2011 - The Year in Review

The first 3 months of this year went smoothly for the most part. I was working at MegaMet and taking night classes at UAB like I have been for several years. On January 30th Evelyn Christine Murphy was born, our beautiful little girl a.k.a. Evie, B-girl, or B-precious. The next few weeks were great except one trip to the ER when Lindsey was in great pain and later found out it was a kidney stone. On Friday April 8th I lost my job and remained unemployed for the next 2-1/2 months. I finally landed a part time job doing color editing in Photoshop at a company called Portraits Inc. I was very discouraged at this point and anxious about how our family would survive on my low income. I did not understand why I could not land a good job. In late July I was contacted by Dave Hudson, an elder at our church and owner of the UPS Store in Homewood. He really wanted me to come work for him fulltime. I decided to take his offer and he graciously chose to cover our monthly health insurance bill to help our family. He was the best boss I have ever had; kind, sincere, knowledgeable, fair, respectful, and a great teacher. After 3 weeks went by he went to the hospital feeling very ill on a Sunday evening and passed away about 7 hours later due to an aneurism in his heart. He was in perfect health but his time had come to be with the Lord. The next month was difficult as I tried to cope. Dave had such an impact on the community over the years that many wept in the store when they found out what happened. Just when I felt hopeless and that life could not get any worse, an internship opportunity came to me unexpectedly. I had a long phone interview and then went in for an interview at the BlueCross BlueShield corporate office on Riverchase Pkwy. They basically asked when I could start. I was shocked and cried with joy on the way home. I started the internship in the finance dept. on October 3rd as I worked towards finishing my MBA. I started to feel uncertain that the internship would materialize into anything more and so I began to look at other job postings within the company. I came across a Business Analyst position and made it through an assessment and two interviews. I was called on December 15th with an offer for the job! I was beyond thrilled and called Lindsey to give her the news. She screamed and cried with joy. On January 2nd 2012 I become an associate at BlueCross BlueShield of AL. Words cannot fully express my joy and gratitude to God for His faithfulness throughout this year and always. God is so good… my cup runneth over. Today I say goodbye to 2011 and excitedly await the beginning of a new chapter in 2012.

Photography Gallery

Check out my new photography gallery with some of my best photos.

http://murfinator.deviantart.com/gallery/

1st Half of 2010

Fall 2009

Isaiah Andrew Murphy

Isaiah came into the world August 3rd, 2009 at 5:40 pm. He weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz. and measured 19.5 in. long. He has done very well this first week of life. We came home from the hospital on Wednesday around lunchtime. I am so proud of Lindsey and how great she is doing as a mother already. And I am proud of my healthy boy! This is an exciting new chapter in our family and I have already been taking lots of pictures.

The Masculine Journey

Do I have what it takes?

This is the question that every man asks himself. Every man wants to feel strong enough and successful enough. As each young boy grows up, he yearns for affirmation especially from his father. I was and still am fortunate to have a loving and encouraging father. Yet I still ask the question. Do I have what it takes to survive and thrive in a career? Do I have what it takes to finish grad school and provide for a family? I become overwhelmed at times with all the responsibility on my shoulders. I often do not believe that I have what it takes. But others do, especially my wife. And while I do find encouragement from others, it is not enough. I long for the true Father to whisper in the wind that I have what it takes.. that I am His Beloved Son.. and that He will not leave me to struggle alone. As afraid as I am of what lies ahead, I can rest in the promise that the Holy Spirit is with me. But don't think that I never get scared or lonely. Life as a Christian comes with many trials and frustrations, but there is hope and that's what keeps me going. All I want is to one day sit at the feet of Jesus and for him to say, "Well done good and faithful servant." This is the cross I carry and the life to which I am called.

A Busy Year

I have finished my first year of grad school at UAB. Four classes down and 13 to go. I hope I can finish in less than 4 years! I have enjoyed some of the classes so far. This fall will be quite busy with a new baby in the picture. Isaiah will be joining Lindsey and I in about 9 weeks!! I am so excited about being a father and starting this new chapter. God has been so faithful and blessed our family more than we deserve.
This is the year of weddings. I have been in two already and have two more to be in. And there are several more that we are going to this summer. Mike and Allie are getting married in Nashville on July 3rd. Then Isaiah is due somewhere around August 5th, right after our 2 year anniversary! Then Matt and McLean are getting married in Tampa, FL on October 3rd. It's a big year for the Murphy family! It is an exciting time.