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My Overthinking

Philly Area mom, Life forever changed by adoption

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Junk Posse for The Sparrow Fund

5.10.11

Passion with a purpose. 
That’s how designer Tracy Hanson describes her business, Junk Posse. 
Love that.
James 1:27 pendant
Both her parents were artists–she still uses her dad’s jewelry tools and treasures her mom’s can of paint brushes today. So, as a mom to 4 kiddos–some adopted and some not–and as a Grandy to 4 amazing little ones–some adopted and some not–her passion for creating naturally became the collection of treasures we can find from her, beautiful pieces to celebrate adoption and parenting.
Ends of the Earth pendant
She creates each piece by hand in her studio in a teeny town in Colorado, supporting many nonprofits and families who are adopting. I’m sure you have seen her pieces in online auctions and fundraisers.

Tracy told me:

Adoption really is my heart whether you are bringing home a baby from your town or a teenager from across the world. I am so inspired by the many people I meet who choose to make the difference in a child’s life…One Matters—it really does.

This month she’s giving 10% of all her sales not already designated as fundraisers for other purposes to The Sparrow Fund. Please go visit her shop and admire the amazing pieces she makes. “Convo” her and thank her for using her passion for adoption in a way that blesses so many and thank her for supporting the work of The Sparrow Fund.

Please go see all the shops supporting The Sparrow Fund this month by clicking on the button below


TSF


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Posted by Kelly the Overthinker
Filed Under: The Sparrow Fund May drive

Baby Bobo for The Sparrow Fund

5.9.11

Baby Bobo has a special place in my heart. That’s partly because Lydia’s Baby Bobo Loves Blanket has a special place in her heart.

Light pink on one side and giraffe print on the other = something very nice to snuggle with.

Ashley surprised me with it as a gift right before we traveled, remembering that my grandmother collected giraffe things and that seeing giraffes always reminded me of her. And, it has her initials on it–which made me cry when I opened that package up and saw her initials on that blanket and knew that she’d be snuggling it soon.

Ah, sweet memories.

Ashley started Baby Bobo after her first daughter was born. She made a blanket for her out of this incredibly soft fabric–seriously soft, like you’ve-never-felt-something-so-soft kind of soft. When her baby fell in love with it, Ashley started giving them as gifts. With encouragement from her friends and family, she decided to start selling them as a way to help them save for their adoption. She began to pray about how Baby Bobo could be used to help their family as well as others, and another dream was born. She would use Baby Bobo to help with the expense of adopting their daughter from China and, once their adoption was complete, she would help others with their adoptions and help organizations that work with orphans. That is now the mission of Baby Bobo. Can I just say how thrilling it is to hear about how people are serving God and answering His call in James 1:27 right where they are, using their gifts and talents?

Doesn’t that just thrill you and challenge you?

Baby Bobo, the softest, custom, unique baby items, is now available in 4 local stores. Each item is created specifically for the person who ordered it. Each is handmade. Each is prayed over. And, each helps another family adopt a child who needs a home. Doesn’t get any better than that.

The May fundraising drive for The Sparrow Fund was Ashley idea. She dreams big. And, I’m so glad she does. So, head on over to her shop and think about who in your life needs a new soft whooby. And, go over to her blog or her facebook page and thank her for serving on the board of The Sparrow Fund, for dreaming big, and for supporting adoptive families in all the ways she does. Oh, and tell her to give Mickey a kiss for me. She’s in Disney World this week. Lucky girl.

Please go see all the shops supporting The Sparrow Fund this month by clicking on the button below

TSF

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Posted by Kelly the Overthinker
Filed Under: The Sparrow Fund May drive

Shaklee for The Sparrow Fund

5.8.11

For over 50 years, generations of families have counted on Shaklee to do what no other company can do quite like them—make products that are naturally safe AND proven effective. Every product that goes into every Shaklee bottle is designed to improve health, work without compromise, and be gentle on the planet.

Word.

Kim Kane was one of those kids whose family raised her using Shaklee. And, now she’s raising her family–of 5 boys (Happy Mother’s Day to her!)–on it as well. And, she totally stands by it and couldn’t feel better about it from the perspectives of health, finances, and simple well-being. One of the things she considers most important is stewardship of what falls to her–her 5 boys, her husband, her health, her home, and her community. All these things, she believes, are served by her involvement in Shaklee. And, she loves being able to help others do the same as she helps them work towards better health for themselves and their families.

Kim contacted me with such enthusiasm and excitement to be involved with The Sparrow Fund. She told me:

My heart grows all the time for the least and the neediest and the most unloved. That is often the most beautiful love, to love those the world casts away and for these littles, literally.

Whether you want to live “greener” or need nutritional support, are looking for skin care products free from scary ingredients or want to lose a few pounds, Kim can help you. And, this month she’s giving 10% of all her sales to The Sparrow Fund. AND, if you are a new customer and note The Sparrow Fund in the “contact me” field of your order, she will give 20% of your order to The Sparrow Fund.

Awesome. Buy great products for your family; help a family bring their child home. Win, Win.

Please go see all the shops supporting The Sparrow Fund this month by clicking on the button below


TSF


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Posted by Kelly the Overthinker
Filed Under: The Sparrow Fund May drive

Celebrating Mother’s Day

5.7.11

It was a good question to help our kids feel loved. I get that.

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

I had about 30 seconds until I was up. I knew how I wanted to answer for each one of my kids. But, I wasn’t sure if I should “break the rules.” See, I have a fundamental issue with that question.

“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. And, this is Lydia, and I love her because she is mine.”

And, isn’t that how I should have answered it for all of them.

I recognize the need for my children to be affirmed—probably because I recognize my own need to be affirmed. Can you sense my husband’s head nodding through cyberspace? I have been known to ask, “Do you love me?” “Yes, I love you.” “But, what do you love about me?” It sounds self-centered—but he knows what I mean. I just want those words of affirmation.

But, what we were asked to answer 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 her warmth or how she lights up a room. I don’t.

I love them because I’ve been 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 easier than other times. But, regardless, I’m still called to love.

And, when I step back to consider my calling as a mother, I can’t help but think about God’s love for me as my heavenly Father. He doesn’t love me because of anything I do well. He doesn’t love me because I love Him. He loves me because I am His. Period. How would He have completed that sentence about me?

This Mother’s Day, I don’t want to celebrate me. (Yes, dear husband, despite how I’ve declared the entire weekend, Mother’s Day Weekend, I’m being honest.) Instead, I’m celebrating my calling, my calling to love these 4 children who call me Mama. I know I don’t always fulfill that calling well. In fact, I very often fail and feel unequipped and unable to do it well. But, I’m thankful that I have the best model of motherhood before me—a love that loves even when I turn away, a love that pursues me and advocates for me, a love that does not change when I change, and a love that whispers in my ear, “I love you because you are mine.”

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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Posted by Kelly the Overthinker
Filed Under: Kelly, words about faith

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I overthink everything. This blog is a prime example. Make yourself a cup of coffee and sit down for a read. Actually, make that a pot of coffee. There’s a lot of overthinking here.

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