February 2014

A MOMMY/wife Moment:

   

Happy Valentine's Day!

Since date nights with our hubbies when our kids are at the preschool stage seem hard to come by because of time or finances, here are a few ideas* you may want to try...all are $10 & under:

1. Is there a room or area of the house that needs a makeover? Let’s tackle it together! 
2. Find a coffee shop with live music. 
3. Plan a dream vacation; if it never happens it will at least be fun to plan. If the opportunity arises, a lot of the legwork will already be done!
4. Go to your local dollar store and find the best gift for each other for under $5. Then go for celebratory ice cream cone! 
5. Spend an evening making a “bucket lists” together.
6. Visit a Hallmark store and find the funniest or cheesiest cards you can; read them to each other.
7. Go for a country drive. Get yourself lost and then find your way home again.
8. List your spouse’s best qualities in alphabetic order. 
9. Husband plans a date; wife picks the theme.
10. Wife plans a date; husband picks the theme. 

*I didn't include outdoor ideas in the list because we have so much snow!!  Oh...but how about building a snowman together or going sledding together down that hill right by your house ;-)

Area 24F Updates:

As we are in the bottom half of the MOPS year, here are a couple things to keep in mind:

• Area 24 Mega Leadership Event: The Area 24 MVS team is the process of planning this year's spring Leadership Conference in New Jersey!  It will be held on Saturday, April 12th, 2014.  A fantastic opportunity to meet with fellow NJ MOPS leaders, the Mega Leadership Event is also where you will see details of the 2014-2015 MOPS theme.  We will share a light breakfast and lunch together, have videos to show you, and plenty of time to give and receive feedback from other leaders, like you.  Please stay tuned for an official invite with details of place & time...
• Preparing for 2014-2015: In speaking to both Vanessa (Red Bank) & Jamie (Englishtown) a couple weeks ago, I was reminded that now is a good time to start talking among your Leadership Team about next year.  See how the other ladies are doing with their current commitments; ask what their thoughts are on committing to another year of MOPS leadership; & finally, start praying for the Lord to prepare next year's Leadership Team, whether it is due to stay the same, or include some changes.  Be encouraged...MOPS is His thing...He has a plan in store for your group :-).
• FEEDBACK Request from YOU!!:  Does your MOPS group host a Couples' Game/Date Night or Moms & Pops Night, etc?  If so, please share (via the "COMMENT" window below) what you do and include one benefit you have seen because of this event.

MI (MOPS International) Updates:

• Church Impact Reports: Needing or wanting to update your charter church on how your MOPS group is doing?  Here is a form that you can download, fill-out, and share with your charter church's leadership and your Coach ~ www.MOPS.org/church-impact-report. 
• Easter Prep!: Looking for ideas to incorporate into your group meetings this year for Easter for either your moms or your MOPPETS program?  Visit the following: www.MOPS.org/bring-Easter-to-your-group.  It also includes a section for having a "tea & testimony."
• Leadership WEBINARS for you: New webinars have been scheduled to help give you the resources your need to keep doing MOPS well.  Check to see what planned event works for: http://www.mops.org/webtraining.

Prayer Requests:

• Mega Leadership Event 2014 for Area 24: As previously stated, we're in the the planning stages.  Please keep our Area 24 MVS team in NJ, MD, & DE as we arrange details for this event on two separate dates and locations.
• MOPS 2014-2015: It's never too early to start prayer-planning the upcoming year!  Leaving the details in His hands this early-on takes a lot of the stress off.