URGENT: Change of Plans

Tomorrow Night's MOPS meeting will be at Melissa A's house!

Join us for a Mom's Night Out Christmas Movie Night! We will be watching Four Christmases!

Be there at 7:00pm and bring a snack to share!

Leave the kiddos at home!

Hope to see you then!

Spread the word!

Thanks and Merry Christmas!

Sip N See

Join us for some yummy snacks and Christmas shopping!

Happy Birthday Jesus

You do not want to miss out on this Tuesday's MOPS meeting!!

In keeping with the spirit of Christmas, we will be making some very cute Nativity blocks for our children, as well as stuffing Advent calendar bags for the AMBC Birthday Party for Jesus!


Speaking of the Birthday Party for Jesus, make sure to mark your calendar for this fun family event, which takes place Saturday, December 5th, 10:00am-Noon!

As we spend the month of December focusing on the most important relationship we all have, our relationship with God Almighty...let's begin by praising Him for sending His son Jesus into the world to save us.

Immanuel, God with us.

"For unto us is born this day in the City of David, a savior, which is Christ the Lord!" (Luke 2:11)

Tips for Going to the Doctor

During the month of November, we focused on the relationship that we have with our children!!

As a part of that, we had the privilege of hearing from local pediatrician, Dr. Anna Bell, as she answered all of our mommy questions! It was a wonderful, very informative time!

Check out her Tips for Going to the Doctor!

Tips for Going to the Doctor – from the Doctor!

Keep a list of questions that you think of to bring with you.

Let us know what you are thinking or worried about. – A parent’s instinct is often very valuable information. If you have a certain concern, we may not be aware that you are even worried about a certain cause unless you let us know what you have read or what is worrying you.

Read a kid’s ‘going to the doctor’ book in advance with your child.

Playing with a ‘doctor kit’ at home often helps. Your child could even bring it with him to the visit.

Bring your own toy or activity for your child while waiting.

Avoid offering shots as a threat or punishment – even at a visit when shots are not planned.

Ask for your child’s diagnosis and write it down, including any instructions or medications.

A great resource of information online is the American Academy of Pediatrics Parenting Corner – www.aap.org

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, December 1st. We will be focusing on our relationship with God.

See you then!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Awesome Quote

"I know that some jobs don't really count, don't make much of a difference, don't actually matter that much, don't have much lasting significance. Not so with mothering. I know that in some jobs the worker is only handling cleaning equipment, or car parts, or computer keyboards, or insurance policies, or court cases, or political legislation, or stockholders' funds. Not so with mothering. A mother is handling things of a far greater magnitude. She's handling never-dying souls. She's daily conducting heart surgery on eternal spirits whose forever destinies are influenced most profoundly by the hands that rock their cradles, wipe their noses, spank their fannies, open their Bibles, prepare their after-school snacks, and turn off their bedroom lights. Those motherly hands are molding characters which will become men and women who will turn the world upside down either for good or for evil. Now that's a job that counts. " Womanly Dominion, page 108-109

Our Children

November's MOPS topic is the VERY important relationship that we each have in our life...the one relationship that brings us together...OUR CHILDREN!!

You do not want to miss this Tuesday's meeting (November 3rd), as we have the great privilege of hearing from Dr. Anna Bell, Christian pediatrician, who is a member of Hyde Park Baptist Church! She will answer the questions that we have been dying to ask our own pediatricians about our precious little ones...while we eat yummy snacks!

As always, I will post any prayer requests on our private prayer blog so let me know if you do not want your request posted. I have also started a new AMBC MOPS recipe blog, go here to check it out!

See you Tuesday!

Shelly's Skin Care Tips

At our last MOPS meeting, we learned the importance of "taking care of mommy." Unfortunately, the most neglected person on Planet Mom is MOM!! With that in mind, we spent a little time pampering ourselves and were fortunate to learn about beauty and skin care from Shelly, a friend of Aaron's from college!

Shelly is a Mary Kay consultant, who agreed to come talk to us a little about beauty & skin care and while she was there, we got to try all of her Mary Kay products and buy some if we wanted to, which of course we did! We just couldn't help ourselves...she had some great stuff at great prices! Shhhh...don't tell our hubbies! :)

Take a look at Shelly's Skin Care Tips:

1. Use skin care that is especially designed for your skin type: normal, dry, oily, or combination. If you have excessively oily or extremely dry skin, use a product that is even more specifically designed for your skin type.

2. Use facial cleanser morning and night, no exceptions! Work in an “up and out” circular direction with your hands.

3. Use a moisturizer after cleansing, morning and night, no exceptions! Work in an “up and out” circular direction with hands. If you have oily or combination skin, use a moisturizer that absorbs oil. If you’re oily and do not use a moisturizer, it will cause your skin to produce excess oil!

4. Use the same brand of product for your facial cleanser and moisturizer. Most brands manufacture them to work together.

5. Use an oil-free eye makeup remover. Using a product with oil can cause breakouts and cataracts.

6. Wear sunglasses to avoid cataracts from exposure and wrinkles from squinting.

7. Exfoliate regularly (1-2x/wk) to reduce pore size, to reduce excess oil production, to remove and fight blackheads, and to have soft, glowing skin. Use a microdermabrasion product that is dermatological-grade and follow up with a sunscreen. Do not use a motorized or hand-held “tool” or anything that is more abrasive than a soft washcloth. Only use your fingers when exfoliating.

8. Use sunscreen daily that is made for the face, at least SPF 15. Premature wrinkles are caused by sun damage and lack of moisture. Test the product if you have sensitive skin.

9. Use an eye cream, starting at age 20. The eye area shows age first. Skin around the eye is not attached to muscle, is 20% thinner, and does not hydrate itself like the rest of your skin. Use a cream especially for eyes. Tap or pat the cream into the skin; never rub, tug, or pull skin around eye area. Apply eye cream below eye in the morning; apply on eyelid and below eye at night.

Remember...our next meeting is Tuesday (Oct. 20). We will continue our topic of "Taking Care of Mommy." Invite your friends!

We will be making our cute photo tiles so make sure to bring your pictures! MOPS will provide one tile (which fits a 5X7 picture), but feel free to bring more tiles and pictures if you want to make more!

Also...bring your costumes for our Halloween Costume Exchange!

Be thinking of questions that you would like to write down to ask the pediatrician at our meeting next month...and don't forget those coupons/books to exchange!

This week we should have plenty of time for discussion/prayer since we ran short last time!

Have a great weekend, see you Tuesday!

Fit Bands

Click here to check out our new product for women...Fit Bands!!

These will allow women to stay spiritually fit and physically fit at the same time! They also make great keychains for moms, teachers and active women...who always have their hands full! Plus, they are cute!

Let us know what you think and if you want to purchase something! If you like what you see, spread the word to all of the women in your life!

Thanks so much!
Erin and Mary Jo

Beauty

Our MOPS topic for September was 'Friends.' For those of you who missed the meeting, we had a great time eating yummy snacks and fellowshipping with one another, and even enjoyed a fun scavenger hunt that taught us some reasons why it is important for us to have friends in our lives! Living far from family, I know that for many of us in the group, including myself, MJ and Melissa; friends have become extremely important to us. We rely on the support from our friends to get us through the hard times and to laugh with us through the good times. Our friends have actually become more like extended family. In fact, we could not make it through this precious time in our lives without them!

During the meeting, we also learned some tips for cultivating our friendships and made cute custom journals to bring back to each meeting, so that we can write notes and prayer requests in them all year long. If you did not get to make one, talk to MJ because you are going to want one! Here is the funny video clip Girlfriends that we did not get to see because it was being stubborn that night, hope you enjoy it!



October brings a new MOPS topic with it. This month we will be talking about the relationship we have with ourselves, specifically focusing on inner and outer beauty. At the first meeting, which is this Tuesday (Oct. 6), we will enjoy a Mary Kay beauty session with Shelly, including free giveaways that you will not want to miss!

We will also have a Halloween costume exchange this week, so if you want to participate, bring a kid's Halloween costume! If you want it returned, make sure you put a label on it. We will of course have our ongoing book and coupon exchange as well. After we do prayer requests, I am going to collect them from each table leader to post on the MOPS prayer blog. If you do not want your request posted, please let me know. If a prayer request arises between meetings, email me your request and I will post it along with the others. Remember, the prayer blog is private so if you want to be able to view it so that you can be praying, you have to email me your email address so that I can invite you to it.

If you signed up to make a freezer casserole meal, make sure you bring it frozen in its tin, with its label on it, to this meeting. Single moms, if you signed up to receive casserole meals, make sure you are there to pick up your meals.

Have a great weekend, hope to see you Tuesday!

It's A Girl

Woohoo!! Our newest little member is a GIRL, can you believe it?!!?

Ava Nichole
Born Today
3:30am
7 lbs. 15 oz.
19 3/4 inches

Proud Parents: Joe & Misty

Music City

MJ, Melissa and I just returned from the MOPS Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, along with 5000 other moms! It was awesome! MJ and I went in without a clue as to what would take place over the next week because Melissa planned the whole thing and we said, "sounds like fun!" And boy were we right!

Everything about the conference was top notch, including the topics, speakers, the resource fair and especially the musicians! Between Thursday and Saturday, we heard Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, Plumb, Matthew West and Natalie Grant live! It was incredible, an amazing time of worship! We even got our picture with Matt Redman, as well as an autographed cd!

While there, we also ate great food, visited the Grand Ole Opry and its Opry Shop, as well as the Opry Mills Mall!

I am sure you will get to hear more about what we learned in the coming weeks!

We are already planning our return trip for next year (August 5-7, 2010, Nashville)....who wants to join us?!!?

Daddy-Daughter Date Night

This Saturday, September 26th, 5:00-7:00pm, the Chick-fil-A at 620/183 is having Daddy-Daughter Date Night!!

It is a come and go event and the girls can dress up if they want to, but it is not required!

There will be lots of surprises too!

So...for the 3 of you out there reading this blog that actually have a girl...it should be a great time! ;)

Friends

Our topic for the month of September is 'Friends!' No, not the TV show (although I do love it)! But, our girlfriends! We will be exploring this important relationship in our lives at the upcoming meeting (which is this Tuesday) and discovering 'why' it is important for moms to have girlfriends, particularly fellow mom-friends!

You do not want to miss this meeting! You will of course get to enjoy yummy snacks, as well as a funny video clip, a fun scavenger hunt and making a cute journal! Not to mention fellowship with friends!

Each month, we will have an ongoing book exchange and coupon exchange. If you have any books you would like to include in the exchange, please bring them Tuesday! If you want them back, please label them. If not, we will put a MOPS label on them and keep them in the MOPS book collection! If you have any unwanted or soon-to-be expired coupons, please bring them Tuesday to put in the exchange! Our faithful leader Melissa will explain how these exchanges will work at the meeting on Tuesday!

Don't forget our upcoming playdates!! We are going to Katherine-Fleischer Park this coming Monday and Champion Park next Saturday. Check the sidebar panel under 'Playdate Schedule' for details!

Check back next week for a recap of the meeting, as well as for a post from our 1st guest blogger!

Together on Planet Mom

Our 2009-2010 MOPS Theme is 'Together on Planet Mom!'

We will be taking a deeper look at the various relationships that we moms have on this earth, and learning together how to get the most out of each of the important relationships that God has given us, as well as what our responsibilities are in each relationship!

This is a picture of the cute bags that everyone got at the 1st meeting! Each bag had 9 items in them and the ladies had to match each item with the 9 monthly topics! It was a fun way to introduce what we will be discussing each month in MOPS this year!

Here is the breakdown of the monthly topics for the year:

September: Friends

October: Self

November: Children

December: God

January: Home

February: Husband

March: Extended Family

April: Special Events

May: Community

I will give you more details as the meetings approach, but basically since there are 2 meetings each month....one meeting will be geared more toward a speaker and the other one will be geared more toward group discussion. We want to learn from the examples and experiences of the speakers as well as the other moms in the group, especially our wonderful 'mentor' moms! Of course each month will also include a creative activity!

This picture shows a few of the cute crafts that we will be making this year, and I must say that I am very excited about them! Mostly because they are so cute and really easy to make (my kind of crafts)!

Also, make sure to check back often because each month there will be posts telling you what to expect at the upcoming meetings, as well as a post from a guest blogger related to that month's topic!

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day Weekend!

Prayer Blog

I have started a MOPS Prayer Blog so that we can be praying for one another daily! If you want to view it, you have to send me your email address so that I can invite you. Otherwise, you will not be able to open it. We are keeping it private from the public for many reasons.

The URL is http://www.ambcmomsprayerblog.blogspot.com/. You can get there by clicking on the icon of the word MOPS with the aqua background (like the t-shirts MJ made)!

Have a great Labor Day!

The Big Week

This is it...the week that it all starts! You do not want to miss out on all of the fun, so GET INVOLVED!! Here is the schedule for the week:

Tuesday:
-MOPS, 6-8pm, AMBC Fellowship Hall

Wednesday:
-Story-time, 9:30am, Lakeline B&N
-Wednesday Night Dinner, 5:15pm, AMBC Fellowship Hall
-AWANA, 6-7:30pm, AMBC Backlot

***During this week's MOPS meeting, you will find out about all of the wonderful things that will take place this year, as well as how it all ties in with our 2009-2010 theme, "Together on Planet Mom!"

Important Dates

Just a friendly reminder of some upcoming dates, in case you were planning to join us!

Wednesday, August 26th:
MOPS Open House, 6:00-7:30pm, AMBC Fellowship Hall
Stop by to register for the year, see a preview of the creative activities, and enter a special door prize!

Tuesday, September 1st:
1st MOPS Meeting, 6:00-8:00pm, AMBC Fellowship Hall
Enjoy yummy snacks, fun crafts and fellowship with/learn from other mothers of preschoolers!

Hope to see you there!

Open House

Join us next Wednesday, August 26th, 6:00pm at AMBC for a MOPS Open House!!

Enjoy some yummy snacks, register for the upcoming year, and see a sample of the exciting things taking place in MOPS this year!

Come by after you register your Cubbies in AWANA...or simply to say 'hi' and fellowship with other moms!

All MOPS moms who stop by the table will be entered into a special door prize drawing, which will take place at the 1st official meeting: Tuesday, September 1st, 6:00-8:00pm, AMBC.

We look foward to seeing you there!

Another New One...

Jackson Thomas was born yesterday (3 weeks early) to proud parents, Sara and Paul, at around 2:30pm!!

He weighed in at 6 lbs. 2o oz. and is 20 in. long!!

According to Miranda, except for some slight body temperature issues (the baby was back in the nursery when her and Chris got to the hospital), baby and mommy are doing well!

Please talk to Miranda if you would like to do anything for the family (like bring a meal, send a gift, etc).

Otherwise, keep them all in your prayers as they adjust to life with their 1st child!

Dino Dig Playdate

On Tuesday August 18th, 10:00am-Noon, we are meeting at Champion Park for our last dino dig playdate of the summer! We hope you can join us! There is a big sandpit full of sand toys for the kiddos to dig in and there is also a small spray area for them to get wet! So dress the kids in swimsuits and bring a lunch!

Our Newest Little Member...

Liam David arrived today!!
He weighed in at 7 lbs. 9 oz. and was 20 in. long!!
Mommy and baby are doing great!!
Congrats Amy and David!!
Can't wait to meet the little guy!!

Free Movie

This Friday, July 24th, there is a FREE movie showing at Harper Park! The movie is 'Hotel for Dogs' and it starts at 8:30pm. If you are looking for something fun for the whole family, come on out to Harper Park for some free movie fun!

Message From Our New Coordinator

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are enjoying this very hot summer. This email is to let you know that I will be the new MOPS coordinator. I am really looking forward to a great year. I am starting to get things together for next year. If you have any ideas of what you would like to see done, please let me know. I would also like to extend an invitation to anyone that would like to help with planning the upcoming year. There are as many opportunities to serve in the ministry as there are people willing to serve. Please let me know soon so we can get together to work on ideas. Feel free to email me if you have any ideas but are unable to serve at this time.

I am looking forward to a great year!
Melissa Atkinson

Story-time Playdate

We have an ongoing story-time playdate that you may want to join in on!

Every Wednesday morning we meet at the Lakeline Barnes & Noble at 9:30am! The kids have a great time talking to puppets in Spanish, singing songs along with the Eukelele, listening to stories, making crafts, reading books and playing trains!

Afterwards, we eat lunch at the Lake Creek Chick-Fila, where the kids can play on the playground!

Meet us there if you can!

Dino Dig Playdate

On Tuesday July 21st, 10:00am-Noon, we are meeting at Champion Park for a playdate! We hope you can join us! There is a big sandpit full of sand toys for the kiddos to dig in and there is also a small spray area for them to get wet! So dress the kids in swimsuits and bring a lunch!