I'd Appreciate Your Input

I went almost three years before I made any changes to the look of my blog (because I avoid change whenever possible); but not too long ago I livened this place up quite a bit by choosing a very PINK background, adding some new doo-dads and links to the side bar, and inserting a banner picture across the top.  For the banner picture,  I chose my husband's all-time favorite photo of his five sons with their mom (taken in 2007), because he is one person who definitely looks forward to reading String of Pearls every day and I knew how happy it would make him to see that picture every time he clicked on the site.

But now that I guess I'm no longer avoiding change like the plague (who am I these days?  I'm even on Twitter!), I'm sort of itching to update the banner picture with something that is more representative of what this blog is all about. 

I write about my sons a lot, and about the joy I get from the vocation of motherhood.  But I also talk about my best guy--yet he's nowhere to be found in that picture of my boys and me.  And I'm a Catholic blogger, so I thought the banner should reflect that as well.  Our family is devoted to the Rosary and believe it is through the intercession of Mary that we have received countless graces and blessings.  Therefore, I thought the banner photo should include an image of Our Blessed Mother (to whom I formally dedicate this blog today--which I wish I'd done back when I started out!).

One last thing: this site is called "String of Pearls."  And I know that you're bright enough, readers, to get the metaphor: my sons--and now their wives, and their children--are the Pearls, they make up the string.  But I thought maybe an actual string of pearls (or two) would make a pretty addition to the picture.

So here are my attempts at creating a new banner.  (And just for the record: if professional photographers are well paid, let me take this opportunity to say they deserve that--it's harder to set up a pretty shot that I thought it would be!)

Okay, do you like choice #1?

Or #2?


Basically the same as #1, with a larger copy of the picture on the right.

Or #3?

(I moved my little still life, because I thought the red in #'s 1 and 2 might clash with the pink.)

Or there's always choice #4: keeping it the way it is.

What do you think?  Should I just leave well enough alone, or should I change it up here?  I'd appreciate your input (on this very grave and important matter.)

Thanks!