We are thrilled to welcome you aboard as we boldly go where MANY Moms have gone before!
The MOPS International theme for 2009-2010 is
“Together on Planet Mom”.
We will be covering different topics that so many of us Moms deal with on a regular basis, including organizing our households, planning and cooking nutritious meals, financial responsibility, and so much more. We will also be completing fun and useful crafts.
We look forward to exploring with you after all
we are better together!
Your 2009-2010 Okinawa MOPS Steering Team
Trish Komarovskiy ~ Coordinator
I have been married to my husband Slava for three years this October. We have two wonderful children: Hannah turns seven in September and Alexander who recently turned one. My husband and I met in OmahaNebraska (my home town) while I was managing conventions at the Doubletree Hotel Downtown. This is my first time serving women for MOPS and I am so excited God has called me to this position. MOPS helped me start my life here on Okinawa and I want to help give that same opportunity to other moms.
Jennifer Rogers ~ Co-coordinator
I am from Cabot, Arkansas. I have been married to my husband Jackson for 3 years come November 24. We have one son who is almost 2. I met Jackson through his mother. She was a usual at the local diner. I started having Sunday dinner at her house and learned she had a son my age. He asked for my number after a couple of months of regular Sunday lunches but he was never in Arkansas. He was out of state the entire time. After months of phone conversations he flew me to Texas to see him. It was love at first sight.A year later we were married. My favorite thing to do in Okinawa is going to the beach since Arkansas only has sandbars.
Tina Gregory ~ Co-coordinator
I am from Southern California. I have been married to my husband Ky for eight years. We met at a field exercise in 29 palms, California. We now have 3 kids and one on the way! Ky Jr is 6 years old, Keira is 4, Kolton is 21 months and baby #4 is due in April. My favorite thing to do here in Okinawa is eating out in town with my family and friends.
Kim Freese ~ Hospitality
I am from Green, Bay, Wisconsin. My husband’s name is Steve. We have been married for 11 years and we have 3 children, Ryan is 5, Sarah is 2 and Madison is 1. Steve and I met in college. We lived in the same dorm. My roommates and I were going around meeting everyone and we knocked on his door and introduced ourselves. There is so much that I enjoy doing on Okinawa! I love being able to walk to the beach, discovering new restaurants, and going to Round One.
Wendy Pete ~ Discussion Group Leader
I'm really excited about being on the Mops Steering Team this year. We waited forever before I got to be a mom so I'm thrilled to be a MOP! I was born in Houston, Texas and moved my Senior year to New Iberia, Louisiana. It's a really great place because that's where I met my awesome husband, Bob. We have been married 16 years, but it doesn't feel that long at all. We met when he walked into my church one Sunday morning. I looked over and saw the cute guy in the suit and wondered if he might possibly be single. My mom and one of the older ladies in the church started praying for us to "like" each other and we did :) Right now we only have Micah who is 3 1/2 and a firecracker!!! He's bound to be an Olympic runner since he runs all the time. We want to adopt him a sister when we return to the states, but my ears are always listening in case God has a little girl for us here. My favorite thing to do here in Okinawa is to go to church, but right behind that is to go shell hunting even thought I hate the sand!
Ashley Berry ~ Creative Activities
I have been married to my husband Derek for 6 years now. We met while I was in high school and 5 months later were married. WE are both from Atlanta, GA. I am so proud to call the south my home. He was leaving college and going into the Air Force, so we have been married as long as he has been in. We have 3 precious daughters. God bless Derek with all these females in our home, including our dog, Gracie. WE have been on Okinawa for 3 years. Coming here has been the biggest blessing in disguise for our family. We have grown more, and my relationship with Jesus has grown tremendously after some soul searching. I am so proud to be a part of MOPS this year. MOPS has given my family and myself so much and has saved me in a time of depression and desperation for other adult contact!! I am looking forward to serving all these wonderful women.
Andrea MacGrath ~ Finance
We have been stationed on Okinawa for 2 years now, going on 3 and looking to extend to 2013. We absolutely love it here and can't imagine leaving anytime soon. We have two children, Gracia 8 and Luke 5, who love everything Okinawa has to offer from the food, beaches and a bevy ofoutdoor activities. My husband and I were introduced about 7 years ago by our parents who knew eachother some 35 years ago before I was even born! They assure me it was not an arranged marriage but sometimes I wonder... As things go in the Marine Corps our courtship was quick, our wedding was inexpensive and our moveshave beenfrequent but I wouldn't have it any other way. This is my second year in MOPS and I look forward to encouraging each of you. Thanks for this opportunity to serve!
Lisa Krason ~ Publicity
I am originally from Jacksonville, Florida. I have been married to Scott for 4 years and we have two daughters (Faith 3 years old and Leah 7 months). We meet while we were both working at Yokota Air Base. I enjoy going to the beautiful beaches here on Okinawa even though all I do is sit with my feet in the sand.
Arleta Brehm ~ MOPPETS
I am from New London, Missouri. I have been married to Justin for 8 years. The first time we met I was doing a Christian drama troupe performance at his new church, they had a fellowship for the youth after so actually the first time I met him was at his house! We have 3 children, Korbin (6), Kane (4) and Katara (2). I love being outside, if it is nice I will be at the beach or taking a walk or visiting one of the great parks here with my kids.
Carla Soule ~ Mentor Mom
Hi everyone! I am very excited to be a Mentor Mom for MOPS this year. My husband Jeremy and I have been married for 17 years and have three children. Hannah, a junior at KubasakiHigh School, is 16, Savannah is 13 and in 9th grade at Kubasaki and Noah, who is almost 9, is in 3rd grade at ZukeranElementary School. We have been in Okinawa since June of 2006, so we are beginning our second tour here. This should be our final duty station before retirement from the Marine Corps. We are from the Piedmont area of North Carolina and hope to settle there, near family, when our adventure is done.Being a wife and mother is my first priority. I feel blessed to have been able to have this as my “career”. In my spare time, I do enjoy running my own Tupperware business. I also like to search the web, play games on the computer, do sudoku and of course get pedicures at Cocoks.
Sherry Reimer ~ Mentor Mom
I am from Oklahoma, born and raised. I met John at the Baptist Student Union in 1980 and we got married in 1981, that's 28 years ago if you can't do the math!We have three children. Jillian is 22 and a student at the University of Oklahoma. Rebekah is 20 and a student here at the University of Maryland. Clark is 16 and a student at Okinawa Christian School International. I love Okinawa and I especially like to drive along the coast line and eat out!
FALL 2009 MEETING DATES
Mops meetings are held from 9:30am-11:30am on the first and third Tuesday of the month.
September 15
Organization
October 6
Laundry & Sewing
October 20
Craft day
November 3
Cooking
November 17
Recipe binders
December 1
Charity
December 15
Tea and Testimony
*Play Date at the Civic CenterPark on
September 29 at 9:30 am
*Mom’s Night Out at Round One on
October 3 at 6:30pm
Policies:
- All meetings will begin promptly at 9:30 am and we will do everything to ensure that they end at 11:30 so you are able to meet any other appointments you might have.
- We encourage you to tell your friends about MOPS and invite them to join. However if you have someone coming with you to a meeting we ask that you contact Tina Gregory prior to the meeting so that she can ensure there is the necessary childcare available.
- Our attendance policy asks that if you are going to miss more three consecutive meetings that you withdraw for that semester so a mom from our waiting list can take part in MOPS. We understand that things come up and children get sick, please let your discussion group leader know if you know ahead of time that you will be missing a meeting. She can make sure to pass on any important information to you.
- MOPS is a safe place to share our trials and triumphs of motherhood with others. Please honor the other mothers in our group by not discussing matters that are sensitive and private.
- Please keep meetings free from soliciting of any private businesses. If you would like to advertise a business you own in our newsletter contact Lisa Krason at .
- Sign in is required for every Mom, every time. This is very important.
- Children should be checked in no earlier than 9:15 and need to be picked up no later than 11:45.
- Children will be permitted in the mothers meeting room until the age of 6 months. At that time, we ask that they be placed in the nursery. If your child needs you during the meeting a worker will come and get you.
- Children will be lovingly cared for in MOPPETS. Every effort is made to quickly settle any crying however, if after 15 minutes he/she is not content the childcare provider will come and get you.
- Mothers are asked to NOT go into the nursery area to check on you child/children. One Mommy’s appearance creates a chain effect of cries in many cases. If you feel uneasy, please ask one of the MOPPETS coordinators, if they are not available any steering team member would be glad to check on your child.
- Snack will be provided. If you have preferred snacks please include it with you child’s bag with you child’s name clearly labeled on it and let the teacher know and it will be given during snack time. We do take snack donations. If you would like to either bring a snack or give a monetary donations to one of the MOPPETS coordinators
- Clearly label ALL diaper bags, snacks and/or sippy cups with your child’s name.
- If you are potty training your child please inform us when you drop your child off so that we can inform your child’s teacher. In the event of an accident your child may be put in “pull-ups” if underwear is not available or if it is necessary because of time constraints. There will never be any negative consequences for any child that has an accident.
- Please DO NOT bring toys from home. Toys are available in all classrooms. However, if there is a “comfort” item that your child prefers please put in the diaper bag prior to entering the rooms and have it labeled with your child’s name.
- HOMESCHOOLED CHILDREN: Currently we do not have enough volunteers to monitor homeschooled children. We ask that homeschooling Moms rotate in and out to check on your child.
SICK CHILD POLICY
Please ensure that your child is not sick when you bring them to MOPS. For the health and safety of other children, if your child has colored mucus, a fever, or is potentially contagious in anyway please DO NOT bring them. Please call or
e-mail your table leader and let her know you will not be attending.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Please ensure that you contact your table leader if circumstances arise and you are not able to attend a MOPS meeting. To better place women on our waiting list, the attendance policy will be enforced.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact one of the MOPPETS coordinator.
Arleta Brehm and Tina Gregory