Mothers Of PreSchoolers Tea & Testimony

     If you haven't heard of Mothers Of PreSchoolers (MOPs), you should really check it out.  It is an amazing organization that allows mothers with young children to gather together for fellowship, discussions, guest speakers, and crafts all while their children are well looked after.  I have personally been involved with MOPs since 2009 and have loved every minute.  The first year I was in I volunteered to help out a friend with the MOPPETs program, which is the organizing of crafts, snacks, and care for the children while the mothers attend the meetings.  It was definitely a big job, but the following year I was offered the Craft Coordinator job and I totally took it!  I have so much fun coming up with new crafts for the ladies to do once a month.  That same year, I was handed the Hospitality coordinating job as well, just for a semester, while my friend left with her hubby for a TDY.  Hospitality is responsible for organizing all the chapel sponsored meals for the meetings, making sure there are enough supplies and utensils, coming up with games, and filling the hospitality basket for special events.  The very last meeting of the spring semester is known as Tea & Testimony.  It usually consists of a few speakers and sometimes one or two of the mothers who want to speak about their experiences and a chapel sponsored meal.  Well, this Tea & Testimony, since I was the acting Hospitality Coordinator, I was put in charge of all the food, drinks, decorations, favors, etc.  I was so excited about being able to "host" our last meeting.
   
     Since it was suppose to be a "Tea" and Testimony, I totally ran with the idea of it being a tea party.   Here's some of the pictures.

     For the tables....I lined up two tables length wise to make one large table and topped it with a pink table cloth.  Each setting was fit with a place mat, plate, napkin, saucer, tea cup, and spoon.  Simple, yet elegant.  Also, on each chair there was a goodie bag filled with a ceramic coffee mug, book of inspirations, tea bags, and tea cookies that everyone got to take home.

   For the table decorations, I used some colored doilies, and placed a teapot full of fresh flowers on top, on others, it was a teacup full of flowers.  I also made some pink tissue paper pom poms which I hung from the ceiling.

     As for the food, I enlisted the help of my fellow Steering Team leaders in making some of the food.  I found some amazing tea sandwich recipes online which I just had to use for this event.  I went shopping for all the ingredients and divided out the recipes with their ingredients to everyone.  On the day of the event, everyone brought their tasty sandwiches to share.

Blue Cheese & Pear Sandwiches on Sourdough Bread

Chicken Salad Sandwiches on Wheat Bread

Roast Beef & Horseradish Sandwiches on Rye Bread

Mixed Fruit Kabob and Watercress & Goat Cheese Sandwiches on Cinnamon Bread

      We also had veggie trays, fruit kabobs, pastry platters, and cookie plates.  As for the drinks, I bought an assortment of different flavored teas, lemonade, and water of course.

Chocolate Eclairs, Cream Puffs, French Macaroons, Cucumber & Proscuitto Sandwiches on White Bread

Assorted cookies

     Our last meeting turned out fabulous, everyone had a great time listening and learning from the speakers, enjoyed the food, loved the goodie bags, and most of all had a great time.  I am very thankful I got to be apart of this event.  It was a great ending to another great MOPs year.  Since, I am not running hospitality anymore, I look forward to what the new coordinator will present at our next Tea & Testimony meeting in May.  But for now, I will enjoy the last craft meeting for April I have to plan...it will be a good one!

     Here are the recipes for the tea sandwiches:

• Blue Cheese & Pear Sandwiches
• Chicken Salad Sandwiches
• Roast Beef & Horseradish Sandwiches
• Watercress & Goat Cheese Sandwiches
• Cucumber & Proscuitto Sandwiches