Like a chicken with my head cut off

Is pretty much how I feel these days!! Wow, since passing court last week, I have been scrambling to get our travel plans locked in, kids ready for school, lining up friends for Caitlin and Reagan to visit to break up the 9 days for my dad, getting donations, making sure I have proper clothing for Sof and Helen now that it's colder and much wetter; I could go on and on. All of this and I am still on cloud nine!!:))))

So our travel plans are we are leaving on August 15 and will return on August 24th at night. Just in time to see the kids off to school on the 25th. Meaning we leave in just 16 days!!!!!! It couldn't be here soon enough for me!

I still don't think it has really hit me for I am still getting to sleep just fine. I am so grateful for all of those who have gone before me and have been so honest in sharing their travel adventures and the realities of the adjustment phase for all members of the family. I know that the real challenge is still ahead of me and that probably when I get home I will look back at the wait as though it was a breeze in comparison to the difficulties that can come when we get home, but I feel at least better prepared to expect a storm!!

I can't wait, I know I will probably have at least 4 months of being in a fog and feeling overwhelmed and wondering "what was I thinking", but the best things in life do not come easily!!

I am Proud to Announce: Helena Karen Mott

Name: Helena Karen Mott

Birthday: July 4, 2006

Birthplace: Shesemene, Ethiopia

I am overcome with joy to be able to announce that Helena is officially ours as we have passed court!!! Our dreams and prayers have come true and I couldn't be happier. What makes this even sweeter, is that all of us in our group passed court together!! Congrats Lisa, Nikko and Theresa!
So I am off to start our travel plans to we can bring them home!!! Looks like we will be traveling the week of August 15- August 24. With the courts closing in just a couple of weeks the airlines are booking up quickly.
Thank you all for your constant support, prayers and encouragement! We are truly so grateful to you all and can't wait to share IN PERSON our newest additions!!

Thank you God for the whisper to Greg and I and the kids to start this journey.

Thank you God for all of those you placed in our path along the way to get us here.

Thank you God for this wonderful gift and honor of these two beautiful children.

Thank you God for the women who loved them enough to carry them and bring them into this world so that we may be privileged to love them and raise them.

Thank you God for giving us the strength and encouragement for this day becoming a reality.

Thank you God for all the friendships that we have made along the way.

Thank you God!!!

Roller Coasters

I think God let me know early yesterday morning, when I opened my bible straight to Job. Unfortunately once again it appears we have been cast aside in court. We still have 2 more weeks to the court closes, so I am not giving up yet! Though greatly dissapointed, I am blown away with the compassion and amazing support from my fellow Hope families!! Last night after so many of us old timers received our bad news, several of our Hope families rallied together for a prayer circle. Prayer in unity is a powerful tool!

Yesterday, I was literally on one of life's roller coasters as I took my kids with Renee Garner and her precious 4 to Six Flags for the day. Thank you Renee for being there when I received the news. I am so thankful to have been in a public place with children all around me when I found out we missed out again! The distraction of the park, kids and fellowship really saved me from wallowing in my disappointment. We came home late last night to see everyone's kind posts and prayer rally!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I don't know why this is happening, I am not sure if God is trying to prepare us and make us stronger for the reality of how difficult it will be when we get home or if Satan has gotten his claws into our situation. Either way, there is nothing I can do to change it and so therefore I have decided to totally lift it up to the only one who can- God. I thought I had after our first setbacks with our China adoption and then when we came on to Hope and our hurdles the last few months, but as of yesterday, I think I finally TOTALLY let go.

As so many have said before, this adoption journey is not for the faint of heart. I believe what does not break me only makes me stronger. I am also a fighter, when someone tells me I can't do something or have something it just makes me fight harder for it!! So I am in this battle, standing firm in my conviction, that Helen as well as Fiori, Hermela and Efrata will be ours!!! I think we still have a chance to make it through before the closer, but if it takes until the fall, so be it!! We will all eventually get our children home and victory will be ours!! Embracing our little ones in the decades to come; these obstacles and this horrendous roller coaster will be a distant memory.

I am truly sorry to those of you who did not pass as well yesterday!! There is still a chance and as we can see in this group, a whole lot of HOPE!! Please know you are all in my prayers as well, including little miss Ava (Rebecca keep me posted) and Lisa-Marie. Keep the faith!!

A bible verse that has been coming to mind as well is 1 Peter 1:7;

These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold- and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. And our children will be our finest treasures, they are so worth it!!

Father God today I stand firm in your word, I dress myself in your armor, and sing praises to the heaven for your glory of knowing Helen will be ours!! I give thanks for all that I have and knowing the blessings that are to come. Father, for those who are broken in spirit by these constant setbacks and heart aches, I lift them up to you, may your peace, comfort, hope and the vision of the day we are dancing with our children be upon them. It's in your Holy name I pray, AMEN!!

Looking for a miracle!!!

Unfortunately, all of Hope's court cases including ours for Helena are postponed until next week. It seems as though another large agency's court cases were put on hold a few months ago, while they were being investigated and they have been cleared. Therefore, all their cases are being put through before ours. I am frustrated, confused, angry and saddened by this to say the least. Enough already!!! At this point I think it's going to take a miracle to be able to bring both Sof and Helena home this summer. We will give it another week, but then if we have still not made it through court we will have to make our travel arrangements to just pick up Sof now and then make the second trip in the fall for Helena. Thank you all for your prayers, support, encouragement and friendship!! Nikko, Lisa and Theresa, thank you!!!

On the brighter side, today my friends, blessed me with a wonderful shower. Not only did the warm fellowship with my closest amigas lift my spirits, it also filled my belly full of great food, and blessed us richly with donations and gifts for the orphanage and for Sof and Helena. I am so grateful to have such amazing friends. Thank you Judy for putting it together!!! And thank you all my Fairway Bridge Buddies for coming!!!!
I will be continuing to ask God for a miracle and hope to share good news soon!!!!

POA Problems!! Shim to the Rescue!!

Well it looks as though after another round of failed court cases there is yet another issue, obsticle, in our (and all families with Hope) path. This time it is the Power of Attorney document, but not the families; Hope's POA document.

In order to represent us in court, the attorneys need a power of attorney from the adopting family as well as a power of attorney from the agency's owner, Shimeliss. Shimeliss's PoA expires in July 2008. The court interpreted this as the BEGINNING of July, and Hope interpreted it as the END of July. So the court is requiring a new agency power of attorney (not the adopting family's) before they will sign off on any of Hope's cases.Since providing the court with a new PoA requires that Shimeliss go through the whole authentication process and DHL to Ethiopia (just like each of us did), he doesn't have time to do this or none of us will make it before courts close. Therefore, he is just going to go to Ethiopia and appear in court for each of our cases in person. He is headed to Addis today and will be there until Hope's last court case which takes place on August 4.

I am so thankful to the angels at Hope (Grace, Shim, Rahel) that will stop at nothing to get the job done in order for us to bring our kids home. I am grateful beyond words for their continual sacrafies and committment to us and to the children!! Father God, bless them, keep them safe, sane, healthy and give them the endurance to do your work as you have called them to do!! Put a hedge of protection around them, the children, and all that they do so we may bring our children home!!--Soon, very soon!!!

4th of July Fun!!!

Greg, Mamaw, Aunt Sharon, and Mom at Skip's party Greg and Papaw
Reagan's good side
Reagan and Caitlin having a blast playing in the dirt

Caitlin and Grandma showing off their work of art they painted together.

Grandma, Blake, Reagan and Caitlin hanging out after a week of fun
Reagan and Uncle Skip at Skip's 4th of July party
Reagan and Caitlin poolside fun
Greg, Chris, Blake, Reagan and Caitlin down at the river at Skip's party
Boy was the water low!!!
Blake, Reagan and Caitlin playing games at Skips' party

Blake's slip and slide adventures

Caitlin and cousin Dahna at Skips's party. Unguard!!
Caitlin at our friend Chris Borzych's house speeding down the slip and slide
Fun was had by all that entire 4th of July weekend!! We spent the 4th with our friends the Unsell's and the Borzych's zooming on their slip and slide and hanging out feasting on good food and good fellowship!! Thanks Chris, Sherry, Bryan, Sigrid and family for allowing us to crash the party!!!

The next day was followed by Uncle Skip's 4th of July party out at his ranch. We had a blast from playing in the extremely low and slow moving Guadalope river, catching up with extended family, once again feasting on good food, enjoying music from Dahna and company, running around, playing in dirt and having a grand time. Can't wait for next year when Sof and Helen will be accompaning us. Thanks Uncle Skip and Mary Paz for putting together such a wonderful event!
Thank you Father God for allowing us to live in such a wonderful free country and to be able to enjoy and embrace all the good things in life that you have created for us!!!

"You can call me 9

Reagan has been saying this to just about everyone he meets this last week. I don't think he is excited about being the big "9". I can't believe my sweet little boy is nine today. Good for me he is young at heart still enjoying nothing more than cars, trucks, boats, water and dirt. The more water and dirt the better!! I think he will still like these things when he is 29.

We are so blessed to have so much family in town to celebrate with! We had a grand time with the family celebrating last night. Everyone was here from Grandma Mott, Mamaw, Papaw, Aunt Sharon, Uncle Tye and the rest of our crew. Reagan didn't mind not one little bit that he was going to open his presents a day early since we wanted to celebrate while Grandma was still in town. I think he is enjoying the idea of being able to celebrate on 3 days this week, for we are having his friends over Friday night so they will go and see the movie "Journey to the Center of the Earth".

He has grown up so much both physically and mentally but yet is such a happy go lucky, innocent, tender hearted little boy. I hope he stays like that for a long time. Don't get me wrong, he can also be stubborn, naughty, and defiant. But he gets me every time he giggles or snuggles up and tells me for no reason that he loves me.

Thank you God for blessing me with the miracle of our son Reagan! Everytime he giggles or he showers me with kisses I am reafirmed your presence in our lives. Your light, joy and love shine so brightly through him and I am so grateful. Father God continue to shine upon my dear Reagan and help me to raise this beautiful child of God to be the man you created him to be. It is in your precious and holy name I pray, AMEN!

A New Day, A New Attitude!!

Just look at those faces, how can I not feel blessed!!! They were so funny, they won't up this morning and all came downstairs; took one look at each other and starting laughing; realizing they all are wearing the same color. Do you think we are spending TOO much time together?!

Pretty much yesterday was spent on trying to figure out the what went wrong for the 4 of us (Nikko, Theresa and Lisa and us) who didn't pass court and consoling each other. We came to find out that many from other agencies as well did not pass through either. The MOWA official in ET requested additional documentation on all our cases, and there is no set checklist to ensure you have everything the official will ask for ahead of time. So, the 4 of us all came to agree it could have been worse, we just simply are delayed the gratification for a couple more weeks, we hope!! I am so thankful for all the support, encouragement and laughter that we shared yesterday. I can't wait to see what we are like together when we get to share good news!!!

I figure, God has a good reason for this delay. My father, who I believe is onto something, said that we live in such a immediate gratification world these days, that this lengthly process and delay is a wonderful opportunity to teach our kids about "Good things come to those who wait" idea, perserverance, faith, patience and trusting in the Lord to know and do what is best for us, even when it means we don't get necessarily what we want, when we want it! I realized as well, that how I handled yesterday was how my kids would handle it and I had an opportunity to show them how to handle dissapointment well and set a good example. It was actually easier than I thought and our day ended with new hope and thanksgiving for all that we have in Christ and in each other.

My Lord, My Comfort

After a few good cries, I find myself immersed in the word where I find peace and comfort.

Pslam 5:1-3
Listen to my words, O Lord, five heed to my sighing and groaning. Hear the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to You do I pray. In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare (a prayer) for You and watch and wait (for You speak to my heart).

The Wait Continues... Again

I received news this morning that our court case has been delayed for 16 days. Which means our next court date is possibly July 18. Our coordinator is optomistic. Right now I am so dissapointed I wish I could feel the same but I don't. Maybe in a few days, and after a few good cries I will be. Thank you all for your prayers, it looks like I will need you to keep them coming!!

1 DAY!!!!!! PINS AND NEEDLES.......

I don't think I have ever been this nervous, anxious about anything in my life. I am a serious space cadet at this point. I have been trying to reflect back the last few days thinking of the big moments in my life and recalling my feelings. I think I have never felt quite this way because I have always had an element of control, and in this situation I don't and the fact that I am so far away from Sof and Helen doesn't help. They are my children in my heart. We have all taken them into our hearts and they have already become members of our family that it is hard to think that some judge over in ET to think differently. Not that we wouldn't pass because of our paperwork. The reasons many families have not passed lately is due to power outages (causing delays), missing papers, family member coming to reclaim and changes in the system. I wish I could just close my eyes and this day would be over. Not that I am not grateful for today and having life and my family to spend it with, I am just rattled.
I think I am going to need to get my knee pads out for I will be on my knees in prayer all day! Actually, good for us we are pretty busy with friends, family and the usual daily errands to keep us busy, thankfully!!
Alright, I am feeling a little better now that I have gotten that off my chest. I lift these concerns and feelings up to God for he is the one who is ultimately in control!!

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: the LORD make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.Numbers 6:24-26

7 days But Who's Counting!!!

I feel like a little kid counting down the days on the calendar until Christmas. I am so excited we are down to 7 days until our court date. I am giddy beyond words. It reminds me of the last few weeks of my pregnancies, less the stretch marks and weight gain. My emotions and mind are all over the place. I am not sleeping, my mind is like a tornado of thoughts, things to do, what to bring, visions of our first moments with the Sof and Helen and how to manage 5 kids.
It's funny we have been waiting what seems like forever and yet I am SO unprepared! I am scrambling each day trying to figure out what we need to do in order to get the house ready and yet spend some quality time with Reagan and Caitlin knowing I will be away from them for over a week. Blake is away at Boy scout camp this week. He called yesterday while we were out and left a message saying he was having a great time and not to worry. I miss him terribly. With my emotions being easily rattled these days, I find myself looking to Greg and the kids for my security right now. I believe I am officially in the "nesting phase". And having Blake out of my nest is unsettling to me!
We spent the weekend buying the last furniture items needed for complete both Sof's and Helen's room. I can't wait to fill them with the kids now. It is starting to feel like it's really going to happen. I am praying hard for all to go smoothly on the 2nd or else someone is going to have to pry me from a ledge!
It's funny, yet Greg and I have had 3 children already we feel like first timers. This is a whole new ball game. Our new additions are not babies so right off the bat we have children in motion, speaking a different language, with different habits, schedules, emotional issues we will be faced with. I just want it to go well. I am sure the first months will be survival, I am just hoping and praying Sof and Helen will find happiness, peace, security and love as members of our crazy Mott family.
Our agency's coordinator Grace, and fellow adoptive mother is over in ET right now picking up her son Ateneh, one of Sof's best friends, and spending some time at the orphanages checking on everyone's kids. What a saint she is!! Did I mention she brought her other two daughter's Miranda who is 19(?) and her Addis who is 1 year (she brought her home January from ET). So she is one busy mama. She passed on an update for us stating that Sof loves Helen and constantly runs up to her and hugs her, just as we had prayed! So good news! Thanks Grace for taking the time to share that with us. Not that I will sleep better knowing, but it warms my heart to hear about them.

So, God willing, if we pass court on the 2nd, we will be possibly leaving on July 25. Wow, just 1 month from today. So much to do and so little time!!

Father God, I thank you for this journey, even if it has stressed me out, rattled my nerves, questioned my faith at times, and scattered my brain (what's left of it), I would do it all over again! I am so grateful for all that has come from it as well, our children; new friendships; appreciation for this country that we have been blessed to be born in; for the awareness of this awesome world that you have created filled with different cultures, traditions and lifestyles and yet to know we were all woven from the same thread by you. That no matter where on earth we were born your blood runs through all of us giving us life and making us part of one family!

We have a court date!!!!!!

Tears of joy are streaming down my face as I process the thought that we finally have a court date for our sweet little Helen. It is set for July 2 and so hopefully if all goes well we will be able to travel to ET the first week of August to pick up both Sof and Helen and bring them home!!!!!! Our court date is just 3 weeks away meaning we could be traveling in just 7 weeks. WOW!! I am beyond words with excitement. I feel like singing from the mountain tops!! The last few years have seemed like an eternity, but with this court date brings me hope of our dream finally becoming reality!!
Today, the kids and I will put together packages for Sof and Helen, which a fellow Hope family will so kindly hand deliver to them for us in the next couple of weeks, thanks Lisa! This hopefully being the last of the packages to be sent, praying that the next time we will be the ones to play Santa's helpers delivering packages to kids when we go!
I have layed low posting lately feeling like a bit of a Grinch. Focusing all my efforts the here and now trying not to be so consumed with all that has been going on in ET and not having any control over any of it. Both my heart and mind have been torn between my children here and my children in ET. For those of you who have gone through this process you know what I mean. Just having this court date takes such a load off, knowing the end is in sight. Finally our family will be united together as one!!
So many prayers have been answered in the last few months. We finally received the referral for our little girl, we passed through court for Sof, my dad asked if he could to come to Texas and watch Caitlin and Reagan (THANKS POPS!!!) and now the court date for Helen so we will be able to bring both our son and daughter home this summer before they close the courts.
Father God I am so grateful and so humbled by your goodness. Thank for Father God for bringing this good news to us. I rejoice and give glory to your name!!! I pray you put a hedge of protection around both Sof and Helen, keeping them safe, healthy and happy and for all things to be in order and to go without a hitch on July 2 so we can finally bring the HOME! It's in your precious and holy name I pray, AMEN.

Psalm 145:21
My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; and let all flesh bless (affectionately and gratefully praise) His holy name forever and ever.

A day in the life with the Motts

Well I had hoped to be able to post about a court date, but that is still not the case. I have completely let go and let God to handle that situation. As far as Sofonyas, we have received several pictures and comments from families and our director letting us know that he is happy and healthy. We recently received pictures of Sofonyas and Helen together. Sof looks so happy and they both look healthy. Praising God for that!!

We have been so incredibly busy these last few weeks with end of the year parties, field trips, violin concerts, ballet recitals, swim team practice, boy scouts, cub scouts.... need I say more. Here are a few pictures of all the wonderful activities that we have been so blessed to be a part of.

Blake's Violin Concert: Blake has become such a wonderful violinist!

Caitlin and I at the Zoo, what a fun day that was!!

Reagan's Cub Scout Cross Over Ceremony from Bear to Weblos: That's our boy! Reagan is so excited about being a Webloe.

Caitlin's Pre-school graduation: Yes, I cried!!!

Reagan Field Day Fun: Reagan really got into the running. Just like his mommy!

Swim team practice: Note this is Caitlin's first year and this is a picture of her first time down the entire pool by herself. We are so proud of them all!!

Caitlin's Dance recital called "Nutcracker Party Guests". Too cute!! Thank you Mamaw and Papaw for being such an active part of our lives. It brings all of us so much joy!!

Thank you Father God for giving us healthy bodies, freedom and the means to be able to enjoy all of these blessings. My cup runs over!

VOA News report on Crisis in Ethiopia

Humanitarian agencies are rushing emergency aid to drought-stricken central Ethiopia, where a sudden deterioration in food supplies has led to surge of child mortality. At least 23 children have died at hospitals and emergency feeding centers during the past three weeks, and authorities say countless others have died at home for lack of treatment. In this first of two reports from the hardest-hit area around the town of Shashemene 250 kilometers south of Addis Ababa, VOA's Peter Heinlein reports conditions are expected to worsen over the coming months.
Four out of five children in Ethiopia do not get life-saving health care when they need itIt is bedlam inside a tent on the grounds of the Shashemene hospital. Thirty severely malnourished children, their mothers, and assorted other siblings are scattered over the bare ground, with nothing to do but wait for the next feeding.Three-year-old Chemeni is a tiny wisp of bony flesh with black eyes wide as saucers. Her mother, Buqre Hussein softly strokes Chemeni's face, a younger daughter strapped to her back. She says her children are among the fortunate ones."I am glad my children are recovering,” she said. “And I expect they will recover. I am glad to see this."Every four hours, each child in the tent receives a red cup filled with a high-nutrition supplement known as F-75. But Shashemene's regional health officer, Dr. Abebe Megerso says many more malnourished children are having to be turned away."The supply is not enough because we did not know the problem is this much overwhelming,”said Megerso. “And now as the people with problem are appearing, the supply we have at hand is becoming short, and even now, we do not have F-100 and F-75, particularly F-75 is very scarce now."This makeshift therapeutic feeding center was erected nearly three weeks ago when health officials realized they had an emergency on their hands. Dr. Megerso says regional health officials tried to prepare for the effects of the drought, but could not imagine the shortages, and the flood of malnourished children, would be this bad."It is unusual,” he said “We have never had problem before because this zone is known by surplus production� We are simply admitting the severely malnourished ones, and we are referring the children with high complications to hospital. But we cannot refer all of them to hospital because we can create high overcrowding in hospital and we are not well prepared."Ethiopian officials last month issued an international appeal for enough emergency food aid for two-point-two million people. But U.N. agencies say at least three-point-four-million people, and possibly many more, are already severely affected by the drought. Viviane Van Steirteghem, deputy country director for the U.N. Children's Agency, UNICEF, says tens of thousands of children are in danger of starvation."We estimate now, and this is a best estimate, that 126,000 children over the country are in immediate need of this therapeutic care to avoid mortality,” said Viviane Van Steirteghem.The United States provides the bulk of the food aid to Ethiopia. The U.S. Congress approved an additional $100 million of aid this month, boosting the total for the year to more than $300 million.But the U.N. World Food Program estimates 395,000 metric tons of food will be needed to get through the immediate crisis. That will cost $147 million more than is currently available. The WFP's Lisette Trebbi says the way conditions are deteriorating, the month of June is going to be especially difficult."We have new donations coming in, but it is a question of timing,” said Lisette Trebbi. “And we therefore foresee we will have some shortfalls... during the month of June, which will be a critical month, for the population, because they will still not have recovered, we anticipate the crisis to get worse, so we are taking every measure that we can, we are short and will probably have to prioritize the worst and most affected area."There has been some rain in central Ethiopia in recent weeks; not enough to produce the desperately needed bumper harvest in September, but enough to spark fears of an outbreak of water-borne diseases among a weak and vulnerable population.Officials here are predicting many difficult months ahead.
It's hard for me to fathom things could possibly get any worse for Ethiopia, but sadly they are. And this hits home, the orphanage from which Helen is from is in Sheshamene. She is fortunate for she is now at Hope's Place in Addis Ababa, but there are several children that our agency is processing that are still in an orphanage there. As a mother, this article cuts right to my core, knowing the desperation and heart ache these mothers must feel, not being able to provide the basic life needs for their children. The weight of the helplessness they must bare.
For those who are interested in donating here is a link to a very good, reputable organization. Our agency is also collecting contributions/donations from anyone who would like to directly assist please let me know.
http://www.oxfamamerica.org/whatwedo/where_we_work/hornofafrica/news_publications/drought-in-ethiopia-brings-hardship
Father, as I have prayed so many times before please watch over these people, protect them, shelter them, provide for them. You hear their cries, be near them and draw them close to you, so they may find refuge, comfort, hope and peace in your love. I pray for rain to pour down upon them bringing forth life to the people and their land. It's in your mighty name I pray. Amen.

Getting to know Sofonyas and Helen

It's funny to me, to think we have these two kids that we know absolutely nothing about. Yesterday, I received some fun information on both Helen and Sof. A family that just returned from picking up their 2 kids blessed all of us waiting families with pictures, videos and tidbits of personal info on our kids. God bless you Kim and Katie!! We received the most precious pictures of Helen smiling with her curly hair and long eye lashes, they made me cry. And our Sof well we are learning he is quite the extravert, we have a video of him telling a story to his fellow friends. We have no idea what he is saying but he is so animated and enthuistic you can't help but to be captivated.
We have been told Helen is loved by all at the orphanage. She is especially close to two caregivers who are equally as fond of her. This is important to know because it shows she attaches well and that will be key to her transition to us. She is said to be a very happy, sweet, shy (to adults) little girl, who rarely cries. Now that she is able to be downstairs with the big kids she is coming out of her shell and it shows in her pictures. We are told she plays and shares toys with others well. That is definitely good to know. Especially with all the kids in this house, she will have to share and get along with others!!
Sof, we think he might be a comedian when he gets older. He definitely likes to be the center of attention and make others laugh. In every picture he is with his buddies, hamming it up for the camera. We are told he is an engergic, friendly, lovable, sweet boy who loves playing with other kids. We have learned he loves to eat pasta, cookies, ice cream, biscuts, cake and chips and his favorite colors are blue, red and black. I am starting to think he and Reagan really are twins. They should get along great with having so much in common. He is in the first grade and his favorite subjects are math, spoken English, and environment. He also says he is an othordox, which translates to an Orthodox Christian. We have just met an Ethiopian family who attend a Greek Orthodox Church here is good ole SA. We look forward to attending there from time to time to share that part of his heritage with him.
It blesses us so much to hear the stories about our kids and see the pictures of them. It makes us feel a little closer to them even though we are continents apart.
Sadly, we have been told that Sof is starting to get sad because he wants his family to come and get him. He doesn't understand the wait. I don't blame him, it makes me sad as well. We never imagined it he would have to wait so long. So we are trying to figure out at this point if Greg should make a trip over there in the next couple of weeks to pick him up since we are still without a court date for Helen which means a minimum of 11+ weeks. This will be an unexpected big challenge for us, but we will do what ever is best for him.
Father God I pray you bring clarity, guidance, direction and to put everything in order so we may make the right decision for our family. I thank you Father for you always fill our needs and I trust in what you will have us do will be the best for our family. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen!!

Singing Praises-Announcing the Referral of our littlest Angel!!!

I have so much inner excitement, I can't even begin to type. We are thrilled, no beyond thrilled to announce that we have accepted the referral for our little girl. Her name is Helen, which means beautiful light. She is!! We don't have the exacts on her yet, as we have not received her profile yet, but here is what we know. She is approximately 15 months to 2 years old and is from a province called Shashemene, which is the true origin of Regae music. She is half Ethiopian, half French Dutch and is absolutely precious with the most beautfiul brown curly hair. I can't wait to get my hands on it and play with it!!! We are told she is shy but very sweet. Because she is not officially ours until we make it through court we can not post her picture yet, but here is a sneak peak of her gorgeous locks!! We can't wait for Sof to hear the great news so he will have time to hang out with his little sister until we can get there. We are hoping to get a court date soon and so we believe if all goes well, Greg, Blake and I will travel over to ET some time in July to bring both Sof and Helen home. To think our journey to complete our family is almost reality overwhelmes me with joy!! Father God your plans and timing in our life is so much sweeter than I could have ever imagined. Singing praises and glory to you don't even begin to express my joy and gratitude for all the blessings you have bestowed upon our family!

Psalm 9: 1-2

I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth all marvelous works and wonderful deeds! I will rejoice in You and be in high spirits; I will sing praise to Your name O Most High!!

Angels All Around

Today marked the 1 year anniversary of my mother's passing. I have spent a lot of time this last year allowing myself to miss her and to try to stay connected to her by wearing her favorite perfumes, cooking dishes that she taught me and sharing many memories of her with our kids. Today I choose to be quiet, for the first time in my life, about what the day marked and what was on my heart.
Once again, I am blown away by the awareness that children have of the spiritual world that is all around us. Caitlin and I were on our way to the grocery store today when we she said "Mommy, look at the sky (the sun was shining through the clouds creating beautiful rays) it's your mommies spirit shining down from heaven." Usually we say when we see the sun's rays that they are God's light shining down on us, but today out of the blue with no guidance she uttered differently. It was all I could do not to wreck the car by the tears that were now streaming down my face, all I could say is "yes baby you are so right!"
It is such a gift to be able to see your creations with such simplicity and clarity; the ongoing connection between heaven and earth. I believe it is always there, it's just as adults we get so near sighted to this world. Father God, I am so grateful for the gift of your constant connection that is with us. To know that heaven and earth are not so far apart. Help us to see this world through children's eyes and help us to shed our focus from ourselves to the beauty that is all around us. I do believe there are angels among us and all around us. I look at 4 each morning as I look into my childrens' eyes.

Our 15th Wedding Anniversary!!!

WOOHOO!!! Praising God, today is our 15th Wedding Anniversary!!! Wow, 15 years and I am proud to say still going strong!! When I think of who we were 15 years ago, as we exchanged our vows, so new to love and what the committment of marriage stands for, I feel so much more committed today. I understand just what those vows truly signify. We have been tested by the fires many times during the last 15 years and have witnessed many who have held on during difficult times, to those who let their marriages go. We have defintely been on our knees at times praying for God's guidance to keep us together. With every challenge that has come our way we have been blessed to have the union of our marriage made stronger and been brought closer as one; as God intended us to be. Every day I wake up giving thanks to the Lord for creating such an amazing man of God to share my life with. The depth of my love, respect and admiration for this man I call my husband grows more profoundly with each year.
As a father tending to skinned knees, sharing manly tasks with the boys like cutting down branches, dancing with our little girl, praising them for jobs well done, to disciplining them so they may become great godly driven adults. I am awed!!!
As a husband, he is my best friend, my trusted spiritual council, my playmate, my partner; tender, respectful, competitive, and affectionate. He takes my breath away!!!
As the man of God, he is solid in his foundation, quiet in his faith, patient and deliberate in his action, calm in the storm, and walks humbly yet boldly in the ways of the Lord. That is what makes him our family's spiratual leader!!
By knowing and experiencing my love with Greg, it is knowing and experiencing the love of our Lord. I am so grateful for the 15 years we have shared as one and I look forward to sharing many more 15 year celebrations with him. I rejoice in our union and I pray for God's hand to continue to bind our relationship bringing us closer to eachother and to the one who has created us.

Calling All Prayer Warriors!! Help!!!

So here is the latest status of our referral.... We have been matched but..... due to some major power outages in Addis Ababa they can't e-mail, copy, scan, etc the file to our coordinator here in the states. We were told the power outages are from the fact there are 4 milion people in the city using approx. 200 mega watts of electricty and the power company can only handle 150 mega watts. In the past they have used hydro power to compensate, but unfortunately Ethiopia has been experiencing a major drought this year. Meaning no power for most of the city. They estimate this to be the case for up to 2-3 months. Yikes!! What this means for us, I am not sure other than at this point we can't even get the profile and therefore can't truly receive a referral, therefore we can't accept a referral to set up court dates etc. This has got me a little rattled to say the least. I feel the enemy is coming down strong! Yes it makes me sad we cannot get a referral until whenever, but more the fact that all those children and people that live in the city, what it means for them to be without power for the next two months. To think of peoples livelihoods being affected, the safety, the health of the children knowing that they will have to stay in the orphanages even longer. We are so fortunate to live in a country that does not have to worry about those type of things happening. Can you imagine. I understand that Ethiopia is not as dependant on electricity as we are, but I am sure this will negatively affect many.
So I am calling out to all my prayer warriors out there to help me pray for Ethiopia, the situation, the people and for there to be a quick resolution to the power outages. For God to put a hedge of protection over all of his people during this difficult time watching over them keeping them safe and making sure their needs are met. That our Mighty Heavenly Father who can do anything, will, for the sake of what is right and good for his people!! I pray that all those affected find refuge, shelter, peace and comfort in our Lord. Trusting that he is with them and will not forsake them! Father God, I lift this prayer up to you, in Jesus name, Amen!!
Psalm 91: 1-4
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare of the Lord. He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from the fatal plaque. he will shield you with his wings. He will shelter you with his feathers. His faithfulness promises are your armor and protection.
Verse 11: For He will give His angels charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways.

Another Round Please!!

Yesterday, Greg and I had a date lunch giving us the one on one time which we were long overdue for! In addition, to the lunch we shared at LaFogada (one of our favorite local mexican restaurants), we went down to the local health and immunization department to take our first round of shots for when we travel this summer. Not the shots, or liquid lunches we used to take over lunch together in our earlier, pre-kid days. Boy are we growing up! So after much discussion with the man at the desk, we decided to get the full gammit: Meningococcal, Hep A&B, Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis), Yellow Fever, and Typhoid. Little did I know that the man at the desk was also the "shot Nazi". I think he was a bit of a masochist for he was way too happy at the idea of us getting them all. And seem to enjoy even more the grimaces of pain on our faces as he administered each one. By far, that was the most expensive round of shots we have ever shared. But then again, tomorrow will be our 15th anniversary, so guess what we got for eachother. Yes shots, and we will have the great pleasure of sharing a second round in a month. It is still under debate which type of shots are more painful. Oh the things we do for love!

Be Still and Know..........

Still no word on the referral for our little girl, so we are taking refuge in the fact we must be still and know that God is in control!! Knowing and trusting his plans and timing for our family are glorious and beyond our own!!

Phillipians 4:6
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

Feathers From Heaven

As my father put it so well, it was as if the angels were having a pillow fight up in heaven. I never knew snow could be so amazingly soft. So radically different than the sleet/hail we call snow here in good ole SA. Sad to say the kids first words were "mommy, the snow here doesn't hurt like at home. It feels and looks like feathers!"

Ahhhh 6 days in Keystone!!! Another milestone for the Mott clan. We have talked about taking the kids skiing for the last few years but never actually did it. So with the coming of our 2 additions this summer we felt we better squeeze it in before then.

This was definitely one of the best vacations we have ever taken as a family. The weather was perfect; sunny in the day and snowing at night. The ski conditions were perfect; nice and powdery, especially since it was at the end of the season. The ski runs were just right; not too hard and not too easy, and the condo was a dream.

From making hundreds of snow angels and snow balls to skiing the whole day we all had a blast. Never once hearing "this stinks, I wonna go home". We skied all 4 days. The kids did amazing considering they had never even seen snow before! Just 1 day of lessons and they were off flying, literally flying down the mountain. Reagan our extreme jumper, Blake our mogle maniac and Caitlin the queen of speed.

It was an absolute perfect vacation. If I had put in my request to God I could not have asked for more. I am always astounded at God's goodness and blessings in our lives. We defintely have our struggles like everyone, but sometimes it seems too good to be true. And I know it all comes from Him! This was one of those life moments you just want to freeze time and yet we have so much more to look forward to. Father, I am so grateful for your constant love, wonders, and experiences that you have created and planned out for us to enjoy. I embrace them fully and am constant certainty that it all comes from you. Thank you father God for watching over us, keeping us safe and in the moment allowing us to be in sync to experience such a wonderous time together!!

Psalm 23:5 "My cup overflows with blessings"

Psalm 145:2 "Every day (with new reasons) will I bless You (affectionately and gratefully praise You); yes, I will praise Your name forever and ever."- Amen!!!

So here is what we know of about our precious son Sofonyas

Just look at that face~ Is it not beautiful. His smile which we are told he is always wearing, is as bright as the sun. What a smile to wake up to. I can't wait!!!

Name: Sofonyas Melesse (first and middle name, last name .....) Mott

Date of Birth: November 12, 1999

Place of Birth: Tigray Province

Siblings: None known

Tigray is a northern province in Ethiopia. Total population is 4.3mil, 81.2% are rural inhabitants. 95% are Orthodox Christians. It is a beautiful mountainous terrain occupied mostly by herders.

We also just learned that he doesn't know as much English as we originally thought, not that that matters. Blake, Reagan and Caitlin are eager to teach him, so I am sure he will learn quickly. We even purchased a software program "Amharic the EZ way", to learn his native tongue as well. It's not an easy language, but we are having fun trying!!

Galations 5:6 "For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, who we are. What is important is faith expressing itself in love."

Hallelujah!! It is official Sofonyas is now a Mott!!!

We are so exicted beyond words to be able to share him. So here is a picture of our precious new addition Sofonyas Mott............

Praise God!!! Father God thank you for giving us this amazing opportunity and blessing of being able to bring this beautiful child of God into our family. Please watch over him and keep him safe and filled with our love and yours until the day we bring him home.

Ephesians 1:5 "His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure."

Longest Pregnancy Ever!!!!

Seriously this has been the longest pregancy ever, for me at least! I am now beyond 650+ days into our adoption journey. This idea got me to thinking, is it really the longest pregnancy? So here is what goofy me found out: The average gestation period:

Humans: 266 days (longest known is 306 days)
Chimpanzees, Apes: 260 days
Dogs: 60 days
Rabbits: 33 days
Mice: 20 days
Cows: 284 days
Whale: 517 days
Elephants: 645 days

Therefore, I am correct that I have reached beyond even the elephants painfully impressive pregancy of 645 days, making this the longest pregancy ever!!