Welcome to MOPS New Zealand’s

MUM-e-Mail

- a newsletter to enthuse, entertain, and educate
mothers of pre-schoolers and their supporters

February 2005

 Mothering Maxim – Love is a Choice

Wedded bliss depends on memory. Actively build up a stock of positive memories. Show day-to-day affections. Budget for romance!

Mum Moment – Choice and Commitment

 In every moment, love is a choice. We choose to love others.

Sometimes it doesn't seem like a choice - when we fall in love with our baby, our husband, or even a best friend. But later, when the newness of love wears off and we're caught in a relationship, it is the choice and commitment of love that continues.

And when we find ourselves in relationships we hadn't realised we'd "chosen" - neighbours, in-laws, and co-workers - love wakes up and chooses all over again, intentionally this time.

God chose to love us. He didn't have to. He wanted to love us so he chose to love us.

Love is commitment - in everything. God is committed to us, no matter what.
Love stays when it wants to go.
It accepts when it wants to reject.
It does what it doesn't want to do when it doesn't want to do it.
It gets above the "can't stand this person" moments and, squinting, forces itself to look at that someone the way God looks at them, seeing them flawed, yes, but filled with potential.
Love is a commitment to keep choosing to love... even when you don't feel like it.
 
That's the honest, open, Jesus-type of love. 
God is the source of all the fruits of the Spirit, He is the source of love.

From A Mother’s Heart -

Love covers a multitude of wrongs.

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Mum’s Mail -

What romantic things can you do for your man?!

You're invited to answer this question and reply to mumemail@... [you could click on this hyperlink and do it now?]. We'll publish responses in a couple of weeks - next time in  MUM-e-Mail.

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You are welcome to forward this MUM-e-Mail in its entirety to your friends, mothers of pre-schoolers and their supporters. If your friend has forwarded this to you and you wish to subscribe, it's easy. Click on this hyperlink and send blank e-mail to:  mum-e-mail-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .

My employer has given me time off to go to MOPS – midwife mum, Huntly.

www.mops.org - MOPS International-  wonderful ever-changing website – checked it out lately??

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Mum etc - Snippets and e-bits that may interest you …
[these websites and their contents are not necessarily endorsed by MOPS NZ]

http://www.minedu.govt.nz/index.cfm?layout=document&documentid=3767&indexid=1010 - NZ school holiday and term dates for next 5 years [check you get all of this URL]

http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info  - FAILSAFE Diet – Food Intolerance Network [scroll to blue buttons] – Are you having too many ‘bad’ days with your child/ren?

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0600uk/ - UK news on Welsh website – Camilla and Charles to wed etc.

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… from last time …

The nicest thing I can do for my family this year is:

… to keep balance in our HOME to make it a calm haven for everyone – Trisha Novotny, USA

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Choose love this year – and you could create some great memories maybe by positively telling your children how you met (and fell in love) with their Dad,

In God’s care,

Johanna Whittaker

mumemail@...
mum-e-mail-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

on behalf of MOPS (NZ) Inc.
© 2005 by MOPS New Zealand Inc and MOPS International.

Fruit of the Spirit

Love – Grapes;   Joy – Cherry;   Peace – Blueberry;  
Patience – Coconut;   Kindness – Pineapple;   Goodness – Strawberry;
Faithfulness – Apple;   Gentleness – Banana;   Self Control -- Orange