Purpose Statement

MOPS Purpose Statement: MOPS International exists to encourage, equip and develop every mother of preschoolers to realize her potential as a woman, mother and leader in the name of Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Roll Up Roll Up ! Come One Come All ...Exciting Adventures to be had

Lovely to open the mail today and get the invite to MOPS 2009 in place of the usual bills

Oh yay it's time for MOPS to start again
Whats that? A hot cup of tea. Oh yes please. That would be nice
Morning Tea, adult company and conversation ....a bit of brain stimulation....craft....encouragement in this sometime tough and thankless job of mothering....guest speakers
AND 2 hours of quality child-care
All for just $5 a mum/family.

Oh YES ....count me in I'll be there

HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE
Feb 6th
9.15 for a 9.30 start

* Didn't receive your invite? Perhaps your address has changed since you initially registered with MOPS? Thats ok. You can email monos.pn@bigpond.com or just come along anyway. Bring a friend if you wish. All "Mothers of Preschoolers" welcome (yes even mums-to-be)
Posted by Michele @ The Hills are Alive at 8:50 PM Labels: 0 comments

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Psychologist Lisa Lindley running another Postnatal Depression Support Group


Lisa has asked we post the details of her next Postnatal Depression Support Group.
For more info on what PND is etc please go the Labels section on the left hand side of this blog and click on the label "post natal depression". Any posts on this blog relevant to this topic will then be shown. These posts contain links to other good sites about PND and info on signs and symptoms and where to get help etc.

Dear MOPS Mums

My next Postnatal Depression Support Group is due to start on Wednesday 4 February 2008. The 8 week course is an opportunity for women to come together for 2 hours a week to gain support from each other, as well as learn coping skills to facilitate a healthy recovery. If you have a Mental Health Care Plan (see your GP) the course is completely bulk billed.. I also provide individual counselling at my private clinic in Mooloolaba. My website is www.sunshinecoastpnd.com. Please contact me on my mobile if you have any queries
Cheers and Happy New Year.
Lisa Lindley
Psychologist

Lisa's Mobile 0417 540 820
Posted by Michele @ The Hills are Alive at 8:37 PM Labels: , 0 comments

Friday, January 09, 2009

Following on from The Mom Song

With apologies to all you Dads out there here is the sequel to The Mom Song

Posted by Michele @ The Hills are Alive at 1:14 PM Labels: 1 comments

The Mom Song

Way back in 2006 (I think it was) we watched this at MOPS
Came across it again and still makes me laugh
It's basically all the things we Mums say to our kids each day set to the tune of The William Tell Overture. Very funny and very clever. Take a look.

Posted by Michele @ The Hills are Alive at 1:02 PM Labels: 0 comments

Monday, January 05, 2009

Welcome back to MOPS

According to the countdown Karen (outgoing Coordinator soon to be Regional Coordinator) has added there is only ONE month, 17 hours, 41 minutes and 41 seconds until our first MOPS of 2009.

Hope to see you all there. We will be introducing the theme for the year - Adventures in Mothering.

COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE

Posted by Michele @ The Hills are Alive at 3:47 PM Labels: 1 comments

Saturday, January 03, 2009

Circus - State Library of QLD (from Karen Askey-Doran)

The State Library Of Qld, (situated on Southbank in Brisbane) is very conveniently holding a series of circus workshops for families in January. (NOTE: Fits nicely with theme and logo for MOPS 2009 of Adventures in Mothering)


Click here for further info http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on/events/children/circus#carousel


My beautiful four and I attend the various free exhibitions/activities and displays put on by the State Library + The Qld Museum + The Qld Art Gallery as well as The Gallery Of Modern Art, all situated at Southbank within walking distance of each other... We try and make a day out every School holidays to go and have a picnic lunch on the side of the River. It's so FUN! Annnnd if you catch the train you can go on the Citicat for no extra charge.

Whilst you are checking out the State Library web site....go to "The Corner" (an under 8's activity centre) and see what they have on offer for the holidays too...they are very focused on building literacy there! And we have spent many quiet moments on our daytrips sitting in The Corner! It's a lovely place tucked inside the State Library.
Posted by Michele @ The Hills are Alive at 8:49 PM Labels: 0 comments
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Theme Scripture

Psalm 139

1 You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand — when I awake, I am still with you.

19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Annual MOPS Participation Fee

The annual MOPS Participation Fee of $10 assists MOPS Australia in covering the cost of training for Regional Coordinators to help other MOPS groups to develop around Australia. It also allows more MOPS group leaders around Australia to access regional training.

This will go a long way to helping MOPS Australia bring MOPS to more Mums around Australia.

When you register for MOPS each year, you will be handed an Annual Participation Fee form, and we ask that if you are able to pay this $10 participation fee, please do so before the end of April 2011.

The payment options are...
1. Direct Debit to MOPS Australia bank account
2. Credit card
3. Cheque payable to MOPS Australia
4. Cash to MOPS@MBC front desk

Thank you, from the MOPS@MBC team.

How did MOPS begin?

It was a Tuesday morning, at about 9.30. They each had faced spilled cereal, tangled hair, and a few had even been forced to change their outfits due to a last-minute baby throw-up on a shoulder or lap. They had driven, or pushed strollers, to the church and had dropped their little ones off in the creche. They had made it!

And now they sat, knees almost touching, in the circle of children's chairs from the Sunday school room. Hands held hot cups of tea and biscuits in utter freedom because this treat did not have to be shared with a child's sticky fingers. Mouths moved in eager, uninterrupted conversation. Eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. Hearts stirred with understanding. Needs were met.

That morning in 1973, was the first morning of MOPS, or Mothers of Preschoolers. Little was it known that from this small beginning in a church in Colorado, USA, the seeds of the MOPS concept and format had been planted. The needs of the women were met even then, through the opportunity for friendship, creative outlet and spiritual emphasis. MOPS International now charters approximately 2,500 MOPS groups in churches in the United States and 13 other countries throughout the world.

How did MOPS begin in Australia?

How did MOPS begin in Australia?

Nineteen years later and thousands of kilometres away, the same mutual need for sharing was realised by a group of mums with children under school age in Melbourne. After reading about the MOPS concept in the US, leaders introduced the program to the Clayton Church of Christ Fellowship in early 1990 and MOPS was born in Australia. From this small beginning, the seeds for future growth were planted, resulting in the formation of an affiliated body to support the ever-increasing number of Australian groups and the mums they served.

Since its formation in June 2000, MOPS Australia, Inc has grown rapidly and there are currently over 100 groups throughout Australia. In the last year alone, 35 new groups have commenced, with groups starting up regularly throughout different Christian denominations. Groups now meet in every state and territory in Australia, with an estimated ministry to approximately 2500 mums and 3000 children.

How did MOPS begin at MBC?

A Brief History of MOPS at MBC by Karen Askey-Doran (COordinator of MOPS til 2008 and currently Regional Coordinator).

In 1999, the leader of MBC’s women’s ministry caught the vision of MOPS. At that time I was a new Mum with little inclination to help; I was interested but not convicted!

Roughly a year later another meeting was held to generate interest. At this time I had another little baby girl, a 16-month-old toddler and, although I was unaware of it, Post Natal Depression. And once again people were interested but not compelled to lead.

In 2005 Holly, caught the vision of MOPS and began to sow the seeds of interest throughout the young Mums in our church. Robyn Robertson came to our first meeting and inspired us into action…the seeds Holly planted took hold!

People came slowly at first to fill the positions, it seemed there were a lot of blanks for a long time! Holly was going to be our Coordinator and when she filled out the charter she realised that a Mother of Preschoolers should really fill that role…. So she called me! Very graciously, Holly took a side step into a Mentoring role (very appropriate really).

God was moving in our midst, we had been blessed with an inspired team of 15 Mops Leaders and 9 Moppets Leaders, each one having a testimony about how God had lead them to this ministry!

I suspect that God has big plans for our group. I still feel very inadequate sometimes but I do trust God and I want to serve him and to reach out to Mums who are hurting, to support them. I want to encourage, you know, to build up… to make a difference in people’s lives, especially my children’s!

I know I’m not alone… In Romans 8:28 it says “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” He planned for my girls, my twins, my battle with PND. He planned for MOPS - at this time - in our church! The door has literally been flung open!

What happens at a MOPS meeting?

When a mum enters a MOPS meeting, she is greeted by a friendly face and escorted to MOPPETS, where her children enjoy their special part of the MOPS program. In MOPPETS, children from infancy through to school age experience a caring environment while they learn, sing, play and make crafts.

Once her children are settled, the MOPS mum joins a program tailor-made to meet her needs. She can grab something to eat and not have to share it! She can finish a sentence and not have to speak in words of two syllables!

The program typically begins with a brief lesson taught by an older mum who's been through the challenging years of mothering and who can share from her experience and from the truths taught in the Bible. Then the women move into small discussion groups where there are no "wrong answers" and each mum is free to share her joys and struggles with other mums who truly understand her feelings. In these moments, long-lasting friendships are often made on the common ground of finally being understood.

From here, the women participate in a craft or other creative activity. For mums who are often frustrated by the impossibility of completing anything in their unpredictable days, this activity is deeply satisfying. It provides a sense of accomplishment and growth for many mums.

Because mums of preschoolers themselves lead MOPS, the program also offers women a chance to develop their leadership skills and other talents. It takes organisation, creativity, and management skills to run a MOPS program successfully.

By the time they finish the MOPS meeting and pick up their children, the mums feel refreshed and better able to mother. MOPS helps them recognise that mums have needs too! And when they take the time to meet those needs, they find they are more effective in meeting the needs of their families.

Meeting the needs of Mothers of Preschoolers

The MOPS program is dedicated to meeting the needs of mothers of preschoolers. These needs have been identified by Elisa Morgan and Carol Kuykendall in their book, What Every Mum Needs:


The need for Identity: Sometimes I'm not sure who I am

The need for Growth: Sometimes I long to develop who I am

The need for Relationship: Sometimes I long to be understood

The need for Help: Sometimes I need to share the load

The need for Perspective: Sometimes I lose my focus

The need for Hope: Sometimes I wonder if there's more to life


Here's How Some Mums Describe MOPS

"MOPS means that I am able to share the joys and frustrations and insecurities of being a mum. Our meetings provide the opportunity to hear someone else say, "I was up all night," or "They're driving me crazy!"

MOPS mum, Perth

"As a single mum, this is the first group I've felt accepted in for who I am."

MOPS mum, Canberra

'On my first day at MOPS, I knew my life had changed forever! The women made me feel so relaxed. I had a peace I hadn't felt for a long time. They were so caring, pleasant, helpful…the list goes on! I just want to say, "Thank you MOPS!" If it weren't for MOPS, I wouldn't be where I am today.'

MOPS mum, Melbourne

'When I first started MOPS, I was very, very lonely. MOPS gave me a chance to get out of the house which I was grateful for. The talks were very informative. I found out a lot through these talks. My problems seemed to become smaller. When I first started at MOPS, I thought I was a Christian. I wasn't. Through MOPS I can now say, 'I am a Christian.' MOPS to me is not only Mothers of Pre Schoolers, but My Own Private Salvation!'

MOPS mum, Canberra