Operation Christmas Child - MOPS Meeting November 21st

A Beautiful Mess

Embrace Your Story

We made 8 boxes total!! Way to go ladies!!!!

A Thanksgiving Prayer

Our Father, giver of life and joy, who is like you, Oh Lord, that we should come to you with our praise? You need not these words, for you formed our lips. What is man that you are mindful of him? You own the lives of all that inhabit the earth.

Your power, might, and love are seen in the bounty of this season. We gather this day around a table laden with food that you have brought forth. We gather as family and friends whom you brought into this world. We bow before you with humble hearts knowing we live because you brought us to life.

We celebrate this day as a nation of people who have been blessed more than any other people on the face of the earth and at any time. We acknowledge you as the giver of the good we so easily take for granted. Forgive us as we are a forgetful people. Grant us on this Thanksgiving Day, the time to reflect on all the ways you have blessed each of us who has gathered. Increase our understanding of your ways, defeat us when we use our blessings for selfish gain, and remind us to love one another.

Thank you for providing all that we need for life and godliness. Make us to be a light and a blessing to the nations of the world. We acknowledge you as the only true and living God.

Next Meeting: December 5th

• Individual Challenge: bring MOPPETS volunteer and staff gifts
• Hot Messy Mammas are bringing the food

Sweet Potato Chips

Ingredients:
2 lbs large sweet potatoes, scrubbed                     1/4 teaspoon sea salt              
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil                           1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper                  

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees
2. Half the potatoes, then cut into 1/2 inch wedges
3. Toss with oil, salt and pepper in medium bowl
4. Arrange the potatoes in a single layer on a nonstick baking sheet
5. Bake, turning once, until browned and crisp, about 35 minutes

Hope to see you next week!!

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

Email Us! 

Like Us on Facebook!

MOPS International

Forgiving Myself by Clair Boone

There’s a voice in my head that sometimes whispers, sometimes booms loudly. It tells me I’ll never amount to anything, and that I’m failing as a mom.

I’m familiar, and even good at, forgiving others. Turning off that voice inside my head and forgiving myself is more difficult.  Like a loud gong, the voice pounds unmercifully and whispers that I’m not good enough.

It’s allowing my children more time in front of the TV on a rainy day, or forgetting something they needed, or giving in to a piece of candy right before bed.  Whatever the voice, I’m sure you know how it feels.

Sometimes I find myself in the comparison trap, and the voice gets a little louder as I consider the “better than me” mothers around me. You know the ones. You’re fairly convinced they wake up by 4 a.m., milk a cow, make cinnamon rolls from scratch for breakfast and still manage to keep up with the laundry.

The only problem with the voice in my head is this: It doesn’t know I’m forgiven. It missed the part where a gracious and loving Father came and called you … and me … by name.

When we demand perfection from ourselves we ignore God’s grace – a grace that says you are enough, I forgive you, now forgive yourself.

He forgave me and he forgave you and to live requiring ourselves to be supermom on a daily basis is impossible. That little voice takes a lot of the joy out of motherhood, but you can learn to turn it off and embrace grace.

God chose you – specifically – to be your child’s mom. That little voice takes a lot of the joy out of motherhood, but you can learn to turn it off and embrace grace. You are right where you belong, and you are part of God’s amazing plan for your child. Give yourself some grace!

~ Clair Boone

Clair Boone, a mom of two, is a Slow Cookin' Queen who loves trying out easy crock pot recipes for her family that Moms, short on time and money, will love. Find her and her weekly Slow Cooker Mondays recipes on her blog, Mummy Deals:  http://mummydeals.org/category/slow-cooker-mondays/

November 21st MOPS Meeting

Our next MOPS meeting is this Thursday, November 21st at The Grove Baptist Church (12300 County Line Road Madison AL 35756) from 10am - noon.

Come join us as we pack boxes for Operation Christmas Child. We will be learning about what may be draining us (a little something brought back from MOPS convention). In case that wasn't appealing enough, we may get to hear a little from Kathi Lipp on how to embrace our unique child(ren).

So please come join us for a great time of packing, learning, and of course FOOD and CONVERSATION!!!!

Hope to see you Thursday morning!!!

Thankful Thursday - November 7th Meeting

At this past Thursday's meeting we made thankful trees as we recalled all that we are thankful for in our lives.

Thankful Tree

We also watched this amazing video by Kid President:

A Thank You to Moms Everywhere!!!

Next Meeting: November 21st

• Individual Challenge: bring item(s) for OCC boxes 

• Chaos Cuties are providing the meal

• Don't forget to be praying for our fellow moms as well

*Be shopping for the MOPPETS workers and staff members. *

*We will be collecting items for them December 5th meeting*

A Beautiful Mess

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,

other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed

that during the low periods of my life,

when I was suffering from

anguish, sorrow or defeat,

I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,

"You promised me Lord,

that if I followed you,

you would walk with me always.

But I have noticed that during

the most trying periods of my life

there have only been one

set of footprints in the sand.

Why, when I needed you most,

you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,

"The times when you have

seen only one set of footprints,

is when I carried you."

Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients:
1 package of yellow cake mix
1 can of pumpkin puree
1 tsp. of ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease your muffin pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together your ingredients until smooth. Spoon equal amounts of batter into muffin cups.
3. Bake for 20-25 minutes and enjoy!

November 7th

We have a MOPS meeting today at The Grove Baptist Church (12300 County Line Road Madison AL) from 10am - noon.

We'll be making some thankful trees and sharing with one another about things we are thankful for. We will also be sharing with one another about how becoming a mom has changed us and shaped us to who we are today.

Don't forget there will be food too!!

It should be a great time of fellowship and fun with a little music and slideshow thrown into the mix.

Hope to see you later this morning for MOPS at The Grove!!!!