MOPS Meeting Invitation

Hello Moms!

We are incredibly excited to invite you to join the Our Father Lutheran Church MOPS group for its 2013-14 year. We meet on the first and third Fridays of each month.

Motherhood is messy, from temper tantrums to sticky fingers. It’s a challenge to be a wife and a mother without losing sight of who you are and what you need. This year’s theme, “A Beautiful Mess: Embrace Your Story,” will help us see the joy in our mess, while taking time to nourish ourselves.  Planned topics for this year include: “What is God’s message for you through the mess?”, “Turning a messy garden into something beautiful,” and “Parenting messy children with love and understanding.”

Our first meeting will be Sept. 6, beginning with check-in at 9:15 a.m. The registration fee is $90 per semester or $15 per meeting. Remember, your first meeting is free and we have tuition assistance for those who need it. Please click on the register tab above to register yourself and your children online!

See you soon!

Nut-Free Snacks and Lunches

My daughter is in a nut-free classroom this year. Here are some safe lunch and snack ideas her teacher gave us.

Confessions for Parents

As our much loved children head back to school, take a moment to pray these confessions for parents. (From The Secret Power of Speaking God’s Word by Joyce Meyer)

My children are the head, and not the tail; an they shall be above only, and they shall not be beneath, because they heed the commandments of the Lord their God and are watchful to do them.
-Deuteronomy 28:13

I am always a positive encourager. I edify and build up; I never tear down or destroy.
-Romans 15:2

My children have a teachable spirit.
-Proverbs 14:16 (AMP)

My children make right choices according to the Word of God.
-Isaiah 54:13

My children have the spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of God Their eyes have been flooded with light, so that they can know and understand the hope to which He has called them, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones).

 

Dr. Ian’s Portion Guide for Healthy Living

Dr. Ian’s Portions Guide-From the Rachel Ray Show

How much is too much? In this world of super-sizing, it is often difficult to know what an appropriate portion looks like. Take a look at this guide from Dr. Ian K. Smith. He includes measurements and a physical equivalent to make it easy to control portions, even in restaurants! you may also like his book The Fat Smash Diet that uses these ideas for weight loss. Get a your school year started off right!

Grains	Quantity / Measurement	Physical Equivalent
Bagel	3″ Diameter	Hockey puck
Biscuits	2 1/2″	A little smaller   than a hockey puck
Bread (Slice)	2 Slices	1 CD case per slice
Brown Rice (Cooked)	1/3 Cup	Hockey puck
Brownie	1 Ounce/ 2″ x   1″	Small post-it pack
Cakes/Baked Goods	1 Ounce	1/2 Deck of cards
Cereal Flakes	1 Cup	Baseball
Chocolate Chip   Cookies	3 Small cookies	Diameter of the   opening of a paper towel roll
Hamburger Bun	3″ Diameter	Hockey puck
Hot Dog Bun	1 Bun	1 Bun
Pasta (Cooked)	1/2 Cup	Light bulb
Plain Pancake	1 Pancake	CD (compact disc)
Rice (White, Cooked)	1/2 Cup	Light bulb
Taco	1 Taco shell	CD
Tortilla chips	12 Chips
Tortillas	2 at 6″ each	1 Saucer (6″ in   diameter)

Fruits and    Vegetables	Quantity / Measurement	Physical Equivalent
Apple	1 Small apple (60   Cal.)	Tennis ball
Asparagus (Stalks)	1/2 Cup	6 Stalks
Baked Potato	1 Potato	Computer mouse
Carrots	1 Cup	12 Baby carrots
Cauliflower   (Florets)	1 Cup	8 Flourets
Cherries	15 Cherries (60   Cal.)
Corn (on/off cob)	On cob (1 stalk)-   off (1/2 cup)	Light bulb
Fruit	Medium sized fruit	Baseball
Grapes   (Medium/Small)	1/2 Cup	16 Grapes
Salad Greens	1 Cup	Baseball
Spinach (Raw)	2 Cups	1 1/2 Baseballs
Strawberries	1 Cup	12 Strawberries
Vegetables (Cooked)	1 Cup	1 Baseball

Fats and Oils	Quantity / Measurement	Physical Equivalent
Butter or Spread	1 Tbsp	Poker chip
Mayonaise	1 Tbsp	Poker chip
Oil	1 Tbsp	Poker chip
Salad Dressing	1 Tbsp	Poker chip

Meats, Fish, and    Nuts	Quantity / Measurement	Physical Equivalent
Almonds	1/4 Cup	12 Almonds
Bacon	3 Slices
Eggs	1/4 cup	1 Large egg
Fish	3 Ounces grilled	1 Checkbook
Ground Beef	3 Ounces	Deck of cards
Hot Dogs	3 Ounces	1 Hot dog
Hummus	2 Tbsp	Golf ball
Lean Meat or Poultry	3 Ounces	Deck of Cards
Peanut Butter	2 Tbsp	Golf ball
Pistachios	1/4 Cup	24 Pistachios
Sausage	1 Ounce	Size of your thumb
Turkey Bacon	3 Slices

Dairy and Cheese	Quantity / Measurement	Physical Equivalent
Cheese	1 1/2 Ounces	3 Stacked dice
Buffalo Mozzarella	1 Ounce	Ping pong ball
Frozen Yogurt	1/2 Cup	Light bulb
Ice Cream	1/2 Cup	Light bulb
Milk (Skim or 1%)	8 Ounces / 1 Cup	3/4 Height of a soda   can
Yogurt	1 Cup	Baseball
Yogurt (Plain,   unsweetened)	8 Ounces	3/4 Height of a soda   can

Snacks	Quantity / Measurement	Physical Equivalent
Black Olives	10-15 Black olives
Chocolate Covered   Raisins	15 Chocolate covered   raisins
Chocolate Covered   Strawberries	5 Strawberries   dipped in 1 ounce of melted chocolate	5 Strawberries;   Poker chip of melted chocolate
French Fries	2 Ounces	10 Fries
Popcorn	3 Cups	1 Tennis ball   canister (loosely packed)

Beverages	Quantity / Measurement	Physical Equivalent
Alcohol	Beer – 12 Ounces Wine – 5 Ounces 80 Proof Distilled Sprit – 1.5 Ounces
Iced Coffee	8 Ounces	3/4 Height of a soda   can
Orange Juice	8 Ounces / 1 Cup	3/4 Height of a soda   can
Smoothie	8 Ounces	1/3 of a tennis ball   canister
Soda	8 Ounces / 1 Cup	3/4 Height of a soda   can

Miscellaneous	Quantity / Measurement	Physical Equivalent
Apple Sauce	1 Cup	1 Cup
Mashed potatoes	1/2 Cup	1/2 Tennis ball
Pizza	2 Slices	4″ Wide at   crust x 6″ Long/Slice

 

PizzaDoodle Review

Are you looking for a fun, kid-friendly place to eat with your kids? Try Pizza-Doodle! We have eaten there several times, and our kids love making their own pizzas and playing in their toddler/child-friendly Playland. It is a great place to meet for play dates too. While the children enjoy Playland, moms are able chat with few interruptions. Check it out for yourself!
www.Pizza-Doodle.com

Thank You MOPS!

“Mommies Dearest”,

I know you are in a life stage that involves diapers, failed naps, and messy messes right now.  And that is why it is so special to me that so many of you took the time to prepare and deliver a meal for my family after the birth of our 3^rd girl, Rhyland.  It was so nice to not have to think about dinner on those evenings-what a convenience!  And because our MOP’s group is on the small side, those of you who brought MULTIPLE meals to my home really went above and beyond.  I just can’t thank you enough.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Nicole

(Husband Sean, McKenna 6, Anabel 19 Mo., & Rhyland 1 Mo.)