Two 4 Tea

I stopped in at the Chapman house last week and caught a glimpse of these two little ladies. Although they are looking stellar in their sweet outfits my heart breaks for a precious child missing here...sweet Maria. Even though life without her just doesn't seem right at this moment we all know that Maria is already at the biggest Tea Party EVER...having the best tea & crumpets. Remembering that, we know you girls had a special time.

Comments

[yogamama, Redmond WA]

Dear Grace~
Thank you for posting this precious photo. The girls look so darling, yet it seems very incomplete. It's almost like that place for Maria to stand is still there.

May we always keep that space in our hearts... We continue to uphold each one of you in prayer.

Thanks for supporting the family who is so dear to SOOO many. May God pour out His love to them through you, and may you be filled, comforted, and overflowing in His grace!

millie

[rip maria]

my mom is obsessed with her for some reason,,
lol you have inspired her to adopt now (:
rest in peace maria

[Stephanie Bass]

What a cute picture! My heart aches though, not seeing Maria, but also rejoices because she is in heaven with Jesus. I was just praying the other day, specifically for Shaoey and Stevey, and Mary Beth and Steven, as they help these little ones cope with their grief. Eph.1:15-19

[Karenello]

Hi Grace,

I have been praying for the Chapmans and to all friends surrounding them for over 4 weeks now. There wasn't a day I miss nor forget all of you in prayer throughout the day.
Their loss takes me back to my own pain of loss in 2004.

It's amazing how the Lord convict our hearts to pray faithfully for people whom we didn't even meet but been ministered through SCC's music and his family's testimony.

Every morning as I prepare for work, I look up the sky to talk to Jesus and ask Him to take care of Maria for now as she enjoy Heaven until she's reunited with her family. Also, I always say with a smile together with my 2 year old daughter "we will meet you in Heaven Maria Sue".

What an impact her life is to all of us in so many ways- a legacy we all wanted to emulate to live for Christ.

Also, the Chapman family has set a living example of trusting God even in the worst of circumstances.

The Lord truly has greater plan than what her family had instore for Maria.

I am still blown away from the tradegy and her loss. However, our Heavenly Father definitely is using the Chapman family to share their Faith all over the world.

Grace- I thank the Lord for their friends like you and your husband who serves this family and share with their sufferings alongside.

Please hug Shaoey and Stevey whenever you get a chance and enjoy your time spent with them in remembering their little sister Maria.

I greatly appreciated your update and photos of the cutie girls (my heart breaks too without Maria's big smile).

I'll definitely miss all her rock faces, smiles and poses in Mary Beth's blog.

"And whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
John 11:26:

With Much Love.

[Daniel, Renee, Hannah, Aspen Grace, and Sydney]

Absolutely precious.... and.... heartbreaking!
We continue to lift up all of the Chapmans and all in the ministry!
Love from CO,
The Hallgarths

[Christine Gordon]

Grace,
Thanks for letting us love and pray for this precious family through you. Bittersweet describes this moment caught on film. Please hug the Chapmans for us~remind them that our Lord weeps with those who weep.

Life will never be "the normal that it was" and I hope they don't feel pressure to make it happen.......this family will be forever changed; but by HIS WOUNDS they will be healed; and I know that by his grace He will be glorified.

When we lost our first born daugther......everyone tried to explain why. We had to rest in the fact that our Lord has a plan greater than we can see; BUT it doesn't mean that we were not sad. The ache is always there and we are just comforted to know He LOVES her even more than we did.

Tell Will.......he is loved....to not give up....that our Lord has great plans for him!

Steven, Mary Beth, Emily, Caleb and Will Franklin~Maria is BEING LOVED by her SAVIOR because of you ADOPTING her into your family.....you really lead her HOME!

Praying for you all,
Christine Gordon and Family in Gloucester MA

[Cristi]

the sadness in the hearts of this family is too much to comprehend. I just want these wonderful people to know their Maria Sue is in the arms of Jesus. I was blessed with a vision dream just after Maria's passing. A glimps of heaven reveals her running to the out stretched arms of Christ and he bends down from his throne to greet her. Her run is quite unique in that she was swinging her elbow to her fullest ability to rotate. Her black hair flowing behind her, her giggles of joy filled the moment.
The others involved in the accident should not blame themselves. You were chosen to play this role because of your strength. Your ability to recieve His understanding.
My God heap the fullness of His healing peace upon each member of this wonderful family.
In Christ Precious Name

[Jamie]

I think it never really sinks in until you see a picture and the person who's gone isn't in it.

[Melissa Nydam]

Grace, what a great pic of those precious girls! I pray daily for all of you and wanted to share a story about your boss that i hope will make you all smile a little!! About 3 or 4 years ago Steven was going to perform in Lowell, MA at a concert. I was on the fund raising committee for Bethany Christian Services of New England (the adoption agency) and we were asked to "man" a Bethany table with infor. about Bethany for the audience to become famililar with it's work. Well, when the opportunity made itself known, i was so thrilled along with some of my friends to be able to go to Steven concert and also help out Bethany as well. You see, i had enjoyed his music for a few years and my friedn, Pam, who is the New England director of Bethany knew how i really enjoyed SCC and his music. OK, i know this is getting long, but this is the great part of the story and the reason why i love Steven, the person , not the musician. We were waiting for Pam , we had the table set up and waiting for her to arrive when she flew into the lobby in a whirlwind and said, "oh, i am so sorry i am late, i hit traffic then came in the wrong way and had to carry all my bags up the stairs and then a nice young man asked me if he could help me and I said yes, and then someone else said "Steven, you dont need to do that, let us...." lol, he is a humble and loveable chap. The part i loved was Pams face when i said, what did he look like and she described him, and sure enough, it was SCC carrying her bags!!! Again, sorry this is a little lengthy, but i wanted to share how funny that was, but yet how humble he is . I do pray, daily, for strength for all of you....His music has reached, helped and healed so many that i hope our thinking of you all hopes you right back and you feel it!!
Melissa from Massachusetts

[The Vander-Plas Family - Lubbock, Texas]

Thank you for the sweet picture, Grace. I know it will be hard every time to see the two little girls together when there should be three little ones...but they are darling.

Thank you for your update!
Still prayin',
Kristen Vander-Plas
(for the family)

[Julie Nicholas]

How precious those girls looks, but it did give me a twinge of pain in my heart knowing how much they must miss their sister joining in with them. You are stil all in my prayers!

[Lori Powers, Kentucky]

What precious children. Thank you for sharing the photo. I am another who is praying daily for you and the Champman family. Although I am a stranger to them, they have been near and dear to my heart for a many years and even more so now. May God carry you all through this difficult time.

[vilma_Philippines]

hi grace, we're praying for the Chapmans.We were blessed by his concert here in the Philippines last 2007 at Cathedral Of Praise and we'd like to do the same by praying for them..for all of you..God bless.

[Jenny Godwin]

Those two little princesses are absolutely adorable. Grace, I have never met you or anyone in the Chapman family but want to thank you for your recent posts. They are so blessed by you. Know that you are all being continuously covered in prayer and that there is still a multitude of people standing in the gap to intercede!

[Beka]

Oh they're beautiful. Still praying for them. I just got the Cinderella book today and plan to read it soon.

[Amy]

I wonder how many late night (and teatime) conversations are directed Heaven's way these days?

This is such a sweet picture, but it made me cry...

Prayers sent daily for all of you!

[Klaye]

Grace, Thank for showing us how to be strong in Christ! In every season, there is hope eternal.

[Jessica]

I'm glad the girls are playing and having fun though I'm sure their hearts are hurting not having there other frequent tea party guest there. I pray for the entire Chapman family and esp. Shaoey and Stevey that the Holy Spirit would minister to their deepest needs and comfort their hearts! Thanks for loving them so well, Grace! Please give them all hugs from me!
God bless,
Jessica

[Lee in Coral Springs FL]

Thank you for sharing with us all. It is comforting to know that the entire family as well as being wrapped in a hug by Jesus also have warm caring people close by also. Continue to pray for healing for an ache that must seem unbearable at times even though we know the little angel is in a much better place
{{{ <>< )))

[Hennen family in MN]

Grace,
Today while my daughter Sarah (Adopted from China Jan. 05) and I were weeding our garden we talked about little Maria and low and behold the most beautiful Yellow butterfly landed next to us. I knew Maria was sending us a message. We continue to pray for the Chapman family and those that are close to them. God's peace and healing to you all.

[Dan & Susan Wilcox]

I know there are quite a few websites I could share this with you all, but if you think of it, please let the Chapmans know that there are three little girls, ages 10, 5 & 3 that still pray for them at every mealtime and every single bedtime. My five year old, Bethany, seems particularly moved by your darling Maria, noticing right away that "Momma, she was my age." We cannot begin to comprehend what you all are going through, but please, if it could possibly bring any comfort at all, know that your precious baby girl has been used by the Lord to make Jesus and Heaven more real and even more anticipated to my young daughters than ever before. They (we) always pray for you to be comforted, but I also often hear, "Thank you Jesus that one day we will be able to meet Maria in Heaven." The fact that my THREE year old is praying this just astounds me!!

We love you, Chapman Family (and friends)!!!

[Marianne]

Grace -
Thanks for your faithfulness to the Chapmans and to keeping the rest of us prayer partners in the internet world updated on at least a piece of life there. We are praying for all of you who are close by, supporting them, and living through the grief with them. God is faithful and He will be glorified in all of this because you are committed to Him. We know it is not easy and there are so many "things" that would have "normally" been getting done that aren't, and which don't even seen important anymore, but some of you are trying to pick up the pieces and take care of them, behind the scenes. We will keep your daily lives in our prayers, too . . . If there are any specific prayer requests that are needed, there are obviously a lot of us out here praying, so give us direction. It is an honor to try to do something to help a family that has given so much of themselves to help all of us walk closer to the Lord through Steven's gift of music.

[The Ackleys from Kettering, Ohio]

Grace,
How hard it must be for you? What a blessing you continue to be to this family!! Loving, uplifting and grieving with them. Praying for you. Praying for the whole Chapman Family today and every day. Peace to you, Rosanna

[Stephanie]

"Maria is already at the biggest Tea Party EVER"

And that is the blessed hope we have in Christ!

[Kelly]

Thank you for sharing this. It's good for those of us sharing in this family to know that joy is still there. God still has beautiful and amazing plans to unfold for the Chapmans, and this photo is a symbol of His grace.