I really enjoy going there. It's definitely a place where I feel welcome and accepted, and it's a safe place for mommies to share and encourage one another!
Basically, you start out between 9-9:30am with food and fellowship (and great coffee - the coffee is important to me!) If you arrive before 9:20am, you get entered into a drawing for a prize! Each Discussion Group rotates bringing food (and childcare). It basically breaks down to 2-3 times per year that you bring food and help with the kiddos. At 9:30, we open in prayer in the large group session. Then, we do door prizes, contests, encouragement, announcements, etc. There is a speaker for about an hour, and then we break off into our Discussion Groups (about 5-10 women). We talk about the presentation, our lives, our problems, anything really. Then we get to do craft time! This is usually a very simple but neat project that we can easily all do. Last week, we made our name tags, and this week we made key chains out of Jenga blocks with scrapbook paper and Mod Podge!
The first week was actually last week, and I got put into the "Bubbles" group. My DGL (Discussion Group Leader) is Stacy, and I'm SO thankful, because I only know Auntie Karen and Heidi (my cousin) and Adriene there - but I play softball with Stacy and her husband, Joel! It was really great to have an open door like that with someone I know.
In some respects, it feels a little like kindergarten when I talk to my family about it. Robert asked me, "Did you make any new friends at MOPS today?" And I said, "Yes, my new friend Rebecca might come to church with us on Sunday!" Then he will ask, "And what did you make at craft time today?" And I tell him. LOL. That's okay, though.
This last week, we talked about the importance of boundaries. I learned that it's important to know that it's okay to say, "Yes," or to say, "No," or even "Let me think about it." I have a really hard time saying no, so I need to work on that! Also asking for time to think about an answer first - that is really going to take some time!
We also talked about our "families of origin." (If you've ever gone through pre-marital counseling, you really understand that term!) We talked about boundaries with our families of origin, discussed the different ways we were raised, and... I got to encourage my group members with my own advice and anecdotes! It was so neat.
I talked about this anger management technique, and also about our home buying process. My Mentor Mom said, "thank you so much for sharing and encouraging this morning! I am so thankful for your perspective!" It made me feel really appreciated and accepted, and for that I am grateful!
The theme of MOPS this year is "A Beautiful Mess," and we all share what our messes are!
So here is my mess:
And speaking of houses - we are expecting to get our keys sometime today! :)
That's all for now. I've carved out my 15 minutes of blogging time out of the last month. (I have not forgotten about Ellie Jo's 4 month pictures; that post is still not done yet).
I'm off to a consignment sale!
