MOPS

Blane and I've been going to MOPS this fall--Mothers of Preschoolers. It's a national Christian-based organization, sort of like a social club or support group with a spiritual bent. Anyway, we're part of one at a community church in Olathe, not far from our church. Several of my friends at church are in it, so I decided to try it out. Blane needed some kind of extra social activity, and I don't want to do preschool now.

Blane has loved MOPS since the first day and has been asking when we were going back. Today was the second meeting (they meet bimonthly during the school year). Blane had been talking since the first day about this huge stoplight posted in the stairwell in the kids wing of the church. Today when I opened the door to the stairs, he stared at that stoplight with great uncertainty. "Blane," I said, "Are you scared?"

"No." The voice was not convincing.

"Do you want me to hold your hand when we go down the stairs?"

"Okay." He has shaken himself out of his spook by the time we made it to the bottom floor.

I've been having a great time in the mom's section...we have brunch together, a speaker on a preschool related topic, prayer and discussion time and sometimes a craft. The women are warm and friendly, and it's been a real pleasure to be around them. One of the women is 28 and undergoing chemo for breast cancer. I signed up to take her a meal later this month. Her story has been so inspirational, to see her living out faith in such a raw way. The MOPS moms have really surrounded her with support.

Anyway, I think MOPS will be a blessing to both Blane and me. I knew Blane would love it, but I didn't know I would too!