Lifestyle

After a summer full of ball games, vacations, swimming, boating, traveling, visiting relatives, gardening, golfing and many other activities, it’s time to set aside a little time with your sweetie before your relationship and the days grow cold.

Here are a couple of suggestions to keep your relationship hot:

1.  Fly a kite together.

2.  Rent a canoe or kayak.

3.  Rent a tandem bike.

4.  Prepare and go on a picnic.

Here’s a great picnic recipe with preparation instructions:

Picnic Menu:

• Cheese and Crackers
• Picnic Turkey Wraps
• Creamy Marshmallow and Strawberries

Here are a few special instructions to make your date great!

1. Read recipe entirely before starting.

2. Set out all your ingredients and dishes.

3. If only one has time to prepare, both do the topics and dinner instructions.

4. If one falls behind, pitch in and help him or her.

5. Get a babysitter for the kids, if possible.

6. Promote teamwork and laughter for best results.

Grocery items:
Salt and pepper, favorite crackers, kettle chips, avocado, lettuce, onion, strawberries, sliced turkey, spinach wraps (or other), sliced Swiss cheese, cream cheese, marshmallow cream, chunked cheese (2 kinds).

Cheese and Crackers Preparation Instructions:

For Him: Slice cheese and place in bag or container, then place into picnic basket along with crackers.

Preparation topic (take turns answering): Where would you like to go for our picnic? A park, lake, field, car or comfortably sit in front of the fireplace; or any other special place? Talk about why you would like to go to your suggested place.

Picnic Turkey Wraps:

For Him: Spread cream cheese on two wraps. Get her excited about your date with a kiss.

For Her: Peel and cut avocado into small pieces and place on cream cheese.

For Him: Cut onion and place desired amount on wraps.

Both: Place lettuce, Swiss cheese and turkey on wrap. Salt and pepper to taste. Roll up and place in bag or storage container and place in basket.

Creamy Marshmallow and Strawberries:

For Him: Wash and dry strawberries and place in a container, then put them in the basket. Give her a sweet little kiss. Tidy up.

For Her: Mix together leftover cream and equal amount of marshmallow cream. Place in container and then in basket. Tidy up.

For Him: Place chips in basket and grab something to drink and a blanket to sit on.

Both: Set off to decided destination.

The Picnic

• Lay out the blanket. Sit next to each other!
• Be spontaneous—use your imaginations.
• Take your time and enjoy each other.

Picnic Topic (take turns answering)

What are some other things you would like to do that we do not take the time to do together? Name two and set up a time to do them.

Marriage Advice

We get stuck doing the same things over and over again. Life becomes unexciting. Try to put the more important things in your life before less important things. It is not always easy because the demands we have on our time are so obvious. Yet it is important to spend time alone to have a flourishing and loving relationship.

Advice from Other Couples

Life is so busy. You start to live on autopilot. Make special time to keep your relationship fresh. Set aside a needed date night regularly.

Live together beautifully inside and out!  Kim Reutzel