"Mommy Time" at Allison's

Last Thursday morning Allison hosted another wonderful playdate at her house, although we all agreed that it actually is more for the moms than the kids! We don't really have a ton of time at our MOPS meetings to catch up with each other, so a whole 2 hours of talking over coffee is great! The kids also have a great time running up and down the steps trying to figure out if they'd rather play or eat snacks:)

Debbie and Deb talking it up with little Daniel

Maggie trying her hardest to get to the plates of snacks!

Jake apparently would rather play in the toybox than with the toys themselves! But he looks pretty happy so that's really all that counts:)

Allison's Banana Bread

3 or 4 ripe (very ripe) bananas
1 cup sugar
1 egg

1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup melter butter or margarine

1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350. Beat the bananas and add the rest of the ingredients. Pour into buttered loaf pan. (Can be done in a 9x13, too, if you want more of a snack cake). Bake for 1 hour. (If 9x13, 45 miutes)

***Helpful hint: if you have the ripe bananas but no time to bake, peel them and throw them in a baggie in the freezer. When you have time to bake, simply thaw a little and start baking.

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***Also, there will be another playdate at Allison's on Wed, May 13 from 9:30 - 11:30. If it is a nice day, plan to be outside. They have a creek and it is muddy sometimes, so wear play clothes! If anyone has a bike they want to bring, please do...Allison is in a cul de sac and the kids can safely ride around (she does have a few ride-on toys and bikes as well, plus lots of outside toys for kids so don't feel you have to bring anything).

The Station

At our meeting last Wednesday, the theme was The Station. Marg was our speaker and she shared with us that if we view our lives as a train ride it seems we spend most of our time looking out the window, trying to see how far it is to the next station. We look forward to arriving there, thinking it will be so much better than the ride we are on. In the same way with our daily lives, we want the excitement of what lies ahead (or we just want to get past the hard times in order to get to the better times), but in doing this we don't enjoy our current situation and circumstances like we should.

She pointed out that we need to even enjoy the bad times. James 1:2-3 says "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." God can use the difficult trial to mold us or mature us so that we will be more like Jesus Christ our Savior.

Marg ended her talk by reading an essay titled The Station by Robert J. Hastings. You can click here to view the essay.

Then for our craft, we designed and made earrings, using all sorts of different beads. Very fun!

Lilies of the Field

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matt 6:28-34.

The above passage was the premise for our MOPS meeting yesterday morning as the steering committee put on a fashion show for the rest of the group. As women in the Lord, our inner beauty is truly what is most important and what will leave a lasting legacy behind us. However, as we reflect Christ to the world, there is truth to reflecting in a beautiful, yet modest, manner that we are true princesses of our King. That being said, some of the specific "tips" that were shared included:

~Perfect your posture

~Accentuate the positive

~Make acessories work for you

~Lengthen your silhouette

~Wear trends that flatter

~Choose clothes that fit

~Wear colors, prints, and fabrics that slim

As good as you may look, however, the truth of the matter is that...

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." Prov. 31:30

Easter Egg Hunt & MORE!

A few announcements of upcoming events to mark on your calendars:

1) Easter Egg Hunt - Friday, April 10th (Good Friday) at 10AM. Lorraine Reich has offered to host an Easter egg hunt at her house and the morning will consist of Lorraine reading an Easter story, the egg hunt, and snacks. Bathrooms will be available but the morning will be spent outdoors, so please dress accordingly. Also please bring your own baskets for your kids to stash their eggs. Lorraine's address is:

937 Masters Way

Harleysville, PA 19438

215-256-0475

*For those of you who may not know Lorraine, she and her family are members of Covenant and although she has not be able to make it to MOPS this year, she has been a regular member in previous years.

2) Crafting with Company - The next craft night will be held on Friday, April 17th from 8-11pm at Covenant. Debbie B will be hosting and Julia will be doing some jewelry demonstrations for anyone interested. BYOB - Bring your own beads - choose colors, sizes, textures you like and Julia has the rest to come up with bracelets, necklaces, etc. She will show us how to use different tools and provide tips in making your own jewelry. If you have no interest in jewelry making - come anyway and have a girls night out!!! Light refreshments and coffee provided but no babysitting so leave the kids at home!

3) Playdate at Allison's - Thursday, April 23rd from 9:30 - 11:30. Snacks for both moms and kids provided, just come and have a morning out with other moms. No need to RSVP, just come! Allison's address is:

415 Shipwrighter Way

Lansdale, PA 19446

215-412-2774

4) MOPS and POPS - $10 Dinner and movie date night with babysitting 6-9pm on Friday, May 1st at Covenant. This is open to our MOPS group as well as our church (invite friends!) and all the money will be donated to the youth group, who will be providing the childcare during the evening. Appetizers, salad, pizza and popcorn provided and we will be watching the movie 'Fireproof'. No good excuses not to come!! If you are interested, please RSVP by Friday, April 25th to one of the steering members or contact Laura B at lbarbadoro@yahoo.com.

5) Clothing Exchange - May 8-16 at Covenant. Save up unused clothing to donate and make sure to come check for anything you may be able to use!

Mishmosh

This morning's MOPS meeting was a combination of two totally different topics since we were playing catch up from 2 snow days this past winter. The first on the agenda was our "Love Tunnel" theme with Peg and Poke sharing a wonderful testimony of their marriage throughout all of their years together. Peg and Poke first met when they were both part of a youth project (from different churches) to help paint a church in western PA. Poke is convinced she was drawn to his 1955 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop Coupe (who wouldn't be right?!) but Peg insists there was more than that;)

Some of their words of wisdom included...
~"You are not alone - couples today face the same problems that have always plagued marriages (i.e. financial difficulties, concern for you children, etc.)"
~"Don't be afraid to seek professional help from a counselor, pastor or hospital if needed"
~"God provides for exactly what we need when we need it"
~"Face problems together with God at the center and your marriage will grow by leaps and bounds"
~"Show your children unconditional love and make sure they know they can ALWAYS come home"

Thank you so much Peg and Poke for your willingess to share your lives with us- we were all very encouraged and inspired by your excellent example of a Godly marriage!

But that was not all, oh no that was not all (anyone else have Cat in the Hat memorized?), we then continued with our "Fun Foods" craft and made sandwich and fruit kebabs to take home for our little MOPPETS to have for lunch! They were very cute and it was great to have something ready for the kids when we got home. Here are a few pictures:

Everyone working hard on their projects!

The finished product...some people also used cookie cutters for the cheese and cucumbers which made theirs even cuter!

Recommended Books for Your Children...

Following is the children's book review that Lisa L. wrote for our March newsletter:

In my second year of college, I had to take a Children’s Literature class. I can remember going to the college book store feeling slightly silly picking up my course materials that included James and The Giant Peach, Make Way for Ducklings, and Charlotte’s Web. It turned out that that class was one of the most influential, and probably one of my favorite classes that I took. It’s was during that class that I realized the importance of reading aloud to your children, and my love for children’s literature grew.

The “text” book that we used for that class was Jim Trelease’s, The Read Aloud Handbook. This book isn’t just beneficial to teachers, but to parents as well. It’s full of do’s and don’ts of reading aloud, and has compelling information on the importance of reading to your children. Also, Jim Trelease has a wonderful web-site that includes a “Treasury of Read Alouds”.

So all this to say that reading has become one of my favorite things to do with my children. Reading to them, reading along side of them, and having them “read” to me. Here are some of our favorite and most loved books:

As mentioned above, Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey is one of our favorites. In the book, you follow Mr. and Mrs. Mallard, as they search for the perfect place to raise their ducklings. Through beautiful art work, rich text, and a charming story, children are drawn into the book and will be asking you to read it again and again.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, by Laura Joffe Numeroff is another one of our favorites. This is a light and silly book that teaches children about cause and effect. Because if you do give a mouse a cookie, he’s going to need a glass of milk, and that’s just the beginning of a long line of needs for this little mouse.

Another oldie, but a goodie is Mr. Gumpy’s Outing by John Burningham. Join Mr. Gumpy as he welcomes many animals aboard his little boat, as long as they follow his instructions. Before long, the animals do what they are not suppose to, causing a great mishap! Your children will quickly learn the lines to this book, and will easily be able to “read” along.




We also love the Jesus Storybook Bible, Every Story Whispers His Name, by Sally Lloyd-Jones. Through bright and colorful language and artwork, Bible stories are presented in a way that puts Jesus at the center of it all. Redemption and God’s endless love are seen through every story, making this one of our favorite night-time reads. How sweet it is to spend the end of our day teaching our children the Greatest Story of all.

We also love following the characters/authors in the following series/sets, Hermie and Friends, by Max Lucado; Curious George by H. A. Rey; ,Dr. Seuss Books , and Sandra Boynton books.

Playdate at Allison's!

Although this morning was rainy and cold, thanks to Allison and her wonderful hospitality, a bunch of us were able to enjoy catching up over a cup of coffee while letting our kids run around together! Great way to start the day in my opinion - thank you Allison! Here are a few pictures of the morning...

All the kids had a blast in the basement...

The older boys just hanging out...

..and the younger boys making an escape!

Luke wants in on whatever Jake and Caleb are doing!

"I'm still hungry mom!"

Jake was having a good time with this fish:)

David and Noah dueling it out.

Little Hannah...wouldn't this be the life?!