October 3rd - Happy Harvest Food Drive

A Beautiful Mess 

“Humor is to life what shock absorbers are to automobiles"

      Winona had no doubt her wedding was ruined and she would be the laughing stock of the town. It was all she could do to keep back the tears as she walked down the aisle with Will. As they neared the back of the church, however, Will burst into laughter - a big, booming, infectious laugh - and Winona had to laugh too. Soon the entire church was guffawing with gusto.       

        On a hot June day, Winona and Will had just exchanged their wedding vows and were about to take their triumphant wedding march back down the aisle. Suddenly, Winona's six-foot-tall brother (a groomsman), fainted, and not very delicately at that. In the course of his falling, he toppled another groomsman and lurched against the best man, nearly forcing him down too. Two attendants each grabbed an arm of the fallen man and dragged him out of the church, in full view of the 300 guests and a horrified young bride.

       Winona said many years late, "My first reaction to nearly any situation used to be 'Oh, no' but Will's first reaction has always been to see humor in a situation. I've grown to adopt his point of view. I figure the very least I can glean from a nightmare is a good laugh and a memorable story to tell later."

“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things for them'". Psalms 126:2

Next Meeting: October 17th

• Secret Mom Exchange is under way (optional): If you didn't bring your gift for your secret mom you have two more opportunities to do so this month (17th and 31st)
• Ongoing Fundraiser: Papa Johns - bring in your receipts off the box - MOPS gets 20%
• Fundraising Survey - we are conducting a survey to try and determine which fundraiser(s) we would like to do as a MOPS group in the spring - please go and fill it out at www.surveymonkey.com/s/DVKT2V2

• International Dues ($24) - Past due - if you have not paid please do so at the next meeting

• Table Challenge for October - get together with the moms at your table for a play date and/or a mommy's night out - don't forget to take pictures!!! Most importantly, have fun!!! 

• Food is being provided by Hot Messy Mammas

• Pumpkin Pickin' (and so much more) with The Grove at the Lyons Family Farm - October 12th 9am - we can meet at the church and carpool or meet at the Farm - admission price is 9.75 per person tax included (23 months and under free) - for more information regarding Lyon Family Farms go to www.lyonfamilyfarms.com/index.htm

Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo

Ingredients:

~ 1/2 pound package of linguine

~ 1 cup fresh or frozen broccoli florets

~ 2 tablespoons butter

~ 1 1/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces

~ 1 can Campbell's Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup

~ 1/2 cup milk

~ 1/2 cup grated Parmesian Cheese

~ 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

How to Make It: 

• Prepare the linguine according to the package directions in a 3 quart sauce pan. Add the broccoli during the last 4 minutes of the cooking time. Drain the linguine mixture well in a colander.
• Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until well browned and cooked through, stirring often.
• Stir the soup, milk, cheese, black pepper, and linguine mixture in the skillet and cook until the mixture is hot and bubbling, stirring occasionally. Serve with additional Parmesan cheese. 

MOPS at The Grove

The Grove Baptist Church

12300 County Line Rd.

Madison, AL 35756

Pastor: Ross Clemmons

Children’s Pastor: Lottie Partridge

Phone: 256-233-2080

Web: www.thegrovebaptist.com

Email: mopsatthegrove@gmail.com

Facebook: MOPS at The Grove

MOPS International: www.mops.org