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

Question of the Week

"What was your favorite Christmas present as a child? Why?"

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.

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!

December, Already?

Can you believe that it is already December? As we turn the page of the calendar tomorrow, we will start the push of 25 days until Christmas! There will be lights to hang, stories to read, parties to attend, presents to buy and wrap, etc. So much to do!

We would like to know:
What special traditions do you and your family do for Christmas or to get ready for Christmas?

Our November 23rd Meeting

Instead of our regular meeting, come join us at (3135 99th Street, Urbandale - Behind Stella's on 100th) THIS Tuesday!

Time: 9:30am - ?

What to Bring: Yourself, Your Kids, Sack Lunch If You Want to Stay For Lunch

Moms who have paid their Fall Semester Fee will get in for FREE and their KIDS too. (If you have not paid your semester fee you can do there as well - we would love for you to join us.)

Donna's Small Group will be providing refreshments for the Moms and Kids.

NOVEMBER 23 MEETING

We will NOT be having a regular meeting on November 23 because so many people will be away for Thanksgiving, but do not be too sad! We WILL be getting together.

Instead of our regular MOPS meeting, we will be meeting at Backyard Adventures. Please check back for more information! We will post more this weekend!

Tuesday is coming fast!

Hi Ladies... it is that time of the week again! It is time to plan to come to MOPS on Tuesday! Can you believe that is its already time for another MOPS Meeting? Time is flying at my house!

We will be meeting this Tuesday -- 8:45 am -- in the same place -- First Federated Church. We will be hearing from a former MOP Sue Holcomb. She will be challenging us to "Promote the Papa". Our kids reflect our attitude towards our husbands, so what is a healthy and what is an unhealthy attitude to demonstrate to our kids? What behaviors do we want our kids to do to show the respect and honor that the father deserves? What do we do if our husbands are hard to respect and honor? Come on Tuesday to find out and BRING A FRIEND!!

Question of the Week

What traditions do you have in your family to promote thankfulness during Thanksgiving?

(Please write your answer as a comment below!)

Our Next Meeting

Do you ever struggle to find new healthy ideas for snacks and lunches for your kids? Do you go to the pantry and are bored with the same old ingredients to make meals for your family? If you answered yes to these questions, then you MUST come to MOPS this Tuesday, October 26 at 8:45! We will be having Anne Cundiff a Hy-Vee Dietitian share three new recipes that we will make and eat right at MOPS. She will also have a question and answer time. She is FULL of great ideas. Come... your family's taste buds will thank you!

Anne is a registered and licensed dietitian with Hy-Vee on Fleur Drive in Des Moines, Iowa. In this role, Anne works full time providing customers information on all aspects of nutrition in and out of the store.

Anne graduated from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and attended Iowa State University for her dietetic internship. Prior to working with Hy-Vee, Anne spent seven years as a clinical dietitian at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

Anne offers a wide range of programs and services - wellness, cooking, weight loss, diabetes, heart health, food allergies and other disease-specific needs. Anne is certified in Adult Weight Management through the American Dietetic Association.

Right around the corner...

Our next MOPS meeting is right around the corner. We will be meeting next Tuesday, October 12 at FFC. Registration begins at 8:45. We are excited to have with us Jeanie Smith, the Vice President of the FreeStore Board (www.thefreestore.org), to share with us about this excting ministry as well as Nicole Young of Urban Wings Artography. Nicole will be sharing with us how to capture memories of our families using our cameras. Please bring your camera with you to MOPS. Check out her website for more information: www.urbanwingsart.com

See you there!

Our Next Meeting

Don't forget our MOPS meeting... September 28!

We have a very special activity: MAKING APPLE PIES! YUMMY!

Please bring: knives, corers, and a pie plate to MOPS to help make these pies.

We will provide: the recipe, apples, spices, dough, cooking spray, foil, as well as extra things in case moms' forget (knives, pie plates, etc.)

See you there -- MOPS: September 28 -- 8:45 Registration begins!

HELP KIDS SUCCEED & STAY ORGANIZED: TOP TEN TIPS

By Mary Sigmann, CPO®

1. Have a planning session each evening with your child to go over the next day's activities and schedule. Preplanning and preparation are the foundations of success.

2. Establish systems and timelines to prevent tardiness, forgotten supplies, and lost homework assignments. Organized kids feel more in control and competent.

3. Help your child understand the benefits and consequences of their actions. What are the benefits of turning your homework in on time? What can happen if you leave a pair of shoes in the middle of the floor?

4. Keep a family calendar posted. Keep everyone informed of the activities which involve them.

5. Assign age-appropriate responsibilities to help the household stay organized. From feeding the pet to taking out the trash, kids can be a great asset to keeping the home running smoothly.

6. Set a timer if kids have trouble staying on task. Let kids know they can stop or switch tasks when the timer goes off.

7. Establish accountability and reward systems for keeping bedrooms neat and orderly, completing homework assignments and following through on promises. Be sure to establish specific instructions and guidelines for your child’s responsibilities. If they are clear about what you want and expect, they are more likely to succeed.

8. Create rituals or habits you can share that nurture you and your family. Go for an after-dinner walk, read together or discuss goals. Discover activities that bring the family closer and make everyone healthier and happier.

9. Reduce the clutter by keeping only what is currently being worn or used in your child’s room. Box up the rest and rotate seasonally.

10. Model the behavior and expectations you place upon your child. Be sure you set the example for simplicity and organization.

© Copyright Mary Sigmann, CPO®

Mary Sigmann is a Certified Professional Organizer®, coach and speaker. Please visit www.organizer-coach.com for additional information, articles and tips, or contact Mary at harmonypro@aol.com. **Mary spoke at our MOPS last year.

Through their Eyes

We had a great challenge from Sherri Stufflebeem yesterday about three things that every child needs when we look at the world through their eyes:

1. Every child needs to know we love them!

2. Every child needs to have boundaries!

3. Every child needs to know Jesus!

Here are the resources that she listed for us:

Boundaries with Kids

by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

Parenting is Heart Work

by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller
Revolutionary Parenting

by George Barna

Leading Your Child to Christ

by David Staal

MOPS Question of the Week:

What was your favorite summer activity to do with your children?

One Week and Counting

What will you be doing at this time next week? I hope your answer is the same as mine: I WILL BE AT MOPS!! YEAH! I am so looking forward to the beginning of our new MOPS year, not only to get back into that routine, but I am so excited to see all of you! We have all had such great adventures over the summer to talk about -- places we went, people we saw, funny things that the kids did, and the embarrassing things that the kids (or husbands) did! I am sure it will be hard to get all of you quiet so we can begin the meeting!! :)

We are looking forward to seeing you... please make every effort to come! It will be a great morning filled with catching up with friends, prizes, free gifts, yummy breakfast, a presentation from Sherri Stufflebeem ("Through their Eyes: What every kid needs to know"), and small groups!

See you there!

First time anxiety

Are you prepared to send your baby off to school this week or next? I can't even imagine what that will be like... I don't want to think about it! I have another year to worry and get all worked up about it!

But when I was a teacher for first grade, I read a book to the kids in my class and suggested it to my parents that seemed to help ease this transition. It was a great book to remind the children that mommy and daddy still love them even though they are not around. The book is called "The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn. It is about a Raccoon who goes to school for the first time and is a little anxious about it. His Mom eases the tension by kissing his palm and tightly folding his fingers back over that kiss so it won't escape. If he gets sad, he can take his palm and place it to his cheek like a kiss from mommy to remind him that Mommy loves him.

You can do the same thing after reading this story to your children and then take it a step further. Trace your kids hands on paper and cut them out. Draw a heart in the center of the hand or put a heart sticker. Have them fold the fingers down over the palm. This is now their Kissing Hand. They can keep it at home or even take it to school with them. It is a great reminder of the ever lasting love of Mommy!

Mommy may want to make one with your hand as well and have your kids kiss it. You may need it in the lonely times before they return to you safe and sound!

Do you have other ways to ease this transition time? Write your comments below! We would love to hear from you!!

Sarah

MOPS Co-director

2010-2011

Have you reserved the date?

Our first MOPS meeting is just around the corner, and we are getting pretty excited about it!

All of the MOPS who REGISTER AND PAY on September 14 at our first meeting will be entered to win these prizes:

· $20 gift card to Fareway

· $25 gift card Hy Vee

· A 2 pack DVD set from Connxions Bookstore

· $25 gift card to Felix & Oscar's

· $30 gift card to Texas Roadhouse

· 1 hr massage at Massage Envy

· 30 min facial at Sahar's

· Beauty Control Spa Product Package

· $25 gift card to Wellspring Bookstore

**We send a special THANK YOU to these businesses for GENEROUSLY donating these products for our special moms!

Mark your calendar and tell your friends... you don't want to miss this special kick-off for our 2010-2011 MOPS Year, which will include our very own Sherri Stufflebeem (The Children's Director at First Federated Church) as our speaker! Stay tuned for more details!

Moving On Day

by Alex Kuykendall

I’m packing up baby clothes again today. My youngest is out-growing the tiniest of our household’s onesies and it’s time to move her to the next size. With my older daughters, I stored the clothes away for the “next baby.” Tucking the hopes for future children into deep corners of my heart, I placed boxes of little clothes into deep corners of my basement for later. This packing feels more permanent. There probably won’t be a “next baby” for us. There is no “later” for these clothes.

Other milestones come and go with me as a passive participant: losing the umbilical cord stump, gaining head control, growing from newborn to infant. But this project requires me to take action, to be part of the moving on process.

"I find comfort in knowing
my lasts will help launch
another mom’s firsts."

When I think about these lasts I can feel my heart ache. A normal, healthy response, but one that can take over and squelch my joy in the moment if I let it. How do I celebrate each phase of mothering while gracefully letting go of those that are done? How do I as a mom keep pace with my children’s growth without resenting the speed with which they’re growing?

I make a plan to pick out a few special items for each girl to have when she’s older and box the rest to give to our local Pregnancy Resource Center for another mom and baby to use. I find comfort in knowing my lasts will help launch another mom’s firsts.

Dear God, help me to cherish the past, and give me the courage to move on and grow into the mom I’m continually becoming.

(Taken from MOPS International Mom E-Mail)

Iowa State Fair

The fair is coming up really quickly! Do you have plans to go?

What activities are a MUST for the kids in the family?

What foods CANNOT be missed for your family?

Share your thoughts by posting a comment below!

Check out http://www.iowastatefair.com/ for more information... but info from moms is always the best, right?

Nurse speaker...NEED YOUR HELP!

Hi, Moms! We are in the process of scheduling the speakers for this coming year and have just scheduled our church nurse to speak to us.

She is asking for a list of topics that you want to hear about.

SO....

Please put your idea in the comment section and let's give her some great topics!

Thank You for the Windows

by Katherine Craddock

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. (Proverbs 17:22, NLT)

Gloomily hunched over my bowl of cheerios, I fully intended to start my day with a full-scale pity party. “Thank you God for this food,” I sighed half-heartedly. Boo hoo. My life was soo bad.

“And thank you for the windows!” my 2 ½ year-old daughter Katie shouted. The windows? Hmm. I guess we did just get new windows.

“Yes, God. Thank you for the windows.” I echoed.

“And thank you for the doors!” she continued. I thought of the small, door-less shacks I had witnessed during a Jamaican thunderstorm. Entire families huddled in living quarters smaller than my back-yard shed, while I vacationed in luxury. Doors are good. We need those.

“Thank you for the doors.” My response was a little louder this time. A slow smile spread across my face.

Katie was on a roll. “And thank you for the walls!” She’s right. Walls are important. Where would we be without walls?

Within seconds, we were laughing and shouting thanksgiving to the Lord at the top of our lungs. Arms raised to heaven, we thanked God for our beautiful house, our pets, and even our shiny new dishwasher.

My toddler’s enthusiasm had turned pity into praise. Truly, I had much to be thankful for. Yes, God. Thank you for the windows.

Having a blue day? Gratitude to the Lord is the best medicine for a broken heart.

Katherine Craddock is a professional writer and pastor’s wife who is the oldest of nine children and mother to one Kindergartner and two preschoolers of her own. She lives in Northern Virginia and is part of The King’s Chapel MOPS. Taken from www.MOPS.org

SPLASH PARTY

You're Invited to the First Federated Church's Annual

SPLASH PARTY!

THIS Sunday, July 18, 2010

6:15-8:15pm

Clive Aquatic Center

1801 NW 114th St.

FREE ADMISSION

Check our website for cancellation information if it is raining!

www.firstfederated.org

Splish Splash!

If you couldn't make it to our play date yesterday, you missed a fun time with friends! The children got soaked as they enjoyed each others company and the water! It was a gorgeous day so being in the water was a refreshment as was seeing our MOPS friends again!

Splish, Splash Play date

Don't forget.... We have a special play date set for TOMORROW, July 13 at 10 AM (or right after naps!) at Ashby Park! Bring your kids, swim suits, towels, and a lunch. We have reserved the shelter for the whole day so come back in the evening and enjoy dinner at the Park with dad!

We can't wait to see you again!

Yummy Summer Dessert

Do you have a special family BBQ planned and need to bring dessert but don’t want to labor in the hot kitchen for an hour? Well, here is a great idea for you that is sure to please the whole crowd – young and old – and you won’t even have to turn on the oven!

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

2 boxes of ice cream sandwiches

1 tub of Cool Whip

1 jar of Peanuts or other nuts

Chocolate, caramel, or strawberry syrup

Other toppings to taste

Take a 9x13 cake pan and cover the bottom with unwrapped ice cream sandwiches. You may have to cut them to get a perfect layer of ice cream. Smooth half of the tub of Cool Whip over the sandwiches then add toppings: peanuts, chocolate, caramel, strawberry etc. Once that is complete, add another layer of ice cream sandwiches and finish the cake with another layer of Cool Whip and your favorite toppings.

Put it into the freezer for a few hours until the cake gets harder (the sandwiches tend to melt a little from being out of the freezer). Once it is firm, cut it into pieces and serve! YUMMY!

A thought for the day....

"Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?"
~ Corrie ten Boom

Giants of our faith have viewed prayer as a main source of direction in their lives. They wouldn't have thought to let a day go by without a long, energizing time with the Father. Martin Luther even said, "I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer."

We need to spend time with the Lord in prayer so He can direct and steer us through our crazy lives. We certainly do need Him daily for wisdom, for energy, for direction, for instruction, for encouragement, for patience... And He is ready, willing and able to help!

Wet Cement

by Laura Parker

I had a friend in college once who said, "Kids are like wet cement. As parents, we get to put our fingerprints all over them and shape them. But the older they become, the drier --and harder to form--the cement grows."

Psychologist Sigmund Freud agreed. He believed that a child's basic character is developed by the age of five. I don't know about you, but that philosophy makes me a bit nervous for my preschoolers. With that in mind, we have practiced the following ideas to develop positive character in fun ways that easily fit into the fabric of our daily life.

• Marble Jar: Set up an empty jar with a bowl of marbles beside it. Choose a quality that you want to positively reward for the week and explain to your kids that every time you "catch" someone displaying that quality, they get to add two marbles to the jar. When the jar is full, the whole family gets a special treat.
• Build a Tower: Set up some blocks on the kitchen counter in a pile (Large Legos work fantastically). Talk about how the words we speak can either build up or tear down other people. During the day, for every encouraging word spoken, have the speaker add a block to the tower.
• Fridge Art: Put a big piece of white butcher paper on an empty side of your refrigerator. Choose a quality that you would like to work on that week in your home. Tape some markers beside the paper and challenge your kids to notice when someone in the family displays that character trait. Have them draw pictures of the positive actions performed on the paper to create a collage.
• Fruit that Lasts: Place a large bowl of fruit on the table one morning. Talk about the fruits of right living found in the Bible (Galatians 5:22-23). The fruits in this passage are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. Have each child create a pretend story about someone who showed one of the positive fruits, then let him/her choose a fruit from the bowl to enjoy after breakfast.
• Actions Speak Louder than Words: As someone once said, "Be the type of person you want your children to become."

So, you mothers of "wet cement" children, persevere. Keep shaping the clay of your children's hearts with intention and passion and consistency, because every day the cement is getting a little bit drier.

Taken from MOPS.org

FALL SCHEDULE

We now have the fall schedule in place. MOPS will meet at First Federated Church on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, following this schedule:

September 14 and 28

October 12 and 26

November 9 and 23

December 14 ONLY

January 11 and 25

February 8 and 22

March 8 and 22

April 12 and 26

May 10 and 24

Mark your calendar so you don't miss even one! More details will be coming soon!

Summer Snacking

Do you ever get bored serving your kids the same old snacks over and over? I do! I am sure that they do as well -- you can only have so many animal crackers or Gold fish, right?

Below is a list of finger foods with a great dip for each to give your kids! What kid doesn't LOVE "dippy"? Get creative and get healthy this summer with these yummy choices!

• Dip baby carrots and cherry tomatoes in Ranch dressing.
• Dip strawberries or apple slices in low-fat yogurt.
• Dip pretzels in mustard.
• Dip pita chips in hummus.
• Dip graham crackers in applesauce.
• Dip baked tortilla chips in bean dip or mild salsa.
• Dip animal crackers in low-fat or sugar-free pudding.
• Dip bread sticks in salsa.
• Dip a granola bar in low-fat yogurt.
• Dip mini-toaster waffles in cinnamon applesauce.

Do you have other ideas to share? We would love to hear your suggestions in the comment section below!

Adapted from The American Dietetic Association's 25 Healthy Snacks for Kids

5 Ways to Grow Deep Roots in Your Kids

1.Spend time with them at night. Kids are more open to talk at bedtime no matter their age.

2.Eat dinner together as much as possible.

3.Read and discuss a short section of Scripture daily.

4.Help kids handle relational issues by getting them to think about how the other person feels, or because Jesus is our model, decide what He would do in this situation.

5.Have fun with your kids. Laugh with (not at) them. Wrestle, tickle, snuggle - play.

Taken from www.momandlovingit.org

In 2010-2011, we invite you to join in the learning process as together we explore Momology: The Art and Science of Mothering. Mothering is both art and science. It combines all of who we are to shape healthy, resilient kids, which is a very complex job! MOPS International has identified four essential elements for successful outcomes with our kids: Core -- knowing and growing ourselves. Finesse -- honing practical mothering skills. Circle -- building significant relationships. Grandscape -- engaging with God and His unique purpose for our lives.

Through Momology, as we explore together, we’ll be guided by an all-knowing, all-powerful, always-present God. Our theme verse for the year is: Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. (Psalm 139:10) Anywhere we go, God sees, knows, and guides. So we can lead — and love — knowing God will get us through all the hard spots, all our decisions, all our roles, all our times we can’t hold open our eyelids and the times we’re bursting with joy. God’s hand guides us as we guide our children. As we study Momology together to become better moms making a better world.