My Overthinking

Philly Area mom, Life forever changed by adoption

Stories {Jiayin Giveaway}

As I remembered our story and the day we saw our daughter’s face for the first time, I invited other mamas to do a little bit of their own sharing. I wanted to hear the stories behind their own Jiayin charms. Twelve ladies shared, and each one was so fun to read.

The story of Karleigh Mei who visits her name charm in her special China box and dreams of how she’ll wear it one day. The story of a mama who is embracing the story God has given her while she prays for the desire of her heart. The story of a mama who has gifted charms and been given a charm and has a very neat reason to want another one. The story of a mama’s journey to becoming a mama.

These stories required reinforcements. There was no way I’d choose. Both of my reinforcements individually told me this particular story moved them to tears.

Here it is. Susannah’s story of the gift she gave her mother on New Year’s Day. The perfect gift for this special mother who will one day soon have a very special grandchild.

______________________________

You know when you want to find the perfect gift to make the recipient know how special they are, well I found the perfect gift for the perfect person!  My mother is an incredibly special person to me, beyond words special to me.  We have a bond, like no other, and not a day goes by when I don’t call my mom to see how she is and just to hear her voice.  I love her so much, not only because she is my mom, but because she is the strongest woman of God I know!  She has a love for the Lord and an unshakable form of faith that few have.  I aspire to be the faithful servant of the Lord she is, what an inspiration!

My mom means so much to me and we have grown closer with each passing year. The last five years we have formed a bond so tight, it’s unbreakable.  She has provided much comfort and words of wisdom when I would call each month with a tearful broken heart as my dream of motherhood was not fulfilled.  She would encourage me and hold me tight when another friend or family member was having a baby and I was on years of trying with no results.  My mom would cry with me as I would ask “why” and she would respond “I don’t know, but God is faithful” and whisper prayers into my ear to comfort me.  My mom kept her emotions in check, at times, when I knew she wanted to be sobbing deep tears of sorrow with me , but knew she couldn’t if she wanted to help me stay in faith.  What a strong, loving mom I have! I have to say through all the pain, disappointments and tears, my mother never wavered in her faith and confessions that I would be a mother….at times she had to stand in the gap for me and lead me through dark places…she never gave up…I never gave up because of her encouragement.

When the Lord called AJ and I to adopt, I knew I wanted to honor my mother becoming a grandmother again in a very special way.  Although adoption is not the most traditional way of becoming a grandmother, I wanted her to have best, most memorable experience possible!  I wanted to honor her being a grandmother in any way I could and the way she deserves. When I came across this delicate charm, I knew this needed to be around my mother’s neck.

This beautiful charm means “maternal grandmother” and is pronounced Lao Lao.  It’s a perfect piece to give to a woman so worthy of the title Grandmother.  The moment I gave this charm to my mom on New Years Day, the joy that exuded from everyone in the room was overwhelming.  Most everyone was crying and my mom was moved deeply.  It was such incredible moment to honor a woman who has given so much to so many people and never expects anything in return.  It makes my heart happy that I can give my mother something she can carry with her everyday so that she knows how loved she is and what an amazing grandmother she will be to our children.  One day, when my children go barreling into her house, calling her name, she’ll know their love was with her before she could see them, touch them or whisper “I love you” in their ears!

______________________________

Susannah has won a custom charm, chain, and drop pearl for herself. And, she’s also won a custom charm, chain, and drop pearl to give away to another waiting mama who is in the middle of another beautiful story no doubt. 

Can’t wait to hear the rest of their stories, can you?

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What It Means to You {Jiayin Designs Contest}

They’re pretty, really really pretty. The charms, the dolls, the pearls, the handmade beads. They’re all really neat. And, I love being the first to admire them when the box with Chinese characters all over it arrives at my door.

But, that’s not why I do it. 
It’s the stories I get to hear that makes me willing to keep at it to keep Jiayin Designs going. The story of a foster mom who cried when she received her charm from the family adopting the child she cared for. The story of the husband who bought his wife who has been waiting to be a mama for so long a charm for Mother’s Day in anticipation of great things. The story of a big sister or a grandmother who learned about the new little one joining their family with the gift of a charm. 
Add to those stories the stories of the Chinese artists who laugh with joy every time they get a new order, so excited to have a way to provide for their families. And, the stories of provision for IECS staff through the profits from these sales. 
Yeah, that’s why I do it. Makes the little effort I put into it totally worth while. 
This month is a celebration in our story–in just a couple weeks, we will remember the day 3 years ago that we saw our daughter’s face for the first time. A couple weeks after that is when my mother gave me my first charm with my daughter’s Chinese name, a charm I wore everyday thereafter until we came home from China in our arms. 
In celebration of our story, I want to celebrate your stories.
I want to hear what your Jiayin charm means to you. Share the significance it has been to you or your family in a blog post, making sure to give the link to Jiayin Designs’ website (www.jiayindesigns.com) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/jiayindesigns). Then, come back here before January 27th and share the link to the post below so we can all see it. I’ll check out every post and bring in some story-sharing experts (aka my mom and sisters most likely who wouldn’t be entering) to help me choose one blogger who particularly moved us through words and maybe even pictures who will win a custom charm of his or her choice, chain, and pearl (a total value of $80) AND a custom charm, chain, and pearl to give away to someone waiting for their story to begin–any mama waiting to bring their little one home (a total value of $160). 
I can’t wait to read your stories! 

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For the love of aprons and charms {Scarlet Threads meets Jiayin}

When we were waiting (and waiting and waiting) to find out what little Chinese girlie God had for us, I became a bit of a blog stalker to a handful of adoption related blogs (any of you types out there?)

One that I stalked daily was Carrie’s. She was no adoptive mama – she had the unique privilege of caring for a bunch of Chinese girlies and guys until they would meet their mamas and families. How cool is that? The significance of being a part of that redemptive work – it’s awesome in the true sense of the word. And, she brought it all to life in her words.

Carrie’s stateside now but still bringing it in her words as a mommy of a toddler in TX. But, part of her heart still lives in Beijing. So, she did something about that (and you know I like when women do something about whatever it is their heart is broken for). She and her husband started up this ‘lil thing they named Scarlet Threads, a fair trade online store through which they could help the women who lived around them in Beijing who had proven themselves gifted seamstresses to provide for their families.

I’ve got a couple aprons from them. I’ve given gifts of aprons from them. I’ve got a purse and some girly dresses from them too. And, I love knowing where they all came from and imagining the talented and beautiful hands that created them.

Carrie featured Jiayin over on Scarlet Thread’s site today – go check it out.

Make sure you read to the bottom (especially if you are in the market for a Chinese character charm). I threw in a little bonus for her readers (as she did for you too — enter code JIAYIN01 at Scarlet Threads for 20% your purchase).

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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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