This year’s theme was “MOMS THE WORD”   It was about the words we say to our children and how they impact them.  Very deep, very real, spoke truth.  The worship was awesome this year.  Christy Nockels was the worship leader.  First, she is adorable, second, when you watch her worship you can tell that it is totally between her and God.  She was fun! 

I took great classes but my favorite speaker was Susie Larson.  Whoa, you talk about a passion for Christ.  This gal has it.  She was enthusiastic, fun, real and spoke TRUTH!  I bought two of her books and had some time to chat with her.  She shines for Jesus and is such a wonderful gal.    Nicole Johnson was also there with her comedic take on motherhood and her insight on having a “Fresh Brewed Life.” 

Needless to say we laughed, praised, laughed some more, cried and just has plain old good time fun!  We go a long time not seeing Carol, she moved to Indiana.  We communicate through emails or phone calls and when we get together it seems like we pick up where we left off.  Blessed!!  I am so thankful for the friends that I have and the realness of our relationships.  We always come away growing deeper in love with Jesus and desiring to know Him more. I know that I am itching to look over my notes, dig into some of the books I bought and pray about things God spoke to my heart this weekend.   Here are some pictures from the weekend.  If you can plan to attend next year’s Hearts at Home conference, you’ll be glad you did! 

Karla and Carol

Jennifer and Tricia

Jill Savage and Tricia

Christy Nockels and Tricia

Christy Nockels and Jennifer

L to R, Carol, Karla, Tricia and Jennifer

Carol, Tricia, Jill Savage, Karla and Jennifer

Susie Larson and Tricia

B:  be willing to evaluate and start over if need be.  What traditions are your families favorites?  What favorite memories from years past do they talk about every year?  Ask them about holiday foods.  What do they love and not like?  Just because Grammy made a jelly mold every year when you were little doesn’t mean you have to too. 

L:  link up with others to divide and conquer.  Have a cookie exchange, wrapping party, recipe exchange.  I heard of another ” exchange” that sounded very interesting to me.  Host a food exchange.  You have 4-6 friends that each make one thing 4-6 times depending on how many friends are there and than you swap.  This gives you many dinners for the busy months. 

E:  encourage Christ-centered traditions.  Advent wreaths and calendars, devotions at dinner, serve in a shelter, attend a live nativity, Christmas plays and cantata’s.   Read the Christmas story several times during the Christmas season. 

S:  simplify your gift giving. The more gifts people receive the less content they are.   Our kids receive enough gifts from extended family so we started giving them 3 gifts from us.  Jesus received 3 gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh.  What is your gold, frankincense and myrrh?  You don’t have to find the perfect gift.  It has already been given.  Jesus came to earth as a babe and grew into a man that went to the cross and died for you and me so that we would one day be with Him in eternity.  That is the ultimate gift.  When you are looking for those special gifts, pray first.  Ask God to lead you to the gift that will touch that person’s heart and make them feel love.  Don’t fret over giving the greatest gift.  It will rob your joy for the Christmas season.  Give the thoughtful gift. 

S:  scatter kindness during Christmas.  Say thank you.  Fire houses, nursing homes, shelters, soup kitchens, someone who is alone.  Give cookies, cards, candy, flowers.  Take your little ones and let them sing Christmas carols.  Smile and say MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone.  As Christians we need to ditch this “happy holidays” mambo jumbo.   Be bold in your faith.  Know why we are celebrating Christmas.  If you know of a family or older couple that is alone, invite them for Christmas dinner.  The more the merrier!!  Let the love you have for Christ shine for all to see.  Remember that little ones are watching and we set the example and direction to where and what we want Christmas to be in our home. 

I hope these ideas have been fun to read.  I found a great website on planning and prepping for the holidays and I wanted to give it to you.

www.gomominc.com

I have looked around and it seams to be really good.  I can’t wait to grab a cup of coffee, a pen and paper and jot down some notes.  Let me know what you think.  Share some of your ideas for Christmas.  Let’s learn from one another…

Things are fun around our home.  We are getting ready for school, buying  supplies, orientations to attend, schedules to lay out.  Natalie will be in 4th grade and Phoebe is going to Kindergarten.  This will be such a huge change for us.  I have always had a preschooler at home.  Now my baby is going off to school. 

My motherhood season is changing.  I have been a preschool mom for a long time.  Now there are no  preschoolers in the Cross home.  We have entered a new season.  PUBLIC SCHOOL!!  I am excited, but nervous.  I have always had a schedule that consisted of:  getting Natalie ready for school, feeding Phoebe breakfast, getting in some exercise, shower, load Phoebe in the car and head out the door.  We either ran errands, went to preschool, play dates, bible study or attended MOPS.  My routine is changing.  I graduated from MOPS and now will be taking a kiddo to kindergarten. My mind still has a hard time with it. 

 It’s funny how you get comfortable in the season you are in and sometimes that comfort allows no room for growth.  I believe that the Lord wants us to grow continually.  I think he loves to see us enter into a new season.  He anticipates it.  Jesus loves to see us grow, especially in him.  This new season will allow me some much needed time and growth.  Though I am sad that my baby is going off to school and growing up, I am eager to see what God has planned for me.  I have spent alot of time in prayer for direction and guidance.  I know for myself I can get my plate of obligations cleared off and before I know it my plate is abundantly full again.  I have to be cautious and in prayer over the activities I choose to participate in.  I read in a book that sometimes we think we are the ones being called to aministry or organization when in reality Jesus just wants us to pray for the “called” person to step up.  That was huge to me.  I get all these ideas in my mind, believing that Christ is calling me to lead them or orchestrate when he is really just placing it on my heart to pray for it and them.  It is okay to just participate.  It’s okay to take days off and rest.  It’s okay to allow others to step up.  When we think we are the “called” ones and we aren’t, we are stealing the blessings of others and stressing ourselves out!

We do have a full fall season planned.  We are building a new home, which is very exciting.  I am attending a bible study at church.  Natalie will continue with physical therapy and Phoebe is going to start in American Heritage Girls.  I think that is enough for now, although I am praying about a Moms in Touch group.  If you attend or have attended a Moms in Touch group I would love to hear how it impacted your life and your children’s lives.  For those who are not familiar with Moms in Touch, it is an organization that get’s moms together once a week for an hour to pray for their children and their children’s school.   

For now, I am cherishing the last few days of summer break and cherishing my time with my family before we are back into the hustle and bustle of things.  How about you??

I have to say that when I walked into my first MOPS meeting in 1999, I had no idea I would still be going to meetings in 2009.  MOPS has meant so much to me.  I have met wonderful, amazing women.  I have developed friendships, served on the steering teams, and grown as a women, wife, mom and friend.  When life was extremely difficult, my MOPS buddies were always there to carry me.  When Natalie went through her tragedy, MOPS really stepped up. The women loved on me, they brought meals..to the hospital and then when we were sent home they came there too.  They sent cards and became strong prayer warriors. 

MOPS has allowed me to grow closer to Jesus.  It has helped me deepen my relationship with Christ.  I desired to be a godly women, wife, mother, friend, daughter and sister.  The women in the groups I have attended  allowed me to be me.  The good, bad, and ugly.  It has given me leadership skills that I didn’t know I posses.  It has been my outlet and my security when needed.  I am so proud to call myself a MOPS alumni. 

This chapter of my life is closing.  I have graduated from MOPS.  God has some other things planned and I want to be obedient in his destiny for my life.  I am sad, but also excited.  I know that I have built a foundation that Mops has helped pour.  Thank you MOPS for loving, encouraging, supporting, teaching, growing, serving and accepting me.  I will never forget all you have done!! 

Here is a link for MOPS International.  If you are not in MOPS and you have children, newborn to kindergarten I encourage you to check them out.  You will be blessed!