Steering Team Intros...

Meet Crystal! 

Moppets Team

Why ST? I had a great experience when I joined last year. You develop wonderful friendships within Steering Team and you get to see first hand all the hard work that goes into making Mops a great place for moms.
Kids' names & ages? 
-Kylie age 4
-Isaiah age 2
-Jeremiah age 2 months

Favorite time of day? Naptime! I think that is every moms favorite time of the day.
Favorite dessert or snack? Golden Oreos and Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel. Yes please!
You have 2 hours of unexpected free time... what do you do? SLEEP! =) I have plenty of things I would love to do with some free time but I would probably fall asleep in the middle of it lol!
Something you've been meaning to do or learn?
Learn to play my cello. 
If you had an all-expense-paid vacation to somewhere you've NEVER BEEN, where would you choose? Anywhere in Europe, but especially Ireland. Also anywhere tropical (this mommy needs a good, relaxing vacation).
Favorite thing about MOPS? Reconnecting and getting to meet new moms! You can't do life alone, especially as a mother. It's nice to know that other moms go through some of the same things as you do. It's awesome learning from each other and making lasting friendships!

Steering Team Intros...

 Meet Pamela!

Moppets Coordinator

Why ST? I have served on MOPS ST the last 3 years, and I really enjoy being involved. I like forming deeper friendships with the Moms on ST.
Kids' names & ages?  
Abby 4, Benjamin 2
Favorite time of day?  Now it is morning because I have both of my kids in school three days a week and I can actually get some things done that are hard to do with kids around!
Last book you read & would you recommend it? The last really helpful book I read was Carry on Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton. This is a book for moms, and it gives you the feeling that it is ok to not "have it all together!"
Least favorite chore? Cleaning bathrooms
Something you learned this week? You are capable of more than you think you are!
Something you've been meaning to do or learn?
I would really like to be fluent in Spanish!
Favorite thing about MOPS?
I love meeting new moms at MOPS and being reminded that we are not alone during this stage of motherhood!

Steering Team Intros...

Meet Jayla!

DGL Coordinator

Why ST? I decided to continue serving on steering team this year because I am passionate about other moms having community with one another. I love to see moms refreshed and ready to take on the battle of mothering with joy together which is exactly what MOPS is about!
Kids' names & ages? Luke-3, Micah-2, Ruth-5 months
Favorite dessert or snack? I love french silk pie and anything chocolate...especially dark chocolate!
You have 2 hours of unexpected free time... what do you do? Either go out to get coffee and read a book or be crafty!
Something you've been meaning to do or learn? I've always wanted to learn sign language but have never gotten around to do it yet! Maybe someday! 
Favorite quote? "Be joyful always; pray continually, do everything without complaining or arguing because this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thes. 5:16-18.
I try to live by this.... fail often but it does inspire me.
If you had an all-expense-paid vacation to somewhere you've NEVER BEEN, where would you choose? New Zealand!! To hike and be in awe of all the beauty!
Favorite thing about MOPS? I love everything about MOPS: the breakfast, fellowship, speakers and crafts! I also love knowing I'm not the only one going through the "mommy, mommy!" stage of life! It's great to live life together!

Steering Team Intros...

Meet Sonia!

Kitchen Manager & Meals for Moms

Why ST?
I was a member of steering team last year and thoroughly enjoyed serving the Moms of Anderson MOPS as well as developing closer friendships with Moms.
Kids' names & ages? Nolan 6, Isabella 4, Samantha 2

Favorite time of the day? When the sun is going down, because it casts light that makes everything so beautiful, oh, and bedtime because things are winding down and the craziness is at bay and I can engage with my kids and not feel like there is something else we have to do.
Favorite restaurant & menu item? I love sushi! Nami and Saki Zen are yummy! I love anything with spicy tuna, avacado and eel
Favorite quote? "Dance like nobody's watching; love like you've never been hurt. Sing like nobody's listening; live like it's heaven on earth."  This explains why I am usually up for making a fool out of myself.
Favorite celebrity when you were younger? Paula Abdul...wished I could be just like her. 
Biggest influence in your life? My mom, for her struggles to provide as a single mom. She has taught me things like how to reinvent a previous dinner, to things that I wouldn't do that she did, to the most important thing which is always pray. And also my Nana. She taught me a lot but mostly about how important Faith and Prayer is.   
Favorite thing about MOPS? I get to hang out and interact with wonderful women from all walks of life...some from other countries, states, regions. I love the accents, the stories, the struggles shared and of-course that we as mothers get to lift each other up whether in person through a hug or in prayer. I love to give to and serve God and I get to do that with MOPS. When I serve one of his flock, I am serving HIM and there is no better feeling.

Hey hot mamas!!!

Here's a checklist of 5 things you should be doing between 

NOW and our kick-off meeting NEXT THURSDAY September 10th...

1. If you haven't already done so, REGISTER yourself for Anderson MOPS for the 2015-2016 year.  Click here to do so.  It takes like 30 seconds.  (And will save you the time/hassle of having to complete actual paperwork at the first meeting. Actual paperwork is like soooo 2012.)

2. And don't forget to REGISTER KIDS you'll be bringing to MOPS this year.  Click here.  Also takes about 30 seconds.

3. PRAY for MOPS!  We need it and we want it to be awesome.  Please pray with us for the year.

4. INVITE moms.  Any moms with kids ages conception thru kindergarten.

5. GET READY TO PARTY!!!  We can't wait to celebrate with y'all next Thursday! 

Steering Team Intros...

Meet Sarah!

Coordinator

Why ST? Can't imagine not doing ST!
 I love it!
Kid's name & age? Rose Frances, age 4
Favorite restaurant & menu item? Summa Joe's downtown! Love the Italian Freschetta pizza with the cracked egg... yummmmm. 
What's the last book you read? Would you recommend it? Favorite book(s)? "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin. YES, would definitely recommend.... everyone should read it! My fav books are "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold & "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed. 
Something you've been meaning to do or learn? I want to learn calligraphy. Like real calligraphy with the fancy pens.
Favorite quote? I really love a phrase from this year's MOPS theme... "CHOOSE TO FLOURISH." I like that it reminds me that flourishing is a *choice*, not something that just happens to me if I'm lucky.
Biggest influence in your life? My mom. The greatest compliment anyone can give me is that I remind them of her.
Favorite thing about MOPS? I love Anderson MOPS. I love the friendships, the feeling of support, the challenge of planning a great curriculum, the goal of making MOPS a safe place for ALL moms, the knowledge that I'm a part of something that's serving Anderson (& the world, actually) in a fabulous way.

Steering Team Intros...

Meet Megan!

Moppets Curriculum

Why ST? I really enjoy serving others and had such a great time last year, that I had to join again! 
Kids' names & ages?  
Caleb  8, Nathan  5, Lily  2
Last grown-up book you read & would you recommend it? I love to read anything and everything! I was kind of the nerd in high school who actually enjoyed the required reading in English and read classic novels for fun. The last book I read was The Ludwig Conspiracy by Oliver Potzsch. I liked it!
Favorite restaurant & menu item? PF Changs! I always try to order something different, but most of the time, I end up with Mongolian Beef. SO yummy!
Something you've been meaning to do or learn? Scrapbooking my kids baby photos!! I have them sorted in photo boxes and some just placed in albums, but I pretty much stopped scrapbooking once my 2nd was born. Maybe when they go off to college....
Last song you sang & when? "Let it Go" in the car with my 2 year old....As loudly as possible, of course!!
Strangest or most random thing you've done? Our orchestra took a trip to Europe my senior year of high school. One of my roommates and I ended up sleeping on the balcony in Chamonix, France because our other roommate was snoring so loud! I am not sure how cold it was, but let's just say we were in the Alps and had toured the snow capped mountains and a glacier that day. Crazy!
Favorite thing about MOPS? I love the fellowship with other mamas and the relationships that I have formed!