The Importance of Female Friendships

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It’s a beautiful thing when God brings the heart and head together and your world begins to collide with your dreams!

You might be thinking, “I’m too tired to see my dreams right now” or “the laundry is too high to find my pillow – dreams?” Well, sister, it gets better! There is a light at the end of the tunnel. But I’m not going to sugar coat every detail. It does take patience, effort and even a little work.

When I came to MOPS 3 years ago, I was sad. I was grieving the miscarriage of a child that would have made us a family of four. My kid had never been in someone else’s care and had to be peeled off my hip at our first meeting. My heart did not know how to feel when I woke up each day and my head had to do all the heavy lifting.

Since then, I’ve encountered friendships who encourage me to be where I am and that its okay, promise me that it gets better and they’re right, hold my hand through scary next-step-decisions, confidently tell me that I can do it when I doubt myself, and love me in spite of all my flaws.

Without these female friendships, I might still be reclining in the same chair, under the same pile of laundry while my boy kisses me to say “It’s okay mommy. Don’t cry. I love you!”

You see, when you gather together with like-minded people who share similar concerns, interests and activities, great things happen. You learn to initiate, ask great questions, give honest answers and develop true friendships!

Love grows. My dreams include a place for this, and now I’m watching it unfold before my eyes. That, my friend, is what happens when your head tells your heart to do what your heart can’t imagine how to do, knowing the result is worth the investment.

If you’re still looking for “your people”, please come visit us tomorrow. You just might decide it’s worth a second visit, a third, a fourth and before you know it… you’re inviting another mom you met who felt the same way you did before you found MOPS. So just listen to your head, or me – if that’s what it takes, and come enjoy coffee and breakfast with a table full of female friends who have their arms open wide, waiting on your arrival.

Click here to pre-register, saving yourself some time at the door.

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Help me wish all of our moms with October birthdays a very special month!

  • Ashley Kraft, 10/1
  • Roxie Magro, 10/4
  • Vanessa Erikson, 10/4
  • Jenn MacKinnon, 10/5
  • Carmen Monteagudo, 10/27
  • Taylor Miller, 10/31

Help, we don’t want to forget those with October anniversaries!

  • Corey Troutman, 10/4
  • Ashley Kraft, 10/5
  • Keisha Payton, 10/12
  • Katie Rower, 10/19
  • Ashley Daigle, 10/22
  • Colleen Shumaker, 10/25
  • Lindsey Fraizer, 10/27
  • Margo Skaletski, 10/31
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MOPS Of Newnan Fall Kick-Off

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I did not know how much my life would change when I visited MOPS for the first time, now three years ago.

I’ve been blessed with the freedom of independence from an early age. Encouraging my new two year old to also be independent is what drove me to find a mom group in the first place. Yet he was devastated when I dropped him off, and I was unprepared for that to break my heart when I walked away from his classroom.

I lost it! The tears flowed steadily during my first meeting, and I couldn’t imagine anyone in that fellowship hall wanting to befriend me.

Those are the only details I remember about my first meeting, but I left with so much more than details. I left with a feeling! A feeling that MOPS is a place of acceptance, love, peace, joy, laughter and fun!

Two weeks later, I came back. My boy cried again, but I was confident for him; this was a place he could learn independence, meet friends, accept others and have fun!

Three years later, I’m coming back without him because he just started Kindergarten. I’m a little sad because I started MOPS for us. He’s a little sad because his MOPS friends have become his best, like family.

MOPS has given me so much more than the fun from each meeting! It’s offered me friendships, perspective, understanding and helped me open my heart to opportunities that I wouldn’t have pictured for myself.

When we open our hearts, God has something special waiting for us!

As we get ready to kick-off a new season of MOPS (tomorrow!!!!), ask yourself this question. “What feeling, experiences or opportunities will I miss, if I don’t give MOPS a chance?” If you’re ready, nerves and all, to get connected with a tribe of women who will walk through motherhood with you, then join us tomorrow to kick-off this next season of MOPS of Newnan. (And jump to the bottom of this post for meeting details.)

My experience is just that, my story. We all have one, but I wanted to share a few testimonies from other moms who’ve opened their hearts to MOPS.

“I can meet REAL friends after moving to a new place.”

“We are not alone in this journey called motherhood.”

“Other women are not scary.”
 

And a few from the MOPS Int’l Blog:

“I’ve learned that with God I am never alone … I always have a friend.”

“God is fighting for my self-worth, for my family and for my love.”

“It’s liberating to be able to express that life isn’t all gravy. Being a mom is way harder than I ever thought it would be.”


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Help me shout out to our moms with summer and September birthdays and anniversaries!

May Birthdays:

  • Sara Sloderbeck
  • Michelle Baumann
  • Chelsey Hicks
  • Aaron McNeely
  • Jessica Whitlock
  • Chanel Choitz
  • Robin Ervin

June Birthdays:

  • Laura Stockman
  • Amber Gharapetian
  • Keri Davis
  • Tiffanie Teel
  • Michelle Silence
  • Allison Caines

July Birthdays:

  • Tori Hansen
  • Jaimie Moss
  • Ashley VanDenBerg
  • Katie Morgan
  • Priscilla Coffey
  • Elizabeth Gordon

August Birthdays:

  • Angela Jarrell
  • Angela Dodd
  • Cassie Jackson
  • Allison Herdic
  • Ashley Daigle
  • Dori Itzel

September Birthdays:

  • Caitlin Marker
  • Caitlin Chambers
  • Jacqueline Warren
  • Kaitlin Wren
  • Robin Lea
  • Kelly Pringle
  • Audrey Tomlinson

May Anniversaries:

  • Amee Davison
  • Amanda St. Germain
  • Caitlin Marker
  • Chanel Choitz
  • Trish Cappiello
  • Allison Herdic
  • Angela Dodd
  • Maranda Wood
  • Tory Leech
  • Tori Hansen
  • Jessica Whitlock
  • Jenn MacKinnon

June Anniversaries:

  • Cassie Daigle
  • Ashley Watson
  • Robin Lea
  • Sara Sloderbeck
  • Bethany Dickens
  • Katie Morgan
  • Kristie Kimmel
  • Julie Nielsen
  • Kelly Pringle
  • Karen Slade

July Anniversaries:

  • Roxi Magro
  • Michelle Baumann
  • Kathleen Frederick
  • Dori Itzel
  • Katie Jeffords
  • Shanna Edel
  • Robin Ervin

August Anniversaries:

  • Angela Jarrell
  • Emily Ingold
  • Linsey Harper
  • Christy Faircloth
  • Katie Beese
  • Jaimie Moss

September Anniversaries:

  • Kelly Presnal
  • Andrea Reese
  • Julie Wall
  • Brooke Wells
  • Priscilla Coffey
  • Vanessa Erikson

A few reminders…

We meet at First Baptist Church Newnan, but come to the preschool entrance at 53 Madison Street, Newnan, GA 30263.

We start at 9:30, but MOPS Kids drop-off opens at 9:15, so be on-time and get your extra 15 minutes, since we end at 11:30 and must promptly pick up our kiddos, in order to relieve our Caregivers on-time.

Street Parking is available all over downtown Newnan and surrounding First Baptist Church, but their is also a parking lot across the street from the preschool entrance and  a gravel lot past the building on the left.

Oh, and if you haven’t pre-registered. You might want to STOP! and take care of that right now. Otherwise, it might feel like that early morning in the doctor’s office when they hand you a clipboard full of paperwork, but you have the kids tugging at your clothes and calling you by name 1000x. Avoid that feeling and use this link to pre-register now.

A NEW SEASON

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I’m sitting on my patio with shade from the trees and umbrella watching my almost five year old play in the lake. I don’t know where the time has gone or how I’ve come to this day where it’s time to tell you about our new year.

Reflecting on my years at MOPS of Newnan, I can’t help but share how blessed I have been. Honestly when I discovered MOPS, I was a mom who had lost her identity. I struggled with a sense of fashion, leaving the house, socializing my boy and especially making new friends. I was a mess!

I wouldn’t exactly call myself fashionable today, but I do feel that I have found myself again. The confidence to accept a leadership role here has helped redevelop the strong woman I once was before motherhood. In the past year, I have helped coordinate MOPS of Newnan’s Summer Bible Study and the 2018-19 MOPS season. I have survived the first year of my son’s education – life changes BIG when they start school. And I’ve managed my time wisely enough to fit in freelance web development allowing me to contribute to my family’s finances again.

I’m not sharing these things in search of recognition, but to help you find yourself in my story.  I want you accept where you are today, make choices to advance your tomorrow and find confidence in the best future you can imagine!

Now, that we are entering the last year Kala Arrington and I will lead MOPS of Newnan as Coordinators, we want to introduce you to the newest leadership team that will make it all happen this coming year. Are you ready?

2019-2020 MOPS of Newnan Leadership Team

Co-Coordinators: Kala Arrington and Tiffanie Teel

Coordinator Shadows: Vanessa Erikson, Kathleen Frederick and Kristie Kimmel

Finance Leader: Emily Ingold

MOPS Kids Leaders: Katie Jeffords and Jeannie Hart

Creative Activities Leader: Ashley Watson

Hospitality Leaders: Ashley Daigle and Cassie Daigle

Member Care Leaders: Christy Faircloth and Jacqueline Warren

Discussion Group Leaders: Katie Beese, Amee Davison, Vanessa Erikson, Robin Ervin, Kathleen Frederick, Nancy Hall, Kristie Kimmel, Jenn MacKinnon, Aaron McNeely and Laura Prout

First Baptist Church Newnan Liaison: Laura Stockman

Publicity*: Tiffanie Teel

Fundraising | Service Projects Leader: open

Please help me welcome our 2019-2020 Leadership Team to MOPS of Newnan and Congratulations!!


With each new season, MOPS International brings us a new theme to set the tone and theme for the year. This year, we are thrilled to introduce you to our new theme, entitled TO THE FULL. Watch this.

 

As you know, brand new members to MOPS of Newnan can try two meetings for FREE. But if you are a veteran member, consider keeping your current membership up to date and reserving your seat at our table through Early Registration. We are excited to be expecting a record year for registrations!

Click here to access the registration form and payment instructions. Early Birds by May 30th will be entered into a drawing to win a MOPS of Newnan T-Shirt and all Early Birds by June 30th will receive a Reduced Registration fee of $100 vs the Standard Membership Dues of $115.


Please join us throughout the summer for a variety of social activities and, as always, invite your friends! Our summer activities are for members and non-members, giving newbies a chance to mingle with us to get just a taste of what MOPS of Newnan can bring to a family.

Find our summer event schedule by clicking here.


*There is opportunity to contribute to the MOPS of Newnan Blog. If blogging has crossed your mind and you’d like to get your feet wet or even share one message with other moms, this is the perfect opportunity for you to donate a little of your time. Please inquire with Tiffanie Teel.

Join or Come Back & Save

blog_CyberMondayWant the chance to connect face to face with moms who won’t (hopefully!) bite or scream at them? Come back to us or pay your dues today and receive one free year of MOPS International Membership.

If you’ve visited us, MOPS of Newnan, been a member in the past or just haven’t prioritized our meetings, now is the time. Contact us today before this offer goes away.

Thank you for helping us share this news with your friends! Trust us … your friends will thank you.

MOPS Fall Swap

MOPS of Newnan Fall Swap

First, Happy Halloween! If you’re downtown Newnan for the Munchkin Masquerade and see me working at the Library, please say hi!

But you’re probably reading to learn more about out next meeting, so let me get right to it… Clean out your closets and pack up the clothes that no longer fit the people in your house. Clean the playroom & kids’ rooms and bring the toys your kids no longer enjoy. Bring all your unwanted items to the MOPS Swap. Bring as many items as you’d like. Because you’ll have a chance to look through everything the other mothers bring and select items that will work for you and your family. Items your kids will enjoy! You might even find something worth saving to wrap for Christmas!

At the end of swap, unclaimed items will go to New Beginnings Thrift Store to support Women’s Shelters.

Check in is at 9:15, breakfast starts at 9:30 am, and we will have plenty of time to shop before settling in for a little gratitude challenge. Don’t you think it’s time?

It’s simple: If you worry, you give up being happy. This week, we’ll take the Three Good Things Gratitude Challenge and embrace the phrase, “Don’t worry. Be happy!”

And speaking of being happy… be happy with us! If you haven’t committed to us for this season, what are you waiting for? Haven’t you had a great time? We want you to be a part of MOPS of Newnan this year, so stop hesitating and *commit.

*If you have questions about membership dues, click here.

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Now for our monthly shout outs! If you’ve got a birthday or anniversary this month – we love you and hope it’s gReAt!

November Birthdays:

Kristie Enne

Meagan Taylor

Julie Taylor

Christy Faircloth

Amanda St. Germain

Kelly Presnal

November Anniversaries:

Dorothy Murray

Elizabeth Thomas

Chelsey Hicks

Megan Terry

Parenting

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I am thrilled about what we have planned today. I mean, I think two meetings is plenty of time to get to know each other and it’s time to get deep. Are you in?

We have two guest speakers to talk to us about Parenting. Lauren Collins RN, BSN is from Moms On Call, and, mamas, when she told me what was on her heart, I got goose bumps. I cannot wait to hear what she has for us today. I’m pretty sure God was speaking to her and she was listening.

Next up is Susan Goodroe, M.Ed. with the Ferst Foundation, a childhood literacy program in Georgia, now known as Ferst Readers. And if you aren’t familiar with Ferst Readers, it’s a program that sends every child up to the age of 5 a free book each month. Wow! Where do I sign up? Well, Susan is going to tell us.

So, mamas, will I see you this morning? I sure hope you’ll be there with hearts open.

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Don’t think we’ve forgotten about our monthly shoutouts! If you’ve got a birthday or anniversary this month – Live It Up!

October Birthdays:

Katee Smith

Ashley Kraft

Roxie Magro

Vanessa Erikson

Jenn MacKinnon

Michelle Parsons

Lauren Conway

October Anniversaries:

Chloe Choi

Ashley Kraft

Elizabeth Girdon

Tanya Roberts

Margo Skaletski