Welcome to MomSense

Upcoming Events:
MOPS Meetings Sept. 22nd, Oct. 13th & 27th 6-8 PM MOPS Night Out Oct 20th 6-8 PM Welcome to Victory Tabernacles inaugural year of MOPS! We are so excited about what is in store for this years gatherings! We will be talking about how mothering can be like a game and you have to use your knowledge and intuition to get through the day. Sometimes Risks are taken, or maybe a chance, which can make you end up in Trouble. Some days its all out War when you dont have a Clue and other days youre in Candyland. The ups and downs of life can be like Chutes and Ladders, but in the end, we use our MomSense. During this MOPS Season we will be exploring the strategies to win the game of Life as moms and succeed at how to raise happy and responsible children, while maintaining our own sanity! We sincerely hope that you can be part of this community of moms. Please contact a member of the Steering Team should you have any question or would like further information.

Steering Team:
Vicky Barnhart Co-Coordinator Lacy Reynolds Co-Coordinator Natalie Lowman Mentor Mom & Hospitality Tammy Palmer Mentor Mom
301-241-3227 www.vtmops.blogspot.com VTMOPS@gmail.com VT MOPS 6170 Kellys Store Road PO Box 174 Thurmont, MD 21780

The Game Plan: MOPS Schedule for SeptemberDecember 2011

Coming in 2012
Scheduling & Home Organization, Dealing with Depression, Budget Friendly Fun, Balance, & Relationships

By i Serp rista

Since MOPS is new to the Thurmont area, we thought it might be nice to find out a little more about this amazing group of women from a former MOP! Krista Serpi works at Waynesboro Hospital with Victory Tabernacles Pastor Aaron Reynolds. When Aaron was telling her about our church starting a MOPS Group she was very excited. You see, Krista was a MOP herself when her children were young. She told Aaron that to this day she still has friendships that were developed during MOPS.

One of my neighbors knew about a local MOPS group and I decided to give it a try. Our meetings were on a weekday morning for a few hours. It seemed to coincide with the local preschool schedule. Moms would often take turns carpooling the 3 and 4 year old children to their school while the younger kids came to the meeting. For the younger children there were babysitters in an area of the church separate from where the moms were meeting. My girls always liked that there were playmates, fun babysitters and a snack!

I can't believe we didn't figure out world peace! I think one of the best tips was keeping a black or red washcloth with you at all times. In the case of an injury (busted lip, etc), the dark color of the cloth disguises the blood so the child doesn't get more scared. Genius! Even if you didn't choose to use every tip you heard, you got many different views on each question/problem.

The MOPS group also grew into a network of moms for me. I became friends with these women and we Here is Kristas story began to gather outside of the MOPS meeting. We often took turns taking care When my daughters were one and three of a small group of children one afteryears old, I worked at the hospital full The meeting format changed from noon a week. This was great when the time. At that time my husband and I meeting to meeting. Often there was a kids were young. I could go for were staring to question our day care speaker. I remember topics like: groceries or a doctors appointment alone situation and began to explore the Organizing your Home; Once a Month while the girls were playing at a friends thought of me staying at home with the Cooking (one of my favorites!); Easy house. I would return the favor another girls. When I was able to take my Make-up Tips for Busy Moms, Raising a day when the friends would be at our position as a stay-at-home-Mom I Strong-Willed Child, Ideas for Holiday house and their mom had a "day began to realize that I needed a network Decorating, etc. Usually there was a off". Of course, we continued to share of other women to help me. I have no craft: Christmas ornaments, flower tips and stories with each other. sisters, my Mom was still working arranging, ribbon barrettes and Boo-Boo Learning from each other and passing on full-time, my husband's job keeps him Bunnies were very popular. We also had our ideas to those in the earlier stages of away from home 12-14 hours a day. I a light brunch. parenting. felt like I couldn't keep up with everything on my own and I found My favorite part of the gathering was the It's been many years since I was myself missing adult conversation. time that we saved for the last 45 involved in MOPS. My girls are currently minutes or so. During this time I got to 20 and 22 years old. I still have fond talk with experienced moms (or new memories of those MOPS days. All of moms with great ideas). I learned so those preschoolers are now in high much from these women! Here were school, college or beyond and their women who had experienced or were moms have graduated to emptycurrently "dealing with" the same nesters. I'm very thankful for the wise things I was; lack of sleep, support counsel of the moms who came before No question was for our husbands, caring for our me and the chance that MOPS gave me homes and trying to raise great to get to know them. off-limits and the kids. During this time we raised knowledge in that room questions and asked for suggestions: potty-training tips; was unbelievable. lunches for picky two year olds; discipline strategies; making time for I cant believe we didnt yourself, your husband and each figure out world peace! child, etc. No question was off-limits and the knowledge in that room was unbelievable.

Each month we will feature a Mom Savvy money saving tip. Please let us know if you have any tips to share for a future article! They can be emailed to vtmops@gmail.com or given to Lacy Reynolds. My birthday was in August the 18th to be exact (so you can note your calendars for next year)! On August 11th, my email inbox was filled with lots of fun freebies! I had added my email to various email lists to receive their updates. Frequently throughout the year I will get an email with a discount coupon or promotion, but on my birthday I get something FREE!

Some treats I received for my birthday include: Free Entre at Unos, Free Entre at IHOP, Free cone at Maggie Moos, Free Burger at Ruby Tuesdays, Free Brownie Sundae at Chilis Free drink at Starbucks!

Just a few catches are that you usually have to use them in the few weeks surrounding your birthday (Im not sure I will be able to get to all of these places in time) and you may also have to make another purchase in order to get the free item! Happy Savings! Lacy

Each month we will feature a quick and easy recipe that will be fun for the whole family! Since apples are in season this months kid-friendly treat is... Quick Baked Apples Ingredients: 1 medium Rome or Granny Smith Apple, 2tbls dried cranberries, 1 tsp maple syrup, sprinkle of cinnamon. Core (but dont peel) apple. Stuff with dried cranberries, drizzle with maple syrup, and sprinkle with cinnamon. Stand in small microwavable dish and microwave on high until tender, 1-2 minutes.

News
Monthly update on those precious little ones that make us MOPS!

The Toddler MOPPETS will be with Ms. Verna and Ms. April having fun reading Bible Stories, playing games, doing crafts and having yummy snacks! While there will be some time for music and stories, much of the toddler time is spent in free play. Teachers: Verna Keeney & April Poole Helper: Kaitlynn Lowman

Mr. Paul & Ms. Kathy will be with our Elementary MOPPETS. During their time together our MOPPETS will have fun learning Bible lessons on character, featuring videos from Veggie Tales. There will also be full filled activities and games. Teachers: Paul & Kathy Jenkins Helpers: Aaron Reynolds & Jason Lowman

You can make apple prints on T-shirts, wrapping paper, tablecloths, and on backs and bellies. Even the youngest children can make this aptly apple-y sack to use on your next excursion to a pick-your-own orchard. MATERIALS: Fabric bag (cloth grocery sacks work well), Newspaper, Fabric paint (green, red and brown), Paintbrush, & Apple HOW IT'S MADE: Fold over some newspaper and insert it into the fabric bag, laying it flat so that the paint will not seep through. With a brush, use brown paint to fashion a tree trunk and let dry. Then use a horizontally cut apple to make leaves by brushing a thin layer of green fabric paint onto the apple and pressing it around the top of the trunk. Repeat several times (make sure to look for the star in the print). After the green paint dries, cut an apple in half vertically. Pick the side that still has the stem and brush with red fabric paint. Then "hang" juicy apples on the tree.
From www.Familyfun.com

We will post the menu for our MOPPETS Meetings each month in case your child might need an alternate snack. If so please notify the MOPPETS workers and provide them with the snack of your choice. Sept 22nd -Turkey & Cheese sandwiches, pretzel sticks, apple slices & cookie. Apple juice & water. Oct. 13th- Ham & Cheese sandwiches, cheese, grapes & brownie. Apple juice & water. Oct. 27th- Mac & Cheese, Pretzels, fruit cup & cookie. Apple Juice & water.