2014 - 2015 Theme

Hello Friends,

As we have spent time considering this year’s theme, we’ve found it is more about us as women and less about being a mother…at least not only being a mother.   In year’s past, the theme has engulfed the spirit of being a mom and the powerful, difficult role that it is.   Be You, Bravely, focuses on being You. And being brave about what you’re facing today and where you want to be tomorrow. Of course, that includes being a mom. But it also includes:

·       Coming to terms with your past

·       Conceding it’s okay that others have strengths that you don’t and vice versa

·       Difficult conversations you’ve put off

·       Dreams you’re too afraid to go after

·       Ideas you’re nervous to pursue

·       Believing what God says about you rather than what the world might say

·       Fearful of what you don’t know or understand

·       Relationships that need improvement

·       Offering forgiveness and grace to others

·       Leading

There are days when we see only desert and miles of wilderness.  There is no clear path leading to change.  But then these words from Isaiah hover over our hearts:

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:18-19

What do you consider your wasteland or desert? What holds you back and keeps you from taking hold of better things?  God’s word promises if we let go of what has been, He reveals a new direction, a new path through the desert.  

This is why you will see arrows in our decorations this year. An acknowledgement that we are on a NEW course established by a loving God. We move swiftly from what we USED to be, toward a new target, what SHOULD be.  Our new target is Be You, Bravely. With God’s grace we forget the former things and with arrow-like focus, embrace our new objective of freedom, confidence, boldness, and audaciousness!

Be Brave With Christ,

Janice & Hilkka  

Meeting 10/10/2013

Aligning Your Mess

October 10, 2013 meeting

 

       
          This week we were thankful to have Dr. Dan and Dr. Lindsay Justice of Justice Family Chiropractic speaking to us. Both began practicing family chiropractic in Ohio in 2010. They moved to the Tri-Cities in January 2013 and opened their practice in June.

         This husband and wife team is enthusiastic about children’s health, which was evident to anyone who had the opportunity to hear Dr. Dan speak. He talked to us about the many benefits of chiropractic services on any age group. About their beliefs that proper nutrition and regular adjustment can relieve and even cure many issues that we are seeing more frequently – ear ache, ADHD, stomach ache, etc.

      “We were happy to welcome Justice Family Chiropractic to our meeting! It was a great opportunity to learn how Chiropractic can help our children overcome many common aliments without antibiotics” said Janice, Coordinator.

         The couple is welcoming their first baby in December and we are wishing them a life filled with joy and love on their new adventure!!  

         If you would like to contact the Justice Family about their services you can find all the information at their website.  

Justice Family Chiropractic  

         We also talked again about our upcoming OCC project and our blessing table. If you would like any information on them feel free to contact us!  

Thank you to everyone for attending and BIG thank you to those who provided food!

Have a blessed week and we hope to see you soon!

 

Meeting 9/26/2013

Acknowledging and accepting your beautiful mess

September 26, 2013 meeting

         As mothers, or just humans in general, we compare our lives to those around us. We go and visit a friend to have a little relaxing time and yet we spend the time subconsciously inspecting their lives and comparing them to our own. Her kitchens sink in empty…eek! mine at home is full of dirty dishes. Her floor looks like it hasn’t been mopped in a couple days….I just mopped mine – score one for me! Well today we watched a MOPS clip called “Avoiding Mothering Comparisons” which addressed this habit beautifully.

         The speaker, Shauna Niequist, a bestselling author (Bread & Wine) and a Christian mother of two boys discusses how in five minutes of looking at Facebook or Pinterest and you can walk away feeling miserable. She even laughed as she said “…and who actually does all of the things they pin anyway!” She talks about how social media networks are places where people can edit their lives – focus on the bad or focus on the positive and “perfect parts” of life. Yet we all fall into the trap of believing everything we see and comparing our lives to those photos and status updates.    

         Shauna went on to talk about how we need to watch the manner in which we talk to other moms. We should try to connect with them and not try to make them feel judged. We need to refrain from inappropriate jokes, which might lead to hurt feelings for both parties. For example, when you run into a friend whose child has a black eye or a lump on their head instead of saying “what did you do to your child?” or “what have your parents done to you?” you could simply say “kids fall, I know mine do, it’s no big deal, it’s a part of life.” Don't try to make yourself look good, because no parent enjoys seeing their kid fall, get stitches or have bruises.

*Practice the Art of Gratitude*

         Finally, she said how we are not perfect, nor shall we ever be, no matter how hard we try. Instead of comparing yourself to someone you think is super mom, be grateful for the things you do have and don’t focus on what you don’t have. Shauna suggested at the dinner table, go around and have each person say something they are grateful for today. It doesn’t have to be something they did that day or someone they have seen recently – just whatever they are thankful for!

         “For me this video is a wonderful reminder that I am doing my best and I should accept and appreciate that. I heard someone say once ‘if you woke up today to only the things you thanked God for yesterday – what would you have?’ and it stuck with me. So in our family I thank God every day for my kids and my husband and all of the blessing, and sometimes the struggles, he has given me that day” said Hilkka, Assistant Coordinator.  

Things to think about:

·      In what ways are you most likely to make comparisons?

·      What keeps you from making unhealthy comparisons?

·      When do you feel most confident in Who God has created you to be?

         We had several “house keeping” items to take care of during this meeting too. We signed up for items to donate for our Operation Christmas Child service project (which is scheduled for November 14th). We discussed our upcoming Blessing Table and the guidelines for those items. We also talked about the October Special Event, which will be a movie night October 18 with more information to follow.

Thank you to everyone for attending and BIG thank you to those who provided food!

Have a blessed week and we hope to see you soon!

Meeting 9/12/2013

Welcome to your Beautiful Mess

September 12, 2013 meeting

          Welcome to the South Hills MOPS group! Our first meeting was filled with lots of familiar faces as well as some delightful new ones. The leadership team did a marvelous job providing a brunch for everyone – it was fantastic being able to sit down and chat with ladies and actually enjoy an entire plate of food without having to get anyone anything!

 

         Marilee, our Craft Coordinator, prepared our name tag activity, which was perfect for those who wanted to get crafty and completely personalize their necklaces as well as for those who wanted to be simple and add their names.

         Our table leaders had an opportunity to explain the significance of all the decorations on the tables and how they relate to our lives and our to best utilize the given resources. 

         Centerpiece decorations are the jar is our lives with the mess of toys/items in it with the beauty of it rising out of the jar (the flowers). You’ll notice our table names also reflect the beautiful and the chaos of motherhood! From a mess can come something beautiful.

         Prayer request boxes are confidential boxes that’s everyone is encouraged to take advantage of. The author has the option having the DGLs, Steering Team, and/or Prayer team read the slip and prays for or with them. Boxes are emptied after each meeting and slips are handled accordingly.

         Change for Change cans are used to collect any spare change moms are willing to donate. As a group, we support a community of moms in Haiti through Compassion International’s Child Survival Program. This program helps mothers with prenatal care, provides nutritious food, and teaches mothers basics in bonding though touch, etc. Our monthly commitment it the program is $20, or $0.25 per mom, per meeting.

         Memos 2 Moms, our newsletter, will be available to each mom every meeting and contains useful information about our agenda for the meeting, some of our favorite bible verses, seasonal recipes, local activities, next meeting brunch information and anything else of relevance. There can also be additional handouts based on the craft, speaker, devotional, or service project scheduled for that meeting.

         Finally, we want to thank Pastor Lynn for coming and helping us kick off the year right. We truly appreciate all his support of our group and his continual prayer over us! And to Anita for coming and sharing with us about all the wonderful things she is doing for the Women’s Retreat and with the Women’s Ministry in our church! 

         Have a blessed week and we hope to see you soon!

2013 - 2014 Theme

Greetings!

Welcome to South Hills MOPS!  This year, our theme is A Beautiful Mess.  By embracing your story, you’ll find that beauty abounds in our difficult moments.  MOPS offers hope to moms, especially as they move below surface conversations and take risks to create authentic community. 

The theme is based on the scripture, Ephesians 2:10:

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Keeping this verse in mind, we’ll look at different areas of life where mess lives, but beauty reigns.  This year we’ll be reminded that God sees us as a masterpiece among the crumbs, diapers changes, self-doubt, and temper tantrums!

Here’s to the Beautiful and the Mess in all of us!

In Him,

Janice Heitschmidt                                                                   Hilkka Griffiths

Coordinator                                                                               Assistant Coordinator

Leadership Retreat

Our leadership team went on a planning retreat to Bar M Ranch in Oregon August 9-10. We had a wonderful time bonding, planning, and enjoying the fresh outdoors. 

Watch out for amazing things coming your way this year! 

It's sure to be a BEAUTIFUL MESS =)

"Our summer retreat provided a great opportunity to plan the MOPS year, but more importantly to grow together as a brand new team. We came away with so many great ideas. It's going to be a fun year!"

-  Janice, MOPS 2013-14 coordinator

Advent Readings