Co-director: Lora Langlois

My name is Lora Langlois.  I married my husband, Jeremy, ten years ago, and God has since blessed us with three beautiful daughters:  Elizabeth (6), Catherine (almost 3), and Anna (8 months).  After living in Atlanta, Nashville, and Johnson City, we moved back to Knoxville in 2005 to be closer to family.  Having grown up at Central, I was eager to get my children involved in the church that discipled me for so many years.  

Four years ago, I had the privilege to participate in Central's first year of MOPS and have a been a part ever since.  I have been a Moppets coordinator and a small group leader, and this year, I am excited about co-leading with Christa Margene.  MOPS has been such a blessing in my life, and I am excited about what God has planned for this year.  With a first grader and a preschooler, I find myself quite busy shuttling the kids to and from their schools and activities, so I look forward to spending some quality time each month with people who don't require me to cut up their food or wipe their noses.  I am looking forward to participating in the stay-at-home mom's group, which is a relatively new title for me.  For the past ten years, I have been teaching high school English but have decided to put that on hold so I can spend more time as a wife and mommy.  When I'm not "mommying," I enjoy spending time with friends, eating Mexican food, going to movies, reading, and traveling.  

Please contact me at loraliz@gmail.com if you have any questions regarding MOPS.  I would love to hear from you!  See you September 8!

Small Group Leader: Meg Brown

My name is Meg Brown, and I am the Working Moms Small Group Co-Leader for MOPS this year.  It is my second year in this role, and I feel privileged to do it!  My husband's name is George Brown, and I have two children, Thomas (3.5) and George (1.5).  "Big" George and I have been married for almost 8.5 years, and we attend Fellowship Church.

I am a lawyer at a firm here in Knoxville, and, while my family is my top priority, I really enjoy my job.  My life can be crazy at times, but with a great family, support network of friends, and a wonderful working mom community in MOPS, I somehow seem to manage it!  I really do believe that one of the best ways to deal with the difficulties of life is to have a support group, and MOPS is a great place to find that.

In my spare time, I love to cook, bake, take pictures, read, run/exercise and hang out with my friends and family.  I also love to travel, which doesn't happen that often these days! 

Finances: Janet Morgan

 

I am very excited about this year of MOPS!  This is my 5th year in MOPS.  I have been married to my husband, Jarett for 10 years.  We have 2 wonderful little girls, Kate who is 6 years old and a rising 1st grader, and Macy Jane, who is 15 months and keeps me on my toes!  We have been members of Central Baptist Bearden for 10 years.

I worked up until Kate was 4 years old in sales for Hanesbrands, Inc.  I have stayed home for the past 2 years and feel very lucky to have this opportunity.  MOPS has given me the chance to meet many different moms and make strong friendships & bonds.  

I enjoy spending time with my girls & husband, spending time with my friends, shopping, watching movies, volunteering at my daughter's school, and cooking.  Also, I am a graduate of the University of Kentucky and love to cheer for them in all sports!  I always look forward to meeting new moms and getting to know you all better at MOPS.  I love being able to help other moms through any experiences I have already encountered.  As a mom with an older child and then starting all over again, I have some experience with both spectrums....at the same time.  I look forward to a very exciting year as we grow and welcome new & old faces!  A great year lies ahead!  Come join us!

Publicity: Bridgette Boudreaux

My husband and I moved to Knoxville nine years ago from Lafayette, Louisiana so that he could get his Masters at the University of Tennessee.  I taught for many years at South-Doyle before becoming a mom.  Then I continued to work for the school system for the first two years of Ethan's life.  I now have two sons Ethan (4) and Asher (1) and I call myself a home manager.  Not because I don't like the term "stay-at-home" but I just don't think it describes me; I'm hardly ever home! 

When I got pregnant with my first son my friend Lora said, "Bridgette, you just have to come to my church's MOPS group!"  I had no idea what MOPS was at the time and I never could have imagined the role it would play in my life for years to come.  

The first year after becoming a mom was one of the loneliest of my life.  I went from being a full time teacher in a high school (seeing my friends everyday) to working by myself from home.  MOPS became a great place for me to meet other new moms as well as make lifelong friends.  I have been attending MOPS since then and I have served as a small group leader and Moppetts craft coordinator.  I'm looking forward to serving this year as the publicity director and running this blog and our FB page are part of that job.

Our family blog is: rueboudreaux.blogspot.com but I also write on my review blog: bbsfavoritethings.blogspot.com and my favorite cook book blog: fansofbittman.blogspot.com

Walker Springs Playdate

Our last scheduled playdate of the summer is next Tuesday at Walker Springs Park which is a nice shaded park located behind Walker Springs Apartments.  There are nice restrooms and a gazebo with a picnic table at this park. We will start our playdate around 9:30 in the morning.  Please come out and see us for our last summer playdate! 

If you didn't make it to the last playdate you can see all the pictures here!

Hospitality: Janet Lawlor

This is my 6th and final year as a MOPS mom, and I am very excited to be filling the role of hospitality leader.  I have loved being in MOPS as my children have grown, and it has been a blessing to know some wonderful ladies who are walking this same road.  My daughter, Evie, is now a 2nd grader, and my son, Andrew, is starting kindergarten this year.  Instead of rocking babies and changing diapers, I am now volunteering in school classrooms and shuttling kids to activities.  Both kids have food allergies that we have dealt with since our daughter was 2 months old, so I'm always happy to help other moms navigate through the diagnosis and change in diet.  My husband, Phil, and I have been married for 9 years.  He works at ORNL as an electrical engineer and I have been a stay at home mom since our daughter was born 7 years ago.  We have been members at CBCB since 2005.  I hope as a mom of older kids I can be there for you as you work through any issues with your little ones, remind you to treasure this time, and at the very least be proof that you will get through the preschool years in one piece!

Follow Janet and her family at: http://philjanetevieandrew.blogspot.com/

Small Group Leader: Hedy Collins

My name is Hedy Collins. I grew up in Northern NY and have lived in Knoxville for almost six years. Before having my boys, I taught elementary school for eight years. 

My husband, Terry, and I have been married for nine years. We have a seven year old son named Michael and a five year old son named Maxwell. 

I have been participating in MOPS for five years. I credit MOPS for surrounding me by wonderful friends, for bringing me to Christ and for leading me to my church home at Central Baptist Church of Bearden. 

This year I will be the leader for the Special Needs Moms small group. My son, Michael, was born with craniosynostosis. He has benign congenital hypotonia, global developmental delays and epilepsy. He is a very happy, high functioning bugger who is very social. 

Our small group for Special Needs Moms provides a safe place for moms to share concerns and find loving, Christian support for this challenge called mothering. 

Please feel free to contact me at mom2m2ed@gmail.com

Small Group Leader: Jennifer Withrow

Mom to Davis (5yrs), and Grant (21mths).
I enjoy spending time with my two sweet boys watching them learn and grow, spending time with family and friends and reading.
I have been a part of MOPS for several years and have really enjoyed building new relationships.
I look forward to this year of MOPS !

This year Jennifer will be leading our "Stay-At-Home Moms" small group.

Question of the Month!

For the 2011-2012 year I hope to post at least one "Question of the Month".  This will allow our moms to interact with one another.  You can answer the question here in the comments section, or on Facebook (take your pick).  During the normal meeting schedule these questions will also appear in our newsletter.  Our first question is:

What types of speakers or topics would you like

to see this year at MOPS?  

In the past we have had a whole spectrum of speakers and topics.  Everything from photographers, pediatricians, to a panel of grandmothers.  After our leadership meeting we still had a few dates open with only one or two ideas left.  You can help us fill those spots!  Is there a certain speaker you would like to hear from? Or, maybe there is a certain topic you want to learn more about.  Please tell us!