Holiday Recipes

If you have a scrumptious holiday recipe that you would like to share with our group, you can forward it to publicity@abilenemops.com and it will be posted to the blog.

Christmas Traditions

At Monday's meeting we got to hear about various members' holiday traditions, as well as memorable gifts that they gave or received.  Below are a few that were shared.

• Purchase 25 short books and wrap each book.  On December 1, your child or children open one book, which you can then read to your child.  The next day a new wrapped book is open and read.  Leah, who spoke of this tradition, said that the book she used for the 24th was "The Night Before Christmas" and the book for Christmas day was one about Jesus' birth.
• Leah also shared that on Christmas Day, she bakes and decorates a cake.  Her family puts on party hats and celebrate Jesus' birthday.  This is a great idea and helps further tie Christmas to Jesus' Birthday in young minds.
  
• Mentor Jane shared the "Twelve Days Of Christmas" gift.  You purchase 12 small items, wrap them and add a little message on the gift tag.  Place all of the presents in a large bag and gift it to someone that is near and dear to your heart, or even to a stranger in a nursing home.  The giftee opens one present each day.  Jane also had a wonderful letter to accompany the gift bag.  Please email her if you would like the letter.  It's too late to do the "Twelve Days of Christmas" this year, but never to early for next year.
• Mentor Pat shared the precious tradition of making a stocking for each new member of the family.  A handmade stocking embroidered with the year it was made is a yearly reminder of the Christmases past.  Pat also mentioned making tree ornaments each year, such as bread dough ornaments, was a tradition when her children were younger.
• Mentor Lana and her sisters enjoyed doing a Christmas craft each year.  She didn't recall when they started or ended this tradition, but she still has the homemade earrings and the purchased earrings that they swapped year to year.
• Mentor Beth reminded us that what our parents really want for Christmas is our pictures and words.  One touching way to do this is by having each child write a note to their parents and/or each grandchild write a note to their grandparents.  Sam stated that they did this one year and had the notes complied into a book for her grandparents to enjoy for years to come.
• Tonya introduced Elf On A Shelf.  You can buy the kit, which includes an elf and book, or you can purchase any type of small elf figurine.  The concept is that each evening the Elf goes to the North Pole to report in to Santa on whether your child has been bad or good.  He returns the next morning to your home.  Each morning you place him in a different place in your home and the kids have a great time finding from where the Elf will be observing that day.  Great idea for keeping children who are struggling with being good.
• Another MOP mom decorates a permanent outdoor tree with bird seed pine cones so that the birds have a "Christmas" tree.  She also shared about her childhood memory about a Biblical chain.  Each day they would add another link to the paper chain.  Each link had a verse from Jesus' birth.
  
• Somer provided information on making your own sugar scrubs to give as gifts to those weary moms on your list.
• Sam showed the sock snowman that she had made.  You get a tube sock, fill it with rice.  Tie off three sections in descending size.  The top of the sock is folded over to create a knit cap for the snowman.  You can use markers for the face or use buttons for the eyes and a toothpick for the nose.

Traditions are most prevalent at Christmastime and without a doubt when someone says "Christmas" you most likely have an image of a holiday tradition that stays near to your heart.  Don't forget as Mentor Beth stated, sometimes traditions need to change or be replaced when they fail to be fun or meaningful.  Don't be afraid of trying new ideas.  If they work for you, they can morph into a tradition that your family will cherish.  Merry Christmas and see you next year!

(If you have a tradition that you would like to share, please feel free to add it as a comment to this post.)

You Are Not Alone

The main topic for yesterday's meeting was depression.  For those of you that missed the meeting, it was a very emotional meeting as we had a few of our own MOPS moms give testimony about depression in their lives.  Tears flowed from the speakers' eyes.  The incredible compassion in the room was evident by the tears that also came from the audience's eyes.  That in a nutshell speaks volumes about one of Highland MOPS greatest assets.  Our meetings are a place where you are among friends and more importantly friends that have walked the path you have walked.  At MOPS you find kindred souls and hearts that welcome you, cry with you and laugh with you.  It is a safe haven when one feels like pulling out their hair or when one feels like retiring to bed with the covers pulled over their eyes.  Remember, remember, remember:  you are not alone.  When the day seems overwhelming and you wonder if the stress and loneliness will ever subside, say to yourself, "I am not alone."  All of your fellow MOPS' moms walk with you.  Your God walks with you.

Pumpkin Patch Play Date

Bring your whole family out to Disability Resources at 3602  N. Clack for a morning of fun at the Pumpkin Patch. We are meeting there at 10:30 a.m. for a story and a hayride for everyone to enjoy! There will also be pumpkins to purchase (small and big) starting as low as a dollar. Come out and enjoy this day and capture great memories of your children (don't forget your camera!). Hope to see everyone there!!

Moms Night Out

Please don't forgot about our Moms Night Out tomorrow, Thursday, October 15.  We will meet at Highland Church of Christ at 7:00 p.m. and finish our Hope Haven baskets.  From the Church we will carpool over to Hope Haven with the baskets and gift bags.  After our delivery, we will gather at Tuscany's Coffee House (3905 South 1st Street in Abilene) for a great time of fellowship.  If you cannot do the delivery, but would like to meet at Tuscany's we should be there by 7:45 pm. 

Moms In Business

Highland MOPS strongly supports our sponsors' businesses and our members' businesses. To help get the word out about our moms in business we have a page on our website titled Moms In Business. You can reach this page by accessing our website and clicking on Links then Moms In Business.

If you are not currently listed on our web page and are interested in advertising your business for free, email publicity at abilenemops dot com. Please include your company's name, product or service, contact information and website address.

We look forward to hearing from you and about your business!