The Mott Family

The internet is really on the move today, so I am taking advantage and posting as much as I can. 

When I first arrived, the girls were excited to show me their beds.  While they were at Kid’s Care Orphanage, Fikirte had shown me her twin-sized top bunk that she shared with two other girls.  It was nice to see that at the transition home each child has his or her own bed.  And I loved to see that Fikirte had spelled out the name Mott with stickers. 

Fikirte's top bunk

Konjit's top bunk

We have been told again and again that Fikirte is an artist.  One of the first things she showed me was her art tablet.  She photographed a few of them.  I am hopeful that we will get to keep the tablet.  It was so fun to see that she had drawn everything from butterflies to Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus to Moses and the 10 Commandments to a ballerina.  I cannot wait until she sees the art supplies we have waiting for her at home.  She may never leave the toy room!

Konjit and Karson are going to get along famously.  She loves to wear accessories and dances and twirls whenever possible.  Konjit’s health continues to improve, and she was all smiles today.  This picture is pre-appendicitis.

striking a pose

It now seems like a distant memory that Konjit was in the hospital, because she is doing so well.  On my third trip to visit the girls, Konjit took my hand and led me to the clinic that is part of the transition home.  The doctor informed me that they believed she was experiencing an appendicitis.  It was at that point that I knew exactly why I had come to Ethiopia early.  The hospital experience may receive a post all it’s own, but for now I’ll just share what was handed to the nanny, Muluwork, that was with me the night of Konjit’s surgery.

I have had other adventures outside of the hospital.  I attended the movie Salt last night with the Raymer family and Robel.  As it was in English and in a huge theatre, you almost forgot you were in Ethiopia, except that it was less than $3 to get in and popcorn and a soda cost about a $1 for both!  The Zebra Grill was a good night of food.  They are known for their wings.  I enjoy the Ethiopian spices so much and hope to buy some before I leave to add to our dishes at home.  The Taylors, another adoptive family, have suggested adding berbere to things such as spaghetti and chili.  It will definitely pack some heat.

 

I continue to be humbled by the kindness of the Ethiopian people.  We visited Kid’s Care Orphanage and during our short time there, they honored us by having a coffee ceremony.  The girls saw this picture and said the woman’s name with smiles.  I, unfortunately, didn’t write it down.

I am SO grateful for this time in Ethiopia!  Fikirte and Konjit continue to greet me with hugs and kisses, and we continue to make our best of our Amharic-English language blend!

The Mott family had a big day!

Kaden turned 9 today!  This was his cupcake cake that he chose for his school birthday party.  He is looking forward to having some of his friends over for a real party once school starts.  The theme is still undecided…

Kaden is 9!

I was also reunited with Fikirte and Konjit today.  I am still having a hard time believing that I am even here.  They have, of course, grown a lot over the past year, but we picked right up where we left off.  They are such beautiful girls.  We giggled and hugged and loved all day (and Ryan checked ~ I did cry as we were driving through the gates of the transition home, as I could see them standing, waiting for me to arrive)!

REUNITED!

And, they had this message to share with Kaden on his special day!

To close out my evening, I had my second Skype visit with Ryan, Kaden and Karson.   After I shared birthday wishes with Kaden, he quickly went back to his video game.  I lost Karson to drawing after about 15 minutes.  I shared with Ryan how crazy it is that our children will never know how amazing it is to be talking and seeing one another while we are half a world apart!

I hope to continue to update but am moving to a different guest house tomorrow.  You can check it out HERE.  The America World parents that are staying there have said that the internet has been poor lately, so I’ll do what I can.  The things I will miss from my current location: my own water heater on my shower and the ability to easily connect with all of you.  The upside to the Yebsabi: other families who are here following the same adoption path that we are on.   

What a big and wonderful day!

In April of 2009, Deanne met two sisters at Kid’s Care Orphanage.  Then, the Mott family started a journey that led us here:

We are SO excited to officially introduce you to Konjit Adina and Fikirte Eliana Mott!!

Ethiopian names have great significance within their culture.  Some of you may know that Ryan found the name Kaden in the two-syllable section of a baby book, and I first heard Karson (for a girl) in a movie, but they also have family names.  Robert Kaden was named after multiple generations of Roberts, such as his daddy – Robert Ryan, and Karson Dawn in memory of my sister, Dawn.  We treasure the familial significance that these names have.  So, Ryan and I decided to make a break from the ‘K’ names and honor the Ethiopian tradition of origin significance in the choosing of their middle names.  I began researching, and we decided on the following:

Konjit means ‘beautiful’ in Amharic and Adina means ‘longing’ in Hebrew. 

Fikirte means ‘love’ in Amharic and Eliana means ‘God has answered’ in Hebrew. 

God truly answered our longing today.  To His name be all glory, honor, and praise!

Although the girls’ grandmother was in attendace (to testify to the orphan status of the girls) and things went well, we did not pass.  Paperwork was needed from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.  They are currently moving offices and did not get the paper in to the court.

We have been given a new date of June 15th.

We continue to wait…because they are MORE than worth it!

Today is the day; we find out if the Ethiopian courts have granted us custody of Fikirte and Konjit.  My mind has continually gone to this song over the past few days. 

We are hopeful that today will begin a new stage of waiting (the last stage – the we-are-coming-to-get-you stage), but I am confident that strength will continue to rise as we wait.  Our love of the girls has strengthened, as has our love for one another and for our family and friends (the best support system around).  

We are so thankful that He is everlasting!