There's A Meeting TONIGHT!!

Ladies...we are meeting tonight at MFMC at 5:30 p.m.  FREE meal to start our evening together followed by getting to know one another and having some fun together!  Hope to see you tonight!!

The Kick-Off Is FINALLY HERE!!!

If you are a pregnant teen or a teen mom, please join us tonight at Monee Free Methodist Church.  FREE dinner and childcare is provided!  We'll have some time getting to know about MOPS as an organization, our Monee Teen MOPS Steering Team and how our meetings are going to flow.  We hope to see you there!!

Some updates...

So we had our first Steering Mini-Retreat (okay, okay so it was only 4 hours but we had loads of fun bonding and really got to know each other better) and it was GREAT!  Tonight we're getting together to plan our first meeting and tie up any loose ends.  Yikes!  This came up so fast even though it's been in the works in my heart for 15 years. 

I'm really hoping and praying that you find the courage that it's going to take to come to a new place, meet some new friends, let someone other than your family member take care of your baby and help you spread your wings as a mom.  I can relate to where you're at because I remember my very first meeting at Courage (which was also held at a church) when I was pregnant at 17 years of age.  Here are a few thoughts that ran through my head:
"what the heck am I doing at a church?  I'm 17, pregnant and single!"
"they're just going to judge me"
"why would a church want to do something like this?"
"are they going to try to shove the Bible down my throat and tell me what a sinner I am?"
"I really hope that I end up making some friends"
"I really hope they can help me during this crazy time in my life"
"Am I still loveable?"
"Am I crazy?"
"Have I made the right decision to have my baby?"
"I'm scared to death!"

Well, I got out of the car and walked in.  When I entered the church, there were some leaders there who greeted me and sent me downstairs for my meeting.  That's when I met Maureen...the leader of this radical group.  She welcomed me in and went on speaking (I was late of course) and I just adored her.  She was brassy, honest, blunt and accepting.  I don't really remember what she talked about because I was so consumed with all of the thoughts running through my head now that I finally made it in!  :)  I do remember leaving feeling very encouraged, accepted, loved, respected and like I could actually take on this job of motherhood.

I hope that when you leave our meeting next Monday that you feel the exact same way!  We can't wait to meet you and your child(ren)!!  Don't forget that we'll have dinner for you and your child(ren) free of charge.  If you have dietary restrictions, please let me know ahead of time and we'll do our best to try and accomodate you.  If you plan on attending and your baby is not yet eating solids, please let me know so that we can have some baby food for available. 

We're here to support and encourage you...not to judge you.  We're going to try to make your life a little easier.  Please come.  Feel free to call me at 708-557-8160 with ANY questions that you may have.  We'll see you NEXT MONDAY OCTOBER 4TH AT 5:30 P.M.!!!!

Planning, planning, planning...

We are getting ready for our first "Steering Team" meeting this weekend so that we can plan out our year.  We're planning on having loads of fun together, bonding as a group and really getting to know each other.  One way that we are going to do that is by taking a personality test to see what our personality strengths and struggles are.  I already took mine and I'm a "Playful Sanguine" and my strengths are: loves people, makes friends easily, likes to tell stories, thrives on activity and good salesman.  Sounds good to me!  And then we have the struggles: gets bored easily, can't say "no", talks too much, lacks focus and loses track of time.  WHAT?!?!  I must admit that it's pretty much all true.  But thankfully, I'll be surrounded by all kinds of personalities on our Steering Team and we'll all balance each other out.  You can take the FREE quiz at: http://www.personalityprinciples.com

Don't forget that we KICK OFF on OCTOBER 4TH at 5:30 p.m.  I really hope that we have a good turnout because we have BIG plans for the year.  Our hope is that you'll...meet some friends who can relate to you and the fact that your a mom yet still a teenager, grow emotionally, set some goals, learn some life skills and receive encouragement and support to be the best mom that you can be!!

One more thing...every meeting, there will be a FREE meal for both you and your child(ren) and if we have diapers and formula - they're all yours!  Just come.  Bring a friend!!

See you on October 4th!

Brochures Available!

If you are interested in helping us to get the word out about Monee Teen MOPS, please let me know so that I can get you some brochures to have availble for potential Teen MOPS moms.  Please feel free to call me or e-mail me at annepenney@hotmail.com with how many you need.  As always, thanks for helping!!

Thank You Thank You Thank You!!!

With your help and support, we were able to raise half of our annual budget!!!  We sold 140 Butter Braids!!  We couldn't have done it without your help and support!  Thank you!!

Check Out Our Links!

So I added a few links for you to browse.  Here's a little about each one:

Southside Christian Counseling Center - I (Anne) have worked closely with this counseling office for the past couple years.  I would consider myself friends with Harold Hauser who is the founder of the center.  Harold has been a great friend to Manteno MOPS for the past couple years and is excited about working with Monee Teen MOPS in the future.  Harold has a heart for helping people and he believes that noone should be turned away because they cannot afford counseling.  Give SCCC a call if you are in need of counseling and talk to Linda.  She'll help get you to the best counselor to meet your needs.  She's a great lady.

Rachel's Peace - I (Anne) have volunteered with this organization since October 2007.  They are an organization who puts on weekend retreats to help retreatants heal from the trauma after an abortion.  They are fantastic and I fully support their ministry and vision.  Call Catherine Rennert at 815-968-1157 for more info.

Tricia Goyer - a fellow Teen Mom who works with MOPS International.  You may find her website helpful and you might relate to her quite a bit.

PASS Network of Care - Monee Teen MOPS is partnering with PASS in Tinley Park.  Another fantastic ministry with tons of dimension and a huge heart for women and men who find themselves in an unplanned pregnancy situation.

Monee Free Methodist Church - This is where we'll have our meetings.  You can browse their website in case you are interested in finding out what they are all about.

MOPS International - All MOPS group fall under MOPS International.  Browse their website for useful information and to find a MOPS group close to you (if you can't attend Monee Teen MOPS).

Scentsy!!

We are also in the middle of Scentsy fundraiser too!!  If you love Scentsy as much as we do, then you need to contact Jonelle Eck at 815-955-7151 to place your order!  Scentsy is a safe alternative to candles because there are no wicks to light!  You simply put a cube of wax into your warmer or plug-in, turn it on and enjoy.  My house smells "scentsational" at the moment thanks to my new Scentsy bars!  They have all kinds of warmers and plug-ins available and their new fall/winter catalog just came out!  Some of the warmers even have a matching plug-in for all of you matchy-matchy people out there. 

My new scents are: white tea citrus, lemon, inner peace, mysterious, cheerful day, cucumber lime, black vanilla raspberry, fliratious and sweet pea vanilla.  Fantastic!

We'll be doing this fundraiser through the end of August.  Call Jonelle at 815-955-7151 for more information!

As always, thanks for your support!!!

Where are we reaching?

We have touched base with most area schools like Peotone, Crete-Monee HS, all 4 Lincolnway HS, Tinley Park HS, Andrew HS, Oak Forest HS, Rich South and Rich Central.  We've also touched based with Southside Christian Counseling Center in Tinley Park, PASS Pregnancy Care Center also in Tinley Park and the Will County Health Department.  Have you heard about us yet?  If so, how did you hear about us?  Where else do you think we should advertise?  How can we get teen moms to come to our group?  Let us know some of your ideas.

Remember we are here to help, support, encourage and love teen moms and their children who come to our group.  We are not here to judge anyone for anything. 

Butter Braids!

We are doing a fundraiser for Monee Teen MOPS and we're selling Butter Braids!!  The cost is $11 per braid and it feeds approximately 11 people (depending on your appetite).  The flavors are: apple, bavarian creme with chocolate icing, blueberry and cream cheese, caramel roll with caramel glaze, cherry, cinnamon, cream cheese, raspberry and strawberry and cream cheese.  Please make your check payable to MFMC (please be sure to put Teen MOPS in the subject line) and turn it in along with your order no later than August 20th.  The Butter Braids will be delivered to MFMC and ready for pick up September 7th at about 6:00 p.m.

Please contact any Steering Team Member (Jonelle Eck, Janina Stockdale, Wendy Warren, Gayle Koch, Carrie Nicholas, Terri Secrest, Jamie Skala or Kathy Tovo) to place your order or contact Anne at 708-557-8160.

We thank you so much for your support!!

Donations

We are always in need of donations!  Currently we are looking for:

*diapers
*formula (unopen/unused)
*baby food
*baby clothes
*toys
*bottles, plates, spoons, bowls, bibs
*books
*furniture
*car seats
*high-chairs
*clothes for mom (clean and fashionable maternity and after)
*books for mom
*items for MOPShop (lotions, body wash, nail polish, make-up, face cleanser, jewelry, date planners, purses, bags)
*money (donations can be made in the form of a check made payable to MFMC please put Teen MOPS in the memo section of your check.)
*prayer/support
*volunteers for making meals for mom & children

Please call Anne at 708-557-8160 to find out how you can help!

Coming soon!!

We are so excited to announce that our Monee Teen MOPS group will kick-off on October 4th at 5:30 p.m.!!  If you or someone you know is pregnant or a teen mom, then come join us!  We are here to provide encouragement, support and love in a non-judgemental atmosphere.  Keep checking back for more details about what's to come.  Any questions...please call Anne at 708-557-8160.