Remembering Maria Sue Chapman With Hope ;; 2003-2008♥

**PLEASE READ**
Uploaded: May 23rd, 2008.
First of all, I didn't take this, this is the same person who uploaded it the first time. My account was deleted which caused all of my videos to be taken down.

& this song was not written for Maria, it was written years ago for a dear friend the Chapman family's, whose daughter passed away in another tragic accident.

Maria's Story:
Chapman daughter struck, killed by car in driveway
By KATE HOWARD and LINDA ZETTLER • Staff Writers • May 21, 2008

Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest child died Wednesday afternoon after being struck by a car driven by her teenage brother in the driveway of the family's Williamson County home.Maria, one of the Christian singer's six children, was taken by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt Hospital, which confirmed the death, according to Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol. The 5-year-old was hit by an SUV driven by her teenage brother, she said. Police did not give the driver's name.The teen was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser down the driveway of the rural home at about 5:30 p.m. and several children were playing in the area, McPherson said. He did not see Maria in the driveway before the vehicle struck her, she said."It appears to be a terrible accident,'' McPherson said. No charges are expected, she said. The accident was witnessed by two other children; the entire family was home at the time, McPherson said.Singer/songwriter Chapman, who recently was inducted into Music City Walk of Fame, is one of contemporary Christian music's most recognizable and most awarded names. He and his wife Mary Beth have long been supporters of international adoption, having brought three girls from China into their family. Maria was the youngest.The couple is so active in the cause that they formed an organization, Shaohannah's Hope, to aid families wanting to adopt. With his latest music tour, which came through Nashville in November, Chapman started a campaign called "Change for Orphans". He asked audience members at each stop to bring spare change to the concert, where it was counted and given to a local family to aid in their adoption process."I don't know of anybody who loves his children more than he does and is so committed to the adoption concept, and to lose one, no matter what the circumstances, is heartbreaking beyond all comprehension," said John Styll, president of the Nashville-based Gospel Music Association."He talks about his kids all the time. That's his life. His kids are more important to him than music, that's for sure."The tragedy was announced during Wednesday-night services at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ, which the family attends. Maria had just graduated from the church preschool.And word spread throughout the tight-knit Christian music community on Wednesday evening.Styll got the news not long after Maria's death."I'm confident I can speak for everyone in the community to say we will do everything we can to support this family, as we would do at any time, but especially at a time like this," he said.Most of the Chapman family was at Vanderbilt children's hospital after the accident and could not be contacted. The long, gravel driveway leading to the home west of Franklin was blocked off by Williamson County sheriff's deputies.
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When my family and I heard the gut-wrenching news of Maria, we were in just complete shock. We couldn't even cry.

I mean, this life, was playing with her family by the ocean just two weeks before, and was trying her hardest to make herself known to the entire crowd on Steven's Live In This Moment Tour in Sepetember.

We all just felt awful. Especially knowing our sweet, precious Will was beating himself up emotionally with this.

So I can't even imagine how the family is feeling.

Even though it's been a month, this family needs even more prayers. They are finding out that the road will be even longer than they'd have ever imagined.

Prayer is all you can do right now for them. & knowing this sweet little cherub face is resting in the arms of Jesus and dancing in the river of life brings even more hope.

If you'd like to make a donation to Maria's Miracle Fund, go here:
https://secure2.convio.net/ccsh/site/Donation2?idb=1367791577&df_id=1560&...

All photos belong to the Chapman family albums. No copyright infringment intended.

God Bless, In Him,
Taylor xoxo

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• steven
• curtis
• chapman
• marybeth
• emily
• caleb
• willy
• frank
• shoahannah
• hope
• stevey
• joy
• maria
• jim
• houser
• tragedy

[sraphael]

So incredibly tragic.....when Maria calls out "Bye!!" at the end, it feels like someone has ripped my heart out....

[SylviaPenguin]

Very nice video, all the pictures and also the few videoclips. Also thanks for the information, I have been wondering what happened with his daughter that died, but now I know. :-) It is sure very sad, she is a very lovely little girl. But like stated in the video, she is now together with Jesus Christ, and that is even better than our journey here on earth. -God Bless-

[keeleyroxs]

I cried she is such a cutie pie

[theresalizano]

Give tears watching this,im sorry that lord has to take her ..but he has a plan rest in piece she us adorable.so cute funny and beautiful ...

[zeelelynn]

May you rest in peace Maria. -3

[jayjayy1455]

U r adorable! Steven I'm so srry about wat happened!!! God makes things happen for a reason because he loves us.

[michaelarocks1]

I'm so sorry 2 hear tht about your daughter

[Carolarny1]

That last video, when Maria pulled out the knife, was very funny. RIP Maria; you were a very pretty and funloving girl, and I wish I could have met you. see ya in heaven, Caroline

[dominoeangel]

It is so beautiful that the promise is real and a HOPE that is not .."I hope so" but a waiting truth.

Heaven, a place I thought was made up to make the sting of death not so bad, a place made up to make people feel better.

Now I know it's a real place that is a gift....a place to see her/his face again..of those who went home first, and meet those we never knew.

Most of all the God we love- for He loved us when we did not.

[Literaleigh]

I read Mary Beth's book "Choosing to SEE" and it was so sad and beautiful. I love this family so much and am so sorry for their loss of this little angel. I pray for them and for Will Franklin still.

[crazysingingchick]

It's awesome that they got so much of her on video in those 5 short years! This song really hits me because my son would have been turning 12 this coming April. He was stillborn at 41 weeks, and for a long time I felt like the world and everything in it became disconnected. My husband and I were already strong Christians and trusted that God was holding our son for us. Four daughters later, we all trust that we will see Joey again. Praise God, and God bless the Chapmans.