Dear MOPS Leader,

I’m going on a weeklong vacation in a few days. So I’m in pre-vacation mode…racing around this week…so I can slow down next week. Vacation creates this kind of rhythm that makes both parts better -- the rushing around and the slowing down. Vacation also refuels me to start back up again.

This natural rhythm is built into much of life. Think back to third grade -- schoolwork then recess -- then back to schoolwork. Or college -- final exams, followed by semester break, a time to re-fuel the brain and body for the next round of classes.

I’m convinced that God made us to enter into this kind of rhythm. Jesus modeled it. Busy times of teaching and healing followed by times of quiet rest and prayer. This life rhythm helped him do both parts better.

We can benefit from honoring the same kind of rhythm in our lives. Consider your MOPS year. Maybe you scrambled to put your Steering Team together in the spring. You met the deadline for renewing your charter. You pushed to come up with a plan for the year. Now it’s time for recess. A time to put the MOPS notebook away for a few weeks. A time to rest and refuel to be ready to start your MOPS year in the fall.

How can you plan some rest into the rest of your summer? How about a personal mini-vacation on a Saturday afternoon? Mark off a few "do-nothing" days on your calendar? Choose one book to read in the next month? Entering into this kind of rhythm will make both your rest-time and your leadership better. I’d love to hear your ideas about how you get moments of rest. E-mail me at Questions@MOPS.org.

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace…."

Matthew 11: 28 – 29, The Message

Summer blessings to you,

Carol Kuykendall


P.S. We love getting your feedback to Leaders On-Line. Last month many of you shared the lessons that you learned in leadership last year. Top mention was in sharing the load, delegating, letting others help, and not doing it all yourself. Teamwork is an important part of your Steering Team! MOPS International also teams up with you as a leader by providing resources to make your job easier. The following are some resources to get a great start on your MOPS year:

• MOPS Leadership Curriculum: We have heard from many leaders who have used MOPS Leadership Curriculum this year. One leader said, "I thoroughly loved Gear Up and Go. It felt so good to be able to provide such quality training to my team." Gear Up and Go — Classic has segments on "Who Am I?" and "Am I Really a Leader?" that will build and bond your Steering Team. Order this easy-to-use leadership curriculum today from the MOPShop.
  
  
• Connections Leadership Magazine: Now available by subscription! If your MOPS group needs more than the eight subscriptions you receive through your MOPS charter (two for MOPS@ groups), you can subscribe to Connections for only $10 per year. Forward this e-mail to all your Discussion Group Leaders, MOPS Mentors, leaders in training, and potential leaders so they can get the benefit of this popular resource. Subscribe today through the MOPShop.
  
  
• Five Star Families: Moving Yours From Good to Great is an exciting new book and curriculum resource for MOPS groups. The books and curriculum arrived earlier than expected, so they are now shipping! Many MOPS groups are using the Simply MOPS Curriculum: Five Star Families as a pre-planned MOPS meeting for six sessions. Spread them through your MOPS year and enjoy high quality speakers on DVD, Discussion Questions, Icebreakers, and more. There are also discount prices available on the book, Five Star Families: Moving Yours From Good to Great, so you can share this resource with your whole MOPS group.
  

NOW is the time to register for Convention! Register today for the MOPS International Convention in Grapevine, Texas. The regular registration deadline is August 1st. Space is filling up quickly, so don't delay. Be encouraged by Elisa Morgan, Carol Kuykendall, Sara Groves, Julie Barnhill, and more of your favorite speakers and musicians September 22-24. Go to www.MOPS.org/convention for more details and easy on-line registration.

Terrific Tips
Submit your best mothering ideas to the MOPS Terrific Tips contest! The best tips will be published on www.MOPS.org or in MOMSense Magazine. Share what has worked for you with thousands of other moms! Go to www.MOPS.org/contests/index.php for contest information.

MOMSense Magazine Advisory Team
We're looking for MOMSense Magazine readers to join the MOMSense Advisory Team and provide feedback on the issues from August 2005 through July 2006. Advisory team members review the six published issues of the magazine, as well as preview content for the future issues. A two-page questionnaire is e-mailed monthly to advisory team members and should be completed within two weeks. If you are interested in participating on this team, e-mail MOMSense@MOPS.org with your name, complete address, home phone, e-mail address, MOPS group location (Charter name, city, and state), age, marital status, number of children and their ages, Steering Team member (Y/N), and Steering position (if applicable). Deadline for Advisory Team is August 1st. You will be contacted if you are selected for the Advisory Team. We welcome your input!

GREAT MOMS WALK 2005 A SUCCESS!
Leaders across the land raving about their walk experiences! Repeat walking groups exceed last year’s numbers! New groups ecstatic about pledge results! Did you know that the majority of MOPS groups who participated last year walked again this year? We want you to join us too! The Great Moms Walk is coming April 29, 2006. Empower, equip, and encourage your groups to succeed! For testimonials and more information go www.greatmomswalk.org.