Christmas meeting

Today brother Ronnie came & spoke about Christmas. He read in Luke about Jesus being born. How could you ever get tired of hearing that story??  AMAZING!  He also encouraged us to make reading the story of Christ's birth part of our Christmas tradition. That's what it's all about anyway.

 We made chalkboard Christmas plates. Way cute!

Such a fun meeting with lots of good food! 

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Just want to welcome Ashley Hardcastle as our new coordinator. We know you will do great!

Also want to shout out to Chrissy Cash. You will be missed! 

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Hope you all have a Merry Christmas! See you in January!

Decorating with Ashley Linam

Ashley Linam from Northwest Arkansas came today & shared her story on how she got into decorating. She also gave us some decorating tips. Thank you so much Ashley! You sure are talented! 

We then made our own little pumpkins. 

 So cute!

Great day! I don't know about you but I can't wait to go buy some mesh to put in my Christmas tree. :)

http://www.ashleylinam.blogspot.com/

Katie Rowe

We are so thankful Katie Rowe came & spoke to us on Wednesday. Thank you Katie for sharing your story about your baby girl Reese. You can follow Katie's blog here...http://therowefam.blogspot.com/. I think she touched so many people today. 

Here is our lovely mentor mom Jacque with Katie.

We also made these cute key ring holder or jewelery holder out of canvas & fabric.

Blogger, Kelly Stamps

Today we had popular blogger Kelly Stamps speak about parenting. So many of us follow her blog but if you don't, here is a link http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/. Thank you Kelly Stamps!

 The steering team (minus Jessica) with Kelly.

Angela Avlos & picture frames

Today we had Angela Avlos of Cross My Art come & speak. She told her story of how she began her business with Cross My Art & gave her testimony. We appreciate her sharing a tough time with us & just being "real". 

 Afterwards we distressed some picture frames & Angela painted an initial for us.

 What a simple fun frame that turned out so cute!

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

First meeting of 2013

We had a great first meeting & it was wonderful being back at MOPS! We had lots of yummy food then we played an m&m "get to know you" game at each table.

Our wonderful mentor mom spoke today & gave her testimony. What a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing Jacque!

We finished by making these cute "ABC" memory verse books to do with our preschoolers. 

So good to see everyone today. Hope to see you all again in two weeks.

Your 2013-2014 MOPS steering team...

We would like to introduce you to the MOPS steering team. We are all so excited for this upcoming year!

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Jacque Gordon

What is your "job" on the steering team? Mentor Mom

What is your husband's name and how long have you been married? Robert Gordon, been married for 32 years

How many kids do you have? ages? 2 Sons: Heath age 26, Jacob age 23 and lovely daughter in law Emily 24 

What is your favorite thing about MOPS? Ministering to Moms as well as the fellowship 

If you could have 1 form of caffeine ever again, what would you choose? Coffee, soda, tea, or chocolate? SONIC 44 DIET COKE

What church do you and your family attend? FBC Greenwood

What is your least favorite and most favorite household chore? least- cleaning the stove, favorite - clean tub (ready for my hour soak)

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Chrissy Cash

What is your "job" on the steering team? I am the MOPS Coordinator and brand new to this position this year.

What is your husband's name and how long have you been married? My husband is Mike and we have been married for 12 1/2 years.

How many kids do you have? Ages? We have 3 girls, ages 10, 7 and almost 3

What is your favorite thing about MOPS? I love meeting new young moms and the sense of community I feel by being a part of the group. It has been a great way to get to know other ladies!

If you could only have 1 form of caffeine ever again, what would you choose? Coffee, Soda, Tea or Chocolate? Soda, without a doubt and Dr. Pepper or Pepsi to be more specific.

What church do you and your family attend? We have been members of FBC Lavaca since we moved to the Fort Smith area 8 years ago.

What is your least favorite and most favorite household chore? My least favorite chore would have to be mopping and my favorite chore is either dusting or cleaning bathrooms - does that make me weird?

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Ashley Hardcastle

What is your "job" on the steering team? this will be my 2nd year as crafts leader.

What is your husband's name and how long have you been married? husband Brandon will be married 10 years this march.

How many kids do you have? Ages? three kids Kinley 14, Hudson 2, & Analyn 4 months.

What is your favorite thing about MOPS? my favorite thing about mops is the fellowship with other moms who are in the same stage of life with me.

If you could only have 1 form of caffeine ever again, what would you choose? Coffee, soda, tea, or chocolate? coke for sure!

What church do you and your family attend? we attend new life church.

What is your least favorite and most favorite chore? least favorite chore would be ironing if it needs ironed ask daddy at our house;) favorite chore would be cleaning my counters I probably unknowingly do this 6 times a day or more

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Candice Creason

What is your "job" on the steering team? This is my first year on the MOPS steering team and I am the finance leader.

What is your husband's name and how long have you been married? My husband's name is Mark and we have been married for 9 years.  

How many kids do you have? Ages? We have three girls all born in August. Our oldest just turned 7. We have another turning 5 and our youngest will be 1 in less than a week.

What is your favorite thing about MOPS? My favorite thing about MOPS is getting to meet other extraordinary moms who are going through the same stages in life as my family.

If you could have 1 form of caffeine ever again, what would you choose? Coffee, soda, tea, or chocolate? Diet Coke, for sure!

What church do you and your family attend? We have been members of Grace Community Church in Fort Smith since 2006.

What is your least favorite and most favorite household chore? My least favorite chore would definitely be laundry. It is never ending with a family of 5. My favorite chore would be cooking. I like coming up with new recipes to cook for my family.

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Becky Ames

What is your "job" on the steering team? Publicity
What is your husband's name and how long have you been married? My husband is Beau & we've been married 8 years.
How many kids do you have? Ages? 2 kids, both birthdays in September. Piper will be 6, Paxton will be 1.
What is your favorite thing about MOPS? Having "mommy" time with other moms. I love the fellowship & I always learn something from the speakers. I also love doing the crafts!
If you could only have 1 form of caffeine ever again, what would you choose: Coffee, Soda, Tea or Chocolate? Coffee! Gotta have my cup of coffee every morning.
What church do you and your family attend? Greenwood FBC
What is your least favorite and most favorite household chore? Least favorite is laundry & my most favorite is cleaning the kitchen. I like a clean kitchen!

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Jessica Farris

What is your "job" on the steering team? Moppets co-coordinator 1st year. 
What is your husband's name and how long have you been married? Married to Chad Farris, 8 years

How many kids do you have? Ages? Prairie 7, Daisy 6, Autumn 2 1/2.

What is your favorite thing about MOPS? Getting a great breakfast and fellowship with other women.

If you could only have 1 form of caffeine ever again, what would you choose? Coffee, soda, tea, or chocolate? I should choose chocolate, but I would say a good Coke. 

What church do you and your family attend? FBC Greenwood

What is your least favorite and most favorite household chore? Least favorite Chore: handwashing silverware. Most favorite: Just getting stuff put in place so it doesn't look cluttered.

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Melissa Jones

What is your "job" on the steering team? My job is hospitality 

What is your husband's name and how long have you been married? My hubby is Eddie we started dating in 1990 and married in June of 1994

How many kids do you have? Ages? My children are Kaitlyn 14, Caleb 10, Gracie Faith 2 in dec. I also have an Angel baby Kelsie Faith. We delivered her stillborn on Oct 14 2010

What is your favorite thing about MOPS? My favorite thing about MOPS is bringing moms together in all walks of Faith and all different seasons of life so that we each feel loved and not alone in this hard job of parenthood. 

If you could only have 1 form of caffeine ever again, what would you choose? Coffee, soda, tea, or chocolate? I could never NEVER give up CHOCOLATE!!

What church do you and your family attend? My family attends first baptist greenwood

What is your least favorite and most favorite household chore? My least favorite chore is definitely the toilets. And my favorite would be hmmm not sure I have one. Lol. But I guess if I must choose one then sweeping I hate to feel dirt on my floor and feet. Lol

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Natalie Ewing

What is your "job" on the steering team? Games!!! First year

What is your husband's name and how long have you been married? Tim and 2.5 years

How many kids do you have? Ages? 2 boys. hunter is 6 and Declan is 2

What is your favorite thing about MOPS? Meeting new moms!!

If you could have 1 form of caffeine ever again, what would you choose? Coffee, soda, tea, or chocolate? COFFEE!!!!

What church do you and your family attend? First Baptist Greenwood

What is least favorite and most favorite household chore? Least is dishes. Favorite is laundry.

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Jamie Ciesla

What is your "job" on the steering team? My job is assistant child care coordinator. 

What is your husband's name and how long have you been married? My husband is David Ciesla and we have been married almost 15 years 

How many kids do you have? Ages? 3 children- Madeline (10), Gavin (8) and Emery Claire (1). 

What is your favorite thing about MOPS? My favorite thing about MOPS is meeting and talking to other moms. 

If you could only have 1 form of caffeine ever again, what would you choose? Coffee, soda, tea, or chocolate? I would choose coffee as my only form of caffeine.  

What church do you and your family attend? My family and I attend FBC Greenwood. 

What is your least favorite and most favorite household chore? I really don't have a favorite household chore, but I like when they are finished.

Happy New Year

Hi Ladies! What a whirlwind the past few weeks have been. It's hard to believe that the holidays have come and gone and we are back in the swing of a new year, new semester of school and a new semester of MOPS.

We had a wonderful meeting today and enjoyed hearing our guest speaker, Cara Smithson, speak on her family's call to missions and their specific call to serve in running an orphanage in Leogane, Haiti. There were several people interested in mission trips to serve alongside Cara and her family and also several interested in ways they could help provide items needed for these sweet children. Please check out the website for Hope Rising Children's Home by clicking HERE.

If you have any questions about going on one of the mission trips (teams go once a month and the dates of each trip are listed on the website above), please contact the Executive Director of Hope Rising Children's Home. His name is Matt Ward and he can be reached through the website by clicking on the "Contact" tab or by phone at 877-674-2292.

Thank you, Cara, for sharing your heart and for the opportunity to hear more about how God is using you and your family in Haiti!

Also, mark your calendars for our next meeting on Wednesday, January 23rd. We have a VERY special guest speaker lined up and we are SO excited about it!! We have to keep this one a surprise, but just know that you don't want to miss it! Break out the Tamiflu now - get those kiddos healthy and BE THERE! HAHA!

Our Winter/Spring semester is full of fun speakers, great crafts and lots of fun games. Invite a friend to come with you!

Happy New Year and we look forward to a fun semester ahead!