In Memory of Maria Chapman

I wanted to share this link after hearing how the Chapman family are responding to losing Maria. They are grieving but their faith is in God and knowing that they will one day be reunited with their daughter. It is only through our faith in God and a saving relationship with Jesus Christ that we can all know for certain that we will be forever in eternity with our children and other loved ones. My prayers are with the Chapman family and with any family who has gone through the hardship of losing a loved one. No matter how we have lost a loved one, whether through an illness, an accident or through being killed by someone else we are all in need of hope and prayers. We hurt, we mourn, we cry when our arms are empty. God understands and shares our tears. But he also holds out hope for the future. To everyone who has lost anyone in your life: I share your pain, I lift you up in prayer. I pray that if you don't know Jesus Christ as your savior that you would ask questions!

To the Chapman family: Prayers and love are all I can offer.


In memory of Maria, Jim Houser, Steven Curtis’ manager, set up a blog. Visitors can watch a video of her and Steven and send condolences to the family. Houser said, “Your prayers are needed for all in the Chapman family. This is a family who has so generously loved and given to so many. Just hours before, this close-knit family was celebrating the engagement of the oldest daughter, Emily Chapman, and were just hours away from a graduation party marking Caleb Chapman’s completion of high school. Now, they are preparing to bury a child who blew out five candles on a birthday cake less than 10 days ago. And yet we trust in a God who was not surprised by this, and because of Jesus I am certain through faith in Him we will see Maria again.”

The Chapmans request any gifts be directed to Shaohannah’s Hope in lieu of flowers.

Mother's Day

Today we celebrated Mother's Day. Rick and Sean gave me beautiful cards and yesterday we planted some beautiful hydrangea bushes that I have been wanting for my prayer garden. Today we had lunch with a couple I consider our spiritual parents. It was a very nice day and it was very special to be with the people I love.

Of course it was also bittersweet as I was missing Tonia so very much. It made me very aware of people around me who were not celebrating today with their entire hearts. Mothers who are not in touch with their children because of problems in the family, mothers who have lost children even before they were born, women who have lost their mothers and women who have never had their own children. This day is a beautiful occasion to honor the women in our lives who have loved us and nurtured us. But it can also be a day when tears are very close to the surface and life doesn't seem quite fair or normal. I get this for the very first time in my life.

So today I would like to send a hug to women every where; just because you are a very special child of God. Women have a very special place in God's plan for this world. So today I want to say Happy Mother's Day but I also want to say I am glad to know all of the women in my life and I thank you for being a part of my life.