Meeting Recap - September 27th, 2012

Last Thursday's MOPS meeting was a fun time where we got to know each other a little better.  But first, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast provided by the Orange Oriole table. Then we heard some announcements:

• Thanks to Anna P. for putting together our MOPS Directory for the 2012-2013 year. If you missed this meeting please talk to your table leader about getting a copy of the directory.
• The Bluebird table is hosting Bunco this Friday at 7pm at First Baptist. Please let Rachel Gerber know asap if you will be attending.
• MOPS will be taking a "field trip" to Greenfield Farm on Saturday, October 27th. Families will bring a picnic lunch.  There will be hayrides, a corn maze, and pumpkin picking.  Watch for more details over e-mail.
• If you have not received a "goodie bag" from MOPS International please let Elizabeth Killian know. Also, if you have friends who want to join MOPS, talk to Elizabeth K. as well.  We are currently full but encourage people to get on the waiting list for childcare as soon as possible.  Spots open up throughout the year and ladies are taken off the waiting list on a first come, first-served basis.  Those not needing childcare can join at any time, they just need to fill out a registration forms and pay dues.
• The Early Childhood Development Center at First Baptist Church is holding a fundraiser that uses art work from your favorite artists - your children!  Your kid's artwork is used to decorate many items including mouse pads and coffee mugs, which you may then purchase. These make great gifts and a portion of each purchase will benefit the preschool!  Please contact Nancy Ryalls for more information.
• There are still spaces available for preschool and Kindergarten at ECDC.  Click here for more information.
• One spot is available at the preschool at First United Methodist Church. Contact Connie H. for more details.
• A local christian school, Regents School in Ivy, will be holding a fundraising dinner on November 6th. The featured speaker is author Susan Wise Bauer, known for her book, "The Well-Trained Mind".  This event will be held at the Boar's Head Inn and includes dinner.  Please contact Corie S. or Kathy F. for ticket information.

Lauren B.

The theme of this meeting was, "What is a MOPS?". A MOPS, or mom of a preschooler, can come from different backgrounds, different living situations, and different denominations, but we have one thing in common, our little ones!  And that gives us much in common, doesn't it?

Along those lines, we got to know each other better first through our "Get to Know You" game.  We discovered that:

• Felicia W. had her bedroom redone and organized by Real Simple magazine a few weeks after her first child was born.
• Cari B. has a slight addiction to vampire novels!
• Rachel G. has done voice-overs for television commercials.
• Jane G. once worked for operations for NASA.
• Candy T. always eats her potato chips in order from smallest to largest.
• And Ashley B. starting having contractions the night before she took her medical board exam!

Thanks ladies!  We have a wonderfully interesting group of women in MOPS!

Kristin Smoot

Our lucky door prize winners were: Ashley B. won a gift card to Chili's, Laurie B. won the "favorite things" door prize (a planner from Lauren), and Connie H., Stephanie D., Jill A., and Jane G. won copies of the MOPS cookbook.

Next we heard from Kristin Smoot, who spoke to us about Elim Christian Center in Poland. Kristin had the privilege to see first-hand the good work being done through this mission when her family was stationed in Germany.  The Center provides employment for many women in that area. The women make beautiful Nativity sets by hand.  If you are interested in learning more about Elim Christian Center or would like to purchase a nativity set, please visit www.elimcenter.pl or email Kristin at smootbk@hotmail.com.

Nativity Set

 Finally, to cap off our morning, we watched a video about motherhood, and got to know our table-mates better by answering questions such as, "What would you tell yourself when you were a new mom?".  If you would like to view the video, click here.

Thanks to all who made this great meeting happen, including our wonderful childcare workers!  See you in two weeks!