Weatherly Family Update A brief update from where I left off on "He Makes All Things New"- Mike has been working as a maintenance technician at Monterey Mushrooms for a year now. His job is 3 miles down the road, he has very regular hours, he does not work on weekends, he has paid holidays and vacation time, and we have family medical and dental. No, he is not making as much money as he would if he would have stayed on as Executive Chef, and "Maintenance Techniciain" definitely does not sound as prestigious as "Executive Chef", but we were not willing to sacrifice our family time and the importance of his presence at home for extra monetary benefits. I don't think we will ever regret that decision... and I know our children enjoy their daddy home more often, too!

I gave birth to our 6th baby, Josie Rose, on Feb. 26, 2008! Josie is such a blessing from the Lord. We cannot imagine life without her. You can see a picture of her on the Family Pictures link.

My parents sold their home and moved to Tennessee on August 20, 2007! I am SO thankful to have almost daily interaction with both of my parents, whether it be my mom helping out around the house or or working alongside me in the kitchen, my dad playing games or reading books to the kids, or simply "being a family" each Sunday when we gather for church. I was also very thankful to have my mom with me during my labor with Josie. After witnessing the birth of 8 grandchildren and several friends's children, she definitely knows what to do to help a laboring mother! (Here's a picture from when we went camping with my parents in September near the Kentucky border).

I must admit that being so far away from my sister, Rhonda, has been extremely hard on me- and I don't imagine that void will ever be replaced- but I must put my trust and hope in the Lord, knowing that the questions of life are no surprise to Him. He has every detail worked out and that is all that matters.

While we were going through the middle of some very difficult times (Mike being fired from his job, all of us having to say good-bye to my parents when we moved to Tennessee, the miscarriage I experienced last year, among many other things), it was so hard to see the good in those situations. Just if I could have immediately had God's perspective on life- I would not have worked myself into so much worry over the details of how He chooses to refine me. I have learned that when there is strain in life, I can either choose resentment and anger and bitterness towards the Lord, or I can choose to simply trust Him. And in that simple trust is where I have experienced peace and surrender- Those are wonderful blessings!