Christmas Time at MOPS

Create your own free digital slideshow

Can Martha Have a Mary Christmas?

Our next MOPS meeting is on Thursday, December 9! Our topic will be, "Can Martha Have a Mary Christmas." Our special guest speaker will be Anna Jensen, a leader of Community Bible Study in Tuolumne County.

A few reminders:
If you took a gift tag at the last meeting, please remember to bring the item with you on Thursday.
The winners of the MOMOLOGY challenge will be announced, so make sure your table leader has your points up to date. Maybe squeeze in another playdate tomorrow!

Upcoming dates:
Saturday, December 11 - BUNCO at Mary Freer's house, 18229 Golden Oaks Dr., Jamestown. Bunco starts at 7:00pm. This is a fun, fast paced game with prizes. LOTS OF FUN!!!

Thursday, December 16 - MOPS Playdate - Christmas Craft and Storytime, 10am at Sierra Bible Church

****NO MOPS until January 13, 2011****

MOPS Thursday Nov.18

MOPS is Thursday, November 18 at 9:00am. Our meeting will focus on community outreach and how moms of young children can be a part of impacting those in need. We hope you will be there!

Keep track of those Momology Challenge points! We are coming up on the close of the semester and group and individual prizes will be awarded in December!!

If you missed the Self Defense class, I will have extra copies of the handout our insturctor gave us. It was very informative and a good reminder to be aware of our surroundings!

Upcoming dates:
Saturday, Nov. 20, 11am - MOPS Playdate at Columbia CandleWorks in Columbia. Purchase your candle and have fun dipping with the kids. Weather Permitting - Rain cancels!

Thursday, Nov. 25 - Thanksgiving!! No MOPS!

Thursday, Dec. 9 - MOPS - "Can Martha Have a Mary Christmas" - Special Guest Speaker - Anna Jensen . This is the only MOPS meeting in December

Saturday, Dec. 11 - Mom's Night Out- BUNCO! - Details to be announced!

Thursday , Dec. 16 - MOPS Craft Playdate - SBC - Join us in decorating cookies, making crafts, and having some Christmas fun!

NO MOPS on Thursday, Dec. 23 or 29!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Self Defense MNO - Nov. 5th

MOPS is having a Mom's Night Out on Friday, November 5th, 7pm! It's a self-defense class at Mountain Storm Jujitsu, 598 S. Washington Street in Sonora.

The cost is a donation of $5.00 for the class but come even if you can't donate. The class is a great opportunity to develop skills to protect ourselves and to enjoy some time away from the kids.


Upcoming Dates:
Nov. 11, Thursday - NO MOPS due to multiple schools being on holiday to celebrate Veteran's Day.
Nov. 18, Thursday, 9am - MOPS meeting
Nov. 20, Saturday, 11 am - Playdate in Columbia - Columbia Candle Works - weather permitting.
Nov. 25, Thursday - NO MOPS - Happy Thanksgiving!!

MOPS Tomorrow!

MOPS is tomorrow! The theme for our meeting is "Pathway to Peace" and it coincides with the Core section of the Momology book. Kathy, one of our MOPS moms and a steering member, will be our guest speaker. She will be talking about the importance of choosing peace and managing stress in this stage of our lives.

Upcoming Dates
Friday, November 5th - MNO - 7pm, Mountain Storm Jujitsu. Chantilli will be teaching us self defense. She is passionate about women knowing how to defend themselves.
The cost? A suggested donation of $5 but don't stay away if you can't swing the $5!

Thursday, Nov. 11 - Veteran's Day Holiday ***NO MOPS****

Thursday, Nov. 18 - Regular MOPS Meeting

Saturday, Nov. 20th - Playdate -11am, Columbia Candle Works. This is outdoors and contingent upon the weather. It's kind of on your own, nothing set up, or formal about it. You can purchase whatever shape or size candle you want and dip it into the different colored waxes. Bring a picnic lunch for after the candle dipping. If it's raining we'll have to cancel.

Fun at MOPS!

These are actually pictures from our first MOPS meeting of this year--from our 'Speed Meeting' rounds and life map activity.

We just fininshed an awesome meeting with Kathleen Ronald--challenging us to evict the negative thinking from our own lives, as well as our children's, and helping us to realize how powerful our words really are... and MAN, was it GOOD! Find her information here http://www.speaktacular.com/ --it would be well worth your time to check her out. Thanks, Kathy Kleinert for sharing your lovely friend with us today!

There are lots of fun playdates and events happening this month--check in with your table leaders and here on the blog for updates.

MOPS Meeting October 14!

Yes, MOPS meeting THIS THURSDAY, October 14 at 9:00am. MOPS meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month (except November and December). There was a teeny tiny bit of confusion because of the extra week in October.

We have a special treat for you all at the next meeting. Kathleen Ronald, a professional motivational speaker, will join us. She will be speaking on the five ways to evict negative thinking. We are so excited to have her with us. This is definitely one meeting you don't want to miss.

Also, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Wear pink to October 14th's meeting to honor breast cancer survivors and encourage awareness. You will also earn an extra point in the MOMOLOGY challenge!


Upcoming MOPS Dates:
October 15 - Mom's Night Out - Campfire and stargazing at Camie Bellah's home at 7:00pm - directions will be available at Thursday's meeting
October 21 - MOPS Playdate - 10:15am at Cover's. For $6.00 per person, you get a tour of Cover's, a ride on the train, cookie, and juice. If you don't want to do the tour, the maze is free and the train will be running for $3.00 per person.
October 24 - SBC Trunk or Treat from 4pm-6pm. Bring the kids anytime between 4-6pm for family friendly fun. MOPS will also be having a food booth fundraiser. Hot dogs, chili and nachos! We need help running the booth, so if you have 30 minutes to help serve chili and nachos, see Carrie on Thursday to sign.
October 31 - Calvary Chapel of Sonora will be hosting a Harvest Party from 4-8pm as an alternative to Halloween. No scary costumes!!

MNO at High Country Sports Arean

MOPS Mom's Night Out THIS SATURDAY! We are going rollerskating at High Country Sports Arena on Saturday, September 25 from 7pm - 9pm. The cost is $5.00 per person and includes your skate rental. High Country Sports Arena is located at 14934 Camage, in the Sierra Pacific Industrial Park near the TUD and PG&E offices. Bring a friend! If you possible, please RSVP/ send a reply to my email to let me know who is planning to come!

A few other MOPS Happenings:
September 30 (Thursday) - MOPPETS childcare training for moms willing to be on a rotating list to help in the nurseries during MOPS.
October 14 - MOPS - Guest Speaker Kathleen Ronald - Professional inspirational speaker
October 16 - Bling Extravaganza - Dinner and Fashion Show at SBC - call SBC for ticket info
October 24 - Trunk or Treat at Sierra Bible from 4pm-6pm - FREE!!
October 28 - MOPS

MOPS Meeting September 23

Next MOPS meeting is Thursday, September 23. Over the next three meetings, we will be focusing on how our personalities, life experiences, emotions, passions, and potential influence how we parent and who we are as a person. We will learn how to become moms who are resilient in time of change and challenge.

Details of our first MNO will be announced at the meeting.

Plan on joining us. We look forward to seeing you there!

MOPS Starts Thursday, September 9!!

School has started, the days are getting shorter, my kids have started their Christmas lists, it must be time for MOPS! FINALLY! Are you ready to spend some time with friends, enjoy a breakfast without sharing it, and flex your crafty muscles(even if they atrophied over the summer)?

MOPS begins Thursday September 9 at 9:00am. We meet at Sierra Bible Church in Sonora. You can check in your children beginning at 8:45am. Children ages two to five attend classes in Promiseland. The nurseries for children birth to two years old are in the main building, to the right of the entrance. There is a new computer check in system for the MOPPETS (children) program, so please be patient.

So what do we have in store for this year? The opportunity to develop your parenting skills, understand your role as a mother, laugh and cry with fellow moms, and build a friendship or two. And breakfast. The joy of the little things.

Please join us. We would love to see you there!

2010-2011 MOPS Pre-registration

MOPS is coming!

Pre-registration is Thursday, August 26 from 9am to 11am at SBC Promiseland. Come anytime to fill out registration forms and update MOPPETS info. There will be water fun and treats for the kids. Moms who are new to MOPS are welcome to pre-register!

Total dues for the year are $73.95 or $48.95 for half the year. Scholarships are available.

Also, Mentor Mom Mary is headed to Africa for a missions trip. While many of her needs have been met, deodorant is needed to distribute among the people. If you are out and about pick up an extra deodorant(for men or women) and bring it to Pre-registration!

We have an exciting and fun year planned to encourage you as a mom, wife, and woman. We look forward to seeing you on August 26! If you can't make it to preregistration, you can register at the first MOPS meeting on Thursday, September 9 at Sierra Bible Church!

If you have questions, call Alicia at 928-5502

MNO at Junction Starbucks on August 13

Ready for an iced coffee? Join your MOPS friends on August 13 at 7:00pm at the Junction Starbucks for some coffee and fellowship with friends. Hope you can join us!

MNO at Black Oak Lanes on Friday, July 9th

Do you like to bowl? Friday, July 9th is the MOPS Mom's Night Out at Black Oak Lanes. Meet near the Bowling Counter/Cashier at 6:30pm. Remember, you can park in the garage and take the direct basement entrance to family friendly floor in order to bypass the casino floor. Approx. cost is $5.00 plus shoe rental (around $3.00) per person. Great opportunity to get out and enjoy some time with friends and away from the kids.

This event is open to MOPS moms and friends, so call a friend to bring. We hope to see you there!

Pinecrest Playdate on Tuesday, June 29

Come on up to Pinecrest to enjoy storytime, pottery crafts, and swimming with MOPS. Storytime is at 10:00 am at the Pinecrest Amphitheater. The funny, entertaining songs and stories will have your children laughing and singing along. There is no cost unless you want to give a donation. After storytime, Out of Hand hosts a pottery craft for kids. Your child can create and paint a pottery project for a small fee. My nine year old looks forward to doing a project each summer. You can spend the rest of the day swimming, playing in the sand, and getting a tan. Look for a MOPS sign near the Amphitheater. Alicia F. will have a spot at the beach where you can drop off your stuff before storytime or meet up after story and crafts! Bring your towels, swimsuits, and lunch. Hope to see you there!

Last meeting of our year this Thursday!

We hope you can join us for our end of the year party this Thursday, May 27!

We will have tons of fun with lots of activities, prizes and celebrating together the graduating moms and our MOPS year! We'll also be doing a little survey of how you liked your MOPS experience this year, so come ready to give us your input on ways to make it even better. We'll have our summer activities schedule to handout so we can stay connected over summer. Lots going on... don't miss it!!!

Coming Attractions

Join your MOPS mama friends for a night out with a chick flick!

We'll be heading to the Sonora movie theatre this Friday night (May 21) for the 7p.m.-ish showing (showtime listed for this weekend was 7:20pm, check back here or in paper for actual time) of Letters to Juliet (rated PG). It's sure to be a good time!

Only one more MOPS meeting--May 27th--until we break for summer! Be sure it's on your calendar! You won't want to miss all the fun give-aways, prizes and information on our summer get-togethers. You can also pre-register for next year for a discounted rate!

We'll be seeing you!

This Wednesday!!! Playdate at the Fire Station!

Meet at 10am at the Fire Station in Downtown Sonora
(located at 201 S. Shephard St., just 2 blocks east of the main street)
After the tour, walk down to Legends for ice cream or lunch and more together time!

This is a free tour for everyone!

Last year, this was a great hit for our kids! The Firemen even got all dressed in their gear as part of the tour so that all the kids could see what they looked like and not to be scared of them (and that there weren't really aliens in those suits!). They also all posed with us for a big group photo (which, of course, is buried somewhere in my computer so that it will never again be found!)... so fun for everyone!!! Hope you will join us!

Great meeting, ladies!! I loved all the great food and can't wait to put the recipe book together. I won't be finalizing the recipe book for another week or so, so if you forgot to email me your recipe (or weren't able to make it but would still like to contribute a yummy dish your family enjoys), please type it out and email it to me at mrskmiller@hotmail.com by May 1.

I was also very inspired by Ruth's talk about the AROMA of the home and how we as mom's really can control how welcoming or stinky that is! The acrostic that Ruth provided was a really powerful way to remember the elements to make our homes a wonderful place to be...

A-Affection
R-Respect
O-Order
M-Merriment
A-Affirmation

I hope you were challenged in at least one area to make your house 'smell' a little better today for your loved ones. I know I was... I need to have a little bit more FUN in this house!!!!

It's time for our Annual Recipe Exchange!

Thursday, April 22nd - During our regular MOPS Meeting

Come hungry and ready to stack your plate with new ideas!

Connect with your table leader to find out what portion of a meal (appetizer, side, main dish, dessert, etc.) you signed up for (or need to) and bring that dish, along with the recipe typed out. Also, please email your recipe to Kirsten at mrskmiller@hotmail.com. She will be taking pictures of the actual dish at the meeting and then compile all of the recipes into a recipe book you can use at home!

We will also be hearing from Mentor Mom, Ruth Pedro, about how as moms, we control the 'Atmospheric Pressure' of the home and how the aroma of our attitudes and words can really affect those around us. Are you stinky and don't even know it or are you a welcoming, beautiful perfume? What do you want to be?

MOPS Meeting this week!

Now that the sun is out... we can celebrate Spring!

Hopefully your kiddos are all getting the sick bugs out and we'll see you at our MOPS meeting this week! We'll be focusing on the Crazy Love of our amazing God... as Easter is just around the corner. Our mentor mom, Camie Bellah, will be sharing with us, and we'll be doing a craft and watching a little video as well. If you'd like a sneak peak, check out www.crazylovebook.com. Francis Chan, the author of Crazy Love, was my pastor and friend and he has incredible insight on God's Word and a wonderful gift of communicating it to people.

We'll see you this Thursday!!!

p.s. we don't have MOPS again until April 22nd because of Easter break...

This Weeks MOPS Mama fun!!!

MOPS Meeting--"Flight Manual"
THURSDAY, March 11, 9am-11am
This meeting is dealing with something we all want to instill in our kids but sometimes struggle with the best way to go about doing it... discipline, respecting authority, and how we might be helping and/or hindering our children by our own interactions with others (i.e. school teachers). Come and learn from a panel of wise women who have navigated this territory before us and start to develop your 'how to' manual with some new ideas!

Pedicure Party Mom's Night Out:
FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 7pm-9pm
We had to cancel our last attempt at this one due to bad weather, but know that is one of the favorites so we plugged it back into the schedule. Join us at Echo Howell's home with 'naked' toes that are ready to be pampered and painted! Echo lives at 20217 Stanislaus Ct. in Sonora--basically where Racetrack Rd. dead ends into Jamestown Rd in the new housing subdivision (one block toward Jamestown). You can call her at 533-5022 for more specifics or with any questions!

Also, make sure you've scheduled a time for our Spring Portrait Fundraiser! Pictures are starting this weekend, and continuing into next-call Alicia now to get yours booked at 928-5502!

ACRO Gymnastics Playdate!

Beat the rain and join us for our March Playdate fun at ACRO Sports!
Wed, March 3 from 11am-noon
$3 per child for a guided warm up, tour around the equipment and then free play!

This is also a great and inexpensive way to experience a fun activity offered for pre-school and school-aged children in our community!

ACRO gym is located on Seaborn Ave. on HWY 108 just east of Standard Rd. (between Standard and Jenness).

Check out their blog @ American Sports ACRO & Gymnastics: "American Sports ACRO & Gymnastics"

Another Great Opportunity to Grow Together & In Christ!

Friday, March 5 - Saturday, March 6

Follow this link for all the details:

www.sierrabible.com/ministries/womensministries! Hope to see you there!

It's BUNKO Mom's Night Out!!!

Join us for another fun MNO playing BUNKO!

Date: This Friday, Feb 19

Time: 7pm

Where: Kirsten's Home at 50 Columbia Way, Sonora (follow link for google map/directions: 50 columbia way, sonora, ca - Google Maps)

Bring: $3 cash and a snack to share

Please call Echo at 533-5022 for any questions or Kirsten at 533-3767 for directions!

Welcome to our new 'followers'!

Welcome Spring, Holly, and Alicia! You can be one, too!

If you choose to be a 'follower' of the SBC MOPS blog, you can choose a setting that will allow you to receive updates automatically with each new post. This way, you'll be in the know for all things MOPS! We aren't doing snail mail reminders anymore to cut costs, so this truly is the only way to not miss a beat!

Also, I'll be trying to incorporate some fun stuff, like getting to know MOPS moms and fun information (stuff that would normally be in a newsletter--also not being produced this year, at first due to me being too overwhelmed with my crazy life and now due to saving on copying costs). If you have anything you think would be great for other moms to know, feel free to email me at mrskmiller@hotmail.com and I'll post it!

Become a 'follower' and check back often!

Spring Portraits are coming!

Don't miss out on great pictures for a great cause! It's a photo fundraiser for MOPS with professional photographer and MOPS mom Wendy Westcamp. Sessions are filling up fast--schedule yours now! (if you want to see the image bigger to read the details and get contact info, just click on it!).

MOPS Meeting--Feb 11

Fanning Your Flames!

Join us in your comfy clothes (or PJ's) for a great movie and fun time with the girls at MOPS this Thursday, February 11th! We'll have our brunch and watch the movie "Fireproof"--bring lawn chairs, blankets, whatever you'd like to make yourself cozy... and bring your tissue!!!

We'll have a raffle ticket to win fun prizes for every mom who walks through the door before 9:00am! We are starting the movie at 9:05am sharp--so don't be late this week! =)

Keep posted here for details regarding our Feb MNO Bunko party and other upcoming MOPS fun!

Mommy & Me Playdate

It's February so let's get into the Valentine's spirit and have a fun playdate!
Join us for a Mommy & Me craft and fun time together!

Wednesday, Feb 3
10am-12pm
Chantal's House: 22312 Ponderosa Dr. in Twain Harte (not Tuolumne); call for directions at 586-1862

First Meeting of the New Year...

We'll be having our first meeting of the year this Thursday, January 14th! The topic is "Lost in Space: Personal Passions and Goals"--a topic that moms often struggle with. Christy Maxson will be our guest speaker and we have some fun and meaningful activities planned for you. We hope to see you all there!

Also, you might want to put Friday, January 22nd on your calendar... at 7pm, we'll be having a pedicure party at Holly's home!! We'll post directions/mapquest link as we get closer, just wanted to get it on your schedule for now.

Lastly, another date for the calendar is Saturday, Jan 23--we'll be having a family 'skate-date' at the High Country Sports Arena (off of Camage Rd.) from 11am-1pm. More details to follow on this as well. =)