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My Overthinking

Philly Area mom, Life forever changed by adoption

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Archives for 5.22.12

My China Treasury

5.22.12

When we left China in April 2010, we left a piece of our hearts there.

And, we can’t seem to forget that.

So, while Mark is actually in China again–this time to teach and love and serve–I’m finding myself drawn to all things Chinese.

Here are a few of my favorites from a few of the partners of The Sparrow Fund this month.

Adoptive mom and grandmother, the heart behind Junk Posse knows what we mommies need to wear and the hands behind Junk Posse forms it. This necklace says in Chinese “A wish come true.” (sigh)
Donna Page‘s image here stops me in my tracks. If you are in the Atlanta area, you are blessed. Get her to take pictures for you.
Carla Blakenship‘s amazing photo of the Great Wall is officially award winning. So obvious why. Can’t believe Mark will be seeing this again in a few days. If you’re Alabama people, you will be in excellent hands if you let Carla photograph you. 
We have Just Children’s Books, an affiliate of Barefoot Books partnering with us this month. We are huge fans of Barefoot Books, one of our sponsors for our May 5th training event for adoptive families. They have many multicultural titles that we really like. Little Leap Forward is one of them. We have a copy, and I cannot wait to read it myself with my children. It’s a great introduction to learning about China’s Cultural Revolution and tells the story of a young boy growing up in the hutongs of China who learns the heartache of loving and letting go when he captures a bird but finds that the bird cannot sing in confinement. 
As the parent of a little girl who lived in a city along the silk road, we’re big fans of We’re Riding on a Caravan. 
And, The Great Race is a fun fable about the Chinese zodiac animals. And, you know I’m all into Chinese New Year books. 
I had no idea that jade wasn’t always, well, jade green until my parents started working in China. This necklace from Mei Faith Studio made out of Chinese yellow jade is absolutely stunning. I’m finding myself so attracted to this color lately. Go check out her other Chinese jewelry and prints. 
Huh? Don’t think this fits in? My husband just hand delivered one in blue to our Chinese godson. So, to me, it totally belongs here. 
Just got this picture emailed to me. Totally love this tee (and the kid wearing it) from Babee Crafts as well as her other creative designs (gotta check out her baby gifts–so stinkin’ clever). 
And, Jiayin Designs, of course. All Chinese. All purposeful. All the time.
Don’t forget to go shopping–Can you believe May is almost over? Support these businesses as they give 10% of their total sales this month to The Sparrow Fund.

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Posted by Kelly the Overthinker
Filed Under: The Sparrow Fund May drive

Day 5: Rolling

5.22.12

Got a 20 minute call with Mark this morning which was the highlight of my day.

Things are rolling – the team members are in the classrooms at the university teaching. Friendships are being built. Everyone is learning quite a bit–teachers and students alike, it seems. The students’ English skills aren’t as good as Mark was expecting, and it’s hard. But, he clearly was smiling when he talked with me this morning (which made me smile for most of the day), excited about the opportunities in front of him to both serve the kids there and serve the teachers who are there long term.

And, things are rolling here – another school week began, grocery shopping done, lunches made, homework complete, leftovers on paper plates for dinner, surfing Craigslist for bunk beds (see previous post). Just rolling along.

This, however, is not doing much rolling.

I got a lesson on how to get the thing turned on before Mark left. I mistakenly assumed it would work sort of like a vacuum cleaner that has that nice wheely like thing underneath that makes it sort of move without much effort.
Wrong.
Using this thing is worse than pushing a double stroller with a buggy board around Disney World.
And, my yard is proof of that. I feel like I need to put a yard sign out that says: 

NOTE – yard care provider out of the country for a time. Have mercy.

Good news is that I was worried Mark would come home to a wife 5 lbs. heavier after all that yummy carny food from last week. But, I mowed the lawn today, so I think I’m good. 
Not good enough though to make myself one of the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup milkshakes I made the 3 big kids tonight. 
Yup, still sugaring them up. And, they’re loving it. 

Off to watch an old episode of The Guardian which I’m currently hooked on and then get some editing work done before I collapse.

Day 5. Over and out.

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Posted by Kelly the Overthinker
Filed Under: Kelly, Mark

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I overthink everything. This blog is a prime example. Make yourself a cup of coffee and sit down for a read. Actually, make that a pot of coffee. There’s a lot of overthinking here.

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