Holding my head high

(The Little Nies in October of 2008)

Just as I am certain that God has a plan for me, I know

 He has a plan for these children, and they were meant to be mine.  

I wish my children had not had to go through this, but I hope this

experience has taught them how strong they are and

 that God is always there for us, especially in our darkest moments.  

They will grow up with a special understanding of people who 

look different, and I hope that blesses them with compassion and kindness.

My brother Stevie tells me they are learning grace and confidence

from me as I hold my head high in the grocery store while people stare.  

I hope so.

I will never know all that my children went 

through or all the ways they have been changed, 

but what I do know is, today, their future is just as 

bright as it was before the accident.

(taken from my memoir, Heaven is Here pg. 306)

 (The Little Nies in August of 2014)

Boarding

 (Mr. Nielson in 2000 and in 2014, I took both photos)

I bet you didn't know Mr. Nielson is a sk8ter.

When we began dating in September of 2000,

 he would take me to a special place in Provo 

where skaters would frequent because of the sweet railing and handicap ramps.

I am pretty sure he wanted to impress me.  Which I actually thought was 

pretty cute, and I was happy to watch him, but it was even better

if he'd take me to 7-11 before to get a Dr. Pepper Slurpee.

After we were married, life became busy and we both had so much

 responsibilities that we never went back to that place in 

Provo and he really never touched his board again.

With every move, he would pack it up and bring it through.

I think he secretly hoped he could get back into that one day.

Well, I am happy to announce that six houses later, and just this past week, 

he pulled his board out of the garage and he showed Ollie a few tricks.

Now, Ollie is a little obsessed, too.

Before we know it, Ollie will be showing Mr. Nielson a thing or two.

Family Theme #1

 On September 19th, 2004, Mr. Nielson and 

I sat around our kitchen table in New Jersey.  

The table Mr. Nielson had made me as a wedding present.  

It was made of pine and had a stainless steal top. 

At the time, we had Claire, 3 and Jane, 2, and I was pregnant with Oliver.  

I was really sick (as I get with all my pregnancies) and really homesick.  

For me, this was the first time I had moved...ever in my life.

I was young, and my family in Utah meant everything to me. 

 I missed my sisters, my mom, and my mountains so terribly

 I'd cry myself to sleep at night.

We sat down at the table feeling overwhelmed and a little discouraged. 

 We had no money and the home that we had just purchased was a dump.  

It needed major work to which we didn't have or the time or the money to fulfill.

(And also with my pregnant nose, this house smelled so bad. ALL. THE. TIME).

We sat together and I cried, while Mr. Nielson comforted me.  

Together we opened up our scriptures and read.  

I was still crying, and Mr. Nielson was still comforting me.

The scripture in The Book of Mormon that we were reading

 together referenced this hymn that we frequently sing in church

 during the sacrament.

The words left us stunned.   

The answer to our hurt and tearful pleas were

 jumping out at us as we read the words.

For courage to accept thy will,

To listen and obey.

We love thee, Lord; our hearts are full.

We'll walk thy chosen way.

We knew when we took the job all the way in New Jersey, it was right, 

because the Lord said so.

We listened and we obeyed.  

We know that God's way brings happiness every time.  

It doesn't mean it will be easy.  It doesn't mean that we won't cry or hurt, 

but the blessings will come. 

And everything will make sense. It takes hard work and lots of faith.

Then we decided that this hymn was our family theme.  

The words are a steady reminder in our lives and in our marriage

that when challenges present themselves 

we will always feel validated and protected.

If I line my will with God's will, no matter what it is, 

I am the happiest and the most content as a woman and mother.

Each year since 2008, Mr. Nielson and I choose a new family theme to guide 

and protect us throughout the year.  

We challenge the Little Nies to memorize the theme and 

frequently talk about it together as a family.

For the next few days, 

 I am going to write about each of our family themes.