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.
To the Dilley family, thank you SO very much for all of your sacrifices. It is a huge sacrifice to go and serve our country, and it is also a huge sacrifice to stay behind and take care of your family. God Bless all of y'all. *hugs*
What a beautiful story! I may be the only one, but I can't get the video to play. It says it's private.
Thank you Dilley family!
Ditto with Whitney...can't view the privite video. :( They look like such a darling family and very deserving. I will do my best to spread the word and encourage everyone to vote for the Dilley family! Thank you to Kevin, for all your service and sacrifice for our country. And to Tyrena for keeping the home fires burning!!
That is just awesome. What a completely deserving family. Please put a reminder on your blog when the voting opens. I definitely want to help this family win. Congratulations Dilley family!!
I cant seem to find the "gift of good" link on the Home Depot FB page
I've tweeted and shared via FB and will vote as soon as it's open to do so. Good luck to this well deserving family!
Great choice! I will definitely be voting :-)
hey- so happy for the Dilley's!! My cousin Caitlin has spina bifida too and she also had a shunt put in her head and when we were little, we could never go to the movies and because of it. My cousin deals with everything so well and is so strong I dont think I would have her attitude as she has surgery's annually and it's always something. She is still going for her dreams (of doing nails) and i just love her so much and I am now praying for the Dilley's too- I know God will bless them like he has blessed Cait in so many ways
You picked a great family. The Dilley's are very deserving and I loved the video. Thank you to the Dilley family for your sacrifices!
I shared on Facebook. Good luck to the Dilley family.
Just something to look into; when I needed a wheelchair ramp built a few years ago, I was led to the Lions Club. One of the philanthropic things they do is provide free labor to build wheelchair ramps! They recycle lumber from when one comes down and ask for the homeowner to provide as much of the rest as they can. We paid it all and made a donation, as they also run the volunteer ambulance in town, which we have used too many times. With Home Depot I'm sure it would be no problem to provide all lumber :-). Love to the Dilleys when you have a chance to be in touch.
Wow! Sorry it has taken so long for me to post, this is the first chance I've had to be online today. Everyone's comments have put me to tears. There is nothing better in life then knowing that others care so much for the well being of your family. I haven't even posted the link to my husband yet, something I will do right after this, he's been expecting it all day. Thank you Janet for letting me know about the Lion's Club I will need to look into that. Just curious Erica, does your cousin live in Utah? We go to Spina Bifida Clinic (in fact we're going again in a few weeks) and I wondered if I've ever met your cousin. Thank you so much to everyone for your support and for all the support we receive for the next week or so. This is an incredible blessing to our family, I am so excited and nervous and I'll admit it's very hard to concentrate on every day life. When Stacie came to our door it took me a minute to register what she was saying, it was so unexpected. I just have to say that I was very impressed with Stacie's boys and how kind they were to my kids. In fact my two older girls kept talking about the two older boys long after they had left (it didn't take them long to develop a crush! lol ) I appreciate everyone's support! Thank you , Thank you
Dilley Family
what a great thing. i certainly hope that your fam gets it. i will be voting asaopen. good luck to you. thank your husband for his service to our country if you would please. you have a very sweet family. even if you dont win, i have a feeling that you may get help from other sources. good luck to you.... susy
YAY Tyrena! You have such a wonderful family. You'll bet I'll spread this nomination around. Love you guys!
Good Luck Dilley Family! I hope you win! I will do my part to spread the news to get others to vote! Stacie, you did a wonderful thing, choosing such a lovely family! And lastly, Thanks to Home Depot for supporting our Military and families!
Stacy what a wonderful family you picked! Just want to thank the Dilley Family for their sacrifice for our country! I will send a note out on facebook too and twitter.
This is the most amazing thing Ive seen in a while. I will be voting, tweeting, and facebooking. I hope they win--such a deserving family!
I don't see the link. Is it there, or is it me? I really want to vote.
I don't see the link there either... maybe we're just too soon! I'll try again later. What a great family, can't wait to cast my vote for them!!!
Hey Tyrena and Kevin,
It has been along time since I have seen you and who knows if you even remember me, but I did want to say thank you Kevin. Thank you for your service for our country. In and of itself is amazing to me. In my mind it takes a special breed of person to be in the military. To be away from your family as much as you have been to protect mine... Thank you man. Words can't express my thanks enough.
Tyrena, it is one thing to be a mom. I see it everyday and I don't know how my wife does it. And we only have 3 kids. 5 kids is a few full time jobs at least. Add to that the special needs that your kids have and to watch the video and see you smiling constantly as well as your kids. It shows the kid of mom you are to do the things you do day in and day out and mostly alone with Kevin gone so much. He is lucky to have you.
I will cast my vote and I will add this to my facebook page as well. I hope you win and my prayers are with you guys. Your family is an inspiration.
Jason, of course I remember you! That was during the good old days when we all knew so little about life. Glad to hear you're doing well! Do you live in Utah? It seems everyone from CA moved to Utah. Thank you for voting!
Sharon, so glad to hear from you! I miss having Bethany and Megan around! (Sharon's daughters) I hope to see you again soon. We may take a trip to CA to see friends and family for Christmas since Kevin won't be here, still contemplating. It's such a long drive and with all the kids I really have to think about it. If we do come, I'll make sure and give you a call. Thank you for your support!
Thank you for posting on the Homeschool Group Danika, I miss you!!!
I don't think I've written so much in even a months time on my computer! I don't have a lot of time to be on the computer, but I want everyone to feel they are appreciated for all of there votes and support. I'm still so baffled and amazed with all the support that we have received. Everyone is so amazing! Thank you!!!
Kevin & Tyrena, I am thrilled and honored to add my name to the list of those voting for your family. As you know you always have my vote. I cherish the times we've had together and watching your amazing family grow. Contribution after contribution has been made by your darling family and I pray that you will be chosen as one that deserves it most. Both of you are serving in many many ways and you are such a great example to us all. You have a beautiful family and I hope you will soon be together again enjoying your updated home.
Voted! Such a great story! I sure hope they win! They totally deserve it. What a beautiful and inspiring family!!
Tyrena & Kevin, You are an inspiration as a couple and as individuals. Your family is so beautiful!
Tyrena and Kevin - you so deserve this! I knew you as crazy teenagers and now I get to see your amazing accomplishments as adults! So blessed to know you.
Tyrena always has a smile on her face. What an example! Even with everything on her plate, I've seen her give her time to other good things as well. Voted!
Thank you Marni! I just went in and looked at your blog, so cute! I love that you can admit to loving cookie dough. I also loved the poem about children living in your home, it reminded me of what's important. Thank you for voting!
I absolutely adore your whole family, Kevin and Tyrena! Susan called me this morning to tell me about the nomination. I am passing the information on to others! I hope it goes like wildfire! We've stopped at your house a couple times since the last time we saw you guys, but you're never home! You busy mama, you!
Thanks for your sacrifice! Thank you for being such an inspirational mama! Thank you to your kids for having those fun contagious smiles! We need to get together again. We miss you guys! I guess all of us who know you figure that you know you have had an impact on us, but maybe you didn't realize... YOU ARE AMAZING! Thank you for following the course God has laid out for you. Thank you for being the brave woman you are. I LOVE YOU!
Tammy, I'm so sorry we missed you, I would have loved to see you! That's funny, you've always been my inspiration. Thank you for taking the time to pass on the info. I miss you!
Love you
Tyrena!! Some of our dear old friends shared this on Facebook and I'm s glad I saw it. How exciting! I love you guys and think you all are absolutely amazing! I'll do what I can to spread the word :) Lots of love....Summer
Wow, good to hear from you Summer! I'm amazed at how many people I'm hearing from that I haven't talked to in years. Thank you for supporting us and spreading the word!
Love you
Tyrena
Hey Tyrena!!!! That's the same joyful girl I remember in high school!!!! :) Always smiling, no matter the adversity! You're such a trooper, darlin', and an inspiration to us all. You're amazing!!! Our youngest came 7 weeks early and had only an 8 day stay in the NeoNatal ICU and I was a complete wreck! I'm humbled at how you handle the ongoing challenges with your girls, with such grace. Hugs to all!!! Love and Peace in Him, Michelle
Thank you for your support! I'm glad your baby is home and healthy. Don't you miss those high school years! Miss you
Miss you too sweet pea!!!! :) he's 3 1/2 now(already) but it's still so vivid of s memory, you're so strong for your babies!!! I'm so proud of you!
Did you know that the Dilley house was hit by a car and has a lot of damage. So along with all the things that need fixed , they have new worries now. Just thought I would let you know.