I Got Sunshine... on a Cloudy Day

Picture taken in summer of 2006 I believe

There has been a lot of clouds these days, and honestly the rain, or should I say tears that come from those clouds have been falling a lot for some reason these last few days.  More on that later....  BUT...Today, a sliver of sunshine through those thick black storm clouds has come shining through...today is Emily's Birthday.  Yep, 23 years ago today, little Emily Elizabeth came into our life, forever changing it for good, but we had no idea how this little wrinkled bundle of jaundice would impact the lives of so many children and families....ours at the top of the list!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY!!!!  We love you so very much.  On a day when mom is having a hard time holding it all together, I am thrilled that your life is being celebrated today.  You never have been able to do things average or normal I must say....starting with your birth, you decided it would be better to make a dramatic entrance and stir things up a bit...resulting in an emergency c-section.  Even the pregnancy kept the doctor guessing as he was just plain convinced you were a boy!  (For those of you scratching you heads.....I didn't even have an ultrasound for Emily, they didn't do them back then unless there was a need)...now that is a long time ago and I am not getting any younger!  OK, thanks for letting me brag a bit on a special little girl.  Emily, I am so proud of the woman you have become......and I LOVE the husband that God sent to you.  Tanner is an unbelievable gift to you and thus to us, and your Dad and I are excited to watch where God takes you two on this incredible journey called life.  Remember that life is just the journey...we are not home yet, we are walking, running, skipping, plodding, crawling (that describes me currently) ...however you want to view it...towards our true home, heaven....where He will make all things new, and all those prayers we thought were never answered will be seen in full view and we WILL hold that little nugget of a sister and daughter again....  In the mean time, it is a blessing watching you and Tanner impact the lives of so many along the way.  We love you dearly.  Caleb, Will, Shaoey, Stevey, and Maria are all better for having you as a big sister.  Thanks for setting the example of how to walk with Christ in front of all of them.  Ok....enough of gushing over Emily...thanks for letting me think out loud a bit while I pondered her life this morning...  I hope you all have a great day, and can SEE the sliver of sunshine in your cloudy day....  On a different note....CPA plays David Lipscomb in the District Championship tonight....  I know it isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of life, but I sure would love to WIN!!!!  There!  I said it!  guilty!  I love basketball and I LOVE watching Will Franklin and his buddies play for CPA.  Many of them I've known since they were itty bits!  If God does hear prayers to win, which I'm pretty sure he doesn't.....but in case He does....  I would love it if you would all (unless you are a David Lipscomb fan of course, which is fine....) would lift Will and His team up today and tonight....  I guess I should say for safety and for no injuries and good sportsmanship, but the ugly truth of my heart....  is really to WIN!  Go CPA!!!!  I'll keep you posted!

Comments

[Lisa Cash]

Mary Beth and Steven, our hearts broke for you when you lost your little girl. Little did we know that on March 10th of this year, my sister would lose her precious 3 year old little baby girl. She was on a bulldozer with her dad working on their new home. We have never been through anything so difficult. We know the Lord is with us and without Him, we could never get through this. My 14 year old told me the other day that she believes God can bring good out of anything just as He says but she wishes He would hurry up and get to the good because all of this has just been so bad! Thank you for the strength, grace, and courage that you have shown to other grieving families. May God continue to bless and use you and your family!

God Bless,

Lisa C.

[Lori Campbell]

Mary Beth,
My family and I will attend your husband's concert in Little Rock, Arkansas tomorrow night. It will be the 18th anniversary of the loss of my only brother. My parents will be with us. We understandwhat a family goes through when one member is taken to heaven too early. Please know that our thoughts are with you. We look forward to the concert and to a different type of April 19th than we spent many years ago....

[Lisa Seidel]

Dear Chapman family,

I was at the United Tour concert the other night in Bismarck, ND and I cannot tell you how much this night has blessed me! I felt like the night was so Holy Spirit charged. I could have stayed there for 6 hours instead of 3! It was very special, as I was able to get back stage passes and "sort of meet" Steven. The passes were for meeting Michael but we were able to be right there with Steven also. What an amazing duo! I just want to commend all the musicians! Caleb is amazing! Thanks Steven for taking the time to take pics of the two kids in wheelchairs. This totally made their night. I also just want to commend your family for taking on the plight of orphans--YOU ARE MAKING A HUGE IMPACT. In fact, when God hit me on the head about orphans your organization and input are what God first led me to to realize the dire need. To put it short we are getting our home study done right now and have 3 siblings on our heart from India. I am so grateful for the grant program, as I am quite certain I will be applying soon. Also, during the concert I could tell many hearts were torn to hear of your tragedy but just know this is not in vein. Many people will be forever changed by this tragedy in God's mysterious ways of doing things. He does turn beauty out of ashes! I want you to know I am praying for your family and ministry and if I lived closer to you I would be applying for some kind of employment with SH as I really feel called that this will be my life's work. Thank you so much for blessing so many people and most of all for listening to God and using your gifts and talents for Him.
God bless you and keep you!

[Heidi]

Chapman family- Last night I was at the Sioux City, IA concert of the United tour. What an amazing concert! Loved it! So very touched by your story and what you have gone through. Just wanted to share that the day you lost Maria, was the day God gave us our second daughter, Eden Elizabeth Hope. I remembering going to the adoption agency in North Carolina that morning to pick up our second daughter, and that afternoon hearing your terrible news on the radio. God gives and God takes away. We are so blessed by adoption and adopting our daughters has been thee biggest blessing of our lives. We pray for your ministry to enable more Christian families to adopt children. Being a social worker as well and working in adoption I know the need for Christian families to adopt these amazing children. We pray for your ministry to grow and expand and for more families to be enabled to adopt by helping with the high cost of adoption.

[Lauretta Krueger]

Hi Chapman Family:

I want you to know that I am faithfully praying for all of you often. I wish Steven and Michael were coming to Texas for the United tour, but I know it's hard to hit every major city-state. My prayers are with them as they tour for safety and that they are blessed as they bless others. I am praying for you, the one who hold the fort down while Steven is gone. I am also praying for you as s woman of God that He meets you where you are and takes care of your every need - especially giving you some alone time (hopefully!) Blessings to you all. Lauretta

[Judith Martin]

Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to you and your family.
I have prayed for you and your family esp May of last yr.
I recently lost my mother, it was the most difficult thing I have ever been thru and i felt that part of me went with her, BUT Jesus is faithful as He promised to get us through, we are only on this earth for a short time, soon we will be reunited with our loved ones , that have Jesus in their hearts.
A continued strength to you , and may the LORD plant joy into your heart once again, its okay to laugh. once again.
Keep your eyes on the King of GLORY!
He will not let you go.
He loves you.
Blessing my sister :)
Judith

[Rick Lentz]

Dear Steven and Mary Beth,

In June 2004, our 16-year old son lost his life when he stopped to help a stranded motorist and was hit by another vehicle. I understand your grief and pain.

In the aftermath, God gave me the strength to forgive the young woman who caused Kevin's death. He also gave me the strength to forgive myself for ignoring the voice that had told me to go pick Kevin up from work.

By forgiving the young woman, God led her father to call me and ask how I could forgive. We developed a discipling relationship which led to the founding of Brother-to-Brother Ministries. Bob (the father) and I now give a joint testimony on the power of forgiveness. We have spoken primarily to Catholic and Protestant men. We have been fortunate to hear from others how our testimony has helped them find healing as they deal with similar situations.

My prays are with you.

I very much enjoyed Steven's and Michael's concert in Colorado Springs this evening.

Peace and All Good,
Rick Lentz

[Carla]

Not long after part of your heart taken to Heaven, my kids' daddy and then my dad became 2 others Jesus welcomed Home. Even as the human version of "heart surgery" hurts and takes time to heal, I know that the God who formed us in the beginning of our lives is the only One who can heal and shape us again. Hurt? Oh yeah. But, as I tried to think of a way to explain that healing process to children, I thought of "Playdoh". If we allow our hearts to be God's "Playdoh", the shape may not ever be the same, but it will be re-made. I see it as a kid who's doh-wad, if it's not dried out, can become something really cool. My heart is in that "wad" shape still and it's sore from being smooshed. I'm confident that whatever form it becomes, God's gonna make something neat. I know we're supposed to see ourselves as "clay", but "Play-doh" is more fun and the smell, oddly enough, is like that of crayons. Comfort scents even the kid in us can relate to.

[L]

Like the others here, I never met you, but your family has been on my heart too, this week especially.
My daughter, 8, loves the song Cinderella, and my other daughter 2, they both sing along with it.
I pray that you continue to feel God's sweet loving hands as they hold you close. Maria's there with him, in those sweet loving hands.
All Christ's peace,
L

[roy massey]

hello marybeth i met you along long time ago lol it seems like now when u and steve started to date, out at his dads house i wetnt to school with steve from grade school and when we were in first grade we were best of friends but i had to be held back in the second grade and steve went on ahead but we stayed friends but it wasnt the same and even later in life we were buddies i used to go over to the store and hang out with him and his dad and herb, my cousin craig played drums for steve when they where in the chapman henderson band u know craig klope right, well i wanted to tell u and him somthing that i never told, when i was in the first grade i lost a little baby brother he died and the teachers said that because of the affect i didnt do as good in school as i should have, so i stayed back, but i will always remember the good times me and steve had i have a vivid memory when i was in the first grade my mother planned a birthday party and we were going to be on tv on the popeye show i wish i had that now u may be able to get in from wpsd around 1968 of november my birthday is 1 day before steves and we were on that show, anyway i still remember this one thing that all ways stands out to me, we went over to pick him up and he had me a card and a present and he was like really sad and i was like why are u sad and he said to me because mom didnt have time to go buy u a birthday card so i had to make u one i dont remember everthing it said but i do remember it said happy birthday roy xoxoxoxoxoxox and i told him that it was my favorite becasause he made it for me, your husband is a great person and i have cried with u both during your trials your friend in the big city of high point of kentucky roy t massey

[Kathleen Lizotte]

Was lead to your site by the Lord this evening. My 23 year old daughter Kira, died in a car accident this past August. I too am crawling. Trusting in the charecter of God, I get up every morning and care for my family and go to work. My husband and I have 11 children, 5 are adopted. My daughter Kira was my second biological child and I was so in love with her... I appreciated your entry and wish we could sit down and have tea and talk. Seeing her in heaven just seems too far from now to be of any comfort. I need help to go on. Kathy in NH

[Kristine and Brad Stolworthy]

Hey there!
It's been a while since writing you, but just had to let you know again that one other person has you on their heart day by
day.
I just want to say thanks for all the great
music and the words that keep my spirits up
so often. The other day my 20 year old was
singing along with one of your songs and I
was surprised since it isn't really like
him. When I mentioned it he said "Mom, how
can I help it? You played it over and over!" (I think it was "Dive").
Well, I guess I'm never going to get rid of
that teenager in me. Even his friend knew the words!
Blessings on this coming Easter!!!
Love,
Kris

[Joanne Komos]

For Mary Beth and Steven and family,
Last night I attended the US tour concert. Of course it was amazing and uplifting but more than anything I wanted to go backstage and give Caleb, Emily and Steven a hug. Had the entire family been back stage i would have given you all a hug. Just a hug of comfort and of love and an outpouring of Jesus's love for all of you!! I know I feel it in the simple act of a hug and I wanted so badly for you to feel it too. I would never want to presume I understand what you all are going through but I do know how much love I have in my heart for those that hurt or suffer or feel pain. I want you to know that I pray for you all and I am sending you all the BIGGEST HUG EVER!!! God bless you always and forever, Yours in Christ, Joanne Komos

[Beth Lowe]

I wanted to tell you that your family is in my prayers. We also had a very tragic loss just this January 3rd, so it is still very fresh for us. We actually lost 2 of our sons in a car accident on that day. One of our other sons was also in the accident but by a miracle he surviced a wreck that everyone on the scene said no one should have walked away from. We are thankful for that. We are holding on to Jesus to help us walk thru what is obviously the most difficult thing I think you could ever walk thru. There are days you dont want to go on, then God gives you a glimmer of hope that it will be ok, that we will be ok. We have a large family which does help, we still have 6 children here with us on earth and the 2 awaiting us in heaven. What a glorious day that will be when we see them again. I just saw Steven in concert at the Women of Faith in Bossier City over the weekend, it was amazing, I really had hoped I could have met him. I appreciate you both and you honest and faith thru all of this. I will continue to pray for you all.

[Judy Fitzgerald]

Just wanted you to know you're in my prayers. The Lord is faithful and sovereign and there are things we'll never know till we get to heaven, and then it won't matter. Remember, when you're too tired to hold on...He's holding on to you!

[Rachel]

Dear Chapmans

Thank you so much for your song Cinderella. It has really helped me to come to terms with some personal loss. I think that Job didn't know how many people would be helped to understand life in a different and deeper way when he was going through such tragedy. In a similar way what has happened to you is healing many people. I hope and pray that God will be close to you in your pain

[nancy barnes]

So proud of you. Crawling is crawling, but it is forward. Please know your are loved and held up to our Lord, and remember, the way you think of your Emily is the way our Father thinks of you. God bless you today and always.

Nancy

[Shelley P.]

Hello there fellow crawler.
One thing God is teaching me while I crawl is that when I am not looking forward while I crawl I bump into stuff that can hurt me. So... I am praying daily at 3:00 p.m. for you that while you crawl..you look ahead, that you crawl towards your Daddy the way Maria crawled to hers.
I know crawling sucks...totally sucks. I am in it with you everyday at 3:00 just know that o.k.

[Ann]

Your family has been on my heart for the last couple of days, and I just wanted you to know that you are loved and there are many people who are on their knees on your behalf, lifting you up to the Great Healer. I can't even imagine your pain, but I hope that you are being comforted. All love to you in Christ.

[Michele Houston]

Hi MaryBeth, This is my very first time ever posting a comment to anyone. But I feel really comfortable doing this with you. The day of Maria's accident I instantly went on my knees for your entire family. My family has suffered a similar loss eight years ago this week. Since 2001 I've had two of my best friends lose children in tragic accidents. The most recent came on Feb 1st this year. Eight yo Alex (who was autistic) was killed on a snowmobile in their front yard. Angie didn't realize how much of her life evolved around him until now. Gratefully, I'm confident about her eternity. But I'm concerned about her life now. Can you somehow help her (as you obviously are crawling still today) or help ME to help her? I'm desperate to be supportive of my friend. But there's something different this time around, and I don't feel like I'm reaching her. I know I can't "fix" her (people tried to "fix" me, too). But I want her to be able to live again. For her and her family. Thank you for being such an open book in your time of grief. You're helping many people heal. Your sister in Christ, Michele

[Janet Heuer]

Hello Mary Beth, For the past 3 days, for some reason your family has been pressed into my mind. I'm blogging you in obedient response to reading Scripture this am, and having you, oughta the blue, pop into my mind again. I'm like--ok, ok. . I'll go and find out how to get these words to them. . . I've never blogged you before or even ever been to the Chapman site before, but I felt prompted, I believe by God, to contact you with the encouraging words of God's Word I read this morning.
Job 33
These are words from Elihu (the youngest and most pure in heart of Job's "friends.")
"Job, I've just heard you say--I heard you say these exact words: 'I'm pure and w/o guilt. I'm clean and guilt-free. Yet, inspite of that, God's found malicious fault with me. He considers me his enemy. He puts my feet in the stocks. He keeps close watch on my paths.'
Elihu continues, "Well, Job, you're not right."
"First, God's God, and you're not.(Yep, it's right there--Elihu says it) He's too exalted for man."
"So,. . why do you argue with Him? Why do you ask, "Why did God allow this to happen?" [yep, that's right there, too. . take a look. Perhaps you've asked that question yourself these past months]
"Well, God DOES speak [let me say that again] God DOES speak. In various ways. Ways which you don't see or know. Sometimes, to you during a dream or dream state, when He whispers something in your ear to keep you safe. Or, sometimes he gives pain, even a lot of pain to the point you feel like you're going to die."
"YET. YET. YET.
[If] THERE IS AN ANGEL (CHRIST) ON YOUR SIDE, a mediator, one in a thousand, to tell a you what's right for you; to [mediate] for you, saying "spare her." . . [Imagine that, your High Priest is mediating on your behalf right this moment]. "Your flesh is renewed. You're restored. You pray to God [through this Mediator] and you find favor with Him. You see God's face and shout for joy. . ."

Job 36:5-12 "He doesn't take His eyes off you."

"Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble. He saved them out of their distresses. HE SENT HIS WORD AND HEALED THEM! Yey!! And delivered them from their destructions. Let them give thanks to the Lord. . .let them tell of His works with joyful SINGING:-)

May His Word heal your pain today. Janet

[Bitsy]

Hi, Mary Beth.

I know we have never met (or at least I don't remember meeting) but I do know personally some of your family.

I saw your brother (we've been long time church buds) at a function I was playing for his church back at Christmas time. He caught me up on how you guys were doing... And with tears in his eyes, he said that it's really hard... and he specifically mentioned you.

I want you to know that I haven't stopped praying for you guys. I know that you will soon have your one year anniversary coming up on you. This is tough. But you've already made it through some other firsts....So, my encouragement to you is to hang in there.

I am no stranger to loss... Jim and Yo and Sherry and Herbie can certainly fill you in on that. I lost my only pregnancy in 1984 and then my first husband in 1998 (I was 35 when he died.)

I am glad that you are starting to crawl.. This is a good thing... And honestly, you may be crawling for a long time... I certainly did. The good thing is there's no such thing as a timetable on grieving. So, don't let anyone ever try to talk you in to bucking up. Grief hurts. It's real. Go ahead and cry on your terms. And God is a FANTASTIC healer of grieving hearts. He's the BEST, actually. So hang in there, gal. God has you in His hands.

Anyway, I didn't mean to ramble. Just wanted to encourage you. I'll be praying for you.

Bitsy

[June Vendetti]

Dear Mary Beth,

It's O.K. to gush over your first-born, after all, she is a special daughter, who has been brought up in the ways of the Lord; and wasn't she the one who inspired you to adopt the sisters she loves so much?

You and Steven have been indeed blessed by God, who has given you wonderful children.

When we do good things, it always comes back to us.

While this time may be tough for you, try to remember that Maria wants you to enjoy life the way she did.

June Vendetti from Bridgeport, CT.

[roy hall]

hello steven

i'd like to say i really enjoy your quiet songs like heart's cry, i will be here, his strength is perfect....i especially like your early stuff but my favorite by far is the great adventure

i saw you in concert way back in 1992 you were the first chistian artist i saw after i got saved...i had the great adventure tshirt and i wore it so much till it got holey haha

i was wondering ...i'd love to have your early cd's (i haven't heard the new stuff)
the trouble is i have no credit card and i can't afford to buy cd's at this time
is there a way you can help me out?
i'd sure appreciate it
my address
roy hall
82201 6th st
trona calif
93562

thank you
roy

[Sue]

Dear Mary Beth,
Thank you for your blog. You sound like a wonderful person. I hope it's not too late to send you my condolensces and heartfelt sympathies regarding Maria. Two miscarriages, and on my husband's side, the loss of a brother in law to suicide, sister in law to cancer, and two nieces to cancer at early ages are tragedies that my family has lived through. We have one healthy 14 year old son, our "miracle baby". He's playing on his xbox as I type this. I am familiar with the immense ache of a mother's heart and I can only imagine what you have endured since last May emotionally, mentally, spiritually. May the Mercy and Miraculous Power of Christ continue to supply you and your family with Grace, Strenth, and Love in proportions that you need. I hope to record an original song in the near future and send your family a copy of it, you might be helped in some way listening by to it. Blessings and Graces.