Nom, nom, nom...

Did you make it to our MOPS meeting last week? Did you get to taste one of those yummy pumpkin doughnut muffins? Well, we did, and we enjoyed them so much that we wanted to share the recipe with you! With the chilly weather on tap for this week, get yourself to the store for the ingredients and bake up a batch! Don't forget to share with the rest of your family...

Can I get a collective shout out to to Lisa Gaskins for sharing her baking love with us?! THANK YOU, Lisa!!!

Almond Flour Pumpkin Donut Muffins

2 1/2 cups blanched almond flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 large eggs
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup organic canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla

6 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup granulated cane sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon


Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease mini muffin tins.
2. In a large bowl, combine the almond flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Stir until thoroughly combined. In a medium bowl, combine the eggs, maple syrup, pumpkin puree, canola oil and vanilla. Stir until smooth. Pour the egg mixture into the almond flour mixture and stir until combined.
3. Fill each muffin cup with about a tablespoon of batter (I used my small cookie scoop). Bake for 15 minutes or until muffins test done with a toothpick.
4. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat. Combine the sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon in a small bowl.
5. As soon as the muffins are cool enough to handle, dip each one into the butter, then roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
6. Store only lightly covered so the sugar stays granulated. (If they are stored in an air-tight container, the moisture will make the sugar dissolve.)

Tuesday, 10/22: Embracing the Beautiful You: Love Languages

Some 12 years ago, I began my journey to accepting Jesus Christ as my Savior and being baptized as a Christian. Along that journey, my pastor turned me on to Gary Chapman and the Five Love Languages. Chapman's book was instrumental in helping me understand myself (Words of Affirmation, since I'm sure you were all dying to know!) as well as others around me, and I often find myself going back to the tenets of his teachings when getting to know new friends, my husband, and even my own young children.

If this is the first that you have heard of the Five Love Languages, I want to invite you to take this assessment to discover how you best express and experience love in your life.

If this is old news, tell us: How have the Five Love Languages impacted your life over the years?

We hope that all of you will join us this Tuesday to share your experiences and delve deeper into the meaning behind Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time, and Physical Touch.

MEETING TOPIC: Embracing the Beautiful You: Love Languages

WHEN: Tuesday, 10/22 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Bible Church (3245 Kalmia Ave., Boulder, CO 80301)

FOOD will be provided by Jessica Silver's table

We will start with a welcome message and prayer before we eat and play "High/Low" at our tables. 

After announcements, Kacey will guide us through a craft. It's a "Give Thanks" banner that will be perfect for Thanksgiving, and she promises that we will all want to put it on display in our homes! Guaranteed! ;-)

Finally, Aaron Britton, Calvary's Pastor of Worship and Young Adults, will give a talk about The Five Languages of Love. We have given Aaron some leeway in his talk, so come prepared for surprises!

See you on Tuesday!

Sheryl

Loving on our Kids: Laura Fischer

Next up in getting to know the lovely women who care for our children during MOPS meetings is Laura Fischer!

NAME: Laura Fischer

MOPPETS Title: Teacher for the 4's and 5's

BIRTHDAY: February 16, 1942 (Laura says she's old enough to be our grandmother, which makes her just perfect for loving on our kiddos).

HOMETOWN: Laura grew up in Golden, CO. She lived in Houston, TX for 30 years before moving back to Boulder in 1997 when her husband retired. She is so happy to be "home!"

CHILDCARE EXPERIENCE: Laura became a Christian as a child and has been teaching preschoolers in MOPS, Sunday schools, Vacation Bible schools, and Bible clubs since high school. She also interned at a Montessori school when she lived in Texas.

FAVORITE THINGS: Laura loves teaching and being with kids (she has 5 grandchildren!), traveling in her small RV, and watching movies with the love of her life (for 50 years!).

FUN FACT: Laura was a red head when young, and often was asked at age 35, "Who frosted your hair?"  It was totally white at age 40.

Thank you for your service, Laura!

MOPS at Cottonwood Farm: Tuesday, 10/15

Come one, come all to this FREE play date at Cottonwood Farms! The farm is located behind the gas station at the SW corner of 75th and Arapahoe in Boulder. We will meet near the entrance at 10 a.m. and tour the grounds at a kid-friendly pace. The little ones can enjoy the corn maze, straw bale maze, tractors and live animals. Be sure to bring your cameras, as well as some money if you decide to take home a pumpkin or two. We will wrap up around 11:30 a.m., but feel free to hang around longer to eat lunch (they do not sell food, but they do have picnic tables on-site).

Now, if only they served coffee....

*** Please note that the farms have been particularly "buggy" after last month's onslaught of moisture. Hopefully the issue will subside by the time of our visit, but please dress appropriately and bring bug spray just in case.

Welcome to MOPS, Colton James!

After receiving permission from mama, I wanted to let everyone know that Kim Jones had her baby! Colton James arrived at 3:46 a.m. on Friday, October 5. He weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 19.75" long. Mom, Dad Greg and big brothers Caleb and Cody are all doing great!

Welcome, Colton! We're so excited to meet you!

Tuesdsay, 10/8: Who Am I? Self Care

Do you ever feel invisible as a wife, a woman, or a mom? At some point most women feel unnoticed and unappreciated by their families and other significant people in their lives. Despite how hard you work and serve, does it seem as though your devotion is completely overlooked? 

Then you won't want to miss our next MOPS meeting!

MEETING TOPIC: Who Am I? Self Care

WHEN: Tuesday, 10/8 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Bible Church (3245 Kalmia Ave., Boulder, CO 80301)

FOOD will be provided by Joanna Buhlig's table

We will start with a welcome message and prayer before we eat and play "High/Low" at our tables. 

After announcements, Stephanie Sullivan will share her own "Real Mom Moment" about a mess that was redeemed. 

Kacey has prepared a fun craft for us: we'll be making these gorgeous bird necklaces!

After the craft, we will have a very special guest speaker. Dale Skram comes highly recommended by MOPS International, and she will share her mama wisdom and insight with all of us. The title of her talk is "The Invisible Mom: Feeling Lost and then Found." 

Looking at Hagar, an invisible woman from the book of Genesis, who came to know "the God who sees me," Dale shows us how the experience of being seen by God can transform our hidden, mundane lives and allow us to see our husbands, our children, ourselves and God in a new and encouraging way.

I don't know about you, but I'll be scrambling for a front row seat for this talk! On behalf of Steering, we look forward to sharing this special day with you on Tuesday!

Sheryl

Loving on Our Kids: Wendy Tyburczy

Mamas:

I think it's important that we get to know the selfless women who love on our kiddos during our MOPS meetings. They are a critical component to the success of our group because they free us up to care for ourselves by connecting with others. Toward that end, I have been interviewing our MOPPETS workers, and I will post my findings here on a fairly regular basis.

First up is our fearless MOPPETS coordinator, Wendy!

NAME: Wendy Tyburczy

MOPPETS Title: Coordinator

BIRTHDAY: October 23rd (be sure to wish her a Happy Birthday this month!)

HOMETOWN: Northglenn, CO

CHILDCARE EXPERIENCE: Wendy babysat in high school and also helped out in the church nursery. She started as a child care provider for MOPS and became Coordinator this year.

FAVORITE THINGS: Photography, going to the theater, spending time with friends, baking and doing crafts.

FUN FACT: Wendy knows the words to ALL of the Disney movies and songs!

Thank you for your service, Wendy!