Never Once Have You Left Us On Our Own

Summer is here and as a teacher that brings the blessing of a little slower, more relaxed pace, time to catch up with tasks around the house, projects and most importantly  a little more free time to spend with friends and family.  We love it means face to face visits, but for those of near and dear to our hearts who are across the country or the world it means time for updating you and keeping you current on the Dillon girls via our blog and or email.  

It’s hard to believe my first year as a full-time fifth grade teacher is complete.  What  a busy, but great first year!   I love fifth grade and my students were wonderful.  This, my first group of fifth graders, will always hold a special place in my heart.  I am blessed to be a part of a wonderful district and truly  enjoy my colleagues.   It was a busy school year both at home and at school.   As anticipated the first year teaching was time consuming with lesson planning,  and working with the curriculum to develop meaningful lessons for my students.   On the home front things moved at a steady pace too with both Kate and Maggie graduating this year.  Their senior year was filled with many events and activities.   With the hectic pace of the past year, I have decided not to do any grad courses this summer.   I am thankful for a chance to catch my breath, and enjoy some time with both girls and work on getting Maggie ready to head off to college.    I am still working a few days a week at the flower shop this summer to help with weddings.  

Kate graduated the end of April from Malone University with her degree in Social Work.  We are so proud of her accomplishment and stand amazed at God’s faithfulness and provision for every need in the four years of her journey at Malone.  It’s nothing less than a miracle that with the challenges she faced along the way… residual effects from treatment the first year, processing/short term memory issues, hip fracture, and pneumonia that she was able to complete her course work on time.   Her professors approached me at graduation and wanted me to know that Malone’s Social Work program is a rigorous one, and not an easy feat for any students.   Kate will always be my hero, as I have watched that sweet spirit persevere with grace, never complaining every step of the way.   Kate’s  life and story is truly one of God’s amazing grace!   With graduation behind her,  the next hurdle for Kate is to be able to walk unassisted again.   Since her fall last April, Kate has been dependent on a walker to get around.  Kate cannot take a step independent of the walker.  The combination of nerve damage from chemo, muscle weakness and balance issues make walking independently a huge challenge.  She has made small strides with PT, but our desire is to get her some inpatient rehab.  She desires to walk, drive, get a job and enjoy the independence being 22 years old.  Please pray with us in this process. 

Miss Maggie had a fantastic senior year.  She can hardly wait for August and going to Eastern University near Philadelphia where she will major in Elementary and Special Education.   Maggie has been very intent on doing her part to contribute toward the finances of her college education.  During the course of the year she worked hard at completing many applications for scholarships both for the university and others in our local community.   We feel very blessed that she earned several of these and are thankful for the help they will be towards her tuition.   Maggie too works at the flower shop.

We celebrated Maggie’s graduation with a trip to New York City with Maggie’s best friend, Molly, her mother Renee and the girls’ friend Roland from Costa Rica.  It was a fantastic trip filled with lots of walking, seeing the sites, bargaining for purses in China TownJ, and seeing Lion King on Broadway - what a fabulous show!!

We trust your summer is off to a good start.   We would love to hear from you.  As always, we wish we could keep in touch on a more regular basis.  Please know that if you have plans to be in our area of the country there is always a warm welcome for you at the Dillon Girls’!

Reflecting over the past year,  looking at where we have been and where God has brought us we rejoice at God’s faithfulness in our lives.   Last year was one of challenge that kept us totally dependent on God, constantly looking to Him for strength and guidance.    During that year I went to back to grad school to complete my certification, in April Kate fell and broke her hip, in May my Dad was diagnosed with cancer and we lost him in June, in the midst of all that I was in the interview process for my teaching position.    There were times when I wondered how I was going to make it, but we were never alone.  God is faithful!!  We recently sang the song “Never Once” by Matt Redman.  The words of this song perfectly reflect my testimony of praise.   I would like to leave you with the words of that song, praying that in your lives, regardless of what challenges you may be facing,  where you have been or where you may be going, that you too will marvel at God’s faithfulness in your lives!

Never Once By:  Matt Redman

Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we’ve come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Carried by Your constant grace
Held within Your perfect peace
Never once, no, we never walk alone

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Evermore we’ll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful