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

This was truly an amazing read, to read these insights from the Von Trapp family was very special for me. Like so many - I grew up watching the movie and now have my children watching it and it’s become a tradition in our family, but to read about their faith journey gives a completely different perspective of realness that goes beyond the movie/actors and cinematic portrayals.

I love the way that Maria Von Trapp wove the story of Jesus throughout this book and related it to her own family’s journeys. Not to elevate her family, but to point back to Jesus and learn from Him. Maria’s retelling helped me see the New Testament come to life in a new way and challenged me to be more intentional to continually point my family back to the story of Jesus. This book is not a quick read, so allow time to thoughtfully work your way through it.

This book deeply touched me. It’s such a beautiful story of a mother that discovers afresh the life of Jesus as she and her family move to escape the Nazis and continued to do so long after. The stories she told her children from her new perspective in life began to come alive for all of them, demonstrating that the Word of God is alive. The more stories she told them, the more her hunger to truly know the LORD grew. She intertwined the scriptures with her knowledge of history to share the story of Jesus with others. This book is a beautiful reminder that the stories we read about Jesus in scripture are true, and the people in them were flesh and blood, that the Word truly became flesh.

Throughout this book parallels are drawn between what is relatable and relevant to Maria's family and the story of Jesus. It gives quite an interesting perspective to the reader. As a homeschool mom it inspired me personally as we can make the bible, history and science come to life all in the same way this mother has done for her children.

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.