MaryBeth

Heaven Is The Face

MARIA SUE CHUNXI CHAPMAN, MAY 13, 2003 - MAY 21, 2008...  YOU MADE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE!

If I could change one thing.....we all know what that would be.  May 21st inevitably comes, and while Maria is never out of my thoughts, this day is the day I wish I could have a re-do.  So many things I could say...  To all of my friends far and near.  Those closest to me and those who only know me by the prayers they've prayed for our family, Thank You for your love.  I think of the ways people have surrounded us, and I can't believe how we have been carried through the last 2 years.  I have to be honest and say....  This is a hard blog to write, as I thought I'd be better?  Is that the word?  or I thought the sad would be not as sad?  In the words of my Grandmother who lost her daughter, my Aunt to cancer....  It is not natural or right to bury your child.  I was 13 years old when my grandmother told me that as she cried for her 43 year old daughter that had just passed.  I never thought I would truly understand what she meant.  But this is the path God has me on, and I know the pain of loss in a way I wish I didn't. 
I never knew grief could physically hurt so much.

Maria,  if I could just smell, kiss, and hold you.  If I could just hear, watch and chase you.  I close my eyes and I can all most feel you looking at me sometimes.  Maybe that truly is how thin the veil between us is.  I long for the day, truly long for it...  when I don't hurt anymore and when I will SEE you again!  Until then, I'll keep a watchful eye and try and love well, your sisters who miss you dearly and your brothers who would love to have another wrestling match with Sumo Girl!

I love you...To Infinity,  AND BEYOND!

CINCERELLA: A Show Hope Spring Celebration! Honoring Maria

I Don't have many pictures yet!  But the good ones are coming!  I'll post more then, but CINDERELLA was amazing, why?  The talent we had was not only flat amazing, these people ALL had hearts of Gold.  They loved us and they served us so well.  The night was simply.....enchanting!

Professional Pictures coming soon!

May 14th, Grandparents/Special Friends Day

 

What a special day to have Mammaw, Poppy, Grandma Judy, and Melissa all with us for Grandparents/Special friends day!  It was an amazing start to our day, as later that night would be CINDERELLA! A spring celebration by Show Hope! 

A New Playground and a New Pre-School for Maria's Big House

  

A wonderful little cupcake shop on Main Street in downtown Franklin, worked so very hard and raised the money needed to build a playground at Maria's Big House!  Thank You Naticakes!!!!  You do make life a little Sweeter. As soon as we can, we'll get it built and pictures sent back here to you! It was celebrated on Maria's birthday, May 13th...  and the girls as you can tell, had lots of sugar and fun!  Happy Birthday sweet Maria Sue!

Also, I don't have any pics, but Shaoey, Stevey, and Maria all went to Harpeth Hills Pre-School...  Well, Miss Kelly retired.  She was the director and wore something pink everyday that I knew her!  In her honor, the church and school raised money for the Pre-School at Maria's Big House!  Steven and I were so honored.  We will honor your retirement well Miss Kelly...  As soon as we get them, I'll post pre-school pics!  Tanner and Emily are there right now, stocking and getting it all ready for the children!

Happy 7th BDay MariaJ

We miss you so very very much.

When Love Takes You In! And, Show Hope Showed Up!

 

When Casting Crowns toured with Steven several years ago, the story goes that Mark would be waiting to sing with Steven off stage in the wings.  While he would wait, he would stand there and watch Steven sing "When Love Takes You In" while the video played.  Mark often said when it got to the part of watching us receive Shaoey into our arms, he would get teary most nights.  Mark only watched that video about 84 times on that tour, and while his awesome wife Melanie was pretty convince that adoption would be their journey, Mark turned the corner a little slower.  So after 84 video watches later.....I have found myself in China watching Love being taken in again...This time by the Hall family, with Me and my posse of camera/video hounds catching the moment!  Thanks Emily, Tanner, and Uncle Dave.  I wouldn't have been able to handle all those cameras alone.  I loved participating and I love you, Mark and Melanie for stepping up and out.  and now.... you are 6!

As if it wasn't enough to be so overwhelmed with the Hall's journey and watching it start so many years ago, and culminating with me being able to be there to watch the process....Something else amazing happened!  As I was walking into the Civil Affairs Office, I heard someone say that another family that had come separately from us recognized me.  As I walked into the office, I heard a very kind man say "Thank You."  I turned to see a couple of families that were waiting on their children as well.  The Carlson family (mom, Mary Beth stayed behind with their other child) are a SHOW HOPE family!  Unbelievable!  In China, I'm being thanked for giving this family a grant. So awesome that God would show up that way!  The other family encouraged me for being brave in my journey this last two years, and as the tears streamed down my face, I thanked them for their prayers.  And then it was time for the children so I ran back down to the Hall's to assist.  However I do have a few pictures, and would love for all of you to see SHOW HOPE in action!!!

 
   showhope.org

Mary Beth in China...A big surprise to Emily and Tanner!

Below are some of the pictures from Maria's Big House of Hope. 1: The whole gang... 2: Theo and a nanny... 3: Tanner, Me and Emily... 4: Emily and a cleft palate baby... 5: The Hall's plus Mary Beth in the entrance... 6:  Mikey, who works for Show Hope, and one of his little friends waiting for palate surgery.

 



I had hoped that this trip would work out, but wasn't quite sure when our friends, Mark and Melanie Hall, would get the final word to travel to China for their little girl!  Well, the call came and I went for it.  David Trask (Steven's road manager and Show Hope Relations guy) and I traveled here to China on what was supposed to be Thursday, but ended up after delays, here on Friday.  The Hall family arrived about an hour behind us, and it has been go, go, go, ever since.  We slept, got up, and flew to Maria's Big House of Hope today!  They have been such great support and always wanted to visit when they came for their daughter.  We had a blast!  We spent a few hours wondering the halls and playing with the children.  Maria's Big house has babies/toddlers in every room now.  We are so excited that next month a surgical team will come to operate on many cleft lip and palate children.  It is always so much fun to watch others taste and SEE that the Lord is good and at work at MBHOH.  Of course I had to take the opportunity to take one picture (or 2) of the Hall's in their Show Hope wear!  Look for them on the show hope blog as well!  I'm so grateful to them for their encouragement of us!  Enjoy the pictures, tomorrow we fly to Nanjing to get ready for the arrival of their little girl. As for the surprise...Emily and Tanner are here from Ireland on a 6 week placement from the bible college.  All the students go serve somewhere and MBHOH is where Em and Tan landed.  They will begin a pre-school program at MBHOH, or at least start to get it organized and ready!  pray for them as they have many decisions to wade through about next year!  You should have seen their faces when they saw me!  Priceless.  It was a grand surprise... and quite frankly, I'm shocked I pulled it off.  I didn't tell many people as I was afraid it would spread to our friend the internet, then it would have been ruined!  So, mum was the word for a bit, but now...We are here and I'll check back in a day or two.

Hugs,

Mary Beth

The Newest Veggie Tale! Emma the Rhubarb!

Not sure how much I'm supposed to say, but expect the cutest adopted rhubarb ever to hit the Veggie Tale screen this Christmas!  Weird thing?  Stevey Joy Ru Chapman is Stevey Joy's full name.  Who would have guessed they would make her a Rhubarb...and yes, when you look rhubarb up,  its origins are...Chinese from what I can tell.  Strange but true.  I won't give any secrets away...just that she has lines...and she sings...with Larry the Cucumber.  How great!  Oh, and shhhhhh  there are other surprises too, but I will reveal in due time when I'm allowed...  I'm not even sure this was allowed...but hey, what does a proud mom do?

WOF #1, Columbus, Ohio..... O H ... I O!

WOF #1 in Columbus.  Steven and I back stage before the event!  I was sooooo nervous...  Thanks so much my blessed home state of OHIO for welcoming me with all of my fears and jitters!  I am really grateful for the opportunity to share and steward my story well, but it is so very hard!  It's such a different place for me to walk.  To all the WOF Porch women, my heart was comforted with your acceptance and love.  Thanks for welcoming me into the gang.  You made me smile, and the good news?  I didn't throw up!  I hope that by sharing my story, Maria is honored and remembered, but most importantly....God is made known for bringing beauty for ashes, and thawing the winter into SPRING!  Thanks for you love,

HUGS,

Mary Beth