MOPS 2012-2013 Registration

Welcome to Brookside MOPS!

Our online registration is now open to anyone who would like to join our MOPS Group. We meet on the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month. Our MOPS year runs September through April from 9-11:15 a.m.

To register for MOPS, either click the Plunge Logo at the top left of the page or click here . Be sure to sign up for our email subscription so you receive all the blog posts that contains important information you won't want to miss out on.

The journey of motherhood is not meant to be traveled alone -- Grab a friend or two and join us!  We look forward to seeing you this fall.

How to Pack a Shoe Box

1. SHOE BOX

Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift.

2. BOY OR GIRL?

Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Print out the appropriate boy/girl label by downloading the labels here. (The front desk at Brookside will have labels available as well.) Mark the correct age category on the label, and tape the label to the top of your box.

3. FILL WITH GIFTS

Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child.  Some gift ideas include:
TOYS:   small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky®, etc. pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc. toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc. Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps;A PERSONAL NOTE:   In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.)

4. INCLUDE YOUR DONATION

Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can give online by using our EZGIVE option, or you can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation.

5. DROP OFF

Place a rubber band around each closed shoe box and drop off at the front desk at Brookside on or before November 10.

For more information regarding Operation Christmas Child, please visit Samaritan's Purse.

Swiss Eggs

Swiss Eggs
from Sarah G., 2/4 Hospitality Coordinator


8 oz of your favorite shredded cheese
1 tsp dry mustard
4 Tbsp melted butter, cooled at room temp.
1 Cup heavy cream
1/2 tsp salt, dash pepper
12 eggs
1 pkg frozen hash brown patties
1 lb diced ham


Line a 9x13 pan with has brown patties. Cover with shredded cheese and diced ham. Mix cream, salt, pepper, dry mustard and cooled butter. Pour 1/2 mixture over cheese. Beat eggs and pour on top of cream mixture. Add remaining cream mixture to top of eggs. Do NOT stir. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 min.

Beyond the Memory Box

Beyond the Memory Box

by Nicki B., Creative Activities Coordinator

Moms: Below is the full article from our MOPS Minute Newsletter.

I hope you all enjoyed our last craft! It was fun to see you all get creative with your little white box. Who knew a little white box could bring so much inspiration and joy! I know many of you used the ideas we presented for your box. There were many “Prayer Boxes” and “Blessing Boxes” and “Caught Being Good Boxes” that left Brookside that day.

Here is another option that would make a wonderful gift for someone special in your life -- A Memory Jar! Decorate a jar (or a box) and fill it with slips of paper that contain memories about that person or things you love about that person. Maybe your slips of paper could big enough to have a picture too – sort of a scrapbook in a jar about your loved one. I don’t know about you but I would LOVE a gift like this!

You could also make it a family project and create a new tradition. Have everyone in your family fill the jar throughout the year with things that happen that they want to remember. Have them put their name on their memory and date it. Your 5 year old might have a memory every day. Your teenager might only write one every other week. Imagine how fun to look back at the end of the year. Then you can put those memories in an envelope or a photo album and start the New Year off again with an empty jar.

So grab a jar and start writing down those memories!

"Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." -- from the TV show The Wonder Years"