"Mom, are there bathrooms in heaven?"

"what about candy? Is there candy in heaven?"

"Mom, when babies grow bigger do their brain grow bigger too?"

"Mom, are we 'post to poo' everyday?"

"Mom, are the cats and dogs my brothers and sisters?"
*********************************************
Life is now a constant game of twenty questions! LOL She is always thinking and asking questions. I sometimes wonder if her brain even rests at night. Most mornings if she doesn't have a question first thing, she is telling me about her dreams. I need to check out the library and the bookstores for books that she can read that can answer all those questions she hasn't thought of yet. If anyone reading this has book suggestions, we would appreciate it. LOL I just know there's going to be questions that I can't answer, like 'why is the sky blue'.

Only one week of school left and it's basically party week. No homework to worry about. Her class is having an ice cream party on Mon., another student's b-day on Tues., and a picnic outside on Thurs. Report cards come out on Fri. and then she's done. She is so looking forward to summer. Me.............not so much. :-) We are surprising her with a trip to Sea World probably one day the following week. Her "Gwamma" H. sent money for 3 tickets to celebrate her year-long A-B Honor Roll. She's never been to Sea World and is going to love it!

Oh, and about the cats and dogs being her brothers and sisters???? I think we've got that straightened out. LOL. I have always called them my 'other kids' or my fur babies, so you can understand the confusion. (wink, wink)

Her Dad is Home!

And life is good once again!

Life goes on........

Such devastation, tragedy and sadness this past month or so. The cyclones and earthquakes, tornadoes, floods and fires and then the tragic loss of a precious little girl that most of us never knew, but yet felt so close to. The rising price of gas, actually the rising price of everything, compounded by the fact that my husband who was laid off from his job back in Nov., still has not been able to find work. Tough times are everywhere these days and it's sometimes hard to find a reason to smile.
But as we all know, life does go on. We will pick up the pieces, we will sacrifice where needed, and we will smile again.
Mailia makes me smile everyday. She can annoy the you know what outta me sometimes, but she can also make me smile. Her daddy has been out of state for the past ten days working for some side money. She has missed him sooooo much. I heard her tell him on the phone the other night that "it's no fun when you're not here". My first thought was "hey, am I chopped liver?" but I knew what she really meant in her heart. It's just not the same when we're apart. We're a family and families need to be together. Daddy will be home tomorrow and she can barely contain her excitement. She has about a million things to tell him, she says. And I'm sure he can hardly wait to hear them all. LOL
Wishing you all a safe and happy Memorial weekend. Please find time to remember the reason for the holiday, and then spend some quality time with your family.

Oh yeah, the picture...........Mailia with her PoPo and YeYe. She is so happy to "see" them again. She told me several months ago that she almost forgot what they looked like. We're so happy to have this connection with them now. We have sent another letter and more pictures and hope to hear back from them in a couple of months or so. Btw, Mailia had just eaten a blue fruit roll-up before I snapped this picture, thus the blue teeth. LOL

Have a great weekend!

Maria Sue Chapman

May 22, 2008

Maria Sue Chapman (2003-2008)

Maria Sue Chapman, adopted and youngest daughter to Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman, was killed Wednesday night in a tragic accident in the family driveway on Wednesday evening. She was LifeFlighted to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital but for only reasons God can explain she went home to Him... not to Franklin as we all so desperately wanted.

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 5 candles on a birthday cake less than 10 days ago. These words are unthinkable to type. - Jim Houser (Manager)

We are all humbled by the incredible outpouring of love and support at this difficult time. I have watched you, the Chapman friends, overwhelm website servers and jam phone lines with your gracious words and heartfelt prayers. The Chapman family is so grateful. Obviously, we cherish your prayers for all in the Chapman family, and we welcome you passing this along to others to pray and encouraging them to sign up for Steven's e-mail list to receive continuing updates.

• If you'd like to express your condolences and get a glimpse of this beautiful little girl through a short video clip, click here.
  
• Mail to PO Box 150156 Nashville, TN 37215.
• In lieu of flowers, the Chapmans request any gifts be directed to Shaohannah's Hope, click here.
  

In closing, as many of you know, the song "Cinderella" was written by Steven to help him (and us all) grab a hold of the special moments with those we love we might otherwise rush by. It was inspired by a bath time that Steven tried to "hurry," Maria and her sister Stevey Joy were not exactly cooperating. : ) Let us all be reminded again today what Steven compels us to with the lyric of this special song.

Maria, we already miss you so much, and we only take comfort in The Hope that assures us we'll see you again soon.

On behalf of the Chapman team and family, Jim Houser (Manager)

End of Year School Picture

China Earthquake Update 5/20

Dear Friends,

As I delay writing this report a bit longer each day, I realize that, like

so many, I find it harder and harder to read or write those grim

statistics or tell the sad stories. We wish we could be done with this

death and disaster and start to move on. But still the numbers come.

There are 34,073 people confirmed dead, 245,108 injured, still more than

35,000 still missing.

Yesterday, after those three silent minutes in Sichuan, people began to

call out, “Rebuild! Rebuild!” Today, when I was feeling I couldn’t open

another casualty report, I read instead a report about new babies born

during and right after the quake. They have names like ‘Li Zhen’

(Earthquake) and ‘Born in a Tent’ and ‘Long March.’ They, like all the

survivors, will carry these terrible days with them always. But their

lives are just beginning. For them and for all of the children who

survived, Sichuan will begin to rebuild.

As hope of finding more survivors fades, we find hope in each bit of good

news –

with love,

Jenny

Jenny Bowen

Executive Director

Half the Sky Foundation

www.halfthesky.org

And Finally a Little Rain

Of course, in typical Florida fashion, the sun was out the entire time.

First measurable rain since April 6th. Hoping some of it makes to the coast to help put out some of the fires.