TapestryMinistryBlog

Thank you to all who helped

2006-06-17T21:20:00.000-07:00

Getting the house ready for Linda and her kids to move in to was really a team effort. It has been so gratifying to me to experience so many people pulling together to work towards a common goal of helping and reaching out to someone (many of them(hadn't met) but many had prayed for.

To all the painters, most from my church family, but also Bill who graciously helped out.

To those who donanted money towards the cost of the paint.

To Ken Fausnaught for taking on the ceiling panel project.

To Mick Fleming for donating mulch, so the yard will also have a face lift.

To Don Kreischer for helping achieve the goal of a new kitchen for the ability to purchase the cabinets at cost and installing them, and the counter top (for which he donated the materials) for free. A new kitchen provides such a face lift!

And to Tom Garvey, of Garvey's Carpet Eporium who donated, and INSTALLED carptet for the entire house. It is truly a new house.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I am proud to live in such a sharing and caring community.

All moved in

2006-06-16T15:36:00.000-07:00

It is an exciting time for the Padula family, as they arrived in Danville yesterday from upstate PA.

The house looks great, so I am told, but I haven't been in myself since the new carpeting has been installed. But it is completely repainted, freshly recarpeted, and the new kitchen is being finished up. All that is left is the mulch!

The kids love the colors, and I hope Jake the dog is happy!

Welcome Linda and family to Danville, where I hope the community welcomes you.

Serving as the Body

2006-05-09T18:10:00.000-07:00

Wow! It is so wonderful to serve as a part of the body of Christ. And that is what all the volunteers and helpers are doing who are a part of the renovation of this house.

Today Garvey's sent the carpet guy, Al to measure. Al was with Garvey's when they installed the carpet in our house here. And yesterday I got a call from Bill McCloud, and he came to paint. I stayed as long as Al was there, and got almost the entire Master Bedroom primed. In the meantime Bill was working on the Living Room.

And Saturday I have lots of help lined up: John and Derek Jantzi, Mark Lillmars, Amy Swartz, the Printzenhoffs and me and the girls. It will be grand, and I bet we get a TON done.

I need to go back and take some more before pictures. And call CCN.

When the hands and feet of Christ work and serve in coordination, it is a beautiful thing.

The painting will begin!

2006-05-08T19:21:00.000-07:00

Painting is about to begin on Linda's house. I think this is really exciting! I stopped by Cole's Hardware who is giving me a price break and put in my order for the first batch of paint, and have help tomorrow and Saturday. Saturday should be a regular party! So we'll see how long it takes to get this house done, and the youth group is adopting Cassie and Steph's rooms. Way cool!

Renovations on the way

2006-05-06T20:07:00.000-07:00

I had unbelievably great news this week.

The house does need some cosmetic work: Complete interior painting, new carpet upstairs, but especially down, and new dropped ceiling in the basement.

I was given Ministry Focus time in church last Sunday to provide an opportunity for service within my church family, and had a great response from people willing to paint, donate paint and install ceiling tile.

The carpet is still the biggie.

But Kristen, my friend and realtor, stopped by Tom Garvey's store to tell him about what I am up to. I have known Tom for years, and know he has a strong faith.

Well, I stopped in earlier this week, after Kristen said she had stopped by to give him an update on what I was doing.

It has been a long time since I have seen Tom, and he didn't know I was involved in Ministry. As I was telling him Linda's story, and the story of the house, and helping her to weave a life of new possibility, he and his store manager, Amanda, were listening.

When Tom spoke, his words totally overwhelmed me. "Kathy," he said, "I want to do this house for you." And he paused. "I am going to install new carpet in the entire house, no charge." I couldn't believe my ears. The whole house, upstairs and down, brand new carpet, and they are going to match the colors of the paint for the different rooms.

I am so thankful, and am going to use my big mouth to spread the word about this man's incredible generosity.

This is truly the church in action.

Praise God.

The House is Ours

2006-05-01T20:24:00.000-07:00

Today was a very exciting day. I closed on the house that will belong to the Padula family. The house is special for a number of reasons.
It belonged to friends of ours, that actually found the house through me, several years ago when they purchased it.
It is two doors up from our first Danville home in a great neighborhood.
The Padula kids will each have their own bedroom.
Fixing up the home will be a labor of love, lots of love! My church family at CMF is going to help paint and install new ceiling tile to get the house perked up and ready.
I will have to post before and after shots.
God is good.

Interview Response

2006-04-17T19:09:00.000-07:00

The airwaves are a powerful mode of communication. I have even heard from friends who don't normally listen to WGRC who tuned in while in the car and heard part of the program!

I also heard from a family who is facing their own struggles, and was grateful to learn about the ministry.

Remember, one person CAN make a difference.

The Matter at Hand Interview

2006-04-07T10:01:00.000-07:00

I will be interviewed on WGRC Lewisburg, PA 91.3 radio program, THE MATTER AT HAND on Tuesday, April 11 (airs from 11am till noon) about the ministry and the house that we are securing for the Padula family. Please join me if you are in the listening area!

We have a house!

2006-03-25T18:39:00.000-08:00

This has been a very exciting week for the Ministry, and also for Linda's family.

On Tuesday, Linda came down to Danville to look at a house. I wasn't sure if it was going to be a good fit or not, as it is in a neighborhood, and not out in the country, like the other house, and like Linda had a preference for.

But I knew she needed to come and see it if there was going to be any chance at all for us to purchase it. There were already offers on the table.

So down she came with Steven and Matt, her two older sons and they had the grand tour.

They loved it. The space is big enough. Everyone will have their own room. Linda will have her own bathroom, and Jake, the dog will have a fenced in backyard.

So, then the emotional rollercoaster ride began. We knew we wnated the house. We knew there were other offers. We knew we needed wiggle room to negotiate. And I knew the sellers. As a matter of fact, I was the one who referred the house to the sellers when they bought it.

Fortunately we didn't have to wait too long, and despite other offers, ours was accepted.

What this represents to Linda and her family is huge.

A new beginning. A church family. Friends. A great education for her kids. A new job. A new life.

And next, hopefully Steve coming home to join them.

We will close May first, and they will be down the middle of June.

I can't wait, I need the help!

Ministry Chatter

2006-03-19T18:03:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Ministry Blog. I am excited about the concept of weaving lives of new possibility. There are a lot of people out there who could use a lift to make life just a little better.

How can you help?
How can you contribute or make a difference?

First of all, BELIEVE that one person can make a difference. Your encouragement, your prayers, your listening ear can all make a difference to someone else, especially if they aren't used to being heard, listened to or encouraged.

Make sure you start in your own family.

I was guilty of not extending support or encouragement to Matt at times when he needed it. There were times I was so angry that my love became conditional. I hate to admit it, but if I am going to be honest, then that is the truth. Sometimes it seems like it is hardest to extend Christ's love and forgiveness to our own family members.

I am passionate about helping the disenfranshised and the underdog. There are so many blessing to us when we serve.

I want to invite you to read the "feature family" section on the ministry web site and respond if you feel so moved.

House Without a Septic

2006-03-19T18:00:00.000-08:00

Besides being a mom, a wife, a writer and a bizzillion other things, I am also an advocate for people whose hope tanks are running low. (visit my ministry web site: www.tapestryministry.com) So what does that mean, exactly? It means that I throw myself out there and appeal to God, to send me.

I pray that prayer, "Here I am Lord, send me." So some days I am schlepping bags of donated things to the women's center, or the crisis pregnancy center, some days I am being a friend, some days I write cards to people and today, well, today I was back investigating a pretty dismal piece of property for one of my featured families who is contemplating relocating to my area from upstate PA.

Now, most people wouldn't be interested in this property. I, however, wouldn't qualify as one of those. This house is big, big enough for my friend and her five kids. It has been empty four years, has a broken furnace, and a failed septic system. Oh, and did I mention no perkable soil on the lot? So today I wore my sewage investigator hat.

The property is coming up for auction (foreclosure auction) two weeks from tomorrow. What I spent the day trying to determine was whether or not there is any potential for a septic at all. If not, basically the property is worthless.

A stream discharge system would work, but the neighbor is reluctant. Then there is the possibility of a greenhouse system, for mucho donero. But, if the house goes cheaply enough...ah, decisions, decisions.

So it looks like I may be bidding on real estate in two weeks. Please pray that God's will prevails.

Suggestions or comments welcome...Now, when I get this problem solved, I can go back to launching the book.