Suddenly and without warning, I developed a new image yesterday.  

No, it’s not a midlife crisis and I really did not plan on changing my style so drastically. 

It just happened.

Yesterday afternoon my daughter drew a picture of my husband and me.  And, I mean, would you just look at us!  I think the diagonal stripes make me look 10 years younger.  No, 20.  And as hubby pointed out, just look at my hair.  She’s got my double buns pegged but I’ve also got plenty of hair still hanging down.  Yep, I really like Michaela’s version of me!

And just check out hubby with his thick, curly hair and his groovy tie.  His vertical stripes knock at least 20 pounds off.  No, 30.

Anyway, that’s the new me.  What do you think?

On another note…

This oil carrot cake with homemade cream cheese icing was something I had prepared for our company coming yesterday for lunch.  This is the best recipe for carrot cake.  Take my word for it.  It’s from Joy of Cooking.  It’s really rich and moist and the icing…  Let’s just say cream cheese, vanilla, cinnamon.  Yum. 

Enough of that, or I will be having carrot cake for breakfast, and that’s not my norm.  I’m still in the green tea phase of the day, and I want to keep it that way. 

Last night I was looking through an old journal, going all the way back to 1988.

Well, there you have it.  You can read it for yourself.  We had a newborn at the time.  We were newly married.  (Daniel was born 9 months and 3 days after we married.)  We were struggling to make ends meet.  I was trying to figure out how to be a mom and housekeeper and Thomas was working overtime to pay for everything we needed. 

Lately I’ve heard from several on-line friends about their stressed-out marriages.   Communication at an all-time low.  Resentment.  Anger.  Depression.  Financial woes. 

We’ve been through it too.  I think all marriages take work.  I’m just glad we’ve kept at it, in spite of the rough patches.

It makes me so thankful for my husband; that he has always been one to forgive and forget and move on.  I’m glad we went into marriage knowing that it was a commitment to be taken seriously.  His one rule when we married was that we would never go to sleep at night angry at one another.  No matter what.  Even if it meant being up until 2 a.m., we had to smile at each other and have forgiveness in our hearts before we went to sleep.  I know that’s helped our marriage. 

Also, having the bible to guide us has meant everything.  Our “job duties” as husband or wife or son or daughter are clearly marked out for us if we’ll only follow them. 

Forgive me if I sound like I’m on a soapbox.  I’m not preaching to anyone, but just some things I’ve been thankful for for myself this morning.   In fact, what I’m actually saying is that our marriage would not be anything near what it is without the help we have taken from the bible.

There’s also a verse that I love so much, that comes to my mind so frequently, and I quote it sometimes to my children when they are trying to decide whether or not they should do something.  It also comes to mind when I think of my word for 2009: clarity.

Philippians 4:8  “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

I find that if I take something — anything —  and look at it through that verse, it is seen in a whole new light.   That verse alone weeds out a lot of stuff that might otherwise be appealing. 

My children sometimes will say, smiling, “Yeah, mom, we know that verse.  We’ve heard it before.”

Good.  I want them to have it memorized!  Ahhh.  In fact, that would make for really good copywork this week. 

Well, enough of my meandering thoughts this morning.  I have to get over to my work desk.  Yes, it’s a work day for me, but that’s okay.  I’m very thankful for my job.  And thankful to be working from home.

This evening I’m planning to set up a couple of learning areas:  one with a Japanese theme as we are still working with Grass Sandals: The Travels of Basho and the other learning area with an art theme since we will be visiting an art museum soon.  More on that later.

Oh, and it’s supposed to snow tonight!!!  Yaaaay.  I know I’ve been complaining about the cold, but my children will love snow!

Lynn