A Mother's Version of 1 Corinthians 13 - Author Unknown

If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place, but have not love, I am a housekeeper not a homemaker.

If I have time for waxing, polishing and decorative achievements, but have not love, my children learn cleanliness not godliness.

If I scream at my children for every infraction and fault them for every mess they make, but have not love, my children become people-pleasers not obedient children.

Love leaves the dust in search of a child’s laugh.

Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.

Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.

Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.

Love accepts the fact that I am the ever-present “mommy,”the taxi-driver to every childhood event,the counsellor when my children fail or are hurt.

Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, and runs with the child,then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.

Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection.
Now I glory in God’s perfection of my child.
All the projections I had for my house and my children have faded away into insignificance and what remain are the memories of my kids.

Now there abides in my home scratches on most of the furniture, dishes with missing place settings and bedroom walls full of stickers, posters and markings
But the greatest of all is the Love that permeates my relationships with my children.

(Adapted from an anonymous source by Jim Fowler)

More Lunch Links

From Parents Magazine September 2010 issue -

The Lunch Box

Food Politics

CSPI School Foods Tool Kit

Childrenz Consigment Plus 25% off Summer Clearance

Check out Childrenz Consignment Plus at 122 S. Allegheny Street in Bellefonte as they are having 25% off all summer items when you mention the Facebook ad!  They sell gently used children, womens, teen, and mens clothing and items.  Worth checking out!

The Chosen Mother by Erma Bombeck

• • Most women become a mother by accident, some by choice, and a few by habit.
    Did you ever wonder how mothers of children with life threatening illnesses are chosen?
    Somehow, I visualize God hovering over earth selecting His instruments for pro...pagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in giant ledger..... “Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint Matthew"; "Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint Cecilia"; "Rutledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint Gerard."
    Finally, He passes a name to an angel and says, "Give her a child with cancer."
    The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She is so happy." "Exactly," smiles God," Could I give a child with cancer a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."
    "But, does she have patience?" asks the angel. "I don’t want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she will handle it." "I watched her today, "said God. “She has that feeling of self independence that is so rare and necessary in a mother. You see, the child I am going to give her has its own world. She has to make it live in her world and that’s not going to be easy."
    "But Lord, I don't think she believes in you," said the angel. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect, she has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps, “Selfishness? Is that a virtue?" God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is the woman I will bless with a child less than perfect.”
    “She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take anything her child does for granted. She will never consider a single step ordinary. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see.... ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them."
    "And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in mid air.
    God smiles and says.... "A mirror will suffice."

Great Money Saving Blogs!

Before I go shopping, I check out my favorite blogs to see what deals have been spotted.  From coupon match ups to clearances reported, this makes shopping much more fun and easy!

Target

www.totallytarget.com

Weis Deals

www.forthemommas.com

Local State College Deals

www.saveitsomewhere.com

CVS

www.iheartcvs.com

Rite Aid

www.iheartriteaid.com

Over all deals and coupons 

www.hotcouponworld.com

Comment to this post below and post your favorite websites where you check to save moola!

Women's Retreat @ Sylvan Hills Christian Camp - September 10 & 11

EXTREME MAKEOVER: HEART EDITION
West Branch Area Women’s Retreat
September 10‐11, 2010
Sylvan Hills Christian Service Camp
175 Sylvan Hills Road, Howard, PA 16841
www.sylvanhills.org

A great weekend of spiritual renewal!  Click on the link about for more information.

Farm Day - August 25

State College MOPS group has invited us to their Farm Day on Wednesday, August 25 at 10 AM until 1 PM. Come enjoy a "Fun Farming" day. Pony rides, activities for the children, hay wagon ride, picnic lunch and program with puppets and lessons of faith taken from the farm theme.  It will be held at a MOPS mom's home in Spring Mills.   If you are interested in going or have more questions, RSVP on Facebook here or email LeighAnn Ruefner at clarufener@yahoo.com.

Local MUMS Bible Study at First Baptist Church in Bellefonte, PA

MUMS will be starting a bible study this Fall. Click here for more information.

Anyone with questions can contact Becky at 4hargroves@embarqmail.com

More Ideas for School Lunches :)

Thanks to Becky Hargrove for these great sites ...

http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/School-Lunches/Detail.aspx

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/better-school-lunches

http://mealmakeovermoms.com/recipes/lunch-box/

School Lunches Ideas

At our first MOPS meeting on Thursday, September 16, we will be talking about fresh ideas for school lunches. As a 1st time school mom, I need all the help I can get!

Check out these great articles:

7 Ideas

10 more ideas

I encourage you to send me your ideas at mopsandbeyond@gmail.com and I'll post them here!

Dora the Explorer Turns 10!

Nothing is bigger in a preschooler’s life than their birthday —- now, one of their favorite friends is celebrating a birthday at Walmart! Children and adults are invited to the ultimate birthday party in-store. When Dora’s friends arrive at Walmart they are invited to join the adventure at the Bright Ideas event station in Toys, where they will get party favors like cupcakes and a free photo print with Dora in her special birthday dress. Schedule this event on your calendar today and check out the Dora Birthday Doll Exclusive at Walmart.

The celebration is at both Walmarts in State College, PA, from 11 AM to 4 PM.

Curious George @ Barnes and Noble

Saturday, August 21st at 10:30 am Curious George is going to be at Barnes and Noble, by Nittany Mall, in State College, PA.

There will be a special story time plus meeting George!

What's better than a Starbucks Frapp for you and a big monkey for the kids :)

Changes for the 2010-2011 Year

Hey gals!

We had an amazing Steering Team meeting on Saturday, August 7, and amazing plans were made for the 2010-2011 year. Here are some of the upcoming changes you need to be aware of ...

• Our new name "MOPS & Beyond" is for ALL moms from pregnancy through sending their children off to the college or the work force. You do not need to be a member of Zion Community Church to come.
• Our first meeting with start with the night group on Thursday, September 16 at 7 PM. The first AM meeting with be Thursday, October 7.
• The morning meeting will be from 9:15 AM to 11:15 AM.
• The night meeting will be from 7 to 8:30 PM.
• MOPS International Memberships will be available for purchase. Click here to read about the benefits. You can register online or at the meetings.
• For the entire year, we are asking for moms to pay a $10 membership fee. Half of the membership fee will go directly to A Women's Concern Parenting Group (a group of ladies who have chosen life, given birth, and are involved in a support group). The other half will go towards helping moms within our group who could use financial support in time of need. Our chartering church, Zion Community Church, has blessed us with a wonderful budget to totally support every meeting. We are excited to reach out to the community in this way.
• Visitors are always welcome to a meeting for free and the joining fee will be discussed in the 2nd or 3rd meeting.
• A jar will be placed on each table each meeting for loose change. We will be collecting this also for AWC Parenting Group. Details of what we are doing will be announced from time to time in meetings.
• A pre-registration packet will be mailed out late August full of information about our meeting, asking for an updates to your contact information, and cards to invite moms to our group!
• We are introducing Care Circle this year. This is a small group each lady will be involved in at each MOPS group. When you arrive, please sit where you like. Then during the meeting, we will break off into Care Circles to discuss the topic of the meeting. Each Care Circle will also be assigned breakfast and clean up. More will be talked about at the first meetings.
• We will have a Prayer Request Box. Our mentor mom, Judy Rice, is a prayer warrior and would like to pray for you and your loved ones. Look forward to this new feature!
• Check back to this website daily for updates.

So this is just the beginning to an exciting year!

In Christ,

Sarah Tevis

M&B Coordinator

Consignment Sales 101 - Just Kids Resale

Whether you are new to consigning or have done it time and time again, we'd like to invite you to learn how to make your Just Kids Resale experience even better. Yes, there is a method to making a children’s consignment event work for you.

During this brief, yet informative workshop, a seasoned seller will teach you the ins and outs of how to be a successful consignor. You will learn the easy way to tag and prepare your items to get top dollar. You'll clear out your closets and toy space and add to your wallet at the same time…it’s a win-win all around!

Come see how you can make the Just Kids Resale an easy, stress-free, and fun way to sell and shop.

Here are some of the topics that will be discussed:

· Tagging process and how to make it quick and easy on yourself

· The ins and outs of our online tagging system and how it benefits you

· What sells and what doesn’t

· How to hang and present clothing for best showing

· Proper use of a tagging gun should you choose to use one

· Want to make drop-off and pick-up a breeze?...Our instructor knows how!

· Where to dig up extra items to sell and boost your bottom dollar

· How to get first dibs at the pre-sale

· What to look for when shopping

· How to make this whole process FUN!

The date/time of our next Consignment Sales 101 Workshop is Saturday, August 7th 10:00 AM 320 Millgate Rd, Bellefonte, PA 16823

Bring an item or two to tag and as many questions as you can think of. We guarantee you’ll walk away enlightened!

RSVP’s required to: info@justkidsresale.com so that we can adequately plan.

A Women's Concern

Hi Family & Friends,

On Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010, A Women's Concern will have their annual "Celebrate Life" fundraiser at Bald Eagle State Park-- There will be a 2 mile run/walk, 10 mile bicycle ride & 40 mile motorcycle ride & scavenger hunt! After the events there will be lunch and an afternoon of children & family games; there will also be a band playing all afternoon! The goal this year is to raise $40,000! Some of the activities will include a rock wall, bounce house, dunking booth, face painting & lots of carnival style games! Want to participate?! Registration begins at 9:30 that morning (breakfast provided!) & the walk/run/ride/hunt starts at 10:30 a.m. Want to be a Team Captain?! Get a (small or large) group of friends, family or co-workers & come to our Team Leader Picnic on August 19, 6:30 p.m. at Faith Baptist Church~ You can enjoy an awesome dinner, get more info & a free shirt. Let me know if you want to attend~I'll be there~Kids welcomed! Want to volunteer in some way?! Let me know~ There are lots of jobs to be done & fun to be had. Can't participate or volunteer?! Then please make a donation (any amount!) to help AWC meet their goal~ You can do so by making a one-time donation with a check payable to A Woman's Concern and mail to us (31 Abby Place, State College 16803). Want more info on AWC?! AWC is our local crisis pregnancy center that educates, empowers & encourages men & women to make informed life choices~They provided free & confidential pregnancy related services to help meet the needs of those experiencing an unplanned pregnancy~While doing so, AWC loves to share the good news of Jesus Christ! This is an incredible event to be a part of, so bring the family out for some fun, all while supporting the ministry of AWC!

Hope to hear from you!

Blessings,
Amanda Evans