Weekly Update for April 1, 2009

Hi everyone!

This week at M4M, we will be discussing chapter nine: What Cool Queen Moms Know that We Don't. It sounds like a fun chapter, so I'd better go find my book and get busy! Erika's group will be providing snacks.

We're still trying to confirm next week's activities (April 8), so we will let you know by the beginning of next week. We do know that Shannon's group will be bringing snacks.

Smile Time! :) I can't remember if I've used this one before, but it's a good one! Sorry about the man-bashing at the end. I almost clipped that off, but decided to let it stand with just a disclaimer -- I didn't write it!

To Be 6 Again...A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, observing his wife, looking at herself in the mirror. Since her birthday was not far off he asked what she'd like to have for her Birthday.
"I'd like to be six again", she replied, still looking in the mirror.
On the morning of her Birthday, he arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Lucky Charms, and then took her to Six Flags theme park. What a day!
He put her on every ride in the park; the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster Roller Coaster, everything there was. Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down.He then took her to a McDonald's where he ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake.
Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, a soda pop, and her favorite candy, M&Ms. What a fabulous adventure! Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted. He leaned over his wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, "Well Dear, what was it like being six again??"Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed. "I meant my dress size, you dumb bell!"The moral of the story: Even when a man is listening, he is gonna get it wrong.

Craft Weds

Pamela brought some cute crafts for us to work on last Weds. It was fun to sit around and chat with everyone. I am just realizing how much I enjoy each person in our group! I always feel like I am with a friend. So here are a few pictures to enjoy...

The next shot just makes me laugh....I guess she wasn't in the mood for pictures. :)

Weekly Update for Mar. 18, 2009

Good Morning and a Happy St. Patrick's Day to all of you Irish lasses out there.

This week at M4M we are going to have craft day. We'll be doing two simple crafts, a "fruit of the spirit" bracelet and a beaded bookmark. It should be a fun time to socialize as we keep our hands busy! Angela's small group is providing the snacks.

Next week is Spring Break -- so don't show up!

The week after (April 1) will be the beginning of a new term, and during our first session we will be discussing Chapter 9: What Cool Queen Moms Know That We Don't. I love this title, so I can't wait to dig into this chapter. Snacks will be provided by Erika's small group.

We have some great speakers and activities planned for the Spring term and we will be printing up the new schedule and getting it out to you pretty soon.

Have a great day everyone! I'll see you tomorrow!

Karen

Smile Time

My kids have been asking me about St. Patrick's Day, so instead of scouring the internet today for a joke, I decided to research the holiday. I hope it makes you smile anyway! I loved learning the story behind the shamrock and the fact that in Ireland they make a point of praying for missionaries on this holiday. Read on...

About St. Patrick: [copied from www.St-Patricks-Day.com].

Many folk ask the question 'Why is the Shamrock the National Flower of Ireland ?' The reason is that St. Patrick used it to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagans. Saint Patrick is believed to have been born in the late fourth century, and is often confused with Palladius, a bishop who was sent by Pope Celestine in 431 to be the first bishop to the Irish believers in Christ.

Saint Patrick was the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. Most of what is known about him comes from his two works, the Confessio, a spiritual autobiography, and his Epistola, a denunciation of British mistreatment of Irish Christians. Saint Patrick described himself as a "most humble-minded man, pouring forth a continuous paean of thanks to his Maker for having chosen him as the instrument whereby multitudes who had worshipped idols and unclean things had become the people of God."
Saint Patrick is most known for driving the snakes from Ireland. It is true there are no snakes in Ireland, but there probably never have been - the island was separated from the rest of the continent at the end of the Ice Age. As in many old pagan religions, serpent symbols were common and often worshipped. Driving the snakes from Ireland was probably symbolic of putting an end to that pagan practice. While not the first to bring Christianity to Ireland, it is Patrick who is said to have encountered the Druids at Tara and abolished their pagan rites. The story holds that he converted the warrior chiefs and princes, baptizing them and thousands of their subjects in the "Holy Wells" that still bear this name.

Why Saint Patrick's Day?
Saint Patrick's Day has come to be associated with everything Irish: anything green and gold, shamrocks and luck. Most importantly, to those who celebrate its intended meaning, St. Patrick's Day is a traditional day for spiritual renewal and offering prayers for missionaries worldwide.

Check out Karen's Blog

I hope no one minds if I do a little self-promoting! As many of you know, I'm working on a writing career and part of what I need to do in order to sell my work to publishers is to establish a "following" and start creating interest in my book before it is even published. So I have created a writer's blog, where I will be posting tidbits about my book, devotional thoughts, sample chapters and other such stuff. If you are interested in reading more from me other than my weekly newsletters for M4M, please check out my blog at http://www.cannotbeshaken.blogspot.com/. My book is called Shaken and is historical fiction for the Christian market. It was written with teen and preteen girls in mind. Thanks for taking a peek and I hope you enjoy the new blog. Please include comments with anything you like/dislike about the blog! I can always use advice.

Thanks!

Karen

Weekly Update for Mar. 11, 2009

Good afternoon, everyone! Wasn't the snow amazing? But I'm ready for some 70 degree weather, how about you?

This week at M4M, we will be discussing chapter 8: "Threat From Other Kingdoms." So, if you get a free moment, take a look at the chapter so we can have lively discussion! If you are swamped and don't get to it... come anyway! Don't let a little non-reading guilt make you miss out on a fun time. Amber's group will be providing snacks, so come hungry.

Next week (March 18) we will be doing a craft event and we will talk more about that on Wednesday, plus I'll have an update in next week's email. Snacks will be provided by Angela's group.

See you Wednesday!
Karen

Smile Time
MOSES AND THE RED SEA
Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School. "Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea , he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved."

"Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?" his Mother asked. "Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!"

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter. Little Rick was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much
practice, he could barely get past the first line.

On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up
to the microphone and said proudly, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know."

Organization~Wednesday, March 4th

If you weren't able to make it to Mornings for Mom's yesterday, this will be a quick run down for you.

Erika shared a little story from "Feathers from My Nest" (~Beth Moore) about carpooling. Hopefully Erika will be joining us soon in posting some of her thoughts on the blog. If you don't have that book, check it out. My mom got one for my sisters and I on mothers day last year and it is a sweet book. I know Erika has recommended it before too.

Peggy Hoeker was our guest speaker this week. She gave us some great tips on controlling clutter and organization. I absolutely LOVED that she sang to us. I am very much a "domestic by birth" woman as well, and I really enjoyed listening to her ideas.

I definitely want to start cleaning up my desk...as I type I am looking at 2 piles of papers, a stack of cds, about 15 misc cords, a watch, some sunglasses, sunscreen(?) and about 50 other tiny little things. (Maybe, if I get brave, I will post a before and after picture!) We tend to pile the mail right in front of the keyboard (in an effort to make sure we put it away) well, it doesn't work. Because when the pile gets to high to type, we just move it to the chair! And sit on it! Don't laugh...I am serious! We are animals...I might as well share a picture now that I have admitted that little piece of information.

Okay...so after loading my laundry basket, (which is my cleaning and organizing tool of choice) it is looking so much better. Now I just need to sort through it. I guess I had better sort through the one I filled a few weeks ago that is sitting next to my bed with a blanket sitting over it so it looks pretty. *gasp*

Wow, so much better! Now for the best part of this post....I am still in my bathrobe. Nope, I have not showered, dressed, or gotten ready for the day by any means, other than drinking my coffee! How is this for being real?!

*edit...I told my poor husband about the post and he is so embaressed! Thank goodness, it doesn't seem that many people are reading the blog so far! ;)*

Weekly Update for Mar. 4, 2009

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Tomorrow at M4M we will have a special guest joining us. Peggy Hoeker came and spoke with us last year in her official capacity as an agent of the OSU extension office. This year she's going to come "as herself." That frees her to share wisdom from her own life and about her faith. Those who heard her last year agree she is a special lady and we are looking forward to hearing from her again! Mindi's group will be providing snacks.

Next week, (March 11) we will be discussing chapter 8: Threats from Other Kingdoms. Snacks will be provided by Amber's group.

Have a great week and don't forget to check out our blog for photos from the bowling trip! http://www.mornings4moms.blogspot.com.

Karen

Smile Time!

Understanding Marriage

The child was a typical four-year-old girl -- cute, inquisitive, bright as a new penny. When she expressed difficulty in grasping the concept of marriage, her father decided to pull out his wedding photo album, thinking visual images would help. One page after another, he pointed out the bride arriving at the church, the entrance, the wedding ceremony, the recessional, the reception, etc. "Now do you understand?" he asked. "I think so," she said, "is that when mommy came to work for us?"