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Aug 02, 2011

Jen rated it:

Last October, my church had the Chapmans (Steven Curtis and his wife and kids) for an outreach event. I didn't buy tickets because I wasn't sure I would be able to handle the grief of this family not far removed from the death of their 5 year old daughter in a horrific accident in which her brother ran over her with a car. I can't stand the sugary sweet "God is in control" and we were instantly happy that he had taken our daughter to be with him schlock that is so common in Christian More...

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Mar 01, 2011

Holly (2 Kids and Tired) rated it:

I remember hearing when the daughter of Steven Curtis Chapman was killed in a tragic accident. I knew of Steven's music, but wasn't really familiar with him or his family. I remember thinking at the time what a difficult thing to go through. Steven's wife Mary Beth writes of the experience here in her book, Choosing to SEE. She shares their early life; their young marriage, Steven's perseverance in moving his career forward, the birth of their three children and the adoption of three daughte More...

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Aug 02, 2011

Jenn rated it:

What I loved most about this book was Mary Beth's honesty about her struggles with depression, adoption, the loss of her daughter, and trusting in God and His word. Her journey of faith is easy to relate to. She admits to being a flawed human being, desperately clinging to Jesus. She's not a perfect Christian wife and mother (because NO ONE is), yet she is living out the journey God has placed her on. I can definitely relate to her as she talks about telling God her plans and then having to ad More...

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Feb 13, 2012

Jocelyn rated it:

If you were listening to the radio at all that spring of 2008, you heard it too, and probably froze or bowed your head in prayer immediately like I did: Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman’s five-year-old daughter Maria was hit by a car driven by their son Will in their own driveway, and it killed her. It threatened to kill Will too (emotionally and spiritually). Can you imagine the guilt? He didn’t see her. He wasn’t on his cell phone or driving fast. He just didn’t see her.

So this b More...

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Jan 26, 2012

Karen rated it:

I marked five stars, but I really needed more. This is an awesome book about walking your faith even through the dark days.
Mary Beth did a beautiful job of sharing this family's story in a way that is so powerful you can feel God's presence in all of it. I am in awe of the light this family has been able to share even while they carry such a heavy load of grief and loss. Remarkable!!

I want to remember from this book, Maria's message to "SEE";
the touching imag More...

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Nov 13, 2011

Tina rated it:

This book was recommended by a variety of people, so I thought it was time to read it. I feel very hard-hearted admitting it didn't live up to my expectations. Mary Beth Chapman is working through the grief of losing her daughter who was hit accidentally by her son. The book is not well written, although I appreciated the quotes and song lyrics at the beginning of each chapter.

I identified with two particular quotes. In talking about her past, Mary Beth writes, "I'm not su More...

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Aug 04, 2011

Natalie rated it:

I remember hearing about this book almost as soon as it came out and have been eagerly anticipating reading it ever since. Having heard of the tragic accidental death of the Chapman’s little adopted Chinese daughter when it happened, I knew the Mary Beth’s story would be heartfelt and insightful. I was not disappointed on either count. Mary Beth’s style of writing is very real and personable. It has you laughing one minute, gasping the next, and then wiping tears from your eyes. But in it all, s More...

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Sep 11, 2010

Kristina rated it:

For many years, at least in my circle of friends, the name Chapman has always been linked to the first and middle name of Steven Curtis--the Christian music artist. Choosing to SEE by Mary Beth Chapman with Ellen Vaughn gives us a look into the heart of the woman behind the man. Stemming from the tragedy her family experienced when her daughter Maria unexpectedly passed away in a tragic accident, Choosing to SEE is the inspiring autobiography of a life in which God is truly being shown.
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Sep 06, 2010

Clockstein rated it:

Choosing to SEE by Mary Beth Chapman and Ellen Vaughn is a heart-rending account of a mother's loss and trusting in God. I remember the day I heard about the death of Maria Chapman, the daughter of popular Christian artist Steven Curtis Chapman and wife Mary Beth. She was tragically killed when her elder brother Will's car hit and killed her in the family driveway. I sympathized with their pain because I had a son just Will's age and a daughter Maria's. Our son had recently gotten his lice More...

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Sep 03, 2010

Victor rated it:

Mary Beth Chapman with Ellen Vaughn in her new book, “Choosing To See” published by Revell brings us into the life of her family.

What do we expect of those individuals who have the spotlight of the Gospel? Do we hold them on a high pedestal where we can show them off and say that is hos God treats His elite? Are those whose names we hear practically every day different from the rest of us?

Steven Curtis Chapman is a multi Grammy award and Dove award winning artist. He h More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Aug 31, 2010

Cafelilybookreviews rated it:

On May 21, 2008, the lives of the Chapman family changed dramatically in one ill-fated moment. Their five year old adopted daughter, Maria, was accidentally hit and killed in the driveway of their Tennessee home. As if the accident weren’t horrific enough, the car that hit Maria was being driven by her older brother, Will Franklin.

In Choosing to See, wife of award winning contemporary Christian music artist, Steven Curtis Chapman, Mary Beth Chapman writes from the perspective of More...

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Aug 21, 2010

Laura rated it:

Title: CHOOSING TO SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope
Author: Mary Beth Chapman with Ellen Vaughn
Publisher: Revell
August 2010
ISBN: 978-0-8007-1991-3
Genre: Inspirational/memoir

All of us in the Christian internet world remember the day that the news broke that Steve Curtis Chapman lost his five-year-old daughter, Maria, in a tragic accident. Some of us flocked over to their blog, reading the terrible story and crying tears of symphathy for this family. I r More...

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Jan 13, 2012

Rob and Liz rated it:

I (Liz) was introduced to this book by a friend here in Mwanza, Tanzania. I wanted to read it immediately because I have listened to Steven Curtis Chapman's music on and off over the years and also because we lived in Nashville for four years and I remember seeing them once at a highschool football game. Right from the beginning, Mary Beth Chapman draws you in with her dedications, especially to her son, Will Franklin, telling him "You have been entrusted with an incredible pain. I'm so s More...

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Jan 16, 2011

Jenny rated it:

What did I think? I THOUGHT it was only an okay written book, skipped and rushed at certain points, but I FELT powerfully touched as a result of reading it. I read it straight through in 24 hours, even catching moments in the car. Tears came just reading the opening dedication from Mary Beth to her daughter, Maria, and I closed the book with wet tears as well.

I am deeply thankful for Mary Beth's honesty. She writes of the pain and ache up to the end. She doesn't try to wrap her family' More...

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Jan 01, 2011

Beckie rated it:

Several years ago, the Christian musician Steven Curtis Chapman lost a five-year-old adopted daughter in a terrible accident: she was run over in the driveway by his teenage son. This book by his wife, Mary Beth Chapman, shows how the family is working to reconcile this tragedy with its very public Christianity and adoption advocacy.
But the whole book isn't about that: it also details many other struggles in Mary Beth's life and her family's. The author clearly prefers to remain behind-the- More...

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Aug 31, 2010

Lisa rated it:

Choosing to See
By Mary Beth Chapman with Ellen Vaughn

c. 2010
ISBN: 978-0-8007-1991-3
$21.99, Revell

Review by Lisa J Lickel

You gotta love a woman who admits to peeing on her future husband before they’ve even had their first date.

I don’t tend to read much non-fiction. I picked up this book because I thought it would be another nice Bible study-themed guide I could share with a ladies group. And I like SCC music. I prefer fictiona More...

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Jan 24, 2012

Cami rated it:

Love, love, LOVED this book! I am a big fan of Steven Curtis Chapman's Christian music and remember hearing about the tragedy of his daughter being killed when his son accidentally hit her with the car. This book is by his wife, Mary Beth, and her life. Just from the dedication to her husband, I knew I was going to love Mary Beth's sense of humor. The first half of the book talks about her early life, her struggles with depression, and her faith journey. The second half of the book deals wi More...

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Oct 27, 2011

Terri rated it:

This book is heartbreaking and yet I couldn't put it down after I got 1/3 through it. This true story grabs you and won't let you go. Mary Beth Chapman is married to Steven Chapman, a successful Christian singer/songwriter. I've enjoyed his music through the years but didn't really know much about his background or his family's. After finishing this book I feel like I know them all intimately. I wish I could give Mary Beth a big hug and tell her her grief will lessen in time. But I don't b More...

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Dec 07, 2011

Maddy rated it:

"Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope" by Mary Beth Chapman is a novel that focuses on faith and hope and choosing to see even when times get rough. Mary Beth Chapman's purpose for writing this book was to show the reader the importance of not giving up faith in the Lord Jesus Christ when times get tough. Many people choose to let go of their faith when tragedy happens to them or even a loved one. Mary Beth shows an excellent example on not letting go of your faith wh More...

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Jan 24, 2011

Lyndi rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Nov 18, 2011

Jocelyn rated it:

I just finished this book last night...thought I would share for those that love to read. This is a story about Mary Beth Chapman and Steven Curtis Chapman. It's a story of how they met, the struggles of first being married, her as a mother, fighting depression, challenges of juggling life, how they came to adopt 3 beautiful girls from China and then loosing one of them when their son accidentally hit her with the car at their home, the fear for the son and how they have struggled to get through More...

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Sep 01, 2011

Robert rated it:

Sad story for sure but I really had a hard time relating. To be honest the only similarities I saw was race and religion, I couldn't relate on any other level. I didn't like the changing writing styles almost from chapter to chapter, and the most ironic part, I actually was saying to myself "oh get over it already" one paragraph before she mentioned "your probably thinking I should just get over this ...", yes! And probably the one area that I couldn't relate on, that I th More...

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Sep 02, 2011

Karen rated it:

I enjoyed reading the story of Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman's life, and my heart grieved along with her in the loss of her precious child. I must say though, that her theology in places disturbed me. Having lost a child of my own (to cancer at age 14), I thought I might relate to her, but I did not. To me, she came across as ungrounded and mystical in places. I do appreciate her writing the book though- I'm sure it took a lot of courage. I have always loved the theology of Steven's mus More...

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Aug 31, 2011

Amy rated it:

Mary Beth Chapman's story of her family's struggles after the tragic loss of her 5-year-old daughter made me erupt into tears more times than I can count, but ultimately the Chapmans' story is one of hope -- of God carrying them when they could not have gone on by themselves.

Though I have thankfully never experienced this kind of pain as a mother, I still identified with Mary Beth's intense love for her family. Though she is married to a famous singer (Steven Curtis Chapman), she's a More...

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Apr 16, 2011

Becky rated it:

Overall, this is an excellent read. Mary Beth tells of her life with Christian singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman and the loss of their sixth child - Maria.

The only thing that got to be annoying was the regular use of people's first and middle names. Really? People refer to their family members by their first and middle names when they're not in trouble?!

21 - a significant number in this book for the Chapman family, as Maria died on May 21, 2008. The number 21 More...

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Oct 18, 2010

Ann rated it:

CHOOSING TO SEE, by Mary Beth Chapman with Ellen Vaughn is subtitled, “A Journey of Struggle and Hope,” Choosing to SEE is Mary Beth Chapman’s story of her life. When I first received the book, I expected it to be about the Chapman family’s tragic loss of their daughter Maria in 2008.

Choosing to SEE is that, but it’s so much more. Mary Beth begins her story with her growing up years. She tells of her life in candid fashion, which makes her a real person rather than merely the wife o More...

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Feb 20, 2012

Josiah rated it:

Mary Beth Chapman shares the intimate story of her relationship with Steven Curtis, their early years of marriage, having their first three children, becoming popstars, and how they tumbled into adoption. Over the years they brought home three Chinese girls, and helped hundreds of families do likewise. Most poignant is her reminiscences of Maria, who was accidentally killed by a car driven by her older brother. Mary Beth shares how just how difficult it is to live with such pain, but also the wa More...

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Sep 13, 2011

Lindy rated it:

Read this book if you're ready to cry throughout the majority of it. Don't read this book in your break room at work. I learned that the hard way. : ) This book is completely heart-wrenching - particularly when read in conjunction with listening to Steven Curtis Chapman's "Beauty Will Rise" album. (Seriously, after knowing this story, I dare you to listen to "Heaven is the Face" without crying. I just don't think it can be done.) It was so interesting to learn about the su More...

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Jul 17, 2011

Cathy rated it:

This book is the most beautifully honest book. I cried during pretty much the whole read. Having lost loved ones recently, this really ministered to my heart. God is so good and He has used Mary Beth in a very special way. I highly recommend it.

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Mar 23, 2011

Kathy rated it:

Mary Beth Chapman will never forget May 21, 2008, the day that her 5-year-old daughter Maria died in their driveway, accidentally hit by the car their son was driving. "Inspirational" is such an over-used word but there's no other way to describe how the Steven Curtis Chapman family is "walking out their story", as Mary Beth puts it. I admire her complete honesty about their pain, grief and questions on this journey. The only complaint I had was that the final several chap More...

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