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.

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!