The MOPS Steering Team is the organizing and decision-making body of the First Church MOPS group.  It is composed of MOPS women, each of whom possess a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and can abide by the MOPS Faith Position Statement (see below).

We are looking to fill the following leadership positions as we begin planning this summer for the fall and would encourage each of you to consider lending your time and talent to our team.

Hospitality Team Leader or Co-Leaders
(Two moms sharing this position would be ideal)
Plans and organizes breakfast at each MOPS meeting, delegating responsibilities to steering team members and MOPS moms as needed. Focuses on the needs of women and arranges the atmosphere of MOPS. Reaches out to moms beyond MOPS, organizing help for families in need. Keeps track of the hospitality team budget.
Attends monthly steering team meetings and MOPS meetings and assists with set-up the evening before MOPS meetings.

Creative Activities Leader
Responsible for planning crafts or arranging for guest demonstrators to visit MOPS to share various life skills (cooking, photography, etc.). Organizes materials, instructions, demonstrations and samples of each creative activity before the MOPS meeting.  Arranges for set-up and take-down of craft area and supplies and keeps track of the creative activities budget.
Attends monthly steering team meetings and MOPS meetings and assists with set-up the evening before MOPS meetings.

Table Leader
Attends MOPS meetings, but does not need to attend steering team meetings or assist with meeting set-up.
Helps facilitate the discussion of the women at her table each meeting. Attempts to develop relationships with the women at her table and lets the steering team know of any special needs such as illnesses, pregnancies, losses, etc.. Outside of the MOPS meetings she may email/phone her table members between meetings to distribute necessary information and updates, plan playdates, or check in with the women at her table.

Thank you for your consideration. Please contact Becky Dykhuis with any questions or to learn more. becky@dykhuis.com or 531-1343

MOPS Faith Position Statement
MOPS International exists to encourage, equip, and develop every mother of preschoolers to realize her potential as a woman, mother and leader in the name of Jesus Christ.

Thanks to Pastor Wolf for his inspiring message today regarding sharing faith. To learn more about his book, Giving Faith Another Chance, or his recent trip to Africa, visit his web site or blog at the addresses below.

www.christopherbwolf.com
christopherbwolf.wordpress.com

Our next, and final, MOPS meeting of the semester is Friday, May 23. At this meeting we will be making a fun, spring craft and enjoying a mentor moment from Suzanne Cole. If you are planning to attend and you need to bring your school-age children because they don’t have school, please do so—we will provide an activity for your older children during the meeting

In addition, we had such a positive response regarding the BeadforLife jewelry party we hosted today, that we will have the leftover necklaces and bracelets at our May 23 meeting for you to purchase in case you missed out, so remember to bring your checkbook, or some cash.

Thank you to all our MOPS moms for your generous donations at each meeting. We appreciate your support as it helps us stay on budget and enables us to provide quality speakers, delicious food, and crafts & snack for your children each meeting!

We plan on staying in touch over the summer and registration materials for the fall will be mailed out in August. MOPS meetings will run from September 2008-May 2009. Be sure to visit this blog over the summer for a schedule of playdates and information on our upcoming MOPS year.

Next year’s theme:

Click on the link below and get ready to smile.

Clip from Bluefish TV.com

Many thanks to today’s fabulous speaker & one of our fellow MOPS moms, Jen Wolf. Jen helped us examine and discover where our parenting strengths lie and reminded us how important it is that we take care of ourselves to keep our parenting “well” full. Be sure to check out Jen’s blog at faithinparenting.com, as well as her Screen Time Matters site for advice on limiting kids tv, video & computer time

Our next Ladies Night Out is next Tuesday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Panera Bread located at the corner of 44th & Kenowa Ave. in Grandville. Join us for dinner and conversation with your fellow MOPS moms. Even if you were not able to sign up ahead of time, you are welcome to come and join us!

Our next MOPS meeting is Friday, May 9. At this meeting First Church Pastor Christopher Wolf will be sharing about his recent trip to Africa and MOPS moms will have the opportunity to participate in a unique event—a BeadforLife BeadParty. At the meeting we will feature beautiful beaded jewelry made of recycled paper by refugees from Northern Uganda’s brutal war and HIV+ mothers. You will have a chance to buy the jewelry, listen to music from Uganda, and watch a short DVD about BeadforLife. This is a great way to have fun and do something to improve the world. To learn more about BeadforLife, visit www.beadforlife.org

In honor of Mother’s Day, First Church is collecting items for the “Baby Pantry” at South Grandville Christian Reformed Church. You are invited to participate by bring baby items to donate to our May 9 meeting. Some suggestions are: diapers, wipes, bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, baby shampoo & lotion, and new or gently used toys, clothes, or books.

“MOPPORTUNITY”
We need 2 moms willing to watch the children of the steering team in the church nursery during our planning meeting on Wednesday, May 14, from 9:15-11:15 a.m. Your children are welcome, so think of it as a playdate with an additional purpose. Let Becky Dykhuis (531-1343) know asap if you’re available to help.

Please note: If you are planning to attend our Friday, May 23 meeting and you need to bring your school age children because they don’t have school, please sign up at the food table at our next meeting. We will provide an activity for your older children during the May 23 meeting, but would like to know how many to plan for.

Thank you to all our MOPS moms for your generous donations at each meeting. We appreciate your support as it helps us stay on budget and enables us to provide quality speakers, delicious food, and crafts & snack for your children each meeting!

Tired of library late fees? Sign up for email reminders.
Whether you’re an avid library user or just the occasional reader, the Kent District Library’s Email notification service makes it easier than ever to track your library materials. Simply complete the online form and you’ll receive emails regarding item holds, approaching due dates, overdues, and more! You can opt out at any time. Additionally, you can rest assured that your email address will remain confidential and will not be distributed to parties outside the library system.

Early literacy resources & activities
Research shows that birth through age five is the most important time for children to develop their brains and attitudes towards reading and learning. PLAY-GROW-READ! gives parents fun ideas and information to help prepare children for school and encourage a lifelong love of reading. From tips and teaching aids for parents to developmental activities for children, PLAY-GROW-READ is your early literacy resource, so visit KDL’s PLAY-GROW-READ link.

Michigan Week Barbeque
Wednesday, May 21
5:00 - 7:00 PM at the Grandville KDL Branch
Join city and library staff at the library’s outdoor amphitheatre for a community celebration. There will be food, entertainment, music and more! Sponsored by the City of Grandville. For all ages.

Farm Fun

Family Fun Days at Dairy Discovery in Alto
Saturdays in April
11:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
Tours are $5 per person (infants 1 year or younger are free) or $20 for a family of 5
www.dairydiscovery.com

Discovery Days at the Critter Barn in Holland
Saturdays in April & May
Adults & children over 3 are $5, maximum charge for immediate families is $20
www.critterbarn.org

Spring petting zoo at the Coopersville Farm Museum
Saturdays in April
10:00 am - 2:00 pm (please call to verify).
Local residents & 4H members bring in their small or baby animals to teach visitors about them!
www.coopersvillefarmmuseum.org

Small Animals Day at Michigan State University
Saturday, April 19
Bring the family and learn all about baby animals at the annual spring Small Animals Day, located on MSU’s campus. You will see MSU dairy and beef cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, and chickens. There are special exhibits of minor livestock breeds such as miniature donkeys, alpacas, llamas, pygmy goats, and unusual cattle. MSU buses run a continuous circuit around the MSU Pavilion, Poultry Research and Teaching Center, and Horse Teaching and Research Center, so you can stop and stay as long as you’d like. All ages are invited and buses are wheelchair accessible.

Small Animals Day will be held, Saturday, April 19, 2008 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Admission is $2 per person. Arrive by 11 a.m. if you want to see all of the exhibits–the last bus leaves for the farms at noon. Park at the corner of Mt. Hope and Farm Lane (see on map). Dress for the weather.

Celebrate Earth Day in Grand Rapids

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
April 19 – 20
Join in the fun at the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden, one of the Midwest’s largest. Kids can take part in a Recycle Relay and Worm Hunt or create sand sculptures to learn how sand reduces waste as a natural filter. Take some of the environmentally-friendly fun home by planting a seed in a recycled newspaper pot to transplant in the backyard and watch it grow into a plant that attracts butterflies.
www.meijergardens.org

Party for the Planet at John Ball Zoo
April 19
John Ball Zoo’s second annual Earth Day celebration, Party for the Planet, brings together conservation-minded agencies and companies to showcase the multitude of green practices taking place in West Michigan. Plenty of games and give-aways make this a fun, educational event.
www.johnballzoosociety.org

-Plant a garden or a few plants in containers if you don’t have garden space.
-Play in the rain.
-Go on a picnic.
-Look at the stars.
-Take a walk in the evening.
-Have a campout in the living room, if it is too cold outside.
-Fly a kite.
-Take a nap together in a hammock.
-Take a walk to see if you can spot any spring flowers.
-Put string, etc. outside for the birds to use in nests.
-Take a walk and say “hello” to neighbors you might not have seen all winter.
-Spring clean together.
-No matter what their age, get out the hoola hoops, sidewalk chalk, and bubbles.
-Talk about what fun things you might want to do in the summer.
-Walk to church on Sunday morning, if it is close-by.

~ from the Hearts at Home e-mail newsletter

Due to spring break, our next MOPS meeting is Friday, April 25. MOPS Mom Jen Wolf, who is also a Certified Parent Coach, will be talking to us about “Parenting with Strength and Stamina” and how we can incorporate our parenting strengths into our relationships with our children.

“MOPPORTUNITY”
We need 2 moms willing to watch the children of the steering team in the church nursery during our planning meeting on Wednesday, April 16, from 9:15-11:15 a.m. Your children are welcome, so think of it as a playdate with an additional purpose. Let Becky Dykhuis (531-1343) know asap if you’re available to help.

Our next Ladies Night Out will be Tuesday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Panera Bread located at the corner of 44th & Kenowa Ave. in Grandville. Join us for dinner and conversation with your fellow MOPS moms. Sign up at the food table today or at our April meeting and mark your calendars!

Thank you to all our MOPS moms for your generous donations at each meeting. We appreciate your support as it helps us stay on budget and enables us to provide quality speakers, delicious food, and crafts & snack for your children each meeting!

Click here to be taken to a world of FREE knowledge! Free online courses cover the Old Testament, the New Testament, First Steps in the Christian Faith, Know Why You Believe, Help in Crisis, and History of the Christian Church.

See you at our meeting this Friday morning! Don’t forget to bring your MOPS cook-off item and a copy of your recipe if you signed up. If you’d like to participate, but didn’t sign up, just bring your breakfast dish and recipe when you come.

Love In The Home
If I live in a house of spotless beauty
With everything in its place,
But have not love, I am a
Housekeeper – not a homemaker

If I have time for waxing, polishing,
And decorative achievements, but
Have not love, my children learn
Cleanliness – not godliness

Love leaves the dust in search
Of a child’s laugh
Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints
On a newly cleaned window

Love wipes away the tears before it
Wipes up the spilled milk
Love picks up the child before it
Picks up the toys

Love is present through the trials
Love reprimands, reproves and is responsive

Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler,
Runs with the child and then stands aside to let
The youth walk into adulthood

Love is the key that opens salvation’s
Message to a child’s heart

Before I became a mother I took glory
In my house of perfection
Now I glory in God’s perfection of my child

As a mother, there is much I must teach my child,
But the greatest of all is love

~ author unknown