My Overthinking

Philly Area mom, Life forever changed by adoption

A Cord of Three Strands {Review and Giveaway}

I’m watching my daughter run around with her cousins, laughing so hard she’s throwing her head back.

She’s three. No cares in the world. No questions yet about her story. But, I tell her anyhow. I want her to know her story is much bigger than just us.

In A Cord of Three Strands, Sara Berry and Tricia Robbins do just that—remind us all that our stories are part of a much larger story. The true story of a prodigal child who becomes pregnant and makes the decision to place her child with another family. The true story of a faithful couple whose hearts and arms ache to be filled with a child. And, the true story of a young girl raised by parents who love her deeply, honor the mother who gave her life, and teach her that her story is part of a bigger story—ultimately, one laid out before time began.

Finished in only a few hours, somehow, I found myself able to identify in that short time with every woman in the story—the prodigal child, the parents who struggle to accept her failings, the counselor who mentors the young woman and pours into her, the couple who struggle through infertility together and ultimately adopt a baby girl, and even the girl herself who by grace is able to love and have relationships with both of her mothers.

I’m keeping this one in arm’s reach and looking forward to reading it and talking through it with my oldest daughter soon—the one who was not adopted. Written using quite easy language with not too many words on a page, it won’t be long and I know she’ll be able to handle it and the issues it introduces–peer pressure, discovering our true identity, dealing with our failure, forgiveness, living out grace to people God puts in our path, and the feelings of a birthmother, adoptive mother, and adoptee.

Take a sneak peek here

Want your own copy?

Before you buy it, you may want to try to win one for free here, ‘cause I’m giving one away (that’s always sorta fun). Or, better yet, buy a copy and still try to win so you and your daughter or friend have your own copies to read together.

Just leave a comment sharing why you want to read the book, how you’d use it, what you’d hope to get out of it, or something along those lines. You can enter once here and once on We Are Grafted In if you’d like to double your chances.

I’ll choose a winner Sunday, April 15th when I also choose the winners for my other big ole giveaway. It’ll be a giveaway fest that day.

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Kelly, the mother Jesus loves

There’s a message God wanted me to hear. And, a woman—Beth Templeton, adoptive mom and gifted teacher–got to deliver it in the presence of 450 other women.

How’s that for a personal lesson?

John. Author of 5 books in the New Testament. The only disciple who was with Jesus from the beginning of His ministry, present during His crucifixion, and witness to His Resurrection.

In his Gospel, one of the books he wrote inspired by God, he calls himself the disciple whom Jesus loved. No less than 5 times (13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7, 21:20)

Why did he do this?

Sorta sounds prideful, maybe boastful. Was John an egotist? Did he simply think so highly of himself that he had to rub it in that he was the one who Christ loved?

This is John—the only disciple who did not run away or hide from authorities when persecution and conviction from the Roman Oppressers and the Jewish Pharisees and Sadducees were rumbling towards them.

Take a look at a few of the other words of John. This man knew about love. In fact, in his three short letters, he made more than 25 references to love. 1 John 4:7-10 says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

John was more conscious of Jesus’ love for him than he was of his love for Jesus.

And, that’s the message I needed to hear.

Because, here’s the thing, my love for Jesus? It’s not really that great. It’s in constant, weak, unfaithful, changing, unpredictable. It’s often self-seeking, at times subtly so and other times quite obviously.

But, Jesus’ love for me? Now, that’s great. In fact, it’s perfect. It’s full. It’s utterly complete, not lacking in anything. It’s constant and faithful, never changing and totally dependable.

And, that’s what I want to be thinking about.

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

And, I’m thinking that as I become more conscious of that love, I may just find that my love is becoming more perfect in the process.

So, I’m claiming it.

I’m the mother Jesus loves.

And, I now have a beautiful physical reminder of that personal message delivered just to me. Kim made it for me. I printed it and framed it in a chalkboard frame so I can add some extra messages there if I need some specific reminders that day. She made me another one too. My family may be finding little notes all over the house.

You know, you are the mother Jesus loves too. So, you just let me know if you want some reminders for your loved self too. Kim has volunteered to personalize these images for a donation of $5 or more to The Sparrow Fund. So cool.

Go ahead, claim His love with me. 

And, if you want a little more to read about God’s thoughts about mothers in particular, head over here for a read about 8 mothers from the Bible and how God loved on them.

(p.s. 10 more days to enter the two giveaways I got goin’ on. Please check them out)

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A Giveaway to Fund the Way

We are getting geared up in this house for some training, team building, lecture writing, and clever packing.

No, we’re not headed to college.

One of us is headed to China in about 6 weeks. And, he may not be coming home with a little one this time, but we’re still expecting some great things.

Days will be filled with teaching English and leadership at a university in Baoding, a city northeast of Beijing in Hebei Province, and connecting with students there on a deeper level. Good work will be done, no doubt. And, my husband gets to be a part of that.

What a privilege. For him and for our family.

I’m thrilled–and looking beyond the parenting-4-kids-by-myself-bit–because Kingdom work is a-happening here.

Vacation time is being used. Arrangements are being made. And the cost–a plane ticket (round trip, mind you, thank you very much) for $1,900 (egads!), visa, staying in China for nearly 2 weeks–needs to be paid.

And, since we have asked for funds from every Tom, Dick, and Harriet (Hello? Have we met yet? Let me tell you about what we do…) for The Sparrow Fund, we’re just sorta running with this China trip thing.

So, we thought we’d do something sorta fun to hopefully help out with that a bit. At least, we’re hoping ya’ll (in honor of my Southern friends) think it’s fun and jump right on in.

A big ole Chinese themed giveaway

See all that? 

Three children’s books signed by the authors
a Mei Mei Niu Niu doll, a smaller version of the Niu Niu doll from Jiayin Designs
a handmade Chinese rabbit also from Jiayin Designs
a children’s bracelet featuring a bead for every animal of the Chinese zodiac (also from Jiayin Designs…yes, there’s a theme here)
a Chinese headband from Beijing ready for any princess that will go perfectly with…
the amazing pink twirl skirt
which was donated by a mother of 9 (no typo there) soon to be 10 (she’s got a 13 year old girl in China who will be joining their family soon) who actually sews for the Atlantic City Ballet Company. 
Wow. 
The skirt is 13″ long, and Diane will customize the waist size for whatever little princess will be wearing it.

And, on top of all that, the winner will also receive a custom charm of their choice from Jiayin Designs. Get your child’s name, a special word, mother, grandmother, love, whatever your little heart desires.

Altogether, this giveaway’s value is…oh…about $250. 
(anyone else thinking this is fun?)
To enter, just click on that GIVE button over there on the right.
Giving $10 will get 1 entry for the giveaway;
$20 gets 3 entries;
$30 gets 6 entries;
$50 gets 10 entries.
AND, we’ve got another giveaway too.
A beautiful word art print of Luke 12:6-7 designed specifically for The Sparrow Fund by the warmest hearted Aussie ever.
A sweet Kenyan bracelet of your choice from The Nest
And, a kickin’ tee inspired by 1 Thessalonians 1:3 (read about the inspiration here and see them for sale here)
Enter to win those goodies just by sharing this link. 
Just that simple. Seriously.
Tweet it for an entry. Share it on Facebook for an entry. Blog about it for an entry.
And, leave a separate comment here for each way you share the link so I’ve got a record of it, k?
(note–you can do each of those twice if you’d like as long as they are a few days apart – it’s about getting the word out after all.)
Both giveaways will close up April 15th.
And, feel free to contact me if you want to learn more about Mark’s trip–the organization he’s going with, what all the team is doing, etc. We’re happy to share privately.
Xie Xie, folks. 
Mean it.

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Dear Lydia, two years later

Dear Lydia,
Today is a special day. I know you don’t remember it, but you know it well; you’ve watched the video over and over again, so many times you may think you remember it. 
I remember it very clearly, sweet girl. My heart was beating out of my chest as we crossed that street and entered a cold office building with great expectations of meeting you. I was nervous. I was scared. But, I wanted you so much. I was overwhelmed that day–you took my breath away when you entered the room in your ayi’s arms. And, I am not sure when I actually caught my breath again. 
Two years later, as I consider this day, I find myself thinking more about your experience of it than my own. Your life changed that day, Lydia Mei. You were the child God had called us to adopt into our family, the one we had planned for and dreamed about for years. But, I recognize that there is more to today.
You are young now, only 3 years old. Your days are filled with jumping, dancing, climbing, falling down, and laughing, playing with your brothers and sister, testing boundaries, and learning about how things work and why things are the way they are. We talk about China and what makes us different and what makes us the same. But, right now, you don’t care much about it. 
As time goes on, we will keep on talking about China and showing you pictures and dreaming aloud because I want you to know that when you do care about it, I’m here. When you have questions that are hard to ask and maybe even harder to answer, I’m here. I will be honest with you as I’m able, and I’ll be quiet and simply be with you when no words seem right. 
Two years ago today, we held you for the first time and started to get to know you as our beloved daughter. But, you were already a precious treasure before we met you, before we even knew your face. You are His masterpiece, Lydia, from the very beginning.
With a full heart,
Mama

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