NieNie's Stephanie Nielson Is Pregnant & Tears Flow At AOC

Stephanie & Christian Nielson

Stephanie Nielson Isn’t Done Inspiring Us

Just when we thought that Stephanie Nielson couldn’t be any more inspirational, she has posted on her NieNie Blog that she is pregnant! Yes, Stephanie Nielson and her wonderful husband Christian are pregnant with their fifth child.

In a story I thought couldn’t get any more emotional and moving, Stephanie and Christian — who three years came into our lives in a fiery plane crash in Arizona, that took the life of their good friend Doug, who was piloting the plane — are about to have their fifth child.

Through the pain, anguish and disfiguring recovery — Stephanie more so than Christian — the Nielsons have lifted a lamp of hope to humanity on not only recovering from tragedy but dealing with physical disfigurement in our flawless-obsessed American culture’s pursuit of beauty. 

They remain a beacon on family and parenting issues, proving that families can survive tragedy, and that Stephanie — who suffered burns on more than 80 percent of her body — has a flourishingly positive and infuential life ahead of her. 

Stephanie and Christian Nielson’s Marriage

It seems that the Nielsons have always had a great marriage. I’ve read Stephanie’s NieNie blog prior to the crash and found myself so inspired my her views on marriage, children and also love and sexuality with her husband.

Even though she appears to have been a wonderful mother, Stephanie Nielson was very ‘hot’ for her husband, after four kids. Their relationship was as important in her mind as her children, a view rejected by many younger women today who put children first and don’t nourish their marriages.

So wake up to this news has me weeping big tears, as I have done for three years with the Nielsons. Perhaps no couple — and no woman — has made me reflect more about human values, recovering from tragedy, finding personal courage and resources, and facing the woman in the mirror than Stephanie Nielson.

I am thrilled for her, Christian and their family over the news of their pregnancy.  This is astounding news, one I am comfortable calling a miracle without abandoning my other core principle — many of them not shared by Stephanie Nielson, a devout Mormon woman who would not agree with me on many of my feminist principles.

My point has always been that our hearts do not know these barriers that politicians put between us. Most conservative ideologues would never admit that my heart and emotions care about Stepanie Nielson deeply. Like Oprah, I am the anti-Christ, the harlot woman trying to undermine God’s work.

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Love to NieNie's Stephanie & Christian Nielson from New York

Stephanie Nielson and her husband Christian a few months before the Aug. 2008 plane crash.

Update 7/8/11: At this point, I just laugh when the Stephanie Nielson stories pop big, as they did yesterday. It’s as if Stephanie just pops in, without an invite, keeping me on my toes. Her timing was perfect yesterday, prompting me to weave her incredible story into a new post of a ‘Beauty Revolt’ editorial from L’Officiel Ukraine. A similar statement from Vogue Italia is in the queue. As always, Stephanie helps us put life in perspective. Read my new musing about Stephanie Nielson: NieNie’s Stephsnie Nielson Faces ‘Flawless’ Beauty Head-on.

For inexplicable reasons I went looking for old digital friends today. Most likely, the fact that one is in town inspires me to wonder about the others — the people who have touched our lives, even though we haven’t met them. 

Wandering is a total luxury when you have no time to lose. Today I visited several digital friends, some who would probably be surprised that I care about them so deeply. 

Stephanie Nielson, NieNie Dialogues

No one has caused me to reflect on life, physical beauty, tragedy, courage, resilience and love more than Stephanie Nielson. 

It was this brave Arizona-mother’s courageous fight to live and recover from her devastating injuries in a plane crash, that inspired my reflections on the meaning of love, relationships and physical image in America and my own life.

Reading that first Stephanie Nielson post now, the entire case of characters remains in my life — for once. Perhaps this is Stephanie’s influence operating. 

Perhaps I’m getting better at permanency in a life lived very much in the moment — and for good reason. 

The story of Stephanie Nielson’s recovery is detailed in my periodic check-ins with her, all quiet and unobserved.

In no way am I a member of the NieNie inner-circle. 

via Flickr’s Crativity+Timothy K Hamilton

The Nielson Marriage Thrives in Arizona Bedrock

In the month of June 2010, when the Gore marriage has suddenly dissolved before the nation’s eyes, along with those of two Gore daughters, the Nielson marriage remains strong.

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