Book Review: Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson

HEAVEN IS HERE: AN INCREDIBLE STORY OF HOPE, TRIUMPH, AND EVERYDAY JOY
by Stephanie Nielson, with Amy Ferguson Hackworth
Voice, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4013-4179-4
Inspirational Nonfiction

Stephanie Nielson began sharing her life in 2005 on nieniedialogues.com, drawing readers in with her warmth and candor. She quickly attracted a loyal following that was captivated by the upbeat mother happily raising her young children, madly in love with her husband, Christian (Mr. Nielson to her readers), and filled with gratitude for her blessed life.

However, everything changed in an instant on a sunny day in August 2008, when Stephanie and Christian were in a horrific plane crash. Christian was burned over 40 percent of his body, and Stephanie was on the brink of death, with burns over 80 percent of her body. She would remain in a coma for four months.

In the aftermath of this harrowing tragedy, Stephanie maintained a stunning sense of humor, optimism, and resilience. She has since shared this strength of spirit with others through her blog, in magazine features, and on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Now, in this moving memoir, Stephanie tells the full, extraordinary story of her unlikely recovery and the incredible love behind it—from a riveting account of the crash to all that followed in its wake. With vivid detail, Stephanie recounts her emotional and physical journey, from her first painful days after awakening from the coma to the first time she saw her face in the mirror, the first kiss she shared with Christian after the accident, and the first time she talked to her children after their long separation. She also reflects back on life before the accident, to her happy childhood as one of nine siblings, her close-knit community and strong Mormon faith, and her fairy-tale love story, all of which became her foundation of strength as she rebuilt her life.

What emerges from the wreckage of a tragic accident is a unique perspective on joy, beauty, and overcoming adversity that is as gripping as it is inspirational. Heaven Is Here is a poignant reminder of how faith and family, love and community can bolster us, sustain us, and quite literally, in some cases, save us.

A heart-wrenching memoir of love, family, and sacrifice told by the creator of NieNieDialogues.com. I really enjoyed this book. Not only is it beautifully written, but it is full of heart. I found it truly inspiring and a great reminder of how much I appreciate my own belief in God and my family.  I too would not have made it through some of my struggles without my Heavenly Father's help as well as my family.  As much as I love my job and enjoy blogging, they don't compare to the joy-filled times I've spent with my family.  Stephanie shares many of those times with her audience, letting the reader feel of her joy in being a wife and mother. After the accident when everything in her life changed, she found courage to go on through her belief in God and the many sacrifices and services of her family.

While I can't imagine the pain and depression she experienced, I admire the determination and courage that she and her family has shown in the face of such adversity. For those looking for a great read and an inspirational story of love and hope, I highly recommend this read.

Blog Tour: A Glimpse of Heaven by JoAnna Oblander

A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN: One Woman's Life-Altering Visit with God
by JoAnna Oblander
Hegemony, 2012
ISBN13: 9781599559766
ARC e-copy received for review in conjunction with blog tour.
All opinions expressed are solely my own.

 Through both personal and spiritual experiences, JoAnna Lynn Oblander guides us to a deeper understanding of our heavenly home. Shared within the covers of this book are experiences and insights that will remind you of God's great love for each of His children, His desire to be a daily part of our lives, and that each of us has come to earth to fulfill a unique and important purpose.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: (from Goodreads.com)

JoAnna Oblander is a Billings, Montana native who has been married to her best friend Greg for more than 33 years. She has been a small-business owner for most of her adult life and has served in several leadership positions. She is the mother of six children – two of whom were adopted from Russia and the adoring grandmother of 10 grandchildren (and counting). When she is not spending time with her family, she volunteers in the children's organization of her church. "Jo", as she is known to her friends and family, is passionate about Family, Whole Health (Whole Health is based on the premise that mental/emotional, spiritual and physical health are all key components to a person being truly healthy), and helping others create a life of joy and purpose based on the eternal truths that she witnessed and learned as a result of her visit to heaven.

JoAnna welcomes the opportunity to talk to groups, congregations, and organizations about:
• Whole Health
• Overcoming Depression
• The Plan of Life
• Believing in Who We Are and Our Capacity to Become/Being Who We are Meant To Be
• Natural Health and Healing
• Nutrition
• Making Real and Positive Life Transitions
• Strengthening our Relationship with Our Creator
• Adoption/Reactive Attachment Disorder

This book touched my heart in many ways and not just because I'm a member of the same church as the author.  Being an introvert myself, I know how hard it can be to share experiences and feelings with the world. It leaves one vulnerable. I admire the author for being so open when it was so hard for her to do so, something she admits in the book itself. I think the parts I related to the most were her internal struggles. Maintaining one's self worth in the face of a world that is so very focused on criticism and controversy is an on-going battle for many. While the methods that JoAnna uses to overcome depression will not work for everyone, they provide a feeling of hope, hope that such challenges can be overcome.

Still, the parts of the book that impacted me the most were the insights the author shares about God, Our Heavenly Father and how much He loves every one of us.  I appreciated that she shared her journey of discovery and pointed out the things that allowed her to gain these insights. The things she shares agree with so much of what I myself have come to know about our Heavenly Father and why he allows us to experience so many heart-wrenching things. For those who are struggling and need a lift, need help in finding their way, this book provides hope that there is always one door that can be opened by us, between God and ourselves.




For other thoughts on this book, see the book tour schedule here. And thanks for stopping by.