MOPS Thursday

MOPS Thursday!!

Three of our very own, very talented MOPS mamas will be sharing tips about photography with us!!  Should be very informative and fun!!

Food provided by:
Monopoly, Mad Gab and Jenga

MOPS Reminder

ToMMoRoW...Thursday, March 22.

MOPS begins at 9:30 (check-in for MOPPETS begins at 9:15)

I will be sharing my testimony about how I have grown to realize my true value is in Christ NOT in what the world offers!!

See you tomorrow!!

Good morning, mamas and happy Monday!

What a beautiful morning. The sun is peeking through and the snow is melting!  So ready for spring!!  This Thursday, March 8, is our net MOPS meeting! 

 This week we will hear from the mentor moms about their experiences and how to be the best mom, wife and friend...during this non-stop time in our lives.  I know I don't always feel like I am up to where God wants me to be in any area, but I am trying to  improve on them all and I can't wait to hear insight from these experienced ad God loving women.  

MOPPETS check-in starts at 9:15.  Meeting starts at 9:30

Food provided by Mad Gab, Jenga and Life.

**Housekeeping**

This morning, the Monday Morning Fix from 9-11 at Jennifer A's house.  Just bring yourself, your kids and a dish to pass!

Think about the Spring Rummage Sale is April 19 &20.  Please let Jennifer or Dottie if interested!

Have a great week!  See you Thursday!

MOPS Reminder

Happy Tuesday, Moms!

Sorry I am behind my normal timeline for reminders this week....it has been a crazy week!  Just a reminder, our MOPS meeting is Thursday at 9:30.  MOPPETS check-in begins at 9:15.  

Our topic this week is about leaving a legacy.  It should be motivating and thought provoking...not to mention fun!!  

Food provided by Scattegories, Guess who and Monopoly.

MOPS Reminder

This Thursday, January 26 is our next MOPS meeting!

Dr Keith Martin, OB-GYN, will be joining us and answering any questions you have on "womanhood," pregnancy and post-partum.   He is an experienced OB-GYN, a husband and father to SIX!  He will take any question you have and will not be afraid!  :)  He has a heart for educating and is very compassionate!

Food provided by Jenga, Life and Hungry Hungry Hippos!

See you there!!

Bible Study

Just wanted to send out the information for our bible study, that will be starting 
February 16.

The book is called Creative Counterpart: Becoming the Woman, Wife and Mother You've Longed to Be, by Linda Dillow. The book cost is around $10. Childcare costs will be determined after we know how many children we will have and how many workers we will need. 

If you are interested, please respond by Jan. 26th to Julie Pio at juliepio@yahoo.com or 815.990.3698. We will have a also have a sign up sheet at the next MOPS meeting.

MOPS Reminder

WOW, time flies! The Christmas season is in full gear and I am so excited. This year I feel so blessed and grateful for what God has provided me with. And I am so happy to share my blessings with others by blessing them. there is just something that makes the heart smile when you give!

And with the Christmas season busyness comes stress. Like it's little sidekick. We are already trying to fit shopping, wrapping, baking, programs, family gatherings and everyday life into a small amount of time! We begin to lose that feeling of gratitude and full heart. Because, quite frankly....we are TOO TIRED and stressed to sit and reflect on what we have.

Many of you were with us last year when Dawn Zuberbehler spoke to us. Well, she is back! And she is going to enlighten us with her wit, Godly heart and real life struggles. She will help us stay afloat and positive during this crazy season. Remember, JESUS is the reason for the season. What better way to celebrate his birth than doing what HE wants. Thanking God for what he has given us and share his love with others!

This week, we will be having a brunch. So bring your favorite brunch goodie and be ready to get your tank filled up! What a great way to continue on with this busy season than with fun, fellowship, laughter and food!? See you Thursday at 9:30!

Thank You!

We live in a society where Christmas begins after Halloween and it is FAR from being about the birth of the Savior!  As a society, we have too much, yet never enough. Never have enough time but are filling our time with SO much, yet we are SO unhappy and ungrateful! 

I wanted to say thank you!  Thank you for putting complete strangers ahead of yourself and on your  to-do list.  Thank you for spending some money (when money is tight) to bless someone with something they could not even IMAGINE!!  Thank you for being the vehicle for helping a child learn about GOD'S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!  For being a part of sharing the gospel with a child you may never meet, but who needs it so badly!

MOPS packed 25 shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child!  How awesome!  Now, I know we won't and can't all impact lives the same way.  So if you didn't do a shoe box (and let me be transparent and vulnerable here and tell you, I did not) you are not done! 

You can impact lives here and now.  Maybe it is someone in your own family, your own church, your own town or a stranger you happen across on your holiday travels.  It only takes ONE thing...ONE person, ONE kind word or gesture.  It is never too small or insignificant!  So, make the most out this holiday busyness that is upon us.  Enjoy your family, impact someone and LOVE your GOD!  And THANK him for the precious gift of life!  Not just yours but Jesus's!! 

MOPS Reminder

Happy 1st Monday of November!

Really...already November? WOW! That seems impossible, and yet, here we are! And the sun has decided to join us today, so that is AWESOME!!

And I am sure you are all caught up on sleep since you got an extra hour this weekend?! No? Me neither! But, can't imagine a life that is not filled with a wonderful family and sleep deprivation! Thank you GOD for the 

opportunity to be awakended in the night by some beautiful children!

If you are like me, you are already mentally and emotinally planning for the next two months of holidays. But, how about we try something new? Let's just focus on one at a time!

This Thursday (Nov. 10) at MOPS we will be hearing from Mentor and MOPS moms and mums. They will be sharing about the ups and downs of their lives and how to remain THANKFUL for them all! It will be an encouraging meeting. And I know I need to remember this when I am running around in the madness of Thanksgiving. That's what it is all about...being thankful for the harvest we have within our lives!

There is always, always, always something to be thankful for ~author unknown

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Food for this meeting provided by Apples to Apples, Taboo and Scattegories.

***Also- If you have completed a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child, you can bring it Thursday and we will drop it off for you. Hand it to Sarah Schleich (me ) at the beginning of the meeting.

Lena Playgroup

Family T.I.E.S. Playgroup at Lena Evangelical Free Church, in Lena

On Fridays from 9:30-11:00am
Children birth-5 y/o, with a parent are welcome.


Dates are...
* November 18
* December 16
* January 20
* February 24
* March 16
* April 20
* May TBA- Grand Harbor


Any questions contact Lois Shelton, Parent educator at 369-4848 or 291-5641

MOPS Reminder

This Thursday...T-Minus TWO days!

MOPS this week is complete with lovely moms, beautiful children, wonderful wives and DeLiCiOuS food!  We will be sampling crock-pot goodies, learning how to make our lives easier with meal planning and getting a TON of yummy recipes.  It is a meeting sure to make the hours of 3:30-6:00 happier in your home!  Dinner made easy....MOPS style!

See you all there!

OpErAtIoN ChRiStMaS ChiLD

                     It is Time for us to spread the word of God through Christmas gifts again! 

     Samaritan's Purse is an organization that helps get packed shoe boxes to children around the world!  Not only does it provide fun and necessary things for kids that have little to nothing, it is also a great way to spread the love of Christ through our caring and God's word!  

National collection week is Nov 14-21.  We will be, as a MOPS group, putting boxes together at our Mom's night in Oct 27.  I have included a list of approved and unapproved gift ideas!  This is also a great way to start the holidays off with your family!  So don't hesitate to do a couple shoeboxes of your own at home!  Also, here's the website to help you if you have any questions on how to pack your shoe box!

www.operationchristmaschild.com

click on this link (or put it in your search area) http://bcove.me/hd9t30be to see the impact of your shoebox!

GIFT IDEAS

TOYS 
small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky®, etc. 

SCHOOL SUPPLIES 
pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc. 

HYGIENE ITEMS 
toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc. 

OTHER 
Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries) 

A PERSONAL NOTE 
In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.) 

DO NOT INCLUDE: 
Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snowglobes or glass containers; aerosol cans

RECIPES NEEDED

At the next MOPS meeting (Thursday the 27th) we will be doing a Crock pot tasting and meal planning meeting! We want to do a cookbook to hand out also.  So, if you have any favorite recipes that you would want to submit to Nikki, that would be GREAT!  We need them to her by this Friday, the 21st that would be awesome!  You know, as moms and wives and women we work under pressure, so the time crunch will help motivate you to get in your recipes, I'm sure!   


Send them to jekki99@comcast.net




Thanks, Ladies!  Happy Tuesday!

MOPS THURSDAY!

Happy October!

How about this weather!?  God's Season of Autumn is sure GoRgEoUs lately! Now that the school routine has been in full swing for two months, it is time for some Battles to reappear!  The newness of school, seeing friends again, and a new teacher wear off.  The earlier dusk, cooler weather and late nights with Friday night football begin.  And so do the new battles.  The "mom, I'm bored."  And the "I don't want to do anymore homework"   begin to roll in!  So how appropriate, that this week we are talking about just that!  BATTLESHIP!!

Battleship:  And the How to Discipline without making it a battle!  LOVE THAT!  I am sure we all try to be patient and encouraging 100% of the time.  But God made us HuMaN!  And let's be real, sometimes we  raise our voices and are short.  And that is...well.....not really effective! Am I alone here?!  Yeah, didn't think so!

So, join us, this Thursday, October 13 for Battleship!  Leave encouraged and with some new tools for making a more peaceful home!  Come to chat, refuel, and enjoy some delicious food!

Food Provided by Monopoly, Mad Gab and Jenga!

rUmMaGe SaLe InFo.

The times have been set for the fall MOPS rummage sale!  

September 16 from 9-12 and September 17 from 8-1! 

Come look for good deals from great moms!

Fall Rummage Sale

         MOPS FALL RUMMAGE SALE is September 16 & 17!

The following is a general list of items that sold last time...

 baby/ kids clothing

jackets, coats, snow pants

shoes, boots

toys

games

books

strollers (please no car seats)

highchairs

bouncy seats, play mats etc...

maternity wear

supplies (baby monitors, baby gates, crib sheets/sets, etc..)

 

 Interested in getting rid of some things but don't want to sell? We gladly accept donations with the funds and remaining items going to MOPS & local charities!

 

* Once you sign up and I have your information you will be given a "sellers packet" which contains your ID#, information and tags. Anyone who signs up to sell is asked to volunteer for: set up (Thursday) OR clean up (Saturday) AND at least 1 day of the actual sale.  

 

**Nothing to sell? We love our volunteers, and have been known to pay them in snacks!

 

Please consider joining us, it's fun and easier then having your own garage sale. One mom made over $350!!  There will be a table at our MOPS meeting where you can get more info or as always you can contact me!!

And we're back.....

Are you more than ready to be back to a school schedule?  Are you ready for football, chili, orchards and pumpkins.....


Then you are probably SuPeR ExCiTeD that it's also time for MOPS 2011-2012!!  

September 8

9:30am-11:15am (MOPPETS check-in starts at 9:15am)

Crossroads Community Church in Freeport

"The Game of Motherhood" an intro to what is in store!  And of course, food and socialization!

MOPS SuMmeR ScHEdULe

AUGUST Schedule...

2nd: Krape Park @ 10:00
3rd: FAMILY PICNIC @ LENA LIONS PARK at 5pm
4th: Freeport Library @ 10:30
5th: McDonald's on Galena @ 11:30

MOPS SuMmeR ScHEdULe

JULY schedule...

5th: Krape Park @ 10:00
7th: Freeport Library @ 10:30
8th: McDonald's on Galena @ 11:30
11th: Read Park Picnic @ 11:30
12th: Krape Park @ 10:00
13th: MOM'S NIGHT OUT @ Jen A.'s at 6:30 (Christmas in July theme.  Bring white elephant gift and dessert or appetizer)
14th: Freeport Library @ 10:30
19th: Krape Park @ 10:00
21st: Freeport Library @ 10:30
22nd: McDonald's on Galena @ 11:30
25th: Read Park Picnic @ 11:30
26th: Krape Park @ 10:00
28th: Freeport Library @ 10:30

MOPS SuMmER ScHeDuLe

JUNE Schedule...

7th: Krape Park @ 10:00
9th: Freeport Library @ 10:30
10th: McDonald's on Galena @ 11:30
13th: Read Park Picnic @ 11:30
14th: Krape Park @ 10:00
15th: MADISON ZOO TRIP (meet @ Crossroads parking lot @ 8:45)
16th: Freeport Library @ 10:30
19th: Freeport Library @ 10:30
21st: Krape Park @ 10:00
22nd: MOM'S NIGHT OUT @ Nikki S.'s (Hawaiian theme, bring dessert or appetizer)
24th: McDonald's on Galena @ 11:30
27th: Read Park Picnic @ 11:30
28th: Krape Park @ 10:00
30th: Freeport Library @ 10:30