My name is Lisa Garvin and I am serving as Coordinator for MOPS this year. I have four children, 3 girls ages 9, 6½, 4 and one boy 1 1/2.
 I have been a part of this awesome ministry since the start of MOPS at Christ Church of Oak Brook eight years ago. It is funny to think that I was only a mother of one back then! My husband  and I met in college and have been married fourteen years. I have a masters degree in social work and have worked with the elderly, mentally ill, in drug and alcohol prevention and most recently as a school social worker. Since I decided to assume the roll of coordinator I decided to stop working for a while, which was a really good decision as it was then I found out we were having #4!! I love this ministry and am so honored to be a part of making happen each week. I hope you are as blessed by being here as I am!!

Amy Fry
 It's my great honor to serve on the Hospitality team, as well as, on the Care Team this year. I have participated in MOPS for the past 4 years and wanted to give back to this great organization. I have been married to my husband for eight years and we have two wonderful children. Our daughter is 3 years old and our son is 9 months old. I have not been working outside the home since my son was born, but prior to that I was doing Case Management at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and First Health. I have a Master's Degree in Nursing Administration and have a multitude of unique experiences having worked as a nurse in different capacities. I am so excited this year to serve in whatever capacity I am needed in MOPS and look forward to meeting each of you.

I’m Jen Padavic and I grew up 3 miles from where I live today in Downers Grove with my husband and my 2 amazing kids-one daughter age 4.5 yrs and one son 3 yrs. I graduated from University of Illinois (in business finance) the same year as my husband but we didn’t meet there. I had to travel to Atlanta, GA for us to formally meet. We dated long-distance for 18 long months before my husband moved back to Chicago and we were married in 1997. After gaining my masters in teaching to become a first grade teacher and moving from the city to our first home in Downers Grove, it was surprising how alone I felt at times. This only intensified when I was blessed with my daughter and now a stay-at-home mommy. It was meeting a wonderful neighbor and lifelong friend who introduced me to MOPS and the rest is a dream come true. I have been excited to serve MOPS for my third year as a Finance Team leader. I look forward to my fifth MOPS season with all of its wonderful moms and hope that I can continue to bless moms as I have been blessed and ‘pay-it-forward’!

I grew up in Lombard, IL with only one move as a child (2miles away). I still live there today! I am married to my wonderful husband of 4 1/2 years. I have two daughters ages almost 4 and almost 3. This will be my third year on the ST for MOPS and I am so thankful that God has placed me here. I hope and pray that MOPS will continue to grow in my life and in yours.

 Michelle Joyce

I was born and raised in Iowa. I graduated from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA. I became a bit of a gypsy after graduation, moving from Iowa City to Des Moines, IA to Kansas City, MO, back to Iowa City, and finally landed in a suburb of Chicago, all within 2 years of graduating. Once here I attended DePaul University to become a computer programmer. I have now settled down a bit with my husband, in Downers Grove and we have 3 great kids. I am thankful that God has given me this opportunity to serve and feel blessed to meet so many wonderful women through MOPS.

Becoming a mom brought so many incredible new experiences; MOPS was one of them. At the time I had no way of knowing how much I would need this ministry. I cherish the support, encouragement and knowledge I have received and have found great strength in friendship and faith. I have had the honor of serving on the ST as the finance co-leader and now, I am currently serving as a co-leader with MOPPETS.

Before becoming a mom, I was an eighth grade special education teacher in district 181. I attended Hope College graduating with a degree in Special Education and also attained my master’s degree from UIC. I volunteered with CCOB's High School Ministry, Koinonia. There I met my husband Mike McCurry and are now celebrating seven years this November.

We moved to Clarendon Hills in ’02 and at that time became legal guardians of my two cousins, Jenni and Chrisi. Although the awesome journey of raising & witnessing to the girls closed this fall, we know God planted many seeds. We have three precious preschoolers; 2 boys 4 and 8 months and 1 girl 2 ½. I absolutely love being a mom and am extremely honored to serve and walk alongside you.

Sally Couture 

I moved a lot growing up, and while I lived in 4 different states before 8^th grade, I consider Arlington Heights home. I went to Simpson College in Indianola, IA and got my degree in Elementary Education. After college I taught various grades, but most of my career was teaching third grade in Plainfield. I met my husband  the summer before my senior year of college and we have been together ever since. We have now been married 12 years and live in La Grange Park. After many years of trying to start a family, we were blessed with the adoption of our daughter iin July of 2004. She is now an active 3 year old and I love being able to stay home with her. God blessed us again with the adoption of our son,  in October 2006. We have been members of Christ Church for about 5 years and this is my fourth year involved in MOPS. I feel so blessed that God led me to such a great organization and to the wonderful fellowship of such amazing women!

My name is Lauren and I’m on Creative Team this year with my partner extraordinaire, Nancy. I’ve been in MOPS for 6 years, 4 of which I’ve been blessed to spend on Steering Team. Six years ago, boy, did I hunger for what MOPS soul food is all about. I had quite a long and bumpy road before marriage and motherhood. I think I had a life and even a first name before kids, let me think… Oh, yes, its all coming back to me…I am totally butterflies-in-my-stomach in love with my husband of twelve years. We met in Hinsdale during a college break, while working at good old Soukup Hardware. He put together grills and I cashiered. I’m not sure if was the paint or fertilizer fumes, but we fell madly in love. We have 4 amazing kids: 2 boys ages 11 and 6 and 2 girls ages 4 and 1. They are “spicy” little critters, as lovable as they are “spirited”. Little did I know how challenging the terrain of motherhood would be! And our life is, well, a juggling act. With his job in law enforcement, rotating shifts and our household of kid-critters and animal-critters, we’re just plain busy. I thank God for all of this-for this house of abundance. Abundance of kids, of love, of memories, of fingerprints on the walls, of pacifiers on the floor, of artwork on the fridge. Our cup literally runneth over and with so many good things. So, with the Lord as my trail guide and my hiking boots laced, I’m trekking this mountain of motherhood one step at a time. And the view is spectacular.

Nancy Cremer

I’ve lived in the western suburbs of Chicago most of my life. My husband and I began dating at the age of 18 and got married 7/97. I went to Calvin College for 3 years and graduated from Trinity Christian College as a Registered Nurse with my Bachelors. I worked at Hinsdale Hospital on the postpartum floor and later worked for an OB/Gyne office in Hinsdale and later for an Internal Medicine office in Westchester. We had our first son in 8/00 who is an energetic and loving little boy. We moved to Clarendon Hills 7/02 and soon after was giving the opportunity to quit my job as an RN and begin an at-home part-time career as a real estate agent. We were then blessed with our second child, a girl, 1/03 who is a happy and very funny little girl. We quickly added sweet little girl to our lives 7/04. And then one more girl soon followed 10/05. Nothing slows her down. We can’t imagine our lives without her. I really enjoy baking and recently found a love for gardening. This is going to be my sixth year in MOPS and my 4^th year on Steering Team as a Creative Team leader and I cherish the friends I have made along the way.

My name is Tracey Bianchi and I have two sons ages 4 and 1.  I met my husband while working at Phantom Ranch Bible Camp in Wisconsin for a summer. He was the head lifeguard and I was a climbing guide, it was like a cheesy episode of 90210 when we met. We were married in 1997 and this February will celebrate our 11 year wedding anniversary. This is my fourth year in MOPS and I attended my first meeting when my first born was just 6 weeks old. As a brand new and very overwhelmed mom, spending the morning in a room full of mothers who were trying to find their way through this stage of life was so amazing, I was hooked. I look forward each week to connecting with everyone and to enjoying a cup of coffee without my 4 year old asking for a sip! God is so good.

Karen Leenheers

Suzanne Carlson