Just So You Know
I’m assuming the vast majority of you have already heard about Stephanie Nielson and the plane crash she and her husband were in back in August. Her story has been picked up by the New York Times and the Today Show; over a $100,000 were raised by auctions across the blogosphere, spearheaded by Design Mom. It’s not exactly a small story, is what I’m saying.
I first heard about it from Kayla, who reads her blog, but a day later, Bart told me about it when his family emailed him. It turns out that Stephanie grew up in the same neighborhood as Bart’s (both Bart and Stephanie’s parents still live in that neighborhood) and he went to church and school with her and many of her siblings. When he told me about her, he reminded me that her parents’ house is the one I’ve commented on a dozen times while driving or walking in that neighborhood because it’s so lovely.
Over the weekend, I finally started reading her archives and finished three years worth of entries yesterday (I used to read all the archives for every new blog I found, but now I read way too many blogs and have far too little free time to do that). I loved reading about her family, her kids and her marriage. I loved the pictures of her house and the cool things she cooks and makes. I could have bookmarked 90% of the entries as favorites.
There’s nothing really to say that hasn’t already been said by hundreds of people; I just wanted to acknowledge it here, though, because I’ve really been moved by her blog and the huge outpouring of love and well-wishes after their accident. And if you haven’t heard about it, I want you to know about her too.
I spent most of a workday reading through her archives too – her blog is truly beautiful and clearly a reflection of Stephanie herself. I’m definitely keeping them in my thoughts and prayers, and check for updates every day.
It’s neat that you have a connection to the family in some small way.
I had heard about them a while ago. I kept watching the Etsy auctions, but items would be sold before I could even tell what they were, it was crazy.
Amen, Janssen. Nie is amazing. And it’s incredible how the world is supporting her and her family through this.
I did the same thing — read every single word she wrote soon after it happened, even though I’d been reading C Jane for months. I love Stephanie’s outlook on life and the way she openly and proudly loves her husband and children so much. It was nearly impossible to even read between the lines and see a complaint in any of her posts. She’s truly remarkable and such an inspiration.
I went to high school with Christian. We were in choir and student council together. He was a great guy and I always wondered who he would end up marrying (thinking of the girls at our school). I’ve never met Stephanie but she definitely seemed perfect for him. 🙂
I love her archives. I discovered her blog a few months before her accident. She helped me recognize the fun and beauty in being a mom (EVERYDAY!).
It’s amazing what this “little” blogging world can do when one of our own needs help.
oh how I adore our BFF.
Thanks for sharing! I’d never heard about her. I’m so out of the loop! How inspiring!
I first read about her from Kimba and have been following her story ever since. Their story is inspirational.