Get some tissues handy. . . .

I want you to know, especially those who submitted families, that every family I got an email about was deserving. Every family had a story that made me tear up. Every family should get a chance for a $20,000 home makeover. I also want you to know I did not make this decision lightly. I prayed I would make the right choice. It was a rough few days with that responsibility on my shoulders. At first I was reading the emails and I was moved by all the situations but I did not feel like I had found “the one” yet. I remember getting the email about the Dilley family. I just knew. I knew instantly and with total confidence that they were the family I was suppose to pick. I had families nominated that live in my same town and that would have been way easier to just choose them. The Dilley family lives an hour and a half away. But I didn’t care. It could have been 3 or 4 and I would have driven there.

Their dad, SSgt Kevin Dilley, has been overseas 3 times to Iraq and Afghanistan and is now gone a fourth time to Greenland. While he is gone Tyrena is at home with their 5 kids who are 11, 9, 7, 4, and 2. Two of her children have Spina Bifida and are in wheel chairs. They also both have shunts implanted in their heads and have a vasecostomy causing to have to wear a diaper 24 hours a day. They also recently have had surgery on there feet making it a total of 7 surgeries for Gennaveve and 4 for Irelynn. Because of the latest surgery they will both be in casts for a month. These girls have an amazing attitude! The lady who nominated them told me how impressed she was with how well they deal with their challenges. After meeting them I would agree wholeheartedly :)

The Dilley family lives in an older home (1949) that needs a lot of help. They currently need a new heater, new roof, new air conditioner, they have zero insulation, and they need their house to be wheelchair accessible.

The Home Depot provided me with a $500 giftcard to be able to pick up some holiday items for their family. I had told Tyrena that I needed her to sign some papers in order for her family to be considered to be in the running for the makeover. What I didn’t tell her was that I had already picked them :) But if I was going to drive an hour and a half I wanted to make sure they would be there.

I want you to notice how Irelynn is holding my hand with both of hers. I bent down to be in the pictures and she grabbed my hand, squeezed them and grinned at me. I MELTED. She has such an amazing spirit about her.

I have gotten to know this darling family and I would love for you to feel like you know them a little bit too. Please watch this video I put together :) Thanks! You guys are the best!!!!

To vote for the Dilley family so they can get the much needed updates to their home you can go to The Home Depot Facebook page and on the left hand side there will be a link called “Gift Of Good”. Click on that and then vote :) The voting will not start until 12:01 am Tuesday (tomorrow).

When I was asked to do this one of the first things than ran through my mind was that the family that I picked had a really good chance of winning because I have such supportive readers. I want to thank you in advance for taking the time to vote and for spreading the word about this. If you don’t have a facebook account, then tell everyone you know who does :) I have gotten attached to this family. I have met them, been in their home, and looked through family photos. I want this for them so badly. So thank you for helping me, and helping them.

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