Read Psalm 34:8

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

The last part of our theme, A fierce Flourishing, is Noticing Goodness. MOPS international describes it like this: 

"Could it be possible that we don’t need new things but rather new eyes to see what we already have? What if we regained our sense of vision, an acute resolve to find hope in the cracks and mire of the mundane? Noticing what is good gives us the gift of perspective and reminds us the sacred is closer than we think." (mops.org) 

How do you Notice Goodness? What can we learn from our little ones about noticing goodness? 

Friday Introductions: MOPPETS

Keri Tyler, MOPPETS Coordintor

My name is Keri Tyler and I am the Nursery Coordinator at FBC and have served in this position for the last 5 years.  Prior to my accepting the Nursery Coordinator position, I served at FBC for 6 years as a classroom Supervisor for various childcare programs.  My husband Todd, who works at Lockheed Martin as a Spacecraft Technician, and I have been married for almost 32 years and both grew up in the Lakewood area.  We have 3 kids…Brandon (29), Cameron (20) & Lexie (15).  Brandon spent 8 years serving in the Army and met and married his wife Vinnah (who is from the Philippines) during that journey.  Brandon and Vinnah have 1 son, Ethan, who is 3 (being a grandma is the best!).  Brandon is currently using his GI bill to go to school to pursue an Engineering degree.  Cameron is taking his core classes at Red Rocks and working part time at Chick-fil-a.  At this point he has a strong interest in accounting.  Lexie is a Sophmore this year at Dakota Ridge.  We also have a Basset Hound, 2 ferrets and a turtle as pets to keep our life even busier at home!  I enjoy cooking, shopping and spending time with the family up at my dad’s cabin in Fairplay.  Looking forward to all the adventures and fun another Moppets year will bring!

For more information on our MOPPETS program, click here .

Verse of the Week: Luke 15:21-24

Read Luke 15:21-24
And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Our theme this year is a Fierce Flourishing and one way to Flourish is to Celebrate Lavishly. MOPS international describes Celebrating Lavishly like this: 

"Celebrating breathes life into our days. Could it be that commemorating moments might help us to become more alive, to remember what is good and become masterful at recognizing it? How would life change to regularly invite friends into our stolen moments with uninhibited dancing and the best food, while gathered around the biggest table with the deepest conversations? Lavish celebrations can be sacred markers that help remind us who we are." (mops.org) 

How do you Celebrate Lavishly? What are some things you can celebrate lavishly this week? 

Friday Introductions: Night MOPS

Mandi Diaz, Night MOPS Coordinator 

Hi! My name is Mandi Diaz and I'm the Night MOPS Coordinator for 2015-2016.  My wonderful husband, Richard, and I have been married for four years.  We have two amazing daughters (Olivia is 16 months and Alexis is 3 months), and two crazy dogs (Max is our 8-year-old yorkie, and Gracie is our 2-year-old yellow lab).  My husband and I both work outside the home full-time; I'm a financial analyst at Broadridge, and he's a mining engineer working in software sales at Maptek.  

This will be my 3rd year in MOPS, and last year I served as Special Events coordinator.  I've really loved getting to know other Christian moms and have really benefited from their support, advice, and friendship.  I've enjoyed learning from the interesting speakers at our meetings, and I especially love craft time (something that I just can't seem to find time to do at home these days!).  This year, I'm really looking forward to nurturing strong friendships between the mommas in our group, and helping each woman to be confident in her identity and worth in Christ.  This year is going to be fun!

Night MOPS Steering Team 

Finance - Nicole Brandt  
Outreach - Melissa Rae  
TLC - Katie Nichols 
Hospitality - Laura Shanahan  
Special Events - Claudia Leal  
Special Events - Gina Elsner  
Crafts - Jodi Roberts  
Publicity - Kate Ryan  

Verse of the Week: Psalm 62:1,5

Read Psalm 62:1,5

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

The second part of our theme is Embracing Rest. MOPS international describes it like this: 

"Perhaps it is time to let go of exhaustion as a status symbol and productivity as a measure of worth. What if one of the most life-giving activities that would contribute to our flourishing is welcoming rhythms of rest and play into our lives? Creating healthy rhythms in our life is one way we nourish the weary spots in our soul." (mops.org) 

How do you Embrace Rest? If you don't, how can you take steps this week to embrace rest in the midst of mothering littles? 

Friday Introductions: Day MOPS

Day MOPS Coordinators 

Cora Baanhofman, Coordinator 

I am Cora BaanHofman.  I have been married to my wonderful husband Justin for 15 years this year!  We have three kids, Grace(9), Jonathan(5) and Eli(3).  I have been in MOPS for 3 years and have loved seeing how God has used this great ministry in my life and other women as well.  I am looking forward to growing in my relationship with Christ and with all my fellow moms this year in MOPS.  God has a unique and amazing plan for each of us to flourish and I am looking forward to exploring that with this fantastic group!

Andrea Kulow, Admin Co-Coordinator 

Hello Flourishing Friends!

My name is Andrea Kulow, I am this year’s Admin Co-Coordinator.  I have been a part of FBC MOPS for seven years.  When my husband Michael and I moved to Littleton from San Diego in 2008, I knew I needed to connect.  I sought out friends and I truly found them here at MOPS.  We are blessed to have a bustling house with three sons, Big Brother is in third grade, Middle Brother in first grade and Little Brother is lucky to spend his days at home with me!  

I grew up in San Diego, California and my husband and I met and married almost nine years ago.  After a year of living in San Diego my husband convinced me to move from all that I knew to his home state, Colorado.  I went from a full time working mother to a full time stay at home mom and I was at my wits end.  I remember calling family in San Diego conveying my frustration that my “conversations” consisted of telling my one and a half year old son… “NO” “Don’t do that” “Be careful”… you know the sayings well.  After being in the state less than two months I knew I needed to make friends.  To FBC MOPS I headed!  I sat at a back table with other moms, moms that shared similar stories to mine, moms that laughed at the Never Dull life, moms that encouraged me that there would be light at the end of the tunnel of potty training… I found ladies willing to walk this path of motherhood with me.  Seven years later and I call FBC MOPS my tribe, there are faces and names that know me well and I them!  I found a place to be myself without worry of judgments, and it is a great place.

Being of mom of three boys and a husband that enjoys adventure our family is often out and about. We spend a lot of time in our backyard making it our little haven.  I love gardening and have been enjoying the fruits, nay veggies of my labors.  We have a small flock of hens that supply our morning eggs.  One day I dream of living on a sprawling farm and homesteading, until that happens I am enjoying our little piece of land tucked in a suburban neighborhood!

I pray that this year you embrace rest and friendships.  I am excited to get to know each of you in the year to come!

Danae Crume, Media Co-Coordinator 

I am a lover of God, my family, and chocolate...in that order! I am unapologetically a nerd who loves words and mathematics (yes, I know those don't usually go together). I complete crossword puzzles and play Sudoku in my 5min of free time per day. I am a closet foodie - I'm always looking for new and yummy recipes! Finally, I'm slightly addicted to my DVR. Now that you know these things, you probably don't want to be MY friend...but just in case, I am in constant need of more coffee and deep friendships.

My husband and I will be married 9 years in December. Our spirited firecracker, Anna, is 4. Our precious little grinder, Clayton, is 1.5.

This will be my 5th year in MOPS. I started when I was still pregnant with Anna. MOPS saved my life (and likely my daughter's life too)! My greatest MOPS passion is seeing women connect with each other and with the Lord.  I'm most looking forward to watching the Lord work in myself and others as we celebrate lavishly, embrace rest, notice goodness and fiercely flourish as moms, wives, daughters, sisters, and friends.

My favorite verse (at least this month, haha) is Zechariah 13:9 "And I [the Lord] will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”

Day MOPS Steering Team 

Special Events- Ashley Heylin, Kellie Limpede, Bri Westfall

DGL Coordinator- Sara Kaufman, Katy Jo Bond

Hospitality- Abbie LeBlanc, Tonya Thompson

Moppets Liason- Gretchen Radke, Denille Obermeyer

Creative Activities- Jan Williams, Reba Winsinger 

Publicity- Sarah Rowling 

Verse of the Week: Isaiah 55:12

Verse of the Week  

We are excited to introduce our Verse of the Week series. Each Monday we will post a verse or passage of scripture to meditate on throughout the week. We will also have questions to go with it and would love for you to comment on the posts with your answers and with what God is teaching you. 

"As moms we have many decisions to make and we cant make good decisions without knowing what is really true and what isn't. Having the truth of the Bible in our mind on a regular basis will help us discern what is truth and what isn't and free us to be the best moms we can be."  (mops.org) 

The first verse we are going to look at is our theme verse for the year, Isaiah 55:12. 

Read Isaiah 55:12
For you shall go out in Joy and be led forth in peace: the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

What does this verse mean to you? What are you looking forward to most about the theme verse and the theme for the year, A Fierce Flourishing? How can you go and find joy and peace this week?

A Fierce Flourishing

Hello Ladies-

I am so excited to welcome you to our new MOPS year!  Whether you are new to our group or have been coming for years I am thrilled that you are here and I know that God has a special plan for all of us this year. 

Our theme this year is A Fierce Flourishing and our verse is Isaiah 55:12 “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”  

This year I pray that each one of you will experience personal growth as well as spiritual growth as we learn how to flourish together.  Let us work to  create rhythms of celebration and rest. As women and moms let us learn to be content with and to celebrate who God created us to be. Let us set aside judgement and ego to truly encourage one another in our daily walks. 

Please consider this group a place to gather in warmth and conversation and remind one another that we are meant to enjoy life, not be drowned by it. Get ready to flourish!

In Him,

Cora

"If we are being honest, sometimes deciding to flourish scares us, because flourishing is wild and organic. It is unpredictable and hard to define and far from tame. It is a dance with holy goodness. And that is both terrifying and thrilling." (mops.org)

Check out this video from MOPS international about the theme this year, A Fierce Flourishing.