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 Steering Members  Jess Brans - Coordinator
I love MOPS!! I began attending 5 years ago when my daughter was 6 months old and my son was 2, it has helped me become a better mom, wife, friend and I found myself again. It has also helped me in my walk with Christ. The friendships I have made will be life long. I am a certified Special Education teacher and am currently teaching the 3 year old class at Building Blocks Preschool of Faith Church. My hobbies include running, scrapbooking, reading, cooking/baking and spending time with my kiddos. I have been a basketball coach for Special Olympics Lehigh County for 18 years and now my children are my assistant coaches. I am looking forward to meeting you at our next MOPS meeting. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns at jbrans@ptd.net Lynn Orrico - Assistant Coordinator
This is my sixth year attending MOPS and my fourth year on Steering. My husband, Russ, and I have been married for almost ten years. We have two children: Jacob is 6 and Emily is 3. I'm originally from New York City, but have lived in Bethlehem since graduating from Muhlenberg College (minus a brief stint in Jersey City after we were first married). I worked in advertising before becoming a stay-at-home mom. I enjoy reading, cooking, gardening, working out (sometimes), and chocolate (all the time). What a blessing MOPS has been to me! I have made wonderful friends here and the meetings provide a much needed break that always leaves me feeling refreshed. I hope you will feel the same. Please contact me if I can help you in any way.
Marla McDonald - Creative Activities
I have been attending MOPS for 5 years now. I moved here in 2005 from New Jersey, but I'm originally from North Carolina. I've been married to my husband, John, for 12 years and we have two girls. Meghan is 9 years old and Bethany is 5.
This is my second year leading crafts. Five years ago, I would have never guessed I would be doing this! MOPS has made me challenge myself, and I've had wonderful role models to encourage me not to be afraid. I know not everyone thinks of themselves as "crafty", but I enjoy coming up with fun and easy projects anyone can do.
Besides being "crafty" I enjoy running, gardening and cooking healthy recipes. My two girls are into Irish step-dancing, so a lot of my time is spent taking them to dance class and competitions. I also love taking family trips, even if it's just a hike in the woods. MOPS has been a true blessing to me through many trials and tribulations. It has made me grow as a mom and as a person. I hope you find a blessing here too and maybe even a challenge of your own. I look forward to a wonderful and fun year together!
Jessica Dressler - Discussion Group Team Leader
This is my fifth year attending MOPS and my third year on the Steering Committee. I heard about MOPS from a few friends at Faith Church, and I'm so glad I decided to join.
I love being a mom and I have two beautiful boys. Jonah, who is 6 1/2 and starting first grade this year, and Gabe, who is 3 1/2 and starting preschool. I've been married to my husband, Ben, for 9 terrific years. I have the pleasure of staying home with my boys while my husband goes to work as a pilot.
I also love being involved with MOPS at Faith. I think it's a great way to make new friends and grow as a mom. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.
Stephanie Kelley - Finance
Crazy may be the best way to describe my life right now. As a wife, mother, Mary Kay consultant, church member, mops steering member, etc, life rarely gives me a dull moment. I’m sure you all relate! Despite the busyness and craziness of life, though, I feel so blessed by all the responsibilities and opportunities that God provides for me.
My husband, Aaron, and I have been married for 7 years, but our relationship began back in high school almost 14 years ago. As soon as we married, we moved to West Virginia where he was attending medical school. Then, in 2006, we were blessed with our first son, Noah who is now 4 ½. Shortly after his birth, my husband graduated from medical school, I quit my teaching job to become a stay-at-home mom, and we moved to the Lehigh Valley. Aaron works for Lehigh Valley Health Network in the emergency department and as an EMS fellow. Two years after moving to PA, we were blessed with our second son, Jacob who is now 2. We were blessed again when Levi was born this summer.
When I’m not busy with my boys, I am most likely doing girly things! I love my Mary Kay business that allows me to meet and pamper women of all walks of life. I also love Beth Moore Bible studies, scrap booking, cooking, knitting and reading. Being a member of Salem Bible Church gives me outlets for many of these interests. However, only Faith Church could give me MOPS. MOPS was the group that I needed to help me meet other women who could relate, encourage and teach me as I grow in my roles as mother, wife and Believer. This is my fourth year of MOPS and my first year on steering. Being the finance person fits my personality perfectly, and I’m so excited to get to know each mom this year.
Samantha DiPaolo - Hospitality
It’s hard for me to believe that my MOPS journey started 11 years ago in Michigan…and then continued when we moved to Alabama, and here I am starting my fourth year at Faith in Pennsylvania! (Oh, did I mention I’m originally from Northern Indiana?)
I’ve been married to Brian for 13 years and we have four children, Mary Cate (11), Dominic (10), Sophie (6) and Maggie (4). MOPS has been such an important part of my life as a stay-at-home mom! Being a quiet person, it has really helped me come out of my shell. When I was a new mom in a new area, not knowing anyone, being at MOPS helped me take those first few steps and I have made many dear friends and grown in my Christian faith because of it. When I'm not cleaning my house, I like to read, quilt, run, workout, and bake goodies. Being on the steering committee is just another example of God’s blessings in my life. What an exciting way to share my love of MOPS with other moms!
April Bispeck - MOPPETS
Hello ladies. I am excited to be using my “old life skills” in combination with my “new life skills” as a Moppet Coordinator. In my old life, I was an elementary teacher in both a public school and Montessori school setting. After some moving around, my husband of six years, Matt, and I started our family with our son Logan (3). Not too long ago, we added Taylor (6 mo.) into the mix. It is definitely a new life, but full of fun and adventure.
We moved back into the area two years ago and I found MOPS. It has been wonderful for me and my family. I was able to make friends that shared the same values and beliefs, as well as get a much needed break from the day-to-day a few mornings a month. I miss teaching and the planning of activities that goes along with that, so I am excited to be able to do that for the kids this year! I also look forward to getting to know you and your children. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Heidi Felegy - MOPPETS
This is my third year attending MOPS and my first year on Steering. I have been married to my best friend, Eddie, for 9 years, and have known him since Elementary School. Both of us grew up in the Lehigh Valley, and lived in the Caribbean for a short time after we were married. We have three wonderful children: Oscar is 6 and going to Kindergarten this year, and Ivan and Vivien are our twins that will be 1 in December.
When I am not changing diapers, feeding everyone, cleaning up dishes, doing laundry, finding lost toys, and all of the other craziness that goes on in my house, I try to find time to sleep-ha. I also love reading, and would love to find time to sew. I am addicted to ice cream, and I secretly love building with Legos. I love the beach and hope to live next to it again one day. I hate the winter and I freak out over germs (God is working on me with this by making my children constantly ill this past year). I heard about MOPS a year before some friends convinced me to join. Truthfully, I was fearful of sticking Oscar in another classroom where he might have a difficult time being separated from me. I didn't want to have to deal with that anxiety. Now, I wish that I would have joined earlier. I find it interesting that God has now led me to be part of the MOPPETS program, where I hope to help the workers really connect with your children so that all of you can feel very comfortable coming to MOPS. Please come to me if you have any problems in this area so that I can help out. I look forward to getting to know all of you.
Sarah Pifer - Publicity
I am blessed to be the wife of my high school sweetheart, Aaron, and mommy to two wonderful kiddos, Caleb and McKenna. Caleb is 7 and in second grade this year, and McKenna, my 5 year old, just started Kindergarten =). We have lived in the Lehigh Valley for three years now.
I joined MOPS here at Faith Church in January of 08, but had also been involved in a MOPS group when we lived in Montana several years ago. I love getting together with other moms to share the joys and frustrations of motherhood. This year in MOPS, I look forward to deepening my relationships with other moms, learning how to be a better wife and mother, and to serving in a ministry that has meant a lot to me over the years. I hope that our time together encourages you to do the same =)
Rebecca Davis - Prayer and Concern Leader
I have been married for five years, to my wonderful husband Spencer. He works as a Mortgage Consultant, and I stay at home with our three boys. Taylor is 4 and born June 2006, Jacob is 2 and born December 2007, and we welcomed Parker to our family in October 2009. It's a full house, but it's been a lot of fun.
I have lived in the Lehigh Valley most of my life. I graduated from Emmaus High school in 2001, worked as a full-time nanny in Hellertown until Taylor was 3 months old, when I quit to stay home with him. My favorite things to do are: go shopping (WITHOUT kids), horseback riding, going out to dinner (again-WITHOUT KIDS). I love reading about my Savior and how to grow in godliness. I love cooking for my family, and I love holidays, especially Christmas. I am working in the youth ministry here at Faith, where I attend church, and have been doing that with my husband for 6 years now.
Mentor Moms:
Lynn Kershaw
My husband, Ray, and I live in Coopersburg. We will celebrate our 19th anniversary in October. We have three daughters. Alyssa will be 17 in October and is a junior at the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts. Lindsey is 13 and in 7th grade. Emily is 8 and in second grade.
My hobbies are reading and scrapbooking. As some of you know, I participated in MOPS here at Faith Church for 13 years, until my children got too old. It is an awesome ministry, and I am very thankful for the way God used it to bless my life. I am very excited to be back at MOPS this year as a Mentor Mom. I feel that MOPS is an invaluable support for mothers with young children and am psyched to help provide the same strength and encouragement that was given to me. Please feel free to call me anytime. I am available to talk or to get together for coffee or whatever.
Audrey Long
I am married to my best friend, Barry, for 33 years. We are enjoying this stage of “almost” empty-nesters. We have spent more time walking, eating out, and have taken up biking. We have 3 children, Christin (28) who teaches 3rd grade at Roosevelt Elementary. She has been married for 4 years to her husband, Keith Adams. Andrea (24) is an occupational therapist and is busy planning her wedding to Andy Miller in October. Our “happy ending” child, Ben (17), is a junior at PHS. He enjoys political discussions and all Philadelphia sports teams.
When Ben was a toddler, I had the privilege of attending MOPS. It was a real blessing to my life. I hope I can return the blessing to someone currently attending MOPS. One of my hobbies is talking on the phone, so if anyone ever needs to talk, just give me a call (...or taking a walk would be great too).
Linda Lovette
My husband Nick and I live 4 miles west of Fogelsville. We are both semi-retired. I work part-time as a medical transcriptionist, and my husband has a handyman business called “Little Jobs”. We have three children living on earth: Trish (39), Shari (almost 33), and Nicholas (29). Our son Michael is already living in heaven. We have five grandchildren: Halle (7), Micah (6), Serena (3), Elias (1), and Harrison (2), who was adopted from China last August. Halle was also “made in China”.
I am honored to be a Mentor Mom and hope that I can get to know many of you during this year. Fellowship among women is so important because we were designed to be relational. I work out of my home and am mostly available to chat whenever. I like to knit, counted-cross stitch and read. I now listen to audio books while doing needlework. For years I did a lot of sewing and still get "called on" to dust off the machine. I also like to "play in the dirt" (gardening).
Sue Schenkel
Not many women can say that she and her husband have six children between the ages of 21 and 28, but that is my claim to fame. Bart and I were married in June of 2009, and are blessed with these six wonderful children AND four grandchildren. Last year I retired from teaching, a total of 23 years. I have taught almost every subject, in almost every grade, kindergarten through eighth, with my last eleven years in sixth grade at Hershey Middle School. When I was in second grade, I felt called to be a teacher and never (well, rarely) had any regrets about that vocation. I now look forward to a new season of serving. This is my first year as a mentor mom and I am excited to see how God is going to work through this group.
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