Christmas Eve Traditions

It seems every family has a different tradition for what they do on Christmas Eve.
My husband and I both grew up doing very similar things on Christmas Eve...spending it with Grandparents.
Since we live nowhere near our parents we decided to start our own traditions:
We bake cookies for Santa.
Go to Christmas Eve service at church.
Let the kids open one present, which is always new jammies.
And read the following...so they understand that Christmas is about a very special baby!

Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Merry Christmas my friends! May God's love shine on you brightly!
Michelle

A New MOPPET!

Tyler Matthew Evans is here!!
Born today at 12:47pm
6lb 5oz, 18 1/2 in long.

Matt and Natalie are the proud parents.
Tyler has 2 big sisters Makenzie and Rylie.

Congratulations!

Christmas Opportunities at First Baptist

I know that many of you are making plans to attend "Only Love" at FBCS this weekend but there are two other Christmas events coming up that you will want to check out.

Wednesday, December 16th:
The Preschool and Gradeschool Choirs of FBCS will present their annual Christmas program at
6:30PM in the Worship Center. This is such a cute program and several of our MOPS moms work hard with these choirs during the year. I promise, you will love it!

Friday, December 24th:
FBCS will have Christmas Eve Candlelight Services at 5:00PM, 7:00PM, and 9:00PM. Each of
these services are identical. They last approximately one hour and include music, prayer and a short message. This is a great opportunity for families. Please note that these services are generally very crowded, so arrive early to get seats! Childcare is NOT provided during these services.

Hope all of your Christmas preparations are going well!

Love,
Jerri Lyn

A Recipe from Mrs. Evelyn- HOBO STEW!

Are you expecting a crowd any time during the Christmas season? Well, I want to share a good recipe that you will enjoy, is easy and fast and will please a BIG BUNCH of people. Mrs. Evelyn, our MOPS mentor shared this with us last year. Mrs. Evelyn is a super person and I got to know her a little better during last month's MOPS FEAST. I was amazed at the amount of mission work that she does and the number of lives she has touched must number the thousands. She is a true gift to our MOPS program. I hope you enjoy this.

HOBO STEW

6lbs. ground round or sirloin
1 lg. onion, chopped
2lb. bag frozen vegetables
10 potatoes, chopped
2 heads cabbage, chopped
1 cup chopped peppers
4 cans tomatoes
2 tbl.spoons soy sauce
salt, pepper, and garlic to taste

In a large pot, brown meat, add onions and peppers and cook until softened. Add remaining ingredients and cook over medium to low heat stirring frequently. Add water as needed.

Serves 30 people. (Told you it was BIG!)

Why I Still Love Charlie Brown

I was very bummed out this morning. I had to miss the MOPS annual Christmas Brunch and was not happy about it. My two-year old had a very important appointment and even though I was where I needed to be, my thoughts were with all of you.
Unfortunately, the misery did not stop there. I forgot my umbrella and it rained. I had no checks left in my checkbook when I got to Publix. My two-year old would not nap. I could go on.....
FINALLY at 8:00pm, I sat down to watch what was bumped from the viewing schedule last Tuesday night. Yes, I LOVE Charlie Brown and it was worth the wait. I have always loved this 30 minute show that is older than me. Do you know why? Because it boldly states the gospel of Luke in the show. It states it without apology. It ignores political correctness. It just says it all.
Can you imagine that show being produced for the first time in 2009? Sadly, it would not make the network lineup. The fact that it is still shown on one of the "big three" networks gives me a glimmer of hope.
Yes, I missed all of you today. I do hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. And I want to thank the wonderful soul who put the video of "Santa Baby" on facebook. That made my day!

Annual Christmas Brunch

All I want for Christmas is...
to laugh until I pee myself at the MOPS Christmas Brunch!

You SOOO don't want to miss this one...the most fun meeting of the year!
Don't forget to bring your white elephant gift. It doesn't need to be new, by all means...regift something you don't use, but no gag gifts please.
If you prefer to shop, it's a $5 max.

Can't wait to see all of you, after all...It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Can I Ask You A Question?

This morning I spoke with Sharon Scruggs. She was very gracious and answered my usual 10 questions and for that I am very thankful! Sharon is so very sweet and is part of the "muscle" that is the MOPS Hospitality Team. I can speak from experience about how hard this team works in preparing for our meetings and this year the work is DOUBLED. Sharon is always there and ready to help and with a smile on her face. Here is what she told me:

Your favorite color? Blue!

Easiest meal to put on the table in a hurry? Tacos

Your secret ambition as a child? Newscaster

Your hardest adjustment as a mom? Functioning on little sleep!

Pet Peeve? Whining

Quality you are most known for? Dependability

Your greatest extravagance? Chocolate

TV show you have to watch? No time for TV because I am on the internet!

Night or morning person? Morning

Tell a favorite MOPS memory. Watching Melissa Lumm stuffing her mouth with M&M's during the eating contest during the Christmas Brunch last year!

Black Friday-Cyber Monday

Ok. I know that you are still preparing for Thanksgiving on Thursday but have you thought about the day after? Some of us love this phenomonenal day created by retailers known a "Black Friday." Some of us loathe it. I am a little indifferent. If I really find a good deal and I happen to be in a store......
Still, if you MUST participate in the chaos there are ways to prepare yourself. Did you know that you can visit sites such as tgiblackfriday.com to help plan your shopping attack? This site will let you look at the PDF of sales flyers for major stores for Black Friday. This is helpful because you do not have to waste that precious Thanksgiving Day family time looking through sales ads. The site is up and running now. Also available now is Amazon's Deal of the Day at www.savingsmania.com. This is worth checking out if you chose to get a jump on shopping and do not want to fight the crowds. The Deal of the Day can feature any item you would normally purchase from Amazon such as books, music, DVDs, etc.
Another option if shopping is out of the question is Cyber Monday. This is the day that sees the most shopping traffic online. CyberMonday.com lists participating stores and directions. Many of these deals involve rebates so take this into consideration.
Good luck with your shopping ladies! Watch out for others and stay safe......as you know, this is not the reason for the season. Keep it in perspective.....our little ones will pick up on our stress and are satisfied with much less under that Christmas tree than we think they are!

Home-Ec 101

I am making a plug for a great blog I discovered over the past year. This blog is written and maintained by Heather Solos of Charleston, SC. Heather is a trained chef who left the restuarant world behind several years ago to become a stay-at-home mom to two boys.
I discovered this blog when I googled "homekeeping." I was looking for an answer about cleaning a type of fabric that got stained by my sewing machine. Yes, I can sew (basic stuff) and yes, the advice worked. I also liked Heather's writing style so I bookmarked the site and kept returning!
One interesting thing about the blog is Heather's section on Holiday planning and her step-by-step recipes which have pictures. During November she has featured a Thanksgiving Countdown
which has suggested schedules for cleaning and cooking. In her cooking section she does a great Thanksgiving meal that is easy to follow. Heather's blog is actually entitiled, "Home-Ec 101-What you Wish your Mama Taught You. Many of us may have had little home ec classes in school or may have never been taught how to cook things like turkeys or homemade mashed potatoes. If you did learn these things at home, Heather has other stuff that may appeal to you. She has five main topic posts which are labeled: "Cook It" , "Clean It", "Fix It", "Wash It", and "Read It." She also prints a weekly menu idea guide. The address is home-ec101.com. Check it out!!!

Turbo Blogging and Thanksgiving

Turbo blogging is what happens when you are a blog contributor and you fail to blog for awhile! I have had a nice little pile of written stuff but have just failed to post it. I hope you all will forgive me.
Can it possibly be Thanksgiving Week? Has it snuck up on you, too? I am so excited that we are entering the Christmas season but I sometimes feel that Thanksgiving gets less attention than it should. I want to wish each and every one of you a wonderful Thanksgiving. I hope that you all get to spend time with your families and don't have to spend every spare minute cooking or driving. Those two things can "eat" into this fast week.
I do want to list a few things I am thankful for. Bear with me.....when you contribute to the blog you get this opportunity!

1. I am thankful for Jesus. He loves me with all of my flaws and forgives me.
2. I am thankful for my family, my country, my church and all that God has blessed me with.
3. I am thankful for MOPS which has helped keep me sane for the past two years. I am thankful that Ann Simmons answered God's call to start our Simpsonville group. I am thankful that Michelle is continuing what Ann started and that she is understanding. I am thankful for all of the Steering Committee and all that they do to help keep everything on track twice a month. I am thankful for all of the great friends I keep continuing to make by being a part of this group. You all make me a better mom and your support is priceless. I love you all!
4. I am thankful for all of the shortcuts I will use later this week: pre-chopped onions, whipped cream, Peppridge Farm stuffing and my microwave.......yes I will be cooking this year!!!!

Love in Christ,
Jerri Lyn

**PRAYER REQUESTS**

Ladies,
Please lift the following up in prayer:
From Ann Simmons regarding her new niece:
I'm writing to ask that you all add Sydney to your prayers. Last night they decided to transfer her to another hospital and put her in the NICU. I believe what she has experienced is a collapsed lung. It seemed to develop over the day yesterday because there was no evidence of it in the x-rays the took ... Read Moreyesterday morning. She was born at 36 almost 37 weeks and her lungs were clearly not finished developing. They are giving her the meds to help with the lung development and now healing. Also, last night they heard a heart murmur. The doctor isn't as concerned about that, but they will be doing an echo cardiogram this morning to make sure. SO, Ed (Dad) is with her at Community North. Teresa (Mom) is at Community South in Indianapolis. They are hoping that Teresa will be released this morning so she can be with Ed and Sydney today. Also as another prayer point in this, I'm fairly certain that Teresa is not a Christian. My brother is but has definitely fallen away over the years. Please pray not only for Sydney, but for Ed and Teresa to see God's hand in this in a real, tangible way and through that come to KNOW Him!
From Kelly Costello regarding her sister:
Kelly's sister, Libby, found out earlier this week that she has a brain tumor. She is having surgery on Monday to remove as much of the tumor as possible. She will also be having chemo and radiation soon. Even with these treatments, Libby has been given a window of 2 years to live. Kelly will be ... Read Moretraveling this weekend to be with her family in N.C. Please pray for Kelly's safe travel, comfort and strength for her and her family, skill and wisdom for Libby's physician and that he is able to remove as much of the tumor as possible, and peace, comfort, and strength for Libby.
And for our Creative Activities leader, Kristen Garrett who is in surgery as we speak. Pray for successful surgery and an easy recovery.
Thanks prayer warriors!

Moms Feast!

Thanksgiving is fast approaching and what better way for us to celbrate than to get together to EAT?

No cooking, no children, no husbands- just great friends and great food. We will be going out for our Mom's Feast on Tuesday, November 17th at 6:30 at Mimi's Cafe (on Woodruff).

I must have a headcount by this Friday, Nov. 13th, so please RSVP if you are joining us.

This is a Dutch treat event.

I can't wait to see you there!!!

Brandy

Another New MOPPET!!

Our MOPS family has a new baby!

Levi Brian Owens

8 lb. 0 oz.

21 inches

Born Friday November 6th @ 4:33 pm

Levi has an infection and is in the NICU...please lift him up in prayer.

Brian and Sheri Owens are the proud parents!

And Gideon, Titus and Lydia are new big brothers/sister!

Congratulations!!

Beading Instructions

Hey All,

I am so glad that so many ladies enjoyed the Beaded Serving Spoon craft this month. Here is some of the details on the materials incase you want to try it at home & start beading anything that stands still!

First off the spoons came from Wal-Mart. They are $1.50 each. They also have matching serving forks & serving slotted spoons at the same cost.

On the serving untensils you should use 20 gauge beading wire. For the beaded glasses you need to use alittle smaller of a wire which is more like a 26 gauge.
The wires come in all different colors & I am attaching 2 great links which show the serving spoons using red wire for Christmas, and the red gobblet using gold wire. They are great examples.

The wire for these specific spoons is 44 in. long. You might need to cut it at the end if it is too long. You need about 2 inches at the finishing end for the final spiral.
The beads I used were 6mm faceted plastic beads (which were the larger beads - in red and clear) You can get a pack of 850 beads for $2.99 at Michaels.
The smaller beads (seed beads) are 6/0 glass seed beads (the small beads - in red & clear) You can get a 3 oz pack for $2.99 at Michaels.
For one spoon we used about 30 large beads (red & clear combined) & about 70 small beads (again combined)
The packages from Michaels will make many spoons (About 50) so you can make all sorts of stuff w/little investment.

While beading, I was asked if we could bead on the backs of the spoons too. I thought I'd let you all know that I tried this. For these particular spoons this would not work out that well. It is very difficult to keep the wire tight & wrap the beads around the edges. I personally did not think it looked as nice as the other. If you decide to try this, you need to add about 5 inches to the wire, & of course double your bead amount. It would be more suitable if you had actual rounded handles on the serving spoons.

As a side note, I thought I'd let you all know that while I was looking for utensils to bead, I came across a great set of wooden salad servers for 3.15 at Target. They would make a lovely beaded gift. I can envision using turquoise w/the wooden utensils. I think it would be great. Of course we were under a tighter budget, so we couldn't afford that, but maybe one of you all would venture into this idea.

Also remember that any beaded utensil or glass needs to be hand washed. The dishwasher would be too hard on the wire.

Check out these sites & happy beading!
See you all next time, Kristen

http://www.artbeads.com/christmas-serving-utensils-decor.html?cmp=postech&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=postech


http://www.artbeads.com/wire-wrapped-wine-glass-christmas-idea.html?cmp=postech&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=postech

New MOPPET!

Our MOPS family has a new baby!

Sterling Maxwell Krulic ~ "Max"
7 lb. 8 oz.
21 inches

Born Thursday October 29th @ 9:15 am

Bryce and Brooke Krulic are the proud parents!
Samantha is now a BIG sister!

Congratulations!!

Meeting Reminders for October 27th

Ladies!
I'm looking forward to a great meeting tomorrow! I just wanted to remind everyone that we will be doing a craft. Please bring needle-nosed pliers if you have them!
Also bring in your items for our Operation Christmas Child box collection. We will collect items tomorrow (and at the November meeting at the latest) so the MOPPETS can fill the boxes at the November meeting.
So get some sleep and get ready for some great food, crafting and conversation.....see you tomorrow!!!

Pumpkin Seed Fun

Okay, I'll admit it. I love Fall and all of its' trappings and this year is no different. I love the crisp air, the colors of the leaves and that indescribable "football feeling." I even enjoy pulling out sweaters to wear following the first cold mornings that seem to arrive in the South later and later every year. I hit all of the orchards: Stewart's, Nivens and Sky Top!
But one of my favorite things about Fall are PUMPKINS!!!! There is nothing like a good pumpkin. The shape. The vibrant color. Say the word "pumpkin" several times and see if you can resist smiling! And the sight of a jack-o-lanterns on porches in neighborhoods is a treat.
Another great treat comes from pumkins-the Pumpkin Seeds! The seeds are the true treasure of the pumpkin and are loaded with protein and fiber. They are so good and roasting them is a great activity to do with your kids. The following recipes are from allrecipes.com. They have several variations listed and I have found this recipe to be a good one.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
*Most recipes for pumpkin seeds work best if you use 1-2 cups of seeds and use them immediately after taking out of the pumpkin.

1. Remove seeds from pumpkin. Rinse under cold water. Pick out pulp and stings before seeds dry.
2. Spray baking sheet with non-stick spray. Arrange seeds on sheet in one layer.
3. Sprinkle with salt. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 275-300 degrees. Turn seeds once during cooking time.

Spicy Pumpkin Seeds
This is a great variation to try. Follow the same steps as above just change the cooking time to one hour and mix the seeds with the following:
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tblsp. melted margarine or butter
1/8 tsp. garlic salt
2 tsps. Worcestershire sauce

Enjoy!

Catching Up and Can I Ask You A Question?

Hi Ladies!
I am back after an illness-induced absence and have some catching up to do! There are some really SCARY GERMS out there.......have you been fighting them off, too? Well, good luck with the battle.
Don't forget our upcoming MOPS Spooktacular Halloween Party! It is coming up this Friday, Oct.23rd from 9:15-11:15 and promises to be a great time for you and your Moppets. See you there!
I spoke with Eileen Leine this morning and asked her some questions. Eileen has been a member of MOPS since our first year. She is working as a Discussion Group Leader this year and is a super person! Here are her responses:

Your favorite color? purple!

Easiest meal to put on the table in a hurry? Chicken nuggets and mac-n-cheese....the all-time kid favorite!

Your ambition as a child? to be a lawyer.

Your hardest adjustment as a mom? It is harder than I thought! The baby stage was easy and then it got harder!

Pet Peeve? When my house is dirty.....it drives me crazy!!

Quality you are known for? being thoughtful.

Your greatest extravagance? going out to eat! I love it!

TV show you have to watch? House Hunters.

Night or morning person? Morning, but not before 7:00!

Tell of a MOPS memory. I remember my first meeting and how warm and friendly everyone was, especially Michelle Jensen and Ann Simmons. I felt so welcomed. I have never forgotten that!

Have a great Monday, ladies! Stay well!!!

Teachable Moments

Parenting is such a difficult job!
Every day we are presented with "teachable moments" to share with our kids.
Today, a whopper presented itself.
A 6 year old boy, and his brothers, presented a story of getting in a weather balloon and being carried away.
What likely happened...
the boys were playing with the weather balloon, accidentally loosened it...then the fun began.
The 6 year old, terrified of the trouble he was going to be in, ran and hid. The older brothers tell the story of him getting in the balloon.
It is possible that the brothers saw him get into the balloon, but not out before it floated away.
But what the 6 year old did, hiding, there is your teachable moment.

I called all of my kids downstairs, even the 3 year old. Showed them the news, explained the story and then asked, "is that what you would do? Is that what you should do?"
I explained to the kids that telling lies ALWAYS causes more trouble! And, hiding can cause big problems. I told them how the police were there and how the boy was going to be in BIG trouble because he hid, instead of just telling dad what happened.

Little opportunities present themselves everyday. Find them and don't waste them...it can really help make parenting a little less difficult when the kids are faced with difficult choices!

How big is YOUR God?

“My God is so BIG!!! So strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do!” That song is stuck in my head after singing it with a bunch of 3 year olds tonight. It seems that recently a LOT of my conversations with friends have come around to that conclusion! Over and over I've heard their stories, and have stories of my own, that confirm how compassionate, how caring, how great, and just plain BIG our God is! You would think that after walking with God for a certain amout of time, or through a particularly difficult time, trusting Him would have become second nature – He is so predictably faithful! And yet every story blows me away yet again! Instead, faith seems to be a never-ending learning process, kinda like patience. We think we have it mastered, and realize the only thing we have down pat are the words to make it SOUND like we're trusting. My mouth can say a lot of words that my heart hopes in, but just doesn't or can't quite believe. Praise God for His patience with me! I hope and pray, with fear and trembling in my voice as I do, that God continues to stretch my faith until it really is FIRST nature to trust, rest, believe.

All that to say - we have met and exceeded our goal of $350 for Operation Christmas Child - enough to send all 50 boxes! I love God's accounting! As of Tuesday, we had an excess of $5. Yes, $5. Not a deficit, and not a huge excess, but just enough. I love it! So thank you to those of you who allowed God to use you to answer prayers, and all praise to God for proving, once again, how BIG He is!

Christmas??

Brian mentioned yesterday that we have but 11 shopping weeks until Christmas. That means that our annual Christmas Brunch is only 8 weeks away!
Many of you know that it is tradition to have music at this meeting. This year will be no different. So, I need your input! Think of your 2 or 3 all-time favorite Christmas songs. Put your requests in the comment section of this blog, on the FB MOPS page or email them to me. The songs that are most requested will be in the program!
So get requesting!
Michelle
Oh, and a side note...
I traditionally pick the singers based on who I know will sing...but PLEASE, if you would like to join the "MOPS Ensemble" let me know!

Operation Christmas Child - A Service Project

It has been said that the greatest hindrance to accepting the Gospel may be the idea of accepting a gift that we can never repay. I thought about that this week as I worked on our Operation Christmas Child project. Could it be that easy? Could it be that just our simple pride gets in the way of accepting a gift of eternal value? How incredibly sad! That's why I love this project so much. Some child, and the parents of that child, and entire communities, are going to receive gifts from total strangers thousands of miles away, who have never met them and know nothing about them, and still love them enough to send these very special packages. They will have no means of repaying us. We know this, and somehow knowing that makes the process of giving all that more precious and exciting!

What a beautiful picture of God's love for us. My hope and prayer is that through these gifts, one child, one family, one community may be able to better understand how a God they have never seen could send a gift they could never repay, just because He loves them, and because He CAN! I can't think of a better way to get across the message of salvation, can you? To be God's hands and feet to help spread His message of love on this earth – what bigger calling could there be?!

So jump on board! We are more than half-way to our goal of 50 boxes!! If you have not had a chance to contribute to the shipping cost ($7/box) you will have another opportunity at the next MOPS meeting. Check the newsletter for your groups assigned gifts (I promise you will spend no more than $5/person for your gifts!) and give generously as the Lord leads you. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get to heaven and hear how these gifts affected lives for eternity!

Jan

MOPS Halloween Party!

Save the date, Moms!

MOPS of Simpsonville is having a HALLOWEEN PARTY on Friday, October 23rd! The party will be held from 9:15am-11:15 am in our usual meeting place at West Campus. This party is for both Moms and Moppets.

Here is what you need to do:

Bring a candy bag for your child
Bring a snack to share (does not have to be homemade!)
Dress your child in their Halloween Costume and wear a costume yourself, if you dare!

Activities will include games, a kid craft and cookie decorating. It should be a blast so plan to attend!!!!

MOPS Day at Bargain Babies

The owner of Bargain Babies Consignment has graciously made a special offer to our MOPS moms. On Wednesday October 14th all MOPS moms will receive 30% off of their entire fall purchase.
The details?
Bargain Babies has 2 locations: on Fairview Road and on Main Street in Simpsonville.
The Fairview Road location will open early, at 9 am, just for us!
The Main Street location will be open no later than 11am, and is hoping to open early at 10am for us. All you need to do is shop...then at checkout time tell them you are a MOPS mom and VOILA!, you get 30% off!
There are a few exclusions...cutom orders, Squeakers and new embellished socks.
I hope you ladies enjoy your special discount and the great clothes that will be available for your kids!

Friends for a Season?

Linda's talk today got me to thinking about the friends I have had over the course of the years.
When I was young my friends were mainly comprised of my classmates and my cousins. I have since lost touch with many of those friends, including some of my cousins. Different paths caused that.
After college, I found most of my friends were people that I worked with. We had lots in common and enjoyed each other tremendously. But then, one by one, we started families and hung out less and less.
Now that I am a mommy, I realize that most of my friends are mommies also. We are going through the same season in our lives and that creates a natural bond between us.
As we go through different seasons of our lives we are always surrounded by friends. The friends often change, but the importance of those friendships doesn't. Enjoy the friendships you have now, invest deeply in them and enjoy them. Don't despair over friendships that are no longer, instead cherish the memories and be grateful that you had them.
It is true...that a rare one or two friendships will withstand the test of time and carry over from season to season. Treasure those friendships for they are priceless.
I am glad that I am your friend in this season of our lives...and I hope to carry our friendship on as we continue to move towards the next season. But if our friendship ends with this season I can honestly say, that I will always cherish it.
Michelle
P.S. Dana...I love you girl!

WOW!!!

I returned from MOPS Convention yesterday a tired,yet inspired mother. There is so much that I want to share with all of you from the Convention. The love and support that is felt at a gathering of over 4,000 moms is something impossible to truly describe. All I can say is WOW!!!

My plan is to share information from the Convention on the blog, newsletter and FaceBook. I look forward to seeing all of you at the meeting in the morning. Thank you all for being such a supportive group of moms!

Love,
Jerri Lyn

Can I Ask You A Few Questions?

This month we will start a new blog feature. We will spotlight a member who has been around a while. This cooresponds with our spotlight section in the MOPS Messenger that introduces one of our new members. So here is installment one!

JENNIE SIBLEY........CAN I ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS????

Jennie Sibley has been a member of MOPS of Simpsonville since it began! She is the mother of four and in fact her youngest is one of our newest MOPPETS. Jennie is on the Hospitality Team this year with Brandy and the gang. She is a lovely person and great to talk with. She let me bend her ear for these questions this morning.

Favorite color? Pink

Easiest meal to put on the table in a hurry? Chicken casserole. I can share it with you.

Childhood ambition? To be a nurse.

Your hardest adjustment as a mom? Trying to balance my time between four children!

Pet peeve? Riding along and seeing children in other cars who are not in carseats.

Quality you are most known for? My loyalty.

Your greatest extravagance? Shopping without my children!

TV show you have to watch? American Idol.

Are you a night or a morning person? Morning.

Tell a MOPS memory? I love watching the eating contests we have during the annual Christmas brunch!

Great Start !!!

What a great first meeting!
I hope everyone enjoyed renewing old friendships, starting new ones and getting a much needed breath of fresh air. It was great seeing so many new faces...13 new moms. It was great to see Joy Anderson, Kristy Barton, Carolina Evans, Yvette Grace, Jennifer Hall, Laura Huskins, Jennifer Jarvis, Stacey Jones, Sheri Owens, Lori Patterson, Cindy Smith, and Amy Thornton at MOPS for the first time. Brooke Krulic...we missed seeing you, but are looking forward to your getting off bed rest and joining us!
I would like to thank Brandy and her Hopitality team for the great gifts and prizes and yummy breakfast. Also, thanks to Kristen for a wonderful craft. Additionally, thanks goes to Judy and the MOPPET workers for watching our children for us. But most importantly, thanks to all of you for being there, it just wouldn't have been as much fun without YOU!
So, Welcome! Can't wait to see you all again in 2 weeks!
Michelle

September Teaser

Quick! What do the following things have in common? Besides being flowers!!!
Daisies
Roses
Hydrangeas
Peonies
Irises
Lilies
Find out at the first MOPS meeting on September 15th!!!!!!

The Next Big Blockbuster

I don't know Brooke Eaton very well. We have never been in the same MOPS discussion group. Our children are different ages. We both seem to be relatively quiet people. I tell you this because even though I don't know Brooke very well I can tell you that she has touched my life. She sent me a beautiful note when my Grandmother died two years ago. She has a beautiful voice that has touched many in numerous solos. She also wrote the following piece for the MOPS Messenger newsletter in September 2008. This piece is wonderful and captures the essence of the "big picture" that often gets lost in the daily chaos of motherhood. I hope you will enjoy it again. I hope that this year I will get to know Brooke a little better.
The Next Big Blockbuster
by Brooke Eaton
Every great action and adventure movie has an equally great musical score. Just imagine Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Superman and James Bond without any music. Sometimes grand and majestic with a broad, sweeping melody, other times frantic and edgy keeping you biting your not-so-perfectly-manicured nails (who has the time?), the soundtrack is what takes the adventure from humdrum to breathtaking, from I'll-wait-for-it-on-video to gotta-see-it-on-th-big-screen. The amazing thing about the soundtrack of a movie is that like all of the other songs you've ever heard it is made up of the same twelve notes. If you listened to any one section or one instrument's part, it might sound monotonous or even downright annoying (like one more, "Why Mommy?")
"But," you might say "what does this have to do with me...mhy life is no action and adventure epic. I'm just a mom, changing the 47th stinky diaper of the day, cleaning up the dishes again, answering the telephone, paying the bills, driving the carpool, and on and on..."
Well, like the soundtrack of that great movie, listening to only a second of music, it might not sound like much, but listen to all of it in its complete glory and you have another story entirely. Believe it ot not, your life is an adventure....filled with danger, mystery, maybe a little bit of romance,chills, thrills, joy, sorrow, laughter and tears. No one else's adventure looks exactly like yours. We are all on a journey for a faraway land, and if we will accept Him, there is a prince waiting for us in a more amazing "happily ever after" than the greatest screenwriter has ever dreamed.
Having preschoolers is a part of what brings the movie of your life its humor, its passion, its tears and some of its most precious joys. So today, as your toilet overflows because your preschooler decided to do an experiment to see how much paper it would hold, as your supper burns and you have to call out for pizza, as you pick up the same toys again after the kids are finally in bed, remember not to judge the whole movie by the scene you were in today. Enjoy instead the theme to Chariots of Fire (remember that one?) as you read these words.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith(They are in the theater watching you life's epic), let us strip off every weight that slows us down(No, I don't mean the three diaper bags), especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus.(The Perfect Prince who loves us so much He was willing to die for us. Talk about romantic!), on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward(You, beloved!). Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven. Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him(You think you've had a bad day!) so that you won't become weary and give up.(Hebrews 12:1-3,NLT, additional notes mine)
Today, I'm going to try playing my favorites on iTunes and remember that this movie is a work in progress. At the end of this life, I'm going to watch it on the big screen with my popcorn (with extra butter-it won't matter then!), Junior Mints and the biggest Coke heaven has, laughing, crying, and clapping at the end , at the Master Filmaker's brilliant design! Maybe after I've watched mine, I'll come to your mansion and watch your's too, since time won't be an issue.

And now, enjoy the show!

That September Feelin'

The countdown is on!!! Two weeks from today MOPS will meet for the start of a new year and I am so excited. The Steering Committee spent a great two hours together last night to finalize plans for our year. I am blessed to be working with such a great group of dedicated women who support each other and understand what a tremendous job it is to be a mother.

Have you noticed the change in the air? I love September! Even though it still looks and feels like Summer, I always feel a little different once that calendar page is flipped to September. There is just that unexplainable feeling that something has changed. Even though Fall has not officially arrived there is a crisp feeling to everything. Even going to my beloved pool feels different!
So in the spirit of change, let's look forward to a great first month of MOPS. Start thinking about what changes you want to make in your life. Think about the precious relationships you have with others, with yourself and most importantly with God. We will focus on these relationships this year and I know it will be a blessing to you. God has great plans in store for you!

Until next time,
Jerri Lyn

August is Tomato Month!!! A Recipe.

I was at a farm stand this past week (with all of those hungry,visiting relatives) and I remembered this great recipe. It features the wonderful tomato which is in it's peak of flavor this month. Carol Carson, a long-time MOPS mom, has a good recipe featuring the tomato. These Bacon Tomato Cups have graced the table at many MOPS meetings and they FLY onto the plates because they are soooo good. Here's hoping that you new MOPS moms try this recipe which was first featured in the September 2008 newsletter!

Bacon Tomato Cups

8 slices bacon
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
3oz. shredded Swiss cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
8 Grand flaky buttermilk biscuits

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a MINI muffin pan. In a skillet, fry bacon. Let bacon drain on paper towels. Crumble bacon into medium sized mixing bowl. Add the tomato, onion, Swiss cheese, mayonnaise, and Italian seasoning, mix well.
Cut each biscuit in half (2 half moons). Peels each piece apart into 2 ( making 4 half moons from each biscuit). Shape 1 piece at a time into mini muffin cups. Fill biscuits with bacon mixture. Bake 10-12 minutes or until brown.
(Published in Simpsonville FBC Church Cookbook)

Tuesday Night Check-In

Hi Ladies!

What a difference a week makes! From all accounts I have received, everyone survived that infamous first day of school. Now we are in the middle of that first week..........
I am sitting in a silent house following two weeks of visiting relatives and it is pure bliss. I am now back to focusing on MOPS and our upcoming first meeting. I can't wait to see all of you returning moms and I look forward to meeting all of our new MOPS members.
I do have a few requests:
1. JOIN THE BLOG AND SPREAD THE WORD!!!
2. Continue to lift Erin Oliver's brother and his family up in prayer. Also continue to say prayers for Judy Taylor and Gretchen Pace. Judy's dad, Leon Lutz, passed away last week. Judy has the HUGE task of coordinating the childcare for our MOPS meeting. For those of you who are new, Gretchen is Judy's daughter and has been active in MOPS for several years. If you have a prayer request that you would like published on the blog, please contact me!
3. Have any of you been to the new Greenville Children's Museum? If so, I want to hear about it!

Love until next time,
Jerri Lyn

Wednesday Night Opportunities at SFBC

Yes, THAT week has arrived! Some of you are rejoicing and some of you are a 'weepin! As the mother of a two year old my time has not yet arrived but I can sympathize with the level of stress that this week brings.

This week is also the kick-off of Wednesday night activities at SFBC and I wanted to pass along this info:

Wednesday night activities will now have a new name: Mid-Point. Activities at downtown start this Wednesday and September 6th at the West Campus. We would love to have all families and children participate!

5:00: Dinner on the Town @both campuses

6:00-7:30: Childcare for birth to two year olds@ both campuses

Way Point : 3yrs.-K5 Music/Mission Friends@ Downtown

Mission Friends: 3yrs-K5 Missions @West Campus

GA's & RA's: 1st-5th grade Missions @West Campus

Core Training Classes: Adult Disciplemaking @both campuses
(September)

Fan the Flame (6:15): Adults @West Campus

6:30-7:30

Prayer Service @downtown
ExPLO: 1st-5th grade music,worship,mission @both campuses
PrimeTime:6th-12th grade @both campuses

7:30
Proclaim (Adult choir) @Downtown

-

Urgent Prayer Request

Please lift Erin Oliver and her family up in prayer! Her brother was injured this evening following a fall from his roof. He has several injuries and is now in surgery at a hospital in Beufort. Erin's parents are with him now.
Please pray for comfort and healing. Updates will be given as details are gathered. Thanks so much, MOPS moms!

Send Them Back With Prayer

I sincerely hope that prayer is an important part of your life. As mothers we send up many prayers and we know the power of prayer. This Sunday, August 9th there will be a special back-to-school prayer service at 6:30pm at Simpsonville First Baptist Church at the downtown location. These prayers will be lifted up for pre-schoolers through college students.
Our children face many challenges at school and the beginning of a new school year is such a busy time for them. Parents are also dealing with the anticipatory anxiety that comes with these new beginnings. This service will give us all an excellent opportunity to turn this over to God and ask for his guidance. I plan to be there and I hope you will also!

Prepare to Blast Off

Hi Ladies!

Are you enjoying these last blissful days of Summer? It is truly ticking by fast and as Michelle said, we are preparing for a super year at MOPS.
This is my first post to the blog and I look forward to chatting with you in this venue. I have been working on the newsletter for our first meeting and I can't wait to share it with you. I have BIG shoes to fill as Debbie Dill is so talented and has provided us with two years of great info and MOPS coverage!
I am asking for your help in advance: watch your e-mail! I will be asking several of you for input into newsletter articles and for information that will be used to spotlight new and existing MOPS moms. I will also be "re-running" some of our past articles and recipes that our new members would enjoy. So grab that last bit of sun and no pushing while you are scouting out the school supplies!
Jerri Lyn

August Updates

Hi there ladies,I can't believe that it is already August. For those of you with older kids, that means...16 more days until school starts!I trust that you all have been enjoying a relaxing summer. Your Steering Team has been busy planning the upcoming MOPS year.It looks to be WONDERFUL!

Here are some changes that you need to know about:

1. We are going to be meeting twice a month. We will meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. The dates of our meetings are:
Sept 15 & 29 Oct 13 & 27 Nov 10 Dec 8 Jan 12 & 26
Feb 9 & 23 Mar 9 & 23 Apr 13 & 27 May 11

2. This one is going to be new to everyone... We are going to be charging a $20 dues this year. Many groups charge $5 per meeting dues ($95/year). We have been fortunate to not have to go that direction thus far. But, since we are meeting twice a month, and MOPS is providing the food once a month (to take the load off of you) we need to collect this fee to pay for the food. There are a couple of options in paying this:
A. You can send a check made out to MOPS of Simpsonville to Cheryl Griggs BEFORE the meetings begin in September. Her address is 109 Legends Way Simpsonville, SC 29681
B. You can pay Cheryl at the first MOPS meeting on September 15th.

I know money is tight right now, and this is going to catch some of you totally off guard. Please don't let this $20 keep you from MOPS. If you need to speak to me about a payment arrangement PLEASE call me or email me.

I am so excited about MOPS this year! We have wonderful speakers lined up and LOTS of fun planned!Enjoy the rest of your summer and I'll see you in September (did that song just go through your head too :) )!

Touching base...

Hi there girls!

I trust everyone is surviving June!
The Jensen's are planning on a relaxing week after a fun-filled busy week at VBS! The Boomerang Express is definitely parked in the station for awhile!

Just a few updates/reminders:
Rebekah Budd is home and I am sure Susan would love a visit.
There is a FBCS scheduled playdate in the park on Tuesday June 30th from 6:30-7:30 at City Park.
It is not too late to sign up for convention...call me if you are interested.

I hope you all have a safe and happy 4th of July.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

Michelle

June News

Hi there girls!

Here are a few updates for the upcoming month:

Rebekah Budd has been in the hospital for almost 2 weeks. She is having surgery on 6/2 to insert a trach...please lift the Budd's up in prayer.

On Monday June 15th we will have a playdate at City Park from 10-12. Bring your own snacks and drinks.

VBS - Boomerang Express starts on June 22nd. It is from 9-12pm. Visit the church's website to register. www.fbcsimpsonville.org

Be safe at the pool and do your best to stay cool!
Have a great summer girl!
Michelle

Another New MOPPET!

We have another new addition to our MOPS family!

Welcome...
Avery Claire Griffith.

She was born on 5/21 at 12:28pm
7 lbs, 15 oz and 20 inches

Proud parents are Kevin and Cathy Griffith...
and big brother Landon.

MOPPETs is filling up!

What a great last meeting!
I don't know about you, but I left feeling energized and encouraged!

We have 40 moms registered for next year already! And 52 children!!
There are still some spaces available in all of the MOPPET classes EXCEPT for the Infant class (Jan '09 - present). It is FULL!!!!!!
Most of the other classes only have 2 or 3 spaces left. So if you have not registered yet and need childcare...GET ON IT!!

I love you all and I hope you have a great and safe summer!
Michelle

Thanks from Susan!

Dear MOPS sisters,
I was greeted this evening with Natalie Evans bearing gifts of diapers and formula for Rebekah. WOW! What a surprise! I don’t know if Natalie noticed, but I was tearing up and really touched by this gesture of pure love.

Rebekah truly is a testament to the power of God and answered prayers. I pray that each of you will be able to meet this very blessed child and see in person the handiwork of God. Being her mother is truly an honor and a privilege.

I thank Jesus for each of you daily. Thank you so much for all of your love, support and prayers. I cannot express how deeply I appreciate each and every one of you, and I am humbled each time I receive another reminder of how many people are caring for us during this journey we are on. Remember that each of you are fulfilling your own calling with each gesture of love and support that you show another. Gal 6:2 says ‘Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.’ You are all truly a testament to this!

In Christ’s love,
Susan Budd

A Few of My Favorite Things

The last meeting before summer break is quickly approaching us!
This month we will be celebrating "A Few of Our Favorite Things!"

You don't want to miss out on all the fun...
Breakfast is being catered, there will be games, lots of prizes and giveaways and fellowship.
No one will walk away empty handed!! Or empty hearted!!

Remember, we are registering for next year already...so bring your completed registration forms and your dues.

See you Tuesday!!

MOPS has another new baby!!

Rebekah Faith Budd was born on April 21st at 8:27pm.
She weighed 4lb. 6 oz. and was 17 inches long.
Rebekah is doing well, but has a long road ahead of her.

Please continue to lift Michael and Susan, the 4 boys and Rebekah up in prayer!

PRAY!!!!

Susan Budd is being induced with Rebekah today. She started her pitocin at about 7:55am.
The last update (@10:20am) stated that Rebekah is showing some signs of distress during contractions.
Continue to lift the ENTIRE family up in prayer today!!! I know that our God is in the miracle business and I am praying for a big one today!
I will keep you updated as I can.
Michelle

@11:30 am
PTL! Praise the Lord!! Baby Rebekah has stabilized and seems to be handling contractions much better. The heart decelerations seem to be due to cord compression, which is better than the alternative. The Pitocin has been increased to help move things along. Susan is resting with stronger contractions. Thank you for your many prayers. God is Great! Michael

Reminders for April

Our April meeting is fast approaching and I have a few reminders for you.

We will be collecting $$ to buy an end-of-the-year gift for the MOPPET workers. There is no set amount, just what you feel led to give. Remember, these meetings wouldn't be possible without them!

It's official...we will begin meeting twice a month starting in September! Our meetings will be on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday's of each month. Start making your plans for the fall!

Our 2009-2010 theme is "Together on Planet Mom." We will talk a little more about this at our meeting.

I hope to see all of you on Tuesday!
Michelle

Urgent Prayer Requests!

Please lift the following MOPS families up in prayer today...

Christie Williams...her grandmother died on 3/12. They are in Florida and will be returning on Sunday.

Crystal Ginn...her husband's father had a massive stroke this morning. He is not responsive and is not breathing on his own. Crystal and her family are traveling to Georgia right now.

Please bathe these families in prayer today.
Michelle

Another new baby!!

Our MOPS family has a new baby!

Gabriella Rae Vollnogle ~"Raelie"
6 lb. 14 oz.
19 inches
Born Thursday March 12th @ 1:25 pm

Bruce and Karen Vollnogle are the proud parents!

Congratulations!!

Playdate and Mommy time Info

Hey guys! I hope you had a wonderful weekend with your families. I am excited that the sun may be shining again tomorrow! Let's keep our fingers crossed!

For PLAYDATE, join us at the Greenville Zoo entrance at 10:00 AM. We will spend some time at the zoo and on the playground. I have heard that some mom's may be packing lunch to eat under the covered shelter. If you have questions, call Adair Johnson at 207-6261.

For MOMMY TIME (those of us without kiddos tomorrow morning), meet up at Panera on Fairview Road for some coffee and/or fellowship time. Hope to see you there!

Therapeutic Aromatherapy

Hey ladies! Good afternoon! Debbie here. I am so excited about our blog and chatting with everybody on a more frequent basis. If you're like me, you've already sprayed your house with cinnamon and thought, hmm, is this really a good idea? ;)
For those of you who may not have been able to be there this morning, our fabulous speaker on Mommy Stress informed me that my favorite scent will in fact increase libido. And, that there are a lot of fragrances that can effect our perception of life. So, here is a copy of the sheet she handed out for those of you who are curious about your own favorite fragrances...

Bergamot=mood lifter
Benzoin=helps with respiratory infections, congestion
Eucalyptus=decongestant, aches and pains
Lavender=helps with relaxation, calms, and wards off stress
Lemon=uplifting and helps focus the mind
Lemon Balm=calming, helps curve the nervous system
Lime=stimulating and refreshing to the mind and spirit
Mandarin orange=mood lifter and helps ease anxiety
Neroli=helps ease anxiety and promotes relaxation
Rose=promotes comfort of the mind and spirit, eases anxiety
Sandalwood=helps ease stress, aggression, and grief
Sweet orange=helps rid blue moods, uplifts the spirit
Tangerine=uplifting and energizing
Tea Tree=anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal
This is from a website igoteach.com that has instructions on how to make Therapeutic Aromatherapy Dough.
Also, a study at Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, England reports:
Thirty-six patients and CCU were given massages, some with aroma oils and others without. There was a 91% reduction in heart rate for the group treated to aromamassage, a 51% reduction in the massage group receiving unscented oils, and only a 41% reduction in the control group with standard care treatments.

So, I hope you all have locked yourselves in the bathroom, had 4 sets of deep breaths, lowered your shoulders and are feeling much calmer about your day! Get out there and enjoy the sunshine while it's here!

Now, in the spirit of our new blog, please post in the comments what your favorite fragrance is. And if it's not on the list, google it and let us know how your fragrances influences you!

3 New Babies!!!

Our moms have been busy so far this month!
Welcome to:

Joshua Randall McClure
6lb. 4oz.
19 inches
Born to Randy and Angela McClure on February 27th

Ashlynn Lydia Campbell
7lb. 11 oz.
20 1/2 inches
Born to Bryan and Jaime Campbell on March 2nd

Emma Grace Sibley
6lb. 14 oz.
19 inches
Born to Todd and Jennie Sibley on March 5th

Congratulations!!

Up and Running!!

At a meeting for area Coordinators I was introduced to the idea of having a group blog. Ann and I loved the idea...so here it is!
I am an amateur at best, so be patient as I figure this whole thing out.
I will start with some dates to remember:
March 11 is MOPS day at Bargain Babies. You get 30% off all spring/summer merchandise!March 17th at 10am is the playdate at Greenville Zoo.
March 19th at 7pm is Mom's Night Out at West Campus. It's Craft Night!
See you all at the next meeting!