Hello, Karen H.

One of our hostess with the mostest.  Karen was born and raised in St. Louis.  She has two beautiful daughters Julia (2) and Hannah (8 months) and John, her husband. She dreamed of becoming a ballerina.  Dancing around with two daughters might not be exactly what she dreamt, but it makes her days interesting. 

Faith, Family and cooking/ baking are the most important things in her life. She enjoys making her own hot coco mix to enjoy. She can enjoy it with Cinnamon Oat Crunch is her favorite cereal.

She loves to make a mess of her kitchen to recharge after a long day, if only she didn't have to clean up afterwards. Surprise, her least favorite chore dishes.  She likes to go on walks with her family as you could tell since she walks to most of our meetings.  She confesses she is a pack rat.

When she needs a time out she will spend it in the kitchen or in the shower (hopefully uninterrupted). Karen knows she is loved, was born to serve, and prays that she can  serve and love well in return. She wants  her children to know women are worth much more than their looks.  Best bit of advice she would give is: "we are all human, forgive!"

Her favorite sound is the crackle of a warm fire. She could sit back and enjoy Pride and Prejudice (book or movie version) or listen to "God Bless the Broken Road, More Life in my Day, and Smell the Color 9.  Really bad puns tickle her funny bone.

Introducing Emily

Emily is extremely competitive, a procrastinator, but always manages to keep her house clean so it is ready for any visitors to pop in at anytime.  (I think that last one might be a wish.) 

Adriel is her husband. They have two adorable daughters Eliana (3 years old) and Noelia (1 year old). Her faith, family, and cause in life are the three most important things to her.  Her favorite sounds are songs being sung to the Lord and complete silence in her house.

 

Cream of wheat is the way she likes to start her days. Unless, it is a Saturday morning then she shares a Big breakfast with her family. She loves the smell of cinnamon, wonder if she makes cinnamon rolls. If she gets time she may spend some time with Anne of Green Gables or hold a perfect head stand for 2 minutes (just because she can). 

She would like to change the worldly push to be self-focused, to make the world a better place.  To make her own world a little better you can go over and do her dishes.  It is her least favorite chore, because they never end.   Please, don't interrupt her it's her pet peeve. However, she is aware interrupting is one of her greatest faults.

Create a routine, not a schedule is best advice she would give another Mommy. Her Mommy time out spot is the bathroom. At the end of a busy day running the Moppets, she likes to sit on the couch with her husband and eat caramels.  They may re-tell each other funny memories to laugh with each other.

Meet Tracy N.

There once was a  girl named Tracy N. She was born a little while ago in St. Louis , Missouri.  She had dreams of growing up to be a doctor or a scientist who would discover a cure for cancer and AIDS.  

Along the way, she met a handsome man named Scott.  They had so much to love that they decided to make the love multiply and had three children; Kara (4), Brendan (3) and Ella (7 months) have added love and chaos to their lives, along with Riley the cat.

Now, she starts her mornings enjoying her Honey Nut Cheerios as she contemplates how to change the world so her children don't get hurt.  When she is interrupted by whining which makes her blood pressure raise. All of a sudden, she hears her baby Belly Laugh and she giggles along with her, as her other kids act silly and slap happy.

Maybe tonight she won't need to put herself in a Mommy Time out in the bath tub with bubbles while enjoying chocolates.  Her greatest tool from her Mommy Experience is to whisper at her children to get them to listen. It is easier said than done, but with practice it is very effective. As everyone settles down she thinks back on how fun being 22 years old was and how wonderful it is to be a Cancer Survivor of almost 12 years.  She loves the smell of snow and can't wait for early spring.

Oh No! She still has laundry to put away, but scrapbooking  or watching Miss Congeniality would be more fun.  Finally, she resigns herself to do work before fun.  "Whatever You Do" starts to play on the radio making her least favorite chore not so bad.  Then she starts Dance Party when she hears "Just Another Day in Paradise". 

With a family trip to the zoo planned for tomorrow; she remembers how she use to do gymnastics and then coach for 14 years. Wow, how life has changed! As her day comes to an end, she thinks about the most important things in her life: god, her family, and sleep. With all the blessing she enjoys everyday her one wish is to get a full night's sleep. 

 

 

Valentine Banquet

February 15, 2013  - 6:00pm until 8:30 pm

Looking for an inexpensive night out?
$15/couple inlcudes catered meal and entertainment!
    Business casual dress.

Onsite chilcare is provided for $7/child (You can bring dinner for your child or they eat before they arrive.)

Please let Kristi know if you or someone you know is interested in attending.

Registration is open until Monday February 11.

Because Two People Fell In Love...

Do you ever think about where your life may be in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, 20 years, or 25 years? I know the days are long and it can be difficult to see where you are going tomorrow , but just try to envision yourself in the future. What will you be doing, how has your family changed, and how do you feel.  You see your children grow, go to school, graduate, and  move out of the house; as you enjoy a full night's sleep and do that list of things that you have been waiting until the kids were older.

Are you sharing this with future with anyone else? Maybe your spouse?

We are all at different points in our lives with our families where there is more focus on our children than on our selves or relationship with our spouse.  How did this family start? "Because Two People Fell In Love." This is one of my favorite quotes, it is so simple and true.  None of this would be here if it wasn't  for you two, the foundation for this family.  To keep your family strong you need keep your foundation strong. 

But how do you do that?

Make it a priority.

Connect at moments where it is just the two of you.  It can be something simple like just sitting and talking with each other after the kids have gone to bed. Going together to drop someone off at an activity or running eerons together.

Find time that you can go out on a date. You could trade of babysitting with a friend to save money on a sitter. Remember dates don't need to be in the evenings. They could be in the middle of the day or morning whatever you can make work best. 

 Look back on what you two did in the beginning of your relationship, how did it all start? Revisit some of the activities you did before: long walks, candle light dinners, board games, and whatever else there may have been.

Then try something new. You have both changed in countless ways even if you haven't noticed, yet. There is such a focus on children after you have them that you may have a new interest that you have put on the backburner. Give it a whirl. I am sure your spouse has some things they would like to try. Be open you like you were when you started dating.

The closer you are the more intimate you want to be. Don't forget to take trips to "Funky-Town"  even if you are not in the mood. Sometimes you just need to go to get the spark going to get the fire burning again. This can be a win-win for any relationship.

These are all steps to start taking now, because in 10-15 years your kids are going to be grown and hopefully moving out of the house to start their lives. Then who is left... those two people who fell in love, but if they are not careful it could be two strangers.

So make time to take care of your family's foundation to help your family be stronger.

Philippians 2:2  make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.