January 2012

Anne with husband Adam and son Elijah

Game On: It’s Okay
By Anne Backer (1/3 Mom)

 

Let me start by saying, it’s okay to take a minute to sit and read this. Heck, throw your feet up on the coffee table, after pushing aside the accumulating dishes and to-do lists littering the table top, and really immerse yourself in this blog. Push away the nagging thought that you should be doing something else, something important, and build a dam against the flood of guilt that threatens to overtake you, because it is okay to do this for yourself.

Recently, I was sitting around with a bunch of lovely moms, who had all left their little ones at home with dad for the night, and we got around to saying how weird it was to not be doing anything. When one mom stood up to check on dinner, I swear, a few us stood up automatically as if we had been conditioned for so long to fix dinner, set the table, pick up the toys, feed the child, etc., that we really didn’t know that we could, in fact, just sit.

We laughed over the fact that we felt funny not to be doing something, and it occurred to me that even though it is good to stay busy, be helpful, and meet our kids’ needs, it is also okay to sit down and relax, read a book, step over a pile of toys while pretending they are not there, or to let someone else feed the baby or wash the dishes.

Mothers sometimes feel the stress of the world on their shoulders, and I say, it’s okay to politely reach over, take that ball of stress resting heavily on you, and throw it off once in a while. When you have a baby, you hear whispers of the adage, ‘don’t forget to take time for yourself,' and in the back of your mind you’re thinking, yeah, right, and when do I do that?

But I say, it only happens when you allow yourself to be okay with not being super-mom. Ask for help when you feel that ball of stress start to tingle at the top of your spine, remind yourself that you need a life, too, outside of changing dirty diapers and running a car pool service, and above all, do not let guilt keep you from reading this blog, getting out of the house for a couple hours, taking up a new hobby, or sitting down while your husband or your kids check on dinner.

Because a healthy you can run a lot longer than a worn-down, weary version of yourself. We need to teach our children that being busy, busy, busy isn’t the picture of success, but instead, it is leading a meaningful life. I challenge you today to think of a hobby you have been secretly dreaming of (mine would be to learn how to dance, like jazz, tap, or ballet), and do it! Ask your hubby to babysit for the night, grab a sitter, or trade nights with another mom, and take up that new hobby.

And I promise you, it is okay to do that. ***

“Mentor’s Favorite Things…”

“My favorite thing I ever did was go whitewater rafting in Colorado down the Royal Gorge.  It was terrifying, and my husband got thrown out of the raft in the first hour, but it was so fun! I hope to go many more times in my life! – Shally Luzum (1/3 Mentor)

“Looking back, one of my favorite things that I’m glad I did as a woman is sit with a man I didn’t know from church whose wife was having surgery.  At a ladies Sunday school class meeting one night our leader ask if anyone could sit with Mavis’s husband (she was a mentor for our class) while she was having surgery. I hardly knew Mavis I was fairly new to the class. Seeing that no one was going to volunteer, I did, which if you know me is a little out of my comfort zone. I mean what am I to talk about with this older man that I don’t know. Anyway that day came and it wasn’t as scary as I thought; I think it was comforting for him to have someone with him to help pass the time. Many years passed and I was amazed that he continued remember that day. It is rewarding not only for us to help out someone in need but we don’t know how much it may mean to the person we help. I now realize that it wasn’t about me and my fears but about a person that needed someone to care. There are times when someone may need a smile, a hug, a kind word, or a caring person just to listen, let us be those people.”  – Jan Ohlsson (2/4 Mentor)

Time Out To Cook (Following recipes from the kitchen of Katie Ebers, 2/4 Hospitality)

Breakfast Before Casserole (*make the day before serving)
1 lb. spicy sausage
6 eggs
2 c. milk
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dry mustard
2-3 slices bread (cubed)
1 c. grated cheddar cheese

*Saute sausage. Drain. Beat eggs with milk, salt & mustard. Layer bread cubes, sausage and cheese in a greased 9x13 pan. Pour egg mixture on top. Refrigerate over night. Bake @ 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Beat 2 eggs, 1 cup sour cream, 1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla.

Mix in 2 cups flour, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. baking powder.
Grease and flour angel food pan. Put in 1/2 batter and 1/2 topping.
Put in other 1/2 of batter and remaining topping. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.
*Topping:  3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional), 5 TBSP. brown sugar, 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Game Stats

Winter is the LEAST favorite season of the year according to our survey. Only 1 person circled winter as the favorite, so all the rest of you hang in there and enjoy the quality time inside!

BOLDNESS IS… (in the words of our ladies)

·        Doing something out of your comfort zone (#1 response)

·        Brave, courageous, confidence, strength, daring…

·        Being brave to take a stand

·        Overcoming your fear, doing what scares you

·        Trusting God, being the face of God to everyone I meet

·        Taking a risk, stepping out in faith

·        Being carefree, letting go and having fun

·        Doing something crazy or that says “wow!”

·        Speaking your mind

·        Doing something unexpected

·        Acting outside of the “box”

·        Doing something despite of what others think

·        Putting yourself “out there”

·        ...is hard to do, but important

·        Taking charge and not being stepped on

·        Going where no man has gone before

·        Trusting your inner feelings or what your heart tells you to do

·        Standing up for someone when they can’t stand up for themselves

·        Being confident and humble at the same time

·        Caring enough about others to speak the truth to them

·        Saying what is on your mind even when people don’t want to hear it

·        Doing something when you are really unsure of the outcome

·        Standing up for what you believe, in a graceful and confident manner

·        Standing up for something regardless the cost

·        Doing something out of the ordinary without reservation

·        Stepping out on the ledge to do something or meet someone new

·        Not being afraid to be yourself and try new things

·        Doing what your heart tells you or what is right, even when it isn’t easy

The Christ Community Church MOPS Facebook page has 117 followers. Are you one? Join in and see updates and engage on Facebook with your MOPS friends between meetings:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christ-Community-Church-MOPS/125998760779919

Be A Team Player!

!!!Book Drive!!! If you still had books for Compass Ministries that you were unable to bring to our December meeting, please bring them and they will be passed along to Comapss. Thank you ladies for all of the books that were given!

Go Play Around Town

(Websites: http://vacation.visitomaha.com/, http://www.visitnebraska.org/, www.MomsOfOmaha.com)

KiDS Body Shop (Papillion, NE) If you're like me, you worry about how your kids are going to get enough exercise once the cold weather hits. From November through February, I'm always searching for fun ways for kids to get some vigorous exercise in indoor settings. Did you know that KiDS Body Shop offers activities that are available to the general public? For more details, click here: http://www.kidsbodyshop.com/
 
Besides gymnastics and swimming opportunities, KiDS Body Shop also provides several additional activities which are open to the public. Open Gym Open Gym is a time when you and your children can come enjoy our gym outside of class. Open Gyms are held on Tuesdays from 12:30 to 2:00 PM through May 15th 2012.

Indoor Ice Skating Rinks:

Mid-America Center Ice Arena:

http://www.midamericacenter.com/aren...formation.aspx

Motto McLean Ice Arena in Hitchcock Park:

http://www.cityofomaha.org/parks/par...ties/ice-rinks

Moylan Ice Plex: http://moylaniceplex.com/

Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks:

Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Ice Skating Rink:

http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/parks/...tmactivity.asp

University of Nebraksa Medical Center Ice Skating Rink:

http://www.unmc.edu/services/bus-fin...ss/skating.htm  

Dundee Neighborhood Ice Skating Rink: Free. Happy Hollow Blvd. and Underwood Ave. At your own risk, daylight only, no skate rental or restrooms.

Announcements!!

January 13(2/4): Nancy Davies on Discipline
January 20(1/3): Lisa Brown on her "Favorite Things"
January 27(2/4): Jenifer Conkright (Lighter Side of Life)

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 Heidi Harner(2/4) or Shantel Crellin(1/3) 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:

January 4 - 2/4 Steering (8:45-11:45)
Anne Bauer
Chelsea Little
Amy McEnroe
Molly Asher
   

January 11 – 1/3 Steering (9-11:30)
Tiffani Herfordt
Tracy Krelle
Julie Richard
Shannon Swaney

January 13 – 2/4 Meeting (8:45-11:30)

Kimberly Sorensen
Lauri Quiner
Alicia Kurzenberger
Marlene Cameron
Jennifer Chambers
Martha Elvir

January 20 - 1/3  Meeting (8:45-11:30)
Leigh Dunn
Kelley Greening
Yolanda Hardesty 
Emily Gorab
Mary Cavell
Kara Clemens
Heidi Green

January 27 – 2/4 Meeting (8:45-11:30)
Shauna LeGrande
Stacy Meyer
Kristin Goolsby
Michelle Kazor
Shannon Hoegh
Alexa Margary