Mary Beth - "I�m not sure if it�s really Venus and Mars but it�s true that men and women are from totally different planets, and Steven and I could�ve written the book on it (although I think someone already beat us to it). My favorite lyric in this song is �So please, please tell me what you can, �cause I want to understand.� When we first got married talking about anything intense or hard was almost impossible for me as opposed to Mr. Communication who thrived on verbalizing everything. Imagine God putting us together! I still struggle sometimes to put my thoughts and feelings into words, but I�ve definitely come a long way in learning to �express myself�- sometimes even a little too well. Just knowing that my husband truly desires to know how thinks �look� from where I am even when I�m not so great at explaining it and it doesn�t always make a lot of sense to him - is a great encouragement and means the �world� to me."
How Do I Love Her
Steven - "If I was asked what the one secret has been for keeping our marriage together and growing strong, I would answer without hesitation, �Prayer.� Prayer has been at the center of our relationship since our first date, and this particular prayer is one I have prayed so many times. Who better or who else should we go to for wisdom and understanding about how to truly love each other than the very source of all love and relationships. And besides, true and pure love for others, especially my wife, grows naturally and most fruitfully out of a right relationship with God. There is truly a very destructive enemy seeking to destroy and devour our marriages and our families, and prayer is the only weapon we have. Fortunately, I�ve found it to be the only weapon we need."
11-6-64
Mary Beth - "It is a humbling thing to have a husband who can write about anything... and I mean anything. He is a world-class wordsmith in my opinion. (Okay, so maybe I�m a little biased.) He truly has a gift from God, and I can honestly say that I have never met anyone in my life who has offered His gifts back to the Lord more than this man. Since we have been together, I have gotten more letters, notes, cards, flowers with notes, songs, lectures, speeches, love poems, apology notes, please forgive me for being a knuckle head notes (my personal favorites), you name it. If it can be expressed in words, it has been... and quite well I might add. I especially love this song because it reminds me of God�s divine plan for our lives. He has everything in control and He is all-knowing. �There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under Heaven: A time to be born and a time to die...� Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
There are not surprises to God. He has everything under control and I choose to trust in that. I am thankful that I was the one chosen to become Steven�s wife. Because of all of the fame? Definitely not. I know that no matter what the struggles and what the cost, we were made, created in the womb of our mothers, to join together as one flesh. We are now and will forever be one person, together. Thank you sweetheart for celebrating my life and my birthday with me. You already know that this song makes me smile, and it is one of my favorites... well ok they are all my favorites."
You�ve Got Me
Mary Beth - "I am amazed that no matter how happy, sad, crazy, romantic, fickle, or preoccupied that I can be, I still have your complete devotion and commitment. That is a difficult place to walk as a man and husband and I am truly a blessed woman. You�ve got me every single day of my life too."
I�m Gonna Be (500 Miles)
Mary Beth - "I asked Steven years ago to record this song for me some day. It is an old song that was originally recorded by a group called the �Proclaimers�, and I have always loved it. It is one of two songs on this recording that Steven didn�t write, which makes it special in a different kind of way. Partly because he did it just for me, and partly because it celebrates in such a fun way what I know to be true of our commitment to each other. What a wonderful gift it is to know in confidence that the man I�m married to is the man who will be �growing old with me.� (Even though he will probably always look about 20... grrrr!)"
Echoes of Eden
Mary Beth - "A song about celebrating the emotions of love. A kiss, a look, a touch... All God-given feelings that leave us at times weak in the knees. Romantic love can stir our souls like nothing else. �Echoes..� is, I believe, one of the most important songs on this recording. Why? Because there is spiritual significance to romantic love. God created us to feel all of the things we feel when we are in a Godly relationship. Why not celebrate the fact that as Christians we too can experience romantic at the deepest levels. Our culture (mainstream music, movies, magazines, media, etc.) sometimes distorts romantic love. So many mixed messages are being sent to all of us, especially the generation behind us. It is time that Godly relationships are modeled in front of our children. Kissing, touching, feeling all warm inside, and experiencing deep intimacy with your husband or wife (making love to your spouse) is not only great, it was created by God for us to enjoy. If we pattern our relationships based on God�s word and instructions, I believe that ours will be the most fulfilling relationships in the world. I am glad and thankful that my husband had the guts to write about something so personal. Steven, because of your pursuit of me, I still get butterflies in my tummy when I remember some of our sweet romantic times. I can honestly say, �it only gets better with time.�
Holding a Mystery
Mary Beth - "I know it�s no secret that the word �mystery� and �woman� have often been uttered in the same sentence by many a bewildered man. Steven, I know that just about the time you think you have me figured out, I send you off on a whole new journey into the unknown. I also know that I can be a difficult book to read - kind of like a repair manual written in Chinese. But I do know you�re trying, and that�s really all I need to know. Thanks for consistently and constantly trying to learn my language. I know I�m probably one of the most difficult languages to learn. Fortunately, God created you with a great sense of adventure. (Didn�t you write a song about that once?) There really are many stories yet to be read and many songs yet to be sung. I am so grateful that you love me and pursue me... mystery and all!"
We Will Dance
Steven - "I wrote this song just before our 16th wedding anniversary as a gift to Mary Beth to say how thankful I am that she is my partner for life in this strange and wonderful dance called marriage. This song has much of the same significance for us that �I Will Be Here� had when I first wrote it, and we hope that it will encourage others to keep holding each other close, listen for the music, and dance on through whatever comes."
We Belong Together (Tarzan and Jane)
Mary Beth - "Steven and I are the ultimate definition of opposites attracting. When we met 19 years ago, we knew we were different, but we had no idea how different we really were. We did, however, love the Lord and wanted our relationship to honor and reflect Him. I could write a book on how many things are on the opposite end of our spectrums, so just suffice it to say that 19 years later, I�m glad that we are growing closer to the Lord and thus ultimately closer to each other. And in the process, I�ve learned a lot about perseverance, patience, and blues music while Steven�s learned a little about practical jokes, being organized, and March Madness basketball. I�m so glad our two worlds came crashing together."
With Every Little Kiss
Mary Beth - �With every little kiss you give me just a little taste of Heaven. Just one more good gift that God has given. I don�t want to miss one sing little kiss.� I love this lyric! It is important as we journey through this life to realize that every little blessing that God gives us in our relationships is extremely important... to not take even one little kiss for granted. Steven never goes to sleep without giving me a good-night kiss, even when I�m already asleep, and he always kisses me before he leaves the house. And every one of these little kisses is important because each one says, �I value you greatly, I trust you and I want to know you intimately and be known by you.� Musically speaking, this probably isn�t quite what you�d expect for a �kissing song� to sound like, but then again you probably didn�t expect Steven Curtis Chapman to write and record a �kissing song� in the first place. Hope you like it as much as I do."
Miracle of You
Steven - "One pretty astonishing thought occasionally comes running through my mind that reminds me that of all the people on the earth, I have been singled out to love Mary Beth in a way that calls out the very glory of God that is in her. To think that we were handpicked by God�s sovereign hand to be the one person in all creation to be God�s special defining and refining instrument in each other�s lives is amazing. But I believe it�s true. Talk about a miracle!"
I�ll Take Care of You
Mary Beth - "This is one of two songs on this record that Steven didn�t write. �I�ll Take Care Of You� was written by Archie Jordan and Glenn Sutton. It was recorded by Ronnie Milsap in 1984, which was the year we were married. It wasn�t a hit by Mr. Milsap, however, it became a very special song to my sweet hubby and me. I�m not sure how we even came to start singing it to each other but it became �our� song, and over the years I have asked Steven to record it for me. What better time than on a record that celebrates relationships, and particularly the marriage relationship between husband and wife. It wouldn�t be until years later that I would realize how special and meaningful this song had become. Unfortunately, it would take a whole book or a least a chapter or two to go into sufficient detail of all the reason why the message of this simple song is so significant to us. (Fortunately, we have begun writing that book and hopefully we will have much more of our journey to share in the days ahead.) For now, suffice it to say that the words �I�ll take care of you� and the actions to back them up have been an anchor that God has given me to hold on to during some emotionally �dark and scary times�. Many nights would�ve been much darker if Steven hadn�t been there to rock me back and forth, wipe away the tears and quietly sing these words to me. Then the songs took on a whole new meaning when I suddenly found myself singing it to a frightened little baby girl as I rocked our newly adopted daughter to sleep and searched for ways to console and comfort her. It has since become one of Shaoey�s favorites as well, and every time she hears this one on the record she lights up and says, �hey that�s my song.� So Shaoey and I hope you enjoy our song. (p.s. Harry Connick look out, �cause Steven Curtis Chapman is in the house.)"
I Will Be Here
Mary Beth - "A very special song played for me for the first time on Mother�s Day many years ago. I cried many tears listening over and over again to this incredible oath of commitment. Born out of the painful divorce of Steven�s parents, �I Will Be Here� is a pledge of Steven�s unwavering commitment to our marriage. I didn�t think this song could be updated, you don�t mess with a classic! I was wrong! This version is unbelievable. I love every thing about it. Thanks, sweetie, for making this song even more special for me. And fans, I want you to know that my favorite part of Steven�s live show is when I hear ALL of you singing this song at the top of your lungs. It is awesome! Never forget the lyrics and their significance in your relationships. Steven, the mirror tells me every day that I�m older (and more in shape - round is a shape!). Thanks for continuing to make me feel pretty every day of my life. Also, I know that when I feel like being quiet and when I need to speak my mind haven�t been equal. Sorry! I love you."
When Love Takes You In
Steven - "This isn�t the first time this song has been on one of my recordings, but it just seemed like it belonged on and album called �All About Love�... not only because of the ways I have seen it transform Mary Beth�s heart, but because of what it has taught me about God�s love for us. Our adoption of Shaohannah from China in March of 2000 has been the most profound experience of the life changing power of love that my family and I have ever know. We have truly come to realize that adoption is a miracle that God invites us to participate in and have felt called and compelled to do all that we can to encourage others to experience and participate in this miracle called �adoption�. Because of this we have established a foundation called �Shaohannah�s Hope� which exists to help financially assist families in the adoption process as well as respond to the needs of orphans around the world. By giving them a voice to tell their story and by educating, inspiring, and assisting others to respond, we pray that God uses us to accomplish His sovereign plan in the lives of these precious children. If you would like information about ways to participate in the miracle of adoption, please visit SteveCurtisChapman.com or ShaohannahsHope.com and experience what happens when love takes you in."
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