The Day I Met My Sister

Well, this is a first for my blog, but today we have a guest blogger.  My eight year-old daughter recently had to write a memoir for school, and she chose to write about when Ellie came home from Ethiopia.  I thought it was pretty sweet, and figured many of you might enjoy hearing a child's perspective of part of our story.  I received her permission, so without further ado...

The Day I Met My Sister
By Payton Baker

I'll never forget the day I met my sister.  She was adopted from Ethiopia.  I waited almost three years to meet her, and on July 4th, 2013, I finally got to.  My family and I were overjoyed.

Before we brought Ellie home, we adopted a baby girl named Addie, but she didn't get to come home.  We felt sad that we lost Addie, but we got to adopt Ellie instead.  I was so glad we didn't lose Ellie too.

I didn't go to Ethiopia.  I got to stay at my Mimi and Grandaddy's house.  I missed my parents a lot while they were gone, but I had a lot of fun. Some mornings, Mimi fixed me delicious eggs for breakfast.  I got to play with the Barbies that belonged to my mom and Aunt Angie when they were my age.  I got to sleep on the big bed in the yellow playroom.

One day, Mimi and I got out two big poster boards and some colorful markers so I could make posters for my parents and sister.  Other people in my family made posters too.

I couldn't wait until the day my parents and sister would be home.  I waited and waited and waited some more.  Finally the day came, so Mimi, Grandaddy, and I hopped in the car and drove to the airport.

My enormous family was at the airport!  My cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and friends were all there.

Then I saw my parents and sister and ran super speedy like a rocket.  I hugged my parents really tight.  My mom cried with tears of joy.  My sister was so tiny and cute.  I kissed her on the cheek.  A photographer was at the airport to take pictures so we could remember that day.  Today we have the pictures on the wall, and I love to look at them.

I still have the bad memories of losing Addie, but I have the good memories of meeting Ellie.  That was one of the best day of my life which I will never forget.  My family and I loved meeting Ellie and becoming her family.

Yahweh Remembers

Hi Again, Friends!

My last post wasn’t super personal, but mostly just about some of the amazing products we have here at Addie’s Good(s).  I feel like we need to update you a bit on the Baker Family, too, though. 

If you’re reading this blog, there’s a good chance you know some or most of our story, but just in case, let me back up a bit from today in order to better fill you in on what’s going on now.

Billy and I started the adoption process in fall of 2010.  Two years later, in August of 2012, we were overjoyed to be matched with a precious Ethiopian baby girl named Mihret.  We named her Addie and were over-the-moon excited and in love with this child.  We met her in October 2012, and she legally became ours.  Because Ethiopian International adoption is a two trip process, we had to leave her there and wait for the US Embassy to clear us to bring her home.  We received copies of her birth certificate and passport with “William and Jodi Baker” listed as mother and father.   Her room was painted bright pink and decorated with a giant “A” for Addie.  Christmas presents were stacked under the tree for her.  She was completely covered in prayer by us and our then four-year-old daughter, Payton. 

Fast forward through some unpleasant drama and heartache, and on December 31^st, 2012, the Ethiopian court revoked the adoption, and placed her in the custody of an Ethiopian man claiming to be her biological father.  I won’t go in to all the details of why, but just know that although we are absolutely for first families staying together whenever possible (the primary purpose of Addie’s Good(s) is to keep first families together), this particular situation was an exception, and we were devastated at the loss of our daughter and the future that appeared to await her.  We grieved deeply, and wept many, many tears for our Addie.

A mere 18 days after we lost our girl, we sat and prayed the Lord would open our hearts to another child when the time came- and the time quickly.  That day, January 18^th, 2013, we received pictures of another precious girl named Yetnayet, (whom we named Ellie).  We were still painfully mourning our loss, but able to rejoice over this new little life the Lord was entrusting to us.  We began the almost unbearable wait to hear when we would get the opportunity to meet our baby and go to court to again make the adoption legal. 

On April 3^rd, 2013, I woke up with a feeling of despair and heartache, as Addie was turning one year old on this very day.  I hated that I wasn’t celebrating with her, and I hated not knowing if anyone was celebrating with her.  I was prepared for a pretty terrible day, just wanting to get it over with.  God remembered me, though.  He remembered Addie.  He gave us a reason to celebrate- On this very day, we received the call we’d been waiting for, with news of a court/travel date set for Ellie. On a day I was dreading, the Lord blessed us with knowing we were going back to our beloved Ethiopia to meet our daughter.  Ellie came home on July 4^th, 2013, with much rejoicing and many happy, relief-filled tears.  It had been such a long, hard battle to become a family of four, and we were beyond thankful the Lord had blessed us with this child. 

A mere nine months later, Addie’s second birthday rolled around, and once again, I was prepared to be filled sadness at another birthday come and gone without her.   But God- God remembered again.  On April 3^rd, 2014, Addie’s 2^nd birthday, we were surprised (and thrilled) to find out I was pregnant with our third child, a son we named Cole.

Two years later, some of the pain has eased, but we still miss our Addie.  I still find myself searching for her on sponsorship websites- but only finish with tears at realizing I have no idea what she looks like past her baby years.  Her birthday still stings as it reminds us that more time has passed since we last heard her laugh and saw her big, wide eyes.  I don’t know why I was shocked, but this year, on April 4^th, 2016 (the day after Addie’s 4^th birthday), God remembered us- remembered  her- again.  It was on this day that we were surprised again with a positive pregnancy test.  I am four months pregnant with another sweet gift from God, and we are rejoicing that the Lord has chosen to bless us again. 

And today, we found out that this sweet gift is a boy!!!! We are so excited to tell you that Knox Zechariah Baker will be born in early December.   The girls are so happy, and Cole has yet to express his opinion, but we feel certain he will be glad to have a brother with whom he can grow up. 

His first name, Knox, has no particular meaning- we just liked it.  All of our kiddos' middle names have significance, though, and this baby’s is no exception.  Zechariah means “Yahweh Remembers.”  And He does, friends.  He remembers His children, and He is kind and good.  It's as if He keeps saying, "Just in case you were wondering, I haven't forgotten your pain.  I haven't forgotten your girl- my girl- in Ethiopia.  I never will."  We are beside ourselves with thankfulness that He has remembered us and blessed us again.

When we lost Addie, I remember being worried that Payton’s faith would be negatively impacted.  She had prayed for months for her sister, and the Lord had allowed her to be taken from us.   Billy and I, though grieving, could recognize that God’s ways are not our ways, and that He is sovereign and good, and trustworthy- but could Payton’s young faith survive this loss? We pray constantly that our children will trust the Lord, but sometimes I fail at trusting Him with them- but y'all, He remembers Payton, too.

To tell Payton’s grandparents that I was pregnant, she and I sat and made a book together.  It said, “On April 3^rd, 2012, Addie was born.  On April 3^rd, 2013, we received a court date for Ellie’s adoption.  On April 3^rd, 2014, we found out Mommy was pregnant with Cole.  On April 4^th 2016, we found out…. There’s going to be another Baker baby!!!”  I told Payton I was going to put a scripture at the end and she said, “I think it should say something about blessing, because He just keeps blessing us.” 

I can not tell you what that did for this mama’s heart- to know that she recognizes God’s hand on our family, and that she sees His goodness to us- to know that she sees that only God could orchestrate those dates.   I didn’t use a verse with “blessing,” but she did approve of what I chose-

“You did it:  You changed wild lament into whirling dance;

You ripped off my black mourning band

And decked me with wildflowers.

I’m about to burst with song;

I cant keep quiet about you.

God, my God, I can’t thank you enough.”

Psalm 30:11-12

Gift Ideas for Little Ones

Hello Friends!

It’s been a bit since I have posted, but we are alive and well!  Addie’s Good(s) opened on May 14^th, and we have been overwhelmed by how blessed the shop has been and by how we have been blessed through it.  I’m sitting in the shop now, on a quiet rainy Wednesday, thinking about all that we have seen God do, and imagining all He might do in the future.  

Today, I thought I’d take a minute and share some gift ideas for kiddos.  Our family has already had a summer of baby showers and birthday parties, and I feel certain we’re not the only ones.  Addie’s Good(s) is a fantastic place to pick up a unique gift for a child, and here are a few of the items we currently have available for kiddos…

Headbands!!! This one is from Haiti, produced by a group that focuses on employing Haitians with disabilities.  Having a disability is viewed by many Haitians as being cursed by God.  This group is changing the story for so many men and women- and offering new, abundant life.

Adorable baby/toddler dresses handmade by mamas in Ghana.

Miniature raffia animals in a colorful woven pouch.  These are handmade in Madagascar by a group that employs 20 families!

Hand made bears and bunnies from India!  These are absolutely adorable and have great long legs and arms perfect for tiny hands to grasp. In a country with over 14 million people living in slavery, these provided dignified employment.

More bunnies!!! These are in pajamas, and so stinking cute.  Handmade in Burundi, a small war-torn country in east Africa.

Diaper bags!!! These great bags have pockets on the sides perfect for bottles, and lots of pockets on the inside, too.  These are made from recycled saris in India by men and women who have been rescued from the sex trade.

Who needs Taggies when you can buy this adorable dinosaur perfect for your little guy.  These are handmade in Zambia by a group that seeks to empower women through employment and education.

Know a little girl who loves American Girl dolls?? She will love this doll sized apron & one for herself to match... and one for Mommy to match, too!!!  These are handmade in China by women who are able to provide with dignity for their families through the work this group offers. 

What preschool/toddler girl doesn't love little purses??? Forget Gymboree, Gap, and so forth- these were made in villages in Andhra Pradesh, south India, by men and women who received a fair wage for the work in order to take care of their families. 

Hair bows and headbands handwoven in Guatemala by women who are given dignified employment through the group that produces them.  These super cute hair accessories are such vibrant colors and look good with just about anything.  My girls love to wear these!

Yep, my little guy loves to wear them, too.  These hair bows double as bowties, and are just too cute for words.

Baby/toddler quilt made in China by women able to provide for their families through the work that this group offers.  This is great for a coverlet for a toddler bed, or a fantastic quilt to put down on the floor for baby to play on.  Beautiful colors and so very well made.

These items would be loved by most any child or new momma.  There are other great options in store, too- jewelry, coin purses, owl pillows, and a variety of one-of-a-kind handmade products.  When you purchase a gift here, you are not only blessing the child who receives it, but the child of the man or woman who crafted it, as well.  A fun present for your kiddo-hope for another kiddo’s mama. 

Hope to see you in the shop soon!!!