Tuesday, August 9, 2011

We're Moving...

to a new site!



We are in the process of moving over to a new website and want you to come with us! You can view our new site here, which is a joint site with our Monday group. Just click on 'Tuesday MOPS Site' in the corner to get current information. Please note that we are still under construction on our new site, so add it to your 'Favorites' and check back often for updates.

And if you haven't registered for the Fall, we are only a month away from our start date (September 14) so get those registrations in today!! Click here to view our registration form.


Monday, June 13, 2011

Register Today!

Have you registered for MOPS?

MomSense starts Tuesday, September 13th, so mail those registration forms today! We are planning for a great 2011-2012 year that you don't want to miss. For more information on Grace MOPS, click on About Grace MOPS above or email gfmops@gmail.com.

Check out the MomSense theme below.


MomSense: Bold • Loving • Sensible – equips moms to embrace their mothering instincts and develop their own parenting style while navigating through the myriad of daily mom decisions. Most women wonder: 
  • How do I decide what to do when I really don’t know what to do?
  • Should I trust my intuition?
  • With so much available information, how do I discern what’s best?
  • What are the most important family values?
Developing a mothering strategy is somewhat like playing a game — and this year’s theme is appropriately game related. Have fun being a mom! Playing games involves being bold and taking risks, loving those in the game with us and being sensible while figuring out what works and what doesn’t.


Just as in real-life, sometimes in games, unexpected, “chance” events occur, abruptly changing our paths. We must regroup and determine our next steps. Sometimes we follow the instructions of “experts.” Sometimes we follow the advice of trusted friends. Sometimes we decide our “house rules” work best for our family. Teaming together with other moms is a great strategy. Relying on a spouse or mentor can help us play more effectively. And, most of all, developing a strong God-Sense is essential for mothering. Growing as a mom through the analogy of game playing assures every mom gains confidence in her abilities as a mom.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Family Movie Night


(click on the picture to watch a preview of the movie)


Saturday, June 11 is Family Movie Night!

7PM on NBC



Sometimes being a leader is tougher than winning...

SYNOPSIS

Through mysterious footage captured on an old malfunctioning video camera, Sinclair High School's star quarterback, Tyler McFarland, learns that some of his teammates have been bullying Cory Walker, a troubled new transfer student. Aware that sharing this information with the coach might get his friends kicked off the team and ultimately cost the school the state championship, Tyler must choose what's more important: winning or doing what's right.

As these events unfold, the camera also reveals more surprising footage to Tyler's kid sister Lucy. She learns that Cory has a secret past, unknown even to him. Now Lucy must convince her mom (Faith Ford, Murphy Brown) and family that the camera's revealing insight is not a product of her imagination as she enlists their help to find the answers Cory so desperately needs. It's a compelling and intriguing story that shows both the challenges and rewards of doing the right thing even when it's tough to do.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Summer Playdates

We hope to see you at our Playdates this summer! This will be a great time to stay connected to each other - feel free to bring a picnic lunch for you and your kids as well!


 For a complete listing of the summer events listed in your newsletter, visit our Events page.

Spring Tea Recipes from May 24, 2011

Pico de Gallo
submitted by Corrie Hoff
6 Roma tomatoes, chopped
½ cup red onion, chopped
1/2 Cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 Serrano or Jalapeño chilies, seeded and minced
1 Clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Simply combine all ingredients and mix well. let stand for at least 1 hour, or even overnight in the fridge. Remember, the longer the better. The flavors really get a chance to permeate throughout.


Strawberry Chocolate Chip Scones
submitted by Shannon Smith
1 1/2 Cups All purpose organic flour
2 Tablespoons sugar or sucanat
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons butter, preferably organic
1 large egg yolk
½ cup buttermilk, organic
½ cup strawberries, organic
½ cup chocolate chips
½ cup almonds chopped (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 and cover a baking sheet with parchment paper
In a large bowl sift together all of the dry ingredients. Cut in butter with a pastry blender, until it resembles a coarse meal.
In a smaller bowl whisk together egg yolk and buttermilk. Add wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until dough starts to pull together.
Fold in chocolate chips and strawberries and roll out onto a floured surface.
Pat dough into a large square and cut into squares again, then triangles
Place on cookie sheet and place in oven and bake for 12-15 minutes
Once cooled place in sandwich bags, or all in gallon bag.
To serve: Reheat in microwave or toaster oven.


Blueberry Lemon Scones
submitted by Shannon Smith
4 cups flour plus 1 Tablespoon for the blueberries
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 pound of cold unsalted butter, diced
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup cold heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup dried blueberries
zest of one lemon
For the glaze:
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
Put the dry ingredients in the bowl of the mixer.  Stir together.  Add the diced butter on low speed.  Mix until the butter is in pea sized pieces.  Combine the cream, lemon zest, vanilla and eggs in a measuring cup and slowly pour into the butter flour mixture.  Combine until just blended.
Toss the dried blueberries with 1 Tablespoon flour (this helps the berries distribute evenly throughout the batter).  Add to the mixture and combine.
Turn the dough out onto a flour surface.  This is a very sticky dough.  Roll out to desired thickness and using a cookie cutter or knife cut into shapes.
Put them on the parchment lined cookie sheet and bake for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees.
Let them cool completely before you glaze them.  To make the glaze, whisk the confectioners sugar with the lemon juice and vanilla until smooth.  Add a little more sugar or some cream to get the correct consistency.
Glaze the scones.


Cowboy Caviar
submitted by Charity Lynch
1-15 ounce can shoe peg corn, drained (frozen works too)
1-15 ounce can black beans, drained
1 avocado, peeled and diced
2/3 cup cilantro, chopped
2-3 green onions, chopped
3-4 roma tomatoes
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
1 tablespoon ground cumin
In a medium bowl, combine corn, black beans, avocado, cilantro, green onions and tomatoes.
In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin. Add to the vegetable mixture and toss to coat.
Serve with tortilla chips or toasted pita chips.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Newsletter & Recipes - May 10, 2011

If you missed our May 10 meeting, you can grab your newsletter here. Only one more meeting to go!


Special Brunch Bake
submitted by Hayley Guevara

2 tubes (4 ounces each) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
3 cartons (8 ounces each) frozen egg substitute, thawed
7 ounces Canadian bacon, chopped
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup chopped fresh mushrooms omitted
1/5 cup finely chopped onion omitted
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions:
Arrange biscuits in a 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. In a bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; pour over biscuits.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.



Toffee Dip
submitted by Erin Zubert

8 oz package of cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup toffee bits

Blend together with mixer. Serve with fruit.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Congratulations Get In Gear Runners!


Congratulations to our MOPS Moms (Monday & Tuesday) who completed the Get In Gear 5k race on a very cold, rainy, blustery Saturday this weekend!

Front row, left to right: Corrie Hoff, Nikki Stephany, Asta Niebling, Julie Dukowitz, Cathy Gardner

Back row, left to right: Tanya Ahlbaum, Chris Skoglund, Kim Anderson, Erin Zubert, Lara Peterson, Missy Vandal. (Not pictured: Sarah Truitt, Daphne Christenson, Kate Nightingale)