October means Trunk or Treat and Fall Festival at POP!

Hi MOMS. Like it or not, fall is in full swing, and despite the 90+ degree temperatures, October is upon us! 

October 18 is the POP Fall Festival, which is fun for the whole family. This year, MOMS will be charge of the Duck Pond. We are looking for volunteers to work in 30 minute to 1 hours shifts from 5:00-9:30 pm. We will be helping the kids fish rubber ducks out of a pond for prizes. If you can help, just e-mail Natalie at natalierandy@gmail.com and let her know what time you can volunteer.

And October 25 is this year's Trunk or Treat hosted by POP MOMS and the Knights of Columbus! All families are welcome to join. The church parking lot will open at 5:30 pm, the children's parade will be at 6:00 pm followed by trunk or treating. Admission is $2 per child or a canned food donation.

MOMS is off to a great start

Sept 13 marked the first MOMS meeting of the new year. We spent the time catching up and meeting new people. We had adorable little ones present, and a number of moms expecting!

The group played an ice breaker to get to know each other better and all of the board members introduced themselves and shared their committees' plans for the year.

Check out the list of events at the right of this page to learn about upcoming activities.

MOMS President Susie Preissler welcoming new and veteran members

First MOMS meeting of the year

First meeting is Fri, Sept 13 - Meet, Eat & Mingle

Ladies, let's tackle Friday the 13th together with the first meeting of a new POP MOMS year! Join us to enjoy each other in fellowship and learn more about what's planned for the year.

Things to remember:

• Childcare is available for $10. For those sweet babies too young for childcare, they are welcome at the meeting.
• Annual membership dues are $35. If you're new to the group, feel free to use the first meeting to check us out. Returning members, please remember you'll need to fill in a new membership form.
• Food will be provided. Come hungry!

Mark your calendars for upcoming meetings:

• Oct 11 - Officer Mark Dawson will share tips on keeping our kids safe.
• Nov 8 - Nutritionist Jill Etheridge will educate us on healthy eating.
• Dec 13 - Celebrate the holidays at our Christmas social.

Announcing the 2013-2014 POP MOMS Board Members

Each year, the success of POP MOMS is driven by ready and willing volunteers who lead various aspects of the group. Please join us in welcoming this year's board members. There are opportunities throughout the year for all MOMS members to volunteer. The Outreach committee will find opportunities for us in the community, Hospitality always needs help with set-up, clean-up and refreshments for each meeting, and Children's Activities will need help with events like Trunk or Treat and Breakfast with Santa. These are great ways not only to serve each other and our families, but to get to know each other better and meet new people.

President: Susie Preissler
Vice President:  Robyn Schuller
Treasurer:  Lisa Hill
Secretary:  Angela DeLeon
Membership/Welcoming committee:  Elsa Lopez, Kelly Andras, Kathie Hazzard, Pam Guerra
Fundraising:  Kerry Gaffney
Social:  Summer Cook, Beth McLaughlin
Outreach:  Eileen Korrie, Rose Wright
Hospitality:  Jessica Morris, Maria Kenney, Minday Noonan, Sara Ferrara
Spiritual:  Alison Bourgeois, Bridget Jowid, Carolyn Walsh
Children's Activities:  Anne Stone, Natalie McHugh
Blog/Web/Facebook:  Anne Joles, Chantal Boeckman, Allison Lemme 
Childcare:  Roz Giancola, Maureen Redman
Baptism:  Tara Walsh

Pope Francis asks us to pray for parents & teachers as we gear up for a new year

Hello! Welcome to or welcome back to the Prince of Peace MOMS blog. We've been on a summer hiatus, but are happy to report that we're gearing up for a new year of MOMS activities.

The new MOMS board, led by new president Susie Preissler, met this week, so check back here for our new schedule and the wonderful group of MOMS board volunteers who are working to make this a great year for you and your families.

In the meantime, 3 things you can do now to make sure you're "in the know" -- (1) subscribe to POP's weekly e-newsletter here to receive the latest on parish news and activities; (2) "like" POP MOMS on Facebook; and (3) add the MOMS blog to your favorites.

Also, as we get ready for a new school year and a new season, join us in praying for the Pope's monthly intentions for August. The general intention is for Parents & Teachers -- that parents and teachers may help the new generation to grow in upright conscience and life.

Prayer of the Month

Heavenly Father, you promised that those who teach holiness will shine as stars for all eternity. Fill parents and teachers with wisdom and understanding, counsel and fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. May parents and teachers themselves enjoy and impart to their children and students a pure and holy love of God. May the blessings of your Holy Spirit, who is the love of the Father and the Son, be upon all who teach and all who learn. Amen.

Worthwhile read related to this month's general intention: 
"Teaching the Catholic Faith Effectively," an article edited by Fr. John Hardon S.J.

May God bless us and give us courage to express His love through parenting, teaching, and learning.

Last meeting for 2012 - 2013 - May 17

For the last meeting of the season, we will welcome Jenny Klement, back by popular demand.

                                                         

This meeting will be catered by Breadwinners, so $15 per person needs to be paid in advance. Please make checks payable to POP MOMS and lefit in the envelope marked "May Meeting" in the MOMS box by the school office. Please also RSVP to help us keep head count for the caterers.

This is going to be a fun and memorable way to end this wonderful year with POP MOMS. 

We hope to see you all there.


                                                       

Learn how to be THE hostess with the mostest at the March meeting

Join us Friday, March 22, 10a-12p in the Church atrium for our March meeting. As always, childcare will be provided for a nominal fee.


                                    

This month we welcome Courtney Warren, owner and creative director of a stationery and design business, Come Together Cards. She recently starred on TLC's Four Houses. Courtney is a Dallas native and will guide us through how to host a fun, fresh and memorable party for any occasion. We are so excited to have her join us. Bring your party questions.... she will have all the answers!


                              

Register for the Faith Run today!

POP MOMS just became the latest sponsor of the Faith Run! Register today to join this fun-filled and inspiring community event benefiting Hogar Suyapa (orphanage in Honduras), Prince of Peace Outreach and Minnie's Food Pantry. 

We look forward to seeing you at the run on Saturday, April 13.

Meeting dates have changed

MOMS, please note the following changes for the remainder of the 2012-2013 MOMS meetings.

MARCH meeting will change from March 8 to March 22.
Featuring Courtney Warren, hostess with the Mostest! 

APRIL meeting is April 12 featuring Abe Smith, Minister, Marriage:Drawing Closer.

MAY meeting will change from May 10 to May 17. Back by popular demand will be Jenny Klement, wife, mom, speaker, musician. Blessed, not Stressed.

We hope to see you at these upcoming meetings.
All are same time, same place.

Mark your calendars - February 15, Way of the Cross for Children

February speakers featured in People magazine this week!

Don't miss our February meeting where Todd & Tara Storch, founders of The Taylor's Gift Foundation will be our speakers! Join us to hear their inspirational story that is featured in People magazine this week.

January meeting recap - We got organized!

Lorraine Brock, Founder and President of Get Organized, didn't disappoint at our January meeting. She brought a ton of tips to help us get organized and made us wonder if we were Ms. Chaos or Ms. Organized.

The tip that resonated for many of us was, "Make sure you are called to serve where you are serving. We don't have to do everything."

Lorraine advised that a good place to start on the road to organization is meal planning, and she suggested a number of websites with services that provide menus and grocery lists to make our busy lives a little easier. Among her recommendations were www.e-mealz.com and www.TheFresh20.com.

Get Organized currently has a Living Social deal for a 2-hour at-home consultation for $69 ($150 value) and 10% off additional services booked at the consultation. Check out Living Social for more info, and MOMS members received a link via email on January 15.

Also at the meeting, parishioner Linda Kelly provided information about the POP ministry Kids Helping Kids, which gives the funds collected from the children during each mass. If you're interested in helping with this great ministry, members can check that same January 15 email for Linda's contact information.

Our next meeting is February 8, where parents Todd and Tara Storch will be our speakers. They are the founders of the Taylor's Gift Foundation, named in honor of their daughter whose life tragically ended when she was 13. Join us to hear the story of how Taylor's legacy lives today.

Welcome 2013! We're ready for you!

Hello ladies! If you're reading this, you've survived the holidays and you're ready to take on 2013. Our January meeting will help you do just that with professional organizer Lorraine Brock, Founder and President of Get Organized!

Lorraine will share her personal story of raising her now three teenage sons and how she kept order in their home in a chaotic world. She'll have real and practical organizing tips for the home in areas such as meal planning, paper clutter, time management, kid’s chores, and so much more. Lorraine’s career as a Professional Organizer and her love for the Lord has produced great wisdom and insight in how to run and manage the home with prudence and go from stressed to blessed! 

Lorraine is a popular media guest on shows such as Good Day Fox and Good Morning Texas, has been on various radio stations and in newspapers and magazines such as The Dallas Morning News and SheKnows.com.

Childcare is available for your little ones (9 mos and older) in the Church nursery ($10 per child/per meeting or a discounted annual prepayment of $50/child).

All moms are welcome to join, but if you didn't receive an invite directly (and would like to), don't forget your membership fee ($35) provides a multitude of spiritual, motivational, and joyful opportunities to grow as mothers, faith-filled women, and friends.