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My Overthinking

Philly Area mom, Life forever changed by adoption

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Day 1 {every part}

10.24.16

Body tracing. I’d say it was a hit. I was a hot sweaty mess, but it was a hit.

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We had a few who hesitated and who were content to mostly just observe…or have the freedom to observe themselves.

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Some kids just wanted to be traced, giggling the whole time as we glided a marker around their frames, trying to lift their heads mid-trace to sneak a peek before it was complete. That was enough. Coloring and cutting were overrated.

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Others could handle a bit more and wanted to roll out the paper, trace their bodies, and get a bit creative with color and scissors. One gave himself tiger pets when he was done. And, another may have made himself into some Japanese comic strip character I never heard of.

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And, then there was one, one who took it all very seriously. He added eyes and a mouth and hair. He colored in clothes and shoes and teeny triangle fingers and toes. With every part he completed, he called one of the Měiguó rén over to admire it. When he couldn’t think of anything else to add, he managed to come up with one more thing.

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…which left us in a bit of a quandary.

Do we cut out around his boy parts or dis-man-tle him?

Our translator giggled as I told her to tell him we were going to cut off that part. She giggled as she told him. He didn’t giggle. But, he did accept it like a man.

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Clearly.

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Posted by Kelly the Overthinker
Filed Under: China, Orphans, The Sparrow Fund

Day 1 {rolling with it}

10.24.16

It’s Oh Happy Day Day!

And, yeah. It’s China. Surprise!…as in expect the unexpected…pretty much every time. And, Oh Happy Day Day here today was no different.

A tour in the morning. Yup, we expected that. Got to see the foster apartments. Got to see the music room. Got to see the computer lab with maybe 20 computers that all had been donated. Got to see the infirmary. Got to see rehab rooms. And, got to see the baby rooms…and the surprises began.

They used to be organized by age into four neat and tidy rooms. But, nope. They seem to have home bases by age but the kids are moving around from room to room constantly. And, the kindergarten class which used to be where all the kids aged 4-8 spent their day no longer exists. So, kids are mixed into the baby rooms and in other places…not totally sure where. Because, yeah, it’s China and things change fast and for unexplained reasons. I’m sure there are reasons, but none that I was told despite my asking in about 5 different ways.

We rolled with the punches, going into different rooms of children, trying to be flexible and move around as groups of children moved. And, then we came back from our lunch break.

It was time for the art class. I was told we’d have about 25 kids for an hour. Perfect. We had supplies for 25 children with a few extra just in case some ayis wanted to join us (or our translator). When we walked into the room, those 25 kids were actually 45 kids and after a hot mess of an hour, we were told that they wanted us to teach them for three hours.

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It was wild and chaotic. Most of them had a ball. We somehow managed to stretch out those paper rolls that I had calculated for 25 kids to fit all 45 like loaves and fishes. And, we earned a good night’s sleep.

Last night, I prepped the team with a smile: I’ve done so much to help you know what to expect but now I’m just going to let you experience it and be open to whatever tomorrow brings. What I didn’t know was that I needed those words myself.

So, yeah, the class needs to be 25 kids, Miss Director. Yeah, it does, she noticed that herself. Tomorrow. Maybe. We’ll see. Because, I’m just going to roll with it. We all are.

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Posted by Kelly the Overthinker
Filed Under: China, Orphans, Uncategorized

Beyond Folded Hands {guided prayer kit}

8.29.16

I’m not an artist. I’m better with words. At least, that’s what I’ve always believed, that’s what I’ve always told myself. I feel at home with a pen in my hand. It’s familiar and comfortable. I know what to do with it, and I am confident that the ink on the page will eventually produce something I can be content with. But, a paintbrush, not all that different in size and shape from my pen, feels utterly foreign and somehow makes me feel like a child again. That’s how this project started.

There’s no technically correct art. No syntax, grammar, logic, spelling. No thesis statement or 5 paragraphs. Art is free expression, spontaneous and authentic expression. Perhaps that freedom is what unnerves me. I prefer rules and order. But when I embrace that freedom, I am able to see things that all my rules and definition block out. I am able to pay attention to things that are often silenced.

Last spring, I started talking to Erin Leigh. I asked her to help me. I asked her to help me discover how I could use artistic expression that I knew made me weak to engage with God in new ways. I wanted to learn how to pray beyond folded hands and closed eyes. It was risky and scary, but I loved it. It was good, and I wanted to share it and bring others with me.

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Months later, Creative Conversations With the Creator is the result, and I couldn’t be more excited to introduce it to you. It’s a kit that comes with an 8-page guidebook and everything you need to complete the various activities in the guide, including a quality watercolor palette and brush, pens, practice sheets, watercolor paper, a photograph focal point, and beautiful artwork by Erin Leigh created exclusively for this kit. Using the pieces included, you are invited to learn new ways to engage with God and put them into practice through projects that build on each other to bring the fatherless to the Father. Included is even an opportunity to return a piece to us to be handed as a gift to a child in China who waits. I’m kind of on the edge of my seat to see what arrives at our door to take with us in October.

Valued at approximately $50, we are making it available for those who make a suggested donation of at least $45 to The Sparrow Fund. If you are local and would like to pick up your kit, the suggested donation is $35. Donations beyond the cost of producing the kits will be used to fund orphan care initiatives in China. Get your kit now while supplies last HERE. We are so excited to link arms with you as we go deeper together.

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Posted by Kelly the Overthinker
Filed Under: Orphans, The Sparrow Fund

OH HAPPY DAY {shirts}

8.14.16

I couldn’t be more excited about the newest Sparrow Fund shirt design.

It’s the softest, most comfortable shirt ever and it’s inspired by this guy.

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He came here with only a few English words (“hell0,” “fine, thank you.”). On his first trip to church on his first Sunday here, he heard the song “Happy Day.” He started singing parts of the chorus later that day. Within days, he was singing the entire song…all. the. time. Every time we got in the car, “Happy Day?” he’d request it played…on repeat.

He sang the words as did his buddy who quickly caught onto the fun of it. Now, we get to wear the words.

It just makes me happy.
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 All proceeds from sales of this shirt go towards funding the orphan care initiatives of The Sparrow Fund (orphanage trips, supplies and gifts, new programs, good stuff for kids who need advocates).

Details:

Shirts come in adult and youth sizes. The adult shirts are my favorite shirt ever— a super, super soft tri-blend. The youth sizes are a cotton/poly blend that is really comfy for even the most sensitive kiddos. Adult sizes come in heather grey, denim blue, or teal. Youth sizes come in heather grey, denim blue, or bright pink.

How to get some for yourself:

  • Complete the short form HERE with your name, mailing address, how many shirts you want in what sizes/colors, and all that good stuff.
  • Pay for them ($20 per shirt plus shipping) via sending money to mraudenbush@sparrow-fund.org through your PayPal account (FYI – it’s the account for The Sparrow Fund, not a personal account…promise) or by donating via clicking the donate button on The Sparrow Fund website (www.sparrow-fund.org).
  • Share, tweet, and text using hashtag #ohhappyday to help us spread the word about these super cute first day of school or birthday or adoption day or casual Friday shirts (this one is optional, of course, but most appreciated).

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Posted by Kelly the Overthinker
Filed Under: M.Y., Orphans, The Sparrow Fund

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