Holly Days Craft Fair Info!

Our annual craft fair will be here before we know it! We are still seeking crafters, please share the flyer and the registration form with anyone you know that might be interested!

Registration Form: Click Here

Flyer: Click Here

Mother's Day Fun

We started "celebrating" Mother's Day early this year.  We decided for our spring service project that we would make gift bags for the Teen MOPS group in town.  Each discussion group collected items for about three teen moms.  Because of other scheduling issues, the steering team ended up organizing the dividing the items into 12 bags.  It turns out that our moms were VERY generous.  Each of the teen moms got a bag overflowing with snacks, personal care items, journals and books, jewelry, and other fun things. 

Then we had our own Mother's Day tea for our last meeting on May 6.  The steering team provided finger foods and yummy desserts.  Each mom received a little jar of hand scrub thanks to our Creative Activities director.  And then we had fun playing "Never Have I Ever."  After the game and prizes for the winner of each table, we also had lots of Mom of the Day gifts.  It was a great way to end the year.

We do have some fun things planned for the summer.  Everyone is welcome to the following play dates:

May 27 – Play Date at Loma Del Norte Park
9:30-11:30 am

June 3 – Play Date at Los Ranchos Park
9:30-11:30 am

June 17 – Play Date at Alamosa Spray Park
11am – 1pm

July 1 – Play Date at Holiday Park
9:30-11:30 am

July 15 – Play Date at West Mesa Pool
12:30-2:30 pm

March Meetings

We had two great March meetings.  For our first meeting, we had Sarah Beckman return to speak about marriage.  She spoke on four more ways to SAFEguard you marriage.  Intimacy and finances were two main points in her message.  She also let us know about her "Seasonings with Sarah" talks at Domingo Baca Community Center each month.  The talks are free, although the community center requests that if you attend more than one or two in a year that you become a member of the center (which is under $20 for a year!).

Our second meeting was our "Easter" meeting - one month early.  Pastor Geisler provided the devotion/message.  There was also a prayer box craft for moms.

February Meetings

We had two great meetings in February.  At our first meeting, we had a Stampin Up demonstrator show us how to make cute Valentine's cards for our hubbies or loved ones.  With cardstock (thick paper), two types of glue, a piece of ribbon, a heart shaped punch, and an embossing machine, the ladies cranked out some amazing cards.
Amanda brought the devotion based on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.  God is in control, and we don't always have to ask why.  We should be thankful in all circumstances, and sometimes the end results will amaze us!
And of course there was plenty of time for fellowship and snacks!

At our second meeting, the steering team had a wide variety of rainy/windy day activities to show off to the moms.  There was a line of tables on the other side of the room, and moms were able to go down the line picking up handouts, demoing activities, and talking to the steering moms about the activities.  We still have copies of the handouts if you weren't' able to attend the meeting!  Just ask a steering team mom at the next meeting, and we will get you a packet of papers.
The devotion was brought by Stephanie, and the topic was on being content.    The topic came from the first resultion in The Resolution for Women (based on the movie Courageous).  The book definies contement as the equilibrium between the enjoyment of life now and the anticipation of what is to come.  So, the key is to find happiness in each moment, even if you are looking forward to the end of this season of life.

And now for a couple of announcements:

• Unless the 3rd Friday of the month is a holiday, we will be having a Moms' Night Out at Grace Church from 6:30-8:30pm.  These are very relaxed, so come as you are for fellowship and snacks.
• It is time to start thinking about 2014-2015.  We will need at least three more moms on steering team plus discussion group leaders and craft fair organizers.  If you are interested in helping lead out group, please see any current steering team member.
• Don't forget the playdates on the 4th Tuesday of the month.  These are normally in the morning starting around 9:30 or 10 (depending on the location).  For February, we went to Red Light Green Light, an indoor imaginative play area for kids near Cottonwood Mall.  Plans for March and April will be announced soon.

Everyone Likes a Good Deal!

At our last meeting (January 21), the theme was Freebies and Great Deals.  First, one of our moms (Melissa) put together a page on ways to get a ton of things free.  She has been SUPER successful from getting things from travel0sized samples to jackets and big toys free using the ideas on her handout.  Then our coordinator (Wendy) had a handout prepared about the free preschools and many of the charter schools in the area.  The handout included a timeline for the lotteries/registration at the schools.  Finally, another mom (Stephanie) created a handout on some free and almost free resources for moms interested in homeschooling.
After these were handed out, we spent some time at our tables talking about other free or great deals.  And then we shared them with the big group.  Here are some of those ideas:

• Free days at many of the museums and national parks in the area.  Check the websites for exact dates, but some of the museums do them monthly on Sundays.
• Free story times at the public libraries, balloon museum, and Barnes and Noble.
• Free activities at Chick-Fil-A most Tuesday nights (Family Nights).  Some times these include free meals for the kids.  This is at all three stand-alone Albuquerque locations.  Also at Chick-Fil-A, you can turn the toy in to the counter from a kid's meal and get an ice cream cone instead.
• Season passes to Explora and the BioPark.  A note ont he BioPark: unless you have more than 6 people in your family or teenagers, the family pass is not the best deal.  Instead get an individual or couple and "Add-a-guest."  Only get the couple if you have more than 4 kids OR your husband would go to the zoo without you.

January 7th Meeting

Our first meeting of 2014 was last week.  Many of our moms were out either sick themselves or with sick little ones, so it was somewhat of a quiet meeting.  But winter seems to always have these quiet meetings with the cold weather and all of the illnesses that go around. 
We started out with announcements.  The biggest announcement was the new Parents' Day Out at Grace Church.  It will be Mondays and Wednesday from 9am-1pm.  They will allow drop ins if space allows.  If you want more information, you can email us or contact Grace Church directly.  We also passed out the Spring schedule with the basics - play dates, meetings, and steering team meetings. 
After announcements, we did Mom of the Day and then had brunch.  One of our new moms was the Mom of the Day winner!  While we ate, we watched a segment from MOPS.org about motherhood comparisons.  Shauna Niequist went into how we all tend to cry to compare ourselves with others.  But, if we focus on lifting someone else up and making them feel better, we will feel better too.  She also went into how we all have a purpose, but that purpose may only be for a season.  For her, her purpose recently has been to say "no" and focus on her kids.  Although things like packing the bag for school, making the perfect lunch, and keeping a clean house are "good" things, spending time with our kids should always be a focus.  Here is the link to her blog.
After the video, we moved on to craft.  Amanda had a fun trash-to-treasure project using empty wine and beer bottles.  We wrote on them with hot glue and then painted them to make fun works of art.  Here are some of the projects:

Since so many moms were missing, we skipped small group time, instead spending time as a big group just chatting after finishing the craft. 
The kids had fun learning about being thankful.  The story was about the 10 lepers Jesus healed (Luke 17:11-19).  Although all ten men were probably thankful for the healing, only one went back to tell Jesus himself.  We need to remember to thank God for everything He has given us and not take anything for granted.  So, the kids made thankful journals so they could write/draw the things they are thankful for.  Hopefully you can use this to help them to remember to be thankful for all things.
Our next meeting will be January 21.  We hope everyone is well by then and can join us!

Christmas Meeting

Each year, we try to make the meetings closest to Christmas and Mother's Day special.  These are special times of the year for us as mothers, so it makes sense to pamper ourselves at these meetings.

So, today we had a few special things.  First, during the beginning of the meeting, we had live piano music played by the husband of one of our moms.  It was such a blessing to have the live music that created a festive atmosphere.  Then, we had a crepe bar (plus a few other items) for our food.  With a mix of sweet and savory toppings, there was something for everyone.  And to wash down that elegant brunch, we had coffe, rich hot chocolate, and spiced apple cider.  Add the festive (paper) dishes, and it was almost like being at a fancy restaraunt!

After a little bit, we did our coffee mug exchange.  Each mom brought a mug (or used a donated one), and then placed it in a brown paper bag to mask the style.  Then our creative leader read a Christmas story with a twist.  Added into the story were the words "RIGHT" and "LEFT."  When one of these was read, we rotated the mugs around our table in that direction.  There were a few points where the tables were abuzz with movement!  Once the story was over, we got to open our bags and see the mug we got.

Then it was time for some table mix ups.  Our coordinator read of a question and four responses.  Each response corresponded to a table.  Once the question and responses were read, we moved to the "correct" table for a chance to talk with other moms.  We switched tables three times, using questions about morning needs, sports, and how early you go to bed.  It was a great chance to meet and talk with moms that aren't in your small group (or you haven't had a chance to sit with otherwise). 

We also had a special devotion delivered by the senior pastor of Grace Church.  Pastor Edwin shared about the Wise Men and how they came to Jesus.  First, they were welcomed by Mary and Joseph, even though they were foreigners.  Just like them, all are welcome to enter into the body of Christ, regardless of their past.  Matthew is a great example of a disciple that came from a sorid past (tax collector) and was still welcomed by Christ.  Second, they came with questions.  It is okay to doubt or question our faith.  We are to come with questions at times, because none of us know all of the answers.  Thomas is a great example of a disciple that often had questions, appropriately nicknamed "Doubting Thomas." 

Pastor Edwin also gave us a few important reminders as moms.  First, time goes fast.  So take the time to enjoy the moments when the kids are young.  Second, record the details!  Putting things like dates and names on pictures and ornaments will be helpful as you get older (you won't remember the details even if you think you will).  And finally, enjoy the season!


A few announcments for the rest of December (more information can be obtained by emailing us):
Craft Night on December 13 from 7-9pm
Cookie Exchange on December 17 from 9:30-12 (kids welcome)

Our first meeting of 2014 will be January 7!