On a mission for a "like" or two

Fact #1:  My husband and his friend own a company called Narrow Road Coffee.

Fact #2:  My husband and his friend don't make money from this company currently and probably won't make anything for awhile.  We do get coffee at cost, which they roast all on their own (and it is really fresh!).  It takes a few years to get a company in the black.  In fact, we pay each month just to make this company stay in business.  Can we say "loans" and loving family members that have been very helpful to us to get this up and running?

Fact #3:  Narrow Road Coffee loves to help others.  In fact, that is the goal.  The formula is actually very simple:

1)  we sell coffee, 

2) we take 25% of the purchase price and turn it over to missionaries.

3)  we help support non-profit groups during their fundraisers (missions are kindof a passion for my husband and I)

Narrow Road Coffee has already said that they will donate some coffee and gift certificate to the Teen MOPS group in the Rochester, MN area for their upcoming fundraiser.  But...I have personally said that I will make and donate some sort of crafty creation using some of the burlap from the Narrow Road Coffee bags if we get 20 more "likes" on the Facebook page for Narrow Road Coffee by Sunday night (tomorrow).  As of right now, we need 6 more "likes".  You can help by just clicking "like" on the Narrow Road Coffee Facebook page.  6 more...I have a lot of ideas for this burlap from Pinterest.  Let's help out this group by making this happen!

Why help Teen MOPS...and really, what is this group?
Teen MOPS is a non-profit group that helps teen moms.  The group meets twice a month, brings speakers in, provides great discussion on various topics, provides a support system for these teens and an atmosphere  where they can meet other teen moms and feel comfortable being who they are.  The teens don't pay anything to attend, a meal is provided for them and their child(ren) and childcare as well during the meeting.  You can find out more about Teen MOPS at their blog and on Facebook.

Let me tell you...from being one of the people in charge of the funds, from day 1 it was a struggle just to get enough supplies for a craft at times or for the diapers that we would give away at the meetings.  We pulled every penny out of every crevice that we could.  We recycled so many things, raised money in different ways, donated items from our homes and didn't get reimbursed for them because we knew there were so many other things that the money was earmarked for.  Teen MOPS is a frugal bunch and being non-profit does have its limitations at times as to who will donate to them and why.  

There is a fundraiser on May 4th, 2012 for Teen MOPS of Rochester that you can register for (just click the link) and attend.  It is fun for families, individuals, couples...whoever you are, if you like Olive Garden, want to win some great auction items and are open to learning more about what teen moms can do with their lives rather than the typical stereotypes that so many people have of girls in these situations...come to the fundraiser.  You will be shocked at what these girls can accomplish!  Then...open up your wallet and give Teen MOPS some money.  They need it and they will put the money to the best use that it could be used for...much better than you spending it on something you see at the store that you really don't need that is on clearance or in those dollar bins.

Back to the main reason for this post...go "like" Narrow Road Coffee!  It may sound like a dumb contest but this is what I have seen:
the teens from this group sharing the information and "like"ing Narrow Road because they realize how important this item will be for this group.  The item may not bring in the most money but it is money that will be used to help a teen as she is going through this time in her life when:

• her support system is almost non-existent.  
• She herself is wondering what she will be doing next in her life and if she is ready for all of the changes that her life will experience in the next 9 months and many years later.  
• She doesn't know who to call now or what her next step should be since the baby daddy has walked out of her life and has insisted that a paternity test not even be done because he knows it isn't his baby.
• she doesn't know where she is going to live because she was just kicked out of her parents house because she told them she was pregnant.
• She isn't sure how she is going to finish school or if she should even try since the school is asking her to leave and transfer to a different school in the area now that the word is out that she is pregnant.

These situations are real...I've heard them many times.  But, I have also seen the results from the teens working hard to accomplish their goals.  I have watched the teens move from an abusive relationship to a healthy relationship and provide a safe place for their child.  I have watched the teens mature into very responsible citizens who the community should admire and respect rather than degrade and glare at when they see them at the store.  

These teens are accomplishing something in their lives and in their kids' lives.  Not only should we applaud them for their hard work but help them along them way.  

So...back to the reason for this blog post...if all you can do to help is "like" Narrow Road Coffee, please do!  Every "like" does matter.  If you can do more, show up for the fundraiser on May 4th.  If you have more in you after that...find out how you can help the teens directly by either a donation for their meetings, item or donation for the fundraiser or even wanting to spend time at the meetings as a volunteer.  Put down a comment if you want to help and I can connect you with the person you need to talk to...I have her number :)

Teen MOPS...my night of "helping" with the group

My days lately are full of kids that are sick.  Today was no exception.

This afternoon I was cleaning up puke, disinfecting every area that kids touched, every area that kids threw up on...just one of those days where you want to hole yourself up in your disinfected house (or in a shower just so you can feel clean again) and not go anywhere.  

I did have an obligation tonight though.  Although I was so tempted to text my friend and tell her that I wasn't going to be able to make it because I was still needing to clean things up, I didn't.  I was ready for an escape from the bleach smell.  I was ready to go see something that at one time encompassed everything that I did, thought and had time for.  My passion at that point in my life was Teen MOPS.  

I was a bit nervous because I knew that I wouldn't know some people.  I thought I would feel out of place because of that and I honestly had no idea what I was going to be doing at this meeting.  Usually there are details sent out to people that are helping out.  No details here.  I was the one that said when I would be able to make it.  I asked questions about what I needed to do, many times, to several people.  No answer.

The control side of me was for some reason ok with this lack of control and lack of information.  Very strange for me.  Teen MOPS is not something that I have control of though anymore.  At one point in my life it was one of my babies.  In fact, my babies grew up with Teen MOPS being a part of their lives day in and day out.  Going to Teen MOPS meetings was the norm for my little ones.  Helping with Teen MOPS, the kids in childcare, preparing crafts and materials for the meeting...my kids were right there the entire time.

Walking into the room where the girls were was like talking with an old friend.  Honestly though, it was a bit awkward at first.  No one still had answers for me when I asked what I needed to do.  I was there to help.  I needed a task.  Nope.  I got to eat food.  I got to chat it up with the speaker and a few girls that I hadn't seen in 9 months or so.  

The meeting started and I found a place in the back.  (Still not knowing what I was to do...by the way)  Jenni started talking and then the reason for me being at the meeting was revealed.  The group had wanted to thank me for starting up Teen MOPS so many years ago.  They made a card for me, gave me a t-shirt (in my now current size) and a beautiful picture with one of the quotes that I have on Facebook.  

I truly appreciate all of the volunteers that are working with the teens now and the kids that are in the childcare.  This program can continue because of them and their willingness to help others.

I so love those girls!  Tonight I got to sit back and listen to them talk, encourage and educate each other.  Yes...there were speakers too.  The speakers did a great job!  The girls though...the girls that I knew before  were timid, shy, scared, confused, some in financial problems, drugs and alcohol controlled some of their decisions, some in abusive relationships, others just trying to learn what it was that came with the title "mom".  Tonight I saw girls that grew up and showed a maturity level that I hadn't seen before in their words and lives.  The girls are growing up.  They are learning all about this mom thing and getting the help and friendships that they need through Teen MOPS.  

Teen MOPS is all about showing teen moms that people love them and educating them on what it is like to be a mom.  I know that a lot of people give teen moms a bad rap.  Yes, not every teen mom makes the best decisions.  Yes, not every teen mom out there is doing the best for her kids.  But...before you give someone a stamp of being a bad mom just because they already have the label of "teen mom", you really need to learn their stories.  You need to actually talk with them, see where they started and find out where they are at now.  I know that every choice I have made in my life hasn't been the right one but I hope that people don't give me a label of being a bad person just because of some choice I made in my past.  

If you think that teen moms aren't doing a good job then that might just be your calling to go help them.  Find out if there is a group already in your area.  If not...think about starting one for the teen moms in your area.  

You can find out more about Teen MOPS at www.mops.org

A Christmas to Remember

This Christmas season has already had so many memories! Our tree fell down the day after we had it all decorated and glamorized. Lots of little ornaments broken all over our living room floor. Minnesota has had a record amount of snowfall with over 3 feet of snow on the ground right now.

My favorite part of Christmas so far though isn't about the snow or getting our home ready for the holidays. This Christmas I will always remember the words that a young mom told me.

About a week ago was our last Teen MOPS meeting for 2010. This was our big Christmas meeting where the teens get to shop for toys and other items that they might be able to use for Christmas with their kids. We also just finished up with a huge fundraiser for Teen MOPS, called the Teen MOPS Drive. Cribs are set around our church and people can donate toys, diapers, wipes, baby necessities, etc. to this drive. With over 20 teens on average at a meeting and an average of about 3 new teens registering at each meeting, our numbers are high. We have been flying through diapers at a rapid pace this year and the MOPShop is being used to its max and our supply of items was dwindling fast.

On this special Christmas night, Teen MOPS thought it would be great to also offer up some Christmas decorations to any teens that might need or want the items. These were donated so they were free and gently used. One of these items was a Christmas tree that was no longer needed in a home.

I lugged in the 3 boxes of Christmas items into the Warehouse at the church where Teen MOPS meets. As I was arriving a few teens were already in the room helping set up the MOPShop. I mentioned to them that if they wanted any of these items, they were free. A few grabbed a couple of odds and ends that were available but there was still quite a bit left.

More teens were arriving so the message of "free stuff" was passed around to the girls in the room.

Do you know someone that makes you smile when they show their pearly whites? At Teen MOPS, there is a teen mom that has the best smile. When she smiles, I smile. She is a great mom and has really grown up these last few years that I have known her. She is just one of those people that I feel very comfortable talking with. Our backgrounds and interests might be different but I do feel that we have a lot of similarities.

This teen mom came up to me, with a smile on her face, and said, "This tree is free?" Everything in this little area of decorations was free so of course I let her know that she could take whatever she wanted. She went on to tell me that her daughter just asked her that morning why they didn't have a Christmas tree. She wanted to go out and get one but there were just other things that were needed right now but maybe she would be able to get one next year.

She let everyone around her know that this tree was hers, she had claimed it.

Her enthusiasm for this tree wasn't for herself but for her daughter. She was excited to be able to provide the one item that her daughter really wanted this year...a Christmas tree.

Having a Christmas tree is something that I don't even give a second thought about. In fact, the tree that this child was going to get to see for the first time in her home was a tree that was pushed aside in my home. This tree sat in our basement for at least 4 years...unnoticed, untouched...until this year.

I am glad that this tree will have a second life with another little child.

This is now one of my Christmas memories for this year and one that I will always remember.

Thank you to all of you that also donated toys, diapers and other items for the Teen MOPS Drive! We don't have a story for each item that was donated but do know that a lot of great little kids will be getting some extra special gifts this year because of your generosity!