My Overthinking

Philly Area mom, Life forever changed by adoption

Archives for May 2012

My Tree Treasury

I’ve got a think for birds. And, I’ve got a thing for trees. Put me in a store with a gazillion different eye-catching thingies, and I’ll find the branches and songbirds. 
Here are a few that caught my eye from some of The Sparrow Fund’s 2012 partners.
This print of birch trees from Thirteenth Story. Looks like something my kids would absolutely love to make up a story to go with it. 

Only $6.50 for these 5 Cards from Yes Teacher. If someone sent me this in the mail or hid it in the book I was reading, I would no doubt be having a groovy day. And, everybody needs a few groovy days.

Ooo….This Tree necklace from Peace of Mind is so pretty. Have I shared that I also have a thing for green?
Amylee must have a thing for trees too. This Tree art is one of several different tree designs she has created that are so great. Modern, fun trees with a message. 
This Skirt named “Simplicity Bark” from Red Pajamas with a cute gathered pocket could be just the tree accessory your little one needs. And, for only $15, you may want to get a couple more while you’re on her site. Lynette chooses the most fun fabrics. I love every piece. 
Have I also shared that I can totally be sucked in by marketing? Valerie at Ruffled Feathers just announced her new soft knot dolls–and the first one is named Lydia Love. Seriously? Oh my. Sweet Asian eyes–have you noticed how hard it is to get those right on dolls? Tree fabric. Red with pink polka dots (also have a thing for red and pink together). AND, Lydia Love? 

Get clickin’ and go snag some of these up before someone else does. And, when you do, go share what you purchased HERE so that The Sparrow Fund can get 110% of your total purchase. 
Hard to resist, isn’t it? 

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A challenge I’m doing cartwheels over

I’ve been working hard to promote The Sparrow Fund’s May fundraiser to Build the Nest.

When I asked online for bloggers to help spread the word by sharing their sidebar with us by adding this button (  ——–> see said button), I was not expecting to get this message:

I will personally match shopping made up to 1000.00.

How does that work??

wow.

She went onto to tell me how much she appreciates what The Sparrow Fund is doing and how she wants to encourage the businesses who have made such a big commitment to give 10% of sales to support adoption. She wanted to challenge people to step up and support the work and the businesses too.

And, she posted a blog entry today with that challenge — for everyone who comments there with their first name, the store name where they shopped, and the total amount spent — Leah will MATCH dollar for dollar in a donation directly to The Sparrow Fund up to $1,000.

So, if you make a purchase in the next 2 days from any of those stores, not only will 10% of your purchase go to The Sparrow Fund, you can make that 110% simply by commenting on her blog.

In case you needed an excuse to shop, I think you officially have one.

1. Check out the links to our partners HERE.
2. Purchase something or somethings–anything from jewelry to books to baby gifts to wall art.
3. Go make sure Leah knows you did by commenting on her blog post HERE with your first name, the store name, and the total amount of your purchase. 

We have until the end of the day on the 16th.

I know we can do it.

And, I’m already in awe of how God is multiplying that 10%…just like we knew He would.

(image courtesy of Red Letter Ink, one of our partners. Pretty sweet, huh? Go HERE to purchase it and HERE to see what else is for sale in her store.)

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20 Defining Moments in My Motherhood

1. My reaction when a doctor told me on the phone it would be “nearly impossible” for us to conceive.


2. Each of the 4 times we heard for the first time that our babies were no longer growing and we were going to miscarry.

3. Driving to the hospital in labor with our first.

4. When my mom left our house the week after we had Evan and left me on my own to be a mommy.

5. Taking a pregnancy test and laughing aloud as I held 1-year-old Evan on my hip and learned we were having another.

6. Strategizing with Mark in the hospital after delivering Ashlyn about how we were going to manage 2 little children—that ended with me in tears.

7. Hearing Evan say his name for the first time after months of therapy and wondering if he’d ever speak.

8. A conversation with Mark during lunch out about me wanting another child (as the two we had were squirming and crying and Mark looked at me wide-eyed as if I had lost my mind).

9. Our first conversation about adoption and the dream I had that night about a little Asian girl calling me Mama at my bedside.

10. When the doctor who had just told us we were miscarrying again called us later that day to tell us he might be wrong = Drew, 7 months later.

11. Drew’s tumultuous delivery, seeing his limp body, hearing my husband crying, not knowing if our son was alive or dead and then hearing his cry.

12. Crying with Evan’s kindergarten teacher as we read his evaluation report together when she told me, “There is nothing wrong with him. He doesn’t need to be fixed.”

13. Dancing around the dining room with joy when we knew that Lydia was going to be ours and saying her full name for the first time.

14. My first glimpse of Lydia in real life as she came into that sterile office in the arms of an orphanage nanny and lit up the room.

    15. Overhearing Ashlyn speak softly and lovingly to Lydia in the middle of the night to calm her and help her fall back to sleep.

      16. Watching Drew day in and day out pursue his little sister and dote on her even when faced with rejection.

        17. Shopping alone with Lydia when I realized I was attached.

          18. Ashlyn praying at night, thanking God that she could learn more about Him.

            19. Peeking in Evan’s room to find him devouring Harry Potter books, one at a time, the boy who said he never wanted to learn to read and yelled, “I hate learning!” a few years earlier.

              20. Celebrating Mother’s Day with an uneventful breakfast out as a family followed by pictures with all 4 children smiling at the same time.

                Happy Mother’s Day to me. 

                Ni Hao Yall

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                My bird treasury

                In Vol. 1, I showcased a few of my favorites from a few of our partners. But, there is oh-so-much-more to show off to all of you.

                And, since I have a thing for birds….

                I fell in love with this piece last year from Erin Leigh–so much in love that I bought the original which hangs in our front room so everyone can see it as they enter our home. Such a wonderful reminder to me that God has prepared me for the work He has put in front of me. It still makes me happy every time I look at it. 
                Could this little one be any cuter? That dress from Red Pajamas is amazing on her too. Look at that retro, funky colored-print. So stinkin’ cute. You can buy the skirt version for only $15 right now too. 
                No girlies to buy for? Check out this Retro bird tie for your little man for only $8 also from Red Pajamas. Oh my goodness, too much. Love it. Wonder if my Drew is too old for this…
                Amy Butler prints are so fun. I’d like to open up some real mail on these cards from Yes Teacher. Anyone still get real mail? Hope so. So much nicer than the virtual kind really.
                Maybe simple is more your thing? These 12 mini cards are only $2.40 from Yes Teacher. They’d make great little love notes to put under your hubby’s windshield wiper before work or in your kid’s lunch.
                So pretty. I’m picturing this Brass necklace from adoptive mama Jessica (home since December with her sweet pea from China) at Wild Poppy with a funky colored top–maybe orange? Might have to buy a top just to go with it.
                17″ of sweetness here too. Vintage beads with a Sparrow also from Wild Poppy for only $21. These would go with pretty much everything, don’t you think?
                Shannon, mother 6 (3 biological, 1 angel in heaven, 1 little boy from South Korea, and soon to be 1 more as they bring home their son’s biological baby brother from South Korea) has a great little shop called Peace of Mind. Her Peace on Earth hand stamped necklace is so pretty–all hand wired and hand stamped on a double strand of silver chain, with a great message, of course. 
                Love this funky Brass on black leather bracelet also from Shannon at Peace of Mind. The brass is hand embossed and polished to give it such a unique look. 
                How ’bout this Sweet set from Ruffled Feathers who happens to have this interesting vintage looking bird print with lots of different stripes and patterns that would look adorable with it.

                Amylee Weeks creates pieces that are so eyecatching. Her shop is great–go see it if you haven’t already. Aren’t the little birds on her Art blocks the perfect combination of cute and modern?
                Here’s a little something for your little bird lovers. A Burp cloth and bib set from Jill Made This made from this great Michael Miller fabric. Babies definitely can be super stylin’ even when they spit up. 
                This Remember necklace from Embody Jewelry Designs is a perfect way to remember someone special–maybe the birthday of your little one, maybe an adoption day, a day someone special passed away…Jillian is in the process of bringing home their first child from Russia right now and is selling this sweet necklace for only $21 AND has a coupon code right now to get another 13% off — MAMADAY13.
                How can you not have a thing for birds when you see all these?

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