Giving Back

Thanksgiving is a holiday that I wish we spent more time acknowledging. I love Christmas, very much actually. I love decorating and singing carols and Santa and remembering that God came to Earth as a baby. I think everyone loves Christmas and that is why we are so quick to jump right over Thanksgiving without giving it too much thought. But when we do that we miss out on an opportunity to really notice just how blessed we are. As I type this I am sitting in a warm home on a comfortable couch. My husband is home because he is a teacher and has wonderful hours. My three children who I get to stay home with are all healthy. And I am so very thankful. But my thankfulnesses can't end there. It can't end with saying a quick "Thank you, Lord", even though I'm sure He would appreciate that. When we realize just how blessed we are it should spark us to think about those who have so much less. At our November 22nd MOPS meeting we are doing just that. Doing something to make life a little easier for someone else. Come join us as we make blessing bags. Bags filled with toiletries, snacks, etc. for the women and children of the Circle of Hope. We will also each be taking a blessing bag home with us to keep in our cars to give to a stranger in need. I hope you'll join us for this time of fellowship and giving. If it is possible for you to do, please bring $4 to help with the cost of materials. 

Happy Saturday!

Leslie

Girls, a miracle has taken place. I finished a book from start to finish! Guess which book it was? That's right! Our book study for this year, Desperate. When my daughter, Myla, was born two and a half years ago, I had some vision loss and have lost the desire to read much because, quite frankly, it requires a lot more concentration than it used to. I've become more of a skimmer than a reader. But this book, y'all, it is something else. Never had God spoken to me through a book other than the Bible quite like He did through this book. It was like each word on every page was written just for this girl. Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson cover everything from setting unrealistic expectations for yourself as a mom, to housework, to motherhood being a high calling. If you haven't started it yet, you are in for a treat. As you read the Introduction and Chapter 1 in preparation for the meeting this Friday, I pray that you will be encouraged by the honesty of the moms who wrote it and that God will use it to remind you that, as Sarah Mae explains it, "...'good' motherliness has nothing to do with how God sees me. Nothing. I am pleasing to Him on my good days and my bad days. His love for me never wavers...and never will. Because I'm His". Looking forward to seeing you all THIS FRIDAY, September 20 at 9:30 a.m. for a time of discussion about what we've read, a fun craft and a really great video about comparing ourselves to each other.
I hope you've all enjoyed your weekends with your sweet kiddos.
Leslie

A Beautiful Mess AND Play date change info

I don't know about y'all, but I am a total mess. From the day my Myla's scrawny little booty appeared on the scene, my standard for what is considered a clean house, clean car and clean hair have all lowered significantly. I just came to a point where I realized there were things more important than whether or not there were Cheerios on the floor. But sometimes I forget that. And sometimes I am hard on myself when I look around and can't see the floor or even worse, see an ant on the floor. When both Myla and I are on our last pair of clean shorts and the couch we bought less than a year ago has spots on it that make it look 10 years old. It is so easy for me to give Myla grace. She's two. She's going to do things that seem totally crazy. She's going to make a mess. Me, on the other hand, it's not so easy. In our world of Facebook and Pinterest and Twitter and Instagram and blogs, we have other moms to compare ourselves to right at our fingertips. And their houses are cleaner and their kids clothes match. And I have a mess. This years MOPS theme is about just that. Messes. But guess what? As daughters of a gracious God, we have beautiful messes. God is using these messy times to show us that he can bring beauty from messes, even the stickiest, stinkiest ones. His love for us is steadfast and his grace never ends. Join us this Fall at Mops as we discover together all God wants to show us through our new theme!

I'm so excited to be your new publicity leader this year. I am going to be MIA for the first meeting or so as I'm due with twins the end of August. I am planning to maintain the blog and Facebook, though, so check for updates.

Friday, July 12th, we have a play date scheduled. On your cards we sent home at the last meeting it says that this will be held in Clayton at Chick-Fil-A. It has been changed to CORNELIA CFA at 10 am. It is dress like a cow and get free chicken day, so that should be fun! We hope you are all able to make it for a time of fellowship with other mommies and some yummy food!

Leslie

May 10th- final meeting (sniff, sniff) and Mom Olympics!

Believe it or not, this Friday, May 10th, 9:30am, will be our LAST meeting until next August And what better way to celebrate the end of a successful MOPS year than Mom Olympics!  Come dressed to compete and show off your mad mom-skills like laundry folding, car seat installation, and sandwich making.  Breakfast will be provided by Chick-Fil-A- yummy!

At this final meeting, we'll also still be collecting donations for our MOPPETS workers thank-you gifts.  Remember, for every $10 you donate, you get entered in our drawing for the FREE WEEK at Strong Rock Camp this summer!  You can also get entered again by pre-registering for MOPS next year for only $35!  Also, if you ordered a shirt and have not paid for it, please bring your $15 to Friday's meeting.

Finally, if you have a story to share about how a MOPPETS worker has positively influenced your child, please share it with us at habershammops@gmail.com.  We would love for these volunteers to know that their work is making a difference, and we've only received one email so far :(

Although we won't formally be together until August, we will have summer playdates, currently scheduled for the mornings of 5/31, 6/14, and 7/12- stay tuned to the blog and Facebook page for more info...

Look forward to seeing you on Friday!

Strong Rock Camp- free week!

We have an AMAZING opportunity for you and your family!  The directors of Strong Rock Camp in Cleveland have blessed us with the donation of a FREE WEEK for a camper, age rising 1st-6th grade, this summer at camp.

At the last two MOPS meetings, we will have TWO opportunities for you to be entered for in the drawing for this prize:
- You will be entered once for donating $10 on Friday, April 26th, for the Moppets workers
- You will be entered again for pre-registering for next year's MOPS program.  You can do this at either the April 26th or May 10th meeting for only $35 (cash or or check to BBC)

The winner of the raffle prize will be selected at the final MOPS meeting on May 10th (you need not be present to win).

April 26th meeting- Tea and Treasure

It's time to officially celebrate spring, and ourselves, at our next meeting on Friday, April 26th, 9:30-11:30am, at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clarkesville.  Our theme will be "Tea and Treasure"- come a little dressed up (as if "going for tea") and delicious food will be provided.  Instead of an item swap, as in previous years, our "Treasure" is going to be swapping stories and sharing a little more of ourselves with each other.  So if you have a testimony, a special story, or a life-changing experience that you would like to share, come prepared :)  We'll also be having our final discussion of our book, "Give Them Grace," with our tables.

As you may already know, we are VERY blessed to have women who will come serve as Moppets workers during our meetings so that we can enjoy our time (many MOPS groups charge for childcare!) We would like to take some time at this next meeting to thank our Moppets workers, so we ask for two things:
1)  If you are able, please bring a monetary donation to the meeting so that we can purchase gift certificates for our workers, and
2)  If you have a story or testimony about how MOPS and/or a Moppets worker has made a difference in your child's life, please email that to habershammops@gmail.com - we would like to compile these to share with these wonderful women who give up their time to volunteer for our ministry.

What MOPS means to me...

The summer of 2011 was one of drastic change for our family.  On Father’s Day, June 19, our adopted son, Eli, was born, and we brought him home from the hospital two days later- to our home in Duluth, located on ¼ of an acre in a cluster community, within 5 miles of 4 different grocery stores.  But just two weeks later, we moved to Habersham County, into a small farmhouse on 7.6 acres off a quiet country road, with the nearest grocery store almost 8 miles away.  One month later, having transferred from Norcross High School, I started my job at Gwinnett Online Campus, where I worked from home most days, with a new baby, and my day was spent on the computer, with the majority of the communication with my colleagues, students, and their parents through email.  Life had developed the potential to be overwhelming and isolating.

My only connection to the community was Marva Griffith, who owns the Jazzercise Center in Clarkesville, and I began teaching classes for her.  She and Lindsey Brackett told me about a group called MOPS, Mothers of Preschoolers.  My first thought was, “Eli’s not a pre-schooler, he’s only two months old!”  A little research on the MOPS website dispelled that misconception.  My next thoughts were, “What would I have in common with these women?  I’m a first-time new mom, with an adopted son, at 38 years old.  I’m not from here, and I’m a work-from-home-mom, not a stay-at-home-mom.  Plus, this is a Christian group and we don’t’ even go to church.”  Boy, was I wrong- about all of it!

At the first meeting, I was assigned to Laura Garrett’s table, and she warmly took me under her wing, making me feel welcome, asking questions to get to know me, and introducing me to other moms.  At our table, I was shocked to find out that not only was I not the oldest mom there, but most of us were from places other than Habersham, including California and Maine.  Many of the moms work their own businesses from home, and I even found a fellow online teacher in Kristi Redding.  While I was the only adoptive mom in the group, I could still laugh and share stories about being a new mom, plus learn from the “more experienced” moms in the group.  I even had an opportunity last year to share our adoption story with the group.  And today, my husband and I are being baptized as new members of Bethlehem Baptist Church. 

MOPS is a ministry for women with young children, but more importantly than that, it’s a group that meets these women “where they are,”- in their lives and in their walk with Christ- to help them be better moms, better wives, and better Christians.  As the MOPS organization says, “Better Moms Make a Better World.”  We seek to provide a safe community for women where they can learn from each other, from our guest speakers, take some time for themselves, and build strong, lasting relationships.  For myself, MOPS has blessed me with some wonderful friends, introduced me to the Bethlehem community, but has also provided a path for me back to God.

(from a testimony shared by Amy Hayes with the congregation of Bethlehem Baptist Church on April 14, 2013)

MOPS meeting and fundraiser

Spring Break is over, springtime weather is upon us, and it's time for another MOPS meeting this Friday, April 12th, 9:30am, at BBC in Clarkesville.  We'll have a hodge-podge of "how-to" sessions for to you, from making pizza dough to how to use your digital camera, so come ready to learn!  Table 5 is providing breakfast, and Table 1 is bringing MOPPETS snacks.  Also, please remember to bring individually-packaged desserts for our fundraiser (see below).

Our annual MOPS Fundraiser is also this Sunday, April 14th, at BBC in Clarkesville.  We will be selling after-church chicken dinner meals in the Fellowship Hall.  We will need people to work from 9am-2pm- packaging the meals from 9-11:30am, then selling them and cleaning up from 11:30am-2pm.  Childcare will be provided after church service, from 11:30am-2pm.  Please plan to be there to support your local MOPS group!

Habersham MOPS T-shirts

Here are the basics- lightweight, women's cut, long-sleeve gray t-shirt.  Available in sizes S-XL for only $15 (cash or checks to BBC).  Order will be placed on April 1.  Contact Mary Lynn at mlynntin@gmail.com for questions and to order your super-cool Habersham MOPS t-shirt!

Front design (upper corner of shirt)

Back design

March 22nd Meeting

Spring is (almost) here, and we hope everyone has been enjoying this beautiful weather!  Several of us met up at Pitts Park last Friday, and I know both kids and mommies were glad to get outside and play for a while.  Be sure you find us on Facebook at Habersham MOPS to find out about more "spontaneous" playdates!

Our next meeting will be this Friday, March 22nd, 9:30-11:30am at BBC in Clarkesville.  Hannah Wood will speak to us about the importance of "Finding Yourself In Christ."  In addition, we'll be doing a spring planting that you can take home and share with your families!  Table 4 has breakfast at this Friday's meeting and Table 3 will be bringing snacks for the MOPPETS.  We hope to see you there!

Also, don't forget to mark April 14th on your calendar, as we'll be doing a fundraiser at BBC and we'll need volunteers- more information to come...

Resources from March 8th meeting

Thanks so much for your great questions for Chuck Mashburn, local farmer and our guest speaker at the March 8th meeting.  Here are the resources that he wanted me to share with you, as well as the link to Northeast Georgia Locally Grown, the local online market that he co-founded.

http://northeastgeorgia.locallygrown.net/

http://www.resilience.org/stories/2010-07-26/story-soil

http://www.resilience.org/stories/2006-12-07/soil-food-web-opening-lid-black-box

http://www.momsacrossamerica.com:80/stunning_corn_comparison_gmo_versus_non_gmo

Also another good source for seeds and planting information is www.johnnyseeds.com.  Under the 'growers guide' go to 'growers library' and then to 'vegetables' to get specific growing information for each vegetable. 

March 8- MOPS meeting and Moms' Night Out!

We have an exciting Friday coming up!

Our MOPS meeting will begin at 9:30am at BBC in Clarkesville.  After breakfast, we will have guest speaker Chuck Mashburn, owner of Mill Gap Farm in Tiger, GA, and co-organizer of Northeast Georgia Locally Grown, an internet market for local farms and food producers.  He will speak about ways to shop (and grow) healthy for your family, while helping to support and sustain the local community and environment.  In addition, we'll be discussing with our tables Chapter 6 of our book "Give Them Grace."  Table leaders- please be sure to coordinate with your table members if  you are providing breakfast or Moppets snacks.

That same evening is our annual Moms' Night Out!  We'll start off at Hawg Wild BBQ in Clarkesville for dinner (6:30-8:00pm), then head over to Clarkesville Lanes down the road for bowling (8:00-9:30pm).  Each mom will pay for her own dinner, but MOPS will cover the cost of bowling and shoe rental.  Please RSVP whether you will attend dinner only, bowling only, or both, to Amy Hayes by Wednesday, March 6th by sending an email to fizzixteacher@yahoo.com.  We hope you will join us, and feel free to bring along other mom friends who may not have been to a MOPS meeting before!

MOPS Moms' Night Out

Join us for Habersham MOPS Moms' Night Out on Friday, March 8th!  We'll start off with dinner at Hawg Wild BBQ in Clarkesville at 6:30-8pm (pay for yourself), then trek down the road to Clarkesville Lanes for bowling from 8-9:30pm (paid for by MOPS).

Please RSVP to Amy Hayes at fizzixteacher@yahoo.com whether you'll be joining us for dinner, for bowling, or both, by Wednesday, March 6th, as we'll need a final head count to confirm our reservation.  We'd also love for you to extend the invite to local mom friends who may not have attended a Habersham MOPS meeting before :)

Hope to see you on March 8th for some kid-free food, fellowship, and fun!

February 22nd meeting- Spa Day

Fingers crossed that the weather will hold, and we will have our rescheduled Spa Day during this Friday's meeting, February 22nd, 9:30-11:30am.  Come ready to relax and pamper yourself with facials, manicures, quiet reading time, and a chocolate fountain!  Table 1will be providing breakfast, and Table 4 should bring snacks for the Moppets.

Mark your calendars for Moms' Night Out on Friday, March 8th!  Tentative plans are for dinner at Hawg Wild BBQ, followed by a few raucous games of bowling over at Clarkesville Lanes- stay tuned for more details.

Also, we are always looking for new moms to step up to leadership positions.  If you are interested in serving on the 2013-2014 Habersham MOPS Steering Team in 2013-2014, or helping out as a Table Leader, please let any current Steering Team member know.

Look forward to seeing you on Friday morning!

For When You Can't Remember the Last Time They Had a Bath

On Sunday night I couldn't remember.  I knew the little ones had been bathed the night before.  But the big girls?  Maybe Thursday? I know they were supposed to shower on Saturday night, but after dishes and daddy and the babies, there was no hot water left.

My friend said that's why she's not having four kids.

But I figure I'm not the only one who sometimes can't remember the last time they were adequately bathed from head to toe.

Or the only one who set up the coffee maker so it's ready to go in the morning only to turn it on just before bed.

Or the one who left her baby in pajamas all day yesterday because that was warmer (i.e. the laundry wasn't done).

I know I'm not the only mom who has sent cereal for lunch because there was no bread.  Or crackers.  Or leftovers.  Or granola bars.  Or even a banana.

I know for a fact I wasn't the only illegal driver on the road Friday afternoon.  My wallet was in the diaper bag.  The diaper bag was with the baby.  The baby was not with me.  Score for remembering said bag at all.

Tell me I'm not the only person who bribes my children with chocolate to clean their rooms.

I wanted to take a nice, relaxing, candles and bubbles bath the other night.  But it was too much work to clean the toys out of the tub.

Sometimes I can't find my house keys.  For days and days.  Then they magically reappear in my purse.  I swear they weren't there before.

I gave my toddler back her paci yesterday morning just so she'd sit on the couch and watch a movie so I could shower in peace.  And when she started crying because she wanted a different movie, I put more soap in my hair and ignored her.

I really want to be a great mom.  All these times?  I think they mean I'm trying.  I know I'm not alone because I've heard your stories of woe and fear and disgust and frustration and anger and fatigue and jealousy and commitment and potty training and tantrums and tears.

Because MOPS has given us a place to be real together.  MOPS International says MOPS is about meeting the needs of every mom of a child from conception through kindergarten with local groups of moms just like you.

If MOPS has impacted you in some way, will you do me a favor and comment below?  Or email us at habershammops@gmail.com or me personally at lindsbrac@gmail.com.

Today I share our stories with the leadership of our charter church.  Today I explain just how important it is that we have this community, this place, this time for ourselves.  I know you need it, but sometimes I need to hear just how much.

You are incredible.  You gave up a piece of yourself to be a mother.

You are awesome.  No one else could mother your children like you do.

You are loved.  Jesus gets a mother's love because he experienced it firsthand.  Now He loves you back in all your messiest moments.

Lindsey

Meeting this Friday, February 8th

I hope that you were able to get out this weekend with your kids and enjoy the wonder of SNOW (especially if you didn't have any place to be other than home)!

Our next meeting will be this Friday, February 8th, 9:30-11:30am, at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clarkesville.  We will have a Valentine's Day theme, with guest Barbara Copeland speaking about marriage, and writing special notes to our loved one(s).  We'll also be discussing Chapter 5 of our book, Give Them Grace, with our tables.  Childcare is provided, with Table 2 bringing breakfast and Table 5 bringing snacks for the kiddos- your table leaders will coordinate with you.

If you have not paid your spring semester dues yet, please bring $40 cash or check (made out to BBC) to Mary Lynn on Friday.  Also, if you "braved" the roads and attended the Jen Hatmaker conference in Gainesville, please let her know so that she can reimburse you for $10 of your registration fee.

We look forward to seeing you on Friday!

Jen Hatmaker- update

As of now, First Baptist Church of Gainesville is still planning on holding their workshop tonight and tomorrow with speaker Jen Hatmaker.  Due to the weather and safety concerns, however, we will not be organizing a Habersham MOPS group to attend.

If you choose to attend (safely) on your own, either this evening or tomorrow, you will need to pay the full $25 fee out of your own pocket, but Habersham MOPS will reimburse you for $10 of that registration at the next meeting- please just send an email to treasurer Mary Lynn at mlynntin@gmail.com.

If you do not plan to attend but have already registered, you will not be held accountable for the registration fee.  If you requested childcare, please call organizer Jenny Burns at 404-388-6320 and let her know that you will no longer need it, so that she can plan accordingly.

We appreciate your understanding and flexibility!

Friday, 1/25, meeting CANCELLED

Due to winter weather warnings and Habersham County Schools closing, there will be no Habersham MOPS meeting tomorrow,Friday, January 25th.  Spa Day will be rescheduled to ourFebruary 22nd meeting.  Stay warm and safe at home!

We will send an update on "girls night out" to Jen Hatmaker tomorrow morning.  Most likely, we will not meet early to travel and have dinner as a group, but if the church is still having the conference and you still want to go, we will figure out a way to make sure we cover $10 of your registration as promised.

January 25th- Spa Day

One of the all-time favorite MOPS meetings of the year- SPA DAY!  Come join us at 9:30am at BBC in Clarkesville for a couple hours of fellowship, relaxation, and pampering- the candles will be glowing, the paraffin wax heated, and the chocolate fountain will be flowing!  In addition, local hair stylist Katie Canup will be donating her time to do haircuts- please email Mary Lynn at mlynntin@gmail.com if you'd like to sign up (first come, first served).  Look forward to see you for a spa-mazing morning this Friday!

When Being Good Doesn't Work

I have always been a "good" girl.  Rule-follower.  Non-confrontational.  A pleaser that masquerades as a peacekeeper.

I became a Christian young, when I was nine, and though I truly believe I was saved at that moment, if I'm honest with myself, I didn't think I had much to be saved from.

I did all the "right" things. Saved sex for marriage.  Went to college and got a BA and an Mrs.  Had a baby two years in and another eighteen months later.  Bought a house and a minivan.  Joined a church.

Somewhere along the way, I got the notion that as long as I was good, as long as I did what was expected, and did nothing that was wrong, then I would get the life I deserved.

Funny thing about plans is they never quite work out the way you expect.

Just thirteen months ago if you had asked me if I was happy, if I was content, if I believed in God's plan for my life, I would have told you yes.

I would have been lying.

For the rest of my story, for an honest testimony about my crisis of faith, join me tomorrow at our first Habersham MOPS meeting of the new year.  I hope you'll be encouraged, I hope you'll be understanding, but mostly I pray that the Lord will use my words to show you that no matter how good you might be, we all still need His grace.

Lindsey
...if you really want to read more, you can follow me here.

Jen Hatmaker- Jan. 25th and 26th

Jen Hatmaker, Christian blogger, author, and mother, will be speaking at First Baptist Church of Gainesville on Friday, January 25th, 7-9pm, and Saturday, January 26th, 10am-2pm- click here for more information.  Tickets are $25, but Habersham MOPS will pay $10 of that, reducing it to only $15 per person!

We are coordinating a group to drive/ride down together on Friday afternoon, going out for dinner beforehand.  If you would like to join us, please do the following:
1) register online with FBC Gainesville by clicking here
2) email MOPS treasurer, Mary Lynn at mlynntin@gmail.com, to let her know that you are registered (so she can include your $10 in the check to the church)
3) meet at BBC in Clarkesville at 4pm to drive/ride to Gainesville for dinner before the speaker
*If you plan to skip dinner and just meet us Friday night or if you plan to attend on Saturday, you still need to complete steps 1 and 2 above.

We hope you'll be able to join us for this wonderful time of a fellowship and a "MOPS Night Out!"

January 11th meeting

Can you believe it's been almost a month since we sang Christmas songs and battled it out for our "favorite things"?!  Well, it's finally time for our first meeting of the New Year!

We will meet on Friday, January 11th, 9:30-11:30am, at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clarkesville and free childcare is provided.  There are so many great things on the agenda that morning- a devotion from Lindsey Brackett, a New Year craft, introduction of our semester-long Table vs. Table game, plus discussion of Chapter 4 of our book, Giving Them Grace.  The Steering Team will provide a delicious breakfast and we are opening it up to everyone to provide snacks for the MOPPETS (no Goldfish crackers, please).  Please remember that you will also need to pay dues for spring semester, which are $40- you can bring cash or a check made out to BBC.

With a New Year starting, we also hope you'll spread the word about Habersham MOPS and bring some new friends with you!  They especially will not want to miss January 25th- spa day!!

We look forward to seeing you on Friday!