New Year Reflections from a Winter Wonderland of Snow

The prediction was for 6-8 inches, but we ended up with a winter wonderland of 18 inches plus. The mass of whiteness surrounding us shut down life for most of Saturday as everyone began digging out of what some folks say was the fourth worst winter storm in Pennsylvania history. The winds caused drifting blocking my garage with snow as high as the top of my legs. It would have taken me at least a day to dig out of the back drive way. God truly amazes me with his provision and care of even the littlest of details our lives. A high school freind, who I haven't seen since our reunion in September, stopped by and pulled out his shovel to join my parents and me shoveling the front drive. He was out and about helping friends out and helping his brother with plowing near by. I asked him if he thought his brother would be able to plow out my back drive. Sure enough as we began digging out behind the garage door, his brother drove in and they made an all afternoon task a 30 minute job. What a tremendous gift and blessing!!

Being snowed in also provided me some time to put together a blog update... As we begin a new year we look back at 2009 with grateful hearts. It was another year filled with daily reminders of God’s goodness and faithfulness in our lives. Some of the brightest points of the year for us were the special visits we enjoyed with family and friends. Friends visited from Kansas, Tennessee and China via Tennessee. Memorial Day Weekend was a fun time with family in the mountains of eastern Pennsylvania and Labor Day weekend the girls and I enjoyed a most memorable trip to Annapolis, Maryland to visit with friends. How grateful I am for the heart ties God establishes with friends that endure the miles and years that separate us. The visits we shared with family and dear friends were so special for Kate, Maggie and me – true treasures of our year.

One of the high points of 2009 for Maggie was being a principal dancer in her high school’s performance of “Grease”. Maggie, our perpetual motion girl, was in her element with the dancing, singing and drama of "Grease". She could hardly wait to get back to school after Christmas break and begin rehearsing for her role as a principal dancer in this year’s musical “Beauty and the Beast”. While Maggie is always pretty enthusiastic and positive about all of life, the low point of 2009 for her was being sidelined for her entire cross country season, with the equivalent of a stress fracture in her hip. With the onset of winter track and the musical we are thankful for the healing of her injury and that she is once again running and dancing free of pain. With Kate away at school Maggie and I have had special opportunities for one on one time together. I love Maggie’s spirit for living. She brings so much laughter and joy to my life with her high energy, passion, drama and enthusiasm for all of life.

Kate had her best semester yet at Malone University this past fall. She is embracing college life and able to enjoy the experience so much more this year. She has been blessed with fabulous suite mates and friends. Maggie and I had a good time planning a surprise birthday party for Kate with her suite mates. The look of surprise on Kate’s face was priceless when we walked into her suite with cake and a Mexican feast of fajitas and tacos. She and her friends enjoyed the home cooked meal and a few hours of diversion from studying for finals. I could not be more proud of Kate. She has persevered through all she has been through with such grace. She never complains about anything associated with the residuals that have resulted from her treatment. The processing difficulties are impacting her studies, making her sign language class her biggest challenge. She is learning new study skills and is learning to advocate for herself and use some of the adaptations that are allowed for her in education plan. She is one amazing young woman and I thank God every day that she is alive and truly living life to the fullest. The leg pain that Kate began experiencing before Thanksgiving was scary and stressful for us all, as we all recalled that was how her cancer reoccurrence began in 2006. We received the best Christmas present of all on December 21st when Kate had a clear MRI. We continue to rejoice and are so very grateful for this amazing grace gift from God.

I continue to substitute teach in our school district. I was blessed with two back to back long term subbing positions that carried me through Thanksgiving. How thankful I am for the consistent work teaching. God is so good to provide for our every need. One of the highlights of 2009 for me was the incredibly gracious gift from friends of an Alaskan Cruise. The trip was a fabulous experience filled with the incredible beauty and majesty of God’s creation in Alaska. What a perfectly timed gift – a much needed time of rest and relaxation. One of my biggest challenges is juggling time. While life is busier than I would like it to be, I am thankful that God faithfully provides the health and strength to walk or on some days race through each day.

If you still follow our blog, I’m sure you have noticed that the updates are few and far between these days. I hope to continue to provide periodic news of the Dillon girls, but remember, like the old saying “no news is good news”. We are grateful for friends and family both near and far who continue to journey beside us in thought and prayer. You, our family and friends, are often on our hearts and in our prayers. May the love, joy and peace of God fill your hearts and homes as you journey through 2010.

With love,

Elaine, Kate and Maggie