Amazing Wonders Aviation

It's that time again!  It is hard to believe that it has been a whole year since the last VBS, but last week Emma, Ethan, and I traveled around the globe with "Amazing Wonders Aviation."  Clad in her pilot's goggles, Emma was very excited to "travel" to the different stations for the first time as part of the Kindergarten class, while I was a co-teacher in the First/Second Grade class.  The church was covered in travel-themed decorations - from airplanes and globes to waterfalls and rainbows, and the halls were filled with the familiar sounds of children singing the always upbeat VBS songs! It is always a great joy to not only have my children participate in VBS, but for me as well to be able to serve.  I cannot tell you how much I benefited from the children's ministry program when I was a child, and it is a privilege to be able to help to continue that ministry to a new generation.

Of all the stations, it is safe to say that Emma enjoyed music the most.  She knew all the motions (better than I did, I confess) and even got to perform some of the songs and motions on Sunday with the rest of the VBS kids.

Ethan spent his week in the two-year-old class and though he was a little reticent about leaving his Momma every morning, he had a great time.  He colored, sang, listened to a Bible story, and even got to play outside with the water table.  As an aside, I am so very grateful for the nursery workers who spend their week caring for the worker's children so we can participate in VBS.  Not only did they allow me to participate as a teacher, but they did such a wonderful job planning fun and creative ideas for them to do during the week.  Ethan left his class every day excitedly telling me of all the things he got to do that day!

Major Ethan Dilley

In addition to VBS last week, my brother and his family came to town for a visit.  It was a joy to be able to see them and play with my sweet nieces.  Emma, Julia, and Ethan spent a majority of their free time playing with each other in the pool, and we are already missing them!  

Julia, Emma, and Ethan going for a swim!

After 2 days of rest from VBS, Emma began swim lessons this week!  What a busy and fun summer it has turned out to be and there is quite a bit left!

Summer Break

It has been quite a while since my last post!  I took a short "Summer Break", but now it is back to blogging!  In addition to updates on our family, I hope to finally finish some book reviews for you!  I also have some projects I have been working on over the summer, so I'm looking forward to sharing those with you too.

This summer has been busy and exciting.  Last week, we celebrated a very HOT 4th of July with some friends from church.  There was plenty of kids and babies running around, and Chris was kind enough to stay outside with them when the rest of us were inside fixing the food, watching the little babies, and, let's be honest, enjoying the air conditioning!  Since it got so hot, they spent most of their time in the kiddie pool and sprinkler.  Here are some great action shots!

Go Ethan!

 Go Emma!

It wouldn't be the 4th without Daddy in his Patriots Jersey!

Needless to say, they were tuckered out by nap time!  After they woke up, we headed to my grandparent's house for dinner.  It is such a blessing to us to be able to live near and spend lots of time with them!  Emma and Ethan love to visit because they get to watch Tom & Jerry and eat suckers (classic grandparents).  I wish I had thought to take some pictures there, but I totally forgot because we were having too much fun.

Next this summer we have VBS and swim lessons!  Before I know it, I will be writing my "Back to School" post (perish the thought).  Until then, we hope you are enjoying your summer and will update you on ours a little more often.

Birthdays, Batons, and Bouncy Castles - Oh My!

June has been an eventful month for the Dilleys!  We started the month celebrating our little man's second birthday (can you believe it?) Ethan is very into Dinosaurs lately, so we threw him a Dinosaur-themed party, complete with a Dinosaur cake!  He loved turning two and had a great time eating, opening presents, and spending time with his family.  
 

Ethan's Dinosaur Friends

 

 Blowing out the candles!

Not too long after we celebrated Ethan's birthday, Chris and I celebrated our 6-year anniversary.  It is amazing to look back at our lives six years ago and to see what the Lord has graciously done in our lives.  We kept it simple with dinner and a movie, but, honestly, we love to sit and talk, so it was the perfect date!  I feel incredibly blessed to be married to Chris and am honored to be his wife!

 Date Night!

I was also blessed to be able to participate in a special event at our church a few weeks ago.  As some of you know, my former youth pastor, Patrick McGoldrick, was recently diagnosed with ALS (see post here).  This year, as we honored the last graduating class under his ministry, our pastor surprised Patrick with a tribute to his ministry and a charge to keep running hard after Christ.  Lining the auditorium, a student from each graduating class under Patrick, from 2000 to 2012, passed a baton that read "Keep the Pace" - a reminder to keep running hard after Christ.  I was incredibly honored to be the representative for 2002.  As the baton was passed last to Patrick, we were all humbled by what Lord has done and continues to do through the ministry of Patrick and Dena.

Finally, as school wraps up this year, Emma, Ethan, and I visited my Dad's class on Field Day, and were able to do something we had never done before - jump in a bouncy castle by ourselves!  The school had rented several large bouncy castles for the students, but during lunchtime they were unoccupied and Emma and Ethan were able to jump, jump, jump!  

 Bouncing Away!

Video of all the fun!

And June isn't even over yet!

Hogwarts, Class of 2025

It seems like just yesterday I was writing about Emma's first day of preschool, and now I am writing about her graduation.  Yes, I am one of those Moms who loves all the ceremonies and celebrations - even in preschool!

The day of her graduation was an eventful one.  We began the morning at the pediatrician's office with Ethan who somehow managed to perforate his ear drum (he will be fine, but he gave us quite a scare).  Then, I took her to National Coney Island where she enjoyed, what else but a Coney Dog!  One of Emma's favorite treats is going to a restaurant and getting a hot dog, so she was very excited.


Then, we picked up Nani and headed to her last day of preschool.  We had a great time playing on the playground and cooling off with some Popsicles.  Finally, it was the moment we couldn't believe was here.  Her teacher, Mrs. Grashik, called her up and handed Emma her diploma and read from a sheet with questions they asked her about Kindergarten.  We have gotten several of these sheets this past year about various topics (How to Cook a Turkey, Holiday Questionnaire, etc) and they have all been pretty humorous.  This one was no exception!  Pay particular attention to the last two questions:

That's right, magic!  We have absolutely no idea why she has magic on the brain, but she is most excited about learning magic in Kindergarten.  Look out Harry Potter, Hogwarts has a new student!

Nonetheless, we are so proud of our Emma.  It is amazing to see how much she has learned this past year in school and we are so looking forward to seeing how much she will learn in Kindergarten.  We are also so thankful for her wonderful teachers, Mrs. Grashik and Mrs. Kehrig and all the time and energy they poured into her this year.  Their patience and love for learning made Emma love school even more!

Four years ago when I held that beautiful little baby in my arms for the first time, I could not have imagined how much joy she would bring to our lives.  What a blessing it has been to see how the Lord has grown her into such a smart and beautiful little girl and we are so thankful that the Lord has entrusted her to us.  We love you, Emma, and are so happy we are your Mom and Dad.  Look out Kindergarten, here comes Emma . . .

Emma graduating!

 

Nani and Emma

 

Mrs. Kehrig, Emma, Mom, and Mrs. Grashik

Take My Breath Away

One of Chris' favorite 80's songs is "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin (I can hear hear him singing goofily as I write).  Unfortunately, for me, it has become recent reality.  A few months ago, I came down with pneumonia (see post here).  After being treated with steroids and antibiotics, it went away quickly and I was thankful to be well again.

However, last week I started having difficulty breathing again.  My chest felt very tight, and it got worse Sunday after I sang in choir.  It took my breath away, and not because of the Holy Spirit (although it was an awesome song)!  So, I made another appointment with my doctor and she ran some tests to see what was going on.  My lungs are still free of pneumonia, but after a Pulmonary Breathing Test (PBT) she came back into the room looking very concerned.  For a non-smoker with no history or family history of breathing problems, the results were not good.  My lungs are not functioning as they should.  To start, I am now back on a steroid regimen and have a rescue inhaler.  Next, my doctor is recommending a pulmonary specialist and a CT scan.

Was this the news I wanted to hear?  Not really.  As a wife and mother of two rambunctious children, I was hoping for a less serious diagnosis.  However, I am learning again and again that God is sovereign and that His ways are not my own!  I can trust in Him because he is perfect in every way and because He has proved His grace and goodness in my life again and again.  Even in this trial, we have seen the many blessings that God has given us.

So, I am resting on His promises and praying for grace to trust Him more.  Mercifully, the steroids and inhaler have opened up my lungs and my breathing has already improved!  Please pray that I would not have an allergic reaction to them (as I did last time on a different type of steroid), and that the side effects would be alleviated; my joints ache pretty severely and my appetite is gone, which is problematic because I need to eat more when I am on them.  Also pray that God would grant Chris and I wisdom and discernment as we adjust and re-prioritize my daily activities. 

I was reading in Job this morning, and was encouraged and convicted by Job's response to the great calamity that the Lord had allowed in His life.  He says:

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
    or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;

or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish in the sea inform you

  Which of all these does not know
    that the hand of the Lord has done this? 

 

 In his hand is the life of every creature
    and the breath of all mankind."

Let us trust in the hand of the Lord for he is sovereign and over all things! 

Patrick's Sermon: The Sovereignty of God

Last Sunday, my former Youth Pastor and friend, Patrick McGoldrick, preached a sermon on the sovereignty of God.  Patrick was recently diagnosed with ALS (see post here), and to hear him tell his testimony of the Lord's sovereignty and working in his life was humbling, encouraging, and challenging.  

This may have been the last sermon that Patrick is physically able to preach.  However, his testimony of God's grace and goodness can be seen in his daily life and in the many lives of those he has ministered to throughout the years, of which mine is one.


I encourage you to watch this video and be challenged.  We so often take for granted the ability to physically preach the Word of God - do your words preach Christ?  Do you take every opportunity you can to tell of what a wondrous and holy God we serve?   

"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching...As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."

2 Timothy 4:1-3, 5

For some of you, you may watch this and empathize with Patrick's testimony.  Do you know the Lord?  Or are you trusting in "man's ways"?  I encourage you today to confess your sins, trust in Christ as your Lord and Savior, and live your life for God's sovereign ways! 

"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."

Romans 10:9-10 

A Long Overdue Letter

I grew up a church kid. God graciously blessed me with parents who love the Lord and who value the importance of being members of a local church. In our case, that local church is Cornerstone Baptist Church. I have attended Cornerstone since I was 6, and to say that the men and women of Cornerstone have been used by God to change my life is a gross understatement. There are so many precious servants of the Lord, from the Senior Pastor to my Sunday school teachers, to whom I am forever grateful to for showing me the love of Christ in their ministry and lives.

There is one person in particular, however, that God has used to indelibly change my spiritual walk. That person is my former Youth Pastor, Patrick McGoldrick.

I first met Patrick, Dena, Paige, and Parker when I was a sophomore in high school, and was instantly drawn to their family. Like many youth pastors, Patrick is gregarious and full of humor, but what really characterizes Patrick is his intense desire to see the name of God glorified through the Gospel of Christ. Sure, there were plenty of fun games and activities for us to participate in, but Patrick never failed to point us to Christ. He challenged us to share our faith, took us on mission trips where we could do so, identified our spiritual gifts and nurtured them, and taught faithfully from God’s Word. I could write pages upon pages of how my time in the youth group under Patrick and Dena’s ministry has forever changed my life and how I am incredibly blessed and honored to have been a part of their ministry.

What has impacted me the most, however, has been their response to a life-altering trial. In December of last year, Patrick was diagnosed with ALS. ALS is a degenerative disease with an average life expectancy of two years. Many would receive this devastating news and question the goodness and faithfulness of God. Instead, as Patrick and his family stood in front of our congregation to relay the news, he spoke of a loving and sovereign God who is still good and worthy of all glory.

Patrick, Dena, Paige, and Parker – it has been ten years since I graduated high school, and it has taken me too long to publicly express my thankfulness to you for your love and instruction in my life, but I want to honor you now.

Patrick, on Sunday you will preach from the pulpit for what may be the last time, but your ministry is far from finished. Even if the Lord chooses to take your speech, know that your entire life resounds with your love of Christ and His Gospel with a deafeningly loud steadfastness. You have never wavered from your call to serve the Lord and His people. You challenged me and countless others to follow hard after Christ and then led by example. I cannot express what a blessing it has been to have been a part of your ministry and to now be called your friend.

Dena, there is not a memory of Patrick serving in the church that does not involve you standing faithfully beside him, encouraging and serving as well. The door to your home was always open, your shoulder was always there to cry on, and you never missed an opportunity to share about the love of Christ. You are truly the embodiment of a godly woman and you have shown me such love, grace, and encouragement that I am a better wife and mother today because of your example.

Paige and Parker, as I look at you today, it is surreal to see how much you have grown – physically and spiritually. Your lives are living testimonies of God’s blessing upon your parents’ faithfulness to raise you in the fear of the Lord. Keep running hard after the Lord, follow Him with everything that is in you, and know that you are never alone. Our God is so good and gracious and He will not abandon his children.

Finally, know that there is not a single prayer uttered in the Dilley household that does not include one or more of you. And although we cannot comprehend the pain of facing death and of losing our spouse and father as you do, we weep with you over the pain you are enduring during this valley. But while we weep for a time, we rejoice in the knowledge that this earth is not our home and that Christ will return again to redeem His people.

We know that your service to the Lord was never done for recognition or accolades and that your aim in life is to bring glory to God and not to yourselves, but we are so thankful for what God has chosen to do through you. Chris and I truly find it hard to express the indelible mark you all have had, and continue to have, on our family’s life. We love you. May God continue to be lifted up as we await his glorious and triumphant return.

______________________________________________________________

To follow Patrick's story, visit https://patricksstory.wordpress.com/