January 20, 2009 Q & A with Shawna and Kim

Didn't you guys get alot out of today's Q & A with Shawna and Kim?! I know I did! I am always so impressed with their wisdom and honesty!

If you guys have more questions you can always email them or give them a call!

Some of the books they recommended were:
Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp
Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian
Power of a Praying Parent
The Five Love Languages (for children and teenagers as well) by Gary Chapman
Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul by John Eldredge

If you ladies think of others that I didn't mention please leave it in the comments section!

Don't forget our Fundraiser! We need volunteers so please email or call Ambrosia or Ginel! ASAP!

Keep an eye out for an email about our next scrapbook night!

Next Tuesday is Playdate at McDonalds...look for an email about that as well!

If you didn't get your t-shirt get a hold of Aimee and pay up or the Mofia will be after you! LOL!

Next Meeting we'll be finishing up our Craft brought to us by Ashlee!

Have a blessed week and don't forget to post your questions for Bethany! You can always go anon for those sneaky ones!

MOFIA Meeting January 6th, 2009

Can you believe it? It's a New Year.

To ring in the New Year for MOFIA Kim shared a special message today...I can't say what it was because I wasn't there. My new year started off with runny noses, and sneezes and coughs but hopefully yours was much better! I'm sure Kim's words of wisdom were inspirational and encouraging to you moms. She is always so wise and full of grace as she shares with us from her wealth of knowledge about being in the pit of raising preschoolers (oops did I just say that out loud..you know what I mean...The wonderful stage of mothering preschoolers).
If anyone would like to please share a few thoughts on what Kim spoke about please feel free to leave a comment or two in the comment box below.

What I do know is that 2009 for MOFIA is going to be full of some fun things!

To start us off we have our Scrapbook Night at Treasured Memories Scrapbook Store.
Don't worry if you don't actually scrapbook or aren't creative like some of the ladies in our group; come out and hang out with some awesome women.
When: January 16th 6pm-9pm
Where: Treasured Memories Scrapbook Store

502 E Dewey Ave

Sapulpa, OK 74066
Across from the Police Station
Cost: $5.00 a person and bring a pot luck dish to share (think finger foods and desserts)
What to bring: Anything scrappy...punches, papers, photos, idea books, ect... or like I said just yourself!
If we enjoy this we're thinking about making it a monthly thing! So come out, enjoy some good fellowship without the kiddos, and get a chance to yak and breath without hearing "MOM!" for at least a couple hours.

It's Fundraiser Time again!!!!
This time we're doing another Babysitting Event for Valentines Day. I'll post some fliers you can download and print to hand out or email out to friends. We need volunteers though so please let Ambrosia or Aimee know if you can help out.
What: Save the Date for a Date
When: February 6th, 6pm-midnight
Where: Faith Church
Cost: $15.00 first child, $5.00 each additional child
RSVP: by January 20th
Dinner will not be provided but snacks and drinks will be, so if you're volunteering and bringing your kids please have them fed before hand! And we'll probably need volunteers to show up a bit earlier then 6pm so look for more information as it comes...
We're hoping to raise a couple hundred dollars for the MOFIA budget so pass those fliers out!

In other exciting news we're planning on making 2009 the year of getting to know each other better....so in order to do that we've setup some play dates. On the weeks we don't have Mofia we'll be getting together at Anna French's house and at the Sapulpa McDonalds (which has a playland).
There will be an email that goes out with Address and Directions.
First Playdate
When: January 13th 10am-130pm
What to bring: Bring a sack lunch, drinks, and cups and plates and such will be provided. You're also welcome to use the microwave and oven...Coffee and Teas will be provided for us moms as well.
Depending on the weather bring hats, coats, gloves,ect...we have 10 acres and I want to make sure everyone spends at least a few minutes outside instead of cooped up inside. We have videos and tons of toys. So no need to bring anything unless you really want to. Bigger kids are welcome to bring footballs and that type of stuff.
This is open to all moms and we at MOFIA really hope that you all feel welcome to come and just hang out and get to know other moms that are going through or have gone through the same things you're going through. This is a chance to make some great friends.

Look forward to the next Meeting where Shawna and Kim will answer all the questions we have about raising Preschoolers, or Newborns, or our Gradeschoolers. They have such great wisdom and are really fun to talk to as well. If you'd like, you can email them some questions ahead of time or come up with some really tough ones and throw them at them like a curve ball and see what happens. That's always fun as well!


I'll be posting all these things on our Calendar and you can check it out here...
If you'd like to sign up for reminders of these events email me at annafrnch@gmail.com and I'll put you on our google calendar list for reminders.


And if you haven't gotten your T-shirt yet and you ordered one remember to bring Aimee a check at the next meeting..she's got them and they are way too cute!

November 18th Meeting...Friendship is like pee in the pants

Everyone can see it but only you can feel it!

A big thanks to Corrina for coming and sharing her wonderful insight on the importance of girlfriends. I think it's safe to say that she was a riot! I don't think I've laughed so hard in a long time. Not only was she funny but she made some really good points about friendship. Her illustration of the bouquet of friends was really poignant. Whether you are a rose, or the flower that looses your head, you are always important to the group of friends you have. We often compare ourselves to our friends around us and sometimes those comparisons leave us feeling like we aren't as good or as important as we should feel but God has designed you to be the Woman you are. He's knitted you into the flower he wants you to be. Embrace those inner desires and talents and share them with those around you. Don't be afraid to loose your head or stand out like a crazy Daisy. It's what you are meant to do and without you the rest of bunch looses it's color and flare!

Shawna was so kind to take a few pictures of Corrina, just in case the size 64 underwear didn't leave a lasting impression on you.




Corrina reminded us that God has known us from the beginning and has knitted us to be who we are: Psalms 139:1, 15-16 O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

And that in Jeremiah 31:35-37 (NLT) It is the LORD who provides the sun to light the day and the moon and stars to light the night. It is he who stirs the sea into roaring waves. His name is the LORD Almighty, and this is what he says: "I am as likely to reject my people Israel as I am to do away with the laws of nature! Just as the heavens cannot be measured and the foundation of the earth cannot be explored, so I will not consider casting them away forever for their sins. I, the LORD, have spoken!

So stand up and be the Woman God has made you with no fear of Rejection from Him. Remember that we are no longer called servants but He has called us Friends, and His commandment is to love one another...even the roses, the daisies, and the sunflower that looses her head!
John 15: 15-17 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.

And a reminder of what a True Friend is from Corrina:

Are you tired of those sissy 'friendship' poems that always sound good,
but never actually come close to reality?
Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship.
You will see no cutesy little smiley faces on this card-
Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.

1. When you are sad --I will jump on the person who made you sad like a spider monkey jacked up on Mountain Dew !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile -- I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.

4. When you're scared -- we will high tail it out of there, together.

5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining ... ya big baby!!!!
6. When you are confused -- I will speak slowly and use little words.

7. When you are sick --Stay away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have, but I care.

8. When you fall -- I'll pick you up and dust you off as soon as I quit laughing.

9. This is my oath...I pledge it to the end. 'Why?' you may ask -- because you are my FRIEND!

Friendship is like peeing your pants,
everyone can see it,
but only you can feel the true warmth.

November 2, 2008

Special Thanks to Shawna for sharing with us today. I really appreciated the excerpt she shared. I thought I’d post it here as well so that we can look over it from time to time. It’s a good reminder that we aren’t always going to be in this season and though sometimes it may seem there is little difference seen in our children; one day we’ll see so big a difference and it will seem amazing to us. She also shared with me a few key verses to remember and meditate on this week that I’ll post on the Wisdom for the Week.

I would also like to thank Phyllis Fater from Glenpool’s Parents As Teachers Program. To find out more information about OPATP you can contact her at:

Phone:918-322-9801 E-mail:pmfater@glenpool.k12.ok.us

You can also contact OPAT for Bixby and Jenks at:

Bixby: Contacts: Chrissy Streeter, Tiffany Dotson, and Carrie Benjamin Phone: 366-2260 or 697-9399

Jenks: Contact:Shea Taber Phone:918-299-4415 E-mail: shea.taber@jenksps.org



Anonymous:The Hidden Years
by Alicia Britt Chole

The Prologue

i n w i n t e r

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season.
—Psalm 1:3

A century ago, a few fragile seeds fell upon rocky soil. Through
drought and flood, they clung tightly to earth, stubbornly stretching
toward the heavens. Today, silver maple, post oak, and black
walnut trees surround our home like tall, loyal sentinels. Their
intricate, mingled root systems support the ground below. Their
long, angular boughs weave a canopy above.
Before I was, they were.
My elders by many decades, their presence is steadying.
In the heat, I rest under the covering of their rich foliage.
Bursting with shades of green, the leaves dance in the breeze.
Winter’s reduction is coming, but that does not halt the dance.
Trees celebrate the moment, temporary though it is.
In the spring,
their new growth sings of hope. Their lush greenery offers peace
in the summer. In the fall, their colorful collages inspire creativity.
And in their emptiness, trees grace the winter with silent
elegance.
Though my skin prefers their role in summer, somehow my
soul prefers their lessons in winter. Then, when growth pauses,
the trees have often become my teachers.
What the plenty of summer hides, the nakedness of winter
reveals: infrastructure. Fullness often distracts from foundations.
But in the stillness of winter, the trees’ true strength is unveiled.
Stripped of decoration, the tree trunks become prominent.
As a child I always colored tree trunks brown, but to my adult
eyes they appear to be more of a warm gray. Starting with their
thick bases, I begin studying each tree. Buckling strips of bark
clothe mile after mile of weathered branches. Leafless, the trees
feature their intricate support systems. Detail is visible, as is dead
wood. Lifeless limbs concealed by summer’s boasting are now
exposed.
My eyes glide from one rough, uneven bough to another
and then to the terminal, delicate twigs. A tree’s posture is allopen,
like arms ready for an embrace. So very vulnerable, yet so
very strong. I find the display quieting and full of grace.

In winter, are the trees bare? Yes.
In winter, are the trees barren? No.
Life still is.

Life does not sleep—though in winter she retracts all advertisement.
And when she does so, she is conserving and preparing
for the future.

And so it is with us. Seasonally, we too are stripped of visible fruit.
Our giftings are hidden; our abilities are underestimated.
When previous successes fade and current efforts falter, we can
easily mistake our fruitlessness for failure.

But such is the rhythm of spiritual life: new growth, fruitfulness,
transition, rest . . . new growth, fruitfulness, transition,
rest. Abundance may make us feel more productive, but perhaps
emptiness has greater power to strengthen our souls.
In spiritual winters, our fullness is thinned so that, undistracted
by our giftings, we can focus upon our character.
In the absence of anything to measure, we are left with nothing to stare
at except for our foundation.

Risking inspection, we begin to examine the motivations that
support our deeds, the attitudes that influence our words, the
dead wood otherwise hidden beneath our busyness. Then a lifechanging
transition occurs as we move from resistance through
repentance to the place of rest. With gratitude, we simply abide.
Like a tree planted by living water, we focus upon our primary
responsibility: remaining in him.

In winter are we bare? Yes.
In winter are we barren? No.
True life still is.

The Father’s work in us does not sleep—though in spiritual
winters he retracts all advertisement. And when he does so, he is
purifying our faith, strengthening our character, conserving our
energy, and preparing us for the future.
The sleepy days of winter hide us so that seductive days of
summer will not ruin us.

October 21st Meeting

Thank you Kim for starting off our meeting with a devotion about our devotion to our husbands. We are not only a giver of life to our children but also to the man we say we love. Isn't it amazing that someone who has devoted their life to being married to us sometimes is the one we attack the most! Let's work hard to remember to be uplifting and encouraging to our spouses and not someone who constantly tears down. Special Thanks to Melissa and Krystal for sharing their knowledge of couponing with us as well.

After the meeting I was thinking about The Virtuous Woman and how it applies to not only what Kim shared with us but also what Melissa had to say about saving our family money, setting a budget (and sticking to it), and even making our family money while staying home with our kids.

In Proverbs 31:11 it says this about the Virtuous Woman..."Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. (v12) She brings good to him , not harm, all the days of her life."

I know that Melissa's husband has full confidence in her that she's going to walk out of any store with the best deal ever! And I bet he lacks nothing in value, (though I think this has a deeper meaning then just muffins in the freezer). And as Kim mentioned in her devotion, our husbands will be more willing to snuggle up to us when we're bringing them good and not harm. So put on a smile and tell your husband you love him, appreciate him, and then show him all those savings you made with your coupons!

I know for some of us we were in awe of the collection of coupons that Melissa had and were trying to take in everything she had to say. I've couponed for years (I can remember helping my mom clip coupons when I was like 5) and I was in shock and awe at her $100 a month grocery bill, instead of my $100 a week grocery bill. For some it was overwhelming to even know how to begin. Whether you're a newby to couponing or a seasoned cutter you might find her website helpful...TulsaMakesCents. She has some really great deals going on right now if you're interested in her service.

If you missed or lost her handouts you can grab them here:
Click to enlarge and print off

I thought I'd also take this space for some links to some online coupon sites as well as links for our local grocery store circulars. If you have some sites you'd like to share then please feel free to list them in the comment sections! I'll add them to the running list with links.

Coupons and Bargain Sites:
Grocery and Instore Printable Coupons
Printable Grocery Coupons
Printable Grocery Coupons2
Smartsource Grocery Coupons
Printable Coupons Blog
Rebecca's Bargains
Coupon Mom
Walgreens
A Full Cup (Target Coupons as well as lots of hints of how to combine coupons and sales for the best deals. Also remember you can combine these coupons with the coupons you find from the manufacturer else where)

If you're interested in brand specific items you can always google the brand and check out their sites for coupons. Lots of times you have to sign up for their newsletters. Personally I set up a yahoo account for just this purpose. I get updates and coupons all the time. If you're not interested in that you can always contact them via phone and ask for coupon deals. Melissa also suggested signing up for registries at Target and Walmart to get diaper and other baby deals. Same is true if you go to Huggies, Pampers and Luvs websites as well as formula companies.

And don't be afraid to hold your ground when shopping with coupons. Remember what Melissa said, we speak with our money. If the customer service at a particular place is less then amiable to your coupons then remember we are always be watched by little eyes and are always ambassadors of Christ so be polite ask to speak to a manager and if all else fails you can always just leave.

Here are our local store weekly circulars online in case you don't get them at home or your toddler decided to use them as a chew toy!

Country Mart (Bixby and Glenpool)
Food Pyramid
Reasors
Walmart
Target
Homeland

*Homeland and Country Mart both require a card to get their deals but it's free. Also if you have kids in neighboring schools you can sign up for your school to receive money anytime you spend money.

**Food Pyramid and Country Mart double coupons up to 50cents (meaning you get $1.00 off with a 50cent coupon) call ahead to make sure they take printable coupons if you're using those.

***Homeland doubles coupons up to $1.00 (so a$1.00 coupon becomes $2.00 off)


Walmart does price match if you bring in ads from other local stores.


One last note from our meeting: We are in desperate need for a childcare worker so please please keep this in your prayers.

October 7th Mofia Meeting

Big Thanks to Shawna for bringing us the message today. You'll notice it's part of our words of wisdom this week. I thought it was a great reminder that we are growing little trees that will one day bear fruit and while we don't get to decide whether it's going to be a banana or an apple , as God has that all planned out, we do get to decide whether or not it will be sweet or rotten. And if you are like me you wonder if our kids will ever stop being rotten! :)

Seriously though I need that little reminder that we are nourishing daily little trees that will one day grow big and strong. I know I want my little trees to become great bearers of God's sweet and precious fruit!


What are some verses that God has brought to you this week that might encourage us all?


Also I wanted to say a huge thank you to Ashlee for giving us our great Craft to work on over the next several months. I'm excited to see them all progress.
Also thanks once again to Aimee for making our little area look like Fall. You have such wonderful taste and talent!

And thanks to all those ladies who made all those goodies! It was all so delicious!

Alright ladies let the comments roll~

Discussion-Purposeful Parenting

Last week's message, Purposeful Parenting by Kim, was a wondeful reminder that it's not all about changing diapers and making little lunches.

How did her message effect you and your daily routine?

Any one know of any good devotionals that cover this?

How can we encourage each other in our goal to parent with a purpose?

Any other questions or discussions concerning this?


Feel free to comment below!