Simple Thank Yous...

Being a mom is often a THANKless job.  Day after day, you labor to feed, clothe and bathe your baby and/or children.  You try to keep up the housework, laundry and dishes and often times deprive yourself of any time of refreshment.  For the working mom, you add 40 hours a week OUTSIDE of the home (plus commute time) and you often have an over-tired, over-worked, over-stressed mommy.

I'm constantly trying to teach my kids to say "please" and "thank you," but sometimes I'm in such a routine of doing things that I don't even notice if they "bark" a command at me until my husband will remind them to ask with a "please."

In my own MOPS group, we recently took a test to discover our love language during a MOPS night.  My strongest language was Quality Time and my second (the one I thought would be first) was Affirmation.  Both my hubby and I work Monday through Friday daylight hours.  One Saturday morning, he was called in to work.  So, instead of sleeping in, I got up and did the usual thing I do during the work week:  make coffee and pack his lunch.  As he came to give me my good-bye kiss, he said "thank you for getting up and making me coffee and packing my lunch, babe".  Wow!  It was such a simple thing for him to do and yet it did WONDERS for me the whole day.  I thrive knowing what I do is appreciated.

I know not everyone has the same love language.  But as we teach our kids to say "please" and "thank you" we need to make sure we are practicing saying it ourselves.  We need to learn to be more complimentary and share God's love with all that we meet.  You never know when you might make a mom's day by complimenting her on her mom skills.  I recently got a compliment from a friend via Facebook on my being a mom and it, too, made my day. 

Whether you are a stay-at-home mom or a working mom, the labors of being mom can take a toll on you.  So what's a mom to do?  Well for starters, she can find a MOPS group!  Every mom needs a friend and every church needs a MOPS group.  You are likely already involved with MOPS and are reaping the benefit of getting some much needed refreshment and encouragement from fellow moms.  But what about that mom that just had the baby down the street?  Have you invited her to MOPS yet? Afraid your group is too full?  Why not spin off a new group?!  Call a field leader today about it and to discuss.

Keep up the good work mom!  You are valuable in God's sight and the light in your children's eyes!

Have you got your rhythm?

Rhythm:  a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound; a regularly recurring sequence of events, actions, or processes.

We recently had our first MOPS meeting and dove straight into the Mom Connection theme book.  The author talked about hula hoops and finding her rhythm as a child to keep them up on her hips.  She equated the swinging of those hoops to motherhood and how we have so many hoops to keep up with:  the role of mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, co-worker, and the list goes on.  Sometimes we may be able to swing those hoops in a beautiful fluid motion and other times...not so much.

The thing with motherhood is that so often when we feel like we've finally got our rhythm:  infants sleeping through the night (wa-hoo!) then something else occurs.  For me, when my first-born slept through the night, I rejoiced thinking, "Finally...a good night's sleep!"  That lasted all of one week before those little teeth started coming in, making him fussy, waking him back up in the night.  When we finally got the "swing" of teething and how all that went, he started walking around 9 months and it was time to make sure I REALLY child-proofed the house!  On top of that ... I became pregnant with our second child!

Since I have become a mom, I've realized I'm constantly trying to find my rhythm.  

Every time I think I've got it, life's beat changes on me and I have to find it again.  It's a constant learning experience for me.  And wow!  I am so thankful for my MOPS moms who are there to go through it with me.  No, we are not synchronized like the swimmers in the Olympics.  Our performance is not that rigid.  Ours is more of a dance party where we all have fun whether we know how to dance or not.

I don't think God expects us to have a perfect rhythm, nor does He expect one rhythm to work for everyone.  How boring would it be if the radio station only played one song?  Instead, God draws us nearer to Him through our search to find the rhythm of life and He keeps it exciting as it changes.  As it changes, we learn and grow in our love for Him.  How awesome is that?

Community Leadership Training & Networking Events

COMING SOON....to a city near you! Community Events! Below is a list of the events going on this month. You have likely received an E-vite invitation or saw a link to RSVP to that invitation on this Facebook page or your local one. If you haven't RSVP'd, please try to do so in order for your leaders to plan accordingly. :) THANKS AND ENJOY YOUR TRAINING AND/OR NETWORKING!

October 6- 12pm-3pm, Freedom Fellowship Church, Virginia Beach
hosted by Julie, Kymmie and Lauren 

October 12- 7pm-9pm, Lucie Monroe's 1600 Roanoke St., Christiansburg

hosted by Nickole and Teresa
 

October 13- 9am-12pm, Chantilly Bible Church, Chantilly
hosted by Patty and Stephanie
 

October 13- 9am-12pm, Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, Fredericksburg
hosted by Kelly
 

October 27- 9:30am-12:30pm Westover Hills United Methodist Church, Richmond - childcare available at this one!
hosted by Jackie

Children Notice More than We Think

                                          Children Notice More than We Think

                                                              Lauren Holmes

                                              Community Networker, Area 25

                                         

We have all heard the phrase, “do as I say, not as I do.”  Most of us know that children are not only listening to what we say, but also watching our actions.  I often ask myself, “does what I say line up with what I do?”  In my own house, it seems as if my children often copy my actions even more than the words that I say.

 When I had my first born, I was a lot busier than I am now, and I would often rush from one activity to another, totally stressed.  It took me a while to realize that because I was nervous and rushing, (and my son was watching me,) he was also becoming nervous and irritable as well.

Once I began to practice better time management and relax more, I noticed that my son calmed down too.  It was almost as if he too took a big sigh of relief, glad that that mommy was finally slowing down!

Although my children are just one and two, I am already seeing hints that my behavior speaks volumes to them!   My two year old repeats everything that I say, so I am careful to monitor the words that come out of my mouth.

But it’s not just what we say that matters.  When my kids get a little older, they will begin to notice even more of my true nature.  If I tell them that they can only watch G-rated movies, but they wake up from a nightmare and wander downstairs to find me watching a movie that glorifies cursing, sex and violence, then am I really setting a good example?  When my kids are old enough to get on Facebook, will they see that what I’ve taught them is really who I am, or will they be surprised at the words that I type?

The word tells us, “be holy as I am holy.”  Every day, I try to ask myself, am I really reflecting God in my everyday life?  As Christians, we are to model God’s character not just around our babies, but also everywhere that we go, and in everything that we do.  Even during mom’s night out, our speech and behavior should still bring glory to God and set an example. 

We not only represent God, but we also represent our children too.  Let’s make sure that our example is a godly one that they will always be proud to follow.

Blessing to praise, or not?

Every blessing you pour out, I'll turn back in praise...

It's lyrics to a praise song that I dearly love.  After getting "refreshed" at my field leader training event, I was listening to Pandora on the drive home and heard this song.  I was singing at the top of my lungs and loving it, enjoying being in worship and then it HIT me.  Do I really do that?

Sure, I will often sing the blessing song with my children at dinner time and thank God for the food before us.  I pray with them at night before bedtime and sing a prayer song.  I am THANKFUL for the blessings God has given me, but do I truly return praise for EVERY blessing God pours out?  

I'm not so sure I do that.  In fact, I'm guilty of laying down with the kids at night in their beds to say prayers and actually falling asleep while praying or singing the prayer song.  Guilty, guilty, yes, I feel guilty.  And I am aware that guilt is not a foreign thing for most moms.  We often compare ourselves to others to see how we "measure up" and then beat ourselves up for not doing all that we THINK we should be doing.  But have you ever thought about where all that guilt might come from?

Not until recently at a MOPS meeting did our wonderful Discussion Leader clue me in that guilt is a tool often used by Satan.  I'm learning that a lot of guilt comes directly from Satan.  He tries hard to make us feel less than competent - to compare ourselves to other moms and have pity parties for ourselves when we feel we've fallen short.  Yes, I've endured those pity parties and often succumbed to them gotten myself down in a pit of depression.  How about you?

I'd never thought about Satan using it as a tool.  And now, every time I begin to feel myself sliding down that hole of guilt, I STOP and PRAY.  Sometimes it's hard to pray in those moments when you think "why God are you letting this happen to me".  But like another favorite song of mine with lyrics straight from the Bible, God won't give me more than I can handle.  He may let me bend, but he won't let me break.  God's got my back.  I need to continue to grow my faith and lean on him in those times of weakness.  I need to remind myself that I am the King's daughter and he treasures me.  And yes, I need to offer praise for the many blessings.  Even when the kids have been under my feet and literally hanging off of me the entire day.....yes, even then I need to offer praise for the blessings of having kids.  I need to offer praise being able to enjoy the bad times and the good with kids.  Where is your next praise coming from?  

You’re never “just a Mom”
 

               Lauren Holmes, Community Networker, Area 25

                                      

Recently a friend told me that she did not understand how I could work from home, be a mom, a wife, do MOPS, and still stay sane.

While I appreciate words of affirmation, I wanted to make sure that this friend knew that no matter how much it seems like I do, it does not in any way make me better.

So often, we place our value in what we think we are accomplishing, but in reality, what should really matter is that we’re doing God’s will.

Has God called you to be a full time mother to your children?  Then do it to the best of your ability, and know that yours is a high calling regardless of what the world may say.

Has God called you to work outside of the home, or to work from home?  Then give one hundred percent wherever God has placed you, and do not compare yourself to others.

In my own life, God has made me the type of person who is able to do many different tasks.  This does not make me better than anyone else – just different.

I used to envy the moms who were very crafty and could sew beautiful scarves and knit hats for their babies.  I would try and attend the craft nights with them, hoping that by some miracle, their talent would rub off on me.  Needless to say, it did not! 

But what really helped me was when one of the crafty moms said, “I wish I could write like you do…you’re such a wonderful author, and I barely passed English.”  This moms words blessed me so much, and I was able to joke with her about how all this time, I was wishing that I was more crafty like her.

God has different plans for every mom.  His plan may not look like someone else’s, but it’s the plan that He designed perfectly for you!

 

 

Post-convention acclimation

So, if you went to convention, you are likely trying to re-aclimate to "home-life" again.  For several days you likely enjoyed sleeping through the night, meals not interrupted by a sudden "potty break," feeling like a little girl again staying up late and chatting with your roomies as though it were a big sleep-over!  Then there was Mom Prom with Plumb...how fun was that?  It gave ladies a chance to dress up or dress 80s;  I think all enjoyed it as Plumb sang "Girls just wanna have fun!"  

MOPS Convention, for me, is like a refilling of my "momma tanks".  It's not that I don't get poured into from my local group, because I do.  But MOPS Convention is different.  It's the once-a-year chance to get my tank (and reserve tank) completely topped off.  I love MOPS (duh...I'm a Field Leader!) and I continue to attend and coordinate my own local group.  I am refreshed at each of our own meetings, but it still doesn't compare to being at convention and being ministered to by the likes of Kay Warren, Lisa Harper, Robert & Barbara Gelinas, Matthew West and more!  Not only that, but as you attend multiple workshops and hot topic groups, you continue to be ministered to by many other authors and MOPS leaders.  Convention is certainly a time for renewal and a time to be poured into by these great speakers.  When all is said and done, you've likely gained a lot of new ideas to take back home to your own groups and worried about your suitcase closing all the way and not being over the weight limit of the airline!

And now that you are home, you are likely recovering from being squeezed and giving the squeezes with the kids and hubby.  You are likely rested from the airline delays and staying up way too late with new friends.  So now what's on your agenda?  What are you planning for your new MOPS year?  Do you already have it planned out?  What action items are on your "to-do" list?  

Even if you weren't able to make it to convention this year and were busy planning for the fall, make sure one of your action items is to plan for NEXT YEAR'S MOMCON.  Yep, you read that right, "MOPS International Convention" is no more!  It is now "MOMCON".  Catchy, huh?  And we are sure to be blessed by Beth Moore, Elisa Morgan, Ken Davis and Kathy Lipp!  Mark it on your calendars now:  October 17-19, 2013 and feel free to take advantage of Early Registration for only $199!  Just go to http://mops.org/MomCON2013 to register.

Again, my heart goes out to those who weren't able to attend.  If you've never been, you don't know what you are missing!  If you have been and weren't able to go this year, then I hope this post doesn't make you feel left out.  Instead, I hope it motivates you to start saving and planning for next year to be in Kansas City!!!!

Convention Countdown Begins!

16 DAYS AND COUNTING ... CONVENTION INFORMATION!!!

Connect with Area Leaders on Saturday, August 11^th from 1:00 -2:00PM in the First Link Café!

Meet your Field Leaders! Meet fellow MOPS Leaders from Virginia & West Virginia!

PLUNGE into the theme highlighting area waterways. Bring a postcard with a picture of your favorite body of water in VA or WV to leave at the table.  Leave the website to a great waterpark or pool in your community.  PLUS … Get some FREE MOPS stuff!

The First Link Cafe has a table for every "area" MOPS serves - it's located adjacent to the Resource Fair and is is a GREAT place to have lunch as a team throughout Convention.

Let us know your group is attending and how many we can expect to meet!  We want to prepare for each of you!

What to bring:

Y Above all ... comfortable shoes! You'll walk A LOT!  And maybe a pedometer to log your steps!  

Y Your Bible - make time for quiet time with the Lord.

Y Business cards for networking.

Y Show & Tell samples for the Show & Tell table in the First Link Café. Directories, creative activities, instructions, supply lists, vendors, centrepieces, etc.  You might think your idea is hum-drum, but every group does things differently.  Share YOUR vision of MOPS and ignite passion in others!

o It’s a good idea to have e-mail addresses on the samples so others can contact you easily.

Y Dry foods (cereal bars, munchies, etc.) When you think you have enough -- pack one more box!

Y Refillable Water bottle - you'll be thirsty and purchasing it gets pricey.  Drink stir-in's because sometimes the water tastes funny: Crystal Light, Via, etc. 

Y Cell phone and cell phone charger.

Y Camera (and charger if necessary); film for the "old fashioned" kind.

Y A budget for spending - it's easy to get sucked into the Resource Fair or lunch/dinner out.

Y Mailing labels with your name, address, phone, and email for all the drawings and info requests at the Resource Fair.

Y An extra bag for all the stuff you'll bring home - or at LEAST leave room in your luggage for more.

Y Breathe-Right strips (for snoring roomies - or yourself); Gas-Ex (self explanatory); Tylenol and Alka-Seltzer ... you laugh, but ....

Y You don't need to bring your big binder with all your position "stuff" in it. You won't have time to look at it, anyway.

Y You don't need to bring your laptop - there are computers/Internet access available adjacent to the Resource Fair and the First Link Café.

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You've signed up for sessions. Make sure you sit with people you don't know. Make connections. Network. Ask questions. Even if your group is solid and has things planned and in motion - you can always glean insights from other groups and other coordinators. Ask how they handle situations. Ask how they work MOPPETS (that's ALWAYS a good conversation starter). If nothing else, you'll see what kind of relationship other groups have with their chartering ministry.  Assume a curious posture.  Don't listen for the familiar - listen for what you don't already know.

You've signed up for sessions. Don't be afraid to skip one if you're drained. Have your quiet time. Sit by the pool. Find a spot to refresh yourself. Take a nap. Visit the exercise room. MOPS offers a prayer room staffed by Field Leaders after each General Session.  You can pray with someone or leave a written prayer request.  Convention is your time. Enjoy it!

MOM PROM is Saturday Night at 7PM.  It comes FREE with your Convention Registration.  Dinner is provided as well.  Grab a dress from Goodwill, use an old bridesmaid dress, throw on a feather boa, just come and have FUN!

The Gaylord Texan also boasts Paradise Springs - a pretty amazing WATERPARK that comes with your standard room rate.  It's not "on property" but there's a free shuttle taking you there.  Talk about team bonding at it's BEST.  What a great way to PLUNGE into MOPS Leadership together!!

Don't forget your SHUTTLE RESERVATION:  http://groups.supershuttle.com/mops12.html

Find all your Area 25 Field Leaders.  There will be TEN OF US in Dallas.  See you soon!

Help – We Need More MOPPETS Workers!

Help – We Need More MOPPETS Workers!

Lauren Holmes, Community Networker, Area 25

It’s the age old question that every MOPS group has discussed – how do we find and keep great MOPPETS workers?

While many of us find workers through the church nursery, here are a few other ways to find workers: scout for local college students studying early childhood education, find moms who have graduated from MOPS, or simply ask friends and family who might be looking for extra money.

How do we keep MOPPETS workers coming back?

Make them feel valued.  They are more than just daycare workers; they are reaching our children with the gospel.  Sometimes, we may have a MOPS mother who does not know Jesus and just stumbled upon the group - the MOPPETS workers might be the only time that a child learns about and feels God’s love.  That is why stressing how valuable our MOPPETS workers are is essential - they need to know just how important their job really is, and it’s up to us to provide them with the resources, curriculum, and appreciation so that they will do their job well, feel valued, and keep coming back year after year!

How can we show our appreciation to our MOPPETS workers?

●        Handmade cards

●        Christmas crafts

●        Bringing them food after luncheons or Christmas teas

●        Inviting them to a steering meeting and providing food

●        Sharing how much they personally mean to you, and praying over them

●        Buy them a plant, candle or other small gift

●        Make them a goody bag with candy, coffee, or home-made goods

What about your group?  How do you find MOPPETS workers and keep them coming back?

Feel free to leave comments as well as links to your local MOPS website!

For more information on finding and keeping great MOPPETS workers, feel free to visit the following links:

Communicating with the Church about MOPPETS - from the Guide:  

http://www.mopsguide.org/fileshare_view.php?id=108

More about MOPPETS - Paid vs. Unpaid - from the Guide:

http://www.mopsguide.org/fileshare_view.php?id=284

MOPPETS in the Guide: 

http://www.mopsguide.org/fileshare_view.php?id=775

Again, feel free to leave comments, as well as links to your local MOPS website or blog!

Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner!

I am not sure where that phrase came from or what chicken dinners have to do with winners, but it got your attention, right?

We have a winner from last week's comments contest! 

Even though I am sort of a high tech kind of girl, I did the drawing in a decidedly low tech manner.

Yep, that's a colander with all the entrant's names on pieces of paper. 

Sorry about that.
Technical difficulties with the online random number chooser. 

And the winner is..... (insert drumroll here)...

Congratulations Holly! I will get in contact with you to get your address so that I can send you your Starbucks gift card!

Be sure to check back regularly for more Area 25 blog posts!

Better moms make a better world

~Meri

Come On In, The Blog Is Fine!

Greetings Area 25 leaders! We are so excited to welcome you to the new Area 25 Blog and we hope that it brings you inspiration, new ideas, community and a fun place to come to see what is happening in both our Area and MOPS International.

My name is Meri, and I am one of three Community Networkers (CN) in our Area. Yep, you read that right--we are blessed to have three CNs in our Area. Teresa Martin (Southern VA) and Lauren Holmes (Hampton Roads) are the other Networkers and they will be sharing posting duties; but I'll let them introduce themselves later so that you get to hear them in their own "voices".

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With MOPS International Convention coming up, I thought it would be fun to kick off the Blog with a little fun Top Ten of why you should attend Convention (as if a whole weekend with only grown ups in a fabulous location wasn't enough!)

1. Eat whenever you want, wherever you want without any little fingers sharing it with you.
2. The Gaylord Hotel in Grapevine, TX is beautiful, luxurious and becomes a MOPS bubble of love & encouragement.
3. You are surrounded by like minded women, mothers & leaders.
4. You get much needed girl time with old and new friends.
5. Great exhibitors just for moms at the Resource Fair.
6. Lisa Harper, Matthew West, and Plumb-need I say more?
7. You get to visit with your favorite Field Leaders at the First Link Cafe!
8. You get an amazing and powerful worship time with thousands of MOPS leaders.
9. You will be energized and empowered during workshops held by Kathi Lipp, Tracey Bianchi and our very own Stephanie Morris.
10. You will be filled up with renewed love, hope & joy that is poured upon you by MOPS International and leave Texas as a better woman, mother, leader!

Do you need more reasons than that? 

Do you have more reasons than this? Leave a comment below with your own favorite reason to attend Convention- a random commenter will be chosen for a $5 gift card to Starbucks!* Be sure to leave your name and MOPS group you belong to in the body of your message.

If you need more information on how to register for Convention,
click here to take the Plunge--you won't be sorry!

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As Networkers, it is our job to keep our Area connected- with each other, with your Field Leaders and with MOPS International. That started with our Area 25 Facebook page and now we are expanding our connections with this blog. Please check back for more information on Convention, surveys, fun stuff, contests and localized community information.

*Contest closes on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Only comments posted on or before that date will be included in the random number drawing, and only comments posted to this blog post will be entered into the drawing.

Better moms make a better world,
~Meri