Grounded in Gratitude

Mamas, here we are in Thanksgiving season once again! As we approach the holiday, however it will look for your family this year, I’d like to challenge us to take a moment to be purposeful about our gratitude.

But, first, let’s not gloss over the fact mothering can be challenging in any given season, especially during the hecticness of the holidays. And, this year, your family may have faced unprecedented challenges that have created new stressors.

However, I think we can all agree upon this truth: there is always something to be grateful for.

It’s not always easy to punctuate our thanks over our every blessing. Life with littles is, well, busy! But, appreciation can become a habit ingrained into our everyday mindset.

Gratitude challenges are a wonderful way to remember the many, many ways we have been blessed by God. A journal or even taped notes on our bathroom mirror help us focus on what we can say thanks over daily.

Moreover, sometimes reframing our perspective can illuminate gratitude in a whole new light! For example, we can tell ourselves, “I am so burdened by all I to do today – dishes, laundry, bills, carpool lines, etc.!”

We can rewrite this narrative in a spirit of thankfulness by declaring, “I am so grateful I have food in my pantry, clothes for my family, service providers that supply my family’s needs, and a school for my children to attend.”

Sound simple? The concept is! But, the application can take a little work. Take heart mamas: you can do this!

With a little intentionality, thanksgiving can be a way of life as we speak our joy and gratitude over the people and blessings in our life. And, what’s more, a spirit of gratitude can spread joy, so let’s sprinkle it over our lives and relationships like confetti!

Join us Monday, Nov. 16^th from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Newnan First Baptist Church as we delve into this topic and encourage each other in the spirit of Thanksgiving!

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Happy Fall, Y’all!

Now that it is officially sweater weather, we hope you and your little ones are taking in all of the enjoyment this season can bring.

Next Monday, 10/12, we will meet again at Newnan First Baptist Church from 6:30-8:30 p.m. for … you guessed it!…MOPS Swap! This MOPS meeting favorite is back again just in time for fall closet clean outs. Please bring your gently used items to share with other mamas, and come ready to shop for your family. Items to share include: men, women and children’s clothing, children’s books, toys, puzzles, etc. You can also share household items like frames, decor, etc. Prepare to bless others, and maybe find some treasures as well! Also, we ask that you not take home items to resell, but rather only take items that suit the needs of your family! All unclaimed items will be donated to a local organization.

Friends, the fun has just begun. For the remainder of the fall, MOPS of Newnan will continue to offer food, coffee, fellowship, discussion and content that speaks to our mom hearts. Mark your calendars for each of these evenings from 6:30-8:30 p.m.:

• Monday, 10/26: Our topic will be “Looking for the Lonely.” On this evening, we will delve into how motherhood can be at times, well, lonely. But that is one of the reasons MOPS exists – to bring us all together in this season of raising babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.
• Monday, 11/16: As we prepare our hearts and minds for the season of Thanksgiving, we will discuss “The Work of Gratitude.” Even in the midst of challenges and uncertainty, gratitude is a must-have attitude that can be a game-changer for ourselves and those around us.
• Monday, 11/30: On this evening, come prepared to learn a ton about fire safety for your home. If you have not heard from our friends at the Newnan Fire Department in the past, you definitely do not want to miss this meeting.
• Monday, 12/7: It’s time to be merry and bright as we enjoy our annual MOPS of Newnan Christmas party.
• 2021: Stay tuned for details on how our meetings will unfold in the New Year!

Interested in joining us for the first time? Please come check out a meeting! The first two meetings are free and we would love to greet you. If you would like more registration details, please visit https://member-registration-packet-copy.cheddarup.com.

And, as a friendly reminder, scholarship opportunities are still available! We would love to have you along for this year’s journey as we “Decide to Rise.”

Surviving the Holiday Rush 10 Tips for Thriving During the Holidays

We are in the middle of the Holiday season with Christmas just days away! Everyone is getting their favorite recipes and cookware ready. Have you thought about how to manage the cooking, cleaning, and all of the emotions that may be descending on your house? Or are you traveling to see family and all the different expectations and emotions that will be waiting for you there?

Here are a few tips for enjoying the holiday season and not just surviving it.

1. When preparing an extensive menu, there is enviably a dish that won’t get eaten. In our house, it’s the green salad, so I cut it out of the menu a few years ago. Do the same thing with your expectations cut them down. We often build up one day or meal to be Instagram perfect when that is a mere second of curated photography. What you don’t see on Instagram is the hurt feelings or the fighting children or adults.
2. Before you leave or guests arrive, practice self-care. Take a day (or more likely an hour) to do something that is truly just for you.
3. No is a complete sentence. Set your boundaries early, let people know that your rules are in place for the health and safety of you and/or your child. Be clear, kind, and firm. 
4. Schedule downtime. It is exciting to be with our family when we don’t get to see them often, but everyone needs a break. Keep an eye on how your kids are doing with the relatives they don’t often see, remember you are asking them to jump in and play with kids and adults they may not recognize or have never met. This can be overwhelming for some children.
5. Think about where everyone is sleeping. Maybe instead of everyone staying at Mom and Dad’s this year, you choose to get a hotel or rent a house nearby. This gives everyone a chance to have a little extra space, which can be especially welcome if there is a new baby in the family. Some families choose to have a quiet breakfast over the holidays and join their families around lunchtime.
6. If you have one person who you have a problematic relationship with over Christmas dinner is not the time to talk about it. If you feel like you do need to talk about anything serious, do it now, it is much easier to clear the air with one person than having a table full of opinions involved as well.
7. Realize that not everything will go according to your plan. That is okay; some of the best memories are made when life doesn’t go as planned. (Our oven broke in the middle of cooking the turkey this Thanksgiving!)
8. As you think about the day, reach out to those who you are spending it with, ask them what they are most looking forward to; together, focus on the parts that are important to each of you. It may be time to let go of old traditions that no one enjoys.
9. Start a new tradition; if no one enjoys cooking the meal, have one catered or go out. Does everyone sit around but not really know what to talk about? Bring a board game and start a tradition of playing games after eating. Whatever works for your family is what is right, and may change as families grow over the years. It’s okay to let go of the old and embrace the new.
10. Go back to self-care. As the year come to a close; take time to enjoy the moments with family but make time for your regular exercise, meditation, or hot bath. Keep doing whatever small thing you do for just you.

An added bonus tip from my kitchen; always have lasagna in the freezer, you never know what can go wrong with dinner!

Warmly,

Leah

Leah Robilotto, Founder of The Food Allergy Institute

A NEW SEASON

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?

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!!

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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.

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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.

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*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.

Keeping your children safe

“In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge” Proverbs 14:26

This weeks topic will deal with keeping your children safe from the unthinkable-sexual abuse-and what signs to watch for to identify potential predators. Speaker Darleine Arce will teach us “How to spot a predator.” We realize this topic is quite sensitive and may be especially difficult for some more than others. For this reason, we will have a list of counseling resources on hand if anyone should need them. Also, Katie Morgan will be displaying a series of books called Safe Hearts. Each book in this series offers a unique and child-friendly way to talk to your children about keeping themselves safe. There is no pressure to buy; we just wanted to let you know this resource will also be available at this meeting. Our craft this week will be putting together a coloring book to use with our children that also covers the important topic of safety. We should all leave well-equipped to keep our sweet babies as safe as possible.

we will also be collecting baby shower gift items for the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home teen mom residents. This will be our last community outreach collection for the year, so let’s be generous!

Save the Date for RACE for the Orphans, May 5th!! Here is their website if you would like to register: http://racefortheorphans.org

Everyone enjoy your week and we look forward to seeing those smiling faces on Friday!

Loving your M.E.S.S.S

By the sound of this weeks topic, its like Mops has eyes inside my house. Haha! We  can all agree that this stage in our lives things get a bit chaotic to say the least. What a better way to start off the month of March than with a Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Transformation Coach. Flo Bradley will be joining us this Friday to talk about Loving Your M.E.S.S.S Very excited to hear what she has to share with us.

Leadership was so excited to unveil our spring fundraiser at the last meeting. The info was posted by Rachel last week on our Facebook page nd we still have plenty of slots available. Ya’ll this is a fantastic opportunity to get your family photos done for cheap by an amazing photographer and help Mops out! Its a win/win! If you have any questions about this please let us know. The link to sign up is: http://bit.ly/2F30Nuj

First Baptist Preschool will have their Scholastic book fair open for us to shop after our meeting, so come prepared!

Our service project this month will be collecting baby items to donate to the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home.  These items will be given to the teen moms who live at the facility as part of a group baby shower in April.  Let’s bless these moms-to-be with diapers, wipes, clothes, etc—anything you would give at a baby shower!  You may leave your unwrapped item at the welcome table as you come in.

There is still time to register for the OT Live event hosted by First Baptist Church on March 3^rd from 9:00-12:00.  This walk through the Old Testament is for anyone 3^rd grade through adults, with additional activities provided for younger children.  Register at fbcnewnan.org by February 28^th!

March birthdays

Katie Beese

Dorothy Murray

Andrea Reese

Elizabeth Thomas

 

March Anniversaries

Cassie Jackson

Katrina Phillips

Tiffanie Teel

Ashley VanDenBerg