Maria's Wink....I miss it!

I'm working on getting ready for spring break today....hanging out at the house all day (I LOVE BEING HOME), packing, picking up, sorting, you name it.....I'm doing it.  Trying to finish SJ's room, etc.  At any rate, I came across this video clip from a flight to China.  I loved it and it brought back so many memories...that I thought I would share it with you all.  I hope you like it.  Maria's wink was one of a kind, as was she....I miss her and I ache for her....  I am thankful she is being held by the one who holds me...

Love you all,

MBC

Comments

[Jenn Brandon]

I noticed a post that was on your front page how your adjusting to your "new normal" and it caught my eye. I had a loss and struggled for some time. I wrote a poem titled "New Normal" it was a healing process for me. As I read and wrote these words I realized that maybe no one here on earth may know what I'm going through, my loss, my pain and suffering and this giant hole left in my heart, but I was reminded that my God does. He knows because he too had a great loss he gave his son so your daughter, my father and my son and so many loved ones will be waiting for us again some day.
"New Normal"
No one can imagine
The pain you're going through
The loss that you suffer
The hole inside of you
No one can imagine
What you will bare
Losing that someone
And all the love that you shared
Kind words will pour in
No one really knowing what to say
Just remember they love you
And find comfort in them today
Life will go on
That's what they say
It will never be "Normal"
Only in a new way.
Jennifer Brandon - 2005
May you find God's grace in your "New Normal" and know your not alone in your walk.
In Him,
Jennifer Brandon

[Anita]

Awww MB....love the winking video of Maria!! And I know how precious those winks are too. Soon after we brought Kaylin home at 13 mos and she was getting her wonderful immunizations caught up, she ran a fever one night and well...let's just say she slept on top of me all night long. But when she would wake up to get a drink from her bottle or need more Tylenol, she would wink at me and try to share a smile to let me know she was ok...even as little as she was.

And I'm just now getting caught back up with your previous post too. I wish there was something to say to take away the pain of Maria's passing on to be with Jesus...and there's just not...I know that. I, too, understand the wishing for Jesus' return sooner than later these days and often...many days...think of you and your family and Maria with those same thoughts. We'll continue to pray for you and all the family. The Lord is with you...daily...in the moments. HUGS!!

[Lea schmittou]

You said you ached for Maria, being a mom those words just hit home. I don't know you personally, but feel as if I do. I pray for you as you and for your family. Your pain is felt.... May each day be healing, May each day be a blessing of all your loves in your life. Have faith, lea schmittou

[Renee]

So precious Mary Beth!

[Faith]

This is the first video of Maria I've seen since last May that has made me laugh, not cry. She was (still is, just in heaven) so cute.

[Anne from Penn]

SWEET, SWEET MARIA <3

I agree this is NO place like being home... except for a nice vaca now and then SMILE!

BLESSINGS

Anne from Penn

[Holly]

I love it! This made me smile.

[Jenny]

Mary Beth,
I just caught up on the past weeks blogs. Congrats to Shaoey and her basketball team! Thanks for sharing all the pics and videos of your family and being so open about what you're going through. That's a lot to be dealing with at once...but like you said, God wants you to be with Him now. Especially in the craziness. He will give you rest and peace of mind...Keep holding onto Him and just go one day at a time. That's what I've been trying to do this semester at college so I don't get overwhelmed with all that I have to do. Thanks for the reminder that He wants me to be with Him now no matter how busy I am too. You are such an encouragement! Praying for you...for God to heal your heart and so that you can balance all that you have to do. Love you all!
Prayers continue for all of you and David's family as well. I'm so sorry that you are grieving another loss.

Maria's wink is so cute! What a precious little girl :) Have a relaxing and blessed spring break!
Much love in Christ,
-Jenny (from NY)

[Liz]

That's just FUNNY :)

[Patty Smith]

I remember following your China blog and loving every minute of it.........and being totally mad that our guide didn't take us to the side of the wall with the bobsled down!! I'd never heard of it and my kids were so jealous when they saw that! Next time! Anyway, LOVE the wink. What a blessing to have all these memories recorded of sweet Maria. Thank you for sharing some of them with us.

Have a wonderful time at the beach!!

[Korinne]

Sometimes I am concerned that someone will take advantage of your sharing here,but I love my Chapman updates.
The music was a beautiful threshold of introduction to you guys. (It's been there for our adoption moments, I'd Walk 500 Miles for our deployment separation and so much more.)
Now I consider you a sister in spirit, Marybeth. Certainly will continue praying as you keep us informed on the family happenings.
You have much to juggle as mother of 6! Although it's tempting to think that being a celebrity makes it easier in some ways, I think bloggers can see your deep commitment to HIS call to love.
Love the WINK.

[Dana]

Thank you for sharing this precious video with us, Mary Beth. Maria really did have a unique wink.

I wanted to share a poem that was a great comfort to me when a friend of mine died in a car accident when we were teenagers. Though it's addressed to parents, it was still a comfort and I want to share it with you, though you've probably already heard it. God choose you as Maria's parents and placed her in your hearts and now she's dancing with Jesus, while you've been left behind to wait. You and your family are always in my prayers.

To All Parents
By: Edgar A. Guest

"I'll lend you for a little time a child of Mine," He said,
"For you to love the while she lives and mourn for when she's dead,
It may be six or seven years, or twenty-two or three,
But will you, till I call her back, take care of her for Me?
She'll bring her charms to gladden you, and shall her stay be brief
You'll have her lovely memories as solace for your grief.

"I cannot promise she will stay, since all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn.
I've looked the wide world over in my search for teachers true
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes I have selected you.
Now will you give her all your love, nor think the labor vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call to take her back again?"

I fancied that I heard them say, "Dear Lord, Thy will be done."
For all the joy Thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter her with tenderness, we'll love her while we may
And for the happiness we've known forever grateful stay;
But shall the angels call for her much sooner than we've planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand."

[Diane]

Your China trip was the first blog I followed. How precious to see Maria at that time ;)
I hope you have a WONDERFUL vacation.
God bless,

[Debra]

Heart is aching for your loneliness....the kind that even if you have a twenty people around that you care for, you still miss the one. Read your twitter too...feel that pain...went to eye doctor today too, ordered reading glasses and separate distance ones for night driving :( At least they were cute glasses!

[Tori]

Oh how Precious.
What a adorable wink and sweet little girl.
Praying.

[Michele]

Pure sweetness! Too precious! Thanks for sharing. Love the rocker face! Praying for your broken heart.

[MT]

Glad you have all these sweet videos with treasured memories. Praying for you!

[Kara]

MB, this completely made me think of you today when it came on the radio. This was the first song I heard on the radio after the death of my grandmother. It made me weep with grief but look forward with amazing hope! All six of your children are incredible testaments to how wonderful you and Steven are as parents! Be proud, although that's not too difficult! ;)

The Valley Song by Jars of Clay

You have led me to the sadness
I have carried this pain
On a back bruised, nearly broken
I'm crying out to you

Chorus
I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy

When death like a Gypsy
Comes to steal what I love
I will still look to the heavens
I will still seek your face

But I fear you aren't listening
Because there are no words
Just the stillness and the hunger
For a faith that assures

Chorus x2

Alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia

While we wait for rescue
With our eyes tightly shut
Face to the ground using our hands
To cover the fatal cut

And though the pain is an ocean
Tossing us around, around, around
You have calmed greater waters
Higher mountains have come down

Chorus

Yeah

Alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia

Alleluia, alleluia alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia alleluia, alleluia

Chorus (4 Xs)

Oh, Lord sing of Your mercy,
Mercy
Your mercy

[Elysha]

What a BEAUTIFUL little girl! Thanks for sharing this video! Still Praying!

Elysha

[J.B.]

Love the double wink; you can tell she was a beautiful little girl. I have to admit that I am having a horrible week right now, and your words are making it bearable. I'm struggling so much with the "goofy" dad thing. I was such a goofy dad before our daughter went Home, and I feel like I'm not that goofy dad anymore. I feel like I'm always serious, like the sun is in the sky, but there's a dark cloud hanging over my head. I want to be silly, goofy, funny dad, but I don't know how to do that anymore; thus shortchanging my son from having his daddy back. You haven't any idea how much of an impact your words are on my heart right now. I'm really trying to ask God to just heal me and help me this week, and I think He's doing it through words such as yours. Thank you so much. Have a wonderful vacation.

[V Cox]

Thank you so much, Mary Beth, for showing and sharing your sweet Maria with us. She was so precious, and I can only imagine how much joy she brought to your family. Oh, the joy she is having now! Thank you for opening your heart to us. Please know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers constantly.

[Lisa]

Ah, what a sweetie. So fun to SEE Maria. My heart aches for your family and I continue to lift you up in prayer. Thanks for being real, Mary Beth.

[Ann]

It is so special that you have these videos to look at! And thanks so much for sharing them with us!

[JulieinCa]

So sweet and precious, so glad you can SEE her for now. Praying that Jesus returns soon and we can all go SEE her.

[Melissa]

I really fell in love with your sweet Maria about this time last year in SCC's video blogs around and during Spring Break. As I recall, the other girls were sick part of that time, so we got great big doses of Maria. In all your pictures of her, I could always see that little spark in her, but the videos just brought it to life. I was totally captivated. I'm so glad I got to know her just a tiny little bit in that way. It magnified my prayers that continue for you all. Thanks for sharing another precious video and for sharing you heart with us - I believe it helps us know better how to focus our prayers. I pray that you all have a wonderful time away and get some good rest and together time with the family.