15 Fun Things to do with Your Kids in the Spring:

-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

March 28 Meeting Announcements

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!

Do you know about MOPS University?

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.

Love In The Home

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