Today we’re getting practical at Mom Heart, friends!
Many of you have written and asked about the how-to’s and logistics for hosting events, or having a Mom Heart Book study meet in your home. Sometimes that hurdle of hosting feels like it would take Olympic strength to conquer, doesn’t it? While Mom Heart groups are often as simple as sharing words of encouragement or reading together over a cup of coffee (If you invite me, I promise to bring chocolate too!), sometimes, we like to fancy it up a bit. I’m convinced that mama hearts need an excuse every once in a while to put on something that sparkles (or is at least clean!) and enjoy one another in a setting that was thoughtfully put together to make you feel special. So, today, I am thrilled to introduce to you, our ever lovely, dear friend, Tami Cooke. She is serious about loving mamas in her home state of Texas and I love her to pieces.
Here’s her back story:
Tami and her husband Tom met while training for marathons at White Rock Lake in Dallas. They have been married for 13 years and have two children. Their son Grant is 11 and their daughter Ashley is 9, and both have been home schooled since kindergarten.
Tom and Tami have served together Children’s Ministry and with the Couples’ Ministry at their church. They also serve on the Board for the Homeschool Group PEACH and are the Charter Organization Representatives for their Boy Scout and American Heritage Girl Troops.
God has greatly used the Mom Heart ministry in Tami’s life. Her heart was enlightened and forever changed after hearing Sally Clarkson speak for the first time in 2008. She had the opportunity to attend the Mom Heart Intensive Training in 2010 and 2011 and then started a local Mom Heart Book Club in the summer of 2011. After having the privilege of speaking at the 2010 Texas Mom Heart Conference, God began opening doors for her locally as she coordinates regular teas and luncheons for homeschool moms, allowing her and other moms to share their hearts and encourage others.
And Here is Tami’s Widsom for us, about what hosting Mom Heart events can look like in our own areas:
Because there are some moms who are
unable to regularly attend my Mom Heart Group Book Club, I wanted to provide an
opportunity for these women to get away for a special time for fellowship with
other moms. For this purpose, I
coordinate teas or luncheons throughout the year through PEACH, my homeschool
group.
Besides events for moms, we
occasionally have other events such as a Mom and Son Luncheon, or a Daddy and
Daughter Breakfast. These events
are usually held at a local tearoom or restaurant. Since they are coordinated through our homeschool group, we
advertise for the event through their newsletter and emails. However, if there is space after the
registration deadline, PEACH allows me to invite other moms outside of the
homeschool group.
I spend time seeking the Lord for a
theme and an accompanying theme scripture for the tea or luncheon. For example, the theme for our Spring
Moms’ Tea was “What Cup Have You Been Given? Seeking the Lord Through Trials” and the scripture verse was
Matthew 26:39: “And He went a little farther, and fell on
His face, and prayer, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass
from me: nevertheless not as I
will, but as You will.”
Once the Lord has given me a theme. I ask
the Lord to lead me to moms I can ask to share at the event. Each tea has two to three speakers,
scheduled between appetizers, mini-lunch and dessert, who share for 10 minutes. A luncheon, which is a bit longer,
allows time for three to four speakers. During our recent Mom and Son Luncheon,
we had two moms and two young men speaking, again for 10-minute time
slots. We had more flexibility
with the luncheon and were able to include live worship music.
Realizing that each woman selected has
her own unique story to share, I only ask that she share along the lines of the
theme and theme verse and limit herself to 10 minutes. I gladly give further guidance and
support it they need it.
I follow the same format as Sally does in
her MHLIT seminars by asking these moms to practice diligently. Because of the limited time, it is
important that they practice with a timer so that they don’t go over their
allotted 10 minutes, thereby robbing another speaker of the few minutes
allotted to her. I follow up by
sending them emails, encouraging them to “pray and practice.”
I then pray that God would bring moms to
the event. I pray that they would
come hungry for God’s Word and eager to hear the messages that God has given
these moms. I also pray that they
would show grace to these moms who may be speaking in public for the first
time.
Goodies and gift give-aways are always
part of the event, and vary based on the theme and the number of moms that
attend. All attendees take away
something special, and I try to give a special gift to my guest speakers. For instance, at one tea we gave away a
mini-book of quotes from Sally Clarkson’s books as well as some chocolates and
a magnet. Others have helped in
this area by making a give-away such as bookmarks, or donating items.
All of us have a different “mom
walk.” Yet we are called to share
our walk with one another. How God
has worked in our experience, our trials and our joys can be encouraging to
another mom. Our teas and
luncheons have provided an avenue for moms to share and support one another.
Ideas for Your Own Events
Moms Tea
Theme:
Honor a Mom
Theme Scripture:
I Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore
encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are
doing.”
We asked our
ladies to invite a mom who had encouraged her during her Mom Walk to the tea.
Each mom was given the opportunity to tell the group why she wanted to
honor the mom she invited. They could also honor the mom they invited by
giving her a gift or thank-you note. We gave every woman a mini-book of
quotes from Sally Clarkson’s books, chocolates in a silk sachet bag and a
magnet.
Moms Tea
Theme:
Finishing Well
Theme Scripture:
Hebrews 12:1-2 “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin
which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set
before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”
We gave each
woman a Runners’ Medal With the word “Finisher” and “Hebrews
12:1-2″ engraved on the back.
Pancakes and
Pa (Daddy and Daughter Breakfast)
Theme:
Rules of Engagement – How to Stay Connected with your Daughter
Theme Scripture:
Hebrews 10:36 “For you have need of endurance, so that
after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.”
We gave each
girl a chocolate bar and a corsage; each dad received a picture of him and his
daughter.
Mom and Son
Luncheon
Theme:
Raising Boys
Theme Scripture:
Proverbs 6:20-23 “My son,
obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s teaching; keep
their words always in your heart and tie them around your neck. Wherever you
walk, their counsel can lead you; when you sleep, they will protect you. When
you wake up in the morning, they will advise you. For these commands and this
teaching are a lamp to light the way ahead of you and the correction of
discipline is the way of life.”
We gave away
mini-teacups with a candle, homemade mini-Kleenex holder, chocolates and a
bookmark to the moms. Every boy in attendance received a Nerf Gun.
This was made possible by a mom who made a donation for the gifts.
Making a Schedule
for Your Tea or Luncheon
Our teas and
luncheons can last anywhere from and hour and a half to two and a half hours.
The time schedule is set beforehand so that as much as possible we stick
tightly to that schedule. We begin with opening prayer and a welcome,
with an overview of the order of events. We also may take time to
acknowledge anyone who made donations to make the event possible, and introduce
speakers. Then we bless the food and read the theme scripture.
Those assigned to speak for 10 minutes are scheduled between food courses
if possible. We might schedule a speaker after the hors d’oeuvres are
served, after the main course, and after the dessert. If we have special
gifts or books to be given away, we do the drawings after one or all of the
speakers, depending on how many gifts we have. As we finish up, I thank
everyone for coming, pass out their “goodie bags” and close in
prayer.
