I'm addicted

I just keeping going back...checking daily, sometimes multiple times a day. Checking on updates of the couple in the plane crash (Stephanie and Christian Nielson). I was able to raise $400 in my photography auction, so that makes me happy to contribute in a small way. Her sis, CJane (yellow arty box link on the right) is updating her blog and her storytelling is riveting. The past 2 posts really grabbed me. One, titled "Unexplained Infertility Explained." The other, about the Love Story of Stephanie and Christian.

When I was at the park today with friends, someone said to me, "So Kristen, what's going on in your life?" This was the first thing that came to mind, to tell about the story I read this morning. It's like a reality show that won't end. Someone compared it to the Truman show....at the end when followers all over the world are glued to the television set to see what Truman does. In this case, people all over the world are stalking this girls blog...waiting on pins and needles for details. When there are few details to share, she shares stories about this couple, this family, whom most of us don't even know. She gets up to 300 comments a day on her posts, which means I'm sure up to 1000 or even more are reading daily. I only occasionally read the comments, but what touches me even more is knowing that I am touched by it, but many many people are profoundly touched...lifechanging touched...and they share that in their comments. What impresses me is this families positive perspective, and how they are sharing that with others across the world.

CJane mentioned a few months ago that she might stop her blogging because it initially began as she detailed her infertility struggle. When she had her baby, she felt she had less to write about. Then she read the talk by Elder Ballard and saw the importance of continuing to share her life and her testimony through her blog (this makes me sad that my blog is private). Last week, they were on the Today Show, interviewed via satellite by Matt Lauer (siblings). Many people found their story that way and have tuned in since then. Here are a few comments from random people that have touched me:

-Like many I was drawn by your family's story, but have stuck around to enjoy your writing, which never fails to surprise and inspire. Also, as a politically liberal East-coast person with some preconceived notions about Mormonism, I've found that you, Stephanie, and the family and friends supporting you are doing some fantastic (incidental) PR for your faith and way of life.

-how can it be? I am not an emotional woman...not that I don't feel deeply....i just don't cry. Not too much. I think my husband has seen me cry a handful of times and we've been together over 12 years. But you, you and your sister....you make me cry....tears of happiness, sadness, joy, hope all mixed together. Thank you. Thank you for making me realize once again, what it means to live and how we need to treasure each day we have.

-What a beautiful story, and I am so thrilled they were finally able to be together. I've been on the edge of me seat for a month, just eating up every single post of yours as if I'm starving and only your blog can feed me. Thank you for touching us so deeply with your sincerity ... the laughs, the tears, all of it!

-She seems to be so genuinely happy with her life as a wife and a mother also she seem so truly in love with her husband which is so rare these days. She is an inspiration. I cry and pray for her, Christian and her children.

-I appreciate that you keep your cyber-family in the loop.

-I guess we all need a little reminder that every life can attain the good and wonderful things it desires, but first you must learn how to see it.

-I don't believe you will ever know how deeply and profoundly you and stephanie have impacted people's lives. Much like Christian woke Stephanie up, I too feel like Stephanie and you have awakened me. I feel like I have had a great and passionate love story of my own in my husband, but for the past couple years of our marriage it was beginning to get a little stale. After furiously reading everything I could about Stephanie and her love and her life, I feel like a new breath is now infused into my marriage. For that, I thank the great example from Stephanie, Christian and your family. You are all a living testament of passionate living. Thank you for sharing your story and keeping us all updated on Christian and Stephanie! *LOVE*

-although I don't know your family and am not even particularly religious, i pray for you all every day!!

-I love blogs because it makes me realize how much, and how many, people care about other people. Sometimes this crazy world makes you wonder....

-I asked my Rabbi to offer a prayer for your family

Anyway, I'm just touched by others tuning in, and am addicted myself. Click on the yellow box on the right for the CJane updates (by Stephanie's sister) and click on the blue box (Nie Nie) to read excerpts from Stephanie's blog from past almost 3 years (her brother is picking random entries and posting them at the top).

Thanks to my friend, Michael Robin, I have the blogs now of Christian's sisters and they offer more details than CJane. I was also linked to Stephanie's "celebrity status" before her accident. That was cool.