Super Summer Challenge

Summer has always been a time of excitement,fun,relaxation and went by all too fast. I have lots of memories of going to grandparents, lemonade stands, vacation Bible schools, trips to the library and bookstores for some great reads, watermelon and fresh veges,catching fireflies, exploring new hobbies and interests. All of the things I learned and did during the summer and all of the people I spent time with greatly influenced who I am as a person.
Now that I am a mommy of an active preschooler and rising kindergartner, I realize that I set the tone and pace for the summer. I am left with the decision of spending the days in front of the TV with a few special activities sprinkled in or spending the time I have with them in fun and intentional (there is my favorite word again) activities that leave them with good memories and maybe, just maybe a little better off. I have decided that my family is going to undertake the Super Summer Challenge (SSC) this year. This is not my original idea. It is an idea shared by a seasoned mom- now a grandmother. Linda Wicks did this for many years with her own kids. For further information about the challenge or to order her book, you can go to www.supersummerchallenge.com.
The SSC is very simple in concept. I simply have looked at my children individually and decided what goals I want each to work on this summer. The goals are divided into four categories: Learning, Growing, Sharing and Caring, and Helping. The children earn points for completing each goal and if they reach their weekly point goal they are rewarded with a special family activity. An example of learning for one is to recognize and match upper and lower case letters, while the older child is to read 20 sight words (she already knows about 10). They also will get points for completing the summer reading program at the library and VBS. These are things we have done since they were babies so this is no problem for us. We are doing it anyway and they can earn points toward something they really want to do this summer.
An example of Growing is learning to swing, taking a "no" without having a fit, putting on pants by self, etc. Making beds, setting table, putting toys away, putting laundry away are all examples of helping. Again these are things already expected of them, but a little incentive to complete them never hurts. We will be working on taking turns, making cards for people, baking cookies for neighbors as part of the sharing and caring.
Some of the weekly rewards are going to the mall to ride the coin operated rides, choosing the menu for an evening, going to the Jump Gym and Callaway Gardens. Some of the rewards are very inexpensive. Some are special to my kids for various reasons like choosing the dinner menu. I choose things that fit our family's budget, interests and also fit into the larger picture of what I want them to learn this summer. A trip to Callaway is special because we love going as a family there each summer and we have friends and playmates nearby. But it also allows me the opportunity to further instill a love and appreciation for nature with some science "lessons" in our trip. I also want them to understand that trips to Callaway, Rock City, Jump Gym or even to the local ice cream shop are not rights but privileges. Some things we must earn. We must work hard for to truly appreciate how special those things are. I don't want my kids to take the activities we do for granted but be thankful for the opportunities they have. I also want them to know the satisfaction of working hard for what they have.
Keeping up with the points will be pretty easy. I have three times that we stop and evaluate the day's activities(all at clean up times- another chance to earn a point). The kids have plastic containers with lids to decorate and personalize. We will drop poker chips in a hole cut in the lid for each point earned. On Thursday evening, we will count the chips and determine if each child earned enough points to get the reward. Each week has a predetermined reward. If it is individual rewards, each child must earn enough points to get his/her reward. If it is a family reward such as a trip to Callaway, then both children must have earned the points. (A little positive peer pressure never hurt anyone.)For the end of the summer, one overnight and more costly trip is planned. We will keep a tally of the points earned. We have a challenge that involve obtaining the desired number of points for the entire summer.
I don't want to look back on the summer in August and wonder "What in the world did we do all summer?!" and realize we simply survived the heat and boredom with TV, lots of trips to fast food places and endured squabbles over sharing toys.
I want to look back at the summer and think about how much imagination, play, laughter and all of the fun memories. I want to think of all the intentional time spent with mommy and daddy learning more about the world around them, taking responsibility, growing in knowledge and abilities that will make them better individuals. The Super Summer Challenge is just a tool for me to use to organize the goals I have set for each of my sweet children. It is a means for helping me to follow through and intentionally teach, train and enjoy my children as they grow up.

Mommy Adventures

Amazing how many adventures we have experienced this year! I am so thankful that the adventures were shared by my mommy friends. We have made and strengthened many friendships over the year. We have laughed, cried and learned and prayed about so many things, especially being a mommy of the precious little ones that are on this adventure with us. Now our year is ending, but not the friendships. We finish the year with many memories and the anticipation of what lies ahead. As the coordinator of this ministry, I pray for each mommy and her family as we set out for the summer.I pray for the discernment to recognize what God wants for this group in the future. I am so thankful for a supportive church leadership and for the absolutely amazing and loving ladies who have doted on our kiddos while we met. I am thankful that God provided a wonderful, wise and loving mentor mom. The adventures are not really ending, but continuing day by day. The next adventure for MOPS is Planet Motherhood. I am excited about the moms who will join us for this amazing journey next year. We will be discussing ways we can strengthen and cultivate relationships with others. You know, husbands, in-laws, friends, co-workers, even ourselves and especially with God. 3-2-1-Blast Off to the next adventure in mothering! See you in September for MOPS at Northridge Christian Church!!

The Invisible Woman

Have you ever felt like you do a million things a day yet no one acknowledges or appreciates you for your the day's accomplishments? Have you ever sat down at the end of a day and wondered, "Who am I? What is my purpose? All I ever seem to do is laundry, diapers and pour sippy cups of juice?" As moms and especially stay-at-home moms, we get lost in trying to meet the needs of our families and others. We forget who we once were and who we are now: Women who enjoy reading mysteries, scrapbooking, knitting, running, painting, traveling, - you fill in the blank. We have interests and needs, too. We often just need to be reminded that we matter- that we are valued and appreciated.
In Psalms 139, David writes that God watched over us as we were formed in the womb. God knows everything- Did you get that?- He knows EVERYTHING about us. He knows our desires, our anxious thoughts, our hopes and dreams, our weaknesses and our strengths. He sees us when we lose our temper and snap at the kids and He sees us when we put the Dora Band-aid on scraped knees and rock and cuddle the crying baby at 3 am. And despite it all our shortcomings, He loves us and He desires us.
Moms, we need reminders that our work is important. We were given these precious little ones. Take heart in knowing that God watched over them in the womb and knows them better than we ever could imagine and He desires them. We have an important job - one that may be taken for granted here on earth and never acknowledged as being as valuable as being a CEO. But our end desire is for our little ones to have a personal relationship with God one day- How great of an accomplishment is that!
Visit this link and Enjoy Nicole Johnson- she is a great speaker/storyteller- Pour yourself a cup of coffee but grab a tissue. Blessings to you, Mommies!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YU0aNAHXP0

Coffee and Chat

Coffee-- It is one smell from my childhood that reminds me of weekend and summer mornings at my grandparents' house. It was my Nanny that gave me my first cup of coffee - probably around the age of 4! Of course, it was mostly milk, but it was so comforting sitting at the big kitchen table drinking that warm sweet drink with my grandparents and just chatting about things that were important to a little girl.
As I grew up, coffee was a welcoming smell in a restaurant or someone's home. It triggered those feelings of welcome and acceptance, even if I didn't drink a cup. It was just a wonderful smell. When I traveled to Europe and The Republic of Georgia, coffee was the one drink you could count on consistently being available. Being so far from home, the warm cup and that aroma made me feel like I was in a place where I was welcomed. It was during one of these trips that I became a true coffee drinker. Now I can't function properly without at least 2 cups in the morning.
Coffee has become the "dates" my husband and I enjoy most often. Sipping a cup outside on the swing while looking at the stars and talking about the day or the kids or whatever. Again it is that comfort of knowing I am welcomed and accepted.
It doesn't matter where the coffee is served, abroad or in someone's home across the street, it always says the same thing: friendship and warmth. You are welcome here.
I enjoy the mornings when the mommies can get together for our coffee and chats. It doesn't matter if it is at one of our homes or at a local fast food restaurant with a playground for the kids. It is a nice time to slow down and just linger over a cup of warm drink that with its aroma simply says, "Welcome, friend."

I hope you enjoy the following recipe:

Coffee Mallow Parfait
24 regular-sized marshmallows (about 3 cups)
1 cup double-strength coffee
1 cup whipping cream, whipped
1/2 cup chocolate cookie crumbs

In a medium pan, combine the marshmallows, and the coffee. Cook and stir over medium heat until the marshmallows melt. Chill until partially set. Fold the whipped cream into the marshmallow mixture. Chill again until partially reset. In parfait glasses, start with the coffee/marshmallow mixture and layer the mixture with the cookie crumbs so that there are at least 3 layers of cookie crumbs. Top with the coffee/marshmallow mixture. Chill again till serving. Just before serving, add a dollop of whipped cream. Garnish, if desired, with a drizzle of chocolate syrup, and top with a large shave of chocolate or an Andes Mint candy.

The Ticket Booth-Welcome!

Our first meeting was held earlier this week at Northridge Christian Church. We were excited to meet some new moms and have them join us in this Adventure! We met at the Ticket Booth to get our tickets and all of the information you get from a Park. It is always fun to meet other moms and share stories about kids and being a mom.

It is not too late to join our Adventure! We are just starting and moms can join us anytime during the year. This is going to be a fun and exciting year at MOPS!

The Adventure of Motherhood

Being a mom is definitely an adventure! For some of us the adventure began before we ever held that sweet baby in our arms. The adventures of adoption, infertility or a difficult delivery left some of us breathless. But once that baby arrives and we hold him/her, another adventure begins! From trying to figure out how to nurse the baby to trying to figure out how to get the baby to sleep for more than 3 hours at a time to keeping the house toddler proofed to getting the potty training down to off to preschool or PreK without mom-YIKES! There is no doubt that this ride is full of loop-the loops, climbs to the top and drops where your stomach is in your throat. We feel like screaming for joy and from the panic of not knowing what is going to happen next. Sometimes we may even want to throw our arms up in frustration. But when we get through with one milestone, we can't wait to climb on again for another ride.- How could we not be on this ride? It is the ride of a lifetime! Mothering, the one ride that leaves us breathless from the knowing that we have the greatest gifts from God to cuddle and love and to enjoy the adventure with each day. Praise God for our adventures!

The Adventure Begins

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Step right up for the Adventures of the Northridge Christian Church MOPS! The first show begins on Tuesday, September 9 at 9 am. No advance tickets are required but VIP (Very Important Parent) Passes will be handed out at the ticket window in the Early Childhood Dept. - Kiddie Rides are operating for visitors under 5 feet. Gates close at 11 am.
Come join us for the fun!