MOPS International's MOM-E-Mail, October 10, 2005

Mothering Maxim 'Walk the walk' matters. Children learn what they live. They learn from what they see and hear their parents do - how parents make things work, how they solve problems, what behavior is acceptable or not, what types of cues and words win positive responses. Parents can and do mentor through their everyday actions and words. (Craig & Sharon Ramey) Mom Moment Mom Influence By Barb Vogelgesang, Area Coordinator I don't know how other moms look at their children, but I was still seeing mine as a bunch of exuberant, silly little kids until recently. My oldest son, who is now 13, has begun working on his Eagle award for Boy Scouts. I got to spend some time with him at a scout event and saw how the younger boys looked to him for approval and direction. The older scouts respected his opinion and easily gave him responsibility. He knew when to seek counsel on decisions and which incidents he could just deal with. It dawned on me that this "boy/man" with a sometimes squeaky, sometimes deep voice is a leader. Wow! As I watched him direct a small army of boys setting up camp I wondered what influenced his development from the little guy who loved to give his mom sticky kisses and needed the light on to sleep, to the young man I see before me. When I asked him how he learned to be a leader he said, "By watching the woman who's led me all my life...you!" I had never really thought about mothering as a leadership position. A leader is someone who has influence over others. A mom definitely fits that definition. That revelation has made me more aware of how I lead my children. I still have many years to continue teaching him and his sisters and brother. It has also made me realize that I was chosen by God to lead these children, and I need to depend on his direction in order for me to do a good job. Oh, and by the way, my son doesn't need the night light any more, but I still make sure I get the kisses. Prayer From a Mother's Heart Dear God, help me to be an influence for you in the lives of my children, a beacon pointing them to your saving grace. Thank you to Antiquities for sponsoring this MOM-E-Mail. Each year, Antiquities photography studios capture thousands of young smiles and bright eyes. Offering families a chance at a creative and unique old-fashioned portrait complete with props and clothing, the Antiquities trend continues to gain momentum. Another benefit of the Antiquities program is the fundraising opportunity it offers the sponsoring organization. For more information about Antiquities, call 1-888-525-4453 or visit their Web site at www.antiquities-studios.com. Copyright © 2005 by MOPS International, Inc. This message was sent to: joyousheart@enter.net This is a recurring e-mail; MOM-E-Mail is a benefit of the MOPStoMom Connection. If you would prefer not to receive future MOM-E-Mail messages, or would like to change your email address please use this link . Click here to contact us. MOPS and MOM-E-Mail are registered trademarks of MOPS International, Inc. http://www.mops.org/ MOPS International, Inc. · 2370 S. Trenton Way · Denver, CO 80231-3822

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Small MOPS Groups Prayer References

Hello, All,

I helped Barb Vogelgesang with the Small MOPS Groups Seminar at the MOPS Convention and had some additional resources that I wanted to share.

First, I would like to recap for anyone not able to attend the Seminar. The Seminar was titled "Small Groups Can Make a Big Impact When You Have a Laser Beam Approach".

L ook at relationships, not numbers

A cknowledge leaders by nurturing and developing their gifts

S eek out a relationship with your Chartering Ministry

E ncourage moms to take ownership of MOPS group

R ealistic goals help you shine

B e prayerful

E very group makes a difference in a mom's life

A void "have to do it all" syndrome

M ake it fun

I spoke on "Seek out a relationship with your Chartering Ministry" and "Be Prayful". The references that I would like to share are related to Be Prayful.

"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Have trouble sitting down and giving God at least 15 minutes of yourself each day? Find a book, the Bible works best, and pray! Making time for God will help you get through your day.

Some books that are available through MOPS include:

(this year with your MOPS to Mom Connection membership you will receive a book) "Just Give Me a Little Piece of Quiet: 60 Mini Retreats for a Mom's Soul" by Lorilee Craker,

"Promises for Moms from the New International Version",

"God's Words of Life for Moms from the New International Version",

and "Women in Leadership: Ninety Daily Devotions by Leading Christian Women".

I find these books are helpful when I need a devotional and many of the topics are applicable to our Steering Team Leaders' lives. They are also good if you need to sit down and focus your mind on God. Sometimes if I don't have something written in front of me, my mind starts to wander.

If anyone would like additional information about the seminar, please let us know. If you have any prayer requests, please share them.

God Bless,

Christy Molnar

Zone 22 Council Coordinator

What's on Your Schedule This Year?

Hi Ladies,

Could you share with us what your MOPS group is doing this year? What speakers, crafts, MOPS/POPS, fundraisers, and other neat stuff will your group be doing? We have several new groups in our Zone and these new leaders will benefit greatly from your ideas.

Blessings,
Barb

Convention Highlights

Hi Ladies,

Well, I'm finally recovering from the MOPS Convention in Dallas. What a great, inspiring time. It was wonderful to be able to meet 72 leaders from Zone 22. Please post your top 10 Convention highlights to share with other leaders.

Joyfully,
Barb