Why I heart MOPS

I have been going to the Manhattan MOPS sense January of 2011. What a blessing and enjoyment it has been to and for me. The weeks that I've missed - for whatever reason - I feel left out on what was going on, and missing the company of the wonderful ladies that I've grown to know. Its been a great source of encouragement and freedom to be involved in something where people know me for me - and not for Mark, or church.

With today being our last meeting until September, there was a special guest speaker Faith Bogdan. Her story, and what she shared w/ us was dead on! You can read a little about that here. I've not listened to or heard many christian mom speakers, but I don't think I'm ever going to hear someone as honest, down to earth and open as Faith. What she shared on motherhood - the stresses, the challenges, the triumphs, the heartbreak, the everyday mundane of this thankless job - was as though she had been watching my life over the last few weeks/months. Her words spoke right to me - and to the rest of the room - to my core and the mother inside. She reminded me of the good times that this job has, the good times that I've enjoyed and love.

Her main point was that this life is all about relationships. The relationship we have with God, with our spouse, with our children, and our friends. This life was not meant to be done alone. And even on our hard days, when everything is going wrong and nothing is right, we have a gracious Father who loves being our friend - those of us who are Christians - and who wants us to know how much he loves us and supports us. . . .

This job - being a mother, being a stay at home mother - is a rough one. Its very challenging and so very rewarding! For you who are mothers, what do you love the most about being a mom, I'd love to hear it.