Stephanie Nielson

If you have yet to see the Mormon Message about Stephanie and her family, please watch it, it's beautiful and amazing.

I watched this a few weeks ago when I wasn't feeling very well. Forest asked me to watch it, I think he knew it would help me feel better. Today has been a rough day, it's been a rough few weeks. I knew I needed to watch it again. I found Stephanie's blog and went all of the way back to before the accident. She has a beautiful life, the life that I have always wanted. Faith, a wonderful husband and adorable healthy children. Even with all of the advercities she has to face for the rest of her life, she is still a daughter of God and knows her true worth. I wish that everyone could have that attitude. I love hearing the stories she tells of her and her husband, Christian. He is just as amazing as she is.

So, as I have been feeling down and out for weeks now and with feeling stiff, tired, unmotivated and everything else I have been feeling, I have let so many things go. I just don't feel like I have the strength to move on and get things done. Even going home and making dinner has been a challenge most nights after getting home from work (where, usually, I feel the best all day, that's a blessing). Forest has stepped up and pinched in more than he ever has. After hearing about how much Christian has done to take care of Stephanie, I didn't even have to contemplate for one second if Forest would do the same thing for me, because I know he already has. When my body revolts against me, he is right there ready to take on anything that comes with it. I could never express how amazing my husband is, there just isn't an earthly possible way to do it. He has faced much adversity in his own life and sometimes I feel like I should be ashamed with the issues I bring to the table, but he is always there to guide and help me, no matter what.

I find I am the exact opposite of most people when it comes to prayer. I am always very quick to pray in thanks to our Heavenly Father, to let him know I appreciate all of the wonderful things he has given us. I still find it so amazing that we live in a great house, we both have jobs we love, we have never struggled with financial problems, even when Forest was unemployed during parts of the first few years of our marriage. I even thank him for the time we have to share as a couple. Because we don't have children, we have had so much time to bond and develop together. While it is sad we haven't received that blessing, we know that He is waiting for the right time for Him. We are so thankful for the blessings he gives us in return for all of this waiting. On the other hand though, I rarely pray when I am having a rough time. I feel like He doesn't need to be bothered with my problems, that no one needs to be bothered with them. I sometimes wonder why the help isn't coming and it's because I haven't asked! I am trying to be better about that...

Stephanie's attitude toward her appearance has really uplifted me. I know she is sad that her former self is gone, that she is this new person. Her spirit about it is amazing though. I have read so many hurtful comments about her being vain, but not once have I felt that about anything she has said. I could only imagine what it would be like to go from looking one way to looking completely different and then top it off with immense pain and troubles with mobility. I have struggled with appearance issues my entire life, being my weight, thinning hair, premature graying, having hair where I REALLY don't want it, my big feet, those types of things. All women struggle with their appearance and it's a constant struggle at that! As a teenager I thought I would never be thought of as "beautiful". Meeting Forest changed that, as he tells me on a regular basis how beautiful I am, even if I don't feel it myself. I have slowly learned to love some of those parts of me. I have to dye my hair, but it's a fun bonding experience for Forest and I (because he has to help me!) and I have an excuse to try new colors. I have finally found a hair cut that I love, but is easy to hide my thin spot (and I get SO many compliments about it, even though I've had it for 6 months now). I have finally found a skincare routine that minimizes the redness in my face and takes care of blemishes, because I can't believe I still have them at my age! I have felt different my entire life, but we are all different and beautiful and that unites us as women.

I doubt Stephanie will ever read this, I'm just one little spec floating around in cyber-space, but she really has me thinking about things I can do to change my life. I have many roadblocks in my way, but I can still try my best to get through them (or go around them!). I want to thank her for sharing her story, even if some days she just doesn't feel like it! Her blog is under my most visited now, I would encourage everyone to read it from time to time.