community

one of our readers asked us to post about community, and the role that it plays in our lives, especially with ian's disability.

the next day after that email was sent, our lawn mower stopped working while devon was mowing for us. i sent an email that evening to a man in our church, and by the next morning he wrote back to say he would be by that afternoon. by 2:00, i received another email that it was fixed.

that's what community has been to us. being involved in a church that is dedicated to serving others with gratefulness.

even though it can seem that we are always on the "asking" end, which we are, God has helped us to have humility. it can also seem that we don't have much of a role in the church - we can't serve in children's ministry, or lead a care group, or play on the worship team. but as believers, we do have a role in the community of the church and our community at large.

we're surrounded by our biological family and our church family who are always willing to give and help us. like any marriage, ours is not just two people. our marriage is a whole church.

even now as i write this, ian is with his brother caleb and i get a whole day to myself. caleb said that sounds lonely, but it sounds perfect to me. and without community, this wouldn't happen.

grateful for a quiet saturday morning.

thank you, for praying

larissa

it's active

"ian, we're being given a car for free. should we sell ours or give it away too?"

"we have to give it away."

he's a profoundly solid and simple leader. because of that, it's usually a joy to follow his direction. especially when it came to the car. he knew that because we were being blessed with a car for free, that we could in turn bless someone else just as much. i might not have made that decision on my own. or, i could have just not told him, and made the decision myself.

that's where being married to a husband with a brain injury relies solely on the work of the Holy Spirit in my heart. it is tempting to just make decisions, spend money, or do things without telling ian. i could get away with a lot. he's not paying attention to the details, simply because he can't. unless i, being his helper, bring those things to him, and allow him to lead me.

"wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord." - Ephesians 5:22.

submission for me is so clearly an action. i need to bring things to ian. he has given me the trust and confidence that i need to make some decisions on my own, like good husbands do. i don't have to take everything to him. however, when i asked ian for an example of what that looks like, he gave me about 14 fake and sarcastic examples. so, he's not allowed to get a quote on the blog tonight. :) but truly, for example, ian doesn't care what i make for dinner, because he says that what i make is always good.

what does matter though is that i try to cultivate a heart of submission, even though it doesn't look like submission in a lot of other marriages from the outside. but i think the heart issue is probably still the same. and i am so thankful that the Holy Spirit dwells in me, because without, i would make a terrible mess of our marriage and we would probably be broke.

so tonight i'm thankful that i have a God who lives in me and in our marriage.

thank you, always, for praying.
larissa

weekend

This weekend was for great memories. Working at a bank isn't so bad when it means being closed on national holidays.

Summer has made it to our little town so we are taking it in at the local pool.

This weekend also meant new life, as we met our newest niece, Scarlett Murphy. Watching Ian hold her is just the best.

Now it's back to reality! Looking forward to getting some new posts u throughout the week.

Thank you always for praying.

I&L