Whatever my God ordains is right

Though now this cup in drinking

Bitter it seems to my faint heart

I take it all unshrinking

My God is true

Each morn anew

Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart

And pain and sorrow shall depart

Found these old shots on facebook and couldn't resist. Thanks, Doug.

Every picture is bittersweet.

Ian wanted me to write a post to update you on his progress. Ian's really doing well with his initiation and his memory. Also, he's showing huge signs of progress with his cognitive awareness.

Ian asked for prayer for our marriage- specifically for our communication.

216 days until our wedding!!

Thank you

I&L

A few people have asked where to send wedding gifts. By no means at all is this post meant as an ask to our readers- please don't misunderstand. We just don't have any other way to communicate with the few people who have asked through comments.

For the few people who did leave a comment about gifts, they can be sent to:

Ian Murphy

Sovereign Grace Church

1220 Wayne Avenue

Indiana, Pa. 15701.

If it is a monetary gift, please write Murphy Wedding in the memo.

Thank you. That sure was an awkward post to write! :)

Counting the Cost

Marriage is a huge decision. Every couple pursuing marriage must count the costs of a lifetime commitment. For some couples the cost can be as big as giving up a career to move to a new place, or as "small" as giving up holiday traditions to make new ones with in-laws.

The cost of our marriage seems more extreme. And it's not a "picture perfect" wedding that it sometimes feels like the rest of the world has or will have. Ian has a brain injury. Steve died from cancer. We have very little financial means. It's a possibility we won't be able to have children. The list of the "costs" goes on for awhile.

But all of these costs could happen in every single marriage. It's just that we know them in advance. There are no guarantees that anyone will ever be spared of these hardships and "costs." What's guaranteed is that we will have troubles.

So, I guess that logically brings us to why would we get married? Well, as simple as it is, because we love each other. And we enjoy each other. And we believe that Ian was created to be my husband and me to be his helper. Our marriage will look way different than we imagined four years ago. But it must mean something that I can't look at Ian without smiling. And that he has struggled every day for three years to get better- for me.

I hope this doesn't sound preachy. (no offense to our pastors who read this:) ) This is just the truth that I have to come back to at the end of the day through our engagement, as we wrestle through all of the costs and blessings this marriage will bring. Our marriage could last one month, five years, fifty years, until one of us goes to be with God. The most wonderful thing I can think of doing while anxiously waiting for that to happen, is to go through this crazy lifetime, as long or short as it may be, as husband and wife.

Thank you for always praying. I can't believe people still read what I have to write after three years.......wow.

Larissa

Several people have asked through comments- we're getting married on August 28th, 2010- Steve's birthday.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

I&L

I come by the blood,

I come by the cross,

where your mercy flows

from hands pierced for me,

for I dare not stand

on my righteousness

my every hope rests

on what Christ has done,

and I come by the blood

The gospel should pervade every part of our lives. I think we often tend to compartmentalize the gospel, trusting that God has forgiven our sins because of Jesus' death on the cross, but then not recognizing how that does and should affect every decision, every thought, every part of our being.

Our every hope for marriage rests on what Christ has done. We are both entering this marriage with extreme weaknesses, difficulties and challenges that most marriages never experience. But we have hope. We have hope because the gospel affects everything about our lives. And we have everything we need for life and godliness through Christ. Our affection for each other and therefore our marriage cannot thrive outside of the gospel. So we are hoping and trying to enter into this knowing that we stand on nothing else other than Christ. We are so weak but we have a great God, who works way beyond what we can understand.

I can only imagine how this makes way more sense to Steve now than it does to us.

Thank you for praying. We are so thrilled to get married.

I&L