My Overthinking

Philly Area mom, Life forever changed by adoption

Archives for June 2010

Jiayin Designs–New Things!

I just updated the website Jiayin Designs with two new items Helen is offering for a limited time. Please check these out!

Aren’t these pearls beautiful? I have a white set for Ashlyn and a blush set for Lydia. The little sterling silver ladybug clasp is so darling. Ladybugs symbolize good luck in various places around the world. Specifically in China, tradition holds that if a ladybug is caught and released, it will faithfully fly to your true love and whisper your name in his or her ear. Upon hearing the ladybug’s message, your true love will hurry to your side. Perhaps that tradition is how it became a symbol for Chinese adoptions. 
And, I just love this tiger-head hat. These hats traditionally were given to children to imply a prayer of blessing for the child as well as a celebration of the child’s beauty and vigor. The tradition is dying out now in modern cities in China. So, I’m really excited to have one for Lydia. Each one is handmade and is unique in its color and design. And, it looks adorable on Miss Lydia!

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Sunday Snapshot: Father’s Day

Mark’s first Father’s Day as a father of 4–and I think it was a success. It started with a big breakfast and some gift giving. Each kid gave Mark a book–books he’ll hopefully get time to read while we are vacationing since he doesn’t get a lot of free time as a father of 4 (hoping he gets some on vacation!). Lydia gave him Chinese Lessons: Five Classmates and the Story of the New China. Drew gave him Tim Keller’s book Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith — I’m looking forward to reading this one as soon as Mark closes the cover.  Ashlyn gave him Around Phoenixville, a history book about our hometown. Mark totally gets into that sort of thing. And, Evan gave him The Clock Without a Face, a really fun book for us to read to the kids that is a mystery with very neat illustrations on each page of each floor of a 13 floor apartment building. We read a bit of it today and we were all into it. And, my gift to him…a night out with two guys from church for some fellowship and encouragement, something we both really need. I think that was the best gift I could have given him right now. 

That is, in addition to the lunch he requested: honey chili bacon cheese dog. 


I know, totally gross. I think it belongs on that website This is Why You’re Fat along with bacon wrapped meatloaf and burgers in between Krispy Kremes. Ick. But, he seemed pretty darn happy with it (note the picture with his mouth open so wide it looks like his jaw unhinged). And, well, it is Father’s Day after all. FYI–I had a salad for lunch.


We managed to get all 4 kids either napping or in their rooms quietly for a bit this afternoon and both he and I napped (perfect Sunday!). After some wii and lego play, we headed out for dinner at Max & Ermas. Followed by some reading together and bedtime, then Mark headed out the door to play ice hockey where he is now. Not a bad day at all.
So, for my first official Sunday Snapshot, here is my man and my children. How blessed I am to have been given this family to surround me everyday. And, I cannot imagine facing the task of parenting these four precious lives without the wisdom and spiritual leadership of my husband Mark. He is a brave, faithful, and committed man whom I love dearly. Happy Father’s Day, Mark.

Ni Hao Y'all

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Precious treasures

As most of you probably know, I’m helping a sweet friend of mine Helen (who is actually Lydia’s godmother) with Jiayin Designs. I’ve really enjoyed my part in this venture so far as I’ve gotten to connect with a lot of adoptive families. I want to highlight two of those families here and share the story behind their precious treasures.

This is the Chryst family. I connected with Nicole back in March and have been excited to watch them start the adoption process with our agency. For her daughter Peyton’s 5th birthday, Nicole bought her a very special gift for her to treasure–a charm that says big sister in Chinese. What a wonderful way to invite Peyton into the adoption process and help make Brooke real to her. I love the picture of Peyton looking down at her new necklace–it’s as if I can feel her pride over having a real piece of jewelry now that she’s 5 as well as her wonder and excitement over what it means. Nicole is an amazing photographer, don’t you think? You can see the rest of the pictures of Peyton opening her gift here.

The other precious treasure I wanted to highlight in this post will eventually be worn by a dear woman in Southern China. When the Greig family was weeks away from traveling to China to bring home their sweet 2 year McKenna, they received shocking news that she had passed away. McKenna’s special need was not life threatening, so the news of her death from pneumonia was devastating to say the least. 
In an effort to reach out to the foster mother in China who undoubtedly is grieving too, the Greigs ordered a charm with McKenna’s Chinese name to have a family traveling soon to the same city to hand deliver. When I received the charm from Beijing and prepared to mail it off to the Griegs, I couldn’t help but hold it in my hand and recognize that I had the opportunity to be a part of something very significant. It felt quite sacred to me to be able to hold the charm that would be presented from one grieving mother to another grieving mother. You can read Nikki’s thoughts firsthand about how God is working in her heart here. She wrote a very honest and vulnerable post there. You will be happy to know that the Lord has been active in the Greig family’s life and has provided healing in their grief and has brought them to their daughter. Quinn Lian awaits them, and they are overjoyed to make her their own. She’s such a precious girl and will certainly bring them abundant joy. 

Jiayin Designs has definitely been a great experience for me thus far to be a part of.

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