My Overthinking

Philly Area mom, Life forever changed by adoption

Beyond Orphan Sunday

Orphan Sunday, recognized in thousands of churches across the country, was last week. Churchgoers across the country heard perhaps for the first time about the orphan crisis, about God’s heart for the orphan.

My husband had the privilege of being one of the people who got to share that day. He was invited to preach at our church on Sunday…and preach he did. He joked at the start about getting permission to preach twice as long since church had been cancelled the week before due to a power outage. Good thing he did an awesome job because the crowd may have grown restless at minute 50 otherwise.

If you want to hear Mark teach about adoption and how it is the heart of the gospel–click on over here. Would love to hear your thoughts about it–but know that I’m my husband’s biggest fan and think he pretty much rocks…because he so does. Just keep that in mind.

As we get ready for another weekend and move past November 6th, think about how you might be able to get involved in caring for orphans beyond Orphan Sunday. There are some great resources here including links to ways you can grow a heart for orphans in your kids.

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{Advocating} Ready to Belong

I never was an advocator. 
I didn’t think it worked, honestly. No one is going to randomly see a picture of a child and then decide to go through the lengthy, costly, and at times grizzly process to make that child their own. If a family is going to adopt, they are going to depend on their agency to find their child for them.
But, then, I had the joy of seeing this family find their daughter. And, I got to see this family find their son. In September, I helped a young man to advocate for a little man and watched a family fall in love.
And, I realized somewhere along the way that advocating for children does work. 
When you advocate for a child, God invites you into His work of forming families.
And, that’s pretty darn awesome.
So, here we go again, joining Him in His work, trusting that He already knows the family of this little guy and has already been actively preparing them for their son.
I helped Micah write this post to advocate for her young friend in China. 
Read, share, become a part of God’s work.
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In July, my husband and I traveled to China to serve with Bring Me Hope to provide a camp experience for orphans. As prepared as you think you are with packing lists and immunizations and reading all you can beforehand, I wasn’t at all prepared for what God had in store for me.

My heart was broken. My heart was broken over each one of those children He brought to that camp. Broken.

During my second week in Xi’an, I had the tremendous blessing of spending 5 days with a sweet little boy [David]. I’ll never forget seeing him for the first time. He immediately reached for my hand and held it with a tight grip. He didn’t want to let me go. I noticed right away that he had some difficulty walking. And, as we walked to the edge of the room together to play, I became more aware of the trouble he had walking. As I walked easily in stride, I could feel his body shift from left to right as we walked hand in hand. He has scoliosis. I imagine that the years of little to no treatment and no family to help him get what he needs has contributed to his rhythmic gait.

But, his spirit is so bright. He smiled up at me with an excited grin and told our translator he was excited to come to camp. Every few minutes, he would shift his entire body to turn and smile at my translator and me. I remember consciously noticing what a beautiful smile he had.

That first afternoon, we played badminton until we could play no more. And, he laughed and played with joy despite the differences in how God formed his shape.

When I think about [David], I think first of his sweet spirit–quick to listen, eager to try new things and soak every bit out of camp that he could. He had two close buddies at camp. They all lived in the orphanage together, and it was very easy to tell that they were best buds, three peas in a pod. It occurred to me that they were probably the closest thing he has to a family, the closest thing he has experienced of what it feels like to belong.

He was made paper ready, made available for international adoption when he was only 5 years old.

He just turned 8.

And, for nearly 3 years, he has waited, paper ready to be adopted.

[David] seemed most happy when he was beside his two best friends. I couldn’t help but picture him home with a family, HIS family, and how happy he would be, how much potential he has, how much he’d grow and thrive. And, how tightly he’d hold the hand of his mother and father.

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This little boy’s name has been changed for the purpose of advocating. 
Please email me if you are interested in learning more about him. I can send you additional pictures, and I can put you in touch with someone who can send you his full medical file.

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{Purposeful Giveaway} Ribbons for Grace for Clean Water

You need to hear this.

Seriously.

Do I have your attention?

Do you know that lack of clean water kills approximately 9,800 people around the world everyday.

Every. single. day.

Astounding. Frankly, angering.

And, while we are spending $450 billion on Christmas every year. Only $20 billion would solve the clean water crisis around the world.

How’s that to take your breath away.

Charity: Water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. With the current number of drilling rigs they have right now, it will take 14 years to bring 100% of the people living in Northern Ethiopia clean water. With just one more rig, it will only take 10 years. If their current campaign reaches its goal, that number will be cut to 8 years.

Monica was moved to be a part of this effort. To celebrate her 28th birthday, she decided to shift her gifts to help fund this drilling equipment. She set a goal of $1,500 which she then upped to $5,000–she knows something big is happening here.

And, you can be a part of it too.

All proceeds from her Etsy store in November are going towards this effort.

And, I’m a big fan of her Etsy store.

Let me show you why…

When Lydia’s wearing her Ribbons for Grace pants, her backside is just more fun to photograph than her frontside. I’m just saying. 
And, these ruffle pants made from repurposed t-shirts are perfect for skinny little ladies like Lydia. Just perfect.
I’ll take 3 different colors in every size until she’s 12, please.
Want a pair for your little one? I know you do. And, here’s your chance.
Monica is giving away one lil pair of t-shirt ruffle bum pants (newborn-18 mo. size) custom made for your lil one. You are going to love these.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW  


I won’t make you become a bloggy friend, but look over to the right somewhere there and consider joining the party and becoming a follower. But, you can enter even if you aren’t.


Leave a comment here naming your favorite item from Ribbons for Grace. Look around–she’s got some other super cute things there.
For a second entry, give one reason YOU are thankful for clean water.
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That’s all you gotta do to enter.
And, you have until Sunday the 13th at 9pm EST to do it.
I’ll choose a winner using random.org after that.

And, go ahead, go order some stuff from Monica knowing that you are helping her reach her goal and helping fund that rig for families in Northern Ethiopia to have clean water.

Lots more giveaways to go before Christmas. I can’t even keep track of them all. So, put “checking in at www.myoverthinking.com” on your ical.

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{Purposeful Giveaways} Week 1 Winners

Wow.

What a response.

I shouldn’t be all that surprised though. I know I’m not the only one who wants to shop with purpose this Christmas.

Our first giveaway was for adorable American Girl doll clothes AND beautiful photo postcards, both from families fundraising for adoptions. Love them. Wish I could win them myself. But, alas, random.org chose Naddez instead.

Our second giveaway was for handmade cards from Robin of the nonprofit Lefft helping families dealing with childhood cancer. Really sweet cards for an amazing cause. Congrats to Ashley Lou for winning the cards…and for becoming a mommy (her little one from Ethiopia will be home soon!).

Our third giveaway was for sweet earrings from Hannah James–such sweet things and I love how Desiree is using her store. Sara totally deserves to win–she’s soon gonna have another girlie at home to share these earrings with. Don’t forget to go check out Desiree’s auction starting on the 12th—The Nest contributed some goodies to it, so be looking for that!

Thursday’s giveaway was a big one–a fabric covered photo album from Gwyn and Ava Quilted and custom vinyl lettering of your choice from Tawyna M. Designs. 91 comments on that post, people. Wow. But, only one person wins–and the winner may be choosing a photo album with a Chinese theme because her daughter Tahlia will be coming home soon to join their busy house. Congrats, Johanna!

Week 1’s last giveaway was from Chesapeake Ribbons for the adorable hair accessories like the ones we can’t get enough of in my house. Fellow Etsy’er (who you will hear more about soon!) Monica won that one. Enjoy choosing something fun!

Week 1 and 7 ways to shop with purpose. Check.

Lots to come–look for them every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until Christmas week. Don’t miss a single one, alright? And, share the link and spread the word – you can click on this little buttons under this post and so easily share on all your online spaces. Encourage everyone to shop with purpose this season.

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