Hi all~
This is just a quick but exciting post to share that I have seen the cover art for my book and I can’t wait to share it with you! (Fair warning, it doesn’t have cats all over the cover but I think it’s cute anyway.)
I know it’s kind of mean of me to make you wait to see it, but my husband ate the last piece of pound cake my sweet friend made for ME (not him!) so I am feeling kind of mean. She also made this yummy blueberry compote to put on top of it so I have been eating it with whip cream while pretending that there is pound cake underneath.
When I get the artwork from the publisher, I will share it here. I hope you will love it and even if you don’t love it, I hope you will pretend to love it just like I pretend to eat pound cake. This has been a long road and I have eaten a lot of imagery pound cake in the process so I am excited to finally have something real; something I can share; something we can sink our teeth into together. (I hope that doesn’t sound gross or hallucinogenic.)
In other news, it’s National Marriage Week so I thought I would post something wise I have learned in my 23 years of marriage. Of course, thinking of something wise isn’t necessarily my gift to the world.
Yet I do know a few things:
Trust in little things begets trust in big things.
Time apart makes us better when we are together.
Happiness, fulfillment, and peace come from God not our spouses. So, don’t look to anyone else to fill you.
Say thank you.
Recognize how your partner shows love. Is it with service, gifts, time?
Remember the little things because they can become big things. Forget the little things and remember the big things. Know the difference between what you should remember and what you should forget.
When love fails, there’s always mercy.
I think marriage is one of the hardest topics to write about. I mean, is there anything more complicated? And, when you get it right, is there anything more wonderful? What would you add to this list? ~ love, Lara
Lara…I’m so excited for you…for your book…for your book cover…I can’t wait to see it all!! And, read it!! Congrats!!
And, I would put saying “I’m sorry.” right up there with “Thank you.” So important.
Hugs!
Ha! I forgot the saying sorry! What does that say about me? Thank you for the reminder! And, I can’t wait for you to read the book!
I would add “Remember that your spouse has feelings too” That will help you be calmer when something is troubling you or when you don’t feel you are connecting.
Alexa, yes sometimes we can get so caught up in our own pain that we forget that they feel it too! Such a simple way to deescalate a situation.
PS- congratulations on the book!!!!!
Thank you! I’m very excited!
Hey Lara! I read your post every week in the morning while drinking my coffee and I always tell myself I’ll come back and comment after the rush of morning busyness subsides. Somedays that only occurs only when I am falling into bed at night. But today I write! Three things that are my go to for my success of 22 years of marriage (I would say this could go for raising my kids as well)-
1. Always have your marriage be a soft place to land. When the world outside kicks, punches and spits, have your spouse ( or your kids) know that Home is the soft place for them to land with the knowledge there always be compassion, love and grace inside these walls.
2. When the fights happen (because inevitably they do), ask yourself- is this the mountain I want to die on? I have never said yes to that. Usually I come to see those moments a lesson in humility and selflessness.
3. I got this phrase from my pastor and I love it so much it’s written on the chalkboard in my kitchen and has been for years-Love is the rugged commitment to be with someone,to be for someone unto Christlikeness for as long as it takes.
Debbie ~ that’s beautiful and I have never heard that quote! I love all of these marriage tips – I always think about dying on the mountain too. It’s interesting how much that resonates. It is so good to hear from you. I miss you old friend!