Pellicane - 31 Days to Becoming a Happy Wife

Lifes major accomplishments are made one step at a time. Thirty-one days is not long, but if you take daily steps you will make progress. Arlene Pellicane has walked the road and shares practical ideas on how to become a happy wife. I highly recommend this book to all wives who aspire for something better.

Gary Chapman , PhD,

author of The Five Love Languages

This book captured my heart. Page after page holds real-life examples of ordinary women who discovered freedom, joy, and adventure through the challenging seasons of marriage. This book is filled with wisdom and inspires hope for wives and points us to the powerful and transformative love of Christ. Thank you, Arlene!

Lynn Donovan ,

speaker and author of Winning Him Without Words

In this helpful and insightful new book, popular speaker and author Arlene Pellicane explains the awesome power of a happy wife. As with her other books, Arlene is positive, encouraging, specificand talks about real life and real issues. Making the choice to become a happy wife will radically transform your world!

David and Lisa Frisbie , executive directors

The Center for Marriage and Family Studies

If you have ever longed for a better marriage, read this book. Arlene Pellicane masterfully unwraps five specific ways we can increase our happiness as wives. This book is filled with captivating examples, riveting interviews, biblical truth, practical action steps, and common sense advice. Its powerful to read alone, but even better when used as a group study with other wives who sincerely desire positive change.

Carol Kent , speaker and author

Becoming a Woman of Influence

Arlene Pellicanes message is every bit as clear, bright, cheerful, and wise as she is. Whether youre a newlywed or youve been married for ages, youll find valuable, practical advice here. The daily format makes it easy to read, absorb, and apply the truths Arlene offers, and the examples from her own marriage and others are honest, often funny, and genuinely helpful. Loved it!

Liz Curtis Higgs ,

best-selling author of The Girls Still Got It

Have you ever wanted to become a happy or even a happier wife? Maybe the key is for your husband to make some changes. Or maybe, just maybe, it has very little to do with him and a whole lot to do with you. If youre willing to apply the concepts presented in Arlene Pellicanes new book, you can become what youve wanted to become...a happy wife (and it may take only 31 days!).

Kendra Smiley ,

speaker, radio host, and author of Live Free

Arlene relates to every wife in this inspiring, fun-to-read book that I couldnt put down. If youre ready to become a happy wife, and make the most of your marriage, shell get you there in 31 days...guaranteed!

Cindi McMenamin,

speaker and author of When Women Walk Alone

Arlene empowers women with an important life-changing truth. You do have a choice not only on the actions you take but the attitudes you embrace. Many wives feel stuck in their marital unhappiness and cant find a way out. 31 Days to Becoming a Happy Wife gives them a way outpractically, biblically, and winsomely.

Leslie Vernick,

counselor, speaker, and author of The Emotionally Destructive Marriage

Its one thing to say Im happy and another thing to radiate happiness. I know Arlene and her husband, and they emit joy and epitomize the happily ever after we all long for. 31 Days to Becoming a Happy Wife really is an adventure, a path, a roadmap to a happy life! Arlene will help you find joy and satisfaction with practical, biblical advice and lots of ideas to make you smile.

Pam Farrel , author of 38 books,

including Men Are Like WafflesWomen Are Like Spaghetti

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Verses marked HCSB are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman CSB, and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Verses marked NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Verses marked MSG are from The Message. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Verses marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Cover design by Left Coast Design, Portland, Oregon

Cover photo Yuri Arcurs / Fotolia

31 DAYS TO BECOMING A HAPPY WIFE

Copyright 2014 by Arlene Pellicane

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Pellicane, Arlene, 1971-

31 days to becoming a happy wife / Arlene Pellicane.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-7369-5806-6 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-5808-0 (eBook)

1. MarriageReligious aspectsChristianity. 2. WivesPsychology. 3. HusbandsConduct of life. 4. HappinessReligious aspectsChristianity. 5. WivesReligious life. I. Title. II. Title: Thirty-one days to becoming a happy wife.

BV835.P455 2013

248.8435dc23

2013023668

All rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The authorized purchaser has been granted a nontransferable, nonexclusive, and noncommercial right to access and view this electronic publication, and purchaser agrees to do so only in accordance with the terms of use under which it was purchased or transmitted. Participation in or encouragement of piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of authors and publishers rights is strictly prohibited.

To Noelle and Lucy

May you grow up to be wives who truly live happily ever after.

Contents

I m not a natural on a bicycle. I have the distinct memory of riding my bike straight into a car when I was a girl. Im thankful it was parkedI just didnt know how to turn! Years later, when I began dating James, I quickly learned how much he loved bike riding. He told me, When Im riding my bike and having the time of my life, I want to look over my shoulder and see you. I dont want to see my buddies. I want to see you .

That was enough for my little lovebird heart. I would become a cyclist. We went to the bicycle store to pick out a mountain bike for me. That was the fun part. But then I actually had to ride the thing. The first time I went on a trail, I had a hard time just transitioning from the parking lot to the trail. You had to steer between wooden posts, and I was terrified that I would run my bike right into one of the posts.

As I stared at those wooden posts in fear, they were getting closer and closer, and suddenly James yelled Stop! It was time for a coaching lesson. He told me five simple words that have served me well on the bike and in life.

You go where you focus.

He told me that if I was focused on the wooden posts, I would definitely steer myself right into them. But if I focused on the path between the wooden posts, I would safely steer my bike right onto the path.