The Tapestry Project http://blog.thetapestryproject.org Weaving together the resources of Oklahoma City. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:17:03 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Bike Rides http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/bike-rides http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/bike-rides#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:17:03 +0000 Amy http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/?p=1475 This past month these bikes were donated to the youth that participate in our after school programs.

These bikes are nice and we truly appreciate the gift that they were. Some of our kids are checking them out to ride them to school every morning. Kids are riding them around the neighborhood in the afternoon. If you walk in our resource center they are stacked up being stored and kept safe so that the kids don’t have to worry about them getting stolen.

 

They were just bikes. Yet they impacted our little after-school community in a profound way. Something about them registered that “we cared”. “We cared” about the cold morning walk to school. “We cared” about the desires of their hearts. To those of you who gave a bike. THANK YOU!

If you have an extra helmet lying around would you consider bringing it down? Email amy@thetapestryproject.org.

 

His Kingdom Come,

 

Amy


]]> http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/bike-rides/feed 0 Coats for kids http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/coats-for-kids http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/coats-for-kids#comments Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:10:55 +0000 Amy http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/?p=1465 This past Saturday we were delighted to partner with Southpointe Community church to host our annual Coats for kids distribution. I’m constantly amazed at how the God of this universe knows exactly who will be on the lawn in a need of a coat. I know He alone is in the details when you serve 150+ children and put fitting coats on all but 3 of them (which we provided later)!

It is our desire to be good neighbors to our friends living at and in the community surrounding The Tapestry Project. To us that means “desiring for them, that which we desire for ourselves.” This means that we put coats on kids in our neighborhood because our children have coats and jackets to wear!

If you would like to help us continue our coat closet for kids that we work with that don’t have winter coats please email amy@thetapestryproject.org to arrange a drop-off or pick-up.

For His Glory,

Amy 

 

 

]]> http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/coats-for-kids/feed 0 City on a Hill http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/city-on-a-hill http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/city-on-a-hill#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:34:44 +0000 Amy http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/?p=1459

This is our second annual race that will feature a course through Wheeler Park. The race is November 5, 2011 at 8 am.Proceeds go to the Tapestry Project. The Tapestry Project is an organization that is revitalizing a deteriorating neighborhood through renovation, restoration, and connecting people in need to the resources that will equip them to thrive as a community. The vision is to create model for urban development and community transformation for women, children and families in crisis all across Oklahoma City.

Additional Location Information
Location Description:

Wheeler Park, 1120 S Western Ave. Oklahoma City OK 73109

Packet Pick Up
Packet Pick Up will be Friday, November 4th at the Skyline Offices located in the breezeway of Sandridge Energy Corp. 123 Kerr Avenue  in downtown Oklahoma City. Packets can be picked up from 4-7 pm. Packets can also be picked up on race day at Wheeler Park.

Race Day Registration
Registration on race day will be at Wheeler Park from 6-7:30 am. Price does not change, but participants may not be guaranteed an event t-shirt.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY!

Event Sponsored by:

]]> http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/city-on-a-hill/feed 0 Happy 8th Birthday Madison http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/happy-8th-birthday-madison http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/happy-8th-birthday-madison#comments Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:47:23 +0000 Amy http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/?p=1452 Our sweet girl turns 8 today!

It’s hard to believe that she is this “big” already! 8 has become the year that we have decided to do a blended model of schooling in a classroom and at home. She is immersed in being  a student of the Bible this year and is learning a song every week about her Bible and History courses. 8 has become the year that she will engage in Biblical community with girls her own age and older and she will become mentored by an older Godly teenager.  8 has become the year that she LOVES to dance. EVERYWHERE! at the studio, in the car, and especially down the grocery store aisles:)

8 years and many more to come and we are working at growing these qualities deep within her sweet little heart:

Happy Birthday to our Beloved Daughter. Her life is the sweetest gift any momma could every ask for. Madison Elaine you bring us great joy!

All my love,

]]> http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/happy-8th-birthday-madison/feed 0 Back To School http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/back-to-school http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/back-to-school#comments Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:32:04 +0000 Amy http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/?p=1440 Our students loaded into the school buses on August 1st this year. Oklahoma City Public Schools have moved to a year round school model. The Tapestry Project has the distinct privilege in aiding our students back to school with the supplies and clothing that they need to start each year out with the tools that they need to succeed. We are committed to being on the front lines when it comes to combating the statistics that state students living in poverty have low achievement because of lack of resources. With your help we were able to distribute 275 back packs this year. That’s 275 students, heading back to school with supplies, with resources, and with their heads held high. We also have a lot of fun doing it. Below is a glimpse of our back to school party.

“Locate a resilient kid and you will also find a caring adult–or several”-Invincible Kids, U.S. News&World Report.

Thanks for caring,

]]> http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/back-to-school/feed 0 The Fatherless http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/the-fatherless http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/the-fatherless#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:26:06 +0000 Amy http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/?p=1433 It’s been a whirlwind of a week. We have our favorite Texas team in town working on site at Tapestry. They are steadfast cleaning up the neighborhood, building a fence, and building community through a summer day camp for our kids. In the evening time they are out in about in OKC checking out different things and the last two evenings they have invited some of our Tapestry boys to come along.

On Monday my family joined them at the Redhawks Minor League Baseball game in bricktown. We invited Juvi to join us and it was a pleasure getting to see him take in a ball game with pizza and ice cream to go with it. Juvi is one of our beloved Tapestry boys. We have been on a 2 year journey with his family. He has participated in all of our programming summer camps, after school tutoring, and is now a resident of the Tapestry Project. Juvi is a very respectful hardworking young man. Our family really love this guy and we have been there for him through some very hard days this past year.

I was driving him home Monday evening and my 7 year old daughter asked him how his “father’s day celebration” was. Without hesitation he stated “oh I don’t celebrate that.” The reason being is that Juvi is without a father. Madison of course had no idea because in her mind on father’s day you celebrate your dad. You make pancakes really early and sneak them up to him before he gets out of bed. You gather with your extended family and swim and cook out,  have lunch with your grams and grandpa, and you talk all day long about how great your daddy is. It’s a fun day. But in Juvi’s world Father’s day comes and goes. No one is celebrated. Because no one is there.

John Sower founder of The Mentoring Project and Author of The Fatherless Generation states that “Fatherlessness is more than a personal tragedy. It’s a growing epidemic. Fatherlessness is the driving force behind gangs, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, and suicide. And all too often, the fatherless are either marginalized or ignored.”

Juvi is a great kid and God has great plans for his life. Our family is beyond blessed by getting the opportunity to mentor and love on him. He even talked me into picking him up every day this week early from his summer school program so he wouldn’t miss all the fun on the Tapestry Lawn. I know more kids like Juvi. I know girls and boys that need friends. That need role models. That need hope.

If your interested and willing would you contact us? or Big Brothers Big Sisters? My heart aches for those who are affected by this crazy epidemic. My heart hurts that Father’s day is gone and that they had no one to celebrate.

Together we can make a difference!

We know

]]> http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/the-fatherless/feed 0 Easter on the Lawn http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/easter-on-the-lawn http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/easter-on-the-lawn#comments Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:16:13 +0000 Amy http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/?p=1413

This past weekend we had the distinct opportunity to partner with Josh Gutteridge from GO CHURCH in okc. Here is a recap of how his family and Community experience Easter this year at Tapestry:

“When I was growing up, we liked to play football in the park. We especially liked to play football in the park on a rainy day! There is just something about grinding it out in the elements, getting muddy, and going home looking like someone smeared dirt all over the face. As a boy it seemed a chance to prove yourself a “man”. When I lived in Boston the Patriots fans begged God for snow during the playoffs because they wanted to go watch the “Pats” beat their opponents in the elements of New England.

This past Easter Sunday we were committed to going into a neighborhood to bring the Easter Message of Jesus’ resurrection in Word and deed! We were happy to make this commitment because we know that Jesus came to serve us, to give His life for us! But when it rained this simple act of service became even more powerful and meaningful! It added an element to our worship and service that could never have been planned. One man in the neighborhood said “if you guys have the guts to have a church service in the rain then I want to come even though I have not been to church in years!”

And what did this simple man see? He saw that you showed up in force! You were awesome! What an amazing symbol of what Jesus did for us… in darkness, earthquake, and God-forsakenness He took His people’s sin. What would have happened if He would have said, “you know given the earthquake thing and the darkness in the middle of the day I think I will skip the cross”? We would be lost forever! We would be eternally separated from God!

In 10 years of vocational ministry I can honestly say I have never been more proud of a group of people or a church than I was this past Easter Sunday. It was a signature moment of pure joy in my life to serve alongside you and worship with you this past Sunday. I was truly proud (and humbled!) to be the Pastor of Go Church. It was our “finest hour!”

Now I know what the Apostle meant when he said “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3). And again he states to the same church: “we have been comforted about you through your faith” (1 Thessalonians 3:7). I could not express my gratitude for you better than those inspired words.

God will do things beyond our imagination and expectations if Go Church will continue to show up to Worship Jesus, Gather in Community, and practice regular Outreach! Thank you for taking the field on Sunday! Thank you for having resurrection attitude! Thank you for setting up tents, carrying umbrellas, bringing food to the Tapestry neighborhood, for loving, and meeting new people. Thank you for smiling, listening, hugging, singing and being Go Church. To quote one of my daughters: “Daddy, I will never forget this Easter!”

Thank You Josh and Go Church for celebrating alongside our families. Your impact is contagious….

]]> http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/easter-on-the-lawn/feed 0 The Rollin’ Thunder Bus http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/the-rollin-thunder-bus http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/the-rollin-thunder-bus#comments Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:27:39 +0000 Amy http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/?p=1399 We also teamed up with the Kappa and Phi Phi alumnae clubs to organize a visit from the Thunder Book Bus and our favorite OKC Thunder mascot Rumble!

Each of the neighborhood kids were given a Tapestry shirt, a new book to take home, and basketball cupcakes for snacks. We all had a blast!

]]> http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/the-rollin-thunder-bus/feed 0 Spring http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/spring http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/spring#comments Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:40:30 +0000 Amy http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/?p=1392 Spring is full of life, of growth, and of community. From spring planting to spring shopping we have had the honor of participating in some pretty cool happenings at Tapestry.


We teamed up with the Junior League of OKC for a day of planting. We were blown away by there generosity and had the best time planting new annuals as well as getting the beginnings of our garden boxes newly soiled and ready for our vegetables to go into the ground.


We are thankful for the opportunity to shop at the Junior League’s Remarkable Shop. They teamed up with DK Salon and treated our families to makeover’s and new spring out fits for the women and their sweet children. We are seeing God at work with deeper faith and for us this day meant that our girls were able to recover lost pieces. Lost pieces of clothing, lost pieces of friendship, and lost pieces of beauty. So this particular week was a beautiful one. From digging in the earth and planting flowers deep to watching God do what he loves to do.

Trading ashes for beauty,

]]> http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/spring/feed 0 Fresh Healthy Foods for our Families http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/fresh-healthy-foods-for-our-families http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/fresh-healthy-foods-for-our-families#comments Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:10:30 +0000 Amy http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/?p=1383

Making The Community Livable Again,

]]> http://blog.thetapestryproject.org/fresh-healthy-foods-for-our-families/feed 0