nienie on oprah

Yesterday I watched Stephanie Nielson on Oprah. It was inspiring and emotional and everything beautiful. She looked radiant and it was obvious to everyone how much her Mr. Nielson loves her. I still get tears in my eyes when I think about the way he looks at her. She truly is beautiful.

This morning, before the kids woke up, I logged onto NieNie Dialogues. I have been following her fabulous blog since the crash. But she was documenting her life years before the crash. This morning I read from her archives... somewhere in 2006. As I read, I just kept thinking what a beautiful thing blogging is. She has those precious years documented. Her life is so different now and I am sure those journal entries are priceless. Had she not survived the accident, her children would have such a big piece of her to look back on. They would have known how much she loved being a mother. And how much she enjoyed the everyday, little things.

Although her life is difficult, the world is a better place because she is still here. What a miracle it is that she's still alive! I love thinking about her being able to bathe her boys and make crowns for girls. They need their mother.. Oprah was so right when she called her a Warrior Mother. Stephanie's example makes me want to fight harder, love deeper, live with more enthusiasm, hug my children tighter and count my blessings.

There is something magical about recording the day-to-day mundane things of life. I am so grateful I have the ability/privilege to do the dishes... make lunch for my kids... and enjoy their laughing (and fighting) in the background as I type this. I am also lucky to have my own Prince who loves me despite my weight gain and rollercoaster personality. Today I truly feel grateful-- and exhausted! My kitchen faucet was broken yesterday and I am way behind on laundry... but life is really, really good.

Thanks to Stephanie Nielson for her beauty-- it most definitely comes from the inside and can't help but shine through. Here's to blogging and to enjoying the mundane things in life. Most of all, here's to Mother Warriors everywhere.


ps. if you didn't see Oprah yesterday and you live near me, feel free to stop by and watch it. I made my husband who never watches Oprah sit down after his long day at work. Even he got teary-eyed... which proves it was really touching.