Ethiopia: Hitting "Pause" - for now

Because many of you have invested your time, prayers, and money into our Ethiopian adoption, we wanted to update you on where things stand.  Obviously, with Machiah, we will not be going forward with that as we had planned at this time.  But, our hearts are still strongly in Ethiopia and we do plan to continue with another Ethiopian adoption in the future.  When? Well, that remains to be seen, but we know we won't be pursuing it again until at least a year from now.  We talked to our adoption agency and we will basically be able to pick up right where we left off - which is really nice since we are so close to the waiting list part of the process.  The day we picked up Machiah, we got our fingerprint appointment for USCIS which is the last big step besides our dossier.  Our agency advised us to go ahead with the appointment (because we would lose our money otherwise), and we can just get a fingerprint update in one year which will be free. So right now, we will just enjoy this time and gift of being a family of four sooner than we expected and pray for the timing to be right again when we will start the process of the 3rd addition to the Conner clan.  I am really enjoying life right now and love being able to refer to Levi and Machiah as "my boys."  I have always wanted my children to be close in age and didn't really see that happening.  But, God saw a way and is in the business of miracles and we feel so, so blessed to be a part of the miraculous way He brought Machiah into our lives.  It's really so amazing how God works, and I continue to be amazed at His perfect timing in our lives.  Just when I think things are "so slow" or seem like things are all messed up, God shows up and says, "No, no....Here's my plan.  Look what I have been doing.  Trust me. Trust me."  Our God is so faithful and proves Himself trustworthy every time...sometimes we just have to be patient to see and understand what He is doing.  It's not always easy in the midst of our "human haze" and plans for ourselves, but if we wait and trust He will always show up and His plan is always best.  I am so thankful for that.