Thursday, May 31, 2012
June 2012
We are thrilled to be inviting Christine Burklund to the 2/4 Steering Team, to the benefit of the whole Christ Community Church MOPS family! She will join Jenifer Conkright as they plunge into the partnership role of Teaching Mentors for another great year of MOPS in 2012-2013. Read ahead and get to know a little bit about this fabulous woman. Thanks Christine!
MOPS: Tell us a bit about yourself personally and introduce us to the Burklunds!
CHRISTINE: I have been a stay-at-home mom for the last 18 years. I love Jesus, coffee and books. Love, love, love to read (especially with a cup of coffee in my hand). I have been married to my best friend, Dale, for 21 years. We have 5 children ranging in age from 18-8. My favorite day of the week is Wednesdays...if you want to know why, you can ask me some time! :)
MOPS: If you had a day to yourself what would you fill it with (you can’t say your husband and kids!)?
CHRISTINE: That is easy. I would make a nice cup of coffee and start my day out with reading, reading, reading. Then I would love a nice walk with a dear friend followed by dinner at Charlestons.
MOPS: Is there a most embarrassing Mom moment you would be willing to share with us?
CHRISTINE: A few years back, we took our kids on a trip to California. As we were driving up Highway 1, my husband pulled over so we could look at a beautiful stretch of ocean. We got out of the car and my whole family, from my husband down to my 3-year-old, proceeded to climb down some rocks to stand right near the ocean. As I began to follow them down, they all started telling me not to come down, that it was too dangerous for me. "What?!", I thought. "My 3-year-old climbed down those rocks. Surely, I can too!" Much to my family's dismay, I began my way down. Of course, I completely crashed and burned...falling and bouncing my way down to the ocean. When I reached the bottom, they all came rushing to me trying ( unsuccessfully) to contain their rolling laughter at what they just witnessed. Fortunately, only my pride was hurt, but my kids (and husband) still laugh about it to this day.
MOPS: Do you have any words of wisdom for moms who are in the midst of the preschool years?
CHRISTINE: Remember that by investing in teaching and training your little ones you are making a difference in the world. Your work and words with them matter! Also, remember to take time for yourself and do NOT feel guilty about doing so. It is good for you therefore good for your kiddos to take care of yourself.
MOPS: What are you looking forward to about being the Teaching Mentor for 2/4?
CHRISTINE: I am most looking forward to deepening the relationships that I got to start building during this last year of being a MOPS mentor mom, as well as building new relationships.
MOPS: What was a highlight from this past year as a Mentor Mom?
CHRISTINE: Oh, most definitely getting to know the beautiful women at my table. A close second was getting to hold and cuddle with their precious babies!!!
There is plenty of opportunity to get to know Christine more during MOPS. The 2012-2013 MOPS year will begin in September. If you are planning to join us in the fall and haven't registered yet, please contact Shanna today at shannabeachy@gmail.com. Enjoy those lovely long days of summer!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
May 2012
– Future 1/3 Coordinator!!
By
Herself
Over
the Last couple of weeks, I have been pondering next year’s MOPS theme: “PLUNGE
- Love as if your life depended on it!” What a great theme for MOPS and life in
general! How often do we as
moms literally plunge into each day! We
never know what to expect minute to minute from the little people in our lives.
One
of the things I look forward to in my position as coordinator over the next few
years is helping moms get connected with other moms and watching them develop
life-lasting friendships. We are truly on a great adventure. Life is going to throw us curve
balls once in awhile but with a good moms support group we can help each other
process through the ups and downs of life. I
think that is what I truly love about MOPS! I
have thoroughly enjoyed the amazing friendships I have developed with moms over
the last three years.
My life has seen many ups and downs, where I have literally had to
choose to plunge in head first instead of sitting on the sidelines watching. One of the downs I have had to walk
through is losing my fiancé to lung cancer. Also, being told that I would never
be able to have children. These two things were very life shattering! However, as I prayed and trusted
God, as well as having a good support group of friends, I was able to plunge in
and walk through these trials.
As
I moved forward in life after my fiancé passed away, I began praying that God
would literally drop my husband off at my door! That is exactly what God did. So today I am happily married to my
best friend Bobby. God has also blessed us with two miracle babies! Our son is
almost four years old and our daughter is 10 months old.
One
thing that I love about being a mom is watching my kids learn. It blows me away the things they
pick up and funny things they do and say. I also love those precious moments
when my kids sit on my lap and hug me like crazy and whisper “I love you so
much mom!” Then there are those
days that I don’t enjoy: like the days where I feel like all I have done all
day is disciplined my children. However, even though I don’t enjoy those days I
continue on, trying to be consistent because I love my children so much that I
know these long days are worth the pain. Through
these moments not only are my children growing and learning how to live life,
but I am being stretched and my character is being developed more and more.
Throughout life I am
trying to choose not to sit on the sidelines when things are hard or things in
my friend’s lives are hard. But,
I am trying to be proactive and plunge into life with friends and family! May
God give us to strength to love as if our lives depended on it! ***
“Mentor’s
Favorite Things…”
“One
of my favorite things our family has done is movie night. Watching movies
together is not particularly unique, but what I love about it is that we have a
handful of favorite shows that we have watched again and again over the years
to the point that we all consider these few movies our special family movies.
We have many favorite lines from these shows which come up often within the
family as "inside jokes." Our favorites are "The Scarlet
Pimpernel," "Hello, Dolly," "What's Up, Doc?," and
"The Importance of Being Earnest." When DVDs became more common than
videos these were some of the first of our videos that were replaced by DVDs.
They were gifts from my adult children who had happy memories of watching these
shows over and over with the family.”
-Susan Frerichs (1/3 Mentor)
“One
of my most favorite things is when my husband, Brian, and I take a little
"get-away" every January. When we were first married (and before
kids!), it was a long weekend getaway. After kids...well, just a night away
while the grandparents babysit, is about all we can do. During this time away, we unplug
from everything...phones, TV, computer, friends, etc. We look back over the previous year
and go month-by-month making a written list of highlights from that year. We then discuss plans and goals for
the coming year. This has been an
annual tradition for 20 years and it's great to be able to look back from year
to year and re-count the blessings & challenges that have been a part of
our life!” -Jen Smith (2/4 Mentor)
Time
Out To Cook
Sweet Potato Pancakes (Jana Murphy 2/4)
1 cup whole wheat or all-purpose flour
Sweet Potato Pancakes (Jana Murphy 2/4)
1 cup whole wheat or all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. Sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. unsalted butter (melted)
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup buttermilk (or mix 1 tbsp. lemon juice with cup of milk; let
sit 5 minutes)
1/3 cup sweet potato or pumpkin
***In
a bowl or mixer, combine first four ingredients, followed by remaining four and
stir or mix together. Spoon 3-4” rounds on buttered
skillet over medium heat until bubbles appear on top. Flip and cook another
minute until brown. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve hot with peanut butter,
yogurt, fresh berries and maple syrup. Taken from Parents Magazine May, 2011.
Game
Stats
Here
are some of the “favorite things” that our Moms listed, by rough category but in no particular order! (If marked with a hyphen and number, the item
was repeated that many times):
Pampering/Cozy-time
Spa
days-2, massages-3, pedicure–3, facial, Taking a bath, Bath products, My hot
tub, Relaxing with coffee, Tempurpedic bed, my bed!, sleeping, My pajamas & bedtime, Cozy pj's, slipper & coffee in the a.m., Down comforter, My bed and soft blanket,
My fuzzy throw blankets
Food
Chocolate bundt cakes, chocolate, Cheesecake
from The Cheesecake Factory, Adams peanut butter, pizza, Beef stew, Hershey's
nuggets, toffee and almond candy, Bananas foster dessert, M&M’s, Spry power
peppermints, Whole
Foods, Cookbooks, Trying new recipes, Vegan cookbooks
People
Dates
with husband – 2, Being with friends & family, Time with grandchildren–2, Family
game night, Hanging out with my mom, Watching movies with family, My baby
cooing gently when I hold her, husband, family, Good friends
Reading
Books–4,
(John Rosemond, Francine Rivers, “The Core Issue” by Christine Caine),
Christian books, Magazines, Sitting on the porch with a good book, Pioneerwoman.com
Devices
Cell
phone-3, iPad, iPod-2, iPhone, Laptop, Camera–2, My Kindle-2
Kid
Products
Sleep
sheep – soothing sound stuffed animal, Wubbanub pacifiers, My son’s little
backpack - so he can carry his own stuff, Diaper Genie, Moby wrap, Arbonne baby products, Cute bows for
my girl
Drinks
Lattes,
coffee-2, Cinnamon dolce frappucino from Starbucks Pumpkin spice
latte/frappucino-3, Chai latte, Wine tasting, wine, Pepsi, Diet Coke, Fountain
drinks, Nalgene water bottles
Body
Light-up
lip gloss-2, C. O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine from Bath & Body Works, Burt’s
Bees lip shimmer – guava, Hairspray, “It’s a 10” hair products, Bath & Body Works - foaming hand
soap
Household
Kitchen-Aide
mixer, Keurig coffee maker, Salad spinner, Laundry detergent and drier sheets, Gain
detergent, Mr. Clean Magic eraser, Swiffer mop, Dyson vaccum, Haan steam
cleaner, Organizing containers, Organizing, New organizing techniques &
shortcuts, All storage containers, Velvet covered hangers, Candles–2, Scentsy
Shoes
Yellow
box flip flops–2, Comfortable shoes, Ballerina flats, New Balance trail shoes, New
shoes
Other
·
God,
My worn Bible, Honesty, My faith, FROG (Fully Rely On God)
·
Handbags-2,
Purses, Thirty-One bags
·
iTunes
gift cards, Podcasts, Music, Christmas music, Christian music, Reality TV
·
The
entire fall season (Vala’s pumpkin patch, apples)
· Planting
flowers in the spring, Being outside, To the beach/sunny days, Nature
·
Shopping,
Victoria’s Secret, A comfy bra, Scarves, Shrugs
·
Pictures
& picture albums, Clear acrylic rubber stamps
·
Cruising
in my 1969 Chevette
·
Boxed
blank notecards, Small metal card holder
·
Traveling,
Traveling with all of my family
·
Turbo
kick class
The
Christ Community Church MOPS Facebook page has 124 followers!! Are
you one? Join in and see updates and engage on Facebook with your MOPS friends
between meetings:
Be A
Team Player!
Summer
LEAP at Compass Ministries – Interested in serving in a summer
program that Compass is holding for six weeks? It will be held on
Monday-Friday, 12-4pm from June 4-July 13. Volunteers are welcome for one day
or many, to come help serve lunch or work with the kids for a couple of hours.
Fridays are field trip days and chaperons are needed. Contact Jenny Berg at jennyb@cccomaha.org to see how you can be
more involved.
Go
Play Around Town
(Websites:
http://www.momsofomaha.com/, http://vacation.visitomaha.com/, http://www.visitnebraska.org/)
Summer U Jr. at Christ Community Church This year, 4 & 5 year olds and kids having just completed Kindergarten can join the fun with Summer U Jr. They will love the singing, games, teaching and activities geared just for them. Select the Summer U Jr. course below to register. $15 per child / Non-refundable (check website for programs through 5th grade) https://www.cccomaha.org/summerU/index.php
Summer U Jr. at Christ Community Church This year, 4 & 5 year olds and kids having just completed Kindergarten can join the fun with Summer U Jr. They will love the singing, games, teaching and activities geared just for them. Select the Summer U Jr. course below to register. $15 per child / Non-refundable (check website for programs through 5th grade) https://www.cccomaha.org/summerU/index.php
Dad
& Me: Out of this world with Dad Saturday, 6.16.12 / 9:30 AM at Christ
Community Chruch. Dads of children 3-6 years old: Join us for one-on-one time
with your child that will be "out of this world" fun. Each child will
decorate their own rocket and participate in other great activities. Tickets
are on sale 5.20-6.10.12 from Dawn at dawnb@cccomaha.org $6 for Dad,
grandfather, or uncle and 1 child and $2 for each additional child. Space is
limited; must purchase tickets in advance.
Hot Shops 11th
Annual Spring Open House, May 5th-6th! The more than 80 artists of the Hot
Shops Art Center downtown invite the public to see their latest artwork and
learn how they create them.
There will be live demonstrations, gallery shows and live music.
Midwest Winds
Kitefliers Club Annual Spring Festival! As part of National Kite Month, see
professional kitefliers perform at the LaVista Soccer Complex, 7346 S. 66th St.
May 2nd – 2/4 Steering (9-11:45)
Midlands Pirate Fest at Bellevue Berry
& Pumpkin Ranch, May 5th-6th!
Piratey family fun at the Pirate Fest.
See the link for admission prices and hours.
St. Bernard's
Parish Carnival, Sunday, May 6th! St. Bernard's,
65th & Military, will hold their parish carnival on the 6th from 11:30 to 5
pm. There will be
rides, sweet treats, toys, and games.
Home Depot Kids
Workshop, Sat. May 5th!
Build a planter box to keep and get a free builder's apron. From 9 to noon, while supplies
last.
Other Fun Stuff at Joslyn Art Mueseum
(http://www.joslyn.org/visit/kids-programs/)
·
Check out our new Family
Flashlight Tour! - A
new, kid-friendly gallery guide that's available in the Scott EdTech Gallery.
Use a "flashlight" to find your way through the Egypt exhibition and
learn interesting facts along the way!
·
Saturday Surprise
- Stop in every other weekend for free art-making!
·
Story Adventures
- It's never too early for stories and art!
·
Family Fun Day
-
Activities, art-making, and gallery fun for everyone!
Announcements!!
ONLY ONE
MEETING LEFT FOR EACH GROUP! SEE BELOW!!!
May 4th(1/3)
& 11th(2/4): Last meeting…Celebration morning! And
registration for 2012-2013!!
***Summer Blog: Our
Teaching Mentors will be encouraging us with one blog entry at the beginning of
each month over the summer. Be on the lookout!
Prayer
hotline: Have a prayer need? Please send it to: prayer4mops@gmail.com
MOPPETS
Thank
you for serving your 2 days in MOPPETS! It is VITAL that you show up on your
assigned days so we can continue to provide a quality program for our children.
If you have a conflict, please switch with another MOPS mom and contact our
Childcare Coordinator, Michelle Brewer (michelleb@cccomaha.org), ASAP of the
change. Please refer to your directory or your DGL for contact info. When you
arrive at the church, check the posting by the nursery check-in table to find
where you have been assigned to help. Thank you for your cooperation! This
months assignments are listed below:
May 2nd – 2/4 Steering (9-11:45)
Amy
McEnroe
Natalie
McNair
Stephanie
Heinauer
Mary
Cavell
May
4th – 1/3 Meeting (8:45-11:30)
Kathleen
Russell
Angie
Timm
Sharilyn
Toney
Liz
Fogle
Michelle
Shaughnessey
Leigh
Dunn
Sarah
Bouman
Shauna
McCoy
May
11th – 2/4 Meeting (8:45-11:30)
Kylie Shada
Martha Elvir
Shauna LeGrande
Stacy Meyer
Kristin Goolsby
Michelle Kazor
Kelli Hasenjager
Kim Sorenson
Kylie Shada
Martha Elvir
Shauna LeGrande
Stacy Meyer
Kristin Goolsby
Michelle Kazor
Kelli Hasenjager
Kim Sorenson
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