My Overthinking

Philly Area mom, Life forever changed by adoption

twelve2 for The Sparrow Fund {giveaway}

twelve2 is an idea, not a company. It’s the idea that we can not be of this world, that we don’t conform to the patterns set before us in culture, but continually transform our minds.

It’s all about Romans 12:2…

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

twelve2 giveaway 2

Dana, the heart and hands behind twelve2, lives this out by donating all the profits from the shop to adoptions and missionaries around the world. Yes, all. And, this month, she’s partnering with The Sparrow Fund to give them 10% of her sales this month along with our other partners. This is her ministry, her act of worship through the work of her hands.

In her words…

My husband and I began considering adoption just months after we were married. We were starting the process and God had other plans for us—I got pregnant! We now have two biological kids, but our heart for adoption is still very much alive. Since we are not pursuing an adoption of our own at this time, we want to support those who are in anyway we can. We have two neighbors currently in the adoption process and strive to help them in any way possible, donating items for their garage sales, praying for and encouraging them, and getting excited over all the little milestones along the way. We cannot wait for our kids to play alongside these children from Bulgaria and Ethiopia! twelve2 was opened solely for the purpose of supporting families when they bring their kids home. From the profits of the shop, I make personalized items for each of the families in our church.

twelve2 collage

Wanna buy one of everything? I do. Lydia needs that shirt but with China on it and a little matching skirt. Love it. 

Just to spread the word and bless someone big, she’s giving away a $25 gift certificate for her shop here so you can pick out anything your little heart desires.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Echoes of Mercy for The Sparrow Fund {Giveaway}

This was going to be a quick first giveaway post from one of our partners to Build the Nest this month. But, it turned out not so quick. My attempt at surfing Mandie Joy’s Etsy store to grab some images to share here to show you her work became a long visit because I simply couldn’t stop looking at every. single. listing. I’ll share a few images here but know that I’m not happy about only sharing a few and that I’m insisting you check them all out for yourself (though plan on it not being a short visit).

seeing joy prints

 

This is just a collection of some of the beauty.

seeing joy memory verse cards

 

You can order a set of memory verse cards for your kids…or you.

seeing joy jesus storybook bible

And, quite possibly my favorite because I so love The Jesus Storybook Bible. I think I’d like to wallpaper my house with these prints. Can I do that?

What makes Mandie Joy’s store unique is that she’s a single woman whose heart has been broken for what breaks His. For the past 7 years, she has committed herself to fostering children who have experienced overwhelming brokenness. Her Etsy store income allows her to take some time away from her career as a professional photographer when she gets a new foster child in her care.

This month, she’s committing 10% of all her Etsy sales to The Sparrow Fund along with the other partners to support adoptive families all over—a commitment I’m obviously pretty excited to share. But, I’m also simply excited to share her store with you regardless because the store (and Mandie Joy) is amazing.

Here’s your chance to get a jump start on your Echoes of Mercy print collection. I’m hosting a giveaway here for 2 winners who can each choose a print of their choice. Perfect.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Build the Nest

I’m such a numbers girl. Give me percentages, and I start tracking. These particular numbers stuck with me. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services reported that 30% of all Americans reported having seriously considered adopting at some point in their lives. Yet, only 2% actually adopt. That means that of those who say they’ve seriously considered adopting, 14 out of 15 don’t ever do it.

Why not? It’s daunting—the financial cost, the impact this child will have on your family, the overwhelming number of unknowns. It’s no easy thing. We get that.

As we walked that road ourselves and alongside other families, we saw a need. That 2% of families who were taking that leap of faith to bring a child into their family through adoption—they needed more support. So, we took the leap of faith ourselves to do whatever we could to do just that.

Build the Nest for The Sparrow FundTwo years ago, we started The Sparrow Fund to give grants to families specifically for the purpose of family support through programs around the country that provide preadoption support and counsel, on-call support for families while they travel across the world to meet their children and bring them home, and support once they are home to help both the parents, new son or daughter, and family as a whole become a family.

Recognizing more need, we added programs to encourage and support families from those waiting to meet their children to those who have been home for years. We’ve helped families learn about the unique needs of children who have been adopted in the classroom and how to use correction as a vehicle of connection with their children in a way that is sensitive to them and their histories. And, this past February, we put on a weekend retreat for couples (Together Called) to be reminded of their calling as parents and refreshed to continue serving their children. When registration opened nearly 5 months before the event, it sold out in 16 hours. The need is undeniable.

We’re not interested in growing the number of families adopting; that’s not our focus. Rather, our focus is on pouring into that 2% who are adopting; we want to love and serve them and do whatever we can to make the daunting a little less daunting. And, maybe, just maybe, as the daunting becomes less daunting and the support available becomes more readily available, we’ll see more of those families who have seriously considered adopting say, “maybe we can do this afterall.”

Today starts an important month around here. A whole bunch of folks are coming alongside of us, saying, “Yes, we support adoptive families and the work of The Sparrow Fund to pour into them. And, we want to help.” This May, in our third annual fundraiser, about 50 businesses have made a commitment to help us build the nest so that we can help others as they build their nests. In addition to event sponsors who have donated set amounts to get that nest going, these business partners have made the commitment to give 10% of their total sales throughout the month of May to The Sparrow Fund so that we can do what we do. Isn’t that incredible?

That’s where you come in. We need you to start clicking and start shopping—check these places out.  Shopping purposefully is pretty fun—and makes shopping totally justifiable, by the way. Let’s work together to make that 10% something crazy big.

{p.s. you may want to subscribe to blog posts via email because I’m going to be hosting some awesome giveaways from a handful of these places this month just to make the month even more fun.}

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Sponsors for Building the Nest

To get the nest started…

Sparrow Sponsors

Trades of Hope

Trades of Hope empowers women to create sustainable businesses worldwide. Their desire is for women worldwide to realize their potential as world changers, business owners, dream creators, and heroes of their own stories. A perfect supporter to build the nest for The Sparrow Fund.

Norman L. Graham, Inc.

Norman L. Graham, Inc. is a premier builder of custom homes and additions in South Central Pennsylvania. From design to construction, every Norman L. Graham project is built with care and careful attention to detail. What better partner to build the nest than a company who is all about nest building.

Other Sponsors

If you would like your store or business to be a part of this May fundraising event, please contact Kelly at The Sparrow Fund to be added to this post and future posts as part of this effort.

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My Adoption Treasury

I’ve been, oh, just a tad bit busy this week with Mark being a rock star on the other side of the world. But, I haven’t forgotten about Building the Nest this month.

I’ve received some fun packages in the mail this week with a few things I ordered–Ashlyn is super in love with her flip flop ribbon belt from Chesapeake Ribbons and her ponytail holders from Between the Buttons. My cards from Red Letter Ink are here, and I can’t wait to use them for some special families. And, I’m eagerly anticipating a fun package from Red Pajamas which will include that awesome tie for my homeboy Drew-man.

Many of the partners this May have a connection to adoption. And, some of them sell adoption related products or photograph adoptive families in particular. Since many of you reading these words are sorta into adoption too, I thought I’d share some of my favorites I’ve found as I’ve surfed through our partners’ sites.

It may be more closely associated with adoptions from China, but the red thread story is one that touches all adoptive families. Jaye’s Red Thread art at Thirteenth Story is so unique and simply sweet. You can even order notecards that come with bright red envelopes–which would make great adoption announcements or congrats cards. 
(sigh) A beautiful image of family as a little sister arrives home from China captured by Donna Page Photography, one of our photographer partners based out of the Atlanta area.
I guess what I like about this piece from Peace of Mind is that it sort of looks like a stork and just seems perfect for the waiting mommy to where as she endures perhaps a very long paper pregnancy.
Maybe you prefer a more obvious adoption themed accessory from Peace of Mind like this one–“You were born not under my heart but in it.” 
So love this picture and the moment captured in it. Laureen Burke is one of our photographer partners in sunny Florida. And, she’s an adoptive mama herself. 
The first time I saw this at Agape Love Boutique, my heart took pause. It struck me as the perfect gift to give a birth mother. Just perfect. Read more about it here. 
Brother and sister captured by Cydil, a beautiful spirit and sweet friend, really couldn’t be much sweeter. And, she can work that lens like nobody’s business. Near Kentucky? Book her soon before she heads to the mission field in Albania, people. 
If you’ve noticed that I’ve been stalking the images over at Red Letter Ink, here’s some more reasons why. Her African adoption print, her China adoption print, her Korea adoption print, and her miracle print. And, guess what? In honor of her twin brother and his wife who are in the process of bringing home adopted child #3, Aimee is donating 25% of her sales to The Sparrow Fund this month. Sweet.
Can I come over to your house, Karin? She’s the mother of TEN children and still manages to have a successful photography business in MA and do super fun things with her girls like Chinese tea parties in the backyard. I seriously need to be schooled by her.
This is such a neat idea. At Marvielles Jewelry, you can choose your necklace or bracelet and then customize it with charms to tell your story. Each charm can symbolize something significant in your adoption journey. I bet children would love seeing their mama wear this and talking about each charm. And, it would be a great mother-child activity to sit and design it together.

Maybe you saw that I included this book, A Family for Eve,  in my reviews of adoption related children’s books. Since then, I actually got to meet Kristan the author who just exudes a big big heart. Love that. Go check out her book.

Jillian is fundraising for their Russian adoption with t-shirt sales in addition to her jewelry sales at Embody Jewelry. It Takes a Village is so cute. And, for Russian adoptive families, this Russian love shirt is a must have.

(keep your eyes open, Jillian is a contributor on WAGI tomorrow)
Sharla is one experienced mom (she needs just a few more paper dolls on this book cover if it’s gonna look like her family of 9). She wrote this little handy book called Shield: A Framework of Self-Care for Foster and Adoptive Families–60 pages, totally readable, good reminders and hints for families from someone who knows. My favorite quote from it? 

This time will not last forever. Give yourself permission to get through it without doing everything perfectly. Allow yourself grace and give the same to your spouse.

Word. You can download it for only $5.99 from Amazon or download the pdf here for the same price. Sharla is giving 50% of all sales this month to The Sparrow Fund.

Julie from Lifeverse has a great store with images so uniquely her own. Her huge heart for adoption led her to create some pretty special art for adoptive families or people who have a passion for orphan care, and they are selling like hotcakes.

Wouldn’t this be a neat gift? The missing piece from Junk Posse with the words “I found you.” Take it as the words of a mother to her child or of the child to his or her mother. Either way, love the message that we fit together just perfectly and belong together. She’s got loads of adoption related, gotta-get-me-some pieces at her store too. 
Crystal at The Canvas Heart is so talented. Her art and her use of Amheric are perfect for families with children from Ethiopia. Or, you can have her leave off the Amheric–that’s what I’d do with this piece below. I am so attracted to world maps lately (ooo…there’s us! there’s China!). This one with the Scripture verse is going on my “please, pretty please order something like this for me someday!” list.

I’ve got a charm like this with Lydia’s hometown and where we were when we met her. I love mine. Visit Never Too Far to order one for yourself. It’s such a great way to celebrate your family’s story.
My cheerleader and friend Kimmi at Hermia’s Wishes created this printable with The Sparrow Fund in mind. Please check out her store, she’s giving ALL of her profits (yes, 100%) this month to The Sparrow Fund. I kid you not when I tell you that her designs make me want to throw a party just so I can send out some of her invites. I’m particularly partial to the firefly jar one presently–oh, those thank you cards are so stinkin’ cute. 
Now, go shop in peace.

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