Blessings...

I usually want to blog about some recent development with the kids.  Having 3 children aged 6, 4 and 19 months means that there are milestones being met every single day.  There's always something to tell (if you are willing to read it).  But today, I feel compelled to do something different.  I want to share about a book I just finished.

I first learned about Stephanie Nielson when I happened to catch her appearance on the Oprah show a number of years ago.  She is a wife and mother who was in a terrible plane crash in Arizona.  She nearly died but somehow managed to survive after being in a coma for several months and having burns to 80% of her body.  I remember watching her on Oprah and thinking "wow".  Her recovery and rehabilitation looked so painful and challenging.  I was most touched when they showed a segment of Stephanie giving her children a bath- all the while struggling with her injuries.

I read her story "Heaven is Here" and it was a most humbling, tear-jerking, heart-warming book.  I think as a mother I am so quick to complain about the minutia of my life.  Every day is filled with chores.  There is laundry, cooking, cleaning, diaper changes, bathing, more laundry!!!  Sometimes it bores me to tears.  After reading this book though, I realize that being able to do all of these things for and with my children is a blessing.  If Stephanie can do all these things despite all of her up-hill battles, then I can too.

If you are looking for inspiration, this might be just the book to do it.  I'm not saying that I will "enjoy" all my chores that much more now.  I will still struggle with the daily grind, but from now on, I am going to try to see the blessings I have in my life in a whole new way.