First Federated MOPS: December 2010

Welcome to MOPS and MOPS NEXT at First Federated Church!

MOPS/MOPS NEXT stands for Mothers of Preschoolers and into the next step -- Elementary school. We exist to meet the needs of every mom -- moms with different lifestyles who all share a similar desire to be the very best moms they can be! MOPS/MOPS NEXT recognizes that the years of infancy through kindergarten are foundational in a mother-child relationship and are filled with unique needs. MOPS/MOPS NEXT helps moms through relationships estabilished in the context of local groups that provide a caring atmosphere for today's mother of young children. Come join us at Federated to begin your quest to be the mom God intended you to be!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Online Survey

WE NEED YOUR HELP! We would like your opinions to make our MOPS Program even better. Please follow this link and take the survey to give us your honest (and anonymous) answers. It will take less than 5 minutes! THANKS!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/F9VT8RD

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Promote the Papa

A few weeks back we heard from Sue Holcomb about how to "Promote the Papa". Here are the notes from that interesting and challenging day! (Thank you, Rachel, for sending them our way!)

Promote the Papa

1. Pray for our husbands (only God can change them).
Pray for our husbands’ protection and relationship with children

2. Don’t say negative things about him around the kids when he’s NOT home.
Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her home, the foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.

Don’t say negative things about him when he IS there.
Doing this makes the children feel insecure.
Draw a line in your mind of where you won’t go in conversation.
If something hurtful comes into your mind, give it to God.

3. Get on his team when he has ideas
Encourage his ideas for outings with the family
Ideas may not always be convenient & can sometimes be messy but the kids will enjoy the time w/ Dad
Be willing to clean up and promote memories
(Popcorn popper example)
Purchase gifts for husband to give to kids so he can be the “hero” once in awhile.
Encourage one-on-one time with dad and each child.
Let him lead! He may not always do it the way you would, but that’s OK!

4. Men need respect even if they don’t deserve it.
We have a superiority complex and often feel more spiritual than our husbands.
We need to quit focusing on where they may not measure up to our standards and focus on how they do.
If you have major issues with your husband, ask God to give you a friend to speak to in confidence.

Marriage is not about being happy, it’s a covenant.
John Piper discusses this in This Momentary Marriage.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Christmas Party

You will NOT want to miss our Annual Christmas Party: Tuesday, December 14 at 8:45! We will eat good food, make a special Christmas Craft, and hear from author Kimberly Stuart. She lives here in Des Moines and has three children. She has been described as "quirky, thoughtful, and comically entertaining". Check out her website at http://www.kimberlystuart.com/

Hope to see you and a friend there!