APRIL 2014
ENTS
M O T H E R S O F P R E S C H O O L E R S First Presbyterian Church // Edmond, Oklahoma
Be you, bravely It seems we spend all of our time doing two things - living and waiting to live.
What we all seem to have in common is that we need a nudge. A nudge to get us out of our ruts and routines so that we can be reminded to risk bravely.
If you are like us, that waiting to live category is comprised of a few things that make us uncomfortable, things that require courage to act. For us it means that we have dreams we want to see realized, conversations that we need to have and decisions we have been avoiding.
At MOPS we believe that you were meant to live deeply and so we have created this year’s theme to inspire you to choose the extraordinary.
Taken from http://www.whilehewasnapping.com/2011/05/mothers-prayer.html
Sometimes realizing how significant an action is makes it harder to accomplish. We become paralyzed from acting because starting feels risky. The urgency of the day to day demands become the easiest to achieve. Days, months and even years go by with the same opportunities standing in front of us- waiting to be chosen.
Be you, Bravely is designed to help us become more ourselves. To remind us that courage is always worth it and that we are all in this together. Cheering each other on toward our futures is the gift of community at MOPS. We are so excited to journey alongside you the upcoming year at MOPS as we ask one another what it means to “Be you, Bravely.”
MOPS 2014-2015 ARE YOU INTERESTED IN JOINING THE STEERING TEAM NEXT YEAR? We would love to have you serve with us and use your unique gifts and talents to help make MOPS even better! There are several openings for positions on the MOPS Steering Team for next year. Please fill out an application or let your table leader know if you are interested in filling one of these positions.
M O P S E D M O N D F P C . B L O G S P O T. C O M
7 Simple Ways to Be a Great Mom From The Busy Mom’s Guide to a Happy, Organized Home by Kathy Peel http://www.imom.com/mom-life/encouragement/7-simple-ways-to-be-a-great-mom/
1. Be Available. Your children need to know you are
there for them when they need you. This doesn’t mean that you schedule your life according to your child’s whims. It is not healthy for a child to think the universe revolves around him or her. Availability means you are open and you give yourself willingly, without regret. If you have a busy schedule, make it a priority to carve out time to give each child focused attention. 2. Be Lavish with Love and Forgiveness. Assure your children that they are loved and accepted even when they fail. Never withhold physical contact or eye contact, even when they make mistakes or disappoint you. Make sure they know that although you disapprove of their attitudes or actions, your love is unconditional. Hug, hold, and touch your children in loving ways every day. Look into their eyes regularly and tell them how much you love them. 3. Be Generous with Praise. Children never outgrow their need for heavy doses of praise—no matter their age. The five-to-one praise principle is a good rule of thumb to follow. Balance every negative comment you make with five positive comments. Think before you speak. Ask yourself if what you want to say will build up or tear down your child. Each day, look for ways to affirm your child’s unique giftedness and personality. Encourage the rest of the family to do the same with each other. 4. Be Fair. We all subscribe to the fact that people are different—in theory. But when we have to live with peculiarities of the people in our home, the standard operating procedure seems to be to “fix and repair” rather than “accept and affirm.” Our children will do some things that
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annoy us, and sometimes they will blatantly disobey us. But before we respond, we should stop and ask, “Is this my child’s problem or mine? Is there really a “perfect” way to take out the garbage, clean a room, or get homework done? Is there something inherently wrong with what my child is doing, or is she just not doing it my way?” 5. Be Fun. Strange as it seems, having fun with your children has a great deal to do with how they respond to your firmness. The moments you spend laughing, playing, and enjoying life together make large deposits in your children’s emotional bank account. You’ve expressed your love and commitment to them in tangible ways. So when the time comes for you to be firm and enforce discipline, they’re able to recognize that it’s motivated by your concern for them. 6. Be Authentic. Because our children don’t come with handling instructions, every parent will make mistakes. As you try to customize your parenting for each child, try to remember that your children don’t need an expert; they need a guide. When you blow it, just admit it. Learn from it, then get up, and go on. Far from undermining your position, this humility will say to the child in the most powerful, way, “I am really for you. I am not trying to make you something you aree not. I love you, and I am on your team.” 7. Be Willing to Ask for Help. If you face a more serious or ongoing issue with a child, turning to a pastor or counselor isn’t a sign of weakness—it actually shows great courage and may be the most loving thing you can do for your child.
Resurrection Rolls
1 (10 ounce) can refrigerated crescent dinner rolls 8 large marshmallows 1/4 cup melted butter 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons white sugar
directions
1.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 2.) Lightly grease a baking sheet. 3.) Separate crescent rolls into individual triangles.If you can fin the big and flaky ones, the marshmallows will fit better) 4.) In a small bowl, mix together cinnamon and sugar. 5.) Dip a marshmallow into melted butter, then roll in sugar mixture. Place marshmallow into the center of a dough triangle. Carefully wrap the dough around the marshmallow. Pinch the seams together very tightly to seal in the marshmallow as it melts (or cut a bit of the marshmallow off to fit). Place on a baking sheet. Repeat. 6.) Bake in a preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes. - Makes Eight Resurrection Rolls. You can also make these without dipping them in any butter, cinnamon/sugar mixture and they are still delicious.
Teaching Your Child About Easter
FROM BSF INTERNATIONAL - Read the full article at https://www.bsfinternational.org/christmas-and-easter
Easter is a Christian holiday of enormous significance. The sacrificial death of Christ and His triumphant resurrection is reason for great gladness and joyous celebration to those who know Him as Savior. The cross and the empty tomb reveal truths of Easter that Christian parents will want their children to know and understand so they may share in a meaningful celebration. Many books and children’s story Bibles are valuable teaching resources. Christian bookstores have devotional materials written for children, as well as recordings of the Easter story. Whether or not you use these supplemental helps, do not overestimate using the Bible itself to teach biblical truths. The Holy Spirit gives even young children an understanding of stories and truths that are read directly from God’s Word. Children come to love and to value God’s Word as parents lovingly introduce them to the Holy Scriptures. Plan an Easter Bible Study Plan a Bible study about Easter with your child. Divide into small parts the beautiful but intricate story of Easter. Even a very young child can learn the details a few at a time. Your child may not completely understand the agony of the Crucifixion, the wonder of redemption or the miracle of the Resurrection. However, the awe, reverence and joy you express as you read the biblical account and celebrate
together will affect him. Never underestimate what the Holy Spirit will do in the heart of even a young child. As you plan your family’s study of Easter, include hymns and other meaningful music as reinforcement to your conversations and the Scripture you read. Truths presented musically significantly impact learning. Listen to professional recordings as well as singing together as a family. Use a recording of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” Select hymns for your family to sing. Choose one as a family favorite, sing it every day and watch to see if your children memorize it without effort. Sing “adult” hymns. Little children who cannot read will enjoy listening and learning to sing with you. Introduce music your child will hear in the services where your family will celebrate Easter. Select hymns your child will hear at your church. When you introduce and sing “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” teach your child to join in, particularly on the “alleluia” portion. Always talk about the meaning of the words such as “hallelujah,” “Easter” and “hosanna.” Teach your children to sing, as well as listen, with joy and reverence. One family taught their 2-year-old triplets to sing “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today.” To their delight, the children sang with the congregation on Easter morning!
Here are a couple fun and simple ways to share Christ with your child. There are also plenty of other ideas on Pinterest.
Want to contribute an article, recipe, devotional, tips or anything else to the newsletter? Are you interested in writing a guest blog post for the MOPS blog? E-mail us at mopsedmondfpc@gmail.com with your ideas.
Community events Check out the MOPS blog at www.mops.org/blog
community events
If you are looking for some Easter activities, find events listed at www.metrofamilymagazine. com/2014-Easter-Fun-Guide/ April 13 // FREE Family Day
Noon - 5 p.m. / OKC Museum of Art Includes live performances by magician Michael King, Spaghetti Eddie & the Sugar Free Allstars as well as silent comedy short films, hands-on art activities, drawing in the galleries, face painting, story times, family tours and more.
April 22-27 // Festival of the Arts
Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-9pm Sunday, 11am-6pm / Myriad Gardens Features a celebration of the visual arts, performing arts and culinary arts including vendors, children’s activities, shopping and more. FREE admission, $2 fee for children’s activities.
May 2-4 // Downtown Edmond Arts Festival
Friday 10am-8pm; Saturday, 10am-9pm; Sunday, 11am5pm / Downtown Edmond Features artists and crafters, food, performing artists, children’s area, wine and more.
Alisa Nelson Studio *Paintings*Custom Art* Children’s Art*Art Lessons*
alisanelsonstudio.com facebook.com/AlisaNelsonStudio alisa@alisanelsonstudio.com 405-921-1883