Another Event - Don't Miss It!

Girlfriends, Get Your Game On:
Not Your Ordinary Game Night
Saturday, August 15th from 6 to 9pm
at the conference room of Showalter Roofing

Even if this summer is not blazing hot, it is blazing by. Before it ends, Women's Link wants to capture the fun of summer by inviting you to an event you won't want to miss. We promise an evening of fun, laughter and food - what all that entails...well, we're not saying. But we do guarantee that it will not be your ordinary game night. So break out your competitive spirit and get your game on, girlfriend! We want to see you there!

Watch your inbox for an official evite or contact Women's Link to sign up: ctcwomenslink@gmail.com

SOS Talks in mp3 format

If you missed the SOS (Sharing Our Secrets) event and didn't get a CD, we have links to mp3's of each of the two CD's. Check them out on the sidebar. And if you want us to send you the handouts, shoot us an email and we'll get them to you (ctcwomenslink@gmail.com).

Next Book Club

The CrossTown Women’s Book Club (usually) meets the first Monday of the month at various locations.

We just finished reading The Suburban Christian. Our next book is The Secret Life of Bees. We will be meeting Aug. 10 at 7 p.m.

Please contact Emily or Lara if you would like to join the book club at ctcwomenslink@gmail.com. We always have a lively discussion and good food! We would love to have you join us!

Playgroup in the park

Summer playgroup meets from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays this summer!

Here is the schedule:

July 8 Bradford Park -- Bradford Place and Quail Run (off of Weber) BB

July 15 Winston Woods -- 197 Winston Drive (across from Wood View School) BB

July 22 Liberty Park -- Orchard Drive and Clifton Lane BB

July 29 Conservation Park – Belmont Dr and Beverly Dr Romeoville

August 5 Jaycee Park—Lily Cache and Schmidt (across from Bolingbrook High School)

August 12 Pioneer Park --1470 Raven Drive (across from Pioneer school) BB

August 19 TY Warner Spray Park -- The corner of Plaza Drive and Blackhawk Dr in Westmont Tot playground and zero depth pool
http://www.wpd4fun.org/Facilities/Ty-Warner-Park-Spray-Park.htm
Meet there at 10 AM

SOS on CD

If you missed Sharing Our Secrets, the June women’s event, you can get caught up on all of this great information! We have heard so much encouraging feedback from those who were able to attend!

Stop by the information table on Sunday to pick up a CD, as well as the hand-outs from the event. Or e-mail Emily or Lara for more info at ctcwomenslink@gmail.com.

SOS on Saturday

We are so excited about the GREAT response to our Women's Link event THIS SATURDAY from 9 a.m. to Noon at the church office.

If you haven't registered yet, just send us an e-mail. There's still time.

Here is what you don't want to miss:

S.O.S - Sharing Our Secrets

Help! I'm Sinking!
20 min talk by Emily Neal
Tips to take control of your daily schedule and get things organized.
How to create weekly priorities, set goals and create a system that works for you and rewarding yourself!

We're All in the Same Boat!
20 min. talk by Kara Haas
Come gain a vision of how learning to share (and receive) can rock your world and the world around you!
We will take a closer look at the Acts 2 church...How did they share everything and nobody had any need? Can CTC really do that?? Yes we can! Come hear practical tips on how to start!

Not Getting Caught in the Undertow
10 min. Testimony by Cheryl Lynn Cain
One woman's story of how she was convicted to stop buying herself clothes for a year!

These Aren't Uncharted Waters
20 min talk by Emily Sault
Practical tips on how to stretch meals, do more with less and use the old fashioned tricks our mothers (and grandmothers) used!

God in the Galley
20 min talk by Lara Krupicka
Don't let the grocery bill pull you under. Come here practical tips on how to use coupons to cut your grocery bill by as much as 30%! How can you get stuff for free!? How the internet can save you on your grocery bill!

Anchored in the Rock
10 min testimony by Julie Holtz
In rough times, it can be hard to give, but we can give and give dangerously! Julie will share her testimony on how God's blessed her family through giving.

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We will have a time for refection and try to go home with ONE THING to help us in our daily lives.

It's No Secret - You Could Win a Special Prize

If you're planning on attending the SOS (Sharing Our Secrets) Women's Link event on June 13th (details here), sign up by June 1st and you'll be entered in a drawing for a special prize.

Remember, this event is FREE! You can sign up by emailing us at ctcwomenslink@gmail.com and simply say, "Sign me up!". Or check out the table in the lobby after the service the next two Sundays (May 24th & May 31st) for your chance to register for this event.

SOS! Calling all CTC Women!

Ever feel like you are sinking?
Do you need ideas to help organize your time, cut your grocery bill, stretch your budget?
Then it’s time for SOS!

SOS(Sharing Our Secrets):Tips to TRANSFORM your thinking, build your TRUST in God & help you THRIVE in TOUGH TIMES

This practical workshop is intended to help us as women to find ways to not only cope with the tough economic situations we face today but thrive and come alongside others to share the burden. Several CrossTown women will share their secrets about: organizing & planning, how to save on groceries, giving to God when money is tight and tips for stretching your dollar the old-fashioned way, all with a focus on how these things equip us to be salt and light to our Body and our World. We hope you will come and learn something new that will have you praising God in the midst of what the world calls a “crisis”.

Saturday, June 13th 9 am to Noon at the Church Office

For more information, contact Women's Link at ctcwomenslink@gmail.com.

Save the Date

S.O.S. (Sharing Our Secrets): Tips to TRANSFORM your thinking, build your TRUST in God and have you THRIVING in TOUGH TIMES

This seminar will take place on Saturday, June 13th from 9am to Noon at the CrossTown Church Office. All women are welcome to attend. This event is FREE!

For more information, contact the Women's Link Coordinators (Emily Neal or Lara Krupicka).

Next Book Club

Are you interested in joining women at CTC for a book club?

Our next meeting is Monday, May 4. We will be discussing the book, "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver.

If you are interesting in becoming part of the book club, please contact us for more details at ctcwomenslink @ gmail . com.

YUM! Cream cheese squares!

Well, we learn more at our Tuesday morning Bible study than just our awesome lessons from the book of Esther. We also find out how to make the tasty treats women bring each week for our snack!

This is my recipe for Cream Cheese Squares. It is super simple, but everyone seems to love it!

Ingredients:

2 (8 ounce) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup margarine, melted
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
Press one can of the crescent rolls into the bottom of the prepared pan. In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Spread over the crescent layer. Unroll the second can of crescent rolls and lay them on top of the cream cheese layer. Do not press down. Pour the melted margarine over the entire pan. Combine the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over the top.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top is crisp and golden.

Do you have a great recipe that is simple and always seems to turn out great? Post it in the comments section! We would love to hear about it.

What's new with Women's Link?

Hi Ladies,

Thank you to everyone who has been regularly checking the Women's Link blog! I'm hoping we can start updating it on a more regular basis to create some community online.

The women's Bible study is in full swing now. We are so thankful that God provided us with this wonderful study on the book of Esther, babysitters (YEA!), a great host home and an amazing group of women who gather on Tuesday mornings.

If you are looking for some direction for your personal study, the Beth Moore study would be wonderful to pursue on your own! Perhaps after we are done, we could loan out the DVDs or form another group to go through the study together.

We also will be meeting for our book club for the first time on March 2. We are reading the book, The Shack, which should provide some lively discussion! If you are interested in joining the book club, please let us know!

Finally, please continue to pray for Baby Kendall. We are so thankful that she has been improving the past few days, but please pray that God also would give her doctors wisdom in determining the cause of her breathing problems.

Please let us know if you have any ideas, comments or suggestions about Women's Link. You can e-mail us at ctcwomenslink@gmail.com.

Love,
Emily and Lara

Hearts at Home National Conference

Calling all moms (and moms-to-be)! Mark your calendars for the annual Hearts at Home National conference. This conference for moms, held every year in Bloomington, IL is coming up on March 13-14. General sessions with speakers such as Jill Savage & Dr. Kevin Leman, along with practical workshops (among them: "Raising Financially Savvy Kids" & "Setting a Standard for Purity") bring you training and encouragement in the toughest job you've ever had - motherhood.

If you're interested in attending or want more information talk to Emily Neal (630-226-0699) or Lara Krupicka (630-357-7265). Or check out the website: www.hearts-at-home.org.

Book club

We are starting to hear some interest in the idea of starting a book club!

The group would meet once a month in the evening to discuss books chosen by the group. Those attending the group would help with hosting, bringing snacks and deciding what books to read. We would try to read one book a month.

We would like to find out how many people are interested and then schedule a time to get together for coffee to discuss the details of the group.

If you are interested, e-mail us for more details: ctcwomenslink at gmail dot com (written as an e-mail with no spaces).

Looking for a sitter

We are looking for a student or adult who would like to make a little extra money (and provide a HUGE blessing to CTC women) by babysitting during our Women's Bible study.

The study will meet from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday mornings in southwest Naperville.

If you are interested, e-mail us for more details: ctcwomenslink at gmail dot com (written as an e-mail with no spaces).

Thanks!!

Purity in Heart conference

If you are interested in attending this conference, please let us know! We will hook you up with other women who are planning to attend:

Calling all moms, grandmothers, and friends of “tweens”

If you want to help your tween (7-12 year-old-girl) stay morally pure, but feel inadequate for the task, Pure In Heart is for you! Bring your tween to this day-long conference and captivate her heart before the world does. Ignite a passion for purity in her as she explores her identity as a beloved daughter of the King!

Come Saturday, April 18, 2009 to . . .

Harvest Bible Chapel
3800 East 53rd Street
Davenport, IA 52807
563-359-5333

Adults: Just $25 if you register by March 23, 2009!
Tweens: Just $20!
*Cost includes lunch and conference materials.

Women's Bible study - DETAILS!

We are so excited about getting started with the Women’s Bible Study next Tuesday, Jan. 27!

We will meet from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the home of Sarah West, 4420 Buttermilk Ct., Naperville.

We have 11 women signed up for the study, which we believe will be a great sized group to allow for discussion. We will be watching a short video segment each week of Beth Moore and then going through the study together. We will bring the books to the first meeting. The cost is $15.

We have not had any success finding a babysitter for the group, so we have a couple of options:

First, let us know if you know of a homeschooler or an adult who would like to make some extra money by sitting during the study.

Until we find someone, we will set up a rotation with the women who have children to take turns as the babysitter. We realize that the women with newborns probably won’t be able to help, so please don’t feel bad! We all have our seasons in life where we can do more!

Please continue to pray along with Lara and I that the childcare would go smoothly, whether that means finding a babysitter or taking turns with childcare!

Please also let us know if you have any other ideas of suggestions!

Lara and I have been praying for the study and we are thankful for the group God is bringing together.

We will be ordering the books this afternoon, so if you know of anyone else who would like to join us, or if your plans have changed, please let us know!

Registration form

We are so excited about all of the positive response to the Women's Bible Study.

We need to order the books mid-January to make sure we have them in time. If you are planning to attend, please let us know.

Here is a registration form that you can submit, using this e-mail.

Name:

Phone Number:

E-mail address:

Name and ages of children who will need childcare: