December 2013

A MOMMY Moment:
My mother-in-law cares for a 14 month-old little girl.  Because we are visiting my in-laws for the New Year holiday, I finally met the cute little toddler she's been telling me so much about. This morning's visit with little Reese reminded me, once again, why motherhood changes a woman's life, and why MOPS ministry is so important...

As Reese waddled through the house; met my sister-in-law's cat with squeals of delight; and carefully munched on small pieces of bread with puckered lips because she only has her front teeth to chew with, I was reminded that to this little person, everything is new and impressionable.  I thought of how overwheleming all of this newness was to me as a first-time mom, and realized how much more I am able to enjoy it all now...12 years into this incredible journey.

Because motherhood can encompass our hightest highs & lowest lows, we moms need support through the journey.  And so we have MOPS...and so we have each one of you, and others like you all over the world, who make MOPS possible in order to remind every mom that mothering matters and so does she. 

Thank you, ladies, for all you've done in 2013.  Thank you for answering the call and making a difference in the lives of individual women, families, and communities.  We will never know this side of heaven the extent of the impact God is using our willingness, commitment, and abilities for!

Area 24F Update:

Happy New Year!!

I am looking forward to speaking to each Coordinator in the next several weeks!  Please think about anything you'd like help with for your group, or any questions you have about MOPS International.  If you'd like, we can also set up information sessions or trainings with your Leadership Team via phone, web, or in-person.  And, as always, feel free to share your prayer requests with me or our other Area 24 leaders via Facebook (see below).

 

MI (MOPS International) Update:

MOMcon is…

A fun weekend just for you
A space to listen, learn and share
A call to be brave
A spiritual renewal
A practical investment
A life-changing opportunity to connect and grow

As a mom and leader you give.
Your love. Your time. Your self.
Come receive.
At MOMcon 2014
Woman. Mom. Leader.
You'll gain skills and confidence in each of your roles, strengthen your faith and renew your passion for outreach. Invest in yourself. MOMcon is a weekend you’ll never forget, and we’re saving you a seat.

REGISTRATION OPENS JANUARY 2!

Click here for info on speakers, etc: http://www.mops.org/momcon

Prayer Requests:
Instead of asking you to pray...
LORD... as 2013 comes to a close, I just want to thank you for each MOPS Leader that Area 24F represents.  Thank you for enabling each one to do what she does, even through the moments when she feels like she doesn't have enough.  What we do is only because of who You are and what Your heart is for moms, children, and families throughout the world.  What a privelege it is to serve through MOPS!  Thank you for the Staff at MI and all they do to serve us, and for the moms who come to MOPS from week to week to the 10 groups our 24F Community represents.  I am grateful for Your faithfulness, and look forward, with expectancy, to what 2014 will hold!

November 2013

A MOMMY Moment:
     The turning point in my motherhood journey came 9 1/2 years ago when my oldest child was 2 and my second was just a couple months-old. It had been a typical afternoon naptime at home, and I was tiptoeing through my family room with a Focus on the Family radio broadcast playing at a whisper in the background...
     That afternoon, Shirley Dobson and Gloria Gaither were interviewed as a follow-up to their 20 year-old interview about making memories with their children.  Now, almost a grandma, Shirley shared about a rough day she'd had as a mother of 2 preschoolers...  She had been feeling very frustrtaed with the details of her mommy-life, and was regretting having left a satisfying teaching career in order to become a stay-at-home mom.  At that thought, her mother-in-law called.  Shirley took the opportunity to unload her frustrations while the patient grandmother to her children listened.  When she was done speaking, the older Mrs. Dobson simply said, "Oh Shirley, these are the best days of your life!"  That statement flew through the airwaves and slapped me in the face.  I stopped what I was doing; looked at the radio with both a shocked & confused look; then thought, "What??  These are the best days of my life??" 
     By the grace of God my mind proceeded to fast forward life about 20 years.  I pictured my parents being much older and their physical ability not quite the same.  I pictured my children no longer with me almost every moment of every day like they were at that season of my life.  It was then that the truth broke through: "She's right!  These are the best days of my life!"  This became the beginning of a new perspective through which I began to view motherhood every day.  As a result, an attitude of gratitude began to permeate through both the smallest and the largetst deatils of my daily tasks.  I was now finally able to whole-heartedly own the joy the Lord intended for my journey!  I've never looked back <3

 

Area 24F Updates:

Happy belated Thanksgiving ladies :-)  Truly, I am so grateful for each one of you.  Your abilities and willingness to be used in the life of moms like you & me is a blessing to more people than you know...

•  Anna @ MOPS of Manahawkin: Despite meeting in a temporary location because their chartering church building was hit with a hurricane a couple months ago, the Leadership Team at Manahawkin is persevering through less space for MOPPETS, but still welcoming new moms to their group!  In the last year Anna & her MOPS Leadership Team have grown stronger together using some of the resources that MOPS International provides.  They have drawn on this strength to lead well together and resolve difficulties that comes up in their group.
• Brie @ MOPS of Princeton Alliance: PAC's MOPS group has added on several new moms this year and two new ladies that help Brie organize & host their MOPS meetings.  This is a huge praise report!  We're excited to see what God will do through you.
• Heather @ MOPS of Shore Fellowship: Check the Are 24 Facebook page for a fun & easy craft posted by Heather in October: decorating mugs with Sharpie markers.  My daughter & I tried these out this month with a couple of her friends.  We all loved our new mugs!  (check below for our FB page link...)
• Robin @ MOPS of Mount Holly: A new group to our Area 24F Community, WELCOME Robin!!  Please be sure to add your Leadership Team members to the email sign-up above.
• Please update us on YOUR MOPS group.  Type your update in the comments window at the bottom of this blog post.

Way to go, ladies!!

MI (MOPS International) Updates:

• MOMcon: Now YOU can also attend MOMcon 2013!  We have made on-demand viewing of General Session #1 (including Sherry Surrat & Elisa Morgan) available thru December 31st via webinar.  Here's the link: http://www.mops.org/webtraining.  Take a peek at what MOMcon is like and begin planning & saving for an amazing weekend of encouragement, training, and connecting with yours & other leaders in 2014 in Louisville, Kentucky.    invaluable.  Start planning now for next year's MOMcon: October 2-4, 2014 in Louisville, Kentucky.
• "Continued Conversations": No matter what leadership position you fulfill in your MOPS group, MOPS International has resources available to help.  Click on this link: http://www.mops.org/continued-conversations, then choose the position you'd like to hear tips & ideas about.  Each conversation is visible through Adobe Connect and lasts between 30 -45 minutes.  Go grab  cup of coffee & relax in front of your computer :-) 
• IDEAS, IDEAS, IDEAS!!: Need ideas for Christmas, crafts, fund-raising, etc??  Check out the Idea Center for Leaders on the MOPS website: http://www.mops.org/ideas/#recent.

Prayer Requests:

• Christmas Season ~ The busiest time of the year!!  Please pray for peace & focus on the Reason for Season (Jesus) as we all balance MOPS ministry with plans & preparations for making this Christmas a special time to cherish with our family and friends.  Let's be listening for His leading in where & how to simplify.

October 2013

A MOMMY Moment:
I was in-transit to MOMcon, waiting for my connecting flight to Kansas City at Charlotte Airport...

As I am used to making a bathroom stop before leaving for a trip ;-), I decided to maintain my routine even though I was on my own and without my kids on this trip.  I immediately took notice of the mom with three kids that was standing outside the first stall giving instructions to the small feet on the other side of the door.  All the while, she kept one hand on the baby stroller with her sleeping newborn inside.  By the time I walked into the stall next to hers, I heard her conversation, and tone, change:

MOM: “I need to see both of your feet.  I only see one...where are you?  I need to see both of your feet.  Ok, I see them.  Hold the stroller...”

BOY: “I can see you pooping, mom!” he said with his little sister tapping her sneakers next to his.

MOM: “Ok. Thank you.”

That woman was in & out of that stall before me!  I was once again reminded that for the next couple days I was on my own because I am called to MOPS ministry.  Why is that?  Because one day I, too, was a mom with two little ones and a baby... We do our best to meet the basic needs of going to the bathroom, or taking a shower, yet, are issued a wonderful grace that allows us to at the same time be forever mindful of each pair of feet that we’ve been entrusted with.  What an honor...

Area 24F Updates:

I am sorry for the delay in posting October's updates due to preparing for, and attending, MOMcon...

• Brie @ MOPS of Princeton Alliance: WELCOME Brie!!  Brie is the new Coordinator at MOPS of PAC.  She is currently in the process of forming a new Leadership Team.
• Anna @ MOPS of Manahawkin: Anna is excited to report that despite their new temporary meeting place due to a tornado in August, their group is growing!  She and her Leadership Team are actively working to iron out the occasional wrinkle in order to best serve their moms, old & new.
• Vanessa @ MOPS of First Presbyterian @ Redbank: These ladies are super-excited about what the Lord is doing in their group...This September & October has seen about 65 moms in consistent attendance, and 50 children altogether!!  They had 4 MOPPETS classes and are planning to add 2 more.  Vanessa credits the continued growth of their already large group to committed prayer from the entire Leadership Team this summer. 
• Tiffany @ MOPS of First A/G: Tiffany is excited about their MOPS year and the new theme!  They have consistently seen about 2 new moms at each mom's meeting since September.  They just had a Mom's Night Out at a coffeeshop this week, where she was expecting 5 moms (including one new mom) to attend.  Also, Tiffany is willing to share (via email or in-person) with your MOPS group her personal experience in making all of her own homemade detergents (laundry, dishes, and all-purpose, too).  If you are interested, please send her an email: tomsriverMOPS@yahoo.com.
• Please update us on YOUR MOPS group.  Type your update in the comments window at the bottom of this blog post.

Way to go, ladies!!

MI (MOPS International) Updates:

• MOMcon: Well...I just returned from my very first MOPS Convention as both a MOPS mom & MVS...it was AMAZING!  Not only were the speakers on-target and encouraging, but the workshops were excellent, the Marketplace (vendors) full of great products, and the chance to connect with other MOPS Leaders & Staff was invaluable.  Start planning now for next year's MOMcon: October 2-4, 2014 in Louisville, Kentucky.
• 2013-2014 Registration ~ October 31st is the registration deadline for MOPS International.  Please do no forget to register your moms.  Not only is it very important to keeping track of how many women benefit from MOPS for the sake of our donors, but every registered mom automatically receives a host of resources in print & online for motherhood, marriage, and life.  These tools are valuable and a fantastic source of encouragement!
• Area 24F Facebook page ~ if you or any member of your Leadeship has not joined yet, please invite them to do so!  This page is a great tool for sharing & receiving information and ideas.

Prayer Requests:

• Dominique @ Lincroft MOPS ~ Dominique and her family will be moving in the next few weeks to a town that will better enable her to do MOPS ministry, among other things as well.  Please pray for an uneventful closing, packing & unpacking, move, patience for herself & her family, and for a smooth transition into their new location.
• MOPS of Manahawkin ~ Please pray that repairs on their chartering ministry's building will be complete, soon, and that they will be able to return to their usual MOPS meeting place right after.
• More MOPPETS workers ~ the age-old MOPS issue...more help for our kids!  While seeing God's faithfulness in their current provisions, several groups have expressed a need for more workers. (Don't forget to use the letter on this Blog from June to help encourage women in your churches to give of their time & love :-))

September 2013

A MOMMY Moment:
A friend-to-friend text chat...
Nydia: Gotta call you still...
Nancy: K. In all ur spare time.  Maybe after your bubble bath and before your mani & pedi.
Nydia: Crying... Those look NO where on the horizon for this mom - lol!!!  I know you  know that ;-)
Nancy: It's ok.  Your nails may look like garbage but you are inwardly one of the loveliest friends I have!
Nydia: You're a treasure to me!!! <3
Nancy:  Actually, I can't see your nails.  Maybe they are miraculously lovely, too!  I was looking at mine!  Pretty scary!!
Nydia:  Wow, you really can see mine!  Except for I did finally file that triangular one yesterday...
Nancy:  Darn.  You can add that to your newsletter.  The rewards of being a mom FAR surpass having nice nails.  I finally took the 3 month-old smudge of polish left on my toes this morning...


Area 24F Updates:
It's Back-to-MOPS time!!  Most of you have already had your first meeting of the school year, and a couple have posted updates on our Area 24's Facebook page:

• Heather @ MOPS of Shore Fellowship: "We had our first meeting of the year today & had 36 moms & 43 kids!! (Our "norm" is 15-25... we were expecting 25-30 moms today). We had to pull out extra chairs & a few of the older moms helped the MOPPETS... definitely more than we were expecting but its a good thing! Every mom got a welcome gift bag with a "Mom's survival kit" in it (a cute little thing we found on Pinterest), a newsletter, & some information cards. The steering team had framed pictures of a giant mess in their house & shared that as they introduced themselves. It really broke the ice & we had a lot of laughs. A lot of new moms came out, & many were very excited to be a part of MOPS. It's gonna be a good year!!!!"
• Dominique @ MOPS of Lincroft: "We had our first meeting yesterday. 14 moms and 20 children! Any ideas to get more volunteers for watching the kids? I thought it would be easier. I don't want to have to turn away moms if we can't get teachers and helpers."
• Please update us on YOUR 1st MOPS meeting of 2013-2014!  Add it to the comments window at the bottom of this blog post.

***Community Leadership Training (CLT) ~ I am planning to host a webroom training on Saturday, September 28th at 2 - 3:30 pm.  We will be viewing the short videos MI put together this past spring with Lysa TerKeurst: "How to Tell Your Story", Shauna Niequist: "Being Authentic in Your Story", and Robert Gelinas: "Your Story Matters" in order to help and equip MOPS Leaders with this year's theme: "A Beautiful Mess".  These videos are fantastic, informative, and very motivating for all of us as we kick-off a new year of reaching moms in our communities!  I will email Coordinators exact information when I confirm these plans. 

MI (MOPS International) Updates:

• MOPS Concert of Prayer ~ YOU ARE INVITED to join in a Concert of Prayer for MOPS. Leaders, Volunteer Staff, Board, Friends of MOPS and all Staff will be joining together for 21 Days of concerted prayer for MOPS moms, leaders and churches. Will you join us? We start on September 5th at 12:00 Mountain with a special webinar with Sherry Surratt, MOPS President and CEO. Then every Thursday in September we'll share encouragement, scripture studies and prayer prompts as we all pray together. Will you commit to praying with us?  Find info on the webinar here: www.mops.org/concert-of-prayer.
• MOMcon is NEXT MONTH: October 17-19, 2013...and it's not too late to register!  Our special guests include: Lysa TerKeurst, Beth Moore, Ken Davis, and more!  This is another opportunity to receive training and encouragement for MOPS ministry & life.  See the box on the left for the link to register.  IMPORTANT: all New Groups at New Churches started between January 1, 2013 and August 31, 2013 will receive on FREE registration to MOMcon 2013.  If you fall into this category, let me know!!
• NEW titles for MVS (MOPS Volunteer Staff) ~ If you scroll down to the "Coach Corner" of this blog, you'll find that I am now your Ministry Coach!  Along with a fabulous new website, great new renewal packages, etc, MI has made changes to the titles your MVS hold.  Our responsibilities have not changed, but MI felt the changes better describe our relationships to you.  FYI - Christy Molnar, formerly our Community Developer, is now our Community Coach.

Prayer Requests:
I'm pretty sure each of us MOPS Leaders can think of one mom we've met, if not ourselves, that motivates us to do what we do through MOPS.  For me, that woman is Geri... Geri was a MOPS-hopper: every Tuesday she visited a different group in our area.  At that time in her life, she and her family did not attend church regularly, and God used the weekly meetings to feed her hungry heart.  Let's pray that this next month would bring another "Geri" to our Area 24F groups.  Keep us posted, & encouraged, via the comment box below.  Thank you!!

August 2013

A MOMMY Moment:
    Be strong and courageous for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.  That's what I began to teach my now 9 year-old son, Lucas, when he was just 3 years-old.  I saw that sometimes his little heart would seem fearful...so, I was set to be proactive about the young man I saw him growing up to become.  Well, it wasn't until just a few short weeks ago that I began to see the reaping process of these years of reminding him of Joshua 1:9.
     I won't go into all the details, but let's just say that because he began to hit a baseball without a tee at 3 year-old, and because he had an early love for baseball, we let him play both spring ball and summer travel once he got to Little League. This was his 3rd year...  Lucas has always done fantastic in the spring, but would crumble in the face of greater competition in the summer.  Every summer my mommy heart threatened to crumble along with his.  He decided he wanted to continue, regardless, because he loves the sport and enjoys the time with his friends.  Well, going into this 3rd summer season, we were presented with some challenges that my husband & I would not have chosen, but decided to use them to challenge our son and trust the Lord for the result.  
     Wouldn't you know it...after teaching him a lesson of being grateful on the field for the God-given ability to accomplish every detail (catch, throw, hit, etc.), Joshua 1:9 began to reap its reward!  Lucas began to play to his potential, scoring the most RBI's in the playoff season as his team went on to win the Championship!!  Two days after the big game & the trophy, he decided to let go of something that had signified security since infancy.  Instead, Lucas accepted a new challenge: to learn to ask Jesus for strength to help him trust HIM with his fear.  
    This summer, the Lord used my son to teach me a clearer child-like picture of what it means to be strong and courageous.  It's changing my perspective by remembering and honoring the Lord in everything, and letting go of what's comfortable to trust in the God I cannot see, to give me the strength to do all things.  It's moments like this that confirm that, truly, He is my Isaiah 40:11 God <3


Area 24F Updates:
Happy almost end-of-summer!  I hope you've all had a summer full of great memories to cherish from fun family activities, yet also sprinkled with blissful moments of rest...
A few things to keep you posted about:

• Our new BLOG!  If you're getting this email, you're up on the news of this blog for our Area 24F MOPS Leaders.  This is where you can find updates from MI, updates from other groups in our Community, and tips & ideas to help each other do MOPS from month to month.  Please sign-up your Leadership Team members, or email them this link, so that everyone can draw from these benefits and we can all stay connected.
• Last-minute BEACH PLAYDATE ~ My kids & I are hitting the beach this Thursday morning (August 15th) and we'd like to invite you for some pre-MOPS fellowship with other local MOPS Leaders! If you're able, text or email me for the time & location.
• Community Leadership Training (CLT) ~ I have planned to host a CLT for our Area 24F on Saturday, September 27th.  Please stay tuned for updates and more information...

MI (MOPS International) Updates:

• A NEW MOPS website!  It has been a busy summer at MI!  We are going into the 2013-2014 year of MOPS with a dramatically new website and a new weekly email format for moms & leaders.  I'm excited!  True, there are still bumps to get through and wrinkles to iron out, but all in all MI has done an excellent job bringing the MOPS website up to date with blogs, recipes, downloads, forums, and more, in order to help meet the needs of today's mom.  If you have questions about navigating through the site, please feel free to contact me, or post your thought/question on our Area 24 Leaders' FB page.  A different MOPS Leader in our Area may have already found the answer to your question!
• MOMcon is just 2 months away: October 19-20, 2013. Our special guests include: Lysa TerKeurst, Beth Moore, Ken Davis, and more!  This is another opportunity to receive training and encouragement for MOPS ministry & life.  See the box on the left for the link to register.  IMPORTANT: all New Groups at New Churches started between January 1, 2013 and August 31, 2013 will receive on FREE registration to MOMcon 2013.  If you fall into this category and can go, let me know!!
• Sponsor an International MOPS Group ~ Just a couple months ago we received news of the 1st MOPS group started in Africa!!  No matter what country a mom is from, it's amazing to see that the issues of motherhood transcend national and international boundaries.  Though MOPS offers free memberships to international groups, very often the needs of these moms include simple necessities that we might take for granted.  If your group is interested in "adopting" an international group to help MOPS Leaders meet tangible needs, please contact me and I will direct you to the appropriate person to walk you through.  This is a fantastic opportunity to reinvest the benefits that you've received as a MOPS mom :-).

Prayer Requests:
As each of your Leadership Teams gets ready to start another MOPS year, please remember to pray for the other groups in Area 24F.  Pray for each Leader as she works to seek "the one" mom who needs Christ and the support of other moms, and for more churches to open their doors to a MOPS group in order to broaden their reach to more moms and families.  Thank you!!

June 2013

A MOMMY Moment:
You will appreciate this moment: mom needs to use the bathroom but one is steamy and taken by a child in the shower, and one is taken by two little ones in the bath.  Mom chooses the less steamy one and closes the curtain on the short people for privacy.  Mom attempts to do business while two giggling munchkins take turns opening the curtain and shreiking in laughter at mom on the toilet.  Mom finishes (as quickly as possible!!) and opens the curtain to reveal two smiling urchins who chime together in unison, "WE LOVE YOU MOM!"...I love being a mom...I'm so blessed :-) ~ Nancy H.


Area 24F Update:
Now that most of you have wrapped-up or are wrapping-up your MOPS year, I want to take a moment to wish you a wonderful summer season with your families!  Also, as we all look to planning for the fall, I want to WELCOME the new Coordinators to our Area 24F team:

• Vanessa @ MOPS of Tower Hill, Redbank
• Jamie @ MOPS of Crossroads A/G, Englishtown
• Naomi @ MOPS of GraceWay Bible Church, Trenton
• Tiffany & Kallie @ MOPS of First A/G, Toms River

And from our new group...

• Dominique @ MOPS of Lincroft Bible Church, Lincroft

I look forward to watching the Lord use you & to serving moms in your area with each of you!


MI (MOPS International) Updates:

• It's RENEWAL time!  If you haven't done so already, it's time to renew your charters.  You'll find that until this is done, you will be unable to make any changes to your group's Dashboard.  Renewing early gives you the opportunity to get a summertime jump start on previewing the fantastic new package MI has put together for your ministry needs, as well as our theme book: The Artist's Daughter.  Also, every leader your group registers counts as an entry into MI's drawing for four fun prizes, and every group with (5) or more registered leaders will be automatically entered into an exclusive drawing for a MOPS library of books valued at $250!  You can renew online at www.mops.org, or by phone at the number listed in the MI contact box below.  Save $40 0n group renewals through June 30th.  
• MOMcon will be here before you know it...Our special guests' list includes: Lysa TerKeurst, Beth Moore, Ken Davis, and more!  See the box on the left for the link to register.  IMPORTANT: all New Groups at New Churches started between January 1, 2013 and August 31, 2013 will receive on FREE registration to MOMcon 2013.  If you fall into this category and want to go, let me know!!

Prayer Request:
Your Area 24 MVS (MOPS Volunteer Staff) will have our Leadership Retreat on June 21 & 22.  Please keep us in prayer as we learn together, share with and encourage one another in order to serve our Area MOPS moms & leaders well.  Prayer for our husbands or family members who will be holding down the forts, and for young "soldiers" who will be with them is also much appreciated ;-).  Thank you!