My Overthinking

Philly Area mom, Life forever changed by adoption

Fill in the blank

“Go around and introduce your child and then say I love him or her because ____________.”

That was the ice breaker, and I had about 30 seconds until I was up.

This is David, and I love him because he’s really smart.

This is Emily, and I love her because she’s so kind and caring.

I’m up. And, I played along.

This is Drew, and I love him because he’s so silly and funny. And, this is Ashlyn, and I love her because she’s so helpful all the time. And, this is Lydia, and I love her because she is mine.

Isn’t that how I should have answered it for all of them?

red letter ink ephesiansI recognize my children need to be affirmed—probably because I recognize my own need to be affirmed. Words of affirmation are my love language.

But, what we were asked to do by filling in the blank had a fundamental flaw.

I don’t love Drew because he’s silly and funny. I don’t love Ashlyn because she’s helpful. I don’t love Evan because he’s sensitive and gentle. I don’t love Lydia because of how she lights up a room. I don’t.

I love them because they’re mine, and I’m called to love them. God has given them to me; and, in so doing, He has given me the very significant calling to love them. Sometimes my calling as a mother is easy, and love overflows. Other times aren’t as easy and I feel the internal resistance to continually pour myself out. Regardless, I’m still called to love—not because he’s gentle, not because she’s smart, not because he’s funny, not because she’s creative. It is really more about me than about them. I love; they are simply the receivers of that love.

If God humored us with joining our ice breaker, how would He fill in the blank?

This is Kelly, and I love her because she is mine.

If a million words of affirmation were spoken over me, 999,997 would be unneeded. She is mine. They’re the only 3 words I really need.

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. Titus 3:4-5a

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Olive Handmade for The Sparrow Fund {Giveaway}

One of my most prized possessions—for real—is from this little Etsy store. Do you remember this post? Fallon from Olive Handmade created this for us based on a picture of our home. And, it’s perfect down to the living room curtains.

Fallon taught herself to sew and just opened an Etsy store “for fun.” She soon realized that others loved her sewing as much as she did, and she’s working towards making this a full-time gig. What she has there is positively delicious and makes me want to set up more beds in my home simply for the pillows.

Olivehandmade Collage

What makes her things even more beautiful to me is the generosity that comes with them. A portion of shop sales go to her local Rescue Mission which houses a few hundred homeless folks in Las Vegas and feeds many more than that daily. They care for their physical and spiritual needs there and help them get their lives on track again.

And, this month, Fallon is partnering with the other nest builders, donating 10% of all her May sales to The Sparrow Fund to support adoptive families. On top of that, she’s offering a little something here to get you addicted to her wares as I have—her Olive You pillow cover (worth $40). I’m already jealous of the winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

May - circle - Building the Nest this may

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ZiLLA’S QuEeN for The Sparrow Fund {GiVeAwAy}

Spunk. This girl’s got it. Victoria of ZiLLA’S QuEeN is a counselor and create-tess who is always looking to be an agent of change whether that is in relationships or accessories. Her jewelry shouts change to me, and she somehow manages to take just a little something that has some interest and combines it with other items of interest to create an accessory masterpiece. Seriously. You gotta see these necklaces she masterfully creates.

zillas Collage

With a steadfast belief that we can all be the difference that this world needs, she has been wholeheartedly excited about being a partner to Build the Nest this May for The Sparrow Fund, donating 10% of all her May sales to support adoptive families.

And, she also is pretty excited to introduce her to one of her sweet pieces (worth $28.50 when you include shipping)—so versatile as a necklace or wrap bracelet, it features a lovely vintage flower earring made into a pin sitting beautifully on a purple and yellow dyed silk. The pin is removable so you can take it off and wear on other things even. so pretty, very Anthro (where I’d buy everything if I were filthy rich). 

The winner won’t get it in time for Mother’s Day, but who cares. You can wear this and celebrate Mother’s Day everyday of the year. It’s that pretty. And, even if you don’t win, you can use the code “NESTING” to get 10% off your purchase AND have 10% donated to The Sparrow Fund. Nice.

zillas wrap bracelet

a Rafflecopter giveaway

May - circle - Building the Nest this may

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Reading between the lines

She’s still learning ABCs. In fact, she’s still learning the song that goes with them. Her LMNOPs are always a jumbled mess. Perhaps she’s transferring her responsibility when she sings, “Now, I know your ABCs. Next time won’t you sing with me.” They’re her ABCs too.

But, reading, she claims she can do that. Nearly every night, she grabs 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed or her The Jesus Storybook Bible and reads us a story.

This night, God’s word won over the monkeys. And, she opened the book up randomly and started to read.

Then, Jesus was on the cross, [dramatic pause and slightly quieter voice for dramatic effect] and He died. Then, his friends put him in a cave and put a big, big ball in front of it.

Then, she leaned in real close and in all seriousness told us, in a raspy whisper:

Then, something mindblowing happened.

This Mother’s Day, whether or not I get my perfect cup of coffee, I’m going to celebrate my motherhood because I may not be the best mom, but somehow my kids—even the one who can’t read yet—are reading between the lines.

I don’t homeschool or feed them organic food. My boys have mouths full of cavities, and I still give them gummy fruit snacks. I text too much, check email too much, and read and write blog posts during family Wheel of Fortune time. But, despite me, they’re learning something mindblowing. And, because of that, this mama is putting her feet up for a bit this Sunday and celebrating not me but motherhood itself and that I get to watch that happen.

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