What a WONDERFUL time we all had at last Thursday's "Get Acquainted Night". It was such a great evening meeting everyone and being able to get to know each other a little better.
We have a change in our location for Tuesday Night's "Get Acquainted". Due to the passing of Rhonda's Father we will NOT be getting together at her house on Tues. INSTEAD we will meet at the Church upstairs is room #522. Same day- Tues Aug. 31st and same time 7:00 pm. For those of you who are not familiar with Olive Knolls the address is below:
Olive Knolls Church 6201 Fruitvale Ave
Bakersfield, CA 93308
(off of Fruitvale and Norris)
I REALLY encourage you all to come. Last Tuesday was such a blessing to me, and everyone left really excited to start MOPS. As a reminder childcare is not provided. We will meet from 7:00-8:00 pm and then if you would like to stay a little longer to visit you are more than welcome to. If you would like to bring some goodies to much on please feel free to but you surely do not have to.=)
PLEASE RSVP to me so I know how many to expect. Even if you RSVP'd to Rhonda earlier please send me an email.DON'T FORGET to bring 2 copies of a family photo. Look forward to seeing you all on Tues.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Ladies,
Time is approaching rapidly for Living Proof Live's Beth Moore Simulcast on September 18th at Olive Knolls Church.
Tickets, $30 each, are on sale on Sundays at the Ministry Spotlight Table in the foyer. Or you may download a registration form by clicking here and send it in with your check, or stop by the Church Office during the week.
Invite your friends and family to join you for a ladies' day out!
The message will be powerful and you'll be glad you came!
Friends, I'm telling you, go call up some girlfriends, get your MOPS table together and go to this! God has given Beth Moore and incredible gift and heart for women. She speaks directly to each of us in such a powerful way all through the truth of God. When you leave I guarantee you will have laughed, possibly cried, you will have felt so loved and valued by our loving God you will feel as though you are ready to go conquer that Mountain! Don't miss out on this event! And mostly don't let your friends either!
Contacts
For additional information, please feel free to contact
Happy Friday Friends!! Those of us with kiddos in school...we survived the first week back to school! YIPPEEEE!! Give yourself a pat on the back!
Last year in MOPS for one of our crafts we created the "Family Organization Binder". We had our very own MOPS mom, Rebecca Street go over her binder and what works to keep her family organized and prepared. The binders had such great reviews we thought we should put it on the blog too. Those of you who maybe weren't there or those who haven't finished it... Rebecca has put up all the info. on her blog,
on how to create this wonderful binder. Everything you need to run your house is in one place! Below is a picture provided by "The Inspired Organizer" of her binder. Go visit her page by clicking here for all the info. and downloads to get your started.
A simple project for the home or an easy and cheap gift for someone. Take a look.
"My Computer is My Canvas" posted this really simple and cute idea. Go visit her blog for some template backgrounds for this project to just print and slide in!
I was thinking this would be even cute to add a picture too...
Need a *cute* little something to spice up your office?
Need a small, but fun gift or quick thank-you to drop off to a friend?
How about a Scrappy Note Pad Stand?
It's so easy... all you need is the file from her page, a 4x6 acrylic frame (landscape style) and a sticky pad. Attach a coordinating pen to complete it!
So if you make one of these. Email me a picture so I can post it!
We survived the 1st Day of school. I'm sure our kids handled it better than we did.
Thank you Julia for opening up your home to all of us Mommies to pray over our children, their teachers and the upcoming year! I'm so thankful to have such wonderful friends who I can go to for prayer and support and it's because of MOPS that I met these incredible women!
One of my friends posted this sweet prayer that I wanted to share. Take a look below:
Here we are again, Lord. Their backpacks are loaded and their faces are scrubbed and their lunch cards are full.
And I know you'll walk with them, Lord. You always do. But a mom still has to ask.
Will You walk with them?
Will You whisper to ...them what they need to hear, when I'm not there to whisper it? Will You please, oh please, cover their school with the protection only You can give, and will You keep harm far away? Will You make their minds strong and ready to learn? Will You help them understand that hard work honors the One who created them? Will You guide their teachers, giving them patience and wisdom and creativity and more patience? Will You bless them for their efforts? Will You love all those children there, the ones whose lunch accounts aren't full,the ones who feel alone? Will You teach my children to be kind and unselfish and to love those who are different from them? Will You point them back toward home just as soon as you can? Lord, I give them to You today and everyday, trusting them to Your care. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
I just saw this on the MOMSnext page and thought it was so important and so powerful. Some of us MOPS moms have our oldest starting kindergarten. We have the choice to make a difference and make a change. The question is will we make the time? Take a quick look at this video...
"So, no matter who your kid's teacher is, what do you do to support him or her? Prayer? Volunteering? A kind word? Anything else?"
Whether you work full time or part time or work at home there is something that can be done to support our teachers and offer our help. Today was Kindergarten orientation for my son. As my husband and I were walking with him to his class my husband says "I hope she has an assistant with all these kids". The sad thing is that she doesn't unless us Moms or grandparents volunteer. As we listened to the teacher go over her class she mentioned many ways that we could get involved. Volunteer our time in the classroom, take things home to work on for her, help at school functions, purchase extra supplies. So as I prepare for this upcoming year I will be praying asking God where I can help out the best. I want my child to have the best oppurtunities available but as parents we have to step up and volunteer if we want to make a change in our child's future.
God is looking for ordinary people to do extraordinary things!
Julia sent me this great article that we thought you all would enjoy! it is by Reggie Joiner from Northpoint Church in Atlanta Georgia.
He really puts things into perspective that we often take for granted...
We have gone to the same area of Florida beaches almost every year as a family. I took a picture this summer looking out across a scene that has pretty much stayed the same for the past 30 years. It made me think about my younger days as a parent. This is going to sound strange, but I do wonder sometimes if God got it backwards when it comes to parenting. I’m not really questioning God’s wisdom, so don’t respond with a super-spiritual answer to correct my logic, just let me think out loud for a few minutes. Why did I start out as a dad during the busiest and hardest years of my life?
I became a parent like a lot of you, while I was still trying to figure out who I was, build a career, manage a minimal income, establish a healthy marriage, etc. It seems like it would make more sense to find my identity, build a strong marriage, retire and then have kids. Now I have more margin in my time and finances. Back then, I was always running out of everything. I turn 50 this week, and I just think I would be a much better parent now than I was in my twenties. I actually hear young parents giving advice to other young parents sometimes and think, “that’s never going to work.” I start to interrupt and then just think, “you will figure this out.” I really do wish I knew then what I know now. Not that I have all the answers…I just think I would be a smarter dad. So here’s some advice I would give to myself if I were starting over as a dad:
Listen more, talk less. (I can’t count the college students who tell me they don’t feel like their parents ever really listened.)
Don’t “send” your kids to bed, put them in bed. (You only have a short window of time when they are young enough to want you to tuck them in.)
Ask better questions. (Learn to shift from performance questions to heart questions.)
Guard Saturdays to create family traditions. (There are a little over 350 Saturdays between the time your kids are 1st grade and when they become teenagers, then Saturdays change forever.)
Don’t sign up your kids for everything. (We tend to make our kids experientially rich, but relationally poor.)
Play games. (Have fun together, build memories playing board games or card games, etc.)
Don’t take things too serious. (What you think matters right now, will probably not matter as much as you think it does later. What does matter is what you communicate during stressful or dramatic moments.)
Never punish anyone relationally. (Don’t withdraw your relationship to make someone feel bad for something they have done wrong.)
Do chores together. (Kids who work with their parents have a better work ethic and tend to be more responsible.)
Say “I love you” everyday. (It’s just a healthy habit you can never start to early.)
Apologize often.(You might as well admit when you do something wrong, everyone knows it anyway.)
that might be useful for getting us Mommies organized for School.
Here's her instructions.
Go visit her page to download the cover and see all the great ideas she has!
(Photos by: My Computer is My Canvas)
Back to School Binder: Mommy Edition
"My 4 kiddos head back to school in a few weeks and to stay on top of it all, I have to be super organized! It's so stressful to search for lost permission slips, elusive school calendars, disappearing project outlines and diorama instructions! And even worse... to be doing that at midnight or worse, when you should be walking out the door to catch the bus! Don't miss the boat on something important and it's easy to organized if you have a system. My secret to keeping my crazy life and schedule in check is my ..."
Back 2 School Binder
MOMMY'S HOMEWORK EDITION
Inside, I have the school's annual calendar in my front sleeve...
You'll be amazed at how often you refer to it!
Inside I have a clear-view file labeled for each kiddo... via my trusty old friend, Mr. Label Maker (a must have for any organized mama). In these folders... I only keep *important* stuff! Only things I'll need to refer to later... like classroom policies, schedules, grading matrix, project guidelines, book report schedules, lunch account deposit slips... you get the idea. Don't clutter this book with the "work" and "art" you kids bring home - there are other places to store those treasures. THIS binder is MOMMY HOMEWORK only... stuff you need to stay on top of, stuff you need to sign, stuff you need to remember, stuff you KNOW you'll be looking for later! :)
At our house... immediately after the kids get home we do a "Backpack Check". They get ALL of their papers from the day out and while they are winding down with a quick snack, I go through everything and sort it. I usually end up with a pile of papers for recycling, a treasure or two for keeps... and things that need to go IMMEDIATELY into my Mommy Homework Binder. That's the stuff that keeps the wheels running smoothly and I'm never stressfully *SEARCHING* for the important stuff.
Lastly... don't forget to label a folder for yourself! If you volunteer to help in your school's parent organization or are a classroom helper... you'll have papers to keep track of too! :)
And...
...because it's *WAY MORE FUN* to use something if it's cute...
I made a fun cover to share!
You can download one for yourself... (Click Here to go to her page and download at the bottom)
With Hunter getting ready to start Kindergarten, I'm trying to make this time for him very exciting! So I came across this great idea from Brassy Apple to create a paper chain countdown for school! I think we are going to make one tonight!
Below is Brassy Apple's instructions.
We choose construction paper in their school colors and cut strips. Then I let them assemble them in any order/pattern they wanted. We used staples instead of glue - it's faster. :)
Then of course we hung it up and they each take turns pulling a link off each day! Easy peasy and fun! enjoy!
Check out her blog for some other great tutorials!
I want you to take a moment and watch this video clip below, and then the one to follow. We are all experiencing, in one way or another, the effect of the economy. But we must remember at times like these, that it's not the value or worth of the items we have. They are just things. What matters the most is the gift of Love given by God. That is found within our family, friends and our church. We as a church are called to reach out to our brothers and sisters and help in times of need. There is ALWAYS someone who is going through a tougher time than you.
The time to reach out to others and offer hope and love is now! Not tomorrow or Friday when you get paid or have some extra cash. People need to know that they are not alone. Prayer doesn't cost a dime. There are so many ways you can reach out to others to show them God's love in a Visible way.
The clip below of Matt Maher says it perfectly "We make the love of God visible".
Please take a look. After both videos we have some ways where you can get involved if you choose to.
Hear the story behind the song from Matt Maher on his song, "Hold Us Together".
One viewer saw a video with this exact song in it and had this response: "My friend sent me this video, not even 10 mins ago. I started balling for some reason and I don't know anything about Jesus. But all I know is, this song touched me and I want to know everything now."
Here's how you can get involved and help:
We have a young Mom- 18 years old,(a friend of a friend) who is 35 weeks pregnant. The father of the baby is not in the picture. She is currently living with her parents for the time being. Her water broke this morning and the baby is breach. I'm not sure if she's already been rushed in for a C-section or is getting ready to go it.
The first thing you can do is pray for this young mom and baby to be.
The Second, we are asking you to help with providing this mom all of the things she will need to care for this baby. Diapers, wipes, baby girl clothes, pretty much anything you can think of that would be wonderful! Some of you might have been in the same shoes with a brand new baby at 18 and understand a little better what she is going through. This is the time to reach out to this you mom...Email me and I can give you all the details on what to do with your gifts. Bradshaw4@sbcglobal.net
"Even in the dark you can still see the light. It's going to be alright...and love will hold us together, make us a shelter to weather the storm. And I'll be my brother's keeper
so the whole world will know that we are not ALONE."
Another way you can help:
Our Olive Knolls Church- SNC, supports an amazing ministry that provides sack lunches to the homeless. I was told that Pastor Joe shared that they are running low on Peanut Butter and Jelly. If you would like to provide this ministry with Peanut Butter or jelly or cash for them to go purchase more please let me know.
Email: Bradshaw4@sbcglobal.net
One of our MOPS Moms, Cassie Conners informed me that at Sam's Club a double pack of Jumbo Peanut Butter is only $6.75!
A double pack of jelly is only $5.45!
Cassie is even willing to go pick up any donations!
So for less than $13.00 (which is a trip to the fast food restaurant for maybe 2 people) you could help feed probably 50 homeless people with this little purchase or more!
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,*
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
Ok, I came across this blog called: sew totally smitten She made this adorable Tic-Tac-Toe Bean bag game!
I think this would be such an adorable gift for a Birthday girl! Don't you?? Even if you are new to sewing this project would be manageable! It's all straight lines and looks easy enough (I say that, but haven't made it yet...so ask me after I attempt this project. LOL)
Here's her Tutorial:
What you need:
1 yard white canvas
Masking Tape
Fabric Paint
One 4 lb. bag White Navy Beans
Two 1/2 yards of two different fabrics for the bean bags
Bias Tape home made or store bought
Let's get started!
Cut your canvas so it measures 36" X 36"
Fold the mat (canvas) in thirds and iron creating 3 equal sections. Then rotate and do the same. You will now have 9 equal squares.
Using one long piece of tape, lay masking tape 1/2" away from the fold line on both sides. This will give you a 1" paint line. Make sure to press and smooth edges of the tape REALLY well so you will not have bleeding like I did in the lower left. :) oops! Set the mat aside and let dry.
Grab your fabric for the bean bags.
You are going to need (10) bean bags (5) of each fabric. Cut each piece into 12 1/2" x 6 1/4" rectangles. Fold each in half with right sides together, stitch sides using a zig-zag stitch, leaving a small hole to turn.
After turning right side out fill each bag with 1 cup of beans.
Tuck opening in and close using a strait stitch. Continue all the way around the bean bag sealing the beans from coming out and creating and nice finished edge.
Grab your mat and bias tape. Pin all the way around and then bast using a strait stitch.
Your DONE!
Isn't that cute???!! Ok who has a birthday coming up that I can make this for...?
You will have to go visit Sew Totally Smitten's site because right after her Tic-Tac-Toe Tutorial she has a Red Velvet Cake Recipe that looks delicious!!!
So click here to visit her site and someone invite me over for a slice!!!
My Sister-in-law Hannah, informed me of this next great product, and she thought that all you MOPS moms might be interested too. They are called my "411 wristbands". You can find them over at Mabel's LabelsClick here.
What a GREAT item to have! Basically it is less than a dollar a wristband. Perfect for trips to Disneyland, waterparks, the fair, if your child has specific allergies or health issues- that pertinent information can all be provided right on the wristband.Check out the description provided by Mabel's Labels below.
"My 411 Wristbands" are durable, disposable ID bracelets perfect for theme parks and field trips. Personalize with vital information and contact details.
Super cheap if found at a yard sale or Goodwill- for less than $1.00
You can make it yourself!
QUICK
UNIQUE
I was visiting a blog called: "Realynn"the other day . A blog I found from visiting someone else's blog. And came across this ADORABLE idea!! You will have to go visit her blog! She's got some great idas.
Here's her 10 Minute Skirt Tutorial:
Want to make a quick and easy skirt for your little girl or you?
This skirt seriously took me no more than 10 minutes to make. I'll show you how I did mine.
I found a window valance at a yard sale and bought it for only .25 cents. Get out! I was so excited. I had no idea where I was going to hang it but I loved the red stitch detail so had to have it.
I decided that hanging it in a random room with not another matching valance wasn't something I wanted to do so it has been sitting here for a few months.
The other day I finally decided what I wanted to do with it. I figured it would make the perfect skirt for Reagan and it would be so easy to make because I wouldn't have to even make a waistband for the elastic. I just used the opening for the curtain rod.
So first I cut my elastic the length I needed for my daughter's waist.
Then with a safety pin I pulled the elastic through the curtain rod opening until just a tiny bit was hanging out.
I pinned the elastic in place.
And sewed that opening shut.
Here is the first side I did sewn shut.
Now continue pulling the elastic through the curtain rod opening until you have it just poking out the other side and pin in place.
Sew this side shut now.
With right sides together pin the open end of the skirt and sew.
If you have a serger serge your seam, if not just do a zig zag stitch.
Now you are all done! Flip the skirt right side out and throw it on your little one!
The valance was long enough that I could have made this skirt for me but it would have been a mini skirt and I'm not sure the world wants to see me in a mini. :)
I am planning on doing some thrift shopping this week to try to find some more cute valances and maybe I'll make myself one just to see what it would look like as an adult version.
How Cute right??!!
So someone make one and send me some pictures!
Email: Bradshaw4@sbcglobal.net
I'm going to be on the hunt for a cute and cheap valance!
Today you can go to ABC23 Studios to make a donation to the Red Cross.
The money raised will go to the Wildfire Disaster Relief Fund
Here's what ABC23 had to say. Click HERE to read more.
In response to the Bull and West Fires in Kern County, ABC23 and KERN Radio will host a cash fundraiser for the American Red Cross on Tuesday, August 3.
Please bring your donations to the ABC23 Studios
located at 321 21st Street in Bakersfield.
from 5 a.m. until 6:30 p.m
(images provided by ABC23)
Here is a portion of their story. Visit ABC23 to read the full story and more.
KERNVILLE, Calif. -- Firefighters are scrambling to keep up with two California wildfires.Firefighters said they've partially surrounded a wildfire in Kern County that has burned at least 30 homes and is threatening about 150 others. Another fire in Sequoia National Forest has burned eight homes and six outbuildings but no other homes were in immediate danger.The blaze known as the West Fire, 10 miles south of Tehachapi, is one of the two that have forced about 2,300 people to evacuate homes.
County fire Engineer Dustin Allegranza said the 1,400-acre fire was 25 percent contained Wednesday morning.The fire erupted Tuesday about 10 miles south of Tehachapi and threatens the entire town of Old West Ranch, a remote and scattered community in the eastern foothills of the Tehachapi Mountains.Another blaze, the Bull fire, has burned 15,586 acres just north of Kernville, and was 5 percent contained Wednesday. The blaze has destroyed eight homes and six outbuildings in the community of Riverkern.Residents of Riverkern and the Camp Owen juvenile detention facility were evacuated. The area of Burlando and Burma roads near Kernville and the community of Riverkern are under mandatory evacuations, Kern County fire officials said.Evacuees were being told to go to the Lake Isabella Senior Center until further notice.
About 1,100 fire personnel from Kern County Fire, Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service are on the scene to fight the fire, as well as 12 firefighting helicopters and seven air tankers.The fire is burning in grass and brush on both sides of the Kern River, north of Kernville. Crews working on the northern flank of the fire, to the west of the Kern River, were pulled back Tuesday afternoon due to a significant increase in fire activity, Pete Jankowski, an information officer with the Interagency Incident Management Team, said.Efforts to construct fire line along the southern perimeter were successful, hence the five percent containment, and crews worked through the night to strengthen these lines. Crews also worked through the night to clean up islands of unburned fuels between the river and Mountain Highway 99.
Two firefighters have been injured, but both are considered to be minor.
The Kern chapter of the American Red Cross is asking for cash donations to help provide food, water, shelter, comfort kits and teddy bears.
More Information On What The American Red Cross Kern Chapter Will Be Doing
The American Red Cross Kern Chapter is transitioning their Shelters into a Service Centers. The Service Centers will be opened to assist the residents affected by the Bull Fire (Riverkern) and West Fire (Tehachapi), providing shelter, food, comfort kits, guidance, and other assistance as needed to those in need.
Thank you for taking the time to check out our blog. We hope you enjoy our posts about MOPS activities, friendship, motherhood and life. Whether you are an Olive Knolls MOPS member or just curious about what Olive Knolls MOPS might have to offer you, please contact me for more information: Michele Wilbert- Olive Knolls MOPS Coordinator at MicheleWilbert1@gmail.com
