Today Is My Stephanie Nielsen Day

Today is the day I'm going to do some hard things.

It might hurt a little.

It might be a little scary.  

I might not feel strong enough to fight the fight.

But, because I met Stephanie Nielsen, over the weekend,

I am starting a new tradition.  

Today is My Stephanie Nielsen Day.

She gave me the little push to find more courage within.

Have you read Stephanie Nielsen's blog or book?

You know her as the plane crash survivor and mother of five

who blogs at www.nieniedialogues.com.  

I was so inspired by her at the Healthy Woman Conference,

in Evanston, Wyoming, where I was invited to speak in a breakout session.  

Stephanie was the Keynote speaker, and I met her and her husband.

Aren't they the cutest couple?

Stephanie witnessed of miracles, courage, and the importance of choosing your destiny.  And, to top it off, her love story with husband Christian (hmmm how I love that name because that's my hubby's name, too) . . . well, it's the THE BEST ROMANCE YOU'LL FIND!

I am loving her New York Times Bestselling book . . .

 She is truly an Esther of our day!  

She reminded me that
 loving ourselves and the life God has given us is a 

CHOICE we make every day.

So today, I will make the choice to have courage 
and do hard things.  

Because she made the choice to do something incredibly hard for the good of others--her family--she is now blessing millions.  She made a choice to live and love again, and as she puts it, "I wanted my job back as mother.  Nobody could do it like I could.  I knew my children would suffer without me.  They needed me."

Surgeries, too many to count.  Unbearable pain and suffering.  A face and body, forever changed by burn scars, making her unrecognizable to herself.  And yet, she overcame.  She is definitely ONE OF THE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMEN I HAVE EVER MET.  

I always say, "True beauty is felt more than it is seen." 

I could FEEL her beauty.  It is definitely SOUL DEEP BEAUTY.  

So, today, there are some hard things I have to tackle.

And I pledge to find the courage to triumph over things 

that seem hard, even impossible.

I'm calling it my STEPHANIE NIELSEN day.  

And it's about time I start.  :))

Dress the Part--A Success Story from House of Hope (my home away from home)

My House of Hope friend, Jenn, received a makeover and new "digs" from Utah Woolen Mills, recently.

They gave her the red carpet treatment.  She even had her own professional stylist!  

Meth.  Heroine. Crack cocaine and living in a Flying J parking lot with her husband and kids, for Jenn, seems like a lifetime ago.  It's a far cry from the woman, I know today, who now spearheads a weekly Coffee and Recovery group, to help women recovering heroine addiction. She also volunteers at House of Hope, where she received a new start, six years ago, and returns often to help other like herself to stay in treatment an get sober.

A couple of weeks ago, Jenn received a makeover, from a friend of mine, and new "digs" from Utah Woolen Mills and Studio 5.  It's the perfect celebration for her recent admission to the U of U.  

For 13 years, I have taught motivational classes at House of Hope, a drug treatment center in Salt Lake, and I've seen thousands of women, like Jenn, work to overcome their challenges of addiction and create a new life for themselves and their children.

Succcess.  Hope.  And new beginnings.

It inspires me every time I see a woman shatters the stereotypes of addiction that plague those trying to walk out of their past.  I've witnessed transformations.

MIRACLES really.  The kind God uses when he awakens a woman to her true potential and identity.

The House of Hope philosophy is save a mother and you save the children.  

This is why I teach at House of Hope.

These women are not strangers to me.

They are my students.

But more than that, they are my FRIENDS.

They are my HEROES.

I tell them that I've never walked in their shoes.  Never tasted beer, had a cigarette or done drugs. Yet, I ask them to love and accept me for who I am.  Because I, too, have weaknesses.  In return, I do the same for them.

We learn and laugh together.

Cry, craft, and cook together.

We also celebrate. We celebrate milestones: when a woman graduates from residential to day treatment, earns a sobriety coin, or lands a job.  When children are released back into her care, we hug.
We talk about good parenting.  Prioritizing what matters most.  Improving self-esteem in healthy ways.
We talk of hope and trust in better days of ahead, while appreciating the here and now.

Thousands of women have attended my classes at House of Hope.  And I have loved every single one of them.  Even those no longer here on this earth.

Me with some of my beautiful House of Hope ladies.
Jenn is on my left and Studio 5 Producer Jane Thomas is on my right.

All the women in this photo are talented, beautiful, courageous, and amazing!  It just so happens Jenn was the one chosen to be highlighted by Utah Woolen Mills to help her in her new adventure as a student at the U.  She has two beautiful children (one in heaven) and a husband, who bravely found a new life in treatment, also.  Sober for 6 years, together they make a lovely little family, because they chose a better way.  A life of sobriety.  Now their children will live in a world far away from the addictions that once robbed their parents of hope.  Jenn is an excellent listener, a positive role model, an energetic, kind and insightful soul.  Her dynamic personality has left a mark on my heart.  I am grateful to her for her example.

Thanks to Heavenly Father for placing me at House of Hope.  What an amazing journey it has been.  And I have loved every second of it.

To see the STUDIO 5 feature, click here:  Studio 5

Denise giving Jenn a makeover.

My beautiful and talented friend, Denise, gave her makeover for the shoot.  Thanks, Denise!  You're beautiful inside and out.  :))

To all my ladies at House of Hope, both past and present.  Be HOPEFUL.  You can dress the part of a sober and clean woman, and become that woman...one day and one step at a time. :))

Calling All Mothers

FREE

MOTHER'S DAY EVENT

Listen to Your Mother

I will be joining other UTAH moms for the NATIONAL SERIES

 of live readings shared locally on stage at University of Utah.

You'll laugh and cry and everything in between. :))

Bring your friends for a memorable FREE night out!

Listen to Your Mother Website

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

7:00 p.m.

University of Utah

Union Building

Salt Lake City, Utah

Hope to see you there!

Inspiring Video Message

Want to be inspired?

Experiencing something hard?

Find a quiet place and spend the time to watch this video

from a Stake in Herriman, Utah.

These sisters have such a beautiful message.

I spoke at their B-Day Conference where this video was shown. 

It touched everyone. 

Our stories are so powerful. 

So let's be willing to share them with each other.

Because they strengthen us.  

And remind us how much we need each other.

SHARE Love SERVE-Studio 5 Segment March 4, 2014 GIVEAWAY

Hope you're having a great day!

Enter a comment about my 
Studio 5 Segment

and you'll be entered in a drawing to 
WIN a Ruby Heart necklace.

The ruby goes along with my newest book.  In chapter one, "The Ruby Secret",
is where you'll discover why you're more precious than rubies. :))

I'll have more SERVICE INFORMATION on
https://www.facebook.com/shareloveserve


Favorite Things Party 

How mine started?  For me, the Favorites tradition started with my friend, Holly.  (Thank you, HOLLY!)
She created a gathering where friends could come and  SHARE their useful tips, helpful advice, and meaningful discoveries.  I loved it so much that I started my own version of Favorites and now she comes to my party, too. :))

What is it?   A party with a purpose.  Gather your best girlfriends (and maybe even gals you want to get to know, new neighbors, church friends, PTA or work friends) for a night out.  But, emphasize the "sharing."  What better way to SERVE your friends than to give them a night away from kids and worries. :))  Listening, caring, and receiving are some of the best ways to serve.

Favorites Parties come in all shapes and sizes, but I love a party with a purpose, so mine is focused on strengthening friendships, families, and faith.  Products and things are a part of it, of course, but they're not the only focus.  I haven't found a real great example on the web of a one size fits all, but that's the beauty of it.  YOU decide how you want to plan your gathering.

Here are a couple of links just to give you some ideas for decor, organization, and food.  ;)

Links to other favorite things parties:
Sample 1
Sample 2

Have fun thinking about your FAVORITES!

You are welcome to use or copy my invite.
Email me at jodirobinson2182@hotmail.com for a higher resolution file.

Download for FREE- Secret to a Happy Life

Inspiration for SHARE Love SERVE--A Year of Service

aired on KSL Studio 5 on Jan. 7, 2014.

Each day, find simple ways to 

SHARE with others

LOVE others 

and

SERVE others.

For a FREE download, email me at jodirobinson2182@hotmail.com.

Gift Idea - Ruby Heart Pendant

GIFT IDEA:  

Give this heart-shaped ruby pendant as a gift, along with a scripture tag Proverbs 3:15: "She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her."   

This pendant is the perfect reminder of precious principle, which I call THE RUBY SECRET, and is chapter one of my book, Precious in His Sight-seeing yourself as God sees you. It's perfect for daughters, young women, wives, grandmothers, friends.

ACTIVITY IDEA:  

Plan a brunch, dinner,or special activity.  Give one to the important women in your life.  They'll love it!  Think of it as a possibility for MOTHERS DAY :)) 

Email me at jodirobinson2182@hotmail.com, if you're interested in ordering one.  $2.00 each plus shipping

They take a couple of weeks to order, so please allow for appropriate shipping time.