Amazing Grace

showHOPE ...all NEW ...all GOOD!

 

New name, new offices, new look...

The newly improved and ever so much more spacious showHOPE offices. Yes, that's right!  The showHOPE staff has been packing/unpacking/organizing/purging/cleaning and boy does the new office space look great.  I had the privilege of helping out too! :)  (for those of you who know me, know that of course I was STOKED!)  With the help of the staff chose the colors and had Jim the great (Mary Beth's brother) paint the tree at the entrance to the office space.  Pretty skookum, eh?  I love it! (thanks Jim!!)  I got up on a ladder and balanced long enough to paint the showHOPE logo up on this tall wall.  Then I started on some finishing touches to make the space personal.  I found these great paintings (also painted by Jim Chapman) that are called "Guardian Angels".  I couldn't decide which one to hang so found a wall to hang them ALL!!!  (rumor has it that these may even be for sale)  All in all, we're ready for our (invitation only) Grand Opening next week.  Steven and Mary Beth and the showHOPE staff wanted to do this just before they go to China to do the exciting ribbon cutting of Maria's Big House of Hope.  Gotta LOVE that!  I can hardly wait to see pics.

We'd appreciate your prayers as a large team leaves for China in the upcoming weeks.  It's an honor to work with these amazing folks and to see how God is working.  I am truly blessed!

The hard fact...

...many of you who are our faithful friends (that we don't even know personally) have been amazing to keep all of us in your prayers over the past year.  Today is hard.  Many of you have walked through the fact with us that Maria has gone to the Cinderella castle with Jesus and continue to be affected by her no longer being present here on this earth.  Things are not the way we thought they should be.  It's still so heart-breaking to try to grasp.  The Chapmans have received tons of card, notes, letters, packages from so many of you who truly care!  Thank you and especially for remembering.  We are honored to have a team who are willing to commit to pray today.  Oh Lord, let us see just what you have for us.                 You are loved!

(for those of you who haven't rec'd one of these postcards over the past year..please accept this note of thanks from the Chapman family)...

Dearest friends,
We've been completely overwhelmed by the love and support of so many during this time of deep deep sadness.  Even though we've been walking through the darkest valley imaginable to us, we have not been alone.  If you're receiving this it's because you've been one of those God has used to "meet us" with truth and encouragement we so deeply need right now.  While our hearts are heavy with the reality that Maria isn't with us for now, we do grieve with hope that indeed she is "safe in the arms of Jesus", our faithful Redeemer and sovereign Saviour.  May we all continue to proclaim..."Blessed be your Name...You give and take away, but my heart will choose to say, blessed be your Name!"
With all the love possible, Steven, Mary Beth, Emily, Caleb, Will Franklin, Shaohannah, and Stevey Joy.

Cinderella dolls...a surprise from "behind" the scenes

OKAY!  ...you must know how much I love to sneak in a tidbit every now and then...  Well, you may have already heard about these little cuties from Mary Beth's blog.  I stopped by the house this morning and inspected these little beauties!!!  How cute are they...and, in doing so--LOOK WHAT I FOUND ON SAID BEHIND!!!  :)  ...gotta LOVE that!!

Check out just how and where these limited "CINDERELLA DOLLS" will be available on Jim's blog. 

P.S. ...and, if I find out first...I'll be sure to let you in, kay? (wink wink)

Message to heaven...up up & away...

In honor of Maria's birthday today, we were invited with some family and close friends to celebrate!  From decorating butterflies to cupcakes to writing messages on these helium balloons..it was bittersweet!!!!  Each of the kids present took a balloon and wrote a message to Maria along with their impressive artwork, that is!  We said a prayer together and then all at one time released the balloons.  We watched, cried and smiled as they floated heavenward!  We miss you Maria!  And, we know that you were with us today even though you are up there in heaven.  By the way Maria...you would've LOVED the cupcakes today--VERY YUMMY and they made my tongue blue! 

...would've been 6

This is a face too sweet to forget!  There would have been some sorta cake (probably made by one of the greatest moms I know) with six candles on it today for her.  She probably would have sneaked down early while it was still somewhat dark and been excitedly hovering over her mommy or daddy's face...hoping to wake someone on this special day--her birthday!  She may have been trying to whisper (and with the eager anticipation her voice slowly getting louder without realizing it) something about wanting breakfast, chocolate chip pancakes minus the chocolate chips in hers :) (daddy's specialty) perhaps as we all know that this girl had a healthy appetite :)  Although there won't be any of this today, please join me in  remembering one of the sweetest little girls I had the pleasure of knowing.  A little monkey that lived life with all that was in her.  A cuddle bug who had and incredible family--each loved her unconditionally, and she them.  I am thankful today for Maria...she has touched SO many hearts and lives.  She was probably way ahead of us...knowing that one day we would SEE just a glimpse of God's plan as her life will continue to touch lives in so many ways.

Thank you for all of your love, support and prayers.  As I read through the mail and emails I am blown away by the continued support for the Chapmans.  Please remember this family this month of May..one of the most difficult times in their lives.

Be blessed...you are LOVED!

Most precious GIFT

I know I know...I've been a "slacker" to say the least in blogville.  Sorry, but really it goes in waves.  Mary Beth and Jim are back in full force giving you more details than even I can get...so enjoy their blogs.  (Besides, they're much better writers than me...and, I'm not afraid to admit it.)

BUT, I wanted to share this (even though it's personal and Jim may opt to take it down :)...I wanted to share one of my most prized gifts which btw Mary Beth and Steven shared a HUGE part in!  (that's gotta count for something, right??)  Just over one year ago I was handed this sweet little bundle.  She is THE most amazing little girl! (oh no, I'm not biased at all)  I wanted to make her 1st year very special so we did a VERY COOL photo shoot with Jordyn.  Okay, now you have to admit--she IS pretty sweet!!!  This is one of my favorite pictures from the shoot...done by an amazing photographer.

To check out more of our fabulous photo shoot, go to: KeoniKphotography
We had an incredible experience with one of the most talented, easy to work with photographers around.  AND, he travels around the country!!  Check it out. (p.s. above the first pic there's also a slide show :)

The kinda cake you don't wanna eat!

Have you heard of a "towel cake"??  Well, we've the last couple of months have been full speed ahead in prep for Caleb and Julia's wedding!!!  A couple of weeks ago we had a shower for Julia and I made her a towel cake.  Although it wasn't the kind she could eat...she still liked it ;)

This is gonna be some wedding!!  I'm getting excited...
...please pray for sunshine!

Promise amidst the storm

I wanted to share this amazing picture (although it's not the greatest photo--taken with my phone :)...it's from last Saturday evening.  I was headed (quite quickly) back home from running an errand when I heard the tornado warnings over the radio.  I had dashed through the parking lot caught in a major downpour of severe rain and wind and hail to arrive safely to my car.  What a great feeling to finally plop down into the front seat (although soggy by this time) and shut the door behind me.  I felt somewhat sheltered and overcome with relief.  I was only just around the corner from climbing into the hall closet on the main level of our house when I almost missed THIS!  There weren't too many cars on the road at the time so I pulled over and snapped a shot.  First of all, there is this amazing cherry blossom tree in full bloom--awesome.  In the background a grey and erie dark sky.  Then there actually was a double rainbow, but I think you can only see one in the pic.  Pretty cool to know that driving through and into the storm, God showed up.  Kinda breaks down all of the whys, what fors, why me's at this moment...doesn't it?  Well, it did for me.  I pray that you all survived this weekends stormy and threatening weather.  Be blessed!

100 lbs. of CHANGE for ORPHANS!!

I just wanted to share a sweet story about one of my best friends and what her sons did the past couple of months (sorry, just gotta brag a little :) 

Blake Barton (and his little brother Hudson) collected CHANGE for ORPHANS in his very own Franklin, TN neighborhood!  He was SO touched by what Shoahannah's Hope is doing he took one month period to collect change from his family and neighbors.  Little did he know that these small buckets would add up to be almost 100 lbs. of change!!  YIKES!  So, he recruited dad to come along and help pull the wagon to collect all of the change. 

After taking it in to be counted, he brought in a check for almost $700 to Shaohannah's Hope.  (Phill, Caleb, McKensey, Julia, Charlie / Kathy, Blake, David, Hudson & Emily were kind enough to pose for a photo). 

Thanks Blake (Hudson & the Barton family/friends) for joining us to make a difference in the lives of the fatherless.  Your willing and kind heart will be part of an amazing miracle that will impact orphans both here and around the world. 

Let the "guessing" begin

Come ON!  ...you know you LIKE it!  ...and, for those of us who have been fans for a while...we're actually chuckling to ourselves right now :) ...trying to think back, picture Steven in this BRIGHT YELLOW jacket?  Can we call it that?  It certainly is something I never thought or expected to be taking a picture of and blogging about! Hah, but hey...why not? Here's a real look into the treasures that I come across. 

So...can you remember when and where Steven would dare adorn this lovely garment?  Just take a stab at it :)

(...and, yes...this has been dry cleaned and will be going up for auction sooooon!)