Stephanie McNeill is one of two Instagram followers I allowed to connect with me on Facebook over the past year. She wrote this sweet and humbling message to me last night via the FB Messenger app: "SUN 2:41PM
Mrs. White,
I've been meaning to message you for a while now and just haven't taken the time yet.
I just wanted to tell you that you are such an inspiration to me. Life is full of ups and downs (as we all know). I am the 2nd child of 11 and lost my mom tragically to a heart attack almost 11 years ago when the oldest was 14 and the youngest only 2 weeks old. I pretty much became "mom" from there as I was the oldest daughter and my Dad travelled for his job. So for the longest time my focus was always on caring for my family and their needs and I never really had my own identity.
The past year has been incredibly difficult for me. I lost myself completely as my grief and pain caught up to me. I am still trying to figure all of that out and learn how to exist in a world where my Mom does not. It is so hard that I've grown into adulthood without having a motherly figure to teach me the things that I need to know.
Anyways, I just want you to know that you remind me of her in so many ways. She homeschooled my siblings and I until she passed away and she was probably the most faith filled person I have ever met. The posts you write and the way you raise your family is so comforting to me because it's so familiar. I just wanted to thank you for that.
You inspire me to try and strengthen my relationship with God regardless of my circumstances in life, so thank you.
You have a beautiful family. You are in my prayers always!"