Christmas by Candlelight Recap

We had a wonderful Christmas by Candlelight Meeting!  We enjoyed a delicious catered breakfast in a beautifully decorated room.  Each table was unique and filled with Christmas spirit thanks to the hard work of our Discussion Group Leaders and Steering Team.  A big thank you for all of their hard work spent planning and decorating!  Also a big thank you to Kathie Kelly for the slide show displaying all of our beautiful families throughout the meeting!

 

Tricia Zody, a friend of Cintia, joined us for the meeting and sang several Christmas Carols.  She then shared a message describing her life experiences as a mother and a woman of God.  She offered great advice, tips and reminders.  She really encouraged us to remember that this season when our children are very young is so short and we should cherish it.

 

Announcements:

·        The end of the first semester of MOPS is February 14^th.  Please notify Julia Steinhaus if you are not interested in being in MOPS again for the second semester.  Dues will be due again if you will be continuing for the rest of the year.  Julia will be posting the link to register for the second semester soon.

·        OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY: MOPS provided a $200 gift card to a family in the community who lost their mother in a car accident.

·        A cookie exchange will be held at Christ United Methodist Church Sunday Dec 15^th.  If you would like to participate, please bring 3 dozen cookies.   You will enjoy cookies at the party and also take some home.  Cookies will also be donated from the event.  Childcare is available if you sign up in advance.  Please contact Kathleen Randall if you have questions.

·        Cori Atkins hosted a Wrapping Party at her house on Tuesday! 

·        The Painted Bowls event is coming up as a part of the Super Bowl of Caring.  The event benefits East Fort Bend Human Needs.  Bowls are painted and then donated and auctioned off.  Several MOPS ladies participated last year and really enjoyed it.  More details to come!

·        Young Lives are having their Christmas celebration on Dec 12^th.  If you would like to help you can sign up to drive or help with childcare.  There is also a sign up genius to help with the Christmas Wish List created by the girls in the group.

Amanda shared that the Thanksgiving Meeting at Young Lives was a huge success.  We provided plenty of food and several of the girls were able to take some food home as well.  A big thank you for all who provided food and helped serve at the meeting.  Honey Baked Hams donated $200 worth of ham for the event!  Please support their business over the holidays if you are able.  It is the location located in Sugar Land near Sugar Land Town Center.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!!!  Our next meeting is January 17^th!

Happy Halloween!

The first year JR and I dated, we had plans to go to a show in downtown Austin for Halloween. I don't know if anyone has been to 6th street in Austin for Halloween, but it's nuts. So we wanted something that really stood out in the crowd.

It was JR's idea to go as Britney Spears and Madonna, and kiss the whole night (Remember when they did that at the VMAs?).

Not many of you have met my husband, but just imagine Addie with facial hair. He was Britney.

We were a huge hit. People kept asking us if they could take our picture. It was, by far, the most successful costume.

The past two years, Claire hasn't really "gotten" Trick-or-Treating. This year, she did. I might be a little biased, but she was an ADORABLE Tinkerbell!

The publicity team has decided to do a little contest. Send us pictures of your kids' adorable costumes. We'll put them up on the blog and pick one at random.

So let's see them!

[cori]