Taking Inventory of Ourselves & Marriages

Ladies,

We missed all of you today and hope that you are all well (and kiddos) and/or have arrived to your destinations safely!  Today’s meeting had a “personal” flavor as the focus was on us as INDIVIDUALS (not just the tasks related to being a mother and/or wife).  Sometimes it is all too easy to overlook how things relate to us as people rather than what it is that we do on a day to day basis. 

Judy’s devotional focused on “marriage” and its numerous references in the Bible indicate how important this should be to us and to God.  We were reminded that ALL marriages go through seasons of great joy and happiness all the way to the depths of frustration and doubt.   Using the metaphor of a grafted fruit tree, Judy further explained that like a tree limb that is grafted onto another tree that now is able to produce beautiful fruit, but without one another could not survive.   And in these low seasons of marriage we should remember that we are grafted together with our husbands and not to break that graft. 

Our wonderful speaker, Ms. Millie Tanner, spoke to us as women and how our thoughts affect our behavior.  I presumed this would be in reference to how we parent, but I was mistaken.  She focused on us as individuals and our personal thoughts and how they affect how we behave in all aspects of our lives (with our husbands, friends, children, etc).  She described how we have a “Public” and “Private” self, and how we all have healthy self talk and destructive self talk (insecurity, unhealthy comparisons, thoughts/experiences from our past, etc.)  We should all take inventory of our thought closet, throw away the “junk”- the unhealthy self talk, and replace the junk with God’s words. 

http://db.tt/EqcgV8vG

Attached is a link to today’s newsletter.

Our next meeting is Thursday, March 22^nd.  We will have a Q&A session with Dr. Valerie Smith, pediatrician. 

Our next playdate is NEXT Tuesday, March 13^th at Caldwell Zoo.  More details to follow. 

Have a relaxing and fun spring break!

Debra Bochow

Discussion Group Coordinator

It's Marvin MOPS Week (3/8/12)!

Hello Moms,
Spring has apparently sprung (at least for this past weekend), and what a beautiful beginning it is! This is a reminder that we have a MOPS meeting this Thursday, March 8^th at 10 a.m. in room 246 (second floor, Faith classroom).

Our upcoming meeting is a very important one for all of us mothering our babies and small children.  Our guest speaker is Miss Millie Tanner, LPC, and she will be speaking to us about “How our Thoughts affect our Behavior.”   

THURSDAY MEETING REMINDERS:

-          ALL OUTSTANDING DUES will be collected.  If needed, payment plans or scholarships can be coordinated with Heather Parker (Financial Coordinator).   We do NOT want any financial cost to hinder a mom from joining our group.  $25 MOPS International and/or Spring Semester ($50 with childcare and $30 without childcare) by cash or check (made payable to “Marvin MOPS”).

-          Please DO NOT bring your child(ren) if he/she shows ANY signs of illness.  Drop off time is 9:50-10:00 a.m.  Please pick up your children promptly by 12 noon.

-          Save the date for your Table Night Out (if your table has not yet already done so)!

-          Food will be provided by the PURPLE Table

 UPCOMING MOPS Events:

-          March 13 (TUESDAY)- MOPS “Spring Break” Play Date at Caldwell Zoo.  Meet at the sandbox/play area by 10:15 a.m.

-          March 31 (SATURDAY)- MOPS Spring Garage Sale (details to follow)

-          RESCHEDULED Mom’s Night Out to THURSDAY, April 19^th (Time and Location TBA)

If you are UNABLE to attend this Thursday’s MOPS meeting, please notify your Table Leader.  If your children are not coming, and are signed up for childcare, please also notify Stephanie Lamb (MOPPETS Coordinator) at steph.lamb@sbcglobal.net or 903-363-7447.

I hope to see you all on Thursday!  

Have a wonderful week,

Debra Bochow

Discussion Group Coordinator

To The Rescue: Successful Kid Meals & First Aid Kits

Ladies,

We had a great meeting today filled with tasty food, great insight into kid friendly meals, recipe sharing, and the assembly of very handy first kits for your cars (Thanks Jennifer Davis !).   We will have copies of all of the shared recipes for all of you at our next meeting.

As always, we began our meeting with a very poignant devotion from Judy.  In the spirit of “Being Thankful” in 2012, Judy’s message today centered around how our thoughts affect our actions, and affect our ability to praise God by allowing ourselves to receive his blessings.  For example, our attitude sometimes can be affected by self-wants (and not needs).  When we don’t get want we want, we can sometimes have a sour attitude (an example that was used was repeatedly asking our loving husbands to do a certain task over and over with no avail and thus we become frustrated- bad attitude) and we are losing the relationship with God by our unthankful attitude.     We should REJOICE in our sufferings, as a THANKFUL attitude receives BLESSINGS.   An unthankful attitude leads to MISSING the opportunity to receive his blessings.  Even in our troubles, be thankful to God, and the blessings will flow.

IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHTS & REMINDERS:

-          SPRING Garage Sale is Saturday, March 31^st.  LOCATION HAS CHANGED to Judy Carter’s front yard on Copeland Road. 

-          Next MOPS Playdate is March 13^th at Caldwell Zoo (10:15 a.m. meet at play area near the front of zoo/gift shop)
-          SPRING DUES are due!  Deadline is February 24^th.  Please contact Heather Parker to make arrangements for payment.
-          Mark your calendars- MOM’s NIGHT OUT has been changed to Thursday, April 19th    

The next meeting is Thursday, March 8^th at 10 a.m.  The PURPLE table will be providing food.

I am also attaching today’s newsletter for other interesting and important information.

We missed all of you today and hope you and/or your children get well soon!  For those traveling, hope you are having a great time and we look forward to seeing you in a few weeks!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Debra Bochow

Discussion Group Coordinator

It's Marvin MOPS Week (2/23/12)!

Hello Ladies,

Hope you are all enjoying today’s bright sunny weather!  What a refreshing way to end the weekend.   This is a reminder that we have a MOPS meeting this Thursday, February 23^rd at 10 a.m. in room 246 (second floor, Faith classroom).

We have a fantastic meeting planned;   Jennifer Davis will be leading us in a craft creating first aid kits for our cars (because we LIVE in our cars!), AND we will address the universal, day to day mothering question that most of us ask one another regularly, “What do your kids eat?”   

Aren't we all searching for new recipes to try for our family?  Do you have a picky eater in your family?  Our wonderful Mentor “Chefs” will be sharing their successful kid eating strategies and menus for kid-friendly meals.  This will be an excellent time to share our experiences, recipes and ask questions about this pervasive topic.   

So that we are equipped and ready to employ this new knowledge,  please bring 1 - 3 "kid-friendly" recipes to share on Thursday... Just think if everyone will bring at least 1, we'll all go home with 50 new recipes to try with our families.... If we bring 2... 100 new fun recipes... Hope you will share with us your favorite recipes your kids enjoy!  Please remember to write on just one side of your paper or recipe card.  

THURSDAY MEETING REMINDERS:

-          This will be the last meeting that ALL OUTSTANDING DUES will be collected.  If needed, payment plans or scholarships can be coordinated with Heather Parker (Financial Coordinator).   We do NOT want any financial cost to hinder a mom from joining our group.  $25 MOPS International and/or Spring Semester ($50 with childcare and $30 without childcare) by cash or check (made payable to “Marvin MOPS”).

-          Please DO NOT bring your child(ren) if he/she shows ANY signs of illness.  Drop off time is 9:50-10:00 a.m.  Please pick up your children promptly by 12 noon.

-          Save the date for your Table Night Out (if your table has not yet already done so!

-          Food will be provided by the PINK Table

 UPCOMING MOPS Events:

-          March 13 (TUESDAY)- MOPS “Spring Break” Play Date at Caldwell Zoo.  Meet at the sandbox/play area by 10:15 a.m.

-          March 31 (SATURDAY)- MOPS Spring Garage Sale (details to follow)

 If you are UNABLE to attend this Thursday’s MOPS meeting, please notify your Table Leader.  If your children are not coming, and are signed up for childcare, please also notify Stephanie Lamb (MOPPETS Coordinator) at steph.lamb@sbcglobal.net or 903-363-7447.

I hope to see you all on Thursday!  

Have a wonderful week,

Debra Bochow
Discussion Group Coordinator

Growing Kids in God's Way

Ladies,

We are so sorry that you missed today’s meeting.  Many of you have sick children, and we hope they recover quickly!

I’m attaching a link to today’s newsletter which has several new items and events for you to note: 

http://db.tt/4Nf1ceGV

-          OUR MOPS TOTS (2 and under) Playdate (next Thursday, February 17) LOCATION has been CHANGED to the home of Suzanne Lambert at 925 Shepherd Lane, Tyler 75701.  Suzanne’s phone is 903-330-5560.

-          Our Spring Fundraiser will be a GARAGE SALE!  It is scheduled for Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the home of Sherry Trump.   Start gathering up and collecting any of the following items that you have been waiting to donate for a great cause;  clothing (adult and children), toys, baby equipment, etc.  Proceeds will go directly towards our MOPPETS program, and the remaining unsold items will be donated to St. Paul’s.  You will not have to individually price your items!  Details regarding pick up and/or collection of your donated items will be forthcoming.

-          Please take the time and open the Care Calendar when emailed.   The gift of a meal (prepared or purchased) for the recipient and her family is a wonderful blessing and met with tremendous gratitude.

Rev. Marty and Jami Dunbar blessed us with an amazing presentation on “Growing Kids in God’s Way.”  We will be emailing you PDF’s of their handouts shortly.   It would be difficult to summarize their entire discussion as many examples, scriptures and topics were conveyed.  I was however struck by Rev. Dunbar’s succinct recipe for having “Success in Parenting”:  1) Having a great marriage!  This creates security and certainty in our children, and gives them confidence in how they lead their own lives and 2) Having a great relationship with the Lord.  This is our primary relationship and the relationship between husband and wife is the foundation and mirror for which our children learn about relationships, and character.

We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting on Thursday, February 23^rd.  Please bring with you at least 3 favorite kid-friendly recipes to share with the group.

Take care, and have a wonderful weekend!

Debra Bochow
Discussion Group Coordinator

It's Marvin MOPS Week (2/9/12)!

Hello Ladies,
Hope you all are having a great weekend with your families.  Thank you again to Sarah and Sherry for hosting such a fun and well attended MOPs Mom’s Night Out last Thursday.  We hope to see more of you at our next outing later in the semester!

Our next meeting is this Thursday, February 9^th at 10 a.m. in Rm. 246 (second floor, Faith Classroom).  Rev. Marty and Jami Dunbar will be joining us to talk about “Growing Kids in God’s Way.”  We look forward to hearing and learning about such an important and necessary facet of mothering our young children.

THURSDAY MEETING REMINDERS:

- Dues if you have not already paid ($25 MOPS International and/or Semester ($50 with childcare and $30 without childcare).  Checks made payable to “Marvin MOPS”  or cash is accepted.  Dues will be collected at your table in a secure envelope provided by your Table Leader.

- Please DO NOT bring your child(ren) if he/she shows ANY signs of illness.  Drop off time is 9:50-10:00 a.m.  Please pick up your children promptly by 12 noon.

- Start coordinating your Table Night Out with your Table Leader and Mentor before your calendars are filled with spring and end of semester commitments!  This is a great way to really get to know your table mates and mentors! 

- Food will be provided by the BLUE Table

Upcoming MOPS Events:

- February 17 (FRIDAY)- MOPS Tots (2 and under) Play Date at Summer Greenslade’s home.  1308 Donnybrook Ave., Tyler.  469-831-3272

If you are UNABLE to attend this Thursday’s MOPS meeting, please notify your Table Leader.  If your children are not coming, and are signed up for childcare, please also notify Stephanie Lamb (MOPPETS Coordinator) at steph.lamb@sbcglobal.net or 903-363-7447.

I hope to see you all on Thursday!  

Have a wonderful week,

Debra Bochow

Discussion Group Coordinator

Moms Night Out...

What a great way to kick-off our MOPS "spring" semester with a fun dinner at Sonoma Grill!  We had a wonderful time getting to visit and know each other more.  We will definitely plan another one for later this Spring!