
Sunglasses (Melanoma can occur in your eyes)
Protective clothing
Always use broad-spectrum sunscreens with both UVA & UVB protection
Use at least a SPF of 15 on all exposed skin including the lips even on cloudy days.
Reapply frequently –2hrs.
Seek shade
Avoid OTT 10am-4pm
“Broad-spectrum” reflects both UVA & UVB rays.

Ever realize that a tanning bed resembles a coffin/casket?
AVOID TANNING BEDS!!

HMMMMM?????????

SOME CONSEQUENCES OF OVEREXPOSURE TO THE SUN:

FRECKLES
Age spots
WRINKLES
Dilated blood vessels
Changes in the skin that make skin look older.

This is reason enough to take care of our skin starting at childhood...

80% of skin damage is done before 18 years of age.

The regular use of sunscreen with an SPF of 15 during the first 18years of life can cut the lifetime risk of melanoma by 78%

A HUGE thank you to Nicole for sharing with us today!!! I am enlightened!!
If you have further questions or concerns... you can reach Nicole at
South Lake OB&GYN
352-241-7050
or
their website HERE!

We want to say Baby CONGRATS TO :
Pregnant: Sylvie Osgood
Boy: Charity Garrett
Cindie Butts

If I missed you... pls. email me so we can send congrats out to you via the blog!

Okay girls... you girls have already stepped up and out in faith in helping us raise $$ for the BODIN family!!! You still have 2 more meetings to turn in any change, cash, or gift cards to help us purchase gift cards for Matt and the kids!!! You continually blow me away and we are so excited how GOD is usually all of you to bless this family!

Don't forget to register for the CLIMB women's event at Real Life!! (May 1st-- 9:30 till noon) You won't want to miss the breakfast, testimonies, and awesome worship!! www.getreallife.com to register!!! If you need help with childcare, please contact the church office to let them know.

Our next MOPS meeting is May4th!!
"launching pad" will launch us into summer!! Summertime things we can do with our kids!
We will also be rolling out our MOPS plans for next year!!! We are excited to share with you!! We hope you will make it a point to come and here all about it. IF you know of a friend who is considering coming to MOPS in the fall... bring them to this meeting so they can hear all about it!!
Have a great weekend...
See you all on the 4th if not sooner at the THE CLIMB!!!
Blessings,