Choosing to SEE
Page 25
Tim, Janie, and Tabby, our new family through Tanner. Thanks for loving us through this time. We all love you, but the girls think you ROCK! Gymnastics and horses – they love it! Tabby, I know you miss her. She loved your aqua hairlights! LOL! You’ve meant the world to the li’l nuggets . . . especially SJ!
My family is simply amazing. You all have stood with us through much of the good and bad that life has brought our way. Mom, Dad, Jim, Yo, Jeanne, Barry, Herbie, Sherri, Herb Sr., Deniece, Judy, and all the children that go with you. I’m honored to be your daughter, sister, sister-in-law, and daughter-in-law.
The preventative maintenance team: Pastor Scotty Smith, Al Andrews, Lynn Husband, Larry Crabb, and Dan Allendar. Your love, wisdom, insight, and great counsel have proven to be invaluable and a true source of hope when our weary souls couldn’t take another step.
Paris Goodyear-Brown and David Thomas. Your expertise and kind hearts have blessed my children. I really don’t know what we would have done without the counseling work you walked them through.
Our community at Christ Presbyterian Academy. ALL of you loved on us, brought us food (Tina, I blame you for the extra twenty), wrote us letters, took the girls fun places, on and on its goes. . . . You also entered into Will’s pain with him and walked closely beside him his senior year. Thank you! Our family at Christ Community Church . . . ditto. The outpouring of love toward our family was felt in a tangible way.
And finally to you – the one who holds this book in your hand. If you are reading this book, then you more than likely have prayed for me and our family at some point. I can’t tell you what it feels like to literally know the world is praying. We felt physically held during the time of losing our Maria, and you were part of the body who cried out on our behalf. Thank you so much. I pray that each word of my story will touch you in a way that gives a blessing back to you for holding us tight during this time. If you are a fellow sufferer, someone who has experienced loss of some kind, I’m so sorry for your pain. All stories of “hard” are different, but pain and suffering are the common ground. I pray for each hurting person that is reading this for some kind of encouragement while life continues on with unrelenting force. Winter comes, that is for sure. But beneath that hard frozen ground is spring, and it most definitely will come.
With love and hugs,
Mary Beth
Hosea 6:1
“Chubby Chapman” was a damaging nickname. Years later I finally realized its effects on my life.
My grandparents and me. I thought the red culottes were fine for church camp meeting.
Farrah Fawcett hair was the style for senior pictures in the ’80s. The perfect feathered look.
Anderson University homecoming football game after an all-night “discussion.”
Livin’ on love! 19 and 21 years old. Fifty dollars and a green Ford Pinto to our name!
Strollin’ down memory lane during a 2008 visit to Anderson University campus. Notice the mailboxes behind us?
Where’s Emily? After freshly laundering what stuffed animals I could after the fire, I seized the photo op while the animals were laying out drying.
Pill-eating puppy named Peso, with the result named Emily.
Sweet Emily at age 13. “The Fingerprints of God” says it all!
Celebrating Gold. We saddled up for the Great Adventure, but I was barely hanging on to the reins.
Band name: 2 Car Garage (Caleb was missing his two front teeth). A glimpse into the future?
One of my favorite pre-adoption family portraits. We love to laugh together, and now we love to cry together. It’s a privilege.
Our Compassion trip to Haiti in 1997 captured Emily’s heart for orphans and vulnerable children. The faith of a child!
I named this Maria's Big House of Hope baby after Hudson Taylor. He giggled at the name Maria and is with her now in heaven.
XU CHUN XI (MARIA SUE CHUNXI CHAPMAN)
CHEN BI RU (STEVEY JOY RU CHAPMAN)
CHANG YAN YAN (SHAOHANNAH HOPE YAN CHAPMAN)
The first look at our precious daughters. These are the three referral pictures that came to us with all their other pertinent information.
When love took ME in . . . everything changed! Sha-Sha-oey rocked my world for GOOD! Thank you, Jesus! oey
When the going gets tough, the tough find the humor.
While in China adopting Stevey Joy, I found some fun with photos! Warped? Maybe.
Adoption day in China, and it was as if Steven and Maria had known each other their whole lives.
And Maria makes eight! Now we look complete.
We were blessed with a private tour of Cinderella’s Suite at Disney World, and all my Cinderellas loved it!
Vacation! “I love it when my whole family is together” was one of Maria’s favorite lines.
Giddyup! Isn’t that what brothers and daddies are for?
Dancing at a wedding in 2006. Will and I have always been close and have so many awesome memories together.
It’s true! Chapman family tradition. Chinese or Japanese food on Christmas Eve, before Christmas Eve service.
Maria could make a “Rock Face” like none other! I cut the sleeves off the shirts to improve them.
Two peas in a pod! Maria and Stevey Joy were born seven months apart and were best buddies, inseparable.
Maria’s third birthday. She loved Tinker Bell and fairies. Shaoey says Maria's finally a fairy because she has her wings!
Rub a dub dub, three girls in the tub.
In China, pools require swim caps. Why? Don’t know. Will was a great sport and they all got to pick out their own cap.
Family picture day! Will was the only sibling who had his picture taken individually with each of the three girls. He makes everything fun.
Caleb had ways of making Maria laugh and smile so hard her eyes would disappear.
Spring break 2007. One of these is not like the others! I’m grateful God used Emily to speak into my life.
Taken in China, this picture of Steven and Maria would be sent to us later, confirming that this was Daddy kissing his daughter.
After a long weekend in Maine, Tanner proposed to Emily on an airplane flight.
When I look at this picture, I can smell Maria’s sweaty skin, I can hear her sweet voice, and I can feel that chubby little hand on my neck.
Maria’s favorite blanket. She had to have that one. Will kept it with him in the days following the accident.
Goggle Girl. Many days, this is all she swam in. For that matter, I would occasionally catch her watching TV with them on and nothing else!
Maria was “Little Miss Attitude.”
Whether happy or mad, she could give you some attitude!
A trip to South Dakota in 2009 with our friends, the Moores, and their girls to help adjust to “the new normal.”
Caleb and Will on tour with Casting Crowns, 2010. Showing hope by wearing hope!
October 4, 2008. Emily and Tanner Richards were married. In honor of Maria, the family portrait was a “Rock Face” pose.
May 10, 2009. Caleb and Julia Chapman were married. In honor of Maria, the family portrait was another “Rock Face” pose.
Grand opening and dedication in honor of Maria—the complete earthly Chapman family at Maria’s Big House of Hope, 2009.
Mary Beth Chapman is the wife of Grammy and Dove Award winning recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman. Together they began Show Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to caring for the world’s most vulnerable children by providing financial assistance to families wishing to adopt, as well as increasing awareness of the orphan crisis and funneling resources to orphans domestically and internationally. Mary Beth serves as president of Show Hope and is a speaker for Women of Faith 2010 with her husband. She is also coauthor with Steven of the Shaoey and Dot series of children’s picture books. Mary Beth and Steven have six children, Emily, Caleb, Will Franklin, and adopted daughters Shaohannah Hope, Stevey Joy, and Maria Sue, who is now with Jesus. The Chapman
s live in Tennessee.
Ellen Vaughn is a New York Times bestselling author and inspirational speaker. Her recent books include Shattered, Lost Boy, Time Peace, Radical Gratitude, and It’s All About Him, a New York Times bestseller. Former vice president of executive communications for Prison Fellowship, Vaughn collaborated with Chuck Colson on eight nonfiction books and two novels. Vaughn and her husband live in the Washington, D.C. area with their three teenagers.
Permissions
Chapters 1 and 27
“Beauty Will Rise,” words and music by
Steven Curtis Chapman. Copyright © 2009
One Blue Petal Music / Primary Wave Brian
(Chapman Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 4
“We Belong Together (Tarzan and Jane),” words and music by Steven Curtis Chapman.
Copyright © 2002 Sparrow Song (BMI)
(Admin. by EMI CMG Publishing) / Primary
Wave Brian (Chapman Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 6
“Love and Learn,” words and music by
Steven Curtis Chapman. Copyright © 1994
Sparrow Song (BMI) (Admin. by EMI CMG
Publishing) / Primary Wave Brian (Chapman
Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 8
“I Will Be Here,” words and music by Steven
Curtis Chapman. Copyright © 1989 Sparrow
Song (BMI) Greg Nelson Music (BMI)
(Admin. by EMI CMG Publishing) / Universal
Music-Careers (BMI). All rights reserved.
Used by permission.
Chapter 10
“Go There With You,” words and music by
Steven Curtis Chapman. Copyright © 1992
Sparrow Song (BMI) (Admin. by EMI CMG
Publishing) / Primary Wave Brian (Chapman
Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 11
“With Hope,” words and music by Steven
Curtis Chapman. Copyright © 1999
Sparrow Song (BMI) (Admin. by EMI CMG
Publishing) / Primary Wave Brian (Chapman
Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 13
“When Love Takes You In,” words and music by Steven Curtis Chapman. Copyright © 2001
Sparrow Song (BMI) (Admin. by EMI CMG
Publishing) / Primary Wave Brian (Chapman
Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 14
“What Now,” words and music by Steven
Curtis Chapman. Copyright © 2004
Sparrow Song (BMI) (Admin. by EMI CMG
Publishing) / Primary Wave Brian (Chapman
Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 16
“Something Crazy,” words and music by Steven Curtis Chapman and Matt
Bronleewe. Copyright © 2007 Sparrow Song
(BMI) (Admin. by EMI CMG Publishing) /
Music of Windswept (ASCAP / Woodland
Creatures Need (ASCAP) / Primary Wave
Brian (Chapman Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 17
“Fingerprints of God,” words and music by
Steven Curtis Chapman. Copyright © 1999
Sparrow Song (BMI) (Admin. by EMI CMG
Publishing) / Primary Wave Brian (Chapman
Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 18
“Remembering You,” words and music by
Steven Curtis Chapman and Caleb Chapman.
Copyright © 2005 Sparrow Song (BMI)
(Admin. by EMI CMG Publishing) / Primary
Wave Brian (Chapman Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 19
“Dive,” words and music by Steven Curtis
Chapman. Copyright © 1999 Sparrow Song
(BMI) (Admin. by EMI CMG Publishing)
/ Primary Wave Brian (Chapman Sp.
Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 20
“Cinderella,” words and music by Steven
Curtis Chapman. Copyright © 2007
Sparrow Song (BMI) (Admin. by EMI CMG
Publishing) / Primary Wave Brian (Chapman
Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 21
“February 20th,” words and music by Steven
Curtis Chapman. Copyright © 2009 One Blue
Petal Music / Primary Wave Brian (Chapman
Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 22
“Heaven Is The Face,” words and music by Steven Curtis Chapman. Copyright ©
2009 One Blue Petal Music / Primary Wave
Brian (Chapman Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 23
“Our God Is In Control,” words and music by Steven Curtis Chapman and Mary Beth
Chapman. Copyright © 2009 One Blue Petal
Music / Primary Wave Brian (Chapman Sp.
Acct.) / MBSEE Songs (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 24
“SEE,” words and music by Steven Curtis
Chapman. Copyright © 2009 One Blue Petal
Music / Primary Wave Brian (Chapman Sp.
Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 25
“Jesus Will Meet You There,” words and music by Steven Curtis Chapman. Copyright
© 2009 One Blue Petal Music / Primary Wave
Brian (Chapman Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 26
“I Will Trust You,” words and music by Steven
Curtis Chapman. Copyright © 2009 One Blue
Petal Music / Primary Wave Brian (Chapman Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 27
“God Is God,” words and music by Steven
Curtis Chapman. Copyright © 2001
Sparrow Song (BMI) (Admin. by EMI CMG
Publishing) / Primary Wave Brian (Chapman
Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 28
“So Long,” words and music by Caleb
Chapman. Copyright © 2010 Noble Park
Publishing (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 29
“Faithful,” words and music by Steven Curtis
Chapman. Copyright © 2009 One Blue Petal
Music / Primary Wave Brian (Chapman Sp.
Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 30
“Yours,” verse added after Maria’s death, words and music by Steven Curtis Chapman and Jonas
Myrin. Copyright © 2007 Sparrow Song (BMI)
(Admin. by EMI CMG Publishing) / Primary
Wave Brian (Chapman Sp. Acct.) (BMI) / Jonas
Myrin / Hillsong Publishing (ASCAP). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 31
“Broken,” words and music by Steven Curtis
Chapman. Copyright © 2007 Sparrow Song
(BMI) (Admin. by EMI CMG Publishing)
/ Primary Wave Brian (Chapman Sp.
Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 34
“Close To Your Heart,” words and music by
Steven Curtis Chapman and Matt Redman.
Copyright © 2010 One Blue Petal Music /
Primary Wave Brian (Chapman Sp. Acct.)
(BMI) / Thankyou Music (PRS) (Admin. by
EMI CMG Publishing, excluding Europe, which is Admin. by Kingsway Songs) / sixsteps
Music (ASCAP) / Said And Done Music
<
br /> (ASCAP) (Admin. by EMI CMG Publishing).
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 36
“God Is It True (Trust Me),” words and music by Steven Curtis Chapman. Copyright ©
2009 One Blue Petal Music / Primary Wave
Brian (Chapman Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 39
“Just Have To Wait,” words and music by
Steven Curtis Chapman. Copyright © 2009
One Blue Petal Music / Primary Wave Brian
(Chapman Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Chapter 41
“Spring Is Coming,” words and music by
Steven Curtis Chapman. Copyright © 2009
One Blue Petal Music / Primary Wave Brian
(Chapman Sp. Acct.) (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.