White Elephant Gold

Last Saturday, we were privileged to host our Sunday school class Christmas party. And, just like all good church parties, we held a white elephant gift exchange. For those not familiar with this game, you either buy or re-gift a ridiculous present that you would not wish upon anyone. This year, I received the greatest white elephant gift . . . . EVER. Don't believe me? Take a look for yourself:





No, you do not need to adjust your computer screens. That is indeed a Barack Obama Chia Pet. Many, many kudos to my friend Becky for this amazing gift! And if you thought this couldn't get any funnier, check out the actual commercial for this gem.

So, this year, if you are stuck for gift ideas, give the gift that says, "Liberty, Opportunity, Prosperity, and Hope."

Merry Christmas!

Birthday Girl

What a beautiful little girl! It is amazing that my first little baby who never slept is now an energetic, smart, and still beautiful four-year-old. This year, we were so blessed to be able to spend her birthday with some extended family. Nani and Papa graciously hosted our soiree and Grandma Dot and Grandma and Grandpa Alvaro were able to share in all the fun. We also got the privilege of celebrating her birthday with Chris' family when we traveled to Ohio for his sister's baby shower.

Emma had a few requests this year - the biggest of which was a pink cake. So, she and Nani rolled up their sleeves and made a pink carrot cake. Believe it or not, it was delicious! This was also the first year that she was able to celebrate her birthday at school, which was so much fun. Her teacher made her a pink crown (seen above) and she was the calendar helper and line leader for the day. A few of her friends even got her a present! Finally, we finished off the day with our usual Wednesday night church, where they sang and let her pick her own little present. She chose a pencil, which is perfect, because she is always writing and practicing her name and letters.

Every birthday that we celebrate with our children is a reminder of how much grace and joy that the Lord has blessed us with through them. The birth of our beautiful Emma began our journey as parents and I will never forget the joy (and terror) I felt when they placed her in my arms. Her smile, energy, laughter, and personality will instantly change your day. She loves to make us smile, hugs us when we cry, and is a second mother to Ethan (sometimes to his chagrin). She loves him as much as we do and they are as close as they could ever be.

It has been an honor to be Emma's mom and dad and the last four years have been a true gift. Emma Lynne, you are our little girl and we love you more each and every day. Happy Birthday, peanut!

The infamous pink cake!

Make a wish!

Emma and Ethan keeping current on the iPad. Don't worry, it isn't hers!

Snuggling with Dad



A rare family photo - three out of four looking at the camera isn't too bad!

Old Blessings and New Beginnings

At a recent family event, someone pointed out that if I didn't write soon, I would have to change our blog's name to "The Dilley Quarterly." Somehow, it just doesn't have quite the same ring. Plus, I love alliteration. So, after a long break, The Dilley Daily is back!

Suffice it to say, the break wasn't due to lack of subject material, but more a lack of time. After our big move, we spent the next few months officially becoming Michigan residents (licensing, registering, etc.) Then, about a month ago, God opened up an opportunity for Chris to accept a new, full-time, day job and quit UPS. For six years, Chris has faithfully and tirelessly worked nights at UPS to provide for our family and has sacrificed many hours of sleep in the process. We have been praying since we were married that God would provide us with one job that is during the day, and we feel so overwhelmed and blessed that that time has finally arrived.

UPS will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we are thankful that God provided that job for Chris when he needed it most. They graciously provided excellent benefits, and their tuition reimbursement program paid a large portion of his undergraduate and master's education. It also taught us to treasure the time we have together and made us appreciate even more the truth that working hard is part of obedience to the Lord. Although there were times when the nights seemed longer and the days shorter, God used the experience to shape our marriage and family for the better.

Chris is now an official employee of a communications company in Dearborn, Michigan. They work with other companies, teaching them how to sell and market their product. Chris is on their account with Ford, and is enjoying his new position. Providentially, the company is co-owned by a professor at the Seminary, so they are very flexible and are allowing him to work around his school schedule. The kids are especially happy to have their daddy home at night for bedtime, and I am happy that I am no longer sleeping in a big, empty bed by myself!

As we continue to settle in to our new schedule, the blog will be tended to once again! You can expect two new book reviews and much more of our adventures in Michigan. Until then, here are some photo highlights of Halloween for you to enjoy.

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" Psalm 107:1


Our Pretty Little Dorothy



Quenching The Lion's Thirst!



Trick or Treating at Daddy's New Office



Loving My Little Munchkins!

We Love Our Daddy!

Emma's First Day of School

As I sit writing this post, I can hardly believe it. Our first baby - that beautiful, pink, little baby - has begun Preschool. Emma could hardly wait to begin, and did great on her first day. I anticipated a lot of crying and leg-hugging, but Emma was true to form and just looked at me and said, "Bye, Mom!" Though I was slightly emotional, I was more excited to see her begin this new phase of her life.

Emma is a learner, and I am excited she is able to go to school and be challenged in a classroom setting. Her school is brand new and has so many innovative and fun things for her to learn with. It has also been a blessing for her to meet some new children in the class, since she is far from all of her old friends in Kentucky. Every day she comes home and tells me about a new friend she met and what they did that day.

Needless to say, you can definitely expect many school-related posts from now on. Preschoolers tend to come home with some pretty funny stories, and, rest-assured, we will be sharing them with you all. For now, here are some pictures from Emma's first day of Preschool for you to enjoy!

So excited for Emma's first day!

Finding her cubby for the first time




Emma's name tag that she uses to practice writing her name.

Banana Baby

Lately, we have had one picky little eater on our hands. After trying to get him to eat everything in the pantry, our little man reached for a banana. The rest, as they say, is history. Or, in this case, good video!

Go Big, And Go Home!

It has been quite some time since the last post, and we wanted to update everyone on what is new with the Dilleys. As many already know, a few weeks ago we moved – to Michigan! After many months of praying for the Lord’s direction for our family, the doors were finally open for us to move. On a Friday in mid-August, Chris received a phone call from his employer telling us that he was being transferred to Michigan. One week later, to the day, the moving truck pulled into our new driveway!

We were so blessed by all who helped us pack, move, unpack, and watch our children during that busy week. It is an amazing thing to see the body of Christ put feet to their theology and help when it is needed most.

Many have asked us why we decided to leave Louisville, and there are several answers. The first is that we, as a family, have had a desire to minister in the Detroit area for several years. It is no shock to anyone that Detroit is a city that is considered “hopeless”. We want to bring a message of hope to people that is not based on jobs or the economy, but on salvation through Jesus Christ – a hope that can never be taken away! Second, we wanted to be closer to family. We have lived away from family for nine years. Since the arrival of our children, we really have felt that it is important for them to know all their grandparents and be able to see them frequently. By living in Michigan, they are able to see one set of grandparents daily and are now able to visit the other sets in Ohio more because we have less places to travel. Finally, we evaluated our goals as a family, and decided that now was the time to move. The doors were opened and God has sovereignly guided us through and sustained us.

We would like to say thank you to our Louisville friends, co-workers, and fellow students for many years of laughter, support, and encouragement. For nine years, Kentucky has been our home and we will certainly miss the familiar people and places. Louisville holds many wonderful and irreplaceable memories for our family. Chris and I met, were engaged, graduated, made our first home, welcomed two beautiful and amazing children into this world, and served on staff in our first church – all in Kentucky!

While we continue to get settled in our new home, please continue to pray for us. Specifically, pray that we would continue to trust in the Lord as we find new doctors, transfer insurance, forward our mail, and all of the little details that come with an out-of-state move. We know that where He leads, He provides! As we end one chapter in our lives and begin another, we know that God will continue to show his love, grace, and sovereignty to us. Through this entire process we have marveled and been reminded of the greatness of our God and his ever-present hand in our lives.

Little Fishies

Last Saturday, after 8 weeks, Emma completed her first set of swimming lessons! She only cried once today (she got some water in her nose), then laughed the rest of the class. She was also excited to see her new friend, Kaelyn, and be reunited with her best buddy, Kendall, whom we haven't seen in a while due to the general busyness of summer.

And despite her tears, she learned a great deal about swimming, and mommy learned to try to schedule a later class because she is not a morning person. Here are some photos from her last class:

Kendall and Emma, ready to swim!

Waiting to start their last lesson



Emma, Kaelyn, and Kendall - all done!

Y-E-S to VBS!

After a great week of Vacation Bible School at our church here in Kentucky, Emma cried and cried at the end of the week when it was over. So, when we learned that we would be in Michigan the weekend of my home church's VBS, Emma was ecstatic. One was just not enough! The children's director there graciously allowed Emma to be a part of the fun and me to be one of her teachers.

Emma was a construction worker for the week, and I got to lead the firefighters. We had such a fun time learning, crafting, playing games, and, of course, singing! This year's songs were incredibly musical and fun and I still go to bed most nights humming at least one of them (Bi-bi-bi, bi-bi-bi, Big Apple Adventure.....).

Needless to say, at the end of every night, we fell into bed happily exhausted. By the end of our second week in the Big Apple, Emma's need for more Vacation Bible School was satisfied - at least until next summer!

The cutest little construction worker around!

Singing!

Emma's hard hat and crafts in her special spot

We had so much fun in class together!

Chocolate Wars

Today, I am going to walk through the doors of the Louisville Free Public Library and return The Chocolate Wars: The 150-Year Rivalry Between the World's Greatest Chocolate Makers by Deborah Cadbury.

Recommended by my dad (who is a prolific reader), Chocolate Wars is what it's subtitle implies - an exhaustive history of chocolate and its many manufacturers. Notable characters include the Cadbury brothers, Milton Hershey, Henri Nestle, and Forrest Mars. Written by relative Deborah Cadbury, Chocolate Wars not only tells the history of the industry, but seeks to give insight into the economical and religious beliefs of the pioneers of chocolate.

Cadbury did an excellent job of explaining the history and development of chocolate and its impact on the world at large. As the name implies, she gives great detail about the confection's 150 year battle between companies. However, this also is a bit of a drawback to the book. At times, her detail is so great that the reader can somewhat get lost in all of the numbers, intricacies of machinery, and minutia of the day-to-day business tasks she describes. While details are pertinent in many of her stories, in many others they are not and I found myself impatiently flipping forward in the book, wondering how many pages of data were left in that particular chapter.

As you begin the book, it is clear that Cadbury greatly incorporates the influence of the Quaker religion on the chocolate industry - especially with the Cadbury family. This is appropriate because so much of how the Cadbury's company ran was based on the devout beliefs of the early family. The way they chose to work, advertise, employ, and expand were a direct result of their beliefs. At times, though, Cadbury veers too far from the story of chocolate when she spends far too many pages on the many philanthropic and political endeavors of the family that become somewhat redundant and unrelated. These stories are interesting, no doubt, but too numerous and lengthy.

By far the greatest disappointment in this book was Cadbury's own political and economic views that were as bitter as the chocolate her family loved. Clearly, her disdain for the current state of the company (owned by the American corporation Kraft) is woven into every few pages as you finally get to the climactic last chapters where she launches into accusations of Kraft's disdain for a quality product, Fairtrade, and even accuses them of contributing to obesity in North America.

While all these accusations may or may not be true, it is obvious that Cadbury longs for the glory days of her family's company when it was private, but those days are long gone. In attempting to celebrate Cadbury's history, she leaves a sour taste with her own political and economic opinions. In my view, the story would have been better told by an independent historian.

If you can live with the subtle personal commentary by Cadbury, you will enjoy Chocolate Wars. Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was well-written, well-researched and she chose a riveting topic (who doesn't love chocolate?) As I told my dad, the enjoyment/dislike ratio was about 85/15, and he encouraged me to focus on the 85% I liked. Good advice from a great man. As for owning this book, it goes for $27.95 retail and Amazon has it for $17.96. You Kindle owners can continue to stockpile all your saved money with this one - the Kindle edition is only $14.99. If you want a really great deal, head to your local public library and get it for free!

Happy Reading!

TOTAL PAGES READ IN 2011: 2, 793

Best Buddies

There are few things I enjoy more than watching my kids playing together and genuinely enjoying each other's company. This week they were "The Inseparable E's" and it was wonderful to see them read books, laugh, and chase each other around. Not that they aren't usually fond of one another, but, as Ethan has grown up, they have grown closer. As parents, we are trying to teach Emma and Ethan the importance of protecting and loving one another because they have a unique relationship as siblings that they should enjoy and cherish. We are so blessed to see them begin to develop a friendship that will last a lifetime.

"A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for a time of adversity."
PROVERBS 17:17

Although they have been thick as thieves, they still let
daddy join them for some snuggle time!



Best Buddies!

Blast From the Past

In 1997, a song was released and became one of the most popular songs of the 90s. You may remember it - it is a little ditty called "MMMBop" and I am willing to bet that, right about now, you have already begun humming it! Since our family travels a lot to visit family, we listen to a lot of music and, for our last road trip, I made two 90s/early 2000's mixes for some nostalgic listening. I love to add some of the really corny songs that were popular (usually to see the look on Chris' face when he hears them), so of course MMMBop made the cut.

What I didn't plan on was how much the kids loved it. We have listened to that song about 10 times this week while driving to and from VBS. Normally, my Hanson quota is about once every few months, but to look to the back seat and see Emma and Ethan jamming to the beat makes it worth it. Don't believe me? Check out how amazingly cute these two are:

Jamming to MMMBop

Busy Little Bees

It is hard to believe that the first official day of summer began this week because we have been busy little bees for a few weeks now. Emma has started swim lessons and, after a emotional first class, has decided that she loves to swim! We always knew this, of course, but the class has officially sealed it for her. I am happy to have some special time with her each week (Ethan stays home with daddy) and hope that this is one of those memories she will keep forever!

Last weekend, we were visited by Nani and Papa and the fun never stopped! They even watched the kiddos overnight while Chris and I took a mini-vacation to Cincinnati to celebrate our anniversary. It marks the first time that Chris and I have been away from the kids since Emma was born (three and a half years) and it was a little strange to go on a trip without pack-n-plays, oatmeal, and car seats! We had an amazing time shopping, going to the Reds baseball game, and eating good food. The best part of the trip was knowing that my babies were safe and sound with Nani and Papa. When we got back, I thought for sure they would run to me with open arms yelling, "Mommy!", but they foiled me and ran straight to Chris, yelling, "Daddy!"

The Great American Ballpark

Take me out to the ballgame!

The rest of the weekend with my parents was equally fun and I enjoyed learning from my mom as we crafted and sewed. She is the sewing expert and I am still in the learning phase. But, with our powers combined, we successfully completed several projects. The biggest of which was curtains for the window by Emma's bed. That window has been the bane of my existence since we moved in and it looks so nice now. We also got to spend Father's day with my dad and Chris, which was very special. Normally, I do not get to see my dad on father's day, so it was a real privilege to be able to honor him and Chris together!

Finally, one of my favorite parts of the weekend was the gift that Nani and Papa got Ethan for his birthday - a vacuum! Ethan LOVES our big vacuum. He will run after you yelling and giggling when you vacuum and, on several occasions, I have found him in the closet hugging it. Needless to say, when he got a look at his very own vacuum, the look was priceless. It is probably the most-used gift he has ever gotten and the best part it that it really vacuums! Finally, a chore for Ethan!

Get it out of the box, Nani!



So excited to use his new vacuum!

Five Years Later - Thank You!

As we celebrate our fifth anniversary today, we wanted to devote this blog post to those of you who were a part of our wedding as participants. We truly believe that if you are involved in a wedding ceremony, whether it be as part of the wedding party, the pastor(s), ushers, or musicians that you are a part of affirming the marriage of the bride and the groom. When we chose you to participate, it was because you were each uniquely special to us and it was important for us to have people in our wedding who value marriage as much as we do. Thank you all for standing with us on that day as we began our life together and for your love, prayers, encouragement and support since.

We cherish our individual friendships with you, and though we live apart from most, we think of you often and pray that God would continue to bless you as you seek His face. Each of you that participated in the wedding should have received (or will shortly) a personal card from us thanking you specifically for what you mean to our family. The Lord has blessed us immensely with your friendship and we cherish you greatly. From Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and beyond you have blessed us more than you will ever know.

We would be remiss if we did not affirm that it is only through the cross of Christ that we can stand before God as righteous and know peace. It is our prayer that if you are walking with the Lord that you would continue to press on toward the goal. If you are far from the Lord, may He draw you in and show Himself faithful.

Thank you again for making our wedding day five years ago so special. We love and appreciate all of you and ask that you would continue to keep us in your prayers as we seek to glorify God in our marriage, family, and ministry.

Love,
Chris and Stephanie

Matron of Honor Wendy and Best Man Matt

Our wonderful wedding party: Steve, Kari, Jon, Jenny, Wendy, Lindsey, Jeff, Jacob, Brooke, Matt, Heather, Micah, Katie, Tim, Seth, and Lauryn

Our ushers: Gary, Kerry, Jim, Joel, Aaron and Kyle (not pictured)

One of our favorite parts of our wedding was the music. Special thanks to Kevin, Kristin, Eric, Barry, and Violet. We still cannot believe how unbelievably beautiful the music was!

______________________________

We would love to hear from you! Please do not hesitate to write us at thedilleys@gmail.com or call.

Happy Birthday Ethan!

It is so hard to believe, but one year ago today Ethan joined our family and changed our lives forever. It has always been a tradition for Chris and I to think back on the day our children were born and what we were thinking and doing. I remember being so excited that the day had finally arrived! I must admit that before he was born I wondered to myself, "will I love him as much as I love my Emma?", but when they placed this tiny baby in my arms and his big blue eyes looked into mine, I was a goner. He had me, and still does. I love him more today than I did the day he was born - a feat that I thought impossible.

Ethan is a kind and sweet child. He definitely shares the energy of his sister, but when he is in my arms, he loves to hug his momma. Some of my favorite moments with him are when he is in my arms, his head is rested on my shoulder, and he gently runs his tiny little hand up and down my arm.

He has an infectious giggle, and loves his big sister unconditionally. Every morning, he "talks" and laughs with Emma across the room from his crib to her in bed. Each night, he smiles and sighs as she kisses his forehead before bed, and in between they are inseparable as they play and grow together.

It really is impossible to convey how much joy Ethan brought to our family on June 4, 2010. You know from the moment they are born that your life has changed forever, but it is amazing to see what blessings God has brought to us this year through our little man. Ethan, we are so happy that God sent you to us and we are so blessed to be called your family. You are a smart, handsome little man and we cannot wait to see you continue to grow! Happy First Birthday, Ethan! We love you more than you know!

Love,
Daddy, Mommy, and Emma

Swimming, Sparklers, and S'Mores

This past weekend was full of lots of fun with friends and family! Saturday, Emma, Ethan, and I headed to the public pool where they have a small water park where we met Mrs. Leah, Kendall, and baby Arden. It has been in the 90s, so the kids enjoyed cooling off in the sprinklers while the moms hoped the exercise would bring long naps! Even Ethan had a great time chasing the girls around. Needless to say, the Dilley family will be making a lot of visits to the pool this summer - it looks like it is going to be another hot one this year!

The girls

Emma and Kendall Playing

Ethan deciding how wet he really wants to get!

The Kids having a little pow-wow!

Sunday, we enjoyed a great day of worship at our church, and Ethan got a much needed trim! He sat still and seemed to enjoy the process, so I am counting my blessings. Here are some pictures of our handsome man:

Crazy Hair!

Oh, that look!

Memorial Day was special because Chris had work off and we were able to spend the entire day together. We hit the mall and Target in the morning for a little sale shopping and Emma got an all-American tradition for lunch - a Happy Meal! After naps, we played outside the rest of the afternoon. Before bed, we got Emma nice and dirty by making her a s'more. She savored ever tiny little bite and made that thing last for at least 45 minutes. Finally, we finished the day off with one of mommy's favorite things to do - sparklers!

Mmmmm!

Happy Memorial Day!

Whether you spent Memorial Day doing lots of fun activities, spending time with family and friends, or both, I hope you took a moment to remember all of the men and women who gave their lives for our safety and freedom through the generations. I also feel indebted to all of those who currently serve and to their families who serve along with them on the home front - Thank You!

Family Photos

Our house is full of pictures. I love going from room to room and seeing photos of our family. Recently, we noticed a problem with our family pictures - something was, well, missing. That something, rather, someone is none other than Ethan! It has been two years since our last family photos and not only is Emma just over one year old, but our little man is nowhere to be found. So, we called up an old college friend and talented photographer, Jason Coobs, who graciously took some new pictures.

We also decided to take the pictures on the campus of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary not only for its beautiful landscape, but also because it has been such a major part of our family's story these last eight years.

Jason mostly does weddings, so we were very grateful that he agreed to help us out and we could not be happier with the results! Here are just a few of the many amazing photos of our family.