By Ricinda Perry

Week 2 into my 90 day challenge.

PHYSICAL UPDATE:  Nice weather has finally broken through, and I am enjoying my walks and jogs.  I have added another mile to my runs, and my face is no longer crimson/purple during my exercise routine.

Dieting … well isn’t that something we all struggle with throughout the day?  For me, preparation is the key to success.  With my pressing schedule, I am usually famished, on the run, and will eat anything to get me going again.  Take a morning or evening and get those grapes washed up, cut up those raw veggies, bag an actual serving of chips, pop open a can of almonds, and bag the entire can into individual servings while watching your favorite evening show. In addition to getting basic snacks prepped, I took time this week and advantage of our local deli’s boneless skinless chicken breast sale and canned 6 quarts of chicken. For those of you who have stopped reading this part of the article and are rolling your eyes at the thought of canning – let me share this with you.  It took me a total of 30 minutes prep time to cut up, trim and brine my chicken, pull down the canning jars, lids and pressure cooker and to get the chicken into the jars.  (If you are not as picky as me on the looks of your chicken, you could do this all in 5 minutes.)  It took another 1.5 hours to pressure cook the chicken, a.k.a. let the chicken cook on the stovetop.   Now I have more than a dozen meals at my fingertips that will take minutes to prepare.  Canned chicken makes amazing quesadillas and enchiladas.  I’ll share these 10-minute reduced fat and reduced carbs recipes with you later this month.

SPIRITUAL UPDATE:  Bible study is great, and I’m half way through memorizing the first chapter of James.  Grab that Bible of yours and just read a single verse.  It’ll change your day and focus in a good way.  I’ve added prayer over my husband and daughter every morning as my husband is leaving for work.   I make it quick and specifically ask for an obedient spirit over my daughter, for success and favor over my husband, and for Godly wisdom, direction and knowledge over all three of us.  What a huge difference we have seen!  Every day my husband has said that Victoria is so sweet and well behaved.  Oh, we still have little flair ups, but God has covered our home with peace and grace.

MARITAL UPDATE:  I have started to feel a stronger and healthier connection with my husband – have you?  This week I made a list for you to use as suggestions and ways to bless your spouse.  Don’t give up on blessing your spouse.  I know you are tired and are balancing so much.  Hang in there.  This is so very worth it.  You will be blessed back! Share your ideas!  At some point in this challenge we will have a contest to vote on the best suggestion so send them my way.

LOVE TIP LIST – ENOUGH FOR 3 WEEKS:

1. Prepare or order in your spouse’s favorite meal.
2. Stock the fridge with your spouse’s favorite beverage.  Include a note – thinking of you.
3. Send a text message, leave a voicemail, call or email your spouse to say that you were thinking of them and that you love them.
4. Cut out a heart with a note:  I love you!  Leave it on your spouse’s chair, car seat or pillow.
5. Place a note on steering wheel-Thanks for providing or caring for us.
6. Every time your spouse leaves for work and/or comes home, stop and greet them. Hugs and kisses optional – just make sure to acknowledge they are home.  Note:  Your kids are watching your prioritization here.  They see that you have stopped everything for your spouse.  It makes them realize how important this person is.
7. Plan a date night.
8. Place a “Missed you” note on the remote control.  If you are the “remote hog” in your family, place a note on there that your spouse is in charge tonight!
9. Offer a 5-minute power rub.
10. Give your spouse a “compliment of the day.”
11. Hand your spouse his/her favorite gum/lifesaver/candy before you or they leave for work. With a smile, tell them it is something small to say thanks for all you do.
12. Open the garage door, or greet your spouse outside the door saying you couldn’t wait for them to get home today.
13. Make your spouse’s favorite dessert or sweet treat.  Tell them it is a little something special for them.  This is especially helpful on those hard and stressful days.
14. Go buy yourself some perfume/cologne or lotion, and put it on for your spouse in the morning or when you go to bed.  Was there a smell you wore when you dated or when you got married?
15. Clean out your spouse’s car … just don’t complain when they “junk it up” a week later.
16. Give your spouse reprieve from a set of his/her chores.
17. Arrange for a movie night with his/her kind of movie and their favorite movie snack.
18. Make him/her a special breakfast for a week … or even buy those breakfast bars they like and put notes on each one for them to grab on their way out for the day.
19. Flirt!  Go for it and play some footsie or giggle at that not-so-funny joke.
20. Put a love note or picture in your spouse’s wallet.
21. Actively find ways to edify your spouse in public and in front of your children.

Drop me a comment or email any suggestions you have for physical, spiritual or marital improvements.  Keep up the good work!  Christmas is just around the corner.  What better gift to give you and your family than a better and healthier you!