It's official...

...spring is here! And with it, all the rain/snow/sleet etc. one can expect. However, with spring always comes the promise of renewal; the small leaves of green poking up out of the dead, grey flowerbeds, soon to be tulips, hyacinth, irises, and daffodils. Every year, I am excited and amazed- and ready. As much as I love snow, the greening up of the ground and the buds on the pear trees get me excited for warm days ahead. Just one of the many reasons I love living in a place with four seasons!

This week at MOPS, we'll be focusing on the home- Creating Our Homes to Be Masterpieces. To me, the idea of a home as a 'masterpiece' means a place comfortable and relaxing to come home to- not just regarding the state of cleanliness/organization, but also the state of the relationships in the home. Maybe it's prosaic, outdated, or too Ozzie-and-Harriet, but I do believe our homes need our attention. Come hear one of our mentor moms, Linny Jones, speak on this topic this week at our regular time on Wednesday. Brunch and childcare provided (last meeting, we found bigger plates for brunch- yay!); check-in begins at 9:15. See you Wednesday.

It's MOPS week!

This Wednesday, March 9th, we'll be hearing from Pastor Jon Vandel about developing and using our gifts based on our personality. It should be informative and fun. As always, brunch and childcare provided. Our Steering Team is working on the next Mom's Night Out- jewelry making! More details to come, but the night is March 29th, so mark your calendars. See you Wednesday.

NEXT MEETING: FEBRUARY 23rd

Come join us this Wednesday for a discussion about creating (and then living within) a budget. Our presenter is Susan Hufman, who spoke last year about creating a will and contingency plan for our families (and we've all done that, right? She may be checking!). She is a great resource and we're looking forward to her insight. As always, brunch and childcare provided. See you at 9:15! Please note our Tea and Textiles night is THIS Thursday. Even if you aren't crafty, come for a fun evening out.

Tea and Textiles; Feb 24th

Our next Ellemeno (Leavenworth Moms' Night Out) will be a evening of learning a new craft (or not, your choice!) and/or working on current ones you already have started. Jodi McDevitt is hosting (for directions, comment and we'll get back to you), and the fun begins at 7:00. We will have knitting/ crocheting experts on hand if you want to learn- and if you do, please contact Heidi and she'll help you decide what you'll need to bring. If you scrapbook, bring some current pages to work on. If you bead, bring your latest project. Knitter? Bring that hat/scarf/sweater that you've been working on for months (years?). If you like to chat and don't feel crafty- come anyway. It's great company.

Also, this Wednesday, the bookstudy group meets to discuss Shepherding a Child's Heart, through Chapter 6, with corresponding chapters in the Parent Handbook. We meet at 9:30 am, Leavenworth Church of the Nazarene; childcare is provided. Come if you're interested in the topic, even if you haven't read the chapters. We know how it goes. See you then!

NEXT MEETING: FEBRUARY 9

Our first meeting in February is traditionally our Valentine's Day meeting. We have many fun things planned- card making, games, and as always, BRUNCH! We also have a speaker sharing some ways to make Valentine's Day special (even though this stage of our lives may make it difficult!). Hope to see you there- check in begins at 9:15.

Hey hey hey- more exchanging on the way!

To add to the previous post, we will also be exchanging children's clothing at the January 26th meeting. Our leftover items will go down the valley to the Cashmere clothing exchange, which you could also personally participate in. Here is the information (Thanks, Annie!):

Children's Clothing Exchange

Saturday, January 29th
Snapdragon Coffee: 207 Mission Street, Cashmere
5pm-7pm
Cost: Free!

How does it work?
Drop clothing off at Snapdragon Coffee the week prior.
Receive one credit for each article of clothing.
Use your credits to "purchase" items. One credit per item.
Any items remaining will be donated to charity.
To avoid chaos, we request adults only. :)

Accepted Items:
Clean and gently used children's clothing.
Sizes: Newborn to 4T
No socks or undergarments.

Clothing Drop-Off Dates:
Monday, Jan. 24th-Friday, Jan. 28th: 7am-3pm
Snapdragon Coffee: 207 Mission Street, Cashmere

Next meeting: January 12

Come join us at 9:15, Wednesday, January 12th at the Leavenworth Church of the Nazarene. Our guest speaker is Jennifer Dean-Hill, a licensed marriage and family counselor, addressing the topic of anger management. As always, brunch and childcare are provided. Also be sure to mark your calendars for our monthly book study, Shepherding a Child's Heart, January 19th. If you have recently cleaned out or are planning on cleaning out your children's toy boxes, we will be holding a toy exchange at our January 26th meeting (gently used and clean toys- more details to follow!), so be sure to keep that in mind. See you Wednesday!