Fleece for the Flock

Angel to Angel

2011-11-02T19:29:00.000-04:00

Thank you so much to all the Blanket Angels who lovingly created the beautiful blankets for the angels at the Angel House foster care group home!!!

They loved the blankets and were excited to have their own personal blanket to cozy up with! It means so much to them when people show they care in tangible ways.

God worked through you to even get the right designs for the different taste preferences!!

Lovin Loud at Ye Old Sweat Shoppe

2011-10-30T06:40:00.000-04:00

Thursday Morning:

We barely had the Magnolia room doors open and neighbors came calling, seems they heard there were blankets they might take home.

Working as fast as our scissors would run,

the FBCW Sweat Shoppe was running at full speed!

All 25 tables were manned and womaned to the max.

Every set of shears was in play and for several hours,

supply could NOT keep up with demand.

Folks were lined up out side the door!

(no photo - too busy)

Some folks resorted to ‘calling’ blankets as they were being assembled. Anyone who passed by

(much less volunteered) during this time will attest to the sweet intensity that filled the room on Thursday.

Think Black Friday after Thanksgiving 100 IPAD2’s for $50 kind of frenzy...

oh yes, just like that for a bit!

By 3pm,

we closed our doors to let the scissors

count some sheep,

while we...

counted blankets.

Seems over 260 blankets

were made and personally delivered (most to on campus neighbors) in about 8 hours.

Thursday Night:

'Ye Old Sweat Shoppe'

gets a make-over

We started by creating a shearing corral, where designated

Scissors Sheriffs aka: The Fuzz, would fringe the fleece as well as,

guard, charge & doctor our My-T-Fine scissors,

therefore increasing the likelihood our trusty shears would not become quite so anemic Friday.

Early Friday Morning:

the Fuzz got busy with a ~~little~~ lot of help from

J. Christophers, Atlanta Bread Company & Publix!

(TROUBLE, is their middle name...just ask them!)

Yes, the Fuzz got VERY busy, fringing piles of uncut fleece blankets before the next troup of

fast tying, big hearted blanket angels arrived for the day.

These two?

Record Breaking Fuzz

Add a third cutter, and they can fringe a blanket in 2 minutes flat!

Don't let the bum leg fool you,

Michelle can really cut some fleece!

Resident Fuzz, Dr. Tim.

Scissor Surgeon extrodianire!

For an hour or so, we kept tables loaded and hands busy, but before long the scissor coral grew dark, as a growing number of blanket stalkers circled the cutting station, looking to snatch up fringed fabric, sometimes before the final cuts were made.

We had some serious Blanket Angels in our midst, on task and on a mission!

Oh, they look harmless enough,

but just try and get between them and their ‘called’ covering.

It was not pretty!

(see Stacy there, to the left? Serious blanket stalker ;-)

By late afternoon, and more blanket deliveries

we realized we might need to pull an all-nighter to finish

ALL 500 blankets planned for delivery to Clarkston Saturday morning.

At this point, our sweat shop crowd had dwindled, scissors were struggling and

it looked to be a very long, possibly lonely night…

hardly!

Friday Night:

Between word of mouth among ‘the usual suspects’, sending a shout out for help to our facebook friends and Twitter peeps, God delivered another 40 Blanket Angels of every shape, size and age to joyously work the night shift!

With goal in mind & plan in place, we embarked on our marathon by stopping everything.

Yes, everything!

We gave our shears a well deserved break and

MADE every fleece wrangler take a break as well.

An hour and 45 minutes later after the scissors caught their breath,

our late night blanket angels returned in full force, ready to get ‘er done!

Armed with smiles, snacks, music and caffeine

our night work began in earnest.

In no time at all, the Magnolia room was bustling in a flurry of activity,

punctuated by praise, thanksgiving and

happy anniversary song!

(Dan and Gayle celebrated their 17 years of marriage tying hundreds of love knots all night long!)

The Fuzz were buzzing,

Fleece Ninja’s tied piles of fleece

and some of our littlest Blanket Angels

wrote personal messages of hope in every card!

PSSSSSSST!!

Don’t tell anyone, but at times, the Magnolia room was rockin as our late night angels flung some fleece while getting their praise on with Sister Mandisa – truly GLORIOUS!!

Before we knew it,

in what seemed record time,

all 500 Clarkston bound blankets were cut, tied,

prayed over,

packed

and ready to go.

To Recap:

In 3 days - 1,050 fleece Blankets were similarly prepared & delivered!

Would that you all could have shared the blessing of loving loud

…well, you CAN!

After 3 days and 31 football field lengths of fleece, we still have blanket needs.

We originally planned to deliver 300 blankets in total for our on campus neighbors, with the majority designated for other per-arranged groups. By late afternoon of the first day, we shared more than 260 blankets- that's nearly as many blankets as we gave out on campus the entire 3 days last year.

The remainder of the LoveLoud weekend we invited our neighbors to join us in tying blankets for others,

shared our meals & snacks while getting to know each other better.

We collected names, addresses, & ages of those we had no blankets for

and promised personal blanket deliveries, sometime before Christmas.

Our barns are empty, we have no fleece

once again a time of mice, cookies, blessings and blankets

Without support from blanket angels near and far,

we have no fleece to make these holiday blankets with.

Sooooo

this is where you come in!

We need 200 donations of $8.85.

That’s $8.85 per blanket.

With these funds, we will order the shipment of fleece needed to keep our promise.

Once we have fleece, we will message you all to join in preparing & delivering these holiday blessings!

In the meantime, rejoice with the rest of us over blessings given, received and yet to come! And remember, it is NOT about these blankets but what God is accomplishing through them!

Disclaimer: this update is loaded with a few bits of dramatization, and satirical humor. No entity (FBCW or others) has been or ever were actually operating a Sweat Shop, or sanctioned midnight dancing under the stars. These comments were poor attempts at humor from FFF leadership with a bit of fleece on the brain. The Fleece Ninja’s and Fuzz caused no harm except maybe a side ache, sore face or pulled muscle here and there due to having an excessively good time! Sound like fun to you? You really MUST Join us next time!

The Privilege of Participating

2011-10-20T02:01:00.000-04:00

Greetings to all you Blanket Angels!

Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer and your faithfulness to in preparing the fleece, setting up our project stations and especially with such good and joy filled hearts.

Each one of you is such a blessing!

As a reminder:

Beginning today, please join us in the Magnolia Room (in the W building),
where “Fleece Central” operate throughout all 3 days of LoveLoud.

When: Thursday October 20th and Friday October 21st from 8:30am to 8:30pm, and Saturday October 22 nd from 8:30am to 3pm

Once again, we have been so blessed with the wonderful fellowship and new friendships formed among all you volunteers. 1 Peter 1:3-4 sums it up:

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness
through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through them (His power, glory & goodness) He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that WE MAY PARTICIPATE in His divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

Please join me in prayer:

Thank you, Lord, for allowing us the PRIVILEGE OF PARTICIPATING in your
divine nature; for the privilege of sharing your precious promises with those who don't know you or your promises; and for giving us the avenue of fleece blankets as an expression and demonstration of your tender thoughts toward us.

Lord, we earnestly and sincerely ask you for a harvest of souls; that blinded eyes will be opened; that stopped up ears will be unstopped; that your glory and goodness toward us will be lifted up and that all will be drawn to you.

Lord, we thank you for working out all the details - how many blankets; who
receives the blankets; who prepares and who delivers (Closed in truck for ginormous delivery to Clarkston!); and again Lord, the flock of bleating sheep sounding ELECTRIC Shears (blade sharpening & replacement blade discounts!)

Lord, we thank you for the leadership of FBCW. Reward them as only you can with spiritual blessings that money cannot buy and the world cannot corrupt.

Father, we pray

1) You will bring volunteers to complete the cutting, tying and delivery of all these blankets

2) You will supply the extra funds to complete the project

3) You will keep every LoveLoud volunteer safe

4) That everything be for your honor and your glory

5) That the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart will be pleasing in your sight, Oh Lord, our Strength and our Redeemer.

IN THE MIGHTY, STRONG, HOLY NAME OF JESUS.

Amen

And a Child Shall Lead Them

2011-10-18T12:26:00.002-04:00

This story was messaged to us over night and too sweet not to share.

"I wanted to tell you what my 2nd grade SS class did yesterday.

Inspired by Fleece for the Flocks, I went to Hancock's and got the fleece for one blanket. My 2nd-graders tied the knots yesterday. I wish you could have heard them praying over the blanket. They truly felt in their hearts what it would be like to be given this blanket. Their prayers were so sincere as they prayed for protection of the blanket that it wouldn't be lost or stolen, that it would make the recipient happy, that they would be blessed! It was so precious. I love getting to watch the Lord work in the hearts of our precious children!"

Join us in

TWO MORE DAYS!.

Bring your children, your neighbors, family and friends.

For an hour, for a blanket, for the day. We will be fringing, tying, signing cards and praying over hundreds of fleece blankets and would love for you and yours to share in the blessing.

Don't forget, we will have many opportunities to personally deliver these loving bundles to our neighbors throughout the Atlanta area.

Can't be there personally? Please share this opportunity with your family, friends & neighbors. Message them, tweet about it, post a message to you wall! No excuses, EVERYONE can participate in some way!

Be a Blessing!!...and "Let Your Love GROW………" I Thess 3:12

For less than $10 you can wrap your neighbor in home-spun blessings of love and hope through the simple gift of a hand-knotted blanket. Message us for details in making a tax deductible donation for this year’s blanket projects including some of the following:

The Clarkston, Georgia International Community

KidS3

Angel House for Girls

The Good Shepherd Ranch

Ruth House

Living Waters for Girls

Goshen Valley Boys Ranch

Of Mice, Cookies, Blessings and Blankets

2011-10-18T04:00:00.003-04:00

In the past few years I have had the delight of spending copious amounts of time teaching, playing and learning a plethora of games geared for the 5 and under crowd. I have viewed hours of commercial free 'G' rated entertainment and read countless volumes of children's literature. In the course of my emergence into 'Parenthood: 2001', I've had the occasion to be profoundly moved into action by a simple but profound truth.

"If you give a mouse a cookie..."

You see, last summer my granddaughters school sent a lengthy list of suggested reading material to share with our child before school started in the fall. Several classics were well represented: 'Harold and the Purple Crayon', 'Madeline', 'Caps for Sale' the 'Curious George' series, and 'Corduroy' was actually required...really!

One series included on the list was the "If You Give..." books by Laure Joffe Numeroff. The original story in the set is called

"If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"

The story goes something like this,

"If you give a mouse a cookie,

he's going to ask for a glass of milk.

When you give him the milk,

he'll probably ask you for a straw.

When he's finished, he'll ask for a napkin.

Then he'll want to look in the in the mirror to make sure he doesn't have a milk mustache.

When he looks in the mirror....."

I think you get the picture....quite the shaggy dog story.

I don't want to spoil the ending but ultimately the story ends up back at the beginning,

with the mouse seeing the refrigerator, which causes him to want more milk aaaand...

"chances are if he ask for a glass of milk....

he's going to want a cookie to go with it"

The story goes full circle and ultimately whoever befriends this mouse might be

exhausted AND exasperated by days end...

and this mouse...

he could become a full time job!

I can sooo relate.

How many times do I encounter a situation, a group or person in need and

turn the other way
claim no time, money or leading to help
pretend my bad ear didn't get the whole message
just decide it was not my business, my problem or better yet, not my area of giftedness?

The needs are everywhere, we run into them at every turn.

If we...

Volunteer at a local shelter, hospice, nursing home, Sunday School, a blanket ministry (you fill in the blank)

Should we donate....

Time, Talent, Money or Possessions

We might...

Get to know...really know our neighbors....maybe even those that are not so easy to know much less like.

We are not called to do the easy things, but the hard ones. Matthew 5: 43-48

If we consciously look for opportunities to share all that we have, all that HE has given us...
chances are very good MORE will be needed or expected.

Wow! This little bit of helping could turn into a whole lot of....dare I say it?

WORK!!

Work that might cut into our well deserved down time with family, friends or...TV!

"Come on" we say, "this is for someone else to do...it's their calling...their ministry....their thing"

As my insightful daughter in love Elizabeth often points out,

"Who can truly say we deserve anything?"

You know what...We Don't! Not ONE thing!

and...

Jesus said,

"I have food to eat you know nothing about."
The disciples were puzzled.

"Who could have brought him food?"

Jesus said, "The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started. As you look around right now, wouldn't you say that in about four months it will be time to harvest? Well, I'm telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what's right in front of you. These Samaritan fields are ripe. It's harvest time!

"The Harvester isn't waiting. He's taking his pay, gathering in this grain that's ripe for eternal life. Now the Sower is arm in arm with the Harvester, triumphant. That's the truth of the saying, 'This one sows, that one harvests.' I sent you to harvest a field you never worked. Without lifting a finger, you have walked in on a field worked long and hard by others." John 4:32-38

All too often harvesting requires us to 'give a mouse a cookie'.

God used this powerful little parable to make me realize it's time to step up and step out.

My prayer is that we open up, earnestly seek God, ask Him to send every mouse, moose, pig or neighbor for us to love as He loves each one of us. May we be up to our eyeballs in the blessed harvest God has prepared.

How bout you?

You in on giving that mouse a cookie?

Portions of the preceding post were copied from one written about a month before the first 15 hand tied fleece blanket were made and delivered, nearly 3 years ago. Besides numbers, not too much has changed, except perhaps a greater desire to "Give a..."

For less than $10 you can wrap your neighbor in home-spun blessings of love and
hope through the simple gift of a hand-knotted blanket. Message us for details in making a tax deductible donation for this year’s blanket projects including some of the following:

The Clarkston, Georgia International Community

KidS3

Angel House for Girls

The Good Shepherd Ranch

Ruth House

Living Waters for Girls

Goshen Valley Boys Ranch

This Time Next Week - Be a Blessing!

2011-10-14T04:45:00.002-04:00

The first blanket angel arrived at 8:30.

For an hour or so, we worked alone. With so many yards yet to be worked, the day was looking long.

and then....others fluttered in

and buzzing of shears filled the hall.

By 5:45 today,

mission was accomplished!

30 Football fields of fleece were cut, matched and bundled in preparation for LoveLoud 2011!!

Please join us October 20-22, between 8:30am-8:30pm Thursday & Friday and Saturday, 8:30-3pm to fringe, tie, pray and present over 1000 blankets to neighbors and friends.

This year we will be stationed in the Magnolia Room. We hope you will stop in, step out as your schedule allows. Bring friends, neighbors and family-we have something for everyone!

We all know children; perhaps in our neighborhood, our workplace, our community, or within our own family. Of these children, how many do we know who have left war-torn countries in search of freedom, suffered religious persecution, experienced famine and pestilence before the age of five, or watched with their very own eyes as their parents were killed by the Taliban government?

We can find hundreds of children with just such stories living right in our own backyard,

in Clarkston, Georgia

This year, the bulk of the blankets tied during LoveLoud will be personally delivered to the children of the Clarkston Georgia International Community. With over 150 different ethnic groups represented within and around the city, Clarkston Georgia has been named, 'The most diverse square mile in American' by the New York Times.

So...SAVE the DATES and this time next week,

Be a Blessing!

More Angels Among Us

2011-10-12T22:12:00.003-04:00

As we've witnessed so many times before with this ministry, it's not really about the blankets, scissors or blades...it's about God touching a life and sending a personal love letter to His children.

Last year our little blanket ministry exploded. What we had in mind was, well...what WE had in mind, but God had other plans.

When God provided us with 40 pair of 'My-T-Fine' electric scissors last year, we had no clue how it would change what we did as a ministry. It increased our output by at least 5 times. Impressive? Yes! The time and work saved was incredible! But the more important change came by allowing so many more people to be involved in our mission and the ability to touch that many more lives.

We were ecstatic!

This year our shears began to exhibit wear and tear from the beating they were subjected to last year. Recently we learned: Fleece is one of the most damaging fabric to scissors in general, including our My-T-fines. Did you all know that? Well, it is.

MTF's are designed to be 'self sharpening'.

Soooo we were surprised to learn our dull blades could not be sharpened by a local sharpening service, instead would have to be replaced at a cost of $34.95 for a 2 blade set, that's $699 to replace all the blades in our flock of shears. Considering the electric scissors miraculous sale price of $5.99 a pair last year, we were a bit puzzled but persevered.

Knowing that none of this came as any surprise to God, we simply continued preparing, putting one foot in front of the other until the Lord revealed what He had in mind.

Our local sharpener turned Blanket Angel, Dick Baker, tuned our shears and sharpened the blades as best he could, but he could not guarantee them. All this, Mr. Baker did at no charge-his contribution to FFF & our LoveLoud project.

Between yesterday and today 3 more angels among us stepped in to drop our replacement blade cost to $7.50 each...AMAZING! Our God is so good!

The truly incredible part of these events involves the personal interactions we've had as a results of solving the dull blade problem. Neighbors...friends...children of God, He drew us together so each one might bless the other. Don't you LOVE how God works?

Tonight and in the days to come, please remember to:

Give prayers of thanks and gratitude that our Heavenly Father has allowed us to be a part of all HE has in mind.
Pray that we not get so side tracked with our plans that we miss Him.
Lift up prayers of thanks, comfort, gratitude and healing for Kim, Kristy, Dick. Philip, Mary and Aaron.

Remember, just as our blanket message reads:

"...we may not know each one by name and face, our God does",

because of that, we can rest assured He will meet each specific need!

May we ALL keep in mind,

“God not only loves you very much but also has put His hand on you for something special”

1 Thessalonians 1:4

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation specifically for our scissor blade replacements, message us for details.

Who will Help Prepare the Fleece?

2011-10-10T16:33:00.022-04:00

It's that Time Again!!

Who will help us cut the fleece?

All 2,700 YARDS!
or

27 FOOTBALL FIELD LENGTHS of FLEECE!!

So…

”Who will help prepare the fleece?”

The only requirement is willingness of heart and body;
we could use quite a few.

Oh and...

If you have some sharp scissors, rotary cutters and pads...those may be helpful too!!

Where: FBCW 3rd floor of the W building, music ministry hallway.

When: Beginning this

Tuesday October 11th - 9am to 2pm

Wednesday October 12th - 9am to 2pm

Thursday October 13th - 9am to 2pm

Friday October 14th - 9am to 2pm if necessary

(We may also include some evening hours as well...we'll keep you posted!)

Depending on the numbers who volunteer, we may finish earlier in the week.

Message or call 404-431-7771 us back if you can help prepare the fleece for LoveLoud 2011.

Blessings!

btw, if you do not live in the Atlanta area please pray for our local volunteers!

To wrap our neighbors in home-spun blessings of love and hope through the simple gift of a hand-knotted blanket. To share the message that, through Christ, we are connected by grace, yet free to choose our own way. Tied, but never attached! In this way, being the hands, feet and loving arms of Christ as we are called to do in 1Peter 5:2-3

Knots Prayer

2011-10-10T14:16:00.001-04:00

Dear God, please untie the knots

that are in my mind, my heart and my life.

Remove the have nots,

the can nots and the do nots

that I have in my mind.

Erase the will nots,

may nots, and might nots that find a home in my heart.

Release me from the could nots,would nots and should nots that obstruct my life.

And most of all, dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind

my heart and my life all of the am nots that I have allowed to hold me back,

especially the thought that I am not good enough.

Amen.

Join us as in tying knots of love and wrapping our neighbors in home-spun blessings of love & hope through the simple gift of a hand-knotted blanket.

Each blanket is presented with a card that includes the following message

‘This blanket is an expression of God’s love for you. Know that while we may not know each one of you by name and face, our God does. Many folks met and tied each knot of love just for YOU. We pray that it will bring you much comfort. When life gets tough, wrap yourself in this blanket and remember

You Are Loved!

In all the world, there is only one you.

You have a laugh, a smile, a heart that no one else can duplicate or replace.

That’s because you are a Special Creation of God!

He formed you with His hands and loves you with all His heart.

You are a blessing to those around you

and these are very good reasons to Thank God.

We join all the host of heaven in celebrating your birth

Love,

The Shepherds and Sheep of

Fleece for the Flock”

“God not only loves you very much but also has put His hand on you for something special”

1 Thessalonians 1:4

LoveLoud 2011 - Let Your Love GROW!

2011-10-09T11:09:00.000-04:00

Hey all you BLANKET ANGELS!!!

Join us Sunday evening October 9th for the LoveLoud 2011 Rally at FBCW!

We will begin at 6:00pm in the W Building with breakouts beginning at 6:50. Fleece for the Flock will meet in the Magnolia room sides A & B, where we will fill you in on details for this years 3 day LoveLoud event Thursday October 20 thru Saturday 22 2011.

If you can not attend ANY of the days or have another LoveLoud project, please share this opportunity with your family, friends & neighbors. Message them, post a message to you wall!

As we have said so many times before, EVERYONE can participate in this project. You and yours can cut, tie, roll, pray over, sign cards and most importantly HAND deliver each hand tied blanket to someone in need of a God hug wrapped in fleece!

We expect to cut, tie & personally deliver upwards of 1000 blankets this year over a 3 day period. We need ALL hands on deck!

Be a Blessing!!...and "Let Your Love GROW………" I Thess 3:12

tammy

A Bit of Heaven In Just 3 Days!

2010-11-10T08:53:00.000-05:00

Lord willing, in three more days we will be up to our elbows in fleece, scissors buzzing enjoying a bit of heaven at the 2010 Heavenly Harvest Hoedown.
Please be in prayer for those attending (we expect many folks who tied with us during LoveLoud), those receiving, the remaining needed support and in everything and every way God’s will and work be done.

If you have not already please forward the following information to your network of family and friends.

Come to an all-day gathering to assemble

100’s of fleece-tie blankets benefiting needy neighbors in

West Virginia

Children of the International Community in Clarkston Georgia!

Please bring can goods to help our local food pantry.

Stop by the Cornucopia Canteen for

delicious homemade soups, baked goods and beverages *

When? Saturday, November 13th, 2010 from 8:00 am ‘til 5:00 pm

Where? First Baptist Church of Woodstock

In the Basement of the “B” Building

There will be music, fun, games and food!

The only thing missing is YOU!

We need an army of volunteers with open hearts and willing hands to help assemble hundreds of fleece-tie blankets for needy families in the West Virginia Appalachians and Clarkston, Georgia.

Young, old, everyone is welcome and can help in some way.

Come share our bountiful blessings with our neighbors near and far.

*All proceeds from The Cornucopia Canteen will go to our area food pantry.

For more information contact us at 404-431-7771 or fleecefortheflock@yahoo.com

Looking forward to celebrating a harvest of blessings with ‘ewe’ all!

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me,
I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:35-40

Help! The Most Ethnically Diverse Square Mile in the World

2010-11-06T23:56:00.003-04:00

Having just completed a project resulting in 909 blankets being hand delivered 2 short weeks ago, we are hard pressed to catch everyone up and share details about our neighbors set to benefit from this years Heavenly Harvest Hoedown.

Once again, the good Lord willing, we will prepare blankets for our Appalachian friends in West Virginia. Along with those needs, we hope to gift a global group of needy children right in our own backyard of Clarkston, Georgia.

With over 150 different ethnic groups represented within and around the city, Clarkston has been named "the most diverse square mile in America" by the New York Times. With more than thirty language groups living there, this unique town on the east side of Atlanta has been the settling place for over fifty thousand refugees from many countries since the early 1990s. A city of high crime, high gangs, high drugs and low economic opportunity, it is a most unique place for people from around the world to settle as they enter the United States starting a new life far away from their homeland.

We all know children; perhaps in our neighborhood, our workplace, our community, or within our own family. Of these children, how many do we know who have left war-torn countries in search of freedom, suffered religious persecution, experienced famine and pestilence before the age of five, or watched with their very own eyes as their parents were killed by the Taliban government? We can find hundreds of children with just such stories living right in our own backyard, in Clarkston, Georgia, just a short 40-minute drive from Woodstock. These children are starving, not just for food, shelter, structure, and companionship, but especially for the love of Christ made evident through the tangible time and touch of people just like you and me.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took me in . . . Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:35-40, NIV).

There are 1,800 children within walking distance from the Clarkston International Bible Church, with over 30 language groups represented from countries all over the world. Stepping out of your car onto the pavement of Clarkston is equivalent to stepping from an airplane onto the dusty lands of Afghanistan, Bosnia, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal Laos, Syria, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Liberia, Vietnam, India, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, and Somalia. Religious diversity is evident, as well, with ninety percent of the immigrant population claiming the Muslim faith. As Ron O’Kelley of the FBCW Missions staff noted, “The hand of God is evident in Clarkston.” Referring to the incredible number of immigrants here who flow through the United Nations, INS, and other relief agencies, Ron noted that, “These kids and their families are God’s gift to us right here at home. For many of the Muslim children, it is the first time for them to hear about Jesus, and to hear others say that they are a ‘Christian.’”

Fleece for the Flock looks to prepare and provide at least 1,000 hand-tied fleece blankets for our precious international neighbors in Clarkston, Georgia. These home-spun messages of hope will be personally delivered this winter with help from ministry partners in four organizations in Clarkston; Clarkston International Bible Church, Upward Basketball, Friends of Refugees and World Relief of Atlanta. All of these organizations are evangelical and serving the people who enter the United States as Refugees.

Our prayer is to have these 1,000 blankets made and completed next Saturday, November 13th. We are still accepting donations. No matter where you are, you bring hope to hundreds this holiday season to children from around the world, right in our own back yard.

To make an online tax deductible contribution for this blanket project go here, then under 'Special Offering', enter

'Account #25238 - Project Code 4373',

this will direct your funds to the purchase of fleece specifically for Clarkston, Georgia.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me,

I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him,

'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:35-40

For more information on how you can be a part of the work being done in Clarkston, contact Ron O’Kelley at 678-230-9984 or at ron.o’kelley@fbcw.net .

893 Blankets or 2679 yards to Go!

2010-11-03T22:58:00.004-04:00

Good evening all!

Hope you all are having a wonderful and warm week. Fall has finally arrived in Georgia with reminders of so much we take for granite, like working furnaces, winter jackets and warm blankets.

Urgent Need: With this years Heavenly Harvest Hoedown just 9 days away (Saturday November 13th) , we continue to trust and believe God will provide means to have the fabric necessary to fulfill these needs this fall. We just received more than 1100 yards of fleece last week, but still need 2,740 yards by November 13th to finish this task.

That's

893 blankets to go!

We don't have a preference as to how we get the fabric, by fleece or cash donation, so long as we have the necessary yardage to provide 280 blankets to impoverished folks of West Virginia and 1000 blankest to the international children of Clarkston Georgia.

FFF is able to procure fleece at significant savings over local retail stores. With the same $12 you might spend per blanket, we can purchase fabric for nearly 2 blankets. Just something to consider when considering how you may help.

We need an additional 53 rolls of fleece. For each $125 donation, we can purchase one more (50 yard) roll, or 16.6 blankets for the needy.

Please consider what you might do this holiday season.

For those who have asked, we will NOT be preparing the 60 yard rolls of fabric prior to the HHH. The electric scissors have enabled us to quickly cut and prepare thousands of yards in record time, in doing so, we could once again have an all day job completed in a couple of hours if we do too much advance work. Right now our top priority is collecting the needed funds/fleece to see this project through.

Blessings to you all and a big thank you for all the ways you continue to support this blanket ministry!

To make an online tax deductible contribution for this blanket project go here, then under 'Special Offering', enter
'Account #25238 - Project Code 4373',
this will direct your funds to the purchase of fleece specifically for Clarkston, Georgia.

Calling ALL Blanket Angels!!

2010-10-08T13:06:00.000-04:00

Sounding a bit like the Little Red Hen we ask,

“Who will help us cut the fleece?”

Folks, the sheep wool has landed!

all 2,200 yards!

Being in the south at football season, we equate totally yards to football field lengths, in this case 22 football fields lengths of fleece.

So…”Who will help us prepare the fleece?”

The only requirement is willingness of heart and body; we could use quite a few.

Where: FBCW 3rd floor of the W building, music ministry hallway.

When: Beginning next

Monday October 11 at 9am to pm

Tuesday October 12 9 am to 3pm

Thursday October 14 9am to 3pm

Friday October 15 9am to 3pm if necessary

Depending on the numbers who volunteer, we may finish earlier in the week.

Message or call 404-431-7771 us back if you can help prepare the fleece for LoveLoud 2010.

Blessings,
tammy and mary

btw, if you do not live in the Atlanta area please pray for our local volunteers!

To wrap our neighbors in home-spun blessings of love and hope through the simple gift of a hand-knotted blanket. To share the message that, through Christ, we are connected by grace, yet free to choose our own way. Tied, but never attached! In this way, being the hands, feet and loving arms of Christ as we are called to do in 1Peter 5:2-3

Upcoming Projects - Ways to lend hands and heart!

2010-09-01T22:57:00.001-04:00

Below is a list of some of the projects Fleece for the Flock has committed to for the remainder of 2010.

Angel House

Living Water for Girls

Bethany Place Home for Women and Children

The Cherokee Family Violence Center

2 groups of our Appalachian Neighbors in West Virginia

Children from 3 to 18 of the Clarkston, Georgia International Community

The projected blankets needed is nearly 2,000.

Various businesses, Bible study groups, churches and independent donors are stepping up to help fill the needs. We have some precious benefactors, who much like the widow Christ spoke of in the Bible, regularly deliver fleece or some of of their meager wages to see that others may know the joy and love they experienced as earlier FFF blanket recipient. Please pray, do all that you can to support and share our mission as we seek to obtain nearly the 6000 yards of material needed for these upcoming projects.

Our hope and prayer is that each of you will partner with us in meeting these needs. Many of these opportunities are physically in the Atlanta area. We welcome everyone who can, to attend the various upcoming blanket making events, tie some knots, write notes, encourage and pray for the hundreds to be blessed by these home-spun bundles of love and hope.

Save the Dates!

LoveLoud Weekend: About 8 weeks from now you are encouraged to join Mary, me and about 3,000 of our neighbors as we spend 3 days loving loudly on our Northwest Georgia community. Beginning Thursday October 21st and through Saturday the 23rd, (starting at 8am each day) you find us 'womaning' Blanket Central at FBCW. If you have never tied a blanket or attended one of our 'Flock' parties this is an excellent opportunity for hands on experience. Not only will we be making blankets, writing encouraging notes and praying over all, there will be multiple opportunities to actually deliver and love on our blanket recipients. All of the more than 700 blankets tied these three days will be given out during the same time. Please join us that weekend if you can and prepare to be blessed!

2010 Heavenly Harvest Hoedown: Our 2010 HHH is set for Saturday, November 13th from 8am to 5pm at the First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Georgia. This year's HHH will focus on the almost 1,300 blankets and scarves needed for Christmas delivery to the youth of the Clarkston Georgia International Community, our Appalachian neighbors in West Virginia and the women and children of a local battered women's shelter. Come share bountiful blessings with neighbors near and far. Hope to see you there!

"What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
   sharing your food with the hungry,
   inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
   putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
   being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
   and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
   The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
   You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'

If you are generous with the hungry
   and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
   your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
   I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
   firm muscles, strong bones.
You'll be like a well-watered garden,
   a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
   rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You'll be known as those who can fix anything,
   restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
   make the community livable again. "

Isaiah 58: 7-9 and 10-12

So a Few More May Know

2010-07-23T06:30:00.142-04:00

In the past few weeks volunteers have put heart in hand

to cut and tie 102 fleece blankets for area

Royal Family Kids Camps.

We tried to give you a taste of the incredible joy and excitement encountered while delivering blankets.

The morning after giving the children blankets,

groups of kids stumbled out of their cabin wrapped in their fleece treasures.

One nine year old boy asked his counselor if she had seen and read the card we attach to each blanket, without prompting the little guy proceeded to read the card to her.

In all the world, there is only one you.

You have a laugh, a smile, a heart that no one else can duplicate or replace.

That’s because you are a Special Creation of God!

He formed you with His hands and loves you with all His heart.

You are a blessing to those around you

and these are very good reasons to Thank God.

We join all the host of heaven in celebrating your birth

Love,

The Shepherds and Sheep of

Fleece for the Flock”

“God not only loves you very much but also has put His hand on you for something special”

1 Thessalonians 1:4

Because you cared enough to send more fleece, tie many knots of love and bow in prayer, a few more lambs may more fully know how precious they truly are in God eyes.

Thank Ewe all!!

**Special thanks to Gretchen,
official camp photographer for the great photo's of awesome memories. **

Time Is Short

2010-06-28T17:30:00.002-04:00

Good afternoon friends,

We pray this message finds you well and preferably cool :)

Well, with last minute fabric donations and many willing helpers we were able to complete and deliver a car load of colorful fleece blankets to the 51 foster care children (ages 6- 12) attending the FBCW Royal Family Kids Camp.

Last Tuesday, my granddaughter and I set off to deliver the furry wraps and then go home but instead, we stayed all day fellowshipping with the campers by way of attending a girls grand tea, (which included a full out dress up, makeup, hairstyling and fashion show event all rolled into one!)

While the girls indulged in fruit, a chocolate fountain, delicate finger sandwiches, and baby pink punch, the boys did the same (well...not so much pink punch and make up) but all the rest while being outfitted in white Karate gear and garnering life training Mr. Miyagi would be proud of. Oh what a joy to see the delight these activities brought to each campers life.

After the tea it was more swimming, fishing, canoeing and cool down, before a spaghetti dinner, more games and evening service by way of Shine ministry. By 8pm we were calling each child by name to pick up their blanket.

On a side note: As my grandma use to say, it was 'hot as blazes', sweaty flesh in every direction, yet by all the fuss you would have thought we were giving away ice cream cones and water slide rides, not hot and heavy fleece blankets.

We shared with the group how each blanket was hand made, prayed over and surrounded with knots of love by loving folks made especially for each one them. We also made it clear while each of us did not know them personally by name and face, God surely did and that any time they might need a God hug, a big ol reminder of how crazy He was about them to wrap their selves in their blanket.

As we called each camper one by one you would have thought a rock stars were in the house, this is no exaggeration. With each name called applause broke out and we were met with thousand watt smiles that simply melted our hearts and humbled our spirits. God is so incredibly good y'all!

Looking back into the patiently waiting (and sweltering) crowd we spied smiling boys and girls bundled up in colorful fleece relishing Gods tender embrace that very night! Would that each one of you could have shared this presentation with us. Life changing, kingdom building moments y'all.

You all I know how I love a good photo or two (three or three dozen :) to share with a post, but sadly we are unable to take photos on our own as there are actually children attending these camps who have been abused by photography - so trust me when I say my words are so inadequate in describing the delight and joy expressed by these young ones.

Over the weekend Mary and I were contacted (again) by the director of the RFKC of Athens, Georgia. The Athens director was at the blanket distributions Tuesday and is very prayerfully asking that our group might provide blankets for their 50 foster kids. This group hails from Fulton, Delkalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, Athens-Clarke, Greene and other Georgia counties.

We have explained the lack of funds and material currently on hand, and asked them to pray that resources be provided to meet this need.

We ask that each of you prayerfully consider sending blankets or funds for us to purchase fleece so we may be a blessing to yet another tender group of young ones needing physical reminders of their Heavenly Fathers love for them.

Time is very short and we apologize for the extremely short notice. Please give in some way yourself and be sure to share this with those in your own circle of influence so they may take part in this kingdom building blessing.

Much love and many blessings,

Tammy and Mary

"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." 1 Peter 5: 2-3

More God Hugs - We need Ewe!

2010-05-03T16:30:00.003-04:00

”Music blared from the speakers in the chapel. The excitement was electric. It was the night of the variety show.

Samantha stood in front of the audience, a huge grin spread across her face. She would open the show.

“Go, Samantha,” someone squealed. The music changed to the “Na na na na” song the campers loved. Samantha raised her hands and moved her feet. The audience followed along.

My voice caught. Tears welled up in my eyes. I couldn’t stop thinking about the transformation in the little girl in front of me.

Samantha’s family frequented the restaurant where I waited tables in college. “Here come the 'inbreds',” was a comment that pierced my heart. No one wanted to serve them.

My silence convicted me. I said nothing—not even a prayer on Samantha’s behalf.

Despite my failings, God didn’t forget Samantha. This was her fourth year at Royal Family Kids’ Camp. Bright eyes beamed from once dull pupils; clean clothes replaced filthy rags; blond hair shined where matted strands had been infested with lice. She stood on the stage, belting out her favorite song with confidence.

Familiar words from one of my favorite camp songs whispered through my heart. “I will change your name. You shall no longer be called wounded, outcast, lonely, or afraid. Your new name shall be confidence, joyfulness, overcoming one, faithfulness, friend of God, one who seeks my face.”

God changed Samantha’s name.”

One of the hundreds of moving camp stories retold on the Royal Family Kids Camp website. Feel free to head over there and read more if you dare.

Once again we have been asked to share some “God Hugs” in the form of fleece blankets with campers attending all three of the Georgia RFKC's. Based on our latest count, that looks to be some 180 children/blankets in all.

As of today we have fabric for a few more than 20 blankets, and will need enough material for another 160 covers for boys and girls between the ages of 7 to 11.

We have set Thursday June 8th as our deadline. The sooner we receive your donations the better as we need any additional time before camp begins to personalize each child’s blanket prior to delivering them.

We need all of Ewe!!

Fabric requirements and directions can be found here. If preferred, you may donate funds or fabric and allow other flock members to assemble, go here for details.

If you are a flock member living out of state, we welcome any contribution you might send to us directly. However, we also encourage you to adopt a camp in your state so that you, your friends, Sunday school or church might gather together and lead the children with cords of human kindness and ties of love for the children in your area.

For locals, we will be meeting every Thursday and Tuesday from 12:30pm – 2:30pm so long as there is fleece to knot. Please email us directly if you plan on joining us (3rd floor music department hall of First Baptist Church Woodstock)

No matter where you call home, please gather together with some of your own 'peeps'

and be the hope for boys and girls across the country this summer.

much love,
tammy and mary

“What I'm interested in seeing you do is:

sharing your food with the hungry,

inviting the homeless poor into your homes,

putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,

being available to your own families.

Do this and the lights will turn on,

and your lives will turn around at once.

Your righteousness will pave your way.

The God of glory will secure your passage.

Then when you pray, God will answer.

You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'”

Isaiah 58:7-9

100 Children and An Amazing Experience

2010-03-16T23:00:00.002-04:00

Last summer we were blessed to take a number of fleece blankets to the children attending the Royal Family Kids Camp in Woodstock, Georgia. RFKC is for children between the ages of 7 and 12.

These kids are part of the local Foster Care program and come from some pretty tough situations. The purpose of camp is to create positive memories for our littlest lambs. You can read more about our experiences with RFKC by clicking over here.

Of the more than thirty campers attending last year, one 9 year old girl returned to RFKC for the second time in two years. During this time, she and her younger brother had been living with a foster couple who announced they were pursuing adoption of both children. The kids and counselors were ecstatic that these precious children would finally have a forever family.

The celebration was short lived.

In December of last year, our RFKC church held a Christmas party for all the 2009 RFKC campers. Christmas reunion parties go a long way in keeping hope alive for the RFKC kids. Through these reunion events the children come to realize someone still cares about them and desires to bring joy into their young lives beyond their week long camping experience.

At the party, the campers were given all sorts of presents including lovely new coats. Our counselors were puzzled when they tried and failed to persuade our 9 year old girl to try on her new coat. The child’s new foster mom explained that ever since the couple had decided against adopting the pair, the child refused all coats or jackets; all she wanted wrapped around her, was the fleece tie blanket we had given her last summer.

Please join us as we continue to pray for this child and her fellow RFKC campers. We believe they will be drawn to their heavenly Father, accept His gift of salvation and experience true peace and joy as He loves each one beyond anything we can ever imagine.

This summer, three Georgia RFKC’s will provide more than 100 children with an amazing, almost magical camp experience. Fleece for the Flock has committed to a providing personalized fleece tie blankets for each of these campers.

If you live in Georgia and want to assist in meeting these needs, please email us at fleecefortheflock@yahoo.com for more details as to the best way you might help.

If you are a flock supporter living outside of Georgia, please consider contacting The Royal Family Kids Camp in your state. A list of camps and contact information can be found by going here. Mary and I encourage you and yours to adopt an area camp, make your own fleece tie blankets, sharing hope and God’s love to the precious children in your home state.

much love,
mary and tammy

“Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” I Peter 5:2-3

Catching Up

2010-03-04T07:45:00.002-05:00

Dear blog,
Despite indications otherwise, I have not abandoned yea!

Let me begin, by saying it has been all shades of crazy busy around here. Undoubtedly the biggest struggle has been all the work keeping the ol laptop up and running, as we battle all manner of 2010 sickness (even before 2010).

I have a new respect for the ability and limits to my trusty Blackberry and personally believe there should be a special kind of punishment for those tech devils who create and distribute viral illness's for the sole purpose of vandalizing.

Okay, with that out of my system:

When last I blogged, we had just finished up the blanket drive for the Christmas mission to McDowell County, West Virginia.

Within days of leaving for McDowell, Mary and I were honored to serve up a special luncheon for many of our core group of workers and friends who helped see more than 15 football fields worth of fleece made into 500 plus blankets for our Appalachian neighbors.

The display a homage to

Susan May Warren's

'The Great Christmas Bowl'

Some of the most precious ladies I know

Good Company!
Good food

Great fun!

How I love these gals!

Dear Mary, thank you for inviting me to join in this blessed adventure in fleece.
So many lives touched by a simple gift and our huge God.

Two days after the luncheon, I joined 21 others as part of a mission team to bring a little Christmas to several hundred families in McDowell County, WV.

I have never been so humbled in my life. Assisting with the big Christmas bash held for more than 500 that weekend paled in comparison to the privilege of spending time in these Appalachian hills and hollers visiting many proud people and hearing remarkable stories of perseverance and courage in the face of incredibly challenging circumstances.

Deborah shared such a story

Mother of three, grandmother to several, Deborah and her family live outside of Welsh in this newly built home. When we visited, Deborah, she and her youngest son (not pictured) had just moved into this roughly 800 sq foot home 4 months earlier.

Prior to that they were living in their family home a few yards down the hill

Deborah's husband was a Vietnam veteran, had health issues related to exposure to Agent Orange and ultimately killed himself, in this home in front of his children.

Deborah's only daughter was murdered in North Carolina after moving there to become a nurse. Deborah's youngest son was born with his umbilical cord around his neck depriving him of oxygen for some time. Deborah was told he would never be fully functional. The boy was recently diagnosed with dyslexia but according to Deborah, has a photographic memory, with complete recall of anything he is read, shown or instructed. He should graduate high school this year and hopes to be accepted to technical trade school to become a licenced mechanic like his older brother.

Deborah says the children were raised that there is no such word as 'can't'.

Deborah proudly displayed how self sufficient they are with gardens she cans and freezes from, their ginormous hog, goats and a pen full of chickens.

This family is so grateful for their many blessings. Deborah says their new house (built this past summer) is like her home of dreams. For the first time in her life she has built in closets and stays very warm and dry. This grandmother shared that up until a week or so before we visited it was so snug inside they had no need to even turn on the heat; that's how well her new home is insulated.

Last winter, Deborah and her son lived in a small corner of her old family home, as the majority of the structure was unlivable and had caved in due to leaks in the roof. Deborah would not allow anyone in to visit at her old place as the floors were full of large holes she had resourcefully packed with clothing filled plastic trash bags, and this embarrassed her. Deborah and her son physically huddled around a single heater last winter to survive the elements.

You can hear such pride when Deborah talks about her Mama's amazing wood cook stove (she has preserved under tarp in the old house). To hear her tell it, her stove is better than any Viking or La Cornufe and nothing beats it for canning, especially keeping her jars just right for packing. The only missing in Deborah's house o dreams is a small shed to house her two freezers. As you can see, these appliances are currently set up and operating out in the open.

This was our view as we trekked up the winding path of Deborah's homestead bringing sack lunches, meeting Deborah and some of her family for the first time. After visiting with Deborah and hearing her testimony we sang some carols and invited the family to join us for Christmas fellowship on Saturday.

oh, and

Deborah's eldest son, daughter in law and 2 grandchildren live in this RV at the base of the hill.

The next day......

We went to Iaeger Elementary School to celebrate Christmas with hundreds of folks from the community.

In the beginning

Everyone registered

were given sack lunches, vouchers for use at the Hope Chest thrift shop

The party guest loved this:

Everyone got a free photo taken. Folks could pick up their print later in the week.

For many, this might be the only family group photo they own.

Finishing their lunches and waiting for the show to begin

Another Georgia church provided Christmas entertainment

The tables are set and ready for shoppers

Look at all the happy faces!

Socks!!! Socks!!!

Glorious Socks!!!!

more than 1200 pair....Woo Hoo!!!

and what a blast it was to let everyone and I mean every one choose a fleece tie blanket!!!

( i about got in trouble because of hold ups in the line because

there were so many beautiful choices)

Precious!

Look what she picked out for Christmas

A wonderful group of new friends, great cooks, hearty carolers, adequate drivers (grin grin) and big hearted lovers of all peoples and Christ. What a blessing you are!

To be continued....

Thank Ewe!!

2009-12-14T10:44:00.002-05:00

On Saturday November 21st, 2009 friends and neighbors gathered together in a mission of hands and hearts. By days end, there was much celebration as we finished the task of tying hundreds of fleece blankets, writing cards and lifting up prayer - Christmas gifts for our friends and neighbors in McDowell County, West Virginia.

Thanks to all who contributed time, money and prayer.

To God be the glory!

"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." 1 Peter 5:2-3

Heavenly Harvest Hoedown 2009 from tammy allen-schenke on Vimeo.

As Elvis Serenaded Us Home

2009-12-04T03:50:00.003-05:00

It has taken more than a week to process all the grace and glory of God has showered us with these past few weeks. More in depth details will be posted in separate notes via the Shepherds Spotlight and over here, at Grateful in Georgia Blog.

For now, the highlight reel of our first ever

Heaven-ly Harvest Hoedown

With lots of helpful hands (and backs)

we set things up the day before.

(Note the lady with all the hand prints on her shirt?)

Do NOT let her loose with a shopping cart

By Friday night we wereMiss Piggy Sue
Hoedown ready!

Saturday morning bright and early
The Food Arrives

at this time I am compelled to share that we actually thought we would have only 12 baguettes and not nearly enough soup...we seriously entertained the idea of cooking up some soup of our own.

(I can’t believe we ever contemplated that Mary )

Instead...

we stood on our faith we believed God would provide,

and of course we then found ourselves inundated with so much delicious soup and baked goods that by days end, we were able to share our God sent banquet with yet another local ministry that afternoon.

(note Jim in the background serving scrumptious New England chowder from one of 5 - five gallon pails courtesy of The Marietta Fish Market - WOO HOO!!)
God is so good!!!

These loaves

and ohhh so much more
compliments of
the Atlanta Bread Company
are just a portion of the way God chose to bless us this event.

(Thanks for the curbside service Danny!)
stay tuned for a multitude of side stories to come later...they will bless and encourage you so!

Initially, traffic was on the slow side

then before we knew it...

the party had started!

Beginning with MC Brown...Bill Brown that is

who began by leading us in prayer then proceeded to introduce the crowd to an assortment of talented and generous individuals.

We treasured the soulful songs of Heather Richardson

we rocked with the Church on the Street Band
( these folks are sooo good! )
One little guy couldn't get close enough…

for some…not so much!
Then Johnny Hall and Company

blessed us with some awesome Southern Gospel tunes

and we partied on!

(so you know...this would be an interpretive dance)

We originally planned to use 16 tying tables

and

one demonstration table (for folks wishing to learn the WHOLE process)

Before we knew it...

The fleece handlers had taken over food tables…

stretched onto the floor

and podiums??

A very dedicated and resourceful crowd

There were blanket angels everywhere

with a bit of help from one darling Blanket Angel maker!

thank you Miss Pat!

Before long

not very long...just long

We were through with the tying and all about the packing!

Everyone pitched in. (See that lady in the green sweater?)
That would be Georgia State House Representative Charlice Byrd...she ties a mean knot!

We are certain Johnny Hall has never sang to such an um...active group. What a trooper and such talent!

Thanks for spending your Saturday with us Johnny.

A little after noon

we had 15 football field lengths of fleece cut, tied and ready to send to West Virginia!!

That's more than 485 Hand tied Fleece Blankets,

wraps and baby sacks

Each one of these blankets was prayed over (many times!!) and rolled with a thoughtful Christmas card lovingly written by those who made the covers.

Saturday, November 21st 2009

A day filled with abundant joy, love and laughter.

and yes, that would be Elvis

who serenaded us as we packed and headed home.

Mary and I wish to thank everyone (near and far) who supported us in making this event the success it was.
Including by not limited to:

Johnny Hall & Company

Kudzu Smith

Holly Smith of
Crown Laid Down Designs

Susan May Warren

Mom's Care

Linda and her flock in Maryland

The First Baptist Church of Woodstock, especially the music ministry for allowing us to share their resourses as we manage this whole operation.

'Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them". The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.' Psalm 126:2-3

Entertaining Angels Unware

2009-11-14T01:03:00.003-05:00

Blanket angels come in all shape and sizes and usually when you least expect them.

Case in point: This week we have literally been up to our elbows in fleece, thanks to gifting from many generous donors and kind hearts in unexpected places all over the country.

Starting with Debbie, Julie, Anne, Jennifer and the whole crew at Hancock Fabric off Canton Road.

Not only did this group forgo the standard,
"We can't make these decisions, you have to run it past cooperate" WITHOUT even knowing what you might need or why.

No, Hancock's quickly found a way to accommodate us in very generous ways. Though we virtually cleaned them out of fleece fabric this past Monday and Tuesday, they continued to be helpful and thoughtful to the point of posting and promoting our blanket event in both English and Spanish in their store windows and at their counter!

Store Manger Julie

Julie and Anne

Next the 'F-Team' spent 3 afternoons this week

cutting hundreds of yards of fleece from rolls and bolts.

Despite some reservations regarding our fabric choices

everyone worked with a glad heart.......well...um...for the most part...

(any of rumors of FBCW running a sweat shop on the third floor are just false or... at least greatly exaggerated.) It was sweaty for some...but, well let's not go there today, okay?

After 3 days of blood, sweat and jeers

(scissor blisters can be painful!!)

we were down to the fringing stage.

On Friday, beginning at 8am, we held the first of two mini Flock parties at American Heritage Academy. Mrs. Huffman's 1st grade class was first and today they learned a bit about geography, Social Studies, good citizenship and empathy for others.

Once these little Blanket Angels learned how they could help the families of

McDowell County have a nice, warm holiday,

they tied hundreds of love knots and within one hours time, finished six blankets. Mrs. Huffman's class were genuinely moved, plan to send goody stuffed socks and personal hand written cards and letters with their blankets to their counterparts in West Virginia.

By days end on Friday, our area Daisy Troop followed

Mrs. Huffman's class lead and tied six blankets of their own.

Oh!! Least I forget, when I got home Thursday afternoon from a day of fleece, I spotted 2 large shipping boxes in my library addressed to Mary and I. Once opened, we discovered a treasure trove of 14 beautiful blankets courtesy of Fleece for the Flock supporters in Maryland. Seems this was the harvest of their latest Girls Night. Brought me to tears yet again y'all!

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. " Hebrews 13:2

tammy and mary

With So Much More Than We Could Ever Deserve

2009-11-07T11:15:00.010-05:00

Two Weeks and counting; this is where we stand

Jason delivered 600 plus yards of fleece Friday afternoon.

We quickly set up stations and cut blanket sets. In a few short hours we had ninety blankets cut, ready to fringe and knot.
and...

Praise God!!
Due to extraordinary donations, we are set to purchase an additional 375 yards in the next few days. Once that fabric is purchased, we will only need about 50 blankets to reach our goal of delivering 500 blankets to the family's of McDowell County for Christmas.

Folks, this means we will have several hundred blankets that still need to be tied between now and the first week of December.

How YOU Can Help

We will be holding a flock party each day from 11:30am to 2:30pm next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at

First Baptist Church of Woodstock

on the 3rd floor choir rehearsal area of the worship center building. If you are able, please plan on joining our faithful crew in preparing the fleece for our blanket tying marathon affectionately titled a
Heven-ly Harvest Hoedown

Friends, this event is just 2 weeks away on Saturday November 21st between the hours of 8am and 5pm.

You do NOT have to spend the day with us!

You can if you choose, but you don't have to.

If you do nothing else, bring your family, friends and neighbors - spend a portion of your day tying some love knots, signing a few cards and send up some thoughtful prayers for our Appalachian neighbors.

We will have delicious foods courtesy of

Diane and Augie Oberkrom of The Soul Food Market

A terrific group of performers including the musical talent of

Heather Richardson as she debuts her new CD "He is Good"

Many local Fleece for the Flock members plan to attend.

But we will need a host of other blanket angels to complete the task.

If you can tie a knot, sign a thoughtful card or say a prayer make the time and get yourself there. If your schedule prevents it, let others know who CAN make it. Let them fill in for you.

With every ones help, we can be the hope for

McDowell County this Christmas!

For all you flock members unable to attend in body,

continue to pray for the rest of us and the folks

receiving each blanket, scarf and socks.

Dear ones, God has blessed us all with so much more than any of us could ever deserve and we should all be reminded of what Jesus said,

" I tell you the truth, whatever we did not do for the least of these, you did not do for me"

Much love,

tammy and mary

"If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You'll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You'll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again."

to be blessed by the full text check out Isaiah 58

We Need an Army of Volunteers

2009-10-28T08:00:00.007-04:00

Come to an all-day gathering to assemble 100’s of fleece-tie blankets benefiting the

West Virginia Christmas Mission!

• Please bring can goods to help our local food pantry.
• Stop by the Cornucopia Canteen for
delicious homemade soups, baked goods and beverages *

When? November 21st, 2009 from 8:00 am ‘til 5:00 pm

Where? First Baptist Church of Woodstock
In the Basement of the “B” Building

There will be music, fun, games and food!
The only thing missing is

YOU!

We need an army of volunteers with open hearts and willing hands to help assemble hundreds of fleece-tie blankets for needy families in the West Virginia Appalachians.

Young, old, everyone is welcome and can help in some way.

Come share our bountiful blessings with our neighbors near and far.

*All proceeds from The Cornucopia Canteen will go to our local Church on the Street ministries.

Email us for further information

Hold on to your Hats & Save the Date!

2009-10-19T00:30:00.004-04:00

Prayers have been answered

As of today
The Magic Number is 421!

Okay Everybody,
We have so many good things to report, you might want to have a seat and hang onto your hats...your coffee, whatever!

God has blessed us with some major donations this last couple of weeks, as a result we will be placing an order for almost 10 rolls of fleece....

that's 600 yards or enough fabric for 200 blankets!!

Are you all kick'n up your heals yet???

Mary and I are!

It will take some time for the fabric order to arrive and with our church celebrating Love Loud this week, we have canceled this weeks Thursday flock party. Instead, we have planned a Flock Party of Ginormous proportions!

so please...
Save the Date
On Saturday November 21st, Fleece for the Flock will be hosting a marathon blanket making party. As part of the festivities we will also host a Holiday Soup Bowl (think festive soup kitchen) with an opportunity for those in the community to share in a delicious bowl of soup, a drink and fresh baked goods all for a $1 donation or a canned good, All proceeds from the Soup Bowl will go to local Church on the Street ministries and area food pantry's.

With your help tying knots and spreading the word, we expect a bountiful harvest. Please save the date and begin telling your friends. With a good turn out we can touch many lives this holiday season: Those in Northwest Atlanta and our neighbors over the West Virginia mountains.

More details will follow shortly, but for now, please RSVP and let us know if you're planning to join us. We will need all the willing hands and open hearts we can round up, we sure hope to see you there!

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me,
I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Matthew 25:35-40

Thanking God for each one of you,
By His grace and for His glory,
Tammy and Mary

Sharing the Joy and Blessing

2009-10-07T05:00:00.005-04:00

With over 430 blankets to make, we have been busy looking for more ways to spread the word and cut our cost per blanket.

To that end, check out Fleece 4 Less where we are able to purchase printed fleece for as low as $2.98 a yard. As of this morning we have received enough donations to purchase more than 90 yards of fleece at this lower price. Let us know if you are interest in purchasing a few yards or maybe a roll.

We have a video that does a good job of outlining the many challenges facing our West Virginia neighbors while illustrating how Fleece for the Flock can bring love and hope to these families this Christmas.

I don't know about you, but Mary and I regularly forward all sorts of cute and silly video's to family and friends. Rarely do those video's have the potential to effect lives like the one below.

It is our prayer that you will utilize these latest resources as you spread details of this mission with everyone in your particular circle of influence. Let your friends, family and coworkers share the joy and blessing of helping our less fortunate Appalachian neighbors this Christmas season.

Blessings and Grace,
tammy and mary

"Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time—pray that our God will make you fit for what he's called you to be, pray that he'll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something. If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely." 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Fleece - Pass it On!

2009-10-01T20:18:00.001-04:00

Mary and I just got a wonderful FB message from a friend of one our Fleece for the Flock group members. Seems this friend saw a FFF update, read it and thought it would be a good project for a group of home schooled girls she teaches. These homeschoolers have been busy and have 6 blankets ready to deliver.

The girls also wanted to know if they could add a letter or card to each blanket and we of course said YES!! What a blessing folks and just the infusion we needed.

Today Mary and I had our Thursday Flock party at FBCW. Many willing hands and hearts joined us, but we had no fleece. We suspected all along the need for fleece products would always exceed fabric donations - IF we ceased to spread the word!

Tonight we are expressly requesting that everyone genuinely interested in supporting this ministry invite everyone you know to jump in and lend a hand.

We ask that you especially let your friends know that this current campaign to make and gather over 425 blankets and wraps is for the families in one of the poorest regions in the United States, McDowell County, West Virginia.

FYI: This once thriving Appalachian community has been hit by one hardship after another leaving it's diminished population physically cut off, with little to no means of making a living, the county's infrastructure is in shambles as schools, homes and businesses have been long ago abandoned. Due to a series of economic and natural disasters many roads in and around the towns and through the mountainous hollers are virtually impassable. Just getting things to them is its own unique challenge.

These are our neighbors’ folks. Not across the ocean, but on our soil and right in our own backyard. We can not rescue them or fix all their problems, that is not our intent…we are no ones savior.

We CAN be the hands and feet of Jesus.
We CAN send something warm and personal, attach a card or letter.
We CAN lift them up in prayer and in all of these ways we CAN Love them Loudly!

By His grace and for His glory,
Tammy and Mary

"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."
1 Peter 5: 2-3

32 Blankets and a Mess a Scarves!

2009-09-14T22:00:00.001-04:00

You all did ~~good~~...no, strike that...

Y'all did great!!

Just look the beautiful collection of warm, colorful and very prayed over coverings Mary and I had the pleasure of wrapping for our West Virginia neighbors!

Take a look at all the love heading up to the Appalachians this week

For the record, this is 32 blankets and a mess of scarves pictured here!

The first installment of two lots of coverings and cold weather gear.

As a result of your efforts, fall and winter will a whole ;lot warmer for a few of our mountain neighbors. A special thanks to those of you who stepped up to make tie blankets, crocheted spreads, cotton quilts, knitted scarves and assorted donations of fleece and yarn; and of course so many of you who regularly pray for the recipients who will take comfort beneath them in the cold days ahead.

A mission team leaves Thursday and along with the Hands of Hope Ministry they will distribute these goods to the needy folks of McDowell County in conjunction with a planned men's conference later this week.
Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus to families right here in our own back yard. Without your help, this would not be possible.

For anyone who missed partaking in this blessing, the second load of blankets is still to be made. We need approximately 465 pieces of cold weather apparel. The wraps may range in size from a small baby size coverlet to full blown bed covers. We would also like to donate as many scarves and hats as possible.

Have I mentioned it gets cold up in those mountains?

Email us for a list of Flock Parties or let us know if you would like to host one yourself. A Supply List can be found here.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:30-31

By His grace and for His glory,

tammy and mary

Hands of Hope in the Appalachian Mountains

2009-08-31T18:52:00.007-04:00

Okay Group: Vacations are over, kids are back in school and it’s time to get busy on our latest Fleece for the Flock project. We will need you, your friends, family and social groups to complete this latest endeavor, it’s a big one!

The Mission:
Fleece for the Flock has committed to assisting the Hands of Hope Ministry in providing warm coverings for a poverty stricken community in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia.

With the recent Diane Sawyer documentary bringing to light the plight of the mountain peoples of the Kentucky, many have seen they don’t need to go across the ocean to find people in dire need - just over the nearest Appalachian mountain. At this time we need about 32 adult size blankets as and any extra blankets we can spare for children and babies. The community could also use as many scarves as we can send, as it get cold in those mountains. We would like to have this need met by the end of September. What do you say, are you in?

By mid December we would like to have 500 blankets and wraps to give as Christmas gifts to our West Virginia neighbors.

By contributing to Hands of Hope Ministry, we have an opportunity assist them in providing inspiration and direction to those suffering various hardships while witnessing the hands and feet of God working in the hills and hollows of southern West Virginia. Please check out their website to learn more about HOHM and the work they minister to this community every day of the year.
Mary and I pray each one of you will do what you can to help personally, spread the word and encourage those in your area to help meet this local need.
By His grace and in His love,
tammy and mary

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” Luke 10:2

Love Letters from God

2009-06-25T13:27:00.000-04:00

On June 24th Mary and I were privileged to be attend a surprise birthday celebration for the children attending Royal Family Kids Camp 2009.

We planned on sharing photos from this outing, but due to security concerns and more disturbing, issues some of the children have with being photographed there was only one designated photographer and videographer allowed at the party. These necessary restrictions limited the images we might have shared with you otherwise.

In lieu of the photos I will do my best to describe the afternoon’s festivities.

As we pulled into the beautiful wooded camp grounds we could sense the tranquility and love covering the place. A number of workers and volunteers were scurrying to finish preparation for the afternoons blow out Birthday bash. The party area was edged by cover decorated tents where tables of snacks, drinks and party games sat in anticipation of the merriment to come.

Adjacent to the play area was a petting zoo with an interesting assortment of mammals, birds and reptiles that included an Australian Bearded Dragon, a pair of darling hedge hogs and the biggest floppy eared bunny I have ever seen.

Did I mention the Wombat?

Before long the campers arrived and immediately dove in with both feet. Donning Hawaiian lei's and grass skirts the shindig was in full swing in no time at all.

One little Flock member got to help celebrate with the campers and help deliver blankets.

There was face painting, balloon sculpture, hula hooping, limbo, whirly bird twirls, watermelon eating contests, a funky line dance routine and some kind of wild and woolly game that involved wrapping some partners or opposing player (I'm not sure) in toilet paper - they kind of got that game going before I was aware of all the particular instructions, but by the looks of things everyone had a great time!

After 2 hours of intense revelry the party goers were moved indoors - to the Main Event a surprise birthday party for every camper.

The main building on site had it's windows blackened and was locked during the pre-party in an attempt to maintain some element of surprise for the campers.

It worked....beautifully!

Some 40 kids were led into a darkened room to have the lights turned on and reveal five adorable hand puppets leading the rest of us in a chorus of Birthday singing. The kids were beside themselves with joy! The room was filled with brightly decorated round tables with stars and crowns everywhere and each place setting sporting a shoebox sized birthday gift box, party crown, streamers and horns.

Oh the horns!

You have never heard such a chorus of ~~noise~~ uh...music that 40 birthday horns can produce. This symphony went on for several minutes until the camp director gave instructions for everyone to cut loose once more for during a 20 second count after which they would need to put them away until they were outside where they were welcome to continue their concert.

After opening their personal treasure packed gift boxes, they were presented with the most darling Birthday cake. The sheet cake icing was sectioned off into little squares, with little detailed caricature portraits of each camper filling each box. Lest anyone get confused, each child's name was written underneath each picture.

We watched as one little guy repeatedly told his big camper buddy (counselor)

"But it's not my birthday."

To which it was explained that this was not a celebration of the day he was born, but rather the celebration of his very birth!

There was so much going on that we nearly forgot to present the blankets - really!

Once we told them of the special knot blankets made and prayed over by members of our Fleece for the Flock family we were surrounded as each child wanted to know which one would be theirs. We felt a bit like a Rock Star or the Ice Cream man.

The oohs and aah's and sheer delight as boys hoped for camo or sport prints, while girls wondered if their blanket would be made in their favorite color.

Without exception, each child was ecstatic over their gift.

As you read this LONG post, think on what may have been accomplished with this project. We are not talking about the events that encompassed these few hours yesterday, but the unknown impact these simple kindness's may have had on these precious lives. The ramification which may not be known this side of heaven. We can only continue to pray it is so.

Right now, we do know that with your help 41 abused and neglected children received a glimpse of God’s unconditional love and formed many new and wonderful memories. Because of simple, beautiful blankets - knotted in love and covered in prayer you helped send these little ones a love letter from God.

Thank you for using your heart, talent and resources in completing this project. Without your generosity, this would not be possible.

We can hardly wait to do it again!

much love,
mary and tammy

Thanks to You We Made it!

2009-06-10T18:30:00.000-04:00

Thanks to many nimble fingers and generous hearts we have filled the need of 40 blankets to be given to the children attending Royal Family Kids Camp . With many individual contributions, 4 Flock Parties, and a lot of prayer we are up to our ears in beautiful blankets.

Thank You All

We couldn't have done it without you!

A Bakers Dozen

2009-06-03T09:38:00.001-04:00

We are thrilled to report that on June 2nd a precious group of 13 gathered together joining hands and hearts for a Flock Party. In a couple of hours our volunteers made a bakers dozen of beautiful soft fleece tie blankets. These area ladies - ages 6 to their 70's combined time and talent for a very worthy project,the Royal Kids Camp of Woodstock, Georgia.

This camp is for children between the ages of 7 and 12. These kids are part of the local Foster Care program and come from some pretty tough situations. The purpose of the camp is to create positive memories for the lambs.

Fun and rewarding work for all

In two short hours fleece was spread on floor and tables, folks of all ages measured cut and tied hundreds of love knots resulting in a lovely collection of cozy wraps.

Thank you ladies for all you have done in caring for these little lambs.

We are halfway there!

2009-06-02T05:34:00.000-04:00

Good Morning Everyone,

June 19th deadline is right around the corner and we still need quite a few blankets for this first major project. As shared previously, we hope to provide 40 no-sew tie blankets for the 20 girls and 20 boys attending the Royal Kids Camp of Woodstock Georgia. We are pleased to report we have 25 blankets or fleece donated specifically for this precious group.

We are halfway there y'all!

Many of you have expressed interest in attending a 'Flock Party' or demonstration. We have two such gatherings planned for next week, and everyone is welcome.

Where: Both parties will be held on the 3rd floor choir hall area of First Baptist Church Woodstock. For those of you unfamiliar with where the choir meets, just go to the Worship center building, take the stairs or elevator to the third floor, walk in either direction, once you come upon an area with black taped floor markers - you have arrived!

When: The fun begins at Tuesday at 1PM and Thursday at 6PM

Supplies: 3 yds of fleece (1 1/2 yards per side)Your 'good' scissors - not the pair(s) the family uses to cut cardboard or rope with.Most importantly - Willing hands and warm hearts!

Who: Everyone!!

Email us with any other questions you may have.

Again, we wish to thank you all for stepping up and joining us as we reach out to our community. Please continue to pray for each blanket recipient - that they may come to know our Lord intimately and they may feel a big hug from God every time they use their blanket or wrap.

blessings and big hugs,
tammy and mary

"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." 1 Peter 5: 2-3

Blankets 5

2009-04-14T12:34:00.001-04:00

Blankets 4

2009-04-14T12:33:00.001-04:00

Blankets 3

2009-04-14T12:32:00.001-04:00

Blankets 2

2009-04-14T12:31:00.001-04:00

Blankets 1

2009-04-14T12:29:00.000-04:00