After we ate, we did short introductions again, because there were several new people with us - yay! We then moved into playing a quick and fun game that got everyone up and moving around. We played Heads Up and the winners of the game got to enter their names in a second time for the 2 giveaways at the end of the meeting. As I stated before, the meeting topic tonight was vulnerability and we watched a short video (after quite the issue with technology -- sorry, promise to do better next time!!). The video was featured speaker Donald Miller, an author and also a blogger. You can follow his blog - Storyline - here if you like following blogs. Also, you can follow him on facebook as well. I really enjoyed this video as the emphasis was on being real and not hiding your true self -- even if you become vulnerable, you will live a true life and not behind a façade. As moms this can be so hard, because we feel the expectation to be able to do it all, and sometimes we think we can, but this is from the truth. We have to become ok with not being able to do it all and ask for help when it is needed...and it is definitely needed from time to time!
I really enjoyed the discussion we had after the meeting. I can't tell you all how much it means to me to hear from you all and know that we are all going through many of the same things. I didn't share this with you at the meeting, but I wanted to link it up here. It's another great article on vulnerability and the power that opening up and being vulnerable can have on your life and on others. I hope you read it and enjoy it as much as I did.
After our discussion, I gave away two books called Saving Day by Angelene Woodard. I came to hear about her book through MOPS from another MOPS group that had her as a guest speaker. She wrote the book for her own kids because she wanted to have a way to talk about salvation to her children and she was not finding the material that she felt she needed. Anyway, I ordered a copy of her book for Carter and I ordered two more to give away to you ladies. The lucky winners were Rebekah Thompson and Erin McCoy...hope you all enjoy! I am working with Angelene to possibly travel to speak to our group. She is hoping to come before Christmas, so please keep this possibility in your prayers. Also, she has a great blog and posts once a week about some really thought provoking topics. You can find her blog called Watering the Seeds here and you can follow her on facebook as well.
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| Sondra Ball -- explaining the art of wreath making |
There were a few ladies who left early or were not with us that night, so I took some notes on some suggestions that Sondra gave in regards to the wreath making. Here you go:
If you have the following items, please bring them to the November 19th meeting:
- Medium Gauge Floral Wire
- Wire Cutters or Needle Nose Pinchers
- Scissors
- Any items that might be used to decorate wreaths that you might not want any more. We will setup a "shopping table" so that we can trade out items. One MOPS trash is another MOPS treasure. :)
- Glue Gun
- Extension Cord
- Gardening Gloves to protect your hands
- Your wreath you want to decorate
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- Pine Cones (pick up the shiny ones)
- old ornaments
- berries
- Ribbon or Raffia
- Anything sentimental that you might want to put on the wreath
- greenery or garland
- twigs
- moss (reindeer moss -- you can pick this up outside)
- dried or silk flowers (like hydrangeas)
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| Examples of items that can be used to make and decorate your wreath |
I want this project to be fun and easy for us, so don't let it stress you out! This will be something neat that you can enjoy for years to come.
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| A unique wreath I saw at the Craft Fair at Georgia Mtn. Fairgounds |
