Momology The Nearly Scientific Journal of

The & Art Science of Mothering

12 Ways To Keep Love

Alive

Eat Your Heart Out

February 2011

http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-heart-in-clouds-rimagefree1749315-resi2545855

2010—2011 Steering Team

NE MOPS

Coordinator

Stacy Swan

Publicity

Bonnie Daughenbaugh

Note from the Editor

ove. What is it? We heard the word used so often, do we conceptualize what it truly means? According to the Wikipedia, love is the emotion of strong affection and

personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. In some religious contexts, love is not just a virtue, but the basis of being.

Words can not express the deep emotions that come when you look into those eyes and hold your little one. God has shown His love to us in so many ways, but definitely the portrait of love comes into perspective when you become a parent. Tune in this month for some creative ways to make love come alive in your marriage, delectable creations, a love poem, and so much more. This newsletter is specifically for—and about—our NE MOPS group. If you would like to contribute articles or pictures, please e-mail me at northeastmops@nemops.org. I’ll try to include as many as I can throughout the MOPS year.

Bonnie

Finance

Melissa Miller

Hospitality

Krista Stempka'

MOPPETS

Creative Activities

Dede Fox

Mom Mentor

Kathy Tau

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Discussion Group Leader (DGL)

Bethany Fiorello

Lisa Miller

L

in this issue

New Vision

January 2011

Make some magic...

Page 6

The Science Spot 4 Delectable Creations 4 Mommy’s Masterpiece 5

An Art Spot 5

12 Ways To Keep Love Alive 6

Love 7 Around Town 8

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4

Delectable Creations

Sweet, low fat and oh so good. This dessert is sure to please all of your sweethearts. Please email me your crowd-pleasing recipes at NorthEastMops@nemops.org.

• 1 (14 oz.) sweetened con-densed milk

• 3 (3 oz.) packages of red gelatin

• 2 (1/4 oz.) envelopes of unflavored gelatin.

Eat Your Heart Out

Princess and the Pea! Your child can explore the acute sense of touch with layers. Explain that this is one of our five senses and we can learn from it.

What you will need:

• Items with layers

• Books about objects with layers such as leaves, trees, the earth, the human body

Instructions:

1. Read the book, “The Princess and The Pea.” 2. Ask your child where they can find layers? (layers of clothing, layers in a cake…). 3. Try one of these activities: a.) Eat an artichoke and see how many layers there are before you reach the heart; b.) make a three layer Jell-O salad; c.) make a 7 layer taco dip. 4. With your help, help your child layer themselves with multiple blankets. Have them stay tucked underneath for a few minutes to see how warm and cozy it becomes. 5. Show your child multiple pictures of organic items with layers: leaves, skin, trees, and the Earth. 6. Place an object such as a small ball, or book beneath a cushion and have your child sit on it. Can they tell if it is there? Each time add another cushion, how many cushions (layers) before they can not feel the object. The Princess and the Pea in the Danish floral park Jesperhus

THE SCIENCE SPOT

1. Dissolve one package of flavored gelatin in 3/4 cup boiling water. Add 3/4 cup cold water, then pour the mixture into a 9- by 13-inch glass pan and refrigerate for 1 hour 2. Stir together 1/2 cup boiling water and the condensed milk. In a separate bowl, dissolve all the unflavored gelatin in ½ cup cold water for 1 to 2 minutes. Thoroughly mix in 3/4 cup boiling water, then combine this mixture with the milk and let it cool. Add half the mixture to the pan of red gelatin, pouring it over a spatula to slow the stream, and refrigerate for 20 minutes 3. Continue alternating layers — gelatin mix, the remaining milk mix, the final gelatin mix — chilling each for 20 to 30 minutes to set it. Create individual servings with a heart-shaped biscuit or cookie cutter.

Ingredients:

Directions:

MOMMY’S MASTERPIECE Cupcakes anyone!

Chocolate and girls, do I say more? Here is my adorable little girl, Jillian. Jillian decided that she wanted a cupcake. Little did I realize that she would enjoy it so very much.

Mail me your masterpieces to: northeastmops@nemops.org and I’ll publish it!

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Picture by Dena Askins

Here is a botanical Valentine that is sure to be a winner. This is a two-in-one card that comes complete with a greeting, and a packet of seeds that anyone would en-joy receiving. What you'll need:

• Packet of seeds

• Double-sided tape

• Card stock

• Markers

Instructions: 1. Cut a pot shape from folded terra-cotta-colored

card stock paper. 2. Add a flowery message to the packet of seeds, and

transplant it with double-sided tape to the card-stock pot.

3. Add a message to the inside, and you’ve got the perfect way to tell that special someone he’s really grown on you.

THE ART SPOT Plant One On Me

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12 Keys To Keep Love

Alive In Marriage

very day stress and busyness takes a toll on our lives, our families, and our marriages. According to a recent study (Source: The Barna Group, Ventura, CA—March 31, 2008) one-third (33%) of adults who have been married have experienced at least one di-vorce. Many couples are finding it easier to give up, rather than fight to keep their mar-

riage alive and healthy. The demands outside the home have created havoc within keeping love alive. Marriage has become dull, boring and routine for so many. It takes time, energy, and commitment to stay the course and keep your marriage healthy. How can that spark be reignited in your relationship? Here are twelve tips to stay the course.

1. Praise is such a great gift, and it is so easy to give. Look at your spouse and see what makes your spouse unique and others unique and develop a habit of praising them for those special things.

2. Every painful trial is like an oyster, and there is a precious pearl, a personal benefit, in every single one.

3. Don’t go it alone. Welcome fresh insights or other perspectives from extended family, friends, or qualified marriage counselors.

4. In a mutually satisfying relationship, both people's needs are expressed, and they have the flexibility to give and take.

5. Honor goes hand in glove with love, a verb whose very definition is doing worthwhile things for someone who is valuable to us.

E

Permission to print granted by: Smalley Relationship Center

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By Smalley Relationship Center

12 Keys To Keep Love Alive In Marriage (cont’d))

6. All our trials, great and small, can bring more of the two best things in life: love for life and love for others.

7. Oneness does not mean that one mate dominates the other or that the stronger controls the weaker.

8. Anger is our choice. We can choose to see its powerful potential for destruction and take steps to reduce it within us. Otherwise, it's and iceberg sinking our love.

9. Better understanding of the motivations and actions that grow out of our basic personalities can help us achieve personal and marital satis-faction.

10. Sharing deep feelings with each other is emotional intercourse, and it's vital to sexual satisfaction.

11.As we reach out to another, our own needs for fulfillment and love are met.

12. Give seven or more praises for each fault-finding suggestion.

If I had my child to raise all over again, I’d finger paint more and point my finger less. I’d do less correcting and more connecting. I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes. I would care to know less and know how to care more. I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.

I’d stop playing se-rious, and seriously play. I’d run through more fields and gaze at more stars. I’d do more hugging and less tugging. I would be firm less

often, and affirm much more. I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later. I’d teach less about the love of , and more about the power of love.

Love—Author Unknown

Better Moms Make a Better World

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Around Town: • Common Ground—NE MOPS outing, February 5th 2:00-4:00 p.m.. $5.00/per child. Bouncers, WII,

rock wall. • Wine and Chocolate Weekend—February 4-6. 12:00-5:00 p.m. Treat your special Valentine to a

fun weekend in Lake Erie, Wine Country. Call (877) 326-6561 for details. • “Zoo”sical Adventure—Erie Zoo, Wednesdays, 10:00-11:00 a.m. Explore the

wacky books of Dr. Seuss; meet some animals while looking at their coverings, homes, and movements. Make a craft to take home. Ages 2-3. $16.00 for adult and child (members), $22.00 nonmembers.

• MOMS Night Out—Boston Bean—February 25th 5:00-7:00 p.m.

NORTH EAST MOPS would like to thank Assembly of God Church

for the printing services. Thank you so much!

If you happened to come upon this newsletter and are interested in joining MOPS, please do!

MOPS meets the 2nd Tuesday from 10:00-11:30 am. And the 4th Tuesday from 6:15-8:15 pm.

September thru May.

For more information call 725-3435.

Find us at:

2025 Orchard Beach Rd.

North East, PA 16428

(814) 725-3435

www.nemops.org

Check this

out!

Check this out:

• Don’t miss our Moms Night Out at Boston Bean on Friday, Febru-ary, 25th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Ask a friend to join you and enjoy a well deserved night out.