Rhythm!

 I have lost it more often than I like to admit.  I always have the best plans for the day. I visualize how the day will be before I get out of bed. Believe me it will perfect everything is finished, the kids are happy, and I feel like Super Mom!  Then reality hits me like a 4 year old who wants breakfast.  

We start with a slow beat of getting breakfast, cleaning up, getting dressed. We walk through the plan together as we list all the things we(I)  want to get done.  Everyone is on board and almost ready to go if someone would just put their shoes  on.  After a brief intermission we are on our way...at which point  I reevaluate my list of "To Dos",  going from 20 to the top 5 knowing that we will only get 2 or 3 of them done. By the end of stop 2  we are ready to head home.  It may not seem like it but that is a rhythm . I know how the beat goes even if it  means I don't get to accomplish everything I planned.

Some keep the rhythm by having meals planned, chore lists, family fun time, or Mommy time.  You need to find what works best for you and your family everyone is different.  We can get caught up with how other people live their lives that we lose focus on our own. There is no reason to compete with other mothers, unless there is a super fantastic prize that someone didn't tell me about.

When we allow ourselves to compete with the unknown "perfect" mom we can start to feel down and alone. We can feel like no one understands our struggles of feeling like we never get anything done, we don't have prefect kids, and how did we ever become a mom.  Do we deserve it?  Can we do it?   Right now, there is a mom who is going though this. She just needs someone to reach out to her.

Let's  connect  with other Moms and not compete. We all lose our rhythm and need a restart. We can find support not only for ourselves, but our families.  It gives everyone a chance to take a break from the  daily routines and focus on finding their own rhythm. It can give you an opportunity to start new friendships.  You can talk to someone and have them talk back. Wow, an adult conversation -in the middle of the day. Seize the opportunity if you see a Mom and connect with her.

 

 

Special Event!!!

September 21, 2012  (This Friday Night!!)

Steve Richard Concert and Christian Family Night at the Race Track

Come join us at Tri-City Speedway for a concert from Steve Richard, fun for the kids with a bounce house, face painting. a slot car race and fun games Then stay and watch some great car racing! .

All of this is a part of Parkway Baptist Church's Global Impact Celebration and children under 12 ARE FREE!

Concert starts at 5:30 (gates open at 5:00pm)

Tickets are $10 and must be purchased in advance through the church office.

Call 314-434-2310

Come for the concert and stay for the races (6:30pm)  it will be an exciting night for everyone in the family.

 

 

 

Come in. The water is great!

We had our first meeting of the year.

Finding new and fun ways to help Moms. Popcorn Questions.

We  meet new moms, returning moms, new babies, and caught up with everyone. 

Thanks to everyone that attended. 

We got to know our leaders for the year and each other through a BINGO Ice Breaker.

Everyone was out of their seats talking, laughing, and having  a super time. Then we made smoothies, which was a great opportunity to try something new.



You did what!??!!?!    Everyone has a few surprises!

 


 
 

Smoothie Time!

 
 
 
 
 





 We meet again next week!!!

 If you didn't make to the first meeting don't worry we would love to meet you next week.  Give us a call at 314-434-2310  if you are planning to attend so we can have childcare ready. 

Yes, it is a kid free time!

Time for Mommies to recharge and get focused on what makes them great women.

 

 

Come see how MOPS and MOMSNext can change you for the better.

Wednesday Evening Meeting                        Friday Morning Meeting

September 19 at 6:30 pm                                September 21 at 9:00am

Summer is over time to take the Plunge into MOPS and MOPSnext.

Hope everyone had a great summer !

 

Ready for a picnic.



Resting at the Butterfly House.

Enjoying a great day at Creve Coeur.

 

We had some MOPS outings this summer to the Botanical Gardens, Creve Coeur Splash pad, Aquaport, Butterfly House, and a few Moms Night Outs.

 

 

 It was a great time and we are looking forward to even more fun this year.



Fun with furry Friends.

Our first meeting of the year is Friday September 7  at 9am. If you haven't let anyone know you are planning to attend please call 314-434-2310.



Bugs anyone?!?!?!

 

Then get ready to Plunge into a new MOPS and MOPS Next year.

Get ready to explore your relationships in a faith and community. We are ready to see old friends and meet new ones.

As all Moms know you can’t do this alone and we are here to help and support each other.

Botanical Gardens day.

The more the merrier invite more moms to join MOPS. If you have someone who is interested invite them to come to a couple meetings.

TAKE THE PLUNGE !!!

Don't worry we won't let you sink.

Easter Recipes

Many of you have probably heard of both resurrection cookies and rolls. But in case you haven't here are links to recipes for both.

The resurrection cookies are really meringue cookies which are naturally hollow after baking, so they are like the empty tomb! Note that they will need to stay in the oven overnight, so plan accordingly.  Click here for the recipe and related scriptures.

Resurrection rolls are similar, but can me baked and eaten the same day. It's fast and simple enough that I do it every Easter Sunday in class with my kindergarten Sunday School students. Do you know what happens when you bake a marshmallow inside a crescent roll? You are right if you said that the marshmallow "disappears", creating another empty tomb of sorts. The recipe can be found here. 

I found this on the Rhode's Dough site "...Marshmallow - the body of Jesus Melted Butter - the oils for embalming Cinnamon/Sugar mixture - spices used to anoint the body Roll- the wrapping of Jesus' body Oven - the tomb Cavity in roll - the empty tomb after Jesus has rise." 

Remember, there will be no meeting this week  March 30 (5th Friday) or on April 6 due to Good Friday. I'll miss you guys, so someone plan a playdate/outing, OK? That's too long to go without seeing one another!

Spring Fever

It seems like the winter that wasn't may have passed and now it's time to really get outside and enjoy God's creation. (Or as one member put it "Operation Exhaust Child So He/She Will Nap!") Our group and Parkway Baptist both have lots of great things coming up on the calendar. Take a moment now to write them down so you won't forget!

Welcome to new members Molly, Melissa, and Patricia. We are excited to have you join our group.

For those who missed today, Becky Lazalier of KS Counseling shared some ideas to help us practice more Godly parenting. A few big take-away ideas:

• Your child's behavior isn't a reflection of your self-worth. They are their own people and contrary to what we may feel, most of the time they don't do what they do to embarrass or frustrate us.
• Every parent brings emotional baggage to the family. Do you see your not-so flattering behaviors reflected in your child? Take care changing you first, then work on your child.
• Love is more than just kindness. It is also desiring and helping to bring out the best in someone.
• It's not our job to protect our children from every hardship. Difficult experiences help them learn to rely on God.
• Above all, do your children know you love God? How does He apply in your daily life? Remember, this is more than church attendance, Awana, Bible studies......
• Check out the following passages: Proverbs 3:1-8; Ecclesiastics 3:1-8; Deuteronomy 11: 18-21; Ephesians 6:1-4.

Additional reading recommended by Becky: Love and Logic by Foster Cline & Jim Fay and Personal Growth: Inside Out by Larry Crab.

One off topic reminder - if you left a dish at the Latall's home recently, check the MOPS closet. For those of with children home this coming week, enjoy the time off! Looking forward to seeing many of you next Thursday and Friday. I'll bring my camera, but someone remind me to actually take some photos!

A New Year at MOPS

Here we are at the end of January already!  We have had some fun times in MOPS this month, as well as some serious discussion about our heart health.   In our first meeting of the new year we heard from Ellen Abramson about heart health.  She shared her personal story of turning a heart attack into an opportunity to help others and gave us some very good information on heart health and warning signs of concern.  She has written a book titled "Live to Dance".  
In our second meeting for January we heard from Delana Mazdra about photography.  She gave us some great tips to help us take great photos at home of our sweet little ones!  She gave us much to remember, but if you missed it, the biggest lesson I can pass along is, turn off your flash and use as much natural light as possible!  
Our next meeting will be about Love Languages. (What else could be better for the month of Love!) 
I will leave you with this last thought... As we talked about photography in our last meeting, we talked about leaving pictures for your children that they could look back on with sweet memories of their childhood.  Each picture tells a story, evokes an emotion, a memory.  As we think about how our children will remember their childhood, let's remember that God tells us in Deuteronomy 4:8-10 to teach our children His word, that they may learn to fear Him and then they will teach their children as well.  The things we teach our children now will have an affect on generations to come after us, and what better could we leave to them than God's love!?!