My Overthinking

Philly Area mom, Life forever changed by adoption

Jiayin Designs–New Things!

The fun of being involved with Jiayin Designs is getting to see and even help choose what will go on the site. I just updated the site with some new things and they are so neat.

Just look at this adorable Tiger change purse. Look at all that hand stitching. Hours and hours are spent on these little things. A grandmother from Jiangsu Province hand makes the tiger stuff. Love them–such rich tradition and symbolism.
Look at these shoes. The character on the tiger head means “king.” 

We even had the lady make the tiger heads separate to put on hair clippies. Ashlyn wore hers to Chinese class last week. The teacher thought it was great. I might try to see if we can get these put on headbands if anyone is interested.

We also added this headband of plum blossoms. Did you know that plum blossoms are a symbol in China for overcoming adversity? Plum blossoms are the first blossom in spring and often blossom when there is still frost and even snow. Pretty neat.

The custom charms are the best seller from the site by far. But, all these new things are pretty cool. I may be ordering some things myself for Christmas gifts this year!

And, go check out the Rippee’s silent auction fundraisers starting today and running for a few weeks. There is a Jiayin custom charm there on auction to help them raise money for their adoption. Go bid for a good cause!

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Sunday Snapshot {Learning}

Last night, after the kids were in bed, I spent hours on the computer jumping from etsy to different sites, here and there. I was feeling a need to create. I had a sudden and irresistible urge to make something.

I found this to make out of an old button-down shirt.

and this adorable little lace overlay skirt. So simple to make and super cute for the girls.
And this to snaz up an old tee
and this I thought Ashlyn would like to look sort of “fairyish”

After hours of surfing, then I was in the basement digging through boxes to see if I had any old lace I could use. Then, I was in the attic digging through some old material to see if I could find anything exciting.

You know why?

Because I can’t keep still.

Here I am with 4 kids with still not much above a whisper for a voice. It will be 2 weeks on Tuesday since I could speak normally. God is reminding me of His voice in the silence through Ashlyn’s devotional (God and Me! Devotions for Girls Ages 6-9 – for those of you who have emailed me asking for the title. It’s really really good. I strongly recommend it). I said I was listening to Him that day. But, I didn’t. I just kept on doing–after all, there were dishes to clean, laundry to fold, emails to write, editing to do, articles for We Are Grafted In to post, books to read, Bible Study homework to do. I thought I could listen while I did all that stuff; but, I didn’t. So, then He shows me a little more clearly since I didn’t seem to get it the first time. My Bible Study homework was about being silent before God (Connecting with God: A Spiritual Formation Guide (Renovare Spiritual Formation Guides) – way different than anything I’ve done before, really out of the box. It’s been interesting to do though. I’m enjoying the challenge it gives me). The exercise for the week was to spend 10 minutes a day still before God.

So, have I been practicing that which I’ve been writing about?

No.

Apparently, I need practice in order to practice stillness.

And, I need God’s grace.

I feel such a need to do. I can barely sit still with the kids to just talk or play without 100 other things going through my head. I have to be productive. I have to do something.

But, see, I guess that’s what God is teaching me. Being still before Him and doing nothing are two very different things. It’s okay to “waste” time by simply being with Him–not reading, not doing my Bible Study homework, not getting something off my to-do list checked off.

I love all those cute things I found to make. And, I’m totally willing to take any unwanted solid tees or extra lace or old button-down shirts off your hands. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to create. And, I think it will be time well spent with Ashlyn to make some of that stuff with her and for her.

But, next time I feel the Spirit’s urging to leave the computer alone or put the books down or leave the toys out and, instead, go be, I really should listen. Because my need for accomplishment and a sense of resolution is not greater than my need for God. And, what good is a perfectly clean house with all my to-do items checked off if I have no closeness with the One who gave me all those things.

I’m learning. It’s slow, and it’s not easy. And, it’s humbling. And, maybe I’m so hard headed that it is going to take weeks of being unable to speak in order to really hear.

Ni Hao Y'all

Check this link out to see how other bloggers are spending their Sundays.

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I am not even kidding


And, this is what I opened up my Bible Study book to today. 
Really. Not even kidding.
The whole chapter is about learning how to be silent before God. The exercise is to spend 10 minutes a day in silence, doing nothing, thinking about nothing, just listening. They suggest then carrying that over into your daily life so that so “say only what is needed in conversation” and “continually monitor how you feel about ‘wasting’ time for God and refraining from talking.” It talks about the significance of silence and how we are in a culture that values noise over silence.
I liked this particular paragraph from Thomas Merton from The Climate of Monastic Prayer:

“The true contemplative is not one who prepares his mind for a particular message that he wants or expects to hear, but is one who remains empty because he knows that he can never expect to anticipate the words that will transform his darkness into light. He does not even anticipate a special kind of transformation. He does not demand light instead of darkness. He waits on the Word of God in silence, and, when he is ‘answered,’ it is not so much by a word that bursts into his silence. It is by his silence itself, suddenly, inexplicably revealing itself to him as a word of great power, full of the voice of God.”
May I stay still in my silence to hear that voice. It’s so hard for me to do that–stillness. I’ve got the silence part–though not by choice. But, the stillness part….very very hard for me. There just always seems to be the tyranny of the urgent, something always needing my attention, my thoughts, my effort. Clearly though, the Lord is desiring to speak to me. My voice is quiet. Now, I must quiet my heart, quiet my spirit so that I can hear Him.

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Thursday’s Things to Praise For

So, if you have been following my blog, you know what to pray for. I decided to switch it up a bit this week since I feel a need to get my focus off my glaring requests and onto some thankfulness.

  1. I am praising God today for a godly husband who is willing to do pretty much everything around here since I am unable to handle things as I normally do. He has been pretty incredible these last 9 days. 
  2. I am praising God that Lydia’s cardiology appointment earlier this week was uneventful and that the doctor doesn’t want to see her for another year. Wow. We thought we’d be going every 6 months for a few years. 
  3. I am praising God that it seems like Lydia’s hearing is restored! Just this last week, her vocabulary has grown a lot. She has been trying new words and mimicking so much more. (Anyone else find it a bit ironic that Lydia’s hearing is repaired just as my voice disappears?)
  4. I am praising God for our church and the new pastor we just hired (starting November 1st, officially) and for the next phase of ministry we will get to be a part of there. 
  5. I am praising God for the people He put around us to support us–the meals that have been made (one was just dropped off by Julie a couple hours ago without warning—love that), the prayers offered, the emails checking in with me. I am so thankful for these relationships.
  6. I am praising God that He is present, that He is active. I am praising Him for claiming me as His own. I am praising Him for being at work all around me and in me. I am praising Him for speaking softly to me when I should be smacked pretty hard. And, I am praising Him for speaking louder when I need it. I am praising Him for giving me a “time out” of sorts and the freedom to stop and think.

Click here to learn more about Thursday’s Things to Pray For. Pray for me–or give praise with me, for these things I list. And, leave me a comment to let me know you did if you don’t mind. It would be a great encouragement. And, I invite you to do the same on your blog.


raudenbushfamily

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