My Overthinking

Philly Area mom, Life forever changed by adoption

Archives for May 2013

Chesapeake Ribbons for The Sparrow Fund {Giveaway}

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I remember the good ole days of corduroy O.P. shorts and terry cloth zippered outfits. Please tell me you do too. 

Something’s coming back (thankfully, it’s not the bowl cut hairdo). Ribbon accessories—you know, the belts with whales or lobsters, headbands, key fobs, the works. So stinkin’ cute and classic.

chesapeake ribbons banner

Margie of Chesapeake Ribbons is a local Philadelphian who has figured out how to use her creativity and love for the classic accessory to give to what she’s passionate about–support autistic children and cancer research. And, this month, she’s helping The Sparrow Fund as one of our partners giving 10% of total sales this May to support adoptive families. 
I’m thinking a certain little Chinese girl would look stinkin’ cute if I could convince her to wear this one. Boo to sensory issues.
chesapeake ribbon bow
chesapeake ribbons belt
Margie’s prices are super reasonable. So, whoever wins this $25 gift certificate is going to have some fun shopping around her store.

I love gift certificates.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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twelve2 for The Sparrow Fund {giveaway}

twelve2 is an idea, not a company. It’s the idea that we can not be of this world, that we don’t conform to the patterns set before us in culture, but continually transform our minds.

It’s all about Romans 12:2…

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

twelve2 giveaway 2

Dana, the heart and hands behind twelve2, lives this out by donating all the profits from the shop to adoptions and missionaries around the world. Yes, all. And, this month, she’s partnering with The Sparrow Fund to give them 10% of her sales this month along with our other partners. This is her ministry, her act of worship through the work of her hands.

In her words…

My husband and I began considering adoption just months after we were married. We were starting the process and God had other plans for us—I got pregnant! We now have two biological kids, but our heart for adoption is still very much alive. Since we are not pursuing an adoption of our own at this time, we want to support those who are in anyway we can. We have two neighbors currently in the adoption process and strive to help them in any way possible, donating items for their garage sales, praying for and encouraging them, and getting excited over all the little milestones along the way. We cannot wait for our kids to play alongside these children from Bulgaria and Ethiopia! twelve2 was opened solely for the purpose of supporting families when they bring their kids home. From the profits of the shop, I make personalized items for each of the families in our church.

twelve2 collage

Wanna buy one of everything? I do. Lydia needs that shirt but with China on it and a little matching skirt. Love it. 

Just to spread the word and bless someone big, she’s giving away a $25 gift certificate for her shop here so you can pick out anything your little heart desires.

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Echoes of Mercy for The Sparrow Fund {Giveaway}

This was going to be a quick first giveaway post from one of our partners to Build the Nest this month. But, it turned out not so quick. My attempt at surfing Mandie Joy’s Etsy store to grab some images to share here to show you her work became a long visit because I simply couldn’t stop looking at every. single. listing. I’ll share a few images here but know that I’m not happy about only sharing a few and that I’m insisting you check them all out for yourself (though plan on it not being a short visit).

seeing joy prints

 

This is just a collection of some of the beauty.

seeing joy memory verse cards

 

You can order a set of memory verse cards for your kids…or you.

seeing joy jesus storybook bible

And, quite possibly my favorite because I so love The Jesus Storybook Bible. I think I’d like to wallpaper my house with these prints. Can I do that?

What makes Mandie Joy’s store unique is that she’s a single woman whose heart has been broken for what breaks His. For the past 7 years, she has committed herself to fostering children who have experienced overwhelming brokenness. Her Etsy store income allows her to take some time away from her career as a professional photographer when she gets a new foster child in her care.

This month, she’s committing 10% of all her Etsy sales to The Sparrow Fund along with the other partners to support adoptive families all over—a commitment I’m obviously pretty excited to share. But, I’m also simply excited to share her store with you regardless because the store (and Mandie Joy) is amazing.

Here’s your chance to get a jump start on your Echoes of Mercy print collection. I’m hosting a giveaway here for 2 winners who can each choose a print of their choice. Perfect.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Build the Nest

I’m such a numbers girl. Give me percentages, and I start tracking. These particular numbers stuck with me. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services reported that 30% of all Americans reported having seriously considered adopting at some point in their lives. Yet, only 2% actually adopt. That means that of those who say they’ve seriously considered adopting, 14 out of 15 don’t ever do it.

Why not? It’s daunting—the financial cost, the impact this child will have on your family, the overwhelming number of unknowns. It’s no easy thing. We get that.

As we walked that road ourselves and alongside other families, we saw a need. That 2% of families who were taking that leap of faith to bring a child into their family through adoption—they needed more support. So, we took the leap of faith ourselves to do whatever we could to do just that.

Build the Nest for The Sparrow FundTwo years ago, we started The Sparrow Fund to give grants to families specifically for the purpose of family support through programs around the country that provide preadoption support and counsel, on-call support for families while they travel across the world to meet their children and bring them home, and support once they are home to help both the parents, new son or daughter, and family as a whole become a family.

Recognizing more need, we added programs to encourage and support families from those waiting to meet their children to those who have been home for years. We’ve helped families learn about the unique needs of children who have been adopted in the classroom and how to use correction as a vehicle of connection with their children in a way that is sensitive to them and their histories. And, this past February, we put on a weekend retreat for couples (Together Called) to be reminded of their calling as parents and refreshed to continue serving their children. When registration opened nearly 5 months before the event, it sold out in 16 hours. The need is undeniable.

We’re not interested in growing the number of families adopting; that’s not our focus. Rather, our focus is on pouring into that 2% who are adopting; we want to love and serve them and do whatever we can to make the daunting a little less daunting. And, maybe, just maybe, as the daunting becomes less daunting and the support available becomes more readily available, we’ll see more of those families who have seriously considered adopting say, “maybe we can do this afterall.”

Today starts an important month around here. A whole bunch of folks are coming alongside of us, saying, “Yes, we support adoptive families and the work of The Sparrow Fund to pour into them. And, we want to help.” This May, in our third annual fundraiser, about 50 businesses have made a commitment to help us build the nest so that we can help others as they build their nests. In addition to event sponsors who have donated set amounts to get that nest going, these business partners have made the commitment to give 10% of their total sales throughout the month of May to The Sparrow Fund so that we can do what we do. Isn’t that incredible?

That’s where you come in. We need you to start clicking and start shopping—check these places out.  Shopping purposefully is pretty fun—and makes shopping totally justifiable, by the way. Let’s work together to make that 10% something crazy big.

{p.s. you may want to subscribe to blog posts via email because I’m going to be hosting some awesome giveaways from a handful of these places this month just to make the month even more fun.}

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Sponsors for Building the Nest

To get the nest started…

Sparrow Sponsors

Trades of Hope

Trades of Hope empowers women to create sustainable businesses worldwide. Their desire is for women worldwide to realize their potential as world changers, business owners, dream creators, and heroes of their own stories. A perfect supporter to build the nest for The Sparrow Fund.

Norman L. Graham, Inc.

Norman L. Graham, Inc. is a premier builder of custom homes and additions in South Central Pennsylvania. From design to construction, every Norman L. Graham project is built with care and careful attention to detail. What better partner to build the nest than a company who is all about nest building.

Other Sponsors

If you would like your store or business to be a part of this May fundraising event, please contact Kelly at The Sparrow Fund to be added to this post and future posts as part of this effort.

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