Yesterday, Today, & Forever (50th Anniversary Edition)

Maria presents a record of discussions with her children about Jesus in answer to their curious questions about His earthly life. They researched the answers together as a family over the years. Some questions are answered with biblical and historical record - with a heavy emphasis on the Gospels of the New Testament - some with a Catholic perspective, and some with imagination based on human experience. The children were encouraged to search the Scriptures on their own, think about what they read, and ask questions with the ultimate goal of patterning their lives after Christ. Anyone would benefit from developing this practice of searching the Scriptures to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). This book is worth reading for the gems that are scattered throughout and for the encouragement to follow the family’s example. Read with discernment.

As a homeschool mom this book has been a refreshing and encouraging read. Her reflections on scripture and God’s faithfulness speak deeply to my heart as I am striving to create a Christ-centered home. I appreciate how she weaves faith into everyday life with warmth and honesty. It’s a wonderful to read. A fantastic reminder of God’s constant presence!

As a homeschooling family I love when my kiddos ask me questions and we can take the time to get in depth, study more into it and take trips to get a real feel for the subject. Being able to see where the questions take us and learn right along with them is a true gift.

I loved this book as it was exactly the same. It was a mother(yes from the Von Trapp family) writing about questions (friends, family, children) that took her on adventures to fully understand the life of Jesus. Not only to really digest the New Testament but to truly feel it. Examples include feeling temperatures and weather that people in the bible would have encountered, walking distances they would have walked, understanding timeframes (it took more than a few days to ride on a donkey or the Shepard weren’t there the next day after Jesus was born).

Maria takes you through Jesus life beautifully and brings light to many things we don’t think about as we hear “the Bible stories from church”. Jesus’s story may have been long ago but it continues to completely resonate with life today.

I encourage you to read this book and take your time and digest it

As a homeschooling mom, I’m always looking for books that not only enrich our education but also deepen our family’s faith. Yesterday, Today, and Forever by Maria von Trapp beautifully does both. This isn’t just a biography of the famous Trapp family—it’s a heartfelt, Christ-centered reflection that gently encourages families to live out the Gospels in their everyday lives.

Throughout the book, Maria shares conversations she had with her children about the life of Christ. She doesn’t write as a theologian, but as a mother, walking alongside her children and pointing them to Jesus in the midst of real-life experiences. That resonated deeply with me. Her words reminded me that faith isn't something we just teach from a textbook—it’s something we live, moment by moment, with our children by our side.

Maria draws moving parallels between her family’s journey—from Austria to America—and the life of the Holy Family. She connects the hardships, travels, and decisions in her own life to the steps of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. It’s a reminder that the stories in Scripture are not distant from our lives—they’re deeply relatable and relevant, especially when we face uncertainty or need to make difficult decisions as a family.

One of the most impactful parts of the book for me was how Maria modeled Deuteronomy 6:6–9:

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up…”

She lived this out fully—teaching her children through stories, Scripture, daily conversations, and real-life applications. It inspired me to think more intentionally about how I’m weaving Scripture into our daily homeschool rhythm—not just during Bible time, but in the car, at dinner, and even in hard moments.

Yesterday, Today, and Forever isn’t a fast read, but it’s one I’m glad I took my time with. It gave me a deeper appreciation for Maria von Trapp’s faith, and more importantly, it challenged me to bring the Gospels to life in our home—not just for my children, but for myself.

I highly recommend this book to any Christian homeschooling parent who wants to grow in faith alongside their children. It’s a reminder that no matter what our circumstances look like, God is at work in the story we’re living—yesterday, today, and forever.