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!
Thanks All! Let's just say I've been occupied with lots of "other" things...I do appreciate your care/concern. I thought it was pretty cool to read what Mary Beth and Jim were posting--so I could take a breather :) (...plus I've had phone issues which makes it kinda hard to blog) But, alas...I'll blog something soon...
Sharon - Something Crazy was written about a sweet lady in Uganda named Lois. She's amazing and her story is compelling! Her organization is called Tender Trust.
Kathy - Yes, Mary Beth's maiden name was Chapman! How wild is that. That is part of the reason they first met in college...they shared a mailbox! :)
Thanks for asking. Happy Monday!
Posted by: Grace | July 27, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Just chekcing in to see if you are okay! Also thought we could get a picture of Stevey Joy's room, since you finished it! You are so talented! Missing reading your blogs.
Be Blessed!
Posted by: Laurie Licari | July 20, 2009 at 04:12 PM
Grace.....
Just checking to make sure you're ok. I wasn't sure if are on a well deserved vacation while the Chapman's are out of the country or if you were just to busy to post.
Thanks for all you do and for involving the blogosphere. :)
You and Jim have lifted my spirits many many times!
Have a blessed weekend.
Posted by: Janice | July 16, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Hi, I'm not sure where else to ask this question: In SCC's song Something Crazy, is the "lady in Uganda" Katharine Hines of Hines Ugandan Ministries? We support her ministry and this sounds exactly like Katharine!
Just curious. Thanks!
Posted by: Sharon Hartman | July 13, 2009 at 04:55 PM
Wow.love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) Looks so good.God bless you all.Thanks for sharing.Praying for you and your family.
Stephanie G
Charlotte,NC
May the ministries the Lord have you in soar to the hem of heaven!!
My fam and I are bout to go to Myrtle Beach,SC July 4 week.Going to be a blast.I myself will be writing poetry and revising the ones I have written.
Thanks for sharing
Posted by: stephiegdalyrist | July 03, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing a sneek peak. I love the tree and what it represents. I also love the Guardian Angel pictures. They look like they were meant for that wall. (Although if they should decide to sell them, I'd be interested). Maybe like Millie said, maybe he could do a limited print or something instead of selling these. Either way, the place looks wonderful and inviting.
Praying for the upcoming trip.
Posted by: Julie McDermott | June 23, 2009 at 06:42 PM
I always plan to stop in when I drive from Tx.to N.Carolina. Thanks for sharing the new digs per the pics. Question: Was Mary Beths maiden name Chapman as well? I wondered...with her brothers last name being Chapman.?????
Looking toward hearing of God's work in China through show HOPE. "concealed, the seed is mysteriously growing......a Kingdom"!
Posted by: kathy naylor | June 23, 2009 at 07:52 AM
Looks stunning! Wish I could see it in person.
Posted by: Debbie from Ohio | June 22, 2009 at 08:55 AM
Great! We are raising money and hope to DELIVER it! Can't wait!
Posted by: Tanya Robinson | June 20, 2009 at 06:18 PM
B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!!! Praying daily. "He who watches over you neither slumbers nor sleeps."
Posted by: Claudine Thompson | June 19, 2009 at 09:20 PM
It looks great! I love it - and that tree with roots is so appropriate for adoption. I want to adopt internationally some day and Steven and Mary Beth have always been an inspiration to me because of their own adoptions. I remember reading an article about the struggle many adopted children have with the family tree assignments that often come up in school. There was a suggestion that the tree include the roots, for the child's biological family, and the branches, which are their adoptive family.
Posted by: Dana | June 18, 2009 at 11:28 PM
Beautiful work to the new office. I'll be in prayer for safe travels for everyone going to China.
Posted by: Kelly | June 18, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Grace! thank you for sharing these awesome photos!!! I love the tree mural/logo on the wall.
From what I can see, the guardian angel paintings look fabulous. imho, you should really keep them together. 8 is an 'auspicious' number in the chinese culture (not that we're superstitious at ALL, but it's neat when things turn out that way). if I might suggest, maybe Jim can create some limited edition prints from those paintings. I've seen artists do that where they are numbered and signed, so they are still special, but you can retain the originals. AND you could put them into an 8 pack of greeting cards/blank note cards? :-) just a few ideas...
heh heh... and packing/unpacking/organizing. how fun. glad you had a good time doing the "work" you do so well. and if you're ever looking for work on the west coast... ;-)
hope all's else well in your little corner of the world.
blessings,
millie :-)
Posted by: yogamama | June 18, 2009 at 01:40 PM
always great to SEE all the Lord is doing through all of you! Such a beautiful way
to SHOW HOPE! Jim....you've got talent.
You are amazing, Grace!
Prayin on for the China trip...with hope
for the special moments at Maria's House
of Hope.
Christine Gordon and Family in MA
Posted by: Christine Gordon | June 18, 2009 at 09:37 AM
Looks awesome!! Jim Chapman sure is talented!
Posted by: carryu2jesus | June 18, 2009 at 08:54 AM
thanks so much for taking the time to share those pictures with us. Looks great. Lots of prayers for the wonderful trip to China. Hope all goes well & everyone has a good time even though it will be bittersweet. I bet Maria Sue is smiling up there now waiting for everyone to SEE what she helped create. God bless everyone .
Posted by: shannon blake | June 17, 2009 at 10:57 PM
Looks beautiful!! Can't wait to see the mighty Plans God has for Show Hope and Maria's Big House of Hope!!
Prayers continue...
Posted by: diane | June 17, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Beautiful!!! Lots of great things will be done in this new space. :o) God's blessings to all who work there!
Posted by: Vanessa Schaecher (from Nebraska) | June 17, 2009 at 09:59 PM
It looks great!! Thanks for sharing with us. I am a long time supporter of the Stevey Joy club and wish I could do so much more for the cause. My Guatemalan princess is working on collecting change to help "the children".
Thanks for all that all of you do and many prayers will be lifted up for the groups as they travel.
Posted by: Lori in NC | June 17, 2009 at 09:26 PM