When are they coming home??

Hi friends!  Sorry for taking so long to update all of you on our timeline.  I'm home now and (mostly) adjusted back to Central Time.  Here is the latest on bringing our boys home...

Short version:  If everything goes smoothly, Ben and the boys will be home on April 30th!  So please PRAY for PERFECTION in the PROCESS. ;)

Longer version:  These are details (as we understand them) about the remaining process to bring them home...

{We're currently in the mandatory waiting period after we passed court on April 1st.}

1) Court Decree - Ben and Yana (our translator/adoption process guru) will pick up the court decree in Volodarka on April 15th. 

2) Birth Certificates - Ben and Yana will travel to pick up the boys' new birth certificates.  Our boys were born in 2 different towns, but luckily they are only approximately 3 hours from each other.  In total, this step of getting birth certificates will take approximately 2 days. 

3) ID Codes - Yana will change the boys' ID codes in Kiev.  It takes 1 day to do this.

{If these steps go according to plan, they should be completed by April 18th.}

4) Passports - Ben, Yana, and the boys will all go to Kiev to submit some documents, take their passport pictures, etc.  If the other steps are done by the 18th, then the passports can be done on April 21st.

{The passports take 4 work days to be completed. This timeframe will also be when the boys start their goodbyes at the orphanage.  After those 4 days (so, hopefully April 25th), Ben and the boys will move to Kiev.}

6) Visas - Ben will schedule his appointments at the US Embassy (they require 2 appointment days--one to review the document and the next day for the interview appointment). If all is going as planned, these would happen April 28th-29th.

7) Fly Home - It looks like we're shooting for April 30th as their departure date! 


Thank you SO much for all of your excitement, prayers, support, and love!

Prayer Requests

Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:19-20

Overall Prayer Requests as We Expand our Team:

Our marriage
Travel mercies
Weather
Health
Jet lag
Language barrier
Spiritual warfare
Political safety
Culture shock

Prayers over the process:
Acceptance from our boys
Bonding for all 7 of us
Favor over our timelines (pray they are home by Easter)
A kind judge
Acceptance of our paperwork as-is

Prayers over the trip (note: Kiev is 8 hours ahead of Houston):
The way over: depart Houston Feb 21 at 6:55pm; 6-hour layover in Frankfurt; land in Kiev 9:45pm Feb 22
The way back (for all but Ben): depart Kiev 5:55am Mar 20; 6-hour layover in Frankfurt; land in Houston 7:20pm Mar 20
(pray for luggage, passports, traveling with young kiddos, etc.)

Prayers over our boys:
Come to know Jesus personally—soon
Feel safe, secure, and loved in their new family
Bond quickly with sisters and mom and dad
Smooth transition as cross-cultural kids
Learn English, while still retaining Ukrainian

Prayers over our girls:
Continue to feel safe, secure, and loved in their growing family
Bond quickly with brothers
Patience and grace with brothers and mom and dad

Prayers once we're home:
Our marriage
Transition to a family of 7
Family bonding time—true connection
Language barrier
Establishing rules/boundaries
Culture shock 
Decisions about schooling
Finances

Thank you for your prayers!

Ukraine Needs Our Help

In the wake of us celebrating MLK and his fight for justice, I now come to you asking you to join me in taking ACTION to help the people of Ukraine.  Whether you have personal ties to Ukraine or not, JUSTICE matters to EVERYONE.  And obviously for Team Huss, this is personal. 

What is happening in Ukraine right now is NOT RIGHT.  They were peacefully disagreeing with wrongful actions of their leaders and the unimaginable happened.  A dictatorship is on the rise, lives are being lost, freedom is being taken away.  This injustice cannot be ignored.  They deserve freedom!  Will you help?

Proverbs 31:8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves..."

What YOU Can Do This Week
I've compiled everything into one place, so this should only take you 10-15 minutes out of your day.  Your voice DOES MATTER!  The Ukrainian people are pleading for the US to get involved.  They are NOT asking for troops or money--they are asking for our government to impose sanctions on those who are standing in the way of their freedom.  THANK YOU in advance for standing up for the people of Ukraine during their struggle to build a free and democratic nation.

1) SIGN THIS PETITION - simply click here and enter your basic info to sign.  This is just a basic petition to John Kerry that will hopefully get the president's attention for America to help Ukraine.

It says:  Please immediately speak out against the Ukrainian Government! They are silencing free assembly and speech with draconian measures. They are choosing dictatorship over democracy. This must be stopped before more lives are lost. President Bush spoke out in 2004 during the Orange Revolution and his words helped to effect great change. The same should happen now. 

2) EMAIL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES - below you will find a script that you can copy and paste to write your representatives.  Send it to your US Senators and your US Representatives (Congressman/woman).  Simply click here to find your representatives, then follow those individual links to get their contact info, then paste the script below into their email contact form.

Dear Senator __ or Representative __

 

Ukraine’s President Victor Yanukovych recently signed a series of laws that curb freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, the right to legal due process and freedom of association; severely curtailing civil liberties and political rights in Ukraine. 

 

The laws implemented are intended to shut down the Euromaidan protests, which have underscored the determination of the Ukrainian people to live in a free, just and democratic society. Rather than engaging in constructive dialogue with its citizens, the government is silencing these protests through repression, censorship, and intimidation.

 

The signing of the so-called "Dictatorship Laws" have transformed the country overnight into a police state that many experts have compared to Russia, Belarus and North Korea.  Equally concern is the fact that on the same day the "dictatorship laws" were signed by the President, he fired the Commander of the Armed Forces, the Head of the Presidential Administration, and appointed over 70 new judges throughout Ukraine in an effort to consolidate control over the military and judiciary in addition to the legislative branch and the executive. 

 

I call on the government of the United States and its allies to impose SEVERE and IMMEDIATE sanctions against those who seek to strip the Ukrainian people of their freedom.   I ask you to freeze the financial assets of those responsible for perpetuating the violations of human rights and freedoms in Ukraine.  I ask that you warn Russia and its agents against any acts of interference in the events occurring in Ukraine. 

 

Please stand with me in complete solidarity with the people of Ukraine in their peaceful struggle to build a free and democratic nation.

 

Sincerely,

___

 

A Brief Background if You are Completely LostOn November 21, 2013, peaceful demonstrations and protests began in Kiev after the Ukrainian government suspended preparations for signing an agreement with the European Union.  The wave of demonstrations is called "Euromaidan," and have underscored the determination of the Ukrainian people to live in a free, just and democratic society.  It has been characterized as an event of major political symbolism for the EU itself and has been called the largest ever pro-European rally in history. 

Thousands of Ukrainians continued to protest despite the sub-zero temperatures and a heavy police presence.  On November 30, 2013, the government forces escalated the violence, which caused the number of protesters to rise up to the 800,000 mark.  Even through New Year and Christmas celebrations, thousands of protesters stood strong.

On January 16, 2014, Ukraine's President Victor Yanukovych signed a series of laws that curb freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, the right to legal due process and freedom of association; severely curtailing civil liberties and political rights in Ukraine.  The laws implemented are intended to shut down the Euromaidan protests.  Rather than engaging in constructive dialogue with its citizens, the government is silencing these protests through repression, censorship, and intimidation. 

The signing of these so-called "Dictatorship Laws" have transformed the country overnight into a war zone.  At the time of me posting this blog, at least 2 protesters have been killed. 

Will this Impact our Adoption
We have no idea...but it is certainly a possibility with all of the violence and chaos happening in Kiev (the capital) right now.  We just ask for your prayers.  For Ukraine.  For our boys.  For the process.  And for us.

Thank YOU for standing with us for JUSTICE for Ukraine!

Her Brothers

Eden loves her brothers.

We went to get her passport photo yesterday and had the most precious (and heart-wrenching) conversation...

Me:  We're getting your picture taken today so that we can get your passport and go get your brothers.
Eden:  OK, Mom.  That's a good idea.
Me:  You need to smile and look at the camera so we can get a good photo (NOTE: our last picture got sent back because she wasn't looking at the camera.)
Eden:  OK, Mom.

{she took the cutest picture with no problems at all}

{when we got back in the car}

Eden:  OK, Mom--let's go get my brothers!
Me: (almost in tears) Oh, honey--we can't get them today, but it will be soon.  We first have to get our Letter of Invitation and then we'll get on an airplane and fly to go get them.
Eden:  OK, Mom. (with her head down)

{when we pulled in the driveway after some errands}

Eden: (frantic) No, Mom!  We don't have my brothers yet!  We can't go home yet!
Me: (almost in tears again) Oh, honey--I know--we have to pray and trust that God will send us over there to get them soon.
Eden:  OK, Mom.  That's a good idea.

Lord, please hear our cries.  We pray boldly that we will receive our Letter of Invitation by the end of this month! 

Kind of Freaking Out

It's all becoming real.  I'm about to be a mom to 3 grown boys!  Don't get me wrong--I'm still extremely excited and can't wait to have them home--but it's starting to kind of freak me out! 

When I let my guard down, the Enemy definitely starts to get to me.  He speaks lies to try to destroy me.  Things like...
"you're totally unprepared for this" 
"this is going to rock your world" 
"they are going to mess up the good thing you have going with your little family" 
"you won't be able to afford the groceries, clothing, and activities they will require" 
"you won't even be able to communicate with them" 
"you don't know anything about raising boys" 
"you don't even know anything about them!"

Thankfully I can replace those lies with TRUTH!

"If you want to find peace, then you need to return to the truth of God's Word that will last forever, not meditate on circumstances that will change and fade.  It is this truth that enables us to go into the future undaunted." - Christine Caine in Undaunted

Here is just a handful of TRUTH to cover my fears...
Matthew 19:26 - with God, all things are possible
Deuteronomy 31:6 - He will never leave me or forsake me
Philippians 4:19 - God will meet all of my needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus
Revelation 21:5 - He makes all things new
1 Peter 5:7 - cast all of your cares upon Him because He cares for you

So, here you go Satan...

Yes, I'm totally unprepared.  But I'll lean on God and He will equip me.

Yes, it is definitely going to rock my world.  But that is a GREAT thing!

Yes, things are going to change around here.  But change is GOOD--I hate monotony!

Yes, our budget will look very different.  But God is my ultimate provider!

Yes, I speak a different language than my boys.  But LOVE can transcend that (and google translate)!

Yes, I'm a rookie in all things boy.  But I'm a fast learner!

Matthew 6:33-34 - Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Whew!  That's plenty of TRUTH to keep me from freaking out.  Thank you, Jesus!

Next Steps

After receiving the bad news on November 11th that our dossier was never submitted and several documents had expired, we rallied and got our new dossier sent to our facilitator on November 22nd.  She received it on November 27th, translated it, and submitted it on December 4th!

So what now?

Well, we're not completely sure (that's the nature of adoption!), but here is what we know...

Overall:
- in general, it takes 3 months from dossier submission to appointment date--the date we would go to Ukraine (if that timeframe holds true, that puts us there in March)

The Details:
- they will have a shutdown from December 10 - mid-January where they will not accept new dossiers, but WILL still be processing the ones they have (and they have ours!)

- in takes 3-4 weeks for them to check a dossier and register a family on the list of candidates to adopt (did you know that exactly 3 weeks from Dec 4 is Christmas day??  how cool would that be to receive our Registration Notification then?!)

- they will be off for the holidays from December 31 - January 8* (so this could definitely impact the 3-4 week timeframe noted above--our facilitator said not to expect to hear anything about our registration until mid-January--but we're still praying for Christmas!)

*Ukraine (like Ethiopia) is an Orthodox Christian country, which means that Christmas is celebrated on January 7

- after we receive our Registration Notification, it can take another 3 weeks to receive our Letter of Invitation with the date of our appointment (then we would travel to Ukraine to meet our boys and complete our adoption!)

How you can pray:
We believe that God still does miracles, and we are praying that we receive our Registration Notification by Christmas.  Will you pray with us?

Once we're in Ukraine, the entire process could take up to 8 weeks.  Ben plans to stay in country the entire time, so we are praying that we can afford for him to do that (cover his lost wages).  Will you pray with us?  If you feel led to give financially, you can use the AdoptTogether link on the right.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us on this journey!

the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad email

We got some bad news yesterday.  We woke up to an email from our in-country adoption facilitator notifying us that our dossier had never actually been submitted like we all thought.  She was incredibly apologetic and embarrassed, and even used words like "devastated, crushed." 

How it Happened:
Our facilitator trusted a translator that she has used for years to do his job properly, and he failed her.  Rather than submitting our dossier after it had been translated, he went on vacation (for a month!) and didn't alert her to some documents that were about to expire until he returned from vacation.  Now, several of our documents have already expired since it didn't get submitted back in September when we sent it over.

What this Means to our Timeline:
We are essentially 2 months (or more) behind where we thought we were.  So, rather than potentially traveling in late-December or early-January, we are now looking at March at the earliest.  It takes the wind out of me just typing that!  We selfishly want our boys home NOW!

Immediate Perspective:
When I read the first two sentences in the email that contained words like "this has never happened to me before," "I don't even know where to start," and "with a heavy heart, I need to inform you..." I honestly thought that we had lost our boys.  I thought that a mistake had been made, and that another family had adopted them, or that they actually weren't "adoptable."  So when I finished reading it and realized that it was only a paperwork issue, I was actually extremely relieved.

We have close friends who currently have kiddos STUCK in other countries because of governments deciding to close their doors for at least a year.  We have close friends who have experienced failed birthmom matches, infertility, miscarriages, and other devastating losses.  We have friends who have lost their kiddos to illness before they could even meet them in person.  So, in the grand scheme of things, this is not THAT BAD.  Perspective is nice to have.

Our Reaction:
We were understandably upset when we read the email.  I reached out to my mom and sisters for strength, encouragement, prayer, etc.  Their words were perfect for me, and because I know that their words can help some of you, I want to share some excerpts...

"Fume a little, cry a little, and run to Jesus"

"God is so good and there MUST be a reason for this. We may never know. But there is purpose in this, so really your only choice is to relent, relinquish control, release it to God, and just keep moving forward. Doing the next thing you know to do one step at a time - like the ant."

"Never, never, never give up hope!"

"Breathe. It's God's breath. He's got this. Process the justified anger. But don't waste energy in anger. You need to keep your energy for your boys. Your love for them covers ALL of this. It will be okay. In fact, actually it already is. God's got this."

"I pray that God is getting ready to show you how faithful He is."

"I'm so sorry that this is catching you off guard--that's the part that really gets us. When things don't go as we've expected or been told they'd go. And it's natural for us to build expectations around rules, precedence, protocol, sequence....but really it's all so unreliable. And sometimes that's the best message to receive when the ground is moved right under our feet. The only thing we can truly plan around and rely on is God's love. And it's there, wrapped around you and Ben--and wrapped around His boys. And where there is Love, there is mercy and blessing and truth. You know what's real--your calling and leading to them. Hang on to that. While the agencies and governments are a necessary part of the process...they are NOT what will make this real. God spun a web of energy between y'all and these boys and that is the calling, the dream, the instant Love you followed and felt. Trust it. Know it.

As you do all of the things that must be done, keep your eyes focused on that web...that real connection...and not focused on the process and the people because they will fail you. Pray for them of course; and as they fail you know that all things work for the good of those who Love...Him, your boys, your girls, your calling. He will not fail you...and He will take the failures of others and turn them into great blessings."
 
Our Next Steps:
We are rushing to update 8 documents (yes, 8!) that have "expired" (a ludicrous idea that defies logic...so don't even ask how a marriage license or fingerprints can "expire!").  We are under a very tight time crunch now because the Ukraine doesn't accept new dossiers from December 10 - mid-January.  So, we HAVE to get our updated documents to the Ukraine before that December 10th closure or we'll have to wait for yet another month or two--not happening if we have any say in it!

Bottom Line:
We know that God is faithful and that He has NOT forgotten our boys (or us!).  We want to do nothing but glorify God with our response.  One of the challenges that my mom gave us is that we can use this experience to truly show Jesus' love, compassion, and graciousness to our facilitator who feels horrible about what has happened.  Yes, that's the least we can do!  We are all human and we all make mistakes.  God has forgiven us for much more, so of course we should extend forgiveness to her!  When we responded to her email with our forgiveness and understanding, she replied back with appreciation and thanks for "being tolerant."  I pray that when we meet her in person, we can show her even more of that.  

How You Can Pray:
Please pray for swiftness in our re-do's of these documents.  Specifically, our criminal background check in the state of Texas is meant to take 2 weeks to process--can you pray with us that the timeframe for that is cut in half?  Also, please pray for our boys' hearts.  Our middle son told someone recently that he would meet his family in 2 months.  My heart aches that it will now be longer than that, and I pray that they can understand that it's not for lack of us trying.  They are loved and they are wanted--pray that they know that.

Thank you SO much for walking this journey with us!