It's October 1st. My Poppop's 103rd birthday - if he were still alive!

My DH and I use our grandparents' birthdays to tell the family stories about our grandparents to our children. What kind of person? what was important to them? who looks like them? a childhood memory of them? what line of business were they in? responsibility in church and community?

I can recall the day (I was about 7 yo) that Santa .. er .. Poppop was seen by me climbing in his bedroom window wearing the red suit. Mind you, how come Santa was driving my Poppop's car? bit cheeky! Anyway such happy memories - Christmas and many occasions at the old farm house.

May I encourage you to create memories for your children - with telling the family stories, and allowing a wide range of experiences, especially with the whanau (extended family).

And what's happening with MOPS in and around New Zealand.

I've told you of the new MOPS logo - being well-received. I love its cheerful colours.

The fourth term (Spring in NZ) starts next Monday 8 October.

July 2008 is the 2nd MOPSNZ Conference, to be held in Hamilton.

Four new MOPS groups are starting in Fiji - MOPS AU are organising these. Good news for the Pacific - and in this coup-beleaguered nation, the mums there are desperate for support and some form of security in their home life. I watch this development with interest, as there is a wee possibility that our family will spend 3 months in Fiji next winter.

that's it for now,
check out a new events page at: http://mopsnz.bravehost.com/MtAlbertMOPS.htm
Crafts: http://www.geocities.com/mops_hcbc_nz/

www.mops.org.nz - still a work-in-progress
Johanna