What Makes MOPS Special

I knew it was going to be a special night when I heard this song on the way to my MOPS meeting last night



I was so humbled to be able to share with the precious women in our group about how God has loved me through the difficult times in my life. In recent years I've come to really understand the depth of God's love as I faced unimaginable fear. There is just no possible way that I could live the rest of my life without sharing my story with those around me.

I hope that the ladies at our meeting were able to feel the awesome love of God through the words He gave me and to understand how salvation is the key to it all.

Being a part of MOPS is such an important element in my life as a mom of young children. To someone who doesn't go to MOPS it may seem like just a group of sappy chicks getting together to do crafts, eat, and talk.

But it is more-

much, much, more.

There are women in our group from all walks of life. There are women who attend church, those that don't, and those who are somewhere in between. There are first time moms, moms of many, single moms, working moms, and stay at home moms. Some of the women come to our meetings full of energy ready for a night out, while others come weary, heavy with the burdens of difficult circumstance, needing a friendly face to identify with them.

But it is our common bond that makes MOPS so special. We all find ourselves on this unbelievable, strange, overwhelming, wonderful, and stressful journey at the same time. By coming together at our meetings we can share together in a very special way. And hopefully, by the end of the year all of our moms know that we can not only lean on each other during this time in our life, but on God-who loves each and every one of us.

Goodbye MOPS 2010---my heart was SO filled up this year!

Hurry Back Camera!

The people at the Nikon factory had better get that camera back to me quick! I have missed some adorable photo ops in the last few weeks!

Last weekend we purchased a fantastic picnic table from our friends. It has room for 12 because it is quite large and has these wonderful detached bench sets with backs on them. It is absolutely perfect for our family as no one can fall off the seats! We have had dinner at the patio for the past 3 out of 4 nights and it is so much fun. Matt's parents had a patio umbrella and stand in their basement that they have never used and it was a perfect fit! The kids had their first taste of steak the other night and really liked it!

We have been trying to get outside and play at least once a day. It is not easy to get outside with our family again this year. I thought this year may be somewhat easier, but come to find out, it's still a challenge. With two potty training and an 18 month old who is prone to wander, going outside for any length of time seems to be an exhausting chore. Then there is the whole issue of cleaning up these four monkeys. Matt and I have been quite happy for 3 years with our every-other-night bath routine. It seemed ideal to have one night off from the chore of doing baths. However we are finding the kids are so filthy when they come in that we couldn't live with ourselves if we didn't bathe them before bed. Oh the joys that each new season brings!

Tomorrow night I will be sharing my testimony with my MOPS group at our final meeting of the year. Please keep me in your prayers as I will be sharing the amazing ways God has shown His love for me in my life. Please also keep Matt's Grandma in your prayers as she continues to recover in the hospital.

My Computer and I are Out on the Town

I thought I'd check in and say that I'm still here! I'm sitting right now in a coffee shop with my laptop trying to accomplish something. In a little over a week I'll be speaking to my MOPS group for our final meeting of the year. I feel so humbled to be in a position to share with these amazing women about my life, my faith, and how they both have become so interdependent. I absolutely needed to get out of the house in order to clear my head and be able to really say what I think God wants me to say. When I'm home there is always something else demanding my time. Even when I find the time to sit and work on something, the thoughts of needing to clean something, fold something, or find something weighs on me so heavily that I can't think straight!

So I escaped for a few hours and feel a little bit like a college student sitting here among all the...well...college students! Matt and I used to spend hours in the local coffee shop during our college years. He would study and I would study (actually I would just sit there and try my best not to distract him!)

I continue to try and get the problems with the camera resolved. I have heard no response to my email to customer service, so tomorrow I call!

And a potty training update! Cara and Eli continue to do pretty well! We tried to start with Brady Sunday...and after several sessions of sitting him on the potty for 45 minutes at a time, it just seems like he isn't ready, or doesn't want to be ready! We aren't the type to start something and not see it through, but we just aren't sure how to proceed with that little boy. Oh the trials of toddlerhood.

Tomorrow is Allie's 18-month appointment at the doctor. Wait a minute! That means she turned 18 months old at the beginning of this month! Oops! That one snuck up on me!

Well, back to my project! After all, it's 8:30pm and I'm getting sleepy!

Snow is on Its Way!

Apparently we are in for some pretty significant snowfall this week! I have to say one of the many advantages of being home with my kids is knowing that we can stay safely snuggled in our house all day while the snow comes down! Now if only I could figure out how to have Matt here with us too:)

We had our MOPS Christmas party tonight and it was such a great evening. My brother and I got to sing together for the entertainment. We have sung together many, many times in the last 15 or so years, but don't get the chance to much anymore. It was a true blessing to share our music with the ladies at MOPS.

Well, tomorrow my gift wrapping starts. Lots and lots of wrapping needs to be done!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas:)

P.S. I don't know how many of you read the comments section of the blog, but in the last months I've been humbled by some of the people who have been stopping by and commenting. A few months back Lynn Eib left a comment saying she stumbled upon our blog and was so glad that I have enjoyed her books When God and Cancer Meet and Finding Light in Cancer's Shadow. Just the other day the founder of the Arms Wide Open Cancer Foundation stopped by. And then yesterday Jay Scott, founder of Alex's Lemonade Stand (Alex's dad) commented on Brady's good HVA VMA results! It is so incredible how simple words on a computer can connect people so easily! And of course---all of you regular readers are just as important to me! Your support has gotten us through our darkest days! Thanks to all!

It was a MOPS night and some time out afterwards with some friends. It's always so good to have time with the girls and just relax...something this momma needs every now and then.

Brady had his once a month PT visit today and was just amazing. Linda and I both noticed gains he has made just since his last visit. I'm so glad we are able to go and keep on top of the areas he needs to work on, and to be able to celebrate what he has mastered. Today he rode his little tricycle all over the building...he looked like such a big boy! I noticed a little bit more "personality" today, and by "personality" I mean, a little 2 1/2 year old stinker who is going to do about 75% of what you tell him to, and the other 25% will be what he thinks he should do. Oh that Brady!

My thankful thought for today: I'm thankful for all of the amazing people God has brought into our lives through Brady's illness. There have been new friendships made, countless acts of kindness, amazing doctors, caring therapists, and so many others that have touched our lives in positive ways. It's neat to see how God has used this tragic circumstance for good.

Time for Fall

Fall is certainly here! I LOVE this time of year. The kids love to see all of the decorations that I put up around the house too! On the way home from PT, Brady and I stopped at a farm stand and bought pumpkins for each of the kids. I laughed all the way home watching Brady hold, rub, and hug his pumpkin as he sat in his car seat. Imagine the disappointment when I made the kids put them out on the steps outside!!

I had my first MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting tonight. I'm just so blessed to have that group of women as a part of my life. We meet twice a month and now have over 30 moms in our group. It's such a nice chance to get out with people who "get" what it's like to have little ones.

Matt called and got the results of my Xrays. Nothing much unusual showed up, so this confirms Matt's theory that it is a muscle/joint problem. He is so wonderful to work on my neck/back every night. He is constantly trying new things to help me get better. What an amazing husband God has blessed me with...

This week's schedule is very busy, but next week isn't at all! So, I'm just chugging along this week. Tomorrow I'm volunteering at the consignment sale that I sell my kids' clothes/toys at each season. I have mostly boy's clothes since Allie is wearing many of Cara's old clothes. Then Thursday is consignment shopping day...woo hoo! I LOVE buying second hand and even did some Christmas shopping there last year. Shopping therapy should do me a world of good!

Thank you for all of your comments, phone calls, and emails this week! It is so nice to know that I have a supportive group of friends who care:)