IS S U E

Corona MOPS
A
02
F eb Newsletter
2010

this issue
Editor’s Letter P.1
Pay it Forward P.2
Corona M ops Celebrate Love P.3
Steer ing T eam
Calendar and Events P.4
Heather Hack
Coordinator
hdhack@yahoo.com
H 720-941-2696
M 720-985-3721
Editor’s Letter
February is one of my favorite and married one year to the day that
Chutaporn Charnsangavej
Co-Coordinator months and not just because it’s my we met. God was very generous and
ccharn@hotmail.com birthday month, although that helps! I am very grateful!
H 720-570-8919 It’s because it has a day dedicated to
M 303-598-4071 When we adopted our children I
the celebration of love. Many people discovered another kind of love, the
Karen Buelter
feel that Valentine’s Day is a kind that makes me breathless and
Finance contrived holiday sponsored by brings me to tears. Hearing my kids
kbuelter@yahoo.com greeting card companies, florists and say, “I love you mommy!” the first
H 720-859-7659 jewelers but I choose to look at it as
M 714-469-3789 time just about brought me to my
my opportunity to show and tell the knees. There is no better reason to
Amberly Kropp people in my life that I care about the make piles of heart shaped pancakes
Publicity most how much they mean to me. covered in strawberries and whipped
ambermk@gmail.com
H 303-393-1431
Maybe part of my enthusiasm stems cream than that!
from being married to my soul mate. My love for God and his love for me
Rachel Barnes I don’t say that lightly. Brian and I is one of my newest and most
Speaker Coordinator are one of those rare couples that
rcbarnes33@msn.com powerful discoveries. It grounds me
actually fell in love at first sight. You and surrounds me when I need it
H 303-573-7282
see we both had reached a point most. It is a place of solace and
Ann Campbell Hunt where we had surrendered our choice renewal that I carry with me
DGL Coordinator for a mate to God. Mainly because
annhunt801@yahoo.com wherever I go.
we were doing such a lousy job on
M 720-384-3393 I wish you a very
our own! We were both directed to
Renee Boyes Walbert make a list describing the person we Happy Valentine’s Day!
Moppets Coordinator were looking for so that we would
reneewalbert@gmail.com recognize each other when we met. Kelly Rimar
DGL, Publicity
And guess what, we did. It was like
Jary Dailey
Mentor Mom being hit in the chest with an "Beloved, let us love one another, for love
johnjary@msn.com electrical current. It was so intense is of God; and everyone who loves is born
H 303-755-0668 that people around us commented on of God and knows God." 1 JOHN 4:7
it. We were engaged 6 weeks later
Discussion Group Leaders

Chrissie Douglas
cdouglas1968@gmail.com
H 303-316-3932

Ginger Bihm
gbihm@msn.com
H 303- 221-2202
M 303-564-8972
Pay It Forward
Holly Sprague
hsprague@gmail.com
H 303-322-3086

Kelly Rimar Strengthening Your Family for As Little As $35

kellyrimar@gmail.com By Angela Sasseville, LPC, NCC
H 720-239-2855
M 720-401-2621 Two and half years ago, Flourish Counseling launched its Pay It Forward Program to provide deeply-
discounted therapeutic support for those who were unable to afford the full cost of psychotherapy.
The patronage of clients who are able to pay standard therapy fees makes this community support
Patty Lindstrom possible. The program also educates the community about the mental health crisis, which is causing
Pattyann_lindstrom@yahoo.com therapeutic support to become increasingly unaffordable for many Americans.
M 720-941-8222
Since the conception of the program, the national economic collapse has made it even harder for
many to afford the support that they deserve. The two primary ways in which people pay for therapy
Tricia Smith are on the decline. As the unemployment rate rose, the number of Americans without medical
jeffandtrish@comcast.net insurance also increased. There are now roughly 800,000 uninsured individuals in Colorado, so
H 303-234-0575 fewer people are able to access mental health benefits through a medical insurance plan. As incomes
decreased, discretionary funds disappeared for some households.

As everyone receiving this newsletter already knows, the early years of parenthood often come with a
sharp decrease in the household’s income or a significant increase in new expenses for things such as
childcare. Many modern parents find over 75% of their monthly income dedicated to fixed expenses
such as housing, car payments, food and childcare. This makes it difficult to pay for therapy out-of-
pocket as well. Problems often arise when there is no clear way as to how to pay for support to
The most address them. The Pay It Forward program has been providing expert support to a broad range of
clients throughout the recession and the benefits have been obvious in our client’s lives. Yet the need
for more affordable therapy is higher than ever.
important thing As I’ve researched this issue over the past 18 months, I’ve discovered there is no group more
significantly impacted by these economic barriers than the clan I proudly belong to – MOTHERS! A
a father can do lack of money seems like such a dumb and insignificant excuse to me when I consider all of the
mothers I know who are going through difficult times and yet cannot afford therapeutic support. It
should be of vital importance to our society that couples are able to find ways to stay together, that
for his children families achieve harmony, and that individuals who feel depressed or anxious are able to find peace
of mind. We already know how to help others resolve their most personal issues. We just need
innovative ways to make the solutions accessible.
is to love
Convinced we can still do better, Flourish Counseling has expanded its Pay It Forward program.
Psychotherapist Elaine Avrus has joined the staff and is supporting individuals, couples and families
their mother. on a sliding fee scale of $35 to $55 per session (based on the family’s income and size). With many
therapists around Denver now charging up to $130 per session, the expanded affordable services at
~Theodore M. Hesburgh Flourish Counseling are sure to fill a great need in the parenting community.

For more information on support for yourself, your relationship, or your family, go to
www.FlourishCounseling.com or call 303-455-3767. ….Because EVERYONE deserves to flourish!
 Romantic Menu

Apricot Chicken
“What a grand thing, Ingredients
to be loved!

What a grander thing 
8 chicken thighs or breasts
1 pkg. onion soup mix
Still, to love!”  1 bottle Russian dressing
~Victor Hugo  1 jar apricot preserves

Directions
~
U 1. Preheat oven to 350
n degrees. Place the chicken
pieces in a 9 x 13 inch
k
History, Adventure and Romance baking dish.
Valentine's Day at home Doctor Zhivago (1965) n 2. Mix the soup mix,
dressing and jam together,
Out of Africa (1985) o and pour over the chicken.
HISTORY.COM brings you The English Patient (1996) w 3. Bake for 1 hour.
15 great romantic films Shakespeare in Love (1998) n
for a variety of moods: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) Couscous with
Apricots & Pistachios
Classic Favorites Offbeat Romances
Casablanca (1942) The Princess Bride (1987) Ingredients
Gone With the Wind (1939) Say Anything (1989)
Roman Holiday (1953) When Harry Met Sally (1989)  1 cup salted shelled
pistachios chopped
From Here to Eternity (1953) Out of Sight (1998)  1box couscous
An Affair to Remember (1957) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)  ½ cup crumbled feta
 2 scallions chopped
 ½ cup dried apricots,
chopped
 2 tablespoons olive oil
 1 teaspoon salt
This Month’s Creative Corner  2 tablespoons fresh
squeezed lemon juice
 ¼ cup chopped parsley
Did you know?
Almost 200 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged annually! Directions

1. Prepare couscous according

Make your own cards at home: to box directions.
Everybody loves to receive a beautiful homemade valentine in the mail! 2. In a large bowl mix cooled
couscous with all other
If you missed this craft at MOPs or want to make some more at home with your kids you will
ingredients.
need blank note cards and envelopes, tissue paper, scrapbook paper, stickers and stamps in 3. Chill in refrigerator while
romantic themes, scissors and glue sticks to put it all together. Use fun colored pens to chicken is cooking.
4. Fluff before serving.
address and write greetings of love. Don’t forget to buy Love stamps for the perfect finishing
touch! Serve with your favorite white
wine. Make sure and break out
the good china, light some
candles and put on some
romantic music!
 Upcoming Events

 Mops Meeting: Friday, Feb 5, 2010 (9 to 11:30 AM)

Nancy Goodman will be speaking on “The Reality and Solution for Maternal
Depletion”. http://www.aparentconnection.com/contact.htm
We will be doing a
Butter Braid fundraiser
to help defer the cost of  Mops Meeting: Friday, Feb 19, 2010 (9 to 11:30 AM)
the upcoming Love & Logic Angela Sasseville will be speaking on “Maintaining Identity in Motherhood”.
course. Butter Braids are
delicious pastries that are http://flourishcounseling.com/
great for serving at family
occasions!! We will hand
out order forms February
 Back to MOPs Night: Saturday, Feb 27, 2010 (5 to 8 PM)
5th. Forms will be due back
on March 5th. Butter Bring your spouse, partner, friend or family member and join us for a fun
Braids will be delivered to MOPS evening. We will be serving a spaghetti dinner and enjoy a speaker
the church for you to pick
up at the end of the MOPS
on “How to Have a Date with Your Spouse/Partner”. It’s a wonderful
meeting on March 19th. opportunity for them to see what MOPS is all about and to meet some of
Please sell as many as you the other wonderful women in our group. Childcare will be provided along
can!!! with a heavy snack so plan on feeding your kids dinner before you come.

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Mops Mtg. Super Bowl
February

8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Valentine’s
Day

15 16 17 18 19 20 21
President’s Mops Mtg.
Day

22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Back to
MOPs Night

2010

Better Moms Make A Better World