MOPS is a bigger part of my life this Fall as I've volunteered to serve on the Steering Committee as Secretary.  It's not so much the job of Secretary, keeping a scrapbook and taking minutes, that I'm excited about but it's being a part of the "behind-the-scenes" action that grabbed my interest.  There is one MOPS group in the Netherlands, it meets in Leidschendam which is near Den Haag in South Holland.  It is my desire to learn all I can about running a MOPS group so that I could possibly get something started in Amsterdam once we return.     

At the beginning of October I'll travel to Dallas to attend the MOPS International Convention.  I'm looking forward to specialized seminars on starting groups in other countries as well as spending time with the other women from Austin. 

In case you're interested, here is the MOPS Purpose Statement: 

MOPS International exists to encourage, equip and develop every mother of preschoolers to realize her potential as a woman, mother and leader in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Adventures in Mothering is this year's MOPS theme and at the first meeting we were asked to answer the following question:  "What has been your greatest adventure so far as a mother?"  We were in small groups to share our responses and I enjoyed hearing all the adventures other moms have experienced and I wish I could repeat what everyone said, but it'd only be appropriate for me to share my own response...

     So far, I've had a fairly adventerous motherhood.  From traveling with Adriaan to five countries

     including two trans-atlantic flights to riding my bike to the  hospital the day he was born via

     emergency c-section, I can't say it's been boring!

At that first meeting, our speaker gave us an assignment.  The title of her talk was "It's not all about the kids" and our assignment was to try to re-capture part of who we were before becoming mothers, such as a hobby or skill.  In the two weeks until the second meeting (yesterday) I decided it was time to dust off my cello.  I stopped playing when my pregnant belly got in the way and haven't picked it up since, almost 2 years.

It's only been a few days now that the cello has been re-tuned but I've enjoyed playing along with Adriaan on guitar and Will on drums.  Adriaan, who is so much like his daddy seems to be a natural at guitar, at least he can sing while strumming and that took me months to master!  We jam out to "Ba Ba Blacksheep/Twinkle Twinkle/ABC song."

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Yesterday, at the second MOPS meeting, I had to giggle when before we ate breakfast someone prayed, "God, thank you that we get to eat in peace with out having to cut anyone's food."  Many women look forward to the needed break that MOPS provides, while we meet together all the children are being taken care of in the next building.  I am among those who needs a break from time to time.  Our speaker for the day gave a talk called "Mothering Matters" and she used a phrase that has stuck with me, "bundle of contradictions."  I am such a thing in many ways, but one example is that I look forward to a short break and not having to cut Adriaan's food, yet by the end of the meeting I can't wait to go get him.  I love it that he runs to me and gives me a big hug.  I enjoy that I matter to him.  Our speaker discussed the ways that mothers affect their children's development physically, emotionally and spiritually and the best piece of advice I took home was her encouragement to pray, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him" (James 1:5).

During the meeting I wrote down a few random things that came to mind about Adriaan, just little things that may only be important to me because I think he's wonderful. 

-- If during the course of a "bad day" I'm unkind to Adriaan in my words or actions he is quick to forgive me.  I'll sit him on my lap, look in his eyes and ask him to please forgive me.  He responds with a quick "yep," and big hug.  These are the days when I ask God to help Adriaan forget that I lost my patience and asked him to leave me alone or got frustrated that after peeling the banana he changed his mind and wants a pear...etc.  I know I won't be a perfect mom, but it's hard on my heart to know that my imperfection affects someone I love so much.

-- If Adriaan gets an ou-wey and Will is around he can usually "rub it off" but when it's just me he wants me to kiss it.  Recently, he's started to show me what hurts and ask "mama kiss?"  Will initally asked me not to give in too much but after talking about it he agreed that it's a special thing between us.  I won't be asked to kiss his ou-weys forever, soon enough he'll be too old for that gooey stuff.

-- I've heard stories from friends who have boys that some little guys are very protective of their moms.  It's possible that Adriaan is such a little guy, though I wouldn't have expected to see it manafest so young.  Sometimes we have family wrestle time, which really involves me trying to say out of the way as Will and Adriaan tackle, tickle and giggle.  In fact, if Adriaan starts to charge at me I hold up my hands and say "be gentle with mama!"  On occasion, Will decides to involve me and without much effort pins me in a matter of seconds.  Adriaan has come very close to tears while trying to defend me by pleading "dada no-no, mama pain..."  I feel emotional just thinking about how sad he looks when he thinks I'm being hurt.

-- Adriaan has learned how to give raspberries and it's precious.