We are so excited to start a new mini-series here on the blog to introduce our mentor moms!  

These ladies have so much wisdom and encouragement to share, and we thought we'd tap into that wisdom a little more on the blog this year.  So we sent out some questions for our mentor moms to answer, and I have to say I have loved reading their answers (one perk of being in publicity is that I get a sneak peek of things like this)!  

This is your chance to get to know these amazing women a little better before our Mentor Mom panel in October.  So read on, and jot down any other questions you want them to answer.  You can ask them at the panel in October, or you can send them over to us for possible future mentor mom posts!

Our first Mentor Mom feature is Sheryl D, our lead mentor mom!

Tell us a little about yourself.  

I grew up in Denver, graduated from North High School, went to UNC for college to become an elementary school teacher, then taught 3 years in Webster Groves, MO.  While my husband was going to dental school at St. Louis University, we started our family.  After my husband finished his 2 years in the Navy, we moved back to Denver, settled in Lakewood, and the rest is history. :)

How many children (and grandchildren) do you have?

My name is Sheryl D.  I have 2 children - a son, Chris, who is a chemistry prof in NC, and a daughter, Lori, in heaven.

I have three grandchildren!  Ages 18, 16, 14 - boy, girl, boy.

How did you originally get involved with MOPS?  How long have you been a mentor mom?

I have been a mentor mom for 11 years - this is my 12th year.

Pat L. asked me if I would consider being a mentor mom, and the rest is history.

What was the hardest thing and what is the best thing you remember about the pre-school stage with your own kids?  Any encouragement for those of us who are still in this stage?

I remember being so busy with my preschoolers - hardly time to think!  I probably spent too much time worrying about how messy my house was.  It helped that the church I was attending at the time had a Mothers' club which was so helpful to hear I wasn't alone.  Remember, this too shall pass.  Enjoy it!  They grow into teenagers way too quickly!

What is your goal as a mentor mom, or what is the main encouragement you hope to offer to MOPS moms?

I just love to love on the moms and give you all encouragement.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor (just for fun)?

Favorite ice cream flavor:  mint chocolate chip, or anything with chocolate.

A Welcome Giveaway!

We are so excited about the new year with MOPS!  It is going to be a great year exploring our theme, Be You Bravely - and since we are venturing into brave, new territory with the blog re-launch this year, we wanted to celebrate by giving away some goodies to one of our Day MOPS moms!  One lucky mom will win all of the following prizes:

1. Hands-Free Mama by Rachel May Stafford - This book is all about learning to put away your phone and embrace these precious moments with our families.  I have just started reading it, but I am already feeling challenged and encouraged by it!

2. A $5 Starbucks giftcard - Because we all need caffeine, am I right?  Or if you aren't into caffeine, people tell me they have hot chocolate and smoothies too.

3. Be Brave print - We found this lovely print here and thought it was the perfect fit for our theme this year!  Hang it somewhere where you can see it to remind you to have courage as you go about your day.

4. Another print of the winner's choice - Nicole, from Nicole Joelle Prints, has offered to give the winner of our giveaway one print of their choice from her shop!  She has so many beautiful print styles.  These are a few of our favorites, just to give you an idea of what you could pick - check out her shop to see all of the options!

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below if you would like a chance to win these goodies!  We are keeping this giveaway open until the end of September to give everyone plenty of time to enter.  This giveaway is only open to those who are currently enrolled in FBC Day MOPS for the 2014-2015 year.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Meet Your Coordinators!

To start off this year, we wanted to introduce you to your lovely coordinators!  Read on to learn a little more about our leaders.

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Coordinator, Darla W.

My name is Darla Wampler, my chief purpose is to glorify God and enjoy HIM.  With Jesus as my savior I bravely take on the jobs of wife, mother and homemaker.  I have been married to my best friend Matt for 11 years.  We met at CSU (go RAMS).  We have two pedal pushers and one tricycle motor.  Annalece (8) Brooks (6) and Conrad (2).  Our first born is a golden retriever named Bowser.  We also have a cat named Lena who could be a realty TV star, if there are cat reality shows (which I’ll bet there are!)  We are happy members of the Foothills Bible Church family.  My small town soul longed for a tight knit community and FBC has brought us that.  We have recently started a G2 and are blessed beyond words with the love and joy that fellowship with other Christ followers has brought into our lives.  I have been a part of MOPS for 7 years and have served for 6.  I love MOPS, I love gathering women together and pointing them to the one and only healer, lover, pardoning judge of our souls.  I have been changed by God through the loving hands and words of MOPS moms and I pray that you will be too.  Be brave, have courageous faith, live joyfully.  To God be the glory!

Co-coordinator, Andrea K.

I am Andrea K., Admin Co-Coordinator for this MOPS year.  This will be my sixth year in MOPS.  My first year I was new to Littleton and being a stay at home mom, the first year I made some friends that over the years have become life long best friends.  My second year of MOPS I was a group leader, then helped the Special Events, then was a DGL Team Coordinator and last year was my first year in this position of Admin Co-Coordinator.

I am a wife to Michael (going on 8 years in November) and a mother to three little men ages 7,5, and 3.  I thought that maybe the older my children got the less hectic things would be yet, I am running around even more.  This is a crazy life but the best calling on me... wife and mom.  

Co-coordinator, Stacey B.

My name is Stacey, I LOVE MOPS!! When I first walked into MOPS my baby was three months old.  Looking around the room, I knew everyone else was a better mom than me!!  I am so grateful to learn that we are all doing our best and no one has it all figured out.  I have found comfort and encouragement for the very long days and nights.  God has brought new friends info my life, and shown me where I can use the gifts He has given me.  Thank you MOPS, looking forward to a great year!!!

A Welcome Letter

For any of you who are not able to make it to our kickoff today, our coordinator, Darla, has written a beautiful welcome letter to start off this year!  Check it out below.

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Welcome Mothers Of Preschoolers, 

Another year is upon us and we are overjoyed that you will with us.  The Foothills Bible Church’s MOPS program has been a blessing in my life for many years and I pray that we will be a blessing in yours as well.  

This year we will be leaving our wilderness lives behind and looking for the streams of living water that God has so graciously provided us.  Come to us with your faded smiles, your fuzzy minds, and your spit upon shoulders.  Come seeking the refreshment of comfortable chatter.  Come seeking the bonds of those who know your struggles and your joys.  Come when you are happy and come when you are exhausted.  Come seeking food for your body and food for your soul.  

This year we are committed to forgetting about our past failures and regrets.  The times when you and I have failed to measure up to the worlds standards and we are going to embrace the now and live fully and freely through the love of Christ in community with each other.  It takes courage to open your life and your heart to a group of women.  Act bravely, step in faith and blessings will pour forth upon you.  

Being a mom means having courage to care for a sick baby, courage to cook and clean with the knowledge that it will never end, courage to be nose to nose with a toddler and a infant all that day and still be smiling sweetly when your husband comes home.  Being a mom requires a steadfastness known only to those who have entered the trade.  

Be courageous my friends, have faith to bring us your whole story the broken and the beautiful.  Come to us free to be you, to Be You, Bravely.

Courageous in Christ,

Darla W.

FBC Day MOPS Coordinator

Re-Launch & New App

The new MOPS year is almost upon us, and we are pleased to announce that the MOPS blog is once again live!  We have lots of post ideas in the works for our 2014-2015 MOPS year, and we are so excited to get started celebrating our theme of Be You, Bravely.  Take a look around, and don't forget to check here periodically to keep up with everything our group has planned for this year!

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Do you want to have our group’s blog at your fingertips?  
We have an app for that!

To get an “app” on your Apple device that will lead directly to our blog, follow the directions below:

1. Open Safari and go to our blog.

2. Click on this symbol:

3. Select Add To Homepage:

...

4. Check out your new FBC MOPS blog app!

P.S.  I think this should also work in a similar way for newer Android and Blackberry phones, but if someone has an Android or Blackberry and wants to test it out, I'd love it if you'd let us know for sure!

MOPS 2014-2015 Schedule

Click here for a black and white, printable version of the schedule!

April Newsletter

April Newsletter  - Click on the link to the left to view

Full of fun ideas for Spring and Easter, our most recent newsletter is ready for viewing!