february 2015
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7 Habits of Highly Intentional Parents
by Marianne Sunderland, http://www.managingyourblessings.com/2013/06/20/7-habits-of-highly-intentional-parents/ There is a lot of talk these days about being intentional. In our modern world, busyness and distraction are at an all-time high. How is a parent to step outside the craziness and grab hold of the ideal life?
Be in Prayer
Ultimately, if we are not in tune with our Creator, our lives are going to quickly spin out of control. We were made for this relationship. There is no better way to stop the noise than by getting quiet before the Lord and pouring your dreams out to the One who gave you the dreams to begin with. Ask Him for the wisdom and guidance to raise, love, and nurture your family.
Be in the Word
Being in God’s will is the perfect place to be in this world. Seek Him through the Word daily and allow Him to fill you with wisdom from above. Ask Him to cause your purposes and dreams to line up with His. By putting God first in your life, everything else will fall into place.
Focus on Priorities
As busy, competent wives and mothers it is easy to get caught up in checking off lists of to-dos and forget the most important things: God, family, and then work. So often we put our families (and even God) below our work. This will cause an ugly imbalance marked by frustrations and irritations. Stop and check yourself. Are you putting the most important things first?
Listen to Your Kids
It is tempting to want to speak wisdom into our kids’ lives and there is nothing wrong with that. However, be sure to
Announcements Remember today is the deadline to pay for fees this semester. Fees are $70/ semester or $140/year. Make checks out to FPCE and give to Jessica Filson. If you know that you will be missing a MOPS meeting or that you will not be bringing your kid(s) to a meeting, please e-mail childcare@fpcedmond.org to let them know. This will greatly help our childcare workers in MOPPETS.
take the time to really listen to them and ask them what they think – without a lecture! If we don’t listen to them, they will find someone else who does.
Love Your Kids
Does this seem obvious? Make sure it is obvious to your kids, too! Hugs and expressions of affection should be commonplace in your home. Tell your kids how proud you are of them. Find the good in them – even if it is hard to do sometimes. If your kids don’t feel loved by you, they will find that love from someone else!
Take Time for Your Kids
Without getting into the quality time cliche, make sure there are blank days on your calendar with no agenda so there can be time to just be together without pressures and deadlines, etc. Find activities that you enjoy doing together as a family and make the time to do them on a regular basis. These are the memories that will stick with your kids long after they have left home. Memories that help them to know that they are an important part of a loving family. There is no greater gift than that of time.
Love Your Spouse
Couples that make the effort to nurture their relationships rather than allow them to drift apart are giving their children the gift of stability and love that is so necessary as they grow. Raising kids can put a strain on busy parents. Take the time for a date night – even if it is a quick coffee rather than dinner and a movie. Kids will appreciate that their parents like to be together and show one another love and respect.
Want to join the S teering Team? Are you interested in joining the Steering Team? Do you like to organize activities and events? Do you have a heart for helping moms connect? We have an immediate opening for Outside Activities. Please let your table leader know if you are interested.
Red Velvet Whoopie Pies with Peppermint Filling http://www.bhg.com/recipe/cookies/red-velvet-whoopie-pies-with-peppermint-filling/
INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 cup packed brown sugar 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup buttermilk 1 1 ounce bottle (2 tablespoons) red food coloring 1 recipe Peppermint and Cream Cheese Filling Striped round peppermint candies, finely chopped (optional) INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper; set aside. In a large bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Alternately add flour and buttermilk, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Stir in food coloring. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are set. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; cool. Spread Peppermint and Cream Cheese Filling onto bottoms of half of the cookies. Top with remaining cookies, bottom sides down. If desired, sprinkle with peppermint candies before serving.
Conversation Heart Countdown to Valentines Day Are you looking for a way to incorporate Biblical truth into the Valentine’s Day holiday? This is a 16-day countdown to Valentines Day on the true meaning of love from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. There are teaching cards to go along with each day and also a candy conversation heart to hang on a tree or decorate your house with. Just use the free printable at the link below and then add whatever strikes your fancy and makes it fun for your family. There are full instructions inside the pdf, it is easy to do and makes celebrating Valentine’s Day not only fun but truly meaningful! download the pdf printable pack at http://www.simplyhomeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ Candy-Heart-Countdown1.pdf
Alisa Nelson Studio
Newsletter Submissions If you have any ideas of articles, recipes or tips you would like to include in upcoming newsletters, please submit your ideas to mopsedmondfpc@gmail.com.
Paintings * Lettering * Children’s Art * Art Lessons * And More! alisanelsonstudio.com alisa@alisanelsonstudio.com facebook.com/alisanelsonstudio 405-921-1883
10 Compliments for Your Husband FROM http://www.imom.com/10-compliments-for-your-husband/ Pop psychology has taught us that women are all about the words and that men could take verbal communication or leave it. But hold up! While men communicate a little differently, they still need affirmation and encouragement, especially from their wives. Here are ten ways you can compliment your husband and strengthen your relationship. 1. Compliment his attractiveness. Men tell us all the time that the sexual chemistry with their wives is very important. Let him know that he’s still wanted by letting him know when he looks handsome. Trust us, he’s dying to know you still think so. 2. Compliment his work ethic. Working hard every day to provide for a family is a daunting task. Tell your husband that you appreciate how hard he works, and that you’re proud of his professional accomplishments. 3. Compliment his skills as a dad. It’s easy for moms to spend more time secondguessing and correcting dads in the parenting department than complimenting their contribution. When you see your husband making a positive impact on the kids in big ways or small, say so! 4. Compliment him as a spiritual leader. Leading the family toward deeper relationships with God is another of the huge responsibilities your husband carries. Even if he’s still growing in this role, thanking him for what he gets right can encourage him to keep growing personally and to lead you and the kids with purpose. 5. Compliment him as an athlete. There’s a little macho streak in every guy that likes to think he’s still got it on the court, the diamond, or the track. Cheer him on at the company softball game and fill his cup to the brim! 6. Compliment his character. You may be the only person who knows the sacrifices your husband has made to do what’s right, rather than to simply get ahead. By all means, let him know that you notice his character and integrity and
that you’re proud of the man he is. 7. Compliment his handiness. Some guys are handier around the house than others, but deep down, they all want to be the guy who can fix/build/install anything. Even if the sandbox he built for the kids is a little lopsided, thank him for taking the time to make your home a great place to live. 8. Compliment his efforts in extended family relationships. Believe us, if your husband gets along fairly well with your parents, it’s not without a little bit of effort. Let him know that you notice when he bites his tongue or sits through another Thanksgiving political rant by Uncle Herb without snapping, just for the sake of family unity. After all—he’s really doing it for you. 9. Compliment his personal interests. Even if hunting or golf hold absolutely no interest for you, it’s nice to still be excited for him when he enjoys a new achievement in his hobby. So when he brings home that trophy after a hunting trip or finally sinks a hole-in-one, celebrate with him! 10. Compliment the little gestures. Lucky is the woman who has a husband who’ll brave the cold to de-ice her windshield on a winter morning, or who throws in a load of laundry when he knows she has a busy week at work. Compliment his thoughtfulness, and he’ll likely look for more ways to make your day better.
Groundhog y Da
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memad
Make your own snowglobe
Thank A Mailman Day
Make a statement necklace out of old buttons
Pay A Compliment Day
Combine Duplo and train toys for more fun
Follow through on your goals
Sharpening dull scissors
It’s coming up hearts pie
Start prepping for a spring garden
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Easy ways to clean toys
do pa st
Homemade Valentine ideas
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Healthy food substitutes
Pancake Tuesday
Ash Wednesday
Have an indoor campout
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”
DIY makeup setting spray
LAO TZU
Create a year of dates in a box
Tootsie Roll Anniversary
Repurpose worn-out clothes
Community Events
Don’t forget to
breathe
Have a superhero fun day
DIY air freshners
FIND MORE ACTIVITIES http://www.metrofamilymagazine.com/Calendar/
Mondays in February // FREE Admission to the Zoo 9 AM - 5 PM // Oklahoma City Zoo The Oklahoma City Zoo will be offering free admission every Monday from December 1- February 23. February 14 // FREE Bart & Nadia Sports Experience 9 AM - 5 PM // Cox Convention Center The Bart & Nadia Sports Experience, in association with The Oklahoman, encourages families to take ownership of their health through activities that embrace Olympic, Paralympic and Special Olympics ideals with an emphasis on sports, nutrition and wellness. Kids who complete 10 various fun fitness activities will earn a Bart & Nadia Sports Experience gold medal. February 21-22 // Friends of the Metropolitan Library System Annual Book Sale 9 AM - 5:30 PM // State Fair Park The Friends of the Metropolitan Library System Annual
Create extra space in your home
Booksale is one of the biggest yearly book sales in the state. More than 600,000 books covering a wide variety of topics will be on sale, fiction and non-fiction, hardbacks, paperbacks, magazines and more. Music, movies and audio books will also be for sale. Paperbacks/Soft Cover: $.50 each; Hardbacks: $1.00 each February 21 // Cuppies & Joe Storybook Hour 10 - 11 AM // Cuppies & Joe (727 NW 23rd Street) Bring your children to listen to a story while parents enjoy coffee and conversation. February 28 // FREE Suessabration 1 PM // Martin Park Nature Center (5000 W. Memorial Rd) It’s Dr. Suess’s birthday and Martin Park is having a party with the fanciest feline in town, celebrating National Reading Day. Attendees can enjoy cake, crafts, reading fun, and Lorax hikes, absolutely FREE.