Covenant Presbyterian MOPS

Couples Night!

2011-02-28T18:39:00.001-08:00

This February our second MOPs meeting was at night and was a couples MOPs where we got to come with our husbands! It was a night out with childcare and a catered dinner with servers and everything! We all had such a wonderful evening visiting with each other, eating and hearing John and Mimi Barnes talk about marriage. They had such wonderful insight and advice to share with all of us!

Foot loose and fancy free with the kids being lovingly cared for in a separate part of the church!

Doug and Tami Waski

Shad and Nicole Nyquest

Chris and Irene Rakow

Abby and Becky with their husbands enjoying their dinner!

Tami and Harry Rudley working hard on their quiz about famous lovers! Shana did a great job coming up with these questions!

Tom and Shana Woodbury! Shana did an amazing job planning this fabulous evening for us!

John Barnes speaking to us about the importance of not being selfish in our marriages.

Our fabulous food servers! They did such a great job keeping our drinks refilled and keeping our bellies full!

The lobby of the church transformed into a candle lit dining experience!

Abby with Brenna and Anna Mae! Brenna was down visiting this weekend from Spokane and stopped by to say hello!

It was a super night! Thanks so much!

Mommy Overload!

2011-02-14T10:51:00.001-08:00

Ever feel totally overloaded? I know I do. Hester Christensen came and spoke to us last Friday about Mommy Overload and she touched our hearts! Hearing her speak was wonderful and we feel so blessed she was able to come and talk to us!

We also did a "ReGift Boutique" where each of us brought two items from home and we were able to "go shopping" for items from others moms! It was a blast!

Kathy showing off her regifted items!

MOPs in action!

One of our little Moppets, Cooper!

Another little Moppet, Bowen, in the cutest sweater romper I have ever seen!
With his mom Laci.

Tami, Marissa and Amanda with the Valentine Cards we made for our troops over seas. Marissa's husband is currently in Iraq.

Hester during her talk with us!

Making Connections!

2011-01-25T12:58:00.000-08:00

Our January 14th MOPs meeting was funtastic! We all had a great time playing silly games and chatting! We kicked off our 2011 MOPs season with a bang! It's going to be a great year! Here are some hilarious pictures lady's!

Christmas Party

2010-12-10T12:55:00.000-08:00

Today we had our Christmas party. It was wonderful! Shana was our speaker today and she gave her testimony to us. It was amazing. Shana is a very special woman to all of us and to be able to hear her story today was great. Thank you Shana for sharing yourself with all of us, you are such a gift from God!

Fellowship, food & fun!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Irene, Kim & Abby with the craft we all made! It's a Cinnamon stick Christmas tree!

Sara and her craft!

Fun Freezer Meal Recipes

2010-12-01T19:31:00.000-08:00

Freezer meals can help make our lives a little bit easier! Here are a few of our MOPs mom's favorites! They are most fun when put together with a large group of friends! Enjoy!

Asian Chicken

Taco Soup

Crock pot Best Lemon Chicken

(actually came from the back of your Tyson frozen chicken bag, but I adapted to my families tastes, you can find the original there)
cream cheese (optional)
1/3 Cup of lemon juice
2 Tablespoon of Dijon mustard
1 Tablespoon garlic
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon of pepper

Chili

(recipe on the back of Winco HyTop chili mix)

1 pkg hy top chili mix

1 lb ground beef

1 can tomato sauce
1 can diced tomato's undrained
1 can kidney beans undrained
1 onion chopped

Delicious Sweet Pork

At least a 4lb Pork Roast (bone in is best for flavor and tenderness)
1-2 cups brown sugar
1 can medium or hot Pace Picante Sauce

Place pork roast in crock pot. Mix together the brown sugar and the picante sauce. Pour mixture over the pork. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours. This makes delicious pulled pork good in tacos, tostadas, nachos,or on buns for a sandwich.

Mini Meatloaves

1 lb hamburger
1 cup water
1 package chicken flavored stuffing
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 c. BBQ sauce
1 tsp garlic powder

Step 1: Mix hamburger, water, garlic powder and stuffing together.

Step 2: Grease 12 muffin tins and preheat oven to 375.

Step 3: Roll meat mixture into balls and put into each muffin cup

Step 4: Make a small dent in the top of each one and add a little BBQ sauce in each dent.

Step 5: Bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees

Step 6: Top each with shredded cheese and cook five more minutes.

Beef Enchiladas

(recipe on the back of Enchilada packet from Winco)

1 Hy-Top Enchilada sauce packet
3 cups water
1 can (6oz) tomato paste
1 lb ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
8 corn tortillas

In a 2 quart sauce pan, bring spices and seasonings, water and tomato paste to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, Brown ground beef and onion, drain, and stir in 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
3. in a 9x13 inch baking dish, pour 1 cup of the prepared sauce. Dip tortillas in remaining sauce then evenly top with meat mixture. Roll up and place in baking dish seam side down. Evenly top with remaining sauce if any.
4. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes, sprinkle remaining 1 cup of cheese and bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
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Keeping Christ in Christmas

2010-11-15T14:57:00.001-08:00

Kirsten Holmberg spoke about keeping Christ in Christmas and gave us lots of tips and ideas on traditions we can do with our families. She was a wonderful speaker! Kirsten has a list of her favorite holiday books. These books are what keeps her family focused on the main thing for Christmas....the birth of Christ!

Here’s a list of the books, though many others are available through Amazon, or even better www.christianbooks.com

Tabitha’s Travels, Bartholomew’s Passage, or Jotham’s Journey. By Arnold Ytreeide (who reportedly lives in Nampa)
The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg
One Incredible Moment by Max Lucado
The Real Twelve Days of Christmas by Helen Haidle
The Christmas Story which is a compilation of the gospel accounts for kids, published (not authored)by Tommy Nelson

The Prayer Rock

2010-10-22T13:09:00.000-07:00

At MOP's today we had a speaker from Health and Welfare come and talk to us about child development and all the different services that are available through the community to us. It was a very education talk which we enjoyed!

We also got the opportunity to discuss the stresses of motherhood and life in general at our tables. This created a great chance for each of us to get to know one another on an even deeper level. We had some fantastic conversations and left feeling very connected and supported by one another.

Along with this conversation, we made prayer rocks. We each took a small rock and wrote our name on it. We then wrote our prayer request on a piece of paper and wrapped the rock up in fabric and tied it with a bow. We then exchanged rocks amongst our table members. Now, each of us has a rock that belongs to someone else plus their prayer request. The purpose of the project is to keep the rock with the person's name on it and pray for them whenever you see it! It was a very special assignment!

The Prayer Rock!

Forever Mothers

2010-10-10T12:31:00.001-07:00

Elaine Ambrose came and spoke to us about being Christian mothers. She had us in stitches and tears! She was a wonderful speaker and we enjoyed listening to her immensely! All her books and information can be found on her website.

Fun Times at MOPS

2010-09-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

We are having so much fun at our MOPS meeting this year! We are all so excited to be back from great summer! Here are a few pictures of the first meeting back!

Sucking paper on the end of a straw! A great time!

Jill Holding her niece Hadley!

Our 2nd meeting was all about home canning and we were left with so much great information and a fun recipe!

Fried Green Tomatoes Recipe

3 Medium, firm green tomatoes

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup milk

2 beaten eggs

2/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs or cornmeal

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 tsp sale

1/4 tsp pepper

Cut unpeeled tomatoes into half inch slices.

Sprinkle slices with salt and pepper.

Let tomato slices stand for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, place flour, milk, eggs and bread crumbs in separate shallow dishes.

Heat 2 tblsp of oil in a skillet on medium heat.

Dip tomato slices in milk, then flour, then eggs, then bread crumbs.

In the skillet, fry half of the coated tomato slices at a time, for 4-6 minutes on each side or until brown.

Enjoy!

Welcome Back!

2010-08-25T14:24:00.000-07:00

Our first meeting back after a fun summer off will be September 10th! Friends don't let friends mother alone! We are looking forward to a great year of MOPs!

MOPS Fall 2010 Registration

2010-05-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the year again! Preregistration for MOPS Fall 2010 for existing members is upon us! Here is a sneak peak at next years program.

The fee is $22 for MOPS International Membership. Benefits include:

* Subscription to MomSense Magazine
* Mom-Emails
* MOPS logo “Friends Don’t Let Friends Mother Alone!” reusable shopping bag
* MOPS bumper sticker
* No Mom Alone 2-in-1 frame magnet
* A bag tag that can be used on luggage, diaper bags or even your gym bag!

On June 1st, registration will be open to new moms!
Our groups capacity will be dictated by childcare spots in our MOPPETS program. To ensure a quality and safe program, the nursery and classes will be capped at the following numbers:

Nursery - 18
Two's - 12
Three's - 10
Fours - 10
Five/K - 10

For more information please contact our MOPS Coordinator, Shana Woodbury at shana@cpcboise.org or 288-2765.

Moppet Togs!

2010-04-28T15:35:00.000-07:00

The famous Moppet Togs sale starts tomorrow! Many of our MOPS moms consign with them! This sale is always great! Hope to see you all there for some bargain shopping!

Rafiki

2010-04-28T13:20:00.001-07:00

A bunch of MOPs moms met at Rafiki today for a little play date! It's such a great place for the kids to go and play while the moms can visit ! Here are a few pictures from the morning!

Talon and Timmy

Kim and Tami with their couponing binders! Such professionals!

Laci and Kim

Timmy!

Helpful Meal Planning Tips!

2010-04-11T11:55:00.000-07:00

We learned a bunch of wonderful meal planning tips and how to effectively shop with coupons! It was great! Kathy and Shana shared with us meal planning and weekly menu ideas. Tami taught us the art of coupon shopping! Here is a recap;

*Keep a running grocery list on the fridge, taped inside the pantry or cabinet door. This way, you or other family members can add items as you run out.

*The freezer is your friend! Shop sales for good deals on meat and go to the bread store to stock your freezer. Frozen veggies are just as nutritious as fresh and last much longer.

*Prep dinner early in the day to avoid the mania that always occurs around dinnertime.

*Cook enough for two nights worth of meals.

*Keep weeknights simple and save the more elaborate meals for the weekends.

*Allow your kids to pick the menu one night a week.

*Remember........kid's tastes change as they get older. They will not eat chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and mac and cheese forever!

Coupon Tips from Tami!

*Keep coupons organized in a binder. Check often for expired coupons and discard.

*Only focus on one or two stores; either stores that are close to your house or you shop frequently.

*Look over couponing websites for the best deals.

*Thriftymom.com
*TheKrazyCouponLady.com
*Fabulesslyfrugal.com

*Always have coupons and items ready before checkout.

*When Albertsons has double coupons you can have up to 3 separate transactions so I use three sets of double coupons and manufacturers coupons-but they cannot double to coupon if it is labeled "Do Not Double" or if the coupon is for more than $1.

Discovery Center Play Date

2010-03-08T14:24:00.001-08:00

MOPS play date was at the Discovery Center this month! We all had a great time! Here are some pictures!

Abby and Carter

Carter, Tanner, Elyse and Ian making bubbles!

Tanner and Abby making puppets!

Story time

The fun swing!

Tanner pulling Ian up, up and away!

Power Smiles

2010-03-08T14:17:00.000-08:00

Dr. Lon McRae from Power Smiles came and spoke to us! He was great and offered a lot of insight and education dentistry. Power Smiles has two offices in the Treasure Valley, one in Meridian and one in Eagle. You can even get your teeth cleaned by one of our own MOPS moms, Katy! To learn more about Dr. McRae, click on Power Smiles.

Recipes from Moms Night Out!

2010-01-22T13:05:00.000-08:00

Here is a collection of recipes we got from last Monday's Moms Night out! They all look so yummy! Hopefully they will add to your dinner rotations to spice things up a bit!

Taco Skillet Pie

1 lb Ground Beef
1 Can black beans with liquid
1 can petite cut zesty jalapeno tomatoes
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 6.5 oz cornbread mix
2 large eggs
1/3 cup milk
1 tblsp vegetable oil
1/2 cup Mexican blend cheese mix

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Cook beef until brown, drain fat. Stir in black beans, tomatoes, and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil on high heat. Cook 1 minute. Pour into a 9x13 pan. Prepare cornbread according to directions, using eggs, milk and oil in amounts shown in ingredients list. Spoon cornbread onto hot taco mixture. Bake 15 minutes. Sprinkle the top with cheese and continue baking for 5 minutes more or until cornbread is golden brown. Cool 5 minutes, serve and enjoy!

Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff

1 lb ground beef
8 oz sliced mushrooms (optional)
1 tsp ground mustard
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 onion sliced or chopped
2 tsp salt
2tsp pepper
1/2 cup sour cream
egg noodles

Thinly slice the beef into pieces about the size of a spoon. If using raw, it can be helpful to put it in the freezer for an hour (and only an hour) first to make it firmer for slicing.

Put all the ingredients except the sour cream and egg noodles into crock pot. If you are using raw meat, do not add liquid even if it looks really dry. The meat will release sufficient juices. Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours.

Serve over boiled egg noodles. Stir on sour cream at serving time.

This dish freezes wonderfully, but not with the egg noodles. Just cook the noodles whenever you thaw some.

Cheddar Cheese-n-Ham Loaf

1 ball of pizza dough
9 oz ham
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup miracle whip
1 egg, beaten
1 tblsp Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place dough on a lightly floured surface; flatten slightly with hands, then roll into 12x8 inch rectangle with rolling pin. Top dough evenly with ham, leaving 1/2 inch border around all the sides. Mix cheddar cheese and dressing; spread evenly over ham. Moisten edges of dough with water. Starring at one of the long sides of the dough, fold 1/3 of the dough over filling, then repeat with the other side of the dough. Firmly pinch ends of dough together to seal. Place, seam side down, on greased baking pan. Cut 3 diagonal slits in top of dough with knife. Brush evenly with egg and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake 35-40 minutes or until browned. Plan to cool a bit, it's super hot!

Chicken Spaghetti

Ingredients
2 cups Cooked Chicken
3 cups Dry Spaghetti, Broken Into Two Inch Pieces
2 cans Cream Of Mushroom Soup
2 cups Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
¼ cups Finely Diced Green Pepper
¼ cups Finely Diced Onion
1 jar (4 Ounce) Diced Pimentos, Drained
2 cups Reserved Chicken Broth From Pot
1 teaspoon Lawry's Seasoned Salt
⅛ teaspoons (to 1/4 Teaspoon) Cayenne Pepper
Salt And Pepper, to taste
1 cup Additional Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Preparation Instructions
Cook 1 cut up fryer and pick out the meat to make two cups. Cook spaghetti in same chicken broth until al dente. Do not overcook. When spaghetti is cooked, combine with remaining ingredients except additional 1 cup sharp cheddar.
Place mixture in casserole pan and top with remaining sharp cheddar. Cover and freeze up to six months, cover and refrigerate up to two days, or bake immediately: 350 degrees for 45 minutes until bubbly. (If the cheese on top starts to get too cooked, cover with foil).

Sweet and Sour Chicken

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
3 celery ribs, sliced
2 medium green peppers, diced
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup crushed pineapple with syrup
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
Hot cooked rice (Minute rice works great!)

Directions
In a shallow dish, combine the flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper; coat chicken. In a skillet, saute chicken in 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes or until tender. Remove and set aside.
Saute the celery, green peppers and onion in remaining oil for 5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Return chicken pan. Combine the ketchup, lemon juice, pineapple and brown sugar; add to skillet. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Serve over rice. I love to serve this with Fried Rice-recipe below!

Fried Rice

Ingredients
1 cup rice, uncooked
5 tablespoons butter
1 cup onion, chopped
1 cup carrot, chopped
2/3 cup green onion, chopped
3 tablespoons sesame seeds
5 eggs
5 tablespoons soy sauce
salt
pepper

Directions
Cook rice according to package directions.
In a large skillet melt butter.
Add onions, carrots and scallions.
Saute until carrots are translucent.
Set aside.
Lightly grease another skillet.
Beat eggs and pour into hot skillet.
Cook as you would scrambled eggs.
Combine rice, vegetables, sesame seeds and eggs.
Add soy sauce and stir.
Salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy Girls!

Moms Night Out!

2010-01-19T14:50:00.001-08:00

Moms night out was great! Stay tuned for all the yummy recipes we collected!

Homebound Survival Guide

2010-01-11T11:34:00.000-08:00

Blog post and pictures compliments of Tami Waski!

The MOPS crew got to "Make and Take" things home including play dough, Ooblek, Gak and puffy paint that will be fun for the kids to do while the weather is chilly outside!

Here is a recipe for Kool-Aid Play Dough

2 1/2 cups Flour
1/2 cup salt
2 packages of unsweetened Kool-Aid powdered drink mix
2 cups boiling water
3 tblsp oil

Mix flour, salt Kool-Aid and oil until well blended. Add boiling water and mix with spoon until cool enough to knead. Continue kneading until color is blended. Store in air tight bag or container in the refrigerator.

MOPS 2010

2010-01-03T14:13:00.000-08:00

Welcome back and Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and fun New Years Eve! Here is a brief rundown of the upcoming events at MOPS!

MOPS Meeting Friday Jan. 8 - Homebound Survival Guide
MOPS Meeting Friday Jan. 22 - Treasure Valley Family Magazine Editor Liz Buckingham

MOPS Playdate Thursday, Jan. 14 - Playdate at Little Friends Indoor Park
Boise Friends Church
10:00 a.m. $1.25/child

MOPS Playdate Wednesday, Feb. 3 - Playdate at Discovery Center of Idaho
Young Discoverers Preschool Program
Class free with admission $6.50/adult, $4 child 3-17

Mom's Night Out
3rd week of January
details TBA

2nd Friday of each month, Craft Lovers Night
Covenant Presbyterian Church
6-10:00 p.m.

3rd Saturday of each month, CPC cinema
Covenant Presbyterian Church
7-9 p.m.

Music with Melissa Nash

2009-11-18T08:35:00.000-08:00

Blog entry compliments of Tami Waski

We ate breakfast while Melissa Nash and Nancy Wilson played for us.

Melissa started talking to us about great musical things we can do with our kids at home with things around the house. She also stressed that if you are looking for private lessons to really ask a lot of questions of the instructor. There are great musicians out there that are not necessarily great teachers. Melissa is a musician herself that has been teaching private lessons half of her life.

Nancy Wilson is a retired music teacher. She taught strings in the school district. She gave us a quick lesson on how the parts of the Cello and the different sounds it can make. She even gave one of our mom's her first violin lesson.

They both stated that the "Mozart Effect" has been proven. Kids who listen and interact with music do better in school among other things. Boise is really supportive of all of the arts so there are lots of opportunities to expose our children to music.

MOPS at The Berry Ranch

2009-11-02T08:08:00.000-08:00

We went to The Berry Ranch on Friday. It was a blast! The kids ran through the straw bail maze, did pumpkin bowling, picked pumpkins, saw animals, had snacks, and really enjoyed themselves! Here are a few pictures of the day!

Play Date This Friday!

2009-10-27T14:31:00.000-07:00

Our next MOPS playdate will be Friday, Oct. 30th at 10:00 a.m. at the Berry Ranch. For driving directions and more info you can visit The Berry Ranch at their web site. School is out in the Meridian School District, so please feel free to bring older siblings. RSVP to Kathleen at k2outside@yahoo.com by Tuestday, Oct. 27th so she can make arrangements for our hayride. Hope to see you all there!

Mom's Night Out!

2009-10-14T08:58:00.000-07:00

Thursday October 15th is our next Mom's Night Out! It will be at Rembrandt's Coffee House in Eagle starting at 6:30 PM. Hope to see you all there!

Scarecrow Stroll at the Botanical Gardens!

2009-10-07T06:37:00.000-07:00

Kathleen and Michelle were our two brave MOPS mommies who packed up their kids and headed out in the cold and rainy weather for a fun morning at the Botanical Gardens Scarecrow Stroll!

Kathleen and Michelle braved the rain and enjoyed the Botanical Gardens on Monday for the MOPS Play Date! Their kids had a blast playing in the rain and they had the place all to themselves! Here is a picture of Ian and Elise, Kathleen's two kids, and Megan, Nate, Trent, and Allison, 4 of Michelle's 6 kids. Way to go guys! Glad you had a great time!

Children's Re-Sale Event

2009-10-02T07:57:00.000-07:00

Huge Children's Re-Sale Event! The sale is October 8-10 in Meridian on the corner of Eagle Road and Fairview behind Red Robin next to Blue Sky Bagels. For more information go to www.SmartyPantsConsignment.com

Upcoming Events!

2009-10-02T07:38:00.000-07:00

MOPS Play Date: Monday, Oct. 5 9:30 a.m. Botanical Gardens Scarecrow Stroll. For more info contact Kathleen Bretton at 343-4340 or k2outside@yahoo.com

Mom's Night Out: Thursday, Oct. 15 location to be announced soon!

Trunk-n-Treat: Saturday, Oct. 24 5-6:30 p.m. Covenant Presbyterian Church Dinner, carnival games, and lots of family fun!!! Wear your costumes and decorate trunks for trunk-n-treating. Nothing ghoulish or scary, please!

MOPS Play Date: Friday, October 30 10:00 a.m. The Berry Ranch. Pick your own pumpkin and try to find your way out of the straw maze! For more info contact Kathleen Bretton at 343-4340 or k2outside@yahoo.com

CPC Marketplace: Saturday, Oct. 31st 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Holiday craft bazaar and baked goods sale. Profits support Covenant Presbyterian Women's fund.

Welcome Henry!

2009-08-29T08:48:00.000-07:00

Kathryn had her baby! Henry was born during our MOPS summer break, was 8 pounds, 3 ounces, and 20 1/2 inches long.

The kids meeting their new brother for the first time!

Here's Henry! He is an absolute doll! Henry can't wait to join the rest of the Moppets this fall! Mom and baby are doing just great!

Mom's Night Out!

2009-08-23T19:11:00.001-07:00

Our next Mom's Night Out is this Tuesday, August 25th, 7:00 PM at Rembrandt's Coffee House in Eagle. http://www.rembrandtscoffeehouse.net/ Get those kids to bed and head on over for some great coffee and conversation! Hope to see you all there!

Play Date Pictures and Video's!

2009-08-14T14:13:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at the park today! Here are some pictures and videos that captured the day!

Playing in the water!
Waiting for the water to fall!

Gracie and Lily on the motorcycle!

Hannah swinging with Mommy!

Fun at the Park!

Afton in her cute bikini!

Afton!

Timmy!

Carter and Hannah on the slide!

Gracie and Lily

Tanner

Scarlett climbing high!

Talon with his cool shades on!

Tami and Shana

Tanner, Ethan, and Carter

Friday August 14 Play Date!

2009-08-11T06:30:00.000-07:00

We have our final MOPS Play Date this Friday at Guerber Park in Eagle at 10:00 AM.

This park has amenities which include playground equipment, an interactive water feature, permanent restrooms and two picnic shelters, as well as a large playing field and little league facilities.

Located at 2200 E. Hill Road Eagle, ID

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=2200+E+Hill+Rd+Eagle,+ID+83616&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=us&ei=BnSBSq-wL4WgsgPZ7dGCCQ&ll=43.695726,-116.325173&spn=0.006919,0.019205&z=16&iwloc=A

Don't forget your swim suits! Hope to see you all there!

Get Ready for Fall 2009 MOPS!!

2009-08-10T18:27:00.000-07:00

Mothering matters... because today makes a difference tomorrow.

The MOPS Experience equips women for the joys and challenges of their lives as moms. One key factor in the MOPS Experience is the relationships built within a group. Time and time again, MOPS moms share that the friends they make in MOPS are significant for this season of their life and on into their future. God created us for relationship! It's one of the defining parts of being human. However, when you become a mom, all your relationships change. It's like you have landed on a different planet "Planet Mom" and the relationships on Planet Mom don't look like the ones on your previous planet. Your relationship with yourself is different-you are a mom! Your relationship with your husband, girlfriends, extended family, community and God have all changed. Many of these changes are positive, some are not. Even positive change requires adjustments on your part. The foundation of being Together on Planet Mom is that God is with us and we are created for relationship with him and each other. We are created to "do life" together. The more we draw together in community, the better we are able to thrive as women and moms. This life together is underlined in our theme verse for the year, where Jesus promises: "For where two or three come together ... there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20)

Moms, what do you need most?
Me time. To be loved and appreciated. A sanity check. Patience. Freedom from guilt. Adult conversation.To get organized. More of me. Balance. To know that I'm normal. To know it'll all work out. Peace. Hope.

How can MOPS help?
MOPS helps you to define the worth of mothering. The value is in knowing that you are the mother your child needs; you have been chosen for the job! MOPS will help you learn how to fulfill your needs for identity, growth, relationships, help, perspective, and hope.
Each MOPS meeting will begin with yummy food while you enjoy fellowship with other moms. You will experience wonderful speakers who present topics that speak to you as a mom. Discussion time will allow you to connect with other women in a relaxed environment and creative activities will offer the opportunity to explore a new side of yourself.

Where do my children go while I'm in MOPS?
MOPS is committed to providing loving childcare! The MOPPETS program offers a structured time for your children to hear stories, sing songs, enjoy a snack, make crafts and play. Children under age three will be cared for in the nursery while older children enjoy a classroom setting. The dedicated MOPPETS volunteers have all been screened and will offer your children a safe, nurturing environment.

MOPS Steering Team 2008-2009
Coordinator: Shana Woodbury
Mentor Mom: Kathy Theiss
Registration:Karen Wirl
Discussion Group Leader: Tami Rudley
MOPPETS Leader: Brenda Crump
Publicity:Kristen Johnson
Creative Activities Leader: Mindi Schnacker

Where and when does MOPS meet? MOPS will meet the second and fourth Friday mornings at Covenant Presbyterian Church from 9:30 to 11:30 AM. Put these dates on your calendar ladies!

September 11 & 25
October 9 & 23
November 13
December 11
January 8 & 22
February 12 & 26
March 12 & 26
April 9 & 23
May 14 & 28

Here is a sneak preview!

September 11 - Fall Kick-off by Covenant MOPS Steering Team, Theme for 2009/10 is "Together on Planet Mom"

September 18 - Six week MOPS Small Group Bible Study begins, space will be limited.

September 25 - Family Traditions and Enrichment with DeAnne Simmons