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!