Seven things I've learned so far as a MOPS coordinator

Last summer a woman who attended church with me made a suggestion that I might enjoy joining a MOPS group. I thought it would be a good idea so I started looking into it. When I did a search there was only one MOPS group in the county I live in. At the time my husband and I were sharing a car and it fell on a day and hour I would need to pick him up from work. I saw a link on the website about starting a group and thought it sounded like a nice idea but it might not be right for me.

The more I thought about it, and prayed about it, the more I felt God placing it on my heart that I needed to do this. Our family had just started the transition to the church I grew up in. I was nervous about asking my Pastor, who didn't even know me yet,  about starting a new ministry in the church. I took the plunge however and I was glad I did because he responded very positively and from there a new MOPS group began.

My home church is very supportive. I have been so fortunate to have the help of the Pastor's wife from day one. Everything came together and in just a short time our first meeting was upon us. 

When we had our first meeting there were only 3 of us registered. Three people attended that meeting. We are halfway through the year now and we have 9 registered moms. Our leadership team grew to 4 and we have a great mentor mom as well.

I've been learning a lot since we began and I wanted to take some time to talk about the impact MOPS has had on me.

1. I've learned to pass no judgment.
I never liked this about myself but there were times when another mom did things differently than I did and it didn't make sense to me. I wondered why they didn't do what I did. One of the great things about MOPS is that it is for all moms from all walks of life with all different parenting styles. So I adopted that way of thinking.  Every mom raises her children with one goal in mind. To do what is best for them. We are all unique and all have different ideas on what is best, but we all love our kids and would go to the ends of the earth for them. That's what is truly important.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37

2. I've learned to delegate.
I've always been somewhat of a type A personality. Our group started out with 2 leaders and I'm glad it did. It didn't take me long to realize that MOPS can be a lot of work! I was feeling exhausted and not enjoying the experience as much as I could. God had a hand in that. He knows what kind of person I am and I belive he needed me to realize what would happen if I felt like I needed to take too much on myself. There are now 4 of us leaders and while I pray there are more in the future, each of these ladies are a blessing and learning to allow others to take on some of what needs to be done was just what I needed.

Jethro says to Moses in Exodus 18: You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you, you cannot handle it alone. Exodus chapter 18 is a great lesson in leadership from Moses' father-in-law Jethro.

3. I've learned even more how much the Lord provides.

When you have a MOPS group it doesn't always go as planned. There are bumps in the road with finances and childcare especially. However, we always get by. We had one night a worker couldn't make it unexpectedly and we thought we would be short but we gained another volunteer that same night! The number of children increased and we had unfortunately lost one worker but we gained 3 more! All of our MOPPETS volunteers are dedicated and amazing with the kids! They are such a blessing! We've had a successful fundraiser and support from our congregation that have kept us going and it has been humbling and amazing to see God at work for our ministry.

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

4. The numbers aren't important.
I was very disappointed over the attendance at our first meeting. I have since learned that no matter how many moms are at a meeting, the important thing is that we are all enjoying ourselves and all connecting with eachother. No matter how few of us there are, we all matter and we all need MOPS.
God will guide the women through the door in his timing. That is all we can ask for.

There is a time for everything,  and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

5. Sometimes it's okay to throw away the schedule.
Here is where my type A comes in again. There is a plan for each meeting.  There are also times when we get into a discussion or someone is telling a story and before we know it our time together is over. No we didn't get through everything on the agenda but a mom, or multiple moms, opened up and showed her brave by sharing her story and it's a benefit to all of us whether we can relate or just be that person to talk to. That mom walks away knowing she is impotant and we care about her and what she has to say. If you ask me though MOPS should be 3 hours long!  We all have such a great time and it goes by too fast!

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9

6. Don't sweat the small stuff.
A craft isn't going as we thought it would.
Are we going to have enough snacks?
Am I forgetting something?
Will EVERYONE like the things we are doing tonight?
Did I say something wrong?
Will I have enough time to prepare?
Just a few of the questions that run through our heads as leaders. Before I know it I'm overwhelmed with thoughts but guess what?
We had a good laugh over the craft fail
Nobody said they didn't have enough to eat.
Everyone won't like everything but we are all unique and it's ok because they all keep coming back so why was I worried?
I can make a list of what I need so I can remember everything without worrying and miraculously everything comes together no matter what.
Nobody is perfect and nobody expects me to be perfect. So I don't need to sweat the small stuff.

Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

7. Most importantly I've learned to be brave!
This year's theme is so fitting for me as a first time coordinator. Be you, bravely. From the first moment of asking a Pastor who didn't even know me if I could start a MOPS group, to speaking out and leading discussions, the difficulties and blessings of being a leader. Everything it entails takes bravery. I am so fortunate that God led me to MOPS. It's not always easy buy I wouldn't trade it.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

MOPS has changed me. I believe it can have that impact on any mom whether she is a leader or a member. I've learned these things and I have so much more to learn. I can't wait to see what MOPS teaches me next. Each one of the women I've met and gotten to know this year is special,  and I hope they know that too!

A day in the life of Timmy

Timmy is my sweet and sensitive child. He is pretty laid back, he gets that from his Dad. He can also be very emotional. Let me tell you a little about him through his daily life.

He likes to sleep in. Not until Lunchtime or anything but he sleeps 10-12 hours a night so he doesn't usually get up until around 9:00. He comes downstairs and his thick dark hair is all over the place, especially when he is due for a haircut. 

He sits on the couch, sometimes he wants to cuddle up against me other times he wants to grab his tablet or my Kindle and play some games. He would do it most of the day if he could. I have to restrict his game time which is one thing he gets emotional about.

He let's me know when he is hungry for breakfast. If I try to make him eat the minute he wakes up he usually doesn't eat it.

He has his own responsibilities at home. One of which is putting his dishes in the sink after eating. He often forgets and needs to be reminded but he does it without grumbling.

Timmy is very independent. He will often entertain himself. He also likes to go to his room with Billy and play with him a few times throughout the day.

At lunch I ask him what he wants to eat. He ALWAYS says perogies. He doesn't always get them but it is definitely his favorite food.

He likes things to match. His plate and his cup and sometimes during Billys nap he is allowed to race 4 wheelers or snowboard on the xbox. He wants his vehicle to match what his character is wearing.

Sometimes he asks to do a craft. So I get out the paints because he loves to paint. I take the time to drop all the colors on a little pallet for him. Ten minutes later he is done painting. Any craft this kid does takes less time then prepping for it or cleaning up but that's ok because he had fun doing it.

On the other hand, he will play with kinetic sand almost twice as long. He likes things that require more motion.

He spends the afternoon watching a movie. Usually the same movie every day for a couple of weeks, sometimes twice a day. Right now it's Madagascar 3.

He whines when commercials are on. He got spoiled with DVR. He knows how to fast forward through them. He gets frustrated when we aren't watching a recording but that's ok because if I tickle him the commercials will be over soon. So I tickle him and before we know it he is watching his show again.

Here is an example of what happens when I'm cooking dinner:
"Mommy what are you making? "
"Stuffed Shells"
"I don't like stuffed shells"
This is his response to any meal in which I answer him with more than the word chicken

He doesn't like "big green seasonings"
Or anything green for that matter
But he will munch on almost any vegetable when it's raw. Cooked veggies are for the birds.

Just like me when I was a kid.
Notice the matching cup and plate?

After dinner he has a burst of energy! He climbs onto then jumps off of everything he can and races around the house.

He requests popcorn for snack and he likes to watch it pop.

At bedtime he often asks to have a "camp-over." This is when we all sleep on the couch. We do this about once a week but I'd rather sleep in my bed so once a week is enough.

We brush our teeth and read some books. He loves his cars spot and find book. He memorized where almost everything is pretty quickly.

He says his child's bedtime prayer. We have been saying it for two years and he knows it by heart now but I never get tired of hearing his sweet little voice praying to God.

He is my first little blessing. My precious gift from God, that he has trusted me to raise to be a Godly man. 

He is growing up so fast but I know even when he is grown and has kids of his own, I will be looking up at him and still seeing his sweet little boy face.

  

Why do I blog?

I have a handful of topics that I choose to blog about. Each time I post there is a reason. Each thought I share with my friends and family has a purpose. I thought I would briefly share why I do what I do.

1. To motivate. 
This is what you would often get out of my healthy living posts. I want to motivate not just myself but others. It helps me hold myself accountable. I also hope to motivate others to be more active as well.

2. To encourage.
I enjoy writing about the direction in my life that is led by God. I want to share these things to encourage others and make disciples as the Lord says we should. I know not everyone is a believer but if I can help one person gain clarity in something they are struggling with I'm happy. If not, then I still benefit from sharing because it glorifies God and makes me feel brave.

3. To remember.
My precious children are amazing. Someday, when they are grown,  I want them to have these stories to look back on. I want to look back on them as well. It will be nice to be able to share details with them about their lives growing up I might otherwise have forgotten.

4. To reflect.
When I write, it makes me really consider what I'm writing about. Why do I feel this way? What have I gained from this experience? How am I pleasing God? What am I still unsure of? Am I brave enough for this? Those and many other questions run through my mind when I post. Sometimes I will just start writing (right now I have about 5 unfinished posts) and it makes me stop, think, and put things into perspective before I finish it.

5. To inspire.
Maybe some of you have thought about staring a blog, or just writing. I've been inspired by other writers and I hope to inspire more because I believe everyone can benefit from putting their thoughts down whether they choose to share it with everyone or not share it at all.

I hope that all of you enjoy reading what I have to say and will continue to share your thoughts on it.

Eat less and move more

Last night I caught the 2nd half of a 2 part documentary called fat and back. A woman from the UK who wasn't happy about her tax dollars helping to pay for 5,000 gastric bypass surgeries a year wanted to prove you can lose weight just by eating less and moving more. She gained 43 pounds in 3 months! Completely unhealthy but stay with me I have a point. She then proceeded with her experiment to lose the weight in the same amount of time. No gym, no trainer, no calorie counting. She ate whatever she wanted,  but in small portions. She made sure to walk 10,000 steps a day and exercise 3 times a week. In 3 months she lost 30 pounds.
This woman used a lot of fat shaming. She was very mean and who knows if it was 100% real but regardless of all the things I found messed up about her and her experiment,  I was inspired.  The more I thought about it, the more I realized how little I move in a day. So all the calorie counting I do can't be making much of a difference. So I'm going to keep it simple. Eat less, move more. I don't mean starving myself, I mean portion control. To make sure I'm taking all the steps, and getting my exercise. I'm going to start out with doing 5,000 of my daily steps here:

Right in my own home!

Every hour a timer goes off telling me to walk up, then down my steps 10 times. I was going to do it 20 times but the first time in I realized how out of shape I am and that I need to work up to that.

Eat less, move more.

Day one.

Weight: 182.6

A day in the life of Billy.

Billy is a busy boy!
That's the best way I can think to describe him. I have a difficult time not being stressed out by his antics.

His day is pretty full. He wakes up, and if I'm still sleeping he will scour the house for something to dump out. It could be baby powder, lotion, anything I forgot to put away the day before. Then I will wake up to the smell of whatever is all over my bedroom.

Once I've cleaned up that mess we go downstairs and he is in the refrigerator looking for milk. If there is a cup he will pull it out and spill some on the floor before the cup reaches his mouth. If not he will get the gallon jug out. He waits for nobody.

I sit him down for breakfast and he eats. When he is done of I dont let him down from his chair right away he gets bored and starts flinging milk and cereal or whatever I give him around the room.

Once I've cleaned that up I can get him to sit down for a cartoon. If he decides he isn't interested he will repeatedly jump off of every piece of furniture he can climb on. Or he will go back to the refrigerator and dump the parmesean cheese or drink some chocolate syrup.

He loves to cuddle. He will climb into my lap and sit with me.

He likes to wrestle. He has the sweetest smile. Even when he is grabbing my phone or drawing on the bottom of his feet with a pen he found.

Billy loves trucks. He pushes his mega blocks truck around the house and tries to mimic the sound effects he hears his brother making.  He has quite an imagination.

Lunchtime is a repeat of breakfast. Then he goes back into the refrigerator.

Then comes 1:00 and those two blissful hours of naptime. This kid needs a nap. He is a nightmare by 5:00 without one.





He wakes up and he is back in the refrigerator.

We play and watch cartoons some more and I have the door to the kitchen locked so he stays out.

While I'm cooking dinner I struggle to keep him away from the counter tops and the stove. He opens the deep freezer because he likes to scrape the ice out and eat it.

At dinner he likes to feed it to the dog if he doesn't want it.

After dinner he is his most rambunctious.  He runs all over the house climbs all over and shrieks a lot.

He is so much fun.

He is in the refrigerator again.

We start our bedtime routine. He loves his spin brush.  He wants to spit his toothpaste like his brother but he doesn't quite get the concept so he swallows it then leans over the sink and makes a spitting sound. We go upstairs and he picks out a book then runs around playing while I read.

Then he says his prayers.  We say the child's bedtime prayer. We want him to learn a love for God as early as possible. He doesn't have it memorized yet but he says it so sweetly. When I say "may angels watch me" he thinks I'm talking about me and says "may angels watch you." He wants lots of hugs and kisses. He loves hugs and kisses he gives them to me all day long and I love it. I tuck him multiple times before he finally falls asleep.



Billy is a busy boy. He is into everything. He keeps me moving. He shows me amazing love and I can't imagine not having him in my life.

God chose me to be his mom. I am so blessed.
He is mine, yet he is not my own. He is God's child and God has given me the responsibility of raising him to love him like I do. To be a great man one day. To love and not hate. To not judge and let live, to have a kind heart and empathy towards others. To have a good work ethic

But for now, we'll just go back to playing with our toys and learning to stay out of the refrigerator :)

Why I am choosing to be a submissive wife

"Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as you do to the Lord"   Ephesians 5:22

Maybe this sounds crazy to some of you. How could a strong, independent woman, ever do such a thing as this? Surely this means I should let my husband make all the decisions on his own, tell me what to do, walk all over me, and take advantage of me while I silently make every effort to meet his demands and please him.

This might sound like a typical reaction to what it seems God is asking us as wives to do according to scripture. However, it is just one of the common misconceptions about what these verses actually mean for us to do.

I am a submissive wife.

Don't get me wrong, I make mistakes in this area almost every day. It was only recently that I handed my duty as as wife over to God because I didn't know what else to do. I started reading "The Excellent Wife" by Martha Peace and I knew as I read that I was responsible for a lot of the problems I was upset about. She says no matter what percent of the problems in your marriage you are responsible for, you should take 100% of the responsibility for them.

I started striving to understand my husband and meet his needs. After all, the most important person in my marriage should be my spouse. I started asking for his input on everything and following his lead. I'm learning patience and respect in bigger ways and when I feel frustrated or unsure I talk to God and it calms me.

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others" Philippians 2:4

The dynamic between my husband and I has shifted. We are arguing less and considering each others needs more.

If being a submissive wife means respecting my husband, full filling his requests as long as it's not a sin, asking him what he thinks before doing things for myself, saving time in my schedule for him as opposed to giving him what I have left at the end of the day, praying for him, and not selfishly seeking my own way, then I can do all of this!

"It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18

I am my husband's helper. When I am a pleasant and loving wife who considers things from his point of view, he is happy. I am glorifying God so there for I am happy. Our marriage is better than ever.

 While there are still so many that don't believe what amazing things God can do and has in store for us, I believe, and all of my needs are being met, and I credit that to God.

Sharing this post is scary. I know some of you might be shaking your head at this, and that's ok. This is for me, this is for wives seeking answers from God. This is me.

"It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." 1 Peter 3:17

Why should I put God before my family?

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you"     Matthew 6:3 NIV

This question was something I didn't know the answer to for a long time. I was brought up in the church, I heard it all the time. "Put God first in your life." After I became a wife and mother I still didn't understand how I could possibly put God before my own spouse and children. This just sounded unfair to them, almost selfish. I didn't know God personally, why was it so important for him to be my first thought in everything?

The book that I have been reading, "The Excellent Wife," (see marriage tab of my blog) has been teaching me more than just how to be a Godly wife, it's been teaching me how to be a Godly human being.

God wants to be first in my life and now I understand why. I think about what God wants from me all the time. I think about how I am to act and treat others according to his word. When I'm happy, angry, frustrated, or sad, I open my bible and I read and I learn. It was like a light bulb came on.

God should be first in my life, because everything I learn from his word, makes my relationships better. Before I yell at someone for doing something wrong, I remember not to repay evil with evil. Before I spend too much time worrying over things, I remember to cast my anxieties on the Lord, because he cares for me. When I'm happy, I remember that it is the will of God for me to be happy, and give thanks to him for that. If I am feeling bitter about someone, I remember that God forgives my sins, and I can easily forgive others of theirs. If I am sad, I remember that the Lord saves the crushed in spirit.

All of these things come from scripture. When you pick up the bible, you will find verses all over it that can be comforting and make perfect sense if you have an open mind and an open heart.

"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:6 NIV

Because I seek guidance from God for all things in my life, he gives this to me!

A big problem I had was spending way too much time wondering how this person or that person felt about me. What have I done wrong? What have I said that was wrong? Do they even like me?

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."    Galations 1:10 NIV

I don't worry anymore, I feel the love of those who love me, and wash away the sadness for those who don't accept me because I am glorifying God and he is my protector.

Putting my relationships with man first before God is like having people in your life and no guidance for living in harmony and happiness with them. Putting God first before man is having the wisdom and ability to make the relationships I have with the people I love thrive.

Makes sense to me.

Healthy Eating- The work is worth the reward!

Weight loss is not an uphill battle for me, and it's not a downhill battle either. It is a yo-yo battle. You would think that after 2 years of paying for a gym membership I would have this great body right? Wrong! Why? I was inconsistent! I would go the the gym every day, sometimes twice a day, and count calories for a month, lose 4 pounds, or for two months and lose 8, then I would have ONE DAY when I didn't get around to it, and one day turned into 2 days, and I blinked and 2 days turned into a month! So how much weight did I lose from my start point until now? Probably around 30-40 pounds. Because of my lack of consistency, and adding on all that weight I kept gaining back, I am a whopping 10 pounds lighter than I was when I started two years ago!

It's just sad isn't it? It happens to a lot of us. We pay all this money and sign these contracts and we just don't go to the gym. I'm not going to give you any excuses. I am holding myself accountable 100%. I got lazy, a lot. Now my gym membership is up. Even though I spent the last two years accomplishing less than I desired as far as the scale goes, I gained so much knowledge on how to eat healthier, that I know I can still do this! I'm not ready to give up, and I'm not ready to spend the rest of my 20's overweight. Now that I've shared all that with all of  you, what choice do I have?

Eating healthy isn't just about the calories you take it. It's the sugar, it's the fat, it's the sodium. So it is my mission to meal plan EVERY WEEK and put in the work it takes to be healthy! Here are some of the substitutes I have made in my diet:

1. Fat Free Cheese: Yes, I know it doesn't taste the same, but it has no fat and half the calories and you do get used to it. If you're a person who uses shredded cheese in a lot of your meals, or any at all, this will help!
2. Ground Turkey: I've been doing this one so long it makes me sick to my stomach to eat ground beef. This is one you need to get creative with because it is more bland than beef, however, spices and seasonings are a wonderful thing!
3. Chicken and Beef Broth: I used a lot of this, but even the "lower sodium" broths have hundreds of milligrams of sodium. So instead I buy herbox no-sodium beef and chicken bullion and make my own broth. Just as tasty and so much better for you!
4. Soda, Juice, and Tea: A no brainer here; drink more water! I might have a soda once a week, at the most. I'm glad for that because I have enough trouble with food.
5. Junk Food: Lucky for me I don't have much of a sweet tooth but who doesn't love a good bag of chips when they are available to them? I don't buy them I buy fresh fruit and vegetables instead. I know something like this seems expensive, but if you CUT OUT the junk and REPLACE it with the right stuff, the cost is about the same.

Of course I'm not perfect, of course I make wrong choices, that's why I'm still in this unhealthy body. So now for your reading and hopefully using pleasure, a Recipes and Healthy Living section on my blog. I'll be creating healthy alternatives to unhealthy meals for my benefit and yours. Happy Reading!