2 years ago, February 20, 2008

 

 

A little late to write this, but two years ago today, Maria and Stevey Joy prayed and asked Jesus to come into their hearts.  I am so thankful that God gave me that time with Maria.  Maria, I can't wait to play football with you in God's BIG BIG House.  I miss you and I will love you always.

In honor of Maria, I'll post a sneak peak of the Maria's Big House Of Hope Shirt, and The Maria's flower shirts.  The neat thing about these shirts...All the proceeds of these shirts will go to Maria's Big House of Hope, named after Maria.  The story is even printed on the inside front of the shirt.  I wanted a way for her artwork to carry on, and for a cause.  All of these shirts plus much more, coming to the new Show Hope on line store!  The pictures on the on-line store will show more detail. Keep checking, it should be in the next week or so.

Thanks again for loving us through these tough days, a journey never wanted, but trying to steward well,

Hugs,

Mary Beth

Comments

[wholesale tapout]

You looks really cute in the first photo, you and your two kids wearing the same size of short, very cute.

-mikee

[Anna Ramirez]

I was looking for a chance to tell you how impacted my husband and I were when we first heard the story. Later after, we got the rare chance to find this new CD "Beauty will rise". (It´s a lil´ difficult to find good English music down here in Mexico, or we get it several years after it came out) Anyhow, a friend of us got this CD for us and we though it was gonna be really nice to listen to Steven´s new material, so we hurried to open and listen to it... What a surprise! I got chicken bumps when I started listening "February 20th"... Immediately, that story I´ve heard before came to our minds. Wow! I coldunt help but to cry and say: Thank God for the great testimony of this family! What a trial they´re going through! We started to pray in that moment and we still are, for you all, and wanted to let you know that even if we´re never ment to meet here on earth, we will some day in heaven and we´ll meet Maria too and her big big house! We are very very sorry for what it happened that time, but we know within all this, there is God purpose working, and we´re part of it! :) God bless the Chapman´s family! We love you all!

Camilo y Anna Ramirez

Jer. 29:11

[Julie B]

Praying for you daily. Just finished reading "Choosing to SEE" thank you so much for your honesty thru out the book. Please continue to share on your blog. It has brought comfort for so many of us.

[vicki talton]

Dear Chapman Family,You are in my prayers.My husband and I are thinking about adoption.I thank God for your testimony.Vicki,TerryTalton.

[Rosie Herrera]

Hello Mary Beth,
I remember being in much sadness two years ago when I heard on K-Love about your loss. My heart ached for you as a mom and thought how unbearable that would be for me if God was to take a child of mine.

Well two years after Maria passed away, to the day, we experienced the same loss. On May 21, 2010 our sweet 7 year old daughter Alicia went home to be with Jesus. It's only been a few months since her passing and we're still on an emotional roller coaster. Thank God for our faith and reading stories like yours because it has given us hope.

Just wanted to come by and share a little bit of my story and how I will and have known this feeling of grief but we grieve with HOPE.

My love to you and your family,
Rosie Herrera
Scottsdale, AZ

[Nikki Elkins]

Mary Beth, I lost my beautiful, sweet, love of my life, Samuel Isaac, on April 29, 2010, in a tragic car accident. He was 18 years old. He fell asleep at the wheel and crashed head-on into a tree. His cousin was in the passenger seat and came out unharmed.
As you know the extreme pain and anguish from losing your Maria, I totally connected with you in your writing. That pain that only a mother can know. I too struggle with my belief and faith. I have only prayed once since the accident. I don’t know why God didn’t save such a pure soul who touched so many in such a short life. He had such a zest for life, and EVERYONE loved him.

Anyway, I can go on all day about how wonderful my son was! But I want to thank you so making me SEE the little signs and God’s grace. I know now, looking back on the events before the accident, that God was somehow preparing me and that he has given me other blessings in my life. I have two other sons, Benjamin and Alex, who keep me going each day.

Thank you again and please pray for us.

Nikki Elkins, mother to Samuel, Benjamin, and Alex.

[Marilyn Cantrell]

MARY BETH, I JUST FINISHED YOUR BOOK AND APPRECIATED IT SO MUCH. I WAS STRUCK BY THE THOUGHT THAT AS THE GROUND IS LEVEL AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS........SO IT IS WITH GRIEF. WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, LIFESTYLES, ETC. IT'S OBVIOUS TO SEE ALL THE GOOD THAT HAS COME SINCE MARIA'S HOME GOING AND THAT'S WONDERFUL. BUT, WHETHER THERE IS OBVIOUS GOOD THAT IS BEING ACCOMPLISHED OR WHETHER THE GOOD PLAN GOD HAS IN ALL THINGS IS NOT SO VISIBLE, WE'RE LEFT WITH THE LOVED ONE STILL IN HEAVEN, NOT HERE. AS I READ, I ALSO WONDERED IF MARIA'S LIFE WAS EXTENDED, LIKE HEZEKIAH'S. SHE GOT OFF TO SUCH A ROCKY START AND THE 5 YEARS OF HER LIFE WERE A MIRACLE IN ITSELF. BUT, I WONDERED IF GOD EXTENDED HER THOSE 5 YEARS FOR THE GREAT, UNENDING, AMAZING LEGACY THAT WOULD REMAIN HERE ON EARTH AFTER HER HOMEGOING. UNDERSTANDING YOUR LOVE FOR CHINA AND ORPHANS, I HAVE NO DOUBT MARIA'S BIG HOUSE OF HOPE MAY HAVE COME INTO EXISTENCE WITH MARIA STILL HERE IN YOUR ARMS. PART OF MARIA'S LEGACY AND MY SWEET DAUGHTER'S, IS THAT WE ARE NOT UNDER ANY ILLUSIONS ABOUT THIS LIFE. I USED TO THINK IT WAS A LITTLE HEAVEN BEFORE HEAVEN............IT'S NOT! MY DAUGHTER DIED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ABOUT 11 1/2 YEARS AGO...........YOU NEVER GET OVER IT BUT YOU BEGIN TO FEEL CLOSER TO THE TIME THAT YOU WILL BE REUNITED. HEAVEN MEANS SO MUCH MORE TO ME SINCE MY DAUGHTER'S PASSING AND JESUS MEANS SO MUCH MORE TO ME BECAUSE HE HAS CONTINUED TO SAVE ME EVERY DAY. THAT HAS BEEN NECESSARY AND HE HAS BEEN FAITHFUL. THERE IS NO ITINERARY FOR GRIEVING. YOU NEVER GET OVER IT, BUT YOU DO, AT SOME POINT, ACCEPT THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO YOU. THAT IS THE BEGINNING OF ACCEPTANCE. WHAT A JOYOUS DAY THAT WILL BE WHEN WE'RE ALL GATHERED TOGETHER. KEEP WORKING AND FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT UNTIL THEN.........LOVE FROM A FELLOW SUFFERER AND SOJOURNER.

[Adam]

I know that from her place in Heaven, Maria is proud of the work you are doing to help other precious children here on earth. God Bless You!

[Joy]

maria and stevey look exactly like my friends alex and laura... srry im just random somtimes... but any ways im sorry for the loss but its not like you're never going to see her again shes with God and that's all that matters.

[Margaret Dierdorff]

It's Christmas Day 2010..and I just finished reading "Choosing to See" so the Chapman family, and particularly you, Mary Beth, are in my thoughts particularly on this day. Thank you for being light and life and for sharing your story. Words don't really come..but, know that you will all remain in my heart and prayers as you journey through this life! May you and I continue to carry His light!

[caitlyn]

omg i cryed thinkinh how bad her brother feels about killing his own sister. that must of been a horrible time. just thinking i killed my sister my family will hate me omg poor family but luckly theyll see her in heaven one day

[Tammy Brown]

Mary Beth, my name is Tammy Brown, I live in Crawford, TN, which is 35 minutes NE of Cookeville, TN. I just started and finished your book choosing to see. I cried through the whole book, for you and for Maria, for your family, for your loss. I also know your loss, pain, belief and sometimes not sure of belief. I lost my oldest son, Matthew on Aug. 31, 2009. I also hate the months that have 31 days. I still count like you do how long its been, how sometimes I can't wait to join him, and always, always seeing him in everything on everyday that I do. I will NEVER get over losing him, even tho he left me a beautiful grandson, Caden, who will turn 4 on Feb 5th. I will get through it, but your book, the most recent of many many grief books I have read, has hit me as if they were my words, my thoughts and feelings. I still have very difficult days, like a bad nightmare, and I pray all they time to God to hear his voice. I have drawn much closer to God, I know I will never see or understand the purpose of losing him so soon, but I do have the comfort of God there for me. It seems I can't get enough of God. I don't feel alone as far as my grief. I feel like you do, when is it going to end, if ever. I also have experienced joy since his passing, but he is missed in EVERYTHING we do, I keep expecting a phone call, or maybe he's out of the country somewhere else, its still hard for me to accept that he's gone. I know I'll see him again, but in truth, it doesn't keep me warm inside. Thank you for your book, thank you for sharing.

[Kathryn Folkerts]

You wrote this such a long time ago, but I read your book and it really touched me so....much!! I loved the book. I pray for your family every night before I fall asleep. I got teary in parts of it and covered my face cause I don't like to cry in front of people. :) You and Steven have such a great family! I hope to meet you and all of your family some day. Until that day comes weather I meet you hear on earth or in heaven God Bless you every single day of your life! :)

[www.life-book.com]

RIP, Maria, God bless you!

[jeccia]

desde ke eskuche por primera vez la kancion de cinderella supe ke era especial y ke desia kosas muy bonitas pero mas ke todo eso aora me doy kuenta ke tiene un gran significado siento mucho ke aya pasado este accidente pero kon la ayuda d e dios saldran a delante de eso no hay duda me enkanta la musika en ingles todo el tiempo la eskucho y mas la de steven chapman les mando saludos y bendiciones

[Sandra]

Thank you for your book. Through it you have been a wonderful companion to me during my time of grief. I am coming to terms with the fact that I am responsible for my beautiful son's critical brain injury. You have helped me to keep looking up and SEE God in all events, even when there is silence in response to my screams. I keep you in my prayers and hope I have the chance to see you with Maria in heaven. What a day that will be! God bless.

[pennyauctions]

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[pennyauctions]

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[komik oyun]

Thanks Your family is absolutely precious.

[Kelly Haught]

For some reason your family has been on my mind tonight. I too have lost children, though not the same as you. My third son was stillborn at delivery. Then our next daughter only lived 4 hours. It's been almost 3 years since our babies left us...It's a grief that changes you. Changes your perspective on life, in a good good way. Anyway, I don't want to compare apples to oranges, but I do know of the heartache of having to give back one of God's little ones that you want to keep so badly, and of not understanding when you know that there is a plan. I think of your family often. I will pray for you and especially your sweet son.
Love, Kelly Haught
www.kellyandblue.blogspot.com

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