NieNie

If you haven't watched the video I posted a few weeks ago, I highly recommend that you do. It is about a remarkable woman, Stephanie Nielson (NieNie). I was introduced to her blog over a year ago by a dear friend who knew I would love it.
 She had me read some of the early entries to get to know her a bit and then showed me youtube videos of the reporting of the event that changed NieNie's life. In reading her blog, NieNie appeared to be a pretty neat LDS woman who loved her husband and enjoyed making the most out of motherhood. Then she, her husband, and his flight instructor were in a plane crash that left her badly burned. Her husband was injured as well and the instructor was killed in the accident. I won't go into all the details of the crash, her recovery, or her life now. You can find all that on her blog. What I love about her story is that she epitomizes the "but if not" concept. She was a beautiful, vibrant woman who had committed her life to her Heavenly Father and was living a good life. Then she was injured and still suffers greatly through pain, surgeries, etc. Her blog entries have a depth to them now that wasn't evident before. She is in the fire and in the midst of her suffering, is choosing to remain faithful. Even though life is not turning out as she anticipated. Even though it would be easy to feel alone, isolated, and abandoned. She knows she has a Father who loves her and has not forsaken her and she continues to choose to worship Him and have faith in His purposes. I am grateful for NieNie's example and the path she is walking. I am grateful she allows us to participate in that walk with her. I appreciate examples of people who stand with God no matter what, even in the face of great pain and adversity, because that is what we have all been asked to do. From Elder Simmons' conference talk: "We must have the same faith as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Our God will deliver us from ridicule and persecution, but if not. . . . Our God will deliver us from sickness and disease, but if not . . . . He will deliver us from loneliness, depression, or fear, but if not. . . . Our God will deliver us from threats, accusations, and insecurity, but if not. . . . He will deliver us from death or impairment of loved ones, but if not, . . . we will trust in the Lord. Our God will see that we receive justice and fairness, but if not. . . . He will make sure that we are loved and recognized, but if not. . . . We will receive a perfect companion and righteous and obedient children, but if not, . . . we will have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that if we do all we can do, we will, in His time and in His way, be delivered and receive all that He has. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."