In-Law Issues 12/2

Magnolia table, we thank you for the wonderful arrangement of food that made us think of how we could be serving our In-Laws and the other people in our lives even better.  Terr;y Rosello really hit home on that as well.  She gave a great perspective from her own experience as mother in-law and as wife.  What a great insight, what a great meeting! 

Our next meeting on December 16th, is a Christmas Concert held in the main church building. (where MOPPETS are dropped off)  The concert will start promptly at 9:45.  Childcare is provided for the first half and then the kids will be performing a couple of songs and join us for the remainder of the concert. 

You can keep your kids with you the whole time, just the second half or not at all.  There will be a Veggie Tale Christmas Movie for the children and the playground will be available (with Childcare workers) if needed.  Be sure to bundle up the kids for the playground.  The steering team will provide some Christmas snacks, but feel free to include your own festive feature.

We are looking forward to seeing you there with your cameras in hand cause you have cute kids that want to sing some songs for you!

Operation Christmas Child 11/18

The newest MOPS Mom Members, the Lily Table really 'pampered' us with their 'Chef-like'  abilities.  Thank you so much for sharing the gift of your food offering!

Thank you to the VERY special ladies (steering team moms, mentor moms, and even some veteran MOPS moms - you all know who you are) that have stepped in to help when an extra hand is needed for our MOPPETS.  We thank you for your time, effort, and most of all the beautiful gift you offer by giving up your MOPS time for the sake of other moms.  

Antiquities pictures will be in on Tuesday, Nov. 30th. Come to the nursery to view them and pick up your 10x13. What a great gift for the In-Laws.. eh? E-mail Jill with questions jillinaz@cox.net

Our next meeting on December 2nd, Terry Rosello will present us with a talk on In-Law Issues. (Sounds like a gifted speaker)

Presently, Magnolia is up for hosting the December 2nd meeting Contact Nicole at nicole.cameron14@yahoo.com with questions.

The presence of our MOPPET workers, allows us to enjoy some great experiences together during our MOPS meetings, so please remember to sign the cards and bring a small donation for Christmas Thank-Yous for our MOPPET workers at on December 2nd.

Well, that about wraps it up...  We hope you are planning on being present December 2nd!

Mommy Personalities 11/04

They say you can tell a lot about a person by what they eat.  I don't know who they are, but I know which table we can surely call sweet for this past meetings food!.... Sweet Pea table, you did a great job bringing some sweet treats our way.  Thank you for hosting.

Thank you Steering Team for the confection of the Mommy Personality MOPS meeting this past Thursday.  It was such a treat to have Casey outline our Personalities Styles.  Here is the link to investigate further. http://www.motherstyles.com/quiz.asp and http://quizzes.familyeducation.com/motherstyles

There is a theme in this post.  How sweet it is to have you in our lives, Andrews family.  Can you believe we raised over $1,000.00 for the Andrews family through the Antiquities fundraiser?  Thank you to all of the families who supported this effort. Sweet Dreams are made of these.... kind of MOPS moms!

The Portraits of our little sugar dumplings will be back for viewing on Tuesday, Nov. 30th in the church nursery. 


On with the sweets... if you are trying to get rid of any Halloween candy, you can bring the hard candies to our next meeting 11/18  for Operation Christmas Child Packing Party. 

The Lily table is hosting on 11/18. Contact table leader Kari at karifumusa@cox.net with hosting questions.


MOPS PLAYDATEish - If you want to have a playdate with a MOPS friend and your little sweetie pies (BYOE*) while helping out, Our MOPS Operation Christmas Child Relay center will be open the week of 11/15; Mon-Sat 9am-1pm and Sun 12:30-4:30 and we would be pleased to have you there to guide "box dropper offers" from the community.  Contact your table leader or Johanna at jpasiakos1@yahoo.com for relay center schedule and questions.

*BYOE - Bring Your Own Entertainment for your kiddos as there is NO childcare provided.  Feel free to bring entertainment such as a travel DVD player, or crayons w/ coloring books etc.
Ok sweetcheeks, that about wraps it up.  We are looking forward to the next time we see your sweet face at MOPS!

Parenting Styles 10/21

Hello Ladies!
Great meeting last week on Parenting Styles.  Hopefully with the information shared we will find ourselves empowered to help our children make good choices for the greater glory of God.  Not to mention the payoffs seem to show up rather quickly and last a lifetime!

Speaking of God's glory, thanks to Him and the Rose table for the wonderful food.  Great job ladies.

A few upcoming events we would love for you to be a part of....

-All Antiquities $ must be turned in to Jill by October 29th. If you are interested in working a 3 hour shift On Nov. 5th or 6th please contact Jill at jillinaz@cox.net

-Costume Parade-Join us in spreading a little joy as we parade our little ones around at Jesse Owens nursing home on Friday, October 29th at 10am. Contact Johanna for more information at jpasiakos1@yahoo.com

-Harvest Carnival @Laveen Baptist: Sunday October 31st 5-9pm; Free Candy, Booths, Dunktank, Bouncehouse, Live Music, Games, Prizes, Cakewalk, and fun for kids of all ages!!

-Women's Brunch Nov. 6th 9-11am; RSVP to Casey at sunshineconsulting@cox.net by Nov. 3rd

Our next meeting is November 4th and our Host Table is Sweet Pea. Please contact Jessica at jessicasmithdesigns@yahoo.com with any questions.

The Topic for our next meeting is Mommy Personalities (Speaker: Casey Peterson)
We are looking forward to seeing you then!

Friendship

What a fun meeting! I had such a great time talking to so many of you....for the prescribed 2 minutes in speed friendship. I hope you all enjoyed it too. Have you had some stimulating conversation at the dinner table using your conversation starters? I think my favorite question was "If you had a super power what would it be?" I've heard several tables have gotten together for play dates....hope you are all meeting new friends and helping be sure that no one has to mother alone!

Here are some of the announcements and events that are coming up:
1. Costume Parade-Join us in spreading a little joy as we parade our little ones around at Jesse Owens nursing home on Friday, October 29th at 10am. Contact Johanna for more information at jpasiakos1@yahoo.com
2. Antiquities Portrait Fundraiser for Micah Andrews-Money and sign ups are due by the next meeting (Oct 21st). We must have 60 coupons sold to make it a go, so tell a friend and bring everything to the meeting to turn in.
3. Women's Fall Brunch-Come enjoy a FREE breakfast while connecting with other women (of all ages) on Saturday, November 6th from 9-11am in the MOPS room. Please RSVP by November 3rd to Casey at sunshineconsulting@cox.net
4. Learn a Foreign Language on-line with Rosetta Stone for under $200. Attend an informational meeting at Vista Del Sur on Oct. 19th or e-mail Casey for more information (sunshineconsulting @cox.net).

Hope to see you at the next meeting on October 21st. We'll be hearing from a speaker on different parenting styles and the Rose table will be hosting. Contact your table leader Shannon at shannon@8beans.com if you sit at the Rose table and have any questions.

See you at MOPS!

Men's Panel 9/16

A special thanks to the men who were on our Men's Panel and gave us some insight into our own husbands. It was a good reminder that we are created differently. I still can't believe guys can sit and think of nothing...really?? Have you prepped your kids that Daddy is coming home and then let them run outside to greet him this week? Have you been showing your husband respect by praising (and not criticizing) him when you're around others? Pretty big challenges....but worth the effort!

Our next meeting is on October 7th and our topic is Friendship. We'll be doing a round of "Speed Friendship" (kind of like speed dating) so don't miss the chance to meet new moms and potential friends! The Daisy table is hosting so contact Rachel (daisy's table leader) at arizonarachel@hotmail.com if you have any questions.

Don't forget to start selling those Antiquities Photo coupons to help raise money for the Andrews family. You can go to http://www.creativetouchgallery.net/mp_includes/body.aspto see examples of the photos. For every coupon sold, families will receive a beautiful 10x13" Antique Color photograph. Photos will be taken at Laveen Baptist Church on November 5th and 6th. Money and contact information is due by October 21st. A member of steering will contact each person the 1st week of November to arrange a time for their photo session and all clothing and props will be provided by Antiquities. Please direct all questions to Jill Fenner at laveenmops@yahoo.com. To see updates on Micah Andrews go to http://www.welovemicah.blogspot.com/

First Meeting: Sept 2nd

Thank you ladies for being a part of our first meeting of the 2010-2011 MOPS year. Thanks to Kelly and Noelle for The Price Is Right game and the Steering Team for the yummy food.

Our next meeting is September 16th. We will be hearing from a panel of men about their perspective on relationships and parenting. Morning Glory will be hosting the meeting so if you sit at that table please be sure to arrive by 9:15.  If you have any questions please email Melissa, your Table Leader, at melissamcadams6504@yahoo.com For everyone else, we'll be ready for you and your little ones at 9:30.

If you are interested in helping out the Steering Team we'd love to talk to you. We are always looking for people to help out with various tasks such as set up, clean up, preparing crafts, helping with outreach projects, etc. Please e-mail us at laveenmops@yahoo.com if you'd like more information.

 Have a great week and we'll see you on September 16th.

MOPS 2010-2011 Coming Soon

We're getting excited........the steering team spent the weekend in Flagstaff planning, playing, training, praying, eating, brainstorming, shopping, and sharing. We're gearing up for an awesome year laughing, sharing, eating, playing, encouraging, and learning with YOU!

So mark your calendars and pack your diaper bags for our first 2010-2011 Laveen MOPS meeting on Thursday, September 2nd from 9:30-11:30 am. We'll be playing a MOPS version of the Price is Right so pay attention to the price of those goldfish crackers and juice boxes.....it just might pay off!

To register on-line go to: http://laveenbaptistchurch.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=25632&PID=803860

Summer Fun!

Are you looking for something to do to beat this summer heat? Well come join us for some cool times.

Tuesday nights starting June 22nd we'll be meeting for a Summer Bible Study at Dee Dee's house from 7-9pm. Anyone is welcome (as long as she's a mom ;o) so bring a friend and jump in as we look at 8 women from the Bible and how they relate to us today. Check out the Study Questions on the left margin. E-mail Dee Dee at hddlassila@hotmail.com for directions or to get more information.

Friday mornings we're doing our own FREE home Movie Dates . Bring your own snacks and drinks and cozy up on the couch (or the floor) to watch movies like Toy Story, Peter Pan, Cars, and more. E-mail Nicole at nrlane5@yahoo.com to RSVP and to get times and locations.

And back by popular demand....the Trailside Park Summer Playdates. Join us at the playground and splashpad on June 24th and July 15th at 9:30 for a casual time to talk while the kids play. Trailside park is located on Vineyard (between Southern and Baseline) and 71st Ave. in the Trailside Point Community. E-mail Jill at jillinaz@cox.net if you have any questions.

Summer, Summer, Summertime!

What a tremendous year! I can't believe it's summer again.....hello swim lessons, splash pads, burning car seats, family vacations, and outdoor grilling!
MOPS won't be meeting over the summer, but the steering team will be working on planning a great 2010-2011 year with the theme Momology. We look forward to seeing you back the first Thursday of September at our usual time, 9:30-11:30 (that's right....forget all those rumors about MOPS moving to Tuesdays).
However, if you want to hang out with some other MOPS moms there are few things going on this summer like movie playdates, Bible study, and other events, so check those e-mails and check back here in a couple of weeks. Until then........enjoy the summer, summer, summertime!

Burning Questions 4/15

Were your Burning Questions answered today? Mine sure were, but that may have to do with the amazing women surrounding me at today's MOPS meeting.

A special Thank You to the Emerald table for a great variety pack of food. That fresh pineapple stirred a discussion on the desire for a shopping trip.

Next meeting..... Thursday, May 6th, and the Mentor Moms are taking care of the entire meeting. We are CRAZY excited because they have been there done that and know what mothers of Preschoolers can appreciate... (maybe even more than all the kids down for a nap and the kitchen floor has already been cleaned, ooh ooh, by your husband, and the right way! Ha!!)

Upcoming Events…
Wednesdays, MOM Time Wednesday at 6:30-7:50 at Casey's home. Childcare is provided at the Church.

Thursday, April 22nd PARK DATE Trailside Point Park 9:30-11:30

Friday, April 30th MOPS Night Out @ Nails Of The World (Nail salon next to 51st Ave Safeway) Please be sure to RSVP via evite. Thanks Jenn Nelson for the 20% off deal!

Summer Movies at the Harkins
There is a group of Moms that have chosen AZ Mills Mall on Tuesdays. It's $7/person 3 and up for all 10 movies. When you buy your tickets at any of the Harkins movie theaters, you will tell them which day you would like. The location of where you buy your tickets is the location you are assigned to for the rest of the movies. A list of movies and theaters can be found http://www.harkinstheatres.com/SummerMovieFun.aspx

Laveen MOMs Club
Please send an email to laveennorth@yahoo.com if you would like more information on the MOMS club in Laveen.

Thanks for a wonderful day at MOPS today!

Styles That Flatter 04-01

What an insightful meeting we shared on faith sharing, female style and figure with specialist Kerry Damiano. She offered us all a bit more knowledge on our some of our fruit figured bodies. Check out those slide show pictures!

A special Thank You to the Gold table for a "Golden" selection of food. A new mom would surely be sold on MOPS after that display alone!

Next meeting.....
Thursday, April 15th, the Emerald table is in charge of food. Please contact Rachel Roland orKari Fumusa for more details.
Keep in mind a collection will be taken for an End of Year present for our very kind MOPPETs workers.
Want to know what is in store for our next meeting? (in addition to some Christian company conversing over quality cuisine while our curious children are completely occupied?) Well you will simply have to be there to find out!... and we are looking forward to seeing you too!

Steering...
Say, do you know of any mom who you think would be a great fit for Steering? Well, perhaps you should tell her. Sometimes she may simply need hear it from someone else before considering. Steering team offers a rewarding, faith renewing environment where you can foster friendships and grow in personal faith while serving others.

Upcoming Events…
Thursday, April 22nd PARK DATE Trailside Point Park 9:30-11:30
Friday, April 30th MOPS Night Out @ Nails Of The World (Nail salon next to 51st Ave Safeway) Please be sure to RSVP via evite. Price options to be provided at our 4/22 MOPS meeting, or you can simply peak your head in to the Salon. Pedicures start at $15.00! -- Anybody who is anybody (whatever that means) is sure to be there!

MOPS Swap

The MOPS Swap was a huge success and...with no injuries!

With about 15 MOPS Moms and all of their stuff, we had a full house of items.
The hot items seemed to be two pack and plays, a gorgeous bedding set, child size table and chairs, some classy clothing from our own very stylish moms closets, kids toys, shoes and attire (some with the tags still on!).. that wasn't all of it! This event showed God's providence multiple times as the items that ladies had on their everlasting "things needed list" just seemed to show up ~ for FREE!

Looking forward to our play date this coming Thursday at 9:30am Trailside.

Spa Day - March 04, 2010

A delightful relaxing meeting was experienced by all today! So sorry to have missed you if you were not able to make it, or rather so sorry for you that you missed out!
From Chocolate Dipped strawberries, to Paraffin Dipped hands... we sure did dip into something wonderful today. Already looking forward to SPA Day next year! Thank you all of the ladies who put so much effort into a banner day!

Speaking of effort, we had some sensational food provided by the Bronze table. The best way to describe such a spread would be a beautiful variety pack of pleasure! MMmmmmmM!

Upcoming Events…

March 18th Laveen MOPS Swap Meeting.
See "Let's SWAP on March 18th" post below for more details.

Park Date Thursday March 25th
Trailside Point Park 9:30-11:30

Looking forward to seeing you all soon!

Let's SWAP on March 18th

Get ready and save your spot for our first ever MOPS SWAP! What is a MOPS SWAP you ask? Well, it's basically a chance to trade some of your stuff for someone else's stuff. Here's how it will work.

1. Bring your items to Laveen Baptist Church on Wednesday, March 17th between 8:30-9:00pm. You'll set up your items and be given 1 ticket for each item. EVERYTHING is worth 1 ticket whether it's a child's t-shirt, a swing, a woman's coat, or a television. You'll use your tickets to "purchase" other people's items the next day.

2. The swap will run from 9:30-11:00 on Thursday, the 18th. So bring your tickets and exchange them for other people's cool stuff. We will not have childcare, but the playground will be open.

3. If you wish to take any of your non-swapped items home come collect them at 11am otherwise we will bag them up and donate them to a local charity.

So if you've got things to swap (and really who doesn't?), sign up by e-mailing us at laveenmops@yahoo.com or contacting Nicole Lane (see your directory). We need to have at least 10 moms signed up by March 5th to go forward with the SWAP so don't delay!

Coffee Talk

Our February 18th MOPS meeting got off to a delicious start thanks to the awesome breakfast provided by the Sapphire table! Women were literally seen fighting over the last few sticky buns....(That Gold table needs some help). The wonderful MOPS mommies enjoyed wracking their brains for fun Barbie facts, discussion time, and learning very important things: like what you would do with a million dollars and only one day to spend it! Mentor Mom Casey Peterson shared some insight and tips on how to deal with tantrums and toddler-aggression. Nicole led us in a very fun Mommy-Jeopardy game, with such categories as "Movies and Popcorn", "Bible Babes", and "Oh Mama!"....cheating was kept to a minimum. After an early lead, Team 3 brought home the victory!

Our verse for this meeting was Proverbs 27:9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.

Upcoming Events/Announcements:

Next Thursday, February 25th is another MOPS Parkdate at Trailside Park at 9:30.

Start going through your stuff and get ready for the MOPS Swap on Thursday, March 18th. Contact Nicole Lane for more information nrlane5@yahoo.com

If you are interested in serving on the leadership team next year as a discussion group leader or part of the steering team, please let someone in current leadership know or contact Jill Fenner at jillinaz@cox.net

Our next meeting is Thursday, March 4th hosted by the Emerald table. Join us for a little relaxation and de-stressing as we have a mini spa day. Hope to see you there.

MOPS Updates and Events

Upcoming Events…Our regrets as MOPS & POPS Game Night has been Canceled.

Thursday Park Meeting
MOPS is meeting at Trailside Park this coming Thursday, January 28th from 9:30-11:30. Same time as our MOPS meetings. We don’t have any host food tables at our Park dates, so be sure to bring your own drinks and snacks.

Book Club
There is still some deliberation on the next book for book club. Keep your eyes and ears open for the next title and meeting times. All are welcome. Feel free to ask a mom with experience with this group about it, but be prepared to get an earful. We have only heard great things about this group!

Next Meeting
Our next meeting is on Marriage! What a wonderful topic. The Amethyst table is in charge of hosting our next meeting on February 4th. If you have any questions please contact table leader Heather Stephenson. Looking forward to seeing you on February 4th!

Volunteer Opportunities
FACT: About 8,000 homeless men, women and children are on Maricopa County streets and in our shelters every day. Valley of the Sun United Way is taking action with solutions that address the root causes of homelessness. Project Homeless Connect offers instant access to the resources people in our community need to start the journey back to health, financial stability and housing. This includes access to goods - like food and clothing - and services such as counseling and job placement. Be part of the solution to end homelessness.
Volunteer for Project Homeless Connect.
Positions include:Guest Guide: assist individuals as a chaperone in making contact with service providers.Clean Up: specific shift at end of event.Area Monitor: direct flow of foot traffic, monitor showers.
Project Homeless Connect
When: Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Where: Human Services Campus1201 W Madison Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007(South of Jefferson Street and West of Seventh Avenue)
Time: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - shifts availableREGISTER TODAY AT www.vsuw.org/volunteer Nicole Lane is registered. Please contact her for more information.

Supplemental Income Opportunity
Two families both with two children have presented a request to find childcare and are willing to have their children at the sitters home for a few days out of the week. If any moms are interested, please contact Nicole Lane for more information.

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Finance for Mommies January 21st
Our speaker this week was Scott Nance, a financial advisor discussing our future with finances. He did an excellent job motivating us to check into Wills, Trusts, Long Term Education and Retirement planning. He offered a great first look to spark an interest and held the attention of those who may already have delved into these topics. This guy should go on a tour! It was also interesting to see that we had a variety of knowledge levels on the topic between our Moms. As we know with mentor moms, a mom with experience is a “wealth” of knowledge.

No one went home hungry this week. The only thing the TOPAZ table could’ve done better was to grease the doors so we could get out with more ease. What a wonderful job you did this week TOPAZ Table!

Upcoming Events…
MOPS & POPS Game Night is Friday, January 29th from 7-9pm at Laveen Baptist Church (Our regular MOPS location) Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share. Drinks will be provided. Bonus childcare is provided by MOPPET workers with a much appreciated $5 donation.
Please RSVP to Liz Danzeisen

Book Club
There is still some deliberation on the next book for book club. Keep your eyes and ears open for the next title and meeting times. All are welcome. Feel free to ask a mom with experience with this group about it, but be prepared to get an earful. We have only heard great things about this group!

Next Meeting
Our next meeting is on Marriage! What a wonderful topic.

The Amethyst table is in charge of hosting our next meeting on February 4th. If you have any questions please contact table leader Heather Stephenson.

Looking forward to seeing you on February 4th!

LifeTime Fitness Deal Found by MOPS Mom

Mary Dominguez found that Lifetime Fitness has a great deal that they're running through the end of the week - $39.99/mo with no sign up and no contract.
It was such a great deal that she thought of you moms to share it with! Thank you Mary!