Ruthy and Will Franklin are doing great! It was a bitter sweet year. Ruthy and her family made a move to South Bend, Indiana. Will and Ruthy are now dating long distance, but for the most part...it has worked out well. Ruthy is finished with school this December and will have a semester break and some summer fun before starting college in the fall. Where you might ask? Not sure, but we're pulling for like....Vanderbilt, Belmont...You know, somewhere closer than like 8 hours! Wherever she end's up going, that university will be lucky to have her! Talk about a smart girl!
R:
Reaching double digits! Shaoey that is! Shaohannah celebrated her 10th Birthday this year! Double digits is a big deal around here! We celebrated with "10" of her closest friends and a bunch of family and others, back in August! Here's the best part. We got her an ipod... That little stinker is soooo smart. She sold it to her brother Caleb....Took the money she made from that, added her birthday money from various grandparents, etc. and headed on over to Best Buy to purchase an ipod touch! Pretty smart, huh? Now, when she is around Wi Fi, she can text her big sister Emily and her buddy Tanner all the way in Ireland...for free...thanks to SKYPE! how cool is that?
Y:
Yelling and yearning: That pretty much sums Mary Beth up. I'm in the 2nd year of grieving one of the 6 best things to ever be given to me to care for, and now she is in the arms of Jesus, the ultimate Mother and Father! Perfect forever....but that's there...in Heaven.... Here, on Earth, this side of the ever so thin vale, it is pretty crappy! No sense hiding it.....I've spent a lot of time yelling at God, yelling at myself, yelling to hear myself yell! Wanting so badly for the God that I believe in whole heartedly to yell back all the answers I long to know....Which leaves me yearning for the day, when all yelling ceases and the yearning that so lingers with me day after day for Jesus to come back quickly and not tary will happen and every question I had will be answered and make sense....Even the questions that I yelled at God! Good news for a loud mouth like me who wants to know and know now!
C:
Caleb and Will Franklin: Yes this is correct information..... Are opening for Casting Crowns this spring. The tour is 40 cities long and runs between Feb 1 and May 8 or so. This mom is so proud she can't even stand herself. But the most amazing thing is the way it happened! Let's just keep it short by saying.....Mark...Melanie...Never, in all my life have I been blessed by the way you have reached out to our guys....Yes....I know...They are really talented....but you know them, and you know their hearts....and to say you just want to give your audience a chance to hear them....as a Thank You for Steven's part in helping you all? Well....let me just say....All you Crowns never needed Steven....but he has sure been blessed to watch from the side lines all of your success. And to offer this to the boys? Well, you won't be disappointed....They come from a dad who has this perfection thing going on when it comes to needing to be right! musically! As does the nut that didn't fall far from the tree, Caleb! They will report for duty fully prepared...ready to play, work, chip in, polish shoes., do laundry...whatever you need....and...They are just plain fun guys to be around....And this mom can't thank you enough for being a part of shaping who they will ultimately become! THANK YOU! Watch out Crown Fans.....your gonna be blessed....Caleb is just so cute and his songs are so mature for his young age....and Willy? Well...You'd be hard pressed to find a better, more fun young man of God than this one. And those drums? Whew! With the tragic story God has given him and his brother to steward....This is a great place for them to be. Check out calebchapman.com for more info! Can you tell I'm just a tad bit excited for my boys? In whom I am well pleased? So glad that 2010 will bring some much needed "wind in Willy's sail's" as he sets off with his songwriting, guitar playing brother! God is Good....
H:
Healing, Hoping, and Hard has been the theme it seems for all of 2009. A lot of people think that the first year of grieving is the hardest. I'm sure that is true for so many....But for me personally, it's been the 2nd year that has been by far.....the hardest. It's as if I am thawing out...waking from a deep freeze, coming back from some out of body experience. I am literally missing HUGE chunks of time, and this year, 2009 has me feeling as though I am experiencing some of the "firsts" without Maria...when in reality, they are the 2nds. It just hurts a little more realistic without the numbing effects of adrenalin and denial....Those places where our minds take us in those unpredictable panicked moments when all of a sudden we think we can actually go back and change something to make the outcome different.....and then we realize...."Wait....its been a year and a half....she is not coming back." We will see her again, and we will spend more time with her than we did without her, but man o man has this been the journey that NO ONE would have signed up for. Good thing for me that Hope is also in the letter H today. Without that simple word, it would all be a crock! But I have this Hope in Heaven, in Christ, in the Cross, that we will win this battle before us. I tell my sweet Shaoey all the time when she gets sad and in a hard place...."We can do hard....God hasn't given us more than we can handle....we didn't want it, but we can get through it....not ever over it...through it.... "WE CAN DO HARD" Because we have the winning warrior on our side! And HE promised!
R:
Riding
a bike! The big news of the year! Yes, she's 7...yes, maybe she
should have learned a little earlier, but she only ways 38 lbs at 7
years old.! I think that was a big part of the problem. she was too
light to hold herself up! But finally, on an awesome warm, fall
day....it happened. The wobbles stopped, and the brakes worked when
they were supposed too and didn't throw her over the handle bars....and
the most amazing thing? she could turn and come back, without going
straight forever and ever! The smile was priceless. Dad, Mom, and
Shaoey all witnessed this groundbreaking event, live....from the
driveway. Another day for mom to wonder if Maria would have learned
sooner (she was a little heavier and gutsier), or later (she was the
baby of the family)...and while I was so proud of Stevey Joy....the
tears fell as if something was still so terribly wrong! There sure
seemed like there should have been two princess bikes outside trying to
keep from crashing into each other....You see, Maria would have totally
been into demolition derby type of bike riding....as a matter of fact,
she may have had a "Cars" bike, from the boy section of Walmart!
I:
Into the Studio Steven went....and out he came....a very difficult process later with his new project which is Titled: "Beauty Will Rise". Steven explains that they are more of His Psalms rather than songs. The journal of his heart as he worked through the grieving of Maria. It was a painful offering and took many hours and weird recording hours, but I feel it is Steven's most important work to date. I believe that this CD will help many who hear it. My prayer all along during the process of us loosing Maria has been this: That our tremendous pain would not be in vain: That our hurt and our suffering would ultimately offer HOPE to the hurting of this world. Remember! Earth is our temporary home....Heaven is coming...Spring is coming...Beauty WILL rise out of the ashes of Maria's death. I pray as you listen, you'll find some of the Hope your looking for and it will ultimately lead you to the one who paid the FULL price so that we can have the hope of that coming Spring....When all things...WILL BE MADE NEW! If you are hurting in any way....I believe this will minister to you in a deep way.
S:
Stevey and Shaoey both are currently taking gymnastics and playing basketball....Along with Stevey doing dance, and both girls attempting to keep up with piano and voice! That makes me tired just typing it! Stevey is a very gifted Gymnast and Dancer, while Shaoey loves to flip and flop, and make some mean defense happen on the Basketball team. Willy Frank has signed on to help out with Stevey's team....It should be a hoot to watch! I'm most certain with the Asian genetics....Gymnastics is much more in our future! It doesn't hurt to be married into the family and have the greatest facilities and coaches in Nashville at our disposal! LET IT SHINE! It's the best.....Stevey is on track to compete at some point, while Shaoey just wants to learn impressive skills like her accomplished round off back hand spring back tuck! WOW! if only her mom could bend like that! Also these days, you'll find us hanging with some new teachers and friends...Paris has been a great trauma therapist for the girls...They love going to her and she helps them tremendously work through ALL the things they experienced the day of the accident. God Bless you Paris! We couldn't have done "Hard" without you by our side!
T:
Travel will have Steven, Myself, and the two little people heading to Ireland on December 27th! Emily and Tanner have a bit of a break, and we decided for a Christmas present, we would cash in some frequent flyer miles....head to the Irish Coast, and treat Emily and Tanner to a quick visit to London and Paris, before heading back to Dublin and then home! Phew! Again, for someone who likes to stay at home......I sure have been gone a lot! But this time it is all fun! And I get to see my sweet first born Emily Richards! We are so excited! We can't wait to hug them both and tell them how much they've been missed! We know God has them where he wants them and needs them, but it is hard having them away! I can't wait to go on this one. We've been stocking up on the warm coats, underwear, and socks.....I don't do cold very well....and cold damp is a double no no! Please pray for me..... That I get packed, stay under weight, and go prepared!
M:
Maria's Big House of Hope (MBHOH) officially opened this past summer. Our entire family along with some close friends and family all traveled to China to be a part of the dedication ceremony. Seeing it...being there... It was really really great, and really really hard....One of those places that God has you walk. I will tell you this though; When I left there, I begged God to let me "SEE" Maria.... I did! I'm convinced that I saw her in every giggle, cry, and child that was being given life saving medical care there. I heard her in the Nanny's voices and I smelled her in the air. I knew that God was allowing me a small glimpse of the bigger plan. Why? I will never be able to answer that! I'd would really just like to have her back....But I assure you this. God allowed me to "SEE" and hear her in ways I never thought I would. I pray that God would allow me to keep walking in faith to Know that HIS WAYS ARE HIGHER! Trust Trust Trust! What else do I have? Believe me, easier said than done....Many days you can find me curled up in my lazy boy crying my eyes out....wishing with everything that she were going to be here to open up Christmas presents with the rest of us this year! I still think I'm dreaming sometimes! Oh to kiss that little neck of hers!
A:
Answers to all my questions: There have been none. If I had answers.....then I guess there would be no use for Faith and Hope! I'm hoping in the unseen. Faith is being sure of what we Hope for and certain of what we do not SEE. But one day my sweet friends.....We will SEE! I wonder why that was the word she left? Maybe that's an answer! On another note, Steven and I had another "A" to share....Anniversary that is! 25 to be exact! Silver anniversary! Sounds like someone is getting older....or is that better?
S:
Speaking; Ok...Many of you have asked, so now is the time to address a few things coming up in 2010. After much prayer and a huge confirmation from God....A long story for another blog some day....We as a family have decided to do some different things next year. Steven will continue to do the "Women of Faith" conferences, which have been such a blessing to him and the boys. In 2010, the wonderful staff of "WOF" have asked me to a part of their team, and to do a speaking segment at the conference. YIKES! Do you know what this means? The 3 things I said I would never do: 1: Adopt, 2: Home School, 3: Speak in public. Well, it looks like during the school year 2010-2011, I'll be taking my adopted children out on the road with Steven to Home School them. This is so that I can speak to many of you at Women of Faith conferences all over the country! OK...The one thing I've learned....What not to tell God you won't do.... Please, I'm asking you to pray for me....I don't consider myself a speaker and quite honestly....Women....A lot of them....well they can be scary! We all want to be liked right? Pray that it will be exactly what it is supposed to be and that the only thing women walk away with is the message that God wants them to hear and have! I truly long to be a broken vessel/vase, glued back together with Christ oozing out of the hard places of my broken life! Along with the speaking, I have started a book project....hopefully to be with me as I step out on this journey...So, for those of you who have been wanting a book.....It's on the way....I just can't say when. I'm scared out of my wits, but at the same time.....have had much confirmation about all of this. CRAZY! I don't know how to speak! I don't know how to Home School! It is going to be one big learning curve as we will also be out on Steven's fall tour! My prayer is that we will all (The whole family)be together..... boys back playing for dad, girls and mom out on tour, maybe Emily and Julia could represent Show Hope....Who knows....Maybe it will be a weekend with the Chapmans! Not sure what God is up to, but please pray as I work these next few months on this book project, and begin to prepare my thoughts for these speaking engagements.
In the Spirit of Maria (who loved to rock out)!!
The Chapman's Wish You a ROCKIN Christmas!
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