Let’s set the scene:  You are at the grocery store.  You are in the produce section when you see the girl who always sits across the table from you at MOPS.  She is so sweet.  And fun to chat with at MOPS.  You know her two kids’ names.  You know all about the crazy labor story she had with her second baby.  You know that her two year old is obsessed with princesses and her baby is a terrible sleeper.  But you cannot, for the life of you, remember her name.

If you are a mom, this (or something similar) has happened to you.  If not, it will.  As moms of babies and little kids, most of our lives are planned and worked around the needs of our families.  Even if you are never alone through the course of the day (including when you have to shower or go to the bathroom), being a mom can make you feel extremely lonely.  Sometimes, it can be hard to connect with other moms.  When we do connect with other moms, we typically talk all about our kids without really getting to know each other.  This week, MOPS took the opportunity to connect moms through a “speed dating” exercise where we got to know more about each other, rather than just talking about our kids.  Moms were paired up for a quick “date” of just a few minutes with a list of fun questions to ask one another.  The question that seemed to be the most fun for all MOPS was “what did you do before you had kids?”  Learning about each other in a more intimate way allows us to celebrate each other for who we are, not what we do on the daily.  The truth is, those connections help us to be better moms through supportive relationships.  Because, let’s face it, it’s not always easy.  And it’s nice to know that other moms have your back.

Winter Newsletter

Christmas time can be a stressful time for moms, who no doubt are making many lists and checking them twice (groceries, presents, stocking stuffers, check!)  Sometimes we get lost in the shuffle, but we have been reminded of how precious life is and how blessed we are being in the presence of young children.  This Christmas, we want to encourage moms to make the most of every moment and put to rest all of the things that make us "busy."  Take this opportunity to thank God for sending His beloved son to save us and share the real meaning of Christmas, God's gift to mankind, with the little people in your life.  It's an investment of time that will yield a return over a lifetime.  From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Love,

The MOPS Steering Team

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ATTENTION LADIES!

Are you gearing up for the holiday season?

Looking for the perfect gifts for everyone on your Christmas list?  Look no further! Join MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) 

Annual Vendor Sale  

Monday, November 19^th from 9:30am – 11:30am

 Shore Fellowship Church, 1049 Ocean Heights Ave. EHT

We will be featuring Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple, Thirty One, Shaklee, Lazy Daisies, Mary Kay, Premier Designs, the Bee Well Boutique, Michele Halvorsen Photography, Soyfully Yours, Avon, LittleLovees.com, and many more!  Join us for shopping, refreshments, friendships, and fun!  This event is free and open to all women.  Childcare is available for preschoolers through our MOPPET program.

The school year is in full swing and Fall is just around the corner, which means we are gearing up for a new year with MOPS!  This year, MOPS is proud to introduce our new MOPS Coordinators, Heather Marshall and Toni Caruso.  Our MOPS leaders are planning an exciting year with MOPS that you won’t want to miss!  Mark your calendars for October 1^st, our first MOPS meeting of the year. 

The MOPS International theme this year is “Plunge:  Love as if your life depended on it.”  In the midst of motherhood, sometimes we feel consumed by the needs of our families.  Waking up with the sun, changing diapers, feeding hungry babies and kids, play time, errands, nap time, cleaning, cooking, laundry, dinner time, story time, kids’ bedtime, followed by the realization that your house looks like an F5 tornado ripped right through the middle of it, which is usually when you feel like crying because in just a few hours, you will wake up and do it all over again.  Moms know that there is no greater job on the planet.  But that doesn’t mean that it’s easy.  One of the single greatest challenges of motherhood is finding time to nurture our relationships with others, yet our friendships can be one of the greatest sources of strength in the everyday battles of being a mom.  This year, MOPS will encourage moms to plunge deeper in our relationships by loving and encouraging one other in a way that deepens our friendships, marriages, our mothering abilities, and ultimately our relationship with God.  He is love, and what better way to connect with Him than to love one another.  Take the Plunge!