March 2012

Caroline, Mark and kids at oldest daughter's wedding in December 2011

Game On: Meet Caroline Bone By Jana Murphy

Caroline Bone is one of our treasured MOPPETS teachers (with the 2-year-olds) and has been a gem to have at Christ Community Church since 2006. She grew up in Illinois where she met her high school sweetheart, Mark.  They started dating just before she turned 16 years old! They married after she finished college at the University of Illinois, and have since been blessed with six children (Cathrine-24, Christine-23, Coleen-18, Jackson-16, John-13, Jillian–12). She graciously took the time to answer a few questions for us to be able to get to know her a little better. Enjoy!

Q: What has been your favorite thing about being married?

A: It is like having a journey with my best friend. Couldn’t imagine life without him.

Q: What has been your favorite thing about being a mom?

A: Definitely being at home with them when they were little and watching them grow and learn. I felt more in control when they were little, because their worries were so small. Mommy can fix it all then.

Q: Do you have any words of wisdom for moms who are in the midst of the preschool years?

A: Enjoy every moment!!! My mom always told me this when I was surrounded by diapers, car seats, potty training… I thought that I was doing it, but looking back, I realize that I really didn’t. Brings tears to my eyes. It goes by too fast. Our oldest daughter just got married, the week before Christmas!!!

Q: What is it about MOPPETS that brings you back every year?

A: My favorite thing is being around the 2-year-olds. I love this age!!! Watching their facial expressions, especially to see when they are thinking through their eyes. There is so much growth and learning that happens in that year, such as moving from diapers to potty training.

Q: How do you prepare for MOPS each week?

A: I prepare by thinking of each little face, one by one. All the curriculum has been prepared for the teachers by the MOPPETS Coordinator. I love the Veggie Tales curriculum and the crafts have been great this year. Each year has been different and I have liked it all. It is so much fun to have music time with the kids, they love it! And the kids just get better and better every year!

Q: Do you have any special memories from your time with the kids?

A: One game that I like to play with the kids is where they step inside a circle ring, I call it God’s circle of love. Then I have them repeat after me: “Hi, I’m (their name). I am a child of God.” Then I ask them what they like. Last year I had one of the kids answer, “I like to come to MOPS!” ***

“Mentor’s Favorite Things…”

“One of my favorite things I ever received was a card of encouragement from my mother-in-law who has since passed away.  The card was totally unexpected, and it came at a time when I really needed some encouragement in being a mom.  One of our children was going through something difficult, my husband was traveling frequently for business, and I felt like a total failure at times.  It is so amazing how God can use people to encourage us, and I definitely feel like this was the work of his wonderful Hand.  This was the only type of card I ever received from her, but it meant so much.  I can remember reading it and crying because I could feel God's love, wisdom and encouragement coming through her words.  When I am feeling down, I will bring it out and read it.  I also feel like it meant so much because she was someone I truly respected as a woman of God, a wife and mother herself.  This card is truly something I will cherish for the rest of my life. . . . and I am so thankful she took the time to write it. - Renita McElmury  (1/3 Mentor)

“My two favorite things are spending time with my family and traveling.  When I travel with my family, that is my most favorite thing.  I love traveling with my husband, girl trips with my daughter, sister, nieces and friends, trips with my entire family.  I love to travel to far away places and places close to home.  The most important thing is to spend quality time with the ones you love and enjoy God's beautiful creation.  The memories and pictures last a lifetime and bring joy when you reminisce.  I think it's important to get in the habit of traveling with your family while they are young.  It is worth the effort, because when they are older they remember the great times and they make it a priority to travel with their family.  Remember that your trips don't have to be extravagant. They can be day trips and picnics.  What's important are the wonderful memories you make. - Kim Metschke (2/4 Mentor)

Time Out To Cook
Another "Favorite Thing" from Renita McElmury (1/3 Mentor)!! This potato soup recipe came from Taste of Home -- I like the recipes from Taste of Home because they seem to have "every day" ingredients, are simple and most of the time, taste good.

Creamy Potato Soup
7 medium potates, peeled and cubed
2 celery ribs, diced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 quart water
4 tsp. chicken bouillon granules
1/4 c. butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 quart milk
Crumbled bacon and shredded cheddar cheese, optional

***In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, combine potatoes, celery, onion, water and bouillon.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat and cover and simmer for 20 - 25 minutes or until potatoes are tender.  Cool slightly.  Place half of the potato mixture in a blender; cover and puree.  Repeat with remaining potato mixture. set aside.  In the same kettle, melt butter.  Stir in flour, salt and pepper until smooth.  Gradually add milk; bring to a boil.  Boil and stir for 2 minutes.  Return potato puree to the pan and heat through.  Garnish with crumbled bacon and shredded cheddar cheese.  Yield:  8 - 10 servings. ( 2 3/4 quarts)

I do not put the potato mixture in a blender to puree.  I cool the mixture and then mash it with a potato masher.  This way you can get it to the consistency that you want it.  Then just transfer it to another bowl while you mix the flour & milk mixture.

Game Stats

What is your favorite game?

SCRABBLE – 24 votes

Catch Phrase and Pictionary – tied for 8 votes

Apples to Apples and Cards – tied for 7 votes

Scatergories – 6 votes

Phase 10 – 5 votes

Dominos and Taboo – tied for 4 votes
Words with Friends, Monopoly, Settlers of Catan and Bunco – tied for 3 votes

2 mentions: Bananagrams, The Game of LIFE, Cranium, Charades, Balderdash, UNO, Sequnce, Yahtzee, Suduko, Pitch, Clue, Eucher, Board games

Others mentioned: Ticket to Ride, Monopoly Deal, Backgammon, Killer Bunnies, Perquacky, Funglish, Volleyball, Sorry Sliders, Boggle, SkipBo, Dutch Blitz, Washers, Golf, Shoots and Ladders, Kids Battle the Grown Ups, Spot It, Marbleball, Peek-a-boo, Hand and Foot, Kanasta, Baseball, Tennis, Outburst, Brain Trap, Go Fish (with kids), Gestures, Twister, Solitaire, Rook, Pinochle, Kick the Can, Trivium, Union Pacific (board game), Nertz, Word Twist, Mad Gab, Caribou Island (with son)

The Christ Community Church MOPS Facebook page has 123 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!

Have any interest in helping with Compass Ministries after school program? 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/)

Celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday on Friday, March 2nd!  Pottery Barn Kids at Regency has a "Read Across America" event and Dr. Seuss celebration March 2nd-4th.  The Maple Street YMCA will have a Seuss birthday party on the 2nd.  Pacific Hills Lutheran Church & Lamb of God Preschool will host Seuss Night on the 2nd, and the Omaha Children's Museum will celebrate the good doctor at their First Friday Family Date Night.

Free Kids Workshop at Home Depot, Sat. March 3rd!  Build a replica of the #20 Home Depot NASCAR!

The Bookworm (8702 Pacific Street Omaha (402) 392-2877) Toddler story times are held in the Children’s Dept. every Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m.  Children’s book clubs geared toward different age levels and/or interests are also available.

Pottery Barn Kids Regency Court Shopping Center (120 Regency Parkway Omaha (402) 393-1137)
Story time is held every Tuesday morning at 11:00 a.m.  Kids who sign up for the Pottery Barn Kids Book Club and attend five Story Time Events will receive a $10 coupon good towards any PBK item in the store. 

Announcements!!

March 2^nd(1/3) & 9^th(2/4): SWAP!!! Don’t forget to bring up to 20 gently used items (clothes for women/maternity/kids, shoes, toys, kids gear, etc.). This can be  brought the night before your SWAP from 7-8pm to the MOPS meeting room, or you can bring it on the morning of your SWAP.

March 16^th(1/3) & 23^rd(2/4): Steve & Terry Walters talk on marriage.

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:

March 2 - 1/3 Meeting
Collete Schmidtke
Shauna McCoy
Debbie Sledge
Becca Sutton
Michelle sealock
Jen Johnson 

March 7 - 1/3 Steering (9-11:30)
Abigail Wilson
Jennifer Colgrove
Marlene Cameron
Tiffanie Thompson

March 9 - 2/4 Meeting (8:45-11:30)
Laura Haley
Brianne Minturn
Jocie Minturn
Amanda Kirkpatrick
Chris Mayne
Kimberly Storm

March 16 - 1/3 Meeting (8:45-11:30)
Amanda Zach

Anne Greve

Becky Lachin

Christin Schroeder

Jody Hemmingson

Deana Loibl

Heidi Green

Joy Gregory

March 23 - 2/4 Meeting (8:45-11:30) 
Katie Wheat
Laura Farington
Kelli Hasenjager
Gina Hostetler
Paola Lee
Stefani Lane