a fond farewell...

This is goodbye; my final post as your Community Networker.
My last day as CN will be Friday, March 29th.
It will be bittersweet.

MOPS has been a part of my life in some way or form since my oldest was 4.
That's about 6 1/2 years now.
I never thought I would love MOPS as much as I do. In fact, I almost left my very first meeting early.
I didn't think MOPS was for me. Yet I stayed...and kept going back.

Something drew me to MOPS.
Was it the atmosphere? Was it the wonderful smell of coffee brewing?
Was it the gentle caring nature of the MOPPETS workers?
Was it the awesome leadership? Was it the other moms who were in the same boat as me?

Was it God leading?

Whatever it was, I'm glad for it. I am, and always will be, very fond of MOPS International. It is an awesome task they take on...equipping, empowering, and encouraging women to be the best mom and leader she can be in the name of Jesus Christ! And I for one think they are doing a bang up job!

The enthusiasm and steadfastness of each of my leaders has just been such and encouragement to me. I have grown so much in leadership and in Christ over the years.

But now it's time to move on...to pass the torch. God is leading me on to other things. I am diving into my local church as a small group leader in their women's ministry, and volunteering with a local task force for Love146.

My hope is that whoever takes over my position will far surpass my abilities and performance to meet the expectations of MOPS International and, most importantly, you. After all, you are in need of a CN who can keep you informed of what's happening in your area, and keep you on track with your goals, meetings and leadership skills, in conjunction with your AD, CD, and CC.

So this is farewell...
I will always hold a place in my heart for MOPS...always.

"He Is There"

Kathy Jerman sent out the devotional below in an email this morning. You have to read it!
I needed to hear this, as I am sure some of you might as well.

We all find ourselves, at one point or another, feeling alone...feeling invisible...feeling like a mess (a beautiful mess!) But rest assured that God sees us! He is with us and never leaves us! Yes, he may be silent for a time...but he always makes himself known to us when he is ready...and when we are ready to hear him!

I pray that you open your eyes, ears and hearts to hear him today!


"He is there when you're going through the motions, aware of what needs to be done but unaware of how you're going to do it all.

He is there during endless days filled with projects, diapers or laundry when you're wondering if you'll ever find meaning in the monotony.

He is there when you're criticizing yourself and questioning whether you have what it takes to be a Godly woman."

Read more here.

Fears

My husband and I took our boys roller skating today. I haven't been on a pair of those in over 20 years! My husband ... the same. Our middle son, Stephen, was sort of scared to take his first run out onto the skating floor. It's not that he's never skated before, but it's been a while. When he saw his younger brother of two years (Jacob) fly out to the floor, unabashed by fear and having a blast, Stephen decided he'd give it a go! He was glad he did, too!

We didn't have to coax Jacob out onto that floor. He just went.  Fearless. 

But not all children are fearless that way. Let's face it, we all have those little fears, even if they are unfounded. Julie Cantrell offers a few tips on helping your child cope with fear. Check out her article below.

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Help Children Overcome Fears
By Julie Cantrell

Remember your child’s first step? First word? First tooth? Developmental milestones typically affect the family in a positive way; but as children begin to experience fear, the entire family can be traumatized.

Whether your child is afraid of the dark or of letting go of Mom, you can take simple steps to help your preschooler cope with fear.

Help children understand their feelings. The concept of fear can be difficult for young children to comprehend. Search for age-appropriate photos of people and animals. Explain that all of God’s creatures feel afraid sometimes. Once we remember that we are safe, those bad feelings will go away.

Shine some light on the subject. Even familiar objects can look scary in the dark. Examine your child’s room in light-vs.-night. Emphasize the fact that even though objects may look different, they are still the same. Give your child a flashlight. When something looks scary, shine the light on it to make the “scary go away!”

Learn about Jonah and Daniel. Those classic Bible stories remind us that God is with us everywhere. Help children remember that even when they feel alone, God is with them. Adhere glow-in-the-dark stars above your child’s bed as a reminder that God always watches over us.

Role play to help with separation anxiety. Take turns pretending to leave the house. Say “Bye. I’ll see you later!” and leave the room. Then come back in with a big smile and hug. Remind your child that when you say good-bye at school, church, or play dates, that you will always return.

Share happy thoughts. Before a scary situation, help your child focus on the positive by naming things that make you both happy. Take turns coming up with ideas such as running, snuggling, kittens, or friends.

Dare to dream. Engage your child in a positive discussion about dreams: “What are you going to be in your dreams tonight? I think I will be a mermaid. Or maybe Ill go on a dragon ride.” Build your child’s excitement as you focus on the fun of dreams. In the morning, always ask: “What did you dream?”

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What are your children afraid of? Have you tried any of these tips yet? 

what you do matters!

Hey moms! Just a reminder for those of you who may have forgotten...what you do matters!

Lately I've been feeling a bit sorry for myself. I haven't been considering myself a valuable member to society because I'm a stay-at-home mom. I've been sulking about wondering what my purpose in this life is...and coming up with nothing.

Will my life ever be worth anything? Am I doing enough? Will my boys ever appreciate what I do?

Those are the questions going through my head.

I'm sure God knows all of my insecurities. He sees me through His eyes of truth and love and mercy and His awesome, wonderful GRACE! For without His grace, I am so lost.

Through Christ, I can see who I really am...and my life is not a waste. I must stop believing the lies that satan is telling me, and listen to the One who made me and loves me for who I am. God doesn't make mistakes, right? Right!

I came across this blog post that encouraged me, and I wanted to share that with you all.
I hope you are as encouraged as I was :)

"Please excuse the mess..."

Hi Friends!

This week is "mid-winter" break for my boys. They are off until next Monday.
I cannot complain, they are usually pretty well-behaved...except when they're not ;)

They have been busy "making memories!" LOL
I am so used to not having to step over their toys, or clean off the dining room table when it's time for a meal. But when they are on school vacation, it's a constant in our lives.

I want to complain, but then I saw this..."Please excuse the mess, the children are making memories!"

Rather than complain, I will embrace these moments in our lives. For one day they will be gone. Literally.

So relish in the mess ladies! and enjoy those little ones while you can!

Valentine’s Tips

By Lorilee Craker Ahh … Valentine’s Day. What could be more romantic than a moonlit cruise on a gondola in Venice, with your hunk of burning love serenading you with a song he wrote himself? Hmmm … not happening, you say? Not even close, right? With one or more little offspring running or combat crawling around your casa, you and the big guy are lucky to sneak in a smooch before having to change a diaper or referee a squabble. Girl, I’m here to tell you that romance is not dead, even though your expectations have taken a hit since you became a mom. There are ways to reclaim that cozy couplehood you two once had, and Valentine’s Day is an excellent excuse to get busy. Even if your main squeeze is one of those “I’m-not-celebrating-Valentine’s-Day-because-it’s-a-lame-greeting-card-holiday” types, you can still infuse your marriage with some va-va voom by implementing these tips for V-Day: Don’t get in a snit if you think he’s not going to get you a card or something. This year, get him a card — or more — and see what develops! Guys love it when they think we “get” them, especially when it comes to hobbies. Is your hub into fishing? Grab some fishing lures, a glossy fishing magazine and some of his favorite coffee and muffins and assemble a gift basket that will put a smile on his face. Is golf more his thing? Replaces lures with golf balls and a golf magazine and make his day. Guitars: picks and a CD … you get the picture. Plan a Valentine’s Day date entirely around him. Get a babysitter and make reservations — if needed — at his favorite restaurant, even if you’re sick of Famous Dave’s or Big Buck Steakhouse. Hit the movies and see the movie he’s been wanting to see. Shake it up with something all-new this Valentine’s Day by trying something neither of you has tried before, like ballroom dancing, cross-country skiing or karaoke. Burn your man a CD with tunes you know he’ll love (but you might not necessarily groove on). A custom CD is one of the most meaningful — and cheapest — gifts going. Photo op: Tell your kids that Daddy is your sweetheart, and have your oldest click a pic of you two hugging and mugging for the camera. (Bonus: The kids will love it that mommy and daddy are so into Valentine’s Day!) If you’ve just got a baby and no babysitter, plan to date in this year. Look up recipes online for romantic menus for two, and then whip up a special candlelit meal for just mom and dad alone after the baby goes to bed. Throw some of those candy hearts with grown up messages (“I Want U”) in his lunch, briefcase or the pockets of his work jacket. Include a note telling him how much he means to you and how much you appreciate him. Buy him some fun underwear this year! Nab a novelty pair of boxers with candy hearts on them, or a red pair of boxer-briefs. Silk is good and sends a message he will immediately comprehend. On the 14th, text your husband at work and tell him how sweet he is, and how cute he looks in his new hockey jersey. Everyone appreciates a loving message from the one they traded vows with, and hardly anyone gets enough of it. This year, pluck an item off this list and really make an effort. If your guy sees how hard you tried to rev up the romance at home, he’ll probably reciprocate. True, Valentine’s Day may seem trivial and commercial, but like I said, it’s just one more excuse to heat things up around the home front, and to get in touch with your inner Red Hot Mama!

Save the Date!

MomCon on a Budget (taken from MOPS International's website)

So you want to go to MomCon, but your piggy bank is on the light side. What you need is a plan, and the good news is you have plenty of time to budget for this amazing event!
Start now – while Convention tickets are on sale!

Step 1: Make a realistic expense list. Talk to your leadership team about pooling funds and sharing costs.

Step 2: Determine monthly savings to build your event fund. Starting now gives you more time to plan and more time to save.

Step 3: Cut back on expenses to add to your fund. Dining out one less time could add $25-$50 to your MOPS Convention fund each month!

Step 4: Talk to your church about sponsoring part of the cost. Can they match funds, or possibly cover event registration for your team?

Step 5: Fundraise! What can you and your travel partners make/bake/do to raise funds? Determine a realistic goal - $500, $1000, 50% of your event related costs – whatever the amount, set an achievable goal that will give your group a sense of accomplishment while helping to cover event costs.

We’ve done a lot of the budgeting homework for you! Below you’ll find the information you need to start planning for MOPS Convention:

The Event: MomCon 2013 tickets are just $199 through June 15. Register now to take advantage of early bird savings!

Accommodations: Based on quad occupancy at the Marriott or Crown Plaza hotels next to the KC Convention Center: $146-$156 (rate includes continental breakfast to-go)

Airfare: MOPS staffers found rates of $190-$240 per person round trip from different areas of the country into Kansas City. (Rates vary depending on airline, dates of travel, and dates of booking.)

Gas: Driving a minivan from Denver to Kansas City you’d need two tanks of gas (starting on empty) to get there – that’s a 9.5 hour drive. Chicago, Dallas, Nashville and many other cities are even closer. Wichita, Omaha and Des Moines are just three hours away. If you live within driving distance of Kansas City, getting to MomCon is really affordable!

Van Rental: If your team isn’t blessed to have a van at your disposal, rent one! Carrying 7+ passengers in a rented van is cheaper than driving two or three separate vehicles to the event. We found a deal at www.Hotwire.com for a seven-passenger minivan for $52 per day, unlimited mileage! (Check deals in your area – pricing varies by location, vehicle and dates.)

Eats: MOPS is hooking up with local food trucks in Kansas City to offer a variety of tasty fare right where you are. The Convention Center is within walking distance of the Power & Light District featuring everything from Chipotle to high end steak houses and all price points in between. At the Marriott or Crown Plaza, breakfast will be provided. Plan for $10-27 per meal for lunch & dinner, depending on your personal taste and budget.

Now it’s your turn! Grab a pen and a piece of paper and start crunching the numbers. With a little planning and teamwork, your leadership team can afford to go to MOPS Convention! We can’t wait to see you there.