Wow! These 2021 Milestones...
"Ponderings of Gratitude"
2021: A Year of Fullness
As I reflect on 2021, I am in awe of the “year of fullness” it was for Furnishing Families!
Thank you to our partners who helped make this possible!
The combination of the abundant blessings of God, the faithful commitment of our donors, and the team of volunteers, partners and staff all constitute the wonder of a “movement” that is in motion!
Let's take a look back at just some of the milestones of this last year that have accelerated the trajectory of your impact!!
Milestones of 2021
At the beginning of last year, Lance invited me to talk about Furnishing Families on his show. That in itself catalyzed generosity from you that gave us: A TRAILER, funds toward a 26 FT. TRUCK, and resources to do more! Prior to that, we were renting trucks for our deliveries. The capacity to deliver increased radically, and that was a Game Changer.
Our team and a group from Gateway Church furnished the small apartment of a single mother and her children who were escaping domestic violence. The team brought her LIFE. They broke generational curses, ministered deliverance, and released healing to her! This showed me that we are all part of one tribe, one movement, and that we really are moving “As One.” They did what I would have done and I wasn’t even there.
Mattress Firm donated 300 BEDS! We were able to be very generous to our friends at the border of Mexico and share over 150 mattresses with them. Pastor Jorge Zapata of Heart4Kids continues building Villages called Colonia, creating both the homes AND the wooden frames that hold the mattresses we provided!
One morning when I was praying with the movers before they left for the day, we asked God for another driver to be added to our team due to new scheduling constraints. THAT VERY DAY, on a delivery to a family in an apartment complex, one of our movers Joel began talking to a man who lived in that neighborhood, who shared that he was a truck driver. Keith has been a part of our team ever since that day! Not only can he drive a 26 foot truck; he can also drive tractor trailers! (Pictured from Left to Right: Joel, Keith, and Jacob)
We received two cars last year. A Town and Country Minivan and a Toyota Highlander. I am driving the mini van; constantly loading and hauling goods. Tylynn and her son De'Marcus use the Highlander. We have created a non profit that will own all the cars called "Carpedium." Carpedium will make a way for each single mom to buy the car over time!
In December, a NJ based company that was re-furnishing a Marriott Hotel here in Fort Worth found us through our website! (So cool!) They didn’t want to throw out the furniture, and we provided a win-win solution to removing the items off the premises. FFOT received 89 rooms so far and will receive 50 more by the end of February!
Meet our Communications Team! (Pictured left to right:) Mikayla Hawley (our friend Wendy's daughter), Karen Kelly, and Lance Jr. They have spearheaded the effort to streamline the touch-points with YOU via email, social media, and the website! Click below to enjoy a spectacular update to the Furnishing Family giving experience.
Really, there is so much more to talk about and SO MANY families that have been helped. It is deeply touching to hear that children are doing better in school, because they are getting a good night sleep, they are healthier, or that the mom had her children returned from CPS and is steady in a job that has lasted more than a few months! Seeing families become stable is the main fruit of this work. We are fruit inspectors at Furnishing Families.
The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Joy is one third of the kingdom. During January, we have been celebrating joy on our social media platforms! Check it out by following the icons near the bottom of the page.
Furnishing Families is a gateway for God to move through to create “flourishing families." It is the generosity of TIME AND TREASURE that is releasing the joy of the kingdom to many! Thank You to all who have contributed in some way to this work!
As One, let’s put on the joy, keep some joy, and dispense the joy today!
Celebrating The Joy,
Annabelle and Lance
Share This Newsletter By Clicking An Icon Below