Communication Struggles & Bug Catchers!

This morning at MOPS, Emilie (one of our mentoring moms), gave an excellent talk about communication struggles and how differences in our personality types can really play an influential role in how we relate to one another.  Here some of the highlights from her talk based on the movie and book "Love Talk" by Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott:

~when we communicate with others, it is important to have an open posture that tells the other person you are listening to them and "in" the conversation

~free the environment from distractions such as computer, tv, phone calls, etc.

~people want to feel safe when they communicate and there are 4 main "safety zones" that we tend towards when we relate to someone:

              

 1.  Time - this category of people value time very highly, therefore effective and efficient conversation is best for them 

               2.  Approval - this type of person tends to be very social, outgoing and live life based on his/her feelings, loss of approval is devastating to him/her

               3.  Loyal - people in this group are challenged by change and therefore resist change as much as possible

               4.  High Quality -  this group of people is characterized by setting high standards, wanting things done the right way, being very orderly, steady and cautious decision makers

~it is important to recognize not only our own "safe" mode of communicating, but also the safety zone of the person we are talking to

~depending on which "safety zone" we fall into when we communicate effects how we give and receive communication and is most apparent when we solve problems, influence others, react to change and make decisions.

~we need to learn to think like the other person in their shoes, not us in their shoes because that is still us

~learning when to keep quiet is one of the most important areas of communication and is especially important when the other person isn't ready (i.e. husband just got home from work), you have already discussed the matter 100 times or if the other person isn't being rational

~stop the negative self-talk because that really affects the rest of our communication- we need to say no to those untrue and condemning thoughts! 

~male/female differences do matter - men tend to communicate to report something and women tend to communicate to build relationships

Thanks Emilie for a great talk! 

For further study on the topic of communication, Emilie also suggested reading books written by Deborah Tannen.

*******************************************

After our Mentoring Mom Moment, we also made these cute bug catchers (or treasure keepers) for our kids! 

    

Relax & Rejuvenate!

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." 

Matthew 11:28

  It seems like everyone tends to think of New Year's Day as a time to start afresh, set new goals and rethink life in general to try to make it better than the previous year.  As moms, I think a lot of us tend to have this type of attitude every day (at least I know I do!)...."TODAY is the day I won't lose my patience so quickly; TODAY I'm going to get up, shower and do my devotions before my kids awake; TODAY is the day I will be a better mom!"...and on and on.  This definitely can be a good attitude to have, although it can also quickly lead down the vicious path of "I'm not good enough" accompanied by feelings of frustration, comparing yourself to others and overall discouragement.

That being said, January's theme for MOPS this year was "Relax and Rejuvenate" - the goal being to get moms to slow down and refuel physically, emotionally and spiritually as 2010 begins - something moms are rarely told and even more rarely do!  At the second meeting, Marg led us in a fantastic "Mentoring Moms Moment" specifically on this very topic and here are some of the main points from her talk:

~you don't have to be SuperMom - there are other people in your life (husband, grandparents, friends) who can help care for your children - let them!

~take care of yourself so you can take care of your children (like in an airplane when you need to put on your oxygen mask first to be able to put on your child's mask)

~start your day right - shower, exercise, eat well, pray

~read a good book or start a hobby that you can "get lost in" every once in awhile

~develop relationships with other moms (like at MOPS!) that are in a similar situation as yourself so you can empathize with each other

~learn to laugh through life and it will get you through many things

~stop trying to be perfect and don't feel guilty that you aren't

~take time to pray and rest with God - He is our great comforter and is with us in all things!

~remember that whatever you are going through - "this too shall pass"

**************************************
Here also are a few pictures from our relaxing January meetings where the bulk of our time as spent making smoothies, getting massages (from a professional woman in our church!), making bath salts and just spending lots of quality time catching up with each other!

Cookie Exchange

This week at MOPS was our annual cookie exchange!  It was a very relaxed morning as we spent the first half of the meeting having breakfast as a big group and the second half exchanging cookies we all had brought in.  For the cookie exchange, each person who wanted to participate was asked to bring in 8 dozen cookies to share.  Although it is a lot of cookies to bake, taking home a beautiful cookie tray with so many different kinds of cookies is a wonderful thing!  I posted all the recipes that I received at the bottom of this blog in case you want to try something new!

************************************

We also had asked people to bring in Christmas books that they use with their children to share the gospel during this time of year, so I have included pictures of some of those as well in case you are interested!

*************************************

Press Cookies

Allison W.

2 cups unsalted butter

1 cup white sugar

5 cups all-purpose flour

2 egg yolks

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Cream together the butter and sugar. Add egg yolks and vanilla. Add sifted flour one half at a time.

Put dough into a cookie press and press into desired shapes.

Bake at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Do Not Brown.

 

**********************************

Magical Peanut Butter Cookies

Justine N.

1 C peanut butter, creamy or crunchy

1 1/3 C sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a large baking sheet.

In a mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, 1 cup sugar, egg, and vanilla. Stir well. Roll the dough into balls about the size of a walnut. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet. With a fork, dipped in sugar to prevent sticking, press a crisscross design on each cookie. Bake for 12-15 min. remove from the oven, and sprinkle the cookies with some of the remaining sugar if desired. Cool slightly before removing from pan.

Make about dozen cookies

*****************************

Old Fashioned Soft Pumpkin Cookies

Justine N.

2 1/2 C All purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 C softened butter (1stick)

1 1/2 C granulated sugar

1 C solid packed pumpkin

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Glaze:
2 C sifted powdered sugar

3 Tablespoons milk

1 Tablespoon melted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.Combine the first 6 ingredients. Cream the butter and sugar in mixer, then add pumpkin, egg, and vanilla. Beat until light and creamy. Mix in dry ingredients until well-blended. Place small mounds of dough on greased cookie sheet and bake 15-20 min.  Makes 5 doz. small cookies.

 

*********************************

Italian Christmas Cookies

Sharon M.

1 cup butter (no substitutes), softened

2 cups sugar

3 eggs

1 carton (15 oz.) ricotta cheese

2 t. vanilla

4 cups flour

1 t. salt

1 t. baking soda

Frosting:

1/4 cup butter (no substitutes), softened

4 cups confectioners sugar

1/2 t. vanilla

4 T. milk

Sprinkles

Cream butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Beat in ricotta and vanilla. Combine flour, salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. For frosting, cream butter, sugar, and vanilla. Add enough milk until frosting reaches spreading consistency (I sometimes need a little more than 4 T.). Frost cooled cookies and immediately decorate with sprinkles. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 6 1/2 to 8 1/2 dozen.

******************************

Cake Cookies

 Julia S.

1 box cake mix (amazing w/ lemon cake)

1 tub cool whip

1 egg

powdered sugar

Combine first three ingredients. Drop small balls in powdered sugar and roll till coated. Place on sprayed cookie sheet. Bake 350 deg. for 8-12 min until crackly.

**********************************

White Chocolate Oatmeal Peppermint Cookies

Adrienne R.

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups uncooked regular oats

2 cups (12oz) white chocolate chips

1/2 - 3/4 cup crushed candy canes (about 6)

Beat butter at medium speed with electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugars, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until yellow disappears after each addition. Stir in vanilla.

Combine flour, baking soda, & salt,. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Stir in oats, chocolate chips and peppermint. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Cool on baking sheets 3 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Yield: about 5 dozen (varies by size of cookie)

**********************************

Big Batch Ginger Snap Cookies

Laura W.

2 c. sugar

1 1/2 c. margarine, softened

1/2 c. molasses

2 eggs

4 1/2 c. flour

3 tsp. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

2 t. cinnamon

1 t. cloves

1 t. ginger

1/2 t. nutmeg

Sugar

In a large bowl, beat sugar, margarine, molasses and eggs until light and fluffy. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. Stir in flour, baking soda, salt and 4 spices. Mix well. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes, until set. (Cookies will puff up and flatten during baking.) Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet. Store tightly covered at room temperature or up to 6 months in freezer. Makes about 10 dozen cookies.

*******************************

Oatmeal Butterscotch Bars

Deb Z.

1 1/4 cups unsifted flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups Old-Fashioned Quaker oats

1 (11 ounce) package Nestle Toll House butterscotch-flavored morsels (about 2 cups)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a small bowl; set aside.  Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract in a large bowl.  Gradually beat in flour mixture.  Stir in oats and morsels.  Drop by rounded Tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet.  Bake 7 to 8 minutes for chewy cookies, 9 to 10 minutes for crisp cookies.  Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes, remove to wire racks to cool completely.  Pan Cookie Variation: Grease 15x10-inch jelly-roll pan.  Prepare dough as above. Spread in prepared pan.Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

****************************

Spritz Pressed Cookies

Carrie S.

2 1/4 Cups of Flour

3/4 Cups of Sugar

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/4 teaspoon of Baking Powder

1 cup of butter

1 Large egg

1 teaspoon of Vanilla

Turn Oven to 375 degrees. Mix all ingredients together (add food color if you want to make Christmas trees or hearts for Valentines day etc.)  Fill press and press out all kinds of fun cookies  Cook for 10-12 mins depending on how your oven runs. Can also roll into small balls and press Hershey Kiss into the middle.

********************************

Holiday Gingersnaps

Carrie S.

2 1/3 cups of Flour

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/2 salt

2 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1/3 cup molasses

Cinnamon Sugar:

1/2 cup sugar mixed with 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets  Combine flour, spices, salt, and baking soda in a bowl. In a large bowl, beat butter with sugar and egg at medium speed 2 minutes, until fluffy. Add molasses; beat 1 minute. Slowly add flour mixture; beat to combine.  Using a rounded teaspoon for each cookie (make sure it just covers the teaspoon, to much batter will cause all the cookies to run into themselves), roll dough into balls, then roll each in cinnamon sugar and place on baking sheets.  Bake 10 minutes, or until cookies are golden and crisp. Cool 1 minute, then transfer to wire racks to finish cooling.  Yield 5 doz.

**************************

Rocky Road Candy Cups

Mindy E.

1 2/3 cups peanut butter and milk Chocolate chips (11 oz pkg)

2 tablespoons peanut butter

1 cup crispy rice cereal

1 cup miniature marshmallow

¾ cup chopped unsalted dry roasted peanuts

Microwave: pb and chocolate chips in a large glass bowl at 30 second intervals until melted.  Stir in 2 tbsp pb until well blended.  Stir in rice cereal, marshmallows and chipped peanuts.  Spoon mixture evenly into miniature paper candy cups.  Chill 1 hour until firm.

******************************

Peg H.'s Shortbread Cookies

made by Marg F.

1 c. sugar

1 c. powdered sugar
1 c. butter

1 c. oil

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. soda

5 1/2 c. flour

Cream sugars and butter. Add eggs; stir in oil and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients and blend. Chill. Form into balls. Flatten with bottom of water glass dipped in sugar. Bake at 350 degrees approximately 10 minutes.

****************************

Fast and Easy Peppermint Bark

Lisa F.

Chocolate: Crush 3 reg. size candy canes (I used a hand chopper) and put aside. I used 12 oz. of semi sweet choc. chips, melt in a bowl for 90 sec, stir and do every 30 sec. until melted. Add 1/2 tsp. peppermint flavoring. Pour out onto a cookie sheet covered w/ wax paper. Sprinkle candy canes on and press down w/ hands lightly. Put in freezer 5 min. Break apart and store in refrigerator - makes 30 - 36 pieces or so.

White choc. - Do same way but use white choc chips or white coating chocolate. I increased to 1 tsp. peppermint flavoring. Swirl in some red or green food coloring when putting it on the cookie sheet if desired.

**Note - I made some w/ red and green sprinkles and jimmies instead of the crushed candy canes on top. Going to gives as gifts and thought would be more colorful. Fast, pretty and taste good too - kids liked them and liked crushing the candy canes/adding sprinkles.  Can add almonds or cranberries as well.

**************************

Chocolate Mint Sandwich Cookies

Sarah K.

1 1/4 cups butter (no substitutes) softened

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup baking cocoa

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

32 round thin chocolate covered mint patties (like York peppermint patties, the small ones)

Frosting:

1 bag mint choc chips

1 Tbsp. corn syrup (optional)

1 Tbsp. butter

1 Tbsp. water (if too thick, can add more)

In a mixing bowl cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture, beating until well combined. Drop by teaspoonfuls two inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 8-9 minutes or until puffy and tops are cracked (don't overbake). Invert half of the cookies onto wire racks. Immediately place a mint pattie on each, then top with remaining cookie. Press lightly to seal. Cool completely and then frost.  Yield - 32 sandwich cookies.

Christmas Show & Tell

This morning at MOPS, we shared some of our favorite holiday traditions that make Christmas such a special day in our homes.  Some of the favorite past-times include:

~waiting at the top of the steps until everyone is ready to come down
~taking a picture with everyone waiting at the top of the steps
~reading and/or reciting the Christmas story found in Luke 2
~opening Advent calendars throughout the month of Nov (Diana's advent calendar is pictured below)
~buying kid-friendly nativity scenes
~baking cookies together and take them around to friends and neighbors
~opening a special present Christmas Eve
~making photo ornaments with your kids
~reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' together
~visiting live nativity scenes like the one at Merrymead Farms (Dec 19&20)

***Both the wooden advent calendar above as well as the muscial plush nativity scene that Sarah K brought in can be found at Catholic Supply.

***********************************

Here are also a few pictures from our last meeting where we made the magnet nativity scenes for our kids!

The Truth Project

Beginning in January, 2010, Covenant will be hosting another study on Focus on the Family's "Truth Project".  The purpose of the Truth Project is to help you develop a Christian worldview in 12 different areas including science, history, and philosophy.  The study is also designed to promote unity among believers as you discuss important ideas and how we should relate to the world we are living in. 

This past Wednesday at MOPS, Dave R. came to present some of the core principles of the Truth Project to us and encourage people to join the study.  He focused on the fact that a Biblical worldview is critical to raising children and that we need to be very aware of where our worldview is coming from because it is what forms our beliefs. 

Here are some specifics for the study starting in January:

13 weekly sessions beginning on Friday, Jan 8, 2010

8th grade minimum age

Location with EITHER be(depending on childcare needs):

~Covenant from 6:30-8:30 with pizza dinner & childcare

~OR at Peterson's from 7-9PM with dessert (no childcare)

To sign-up, call Covenant 215-256-1007

For more info:

~Dave Reich 215-256-0475

~The Truth Project

~Focus on the Family 1

~Focus on the Family 2

"Houston We Have a Problem!" - Toddler Issues

This morning's MOPS meeting was based on dealing with troubles we face as moms with our children and how we can better handle certain situations.  To help us work through some specifics, we invited 3 veteran moms from our church - Stephanie G., Cindy C., and Tammie B.,  who have successfully made it through the baby/toddler years as well as 2 moms from our MOPS group - Allison W. and Diana M., who are in the thick of it right now. 

We gave our group of panel moms several questions to think through before coming to our meeting this morning including:

~Did any of you have very willful children and how did you deal with the stubbornness/temper tantrums/screaming/hitting? Did you find your methods to have positive results and would you do the same thing over again?
~Any helpful hints on potty training - (things that worked for you, getting kids to do #2 on the potty, nighttime training, etc.)?
~How did you deal with sharing in your home (mostly between siblings)? Did you have specific goals or rules that you found helpful when kids were having playtimes?

And here are some of the nuggets of wisdom we were given:
~Deal with willful children NOW and stick to it even though it is exhausting because you will reap the rewards years from now.
~Encourage and praise good things your children do (sharing toys, not whining, etc.) instead of just noticing and disciplining bad behaviour. 
~Pick you battles and think before you speak - but once you draw a line, do not back down!
~When your children are a little older, think about creating an "appeal" process in which they may, with a pleasant tone, give you new information to think about to reconsider your decision. 
~If you are having trouble getting along well with one of your children, try to find fun things that you can do together with that child to create happy memories as a foundation for your relationship. 
~When times are hard it is easy to compare yourself or your child with other moms and kids - beware of that and don't let yourself fall prey to it!
~Whatever you are going through, you are NOT alone in your motherhood journey and someday you will miss these days when your kids are little, so try - even when it's extremely hard, to enjoy every moment! 

Thank you to our wonderful panel - you were all very helpful and so encouraging to us moms!

Sept Playdate

Here are a few pictures from a playdate at Allison's back at the end of September: