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Better Than Newlyweds

Where the Honeymoon never ends!

Family Traditions for New Year’s Eve | Stacy Hudson | Better Than Newlyweds

December 31, 2016 by Mrs. Hudson

We do not have family traditions for New Year’s Eve…yet! I asked around and had some of my friends share their traditions in hopes we might be able to copycat and combine to create our own family traditions for New Year’s Eve!

Our yearly tradition is to go for tea at our friend’s cafe, then head over to church for a countdown event called “Come Bless The Lord”. We sing worship songs throughout, and countdown to the new year together! ? Read more from Jacinta’s here: www.snugglesandkisses.net

 

We just started a tradition where our friend comes over to xbox with my hubby on New Years Eve. His wife isn’t big into New Years. We then try our best to catch the fireworks. I also try console my one dog during fireworks. Read more from Ailie’s here: www.P3Alive.com

 

Spent many years volunteering for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade – making floats. Weeks of work. Petal by petal. Seed by seed. Then celebrating New Years Eve by sleeping a few hours on the curb – awaiting the Rose Parade! Loud cheers always going up as our float went by. Afterwards, a big party and then tag football and frisbee golf.

Definitely recommend the experience. Many schools and non-profits have annual fund-raisers working floats. Cherished memories. – Pamela Nishimoto

I’ve got little ones so we pick a place in the world that is counting down at their bed time (or a place that already has) and watch the count down on the computer. We celebrate the new year at that hour with sparkling cider and snacks then off to bed. The hubs and I then watch a movie and celebrate the real count down, if I can stay awake that long though because mommas of little ones that still wake up in the middle of the night to nurse need their sleep!   Read more from Jamie Lath here: http://gracewalking.com

What family traditions for New Year’s Eve do you have? Please comment below and share with the rest of us!

 

Filed Under: Better Than Newlyweds Tagged With: family, friends, New Year Eve, New Years Eve

Gift Ideas for Wives by Wives | Stacy Hudson | Better Than Newlyweds

December 5, 2016 by Mrs. Hudson

I asked wives what they wanted for Christmas from their husbands. The following is Gift Ideas for Wives by wives. A few of the gift ideas might repeat but I decided to leave them so that husbands would see that a lot of wives simply want time alone with the man they Love. They want to relax and reconnect and just enjoy one another.  ( I will continue to update this list as I hear back from wives! ) Affiliate links included in this post for your shopping convenience.

Here are the Gift Ideas for Wives by Wives:

DAY OFF TO HERSELF

I want a true day off. No one touches me or talks to me for one whole day.

TIME ALONE WITH HUSBAND

To be honest. I would LOVE time away with my husband. Just a weekend, just he and I. We have been married almost 7 years and never been anywhere together. And it gets so hard. I just want time with him and here lately I have been feeling very lonely. I am around my kids 24/7 so my husband and I really need that time together. Just give me a weekend with him without any distractions, no tv, phone, internet. Nothing but he and I.

Some time with my husband where we can just talk and laugh together.

A night away would be amazing, without phones or distractions. He is the go-to guy in his group of shooting enthusiast friends and they are constantly blowing up his phone with questions and pictures. I absolutely adore his passion for the sport – but sometimes mama needs some attention! A cut/color/massage gift certificate would be nice as well!

A weekend away with just my husband. To be able to shop, snuggle, and do some kind of winter activity like skiing or ice skating

I would really love a weekend away

ENJOYMENT OR HOBBY

Any kitchen gadgets (2 said A dishwasher!)

Woman of Faith Mixing Bowl

Women of Faith mixing bowl with Scripture trim; features handle and convenient pouring spout, safe for microwave, and dishwasher. Oven-safe ceramic; eight cup capacity, for batters, mixes, salads and more.

Blessed is a woman of seasoned prayer, generous spirit, and overflowing love..for she shall be called a Woman of Faith.

Around the rim with floral trim: Pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.2 Timothy 2:22. Boxed.

95977: Blessed Beyond Measure, Measuring Spoon Set Blessed Beyond Measure, Measuring Spoon Set

Ceramic measuring spoons in trending bright colors add inspiration to your baking! Sentiment: You are blessed beyond measure. Measure up to 5.5″ long; includes 1 Tbsp, 1 tsp, 1/2 tsp, and 1/4 tsp.Hand wash recommended. Kitchen essential. Gift idea for the cook or baker.

Created exclusively for the Gift Collection at Christianbook.com.

We Are Blessed Rolling Pin

Ceramic rolling pin with ceramic base and wood handles. Decorative design and sentiment on the rolling pin. Unique gift for a special baker; baking essential and a kitchen accent as well. 19.5″ long; 3″ in diameter. Comes with matching 6.5″ x 2.5″ ceramic stand for display. Hand wash only. Boxed.

We are blessed by your presence, Lord, and grateful for your many gifts.

Photography gear

Uggs

Mug

343176X: Mr. & Mrs. Mug Set, Marriage Takes Three Mr. & Mrs. Mug Set, Marriage Takes Three

Apple watch

Perfume

A remote starter for our van

Ulta gift card

Boots

Kitchen stuff

He Fills My Life With Good Things (Psalm 103:5), Cotton Apron

New purse

20071XL: Wedge Shape Bible Cover, Mint Green, X-Large Wedge Shape Bible Cover, Mint Green, X-Large

Journal

228794: God Be with You, Red Journal with Charm God Be with You, Red Journal with Charm

Jewelry

Proverbs 31:30–Sterling Silver Mobius Necklace

The urban decay naked 2 pallet (make up)

Adult coloring books

NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible, Hardcover

EXPERIENCES

I want him to just do the honey do list and the things I asked.

I would love a trip together as a family… Doesn’t have to be far or expensive just a nice little get away!

Tickets to a musical or something

A maid for a day!

For him to get kids ready for bed and let me wait for him in bed instead of vise versa.

Marriage counseling and a two night stay at a spa, just for me. I have PPD and a high needs child. My sanity needs a break.

He plans a date to go out to eat then get me Starbucks and then he walks around Barnes & Noble with me

Some kind of winter activity like skiing or ice skating

A day where I can ask him for anything and he wouldn’t complain he would just happily do it without question

HOME DECOR

Family pictures framed

Stone Blessings Photo Frame

Something thoughtful to celebrate our marriage

Devoted Praying Couple Figure

Throw pillows

893444: With God All Things Are Possible Pillow With God All Things Are Possible Pillow

 

OTHER GIFT IDEAS FOR WIVES BY WIVES SUGGESTIONS

I pick everything out & he gets it

I would like a mommy gift basket with slippers, some things from bath and body works, a gift card to my favorite coffee spot and some just for you (seriously don’t spend it on anyone else!!!) cash lol

I just give him a long list so he has a lot of options to choose from(I know I don’t get everything) but that way it still leaves a little surprise in it for me

I don’t want anything honestly. I find joy just in giving gifts to others and seeing their excitement. He really wants to buy me something though. Because gifts is my love language. But I’d be happier with a sincere love letter than something materialistic.

685217: Trust, Lux-Leather Notebook and Pen Trust, Lux-Leather Notebook and Pen

Handy notepad with pen in luxurious faux leather; screen printed Scripture verse, 96 lined sheets of paper. 3″ x 5″. Pocket notepad for office or home; desk, purse or briefcase.Trust design; purple.

Filed Under: Better Than Newlyweds, Marriage Monday Tagged With: Barnes Noble, friends, Gift Ideas for Wives, gifts for her, gifts for wives, kids, love language, wife gifts

“The Great Flood of 2016” Will Prove God is Greater | Stacy Hudson | Better Than Newlyweds

August 22, 2016 by Mrs. Hudson

“The Great Flood of 2016” is what they are calling it. Something twists in my gut calling the flood “great”. “The Great Flood of 2016” will prove God is greater. This past week has been one of the most heart wrenching weeks of my life. Countless family and friends had their homes flood here in Louisiana. Most of them do not have flood insurance because they do not live in a flood plain. Many areas that were “never supposed to flood”…flooded. Water was down our street just a third of a mile! Flooding was the last thing I was concerned about…until this past week. I couldn’t sleep because my heart broke for those losing everything. I couldn’t sleep because I was watching the water rise. I couldn’t sleep because I was getting our “Evacuation Kit” prepared. This is something I have wanted to do for a long time… because of Hurricanes though…not floods.

A flood was never expected in my neighborhood. But neighbors less than a half a mile from our home now have their lives in piles on the street. The have stacks of sheet rock and carpet torn out of their house piled up next to their lives. I am trying to do what I can from home to help but feeling “stuck” at home with our 1 year old is hard. My husband has been serving non stop. In the beginning he was rescuing people from houses. Now he is gutting his parent’s house and also neighbor’s houses. We are “one” right? So, he is an extension of me right?… That makes me feel a little better. I couldn’t be more proud of him. He truly has a servant’s heart and I Love him more each day because of it. My parents were able to keep our baby girl one night so hubby and I could go gut his parent’s house for our “date night”. Sounds real romantic right? Oddly enough, there was something romantic about working together to fix what the flood had broken.

Going through a heartbreak together gives us the opportunity to heal together. The keyword being, together. In times of crisis and emotional turmoil be patient and honest with your spouse. Allow your broken hearts to heal together. You are one. Let this experience bring you closer and bind your hearts together in a way that would not be possible otherwise. You will end up with a stronger bond than before and you will see God’s goodness.

Even though this past week has been tough… our resolve here in Louisiana is tougher. I have been so encouraged and inspired by my friends during this time. I want to share with you what God is doing in their lives through this tragedy. God is already working things for their good and the studs aren’t even dry yet! He is faithful and He is in control.

The Lord spared our home from the flood but our small business was flooded. The small private Christian school, Victory Academy-grades pre-k to 8th, my husband graduated from along with our two older children and now praying that our two younger children will graduate from was also flooded. My husband who also serves as a State Representative is helping in rebuilding our community as well. He volunteered to help lead in getting the school up and fully operational as soon as possible. He’s exhausted and overwhelmed as well as humble and grateful that he can help so many. He also spend the first two days after the flood using our small boat to rescue those in the community. He has a heart of gold and serves with passion. I have prayed to The Lord about where He wants me to serve in all this. And I struggle with what He has called me to do because I don’t think is it enough. But then He reminds me that as long as I obey and that I am in His will it is more than enough. So The Lord calls me in all of this to be there for my husband at all times in whatever he needs. He’s out there serving, volunteering, ect for those The Lord places in his path and I am to be there to love, care, encourage, cook, clean, run errands, take care of our children’s needs, to be ready and willing to help him with whatever he ask. I am his wife, his helpmate, his best friend, and dare I say I’m here to serve him. So I’m doing exactly what his vital and necessary during this time. I love my husband there is nothing more precious to me right now then his well being physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually and I pray daily that The Lord helps me meet his needs with His help of course. – Julie Ivey

November 18 will mark my 10 year wedding anniversary! Mike and I have have had our share of ups and downs like everyone else in life. Six months after we were married, Mike’s dad passed away. We had three miscarriages before our beautiful daughters were born. Our house flooded with 24 inches of water a week ago. We lost many things but not our faith in God! He has surrounded us with loving friends and family. We have so many more joys than disappointments in our ten years together. Michael Savoie amazes me every day. He is a great father and a loving husband. Our journey together gives me strength to face each new day! I love my husband!!! – Heather Austin Savoie

 

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; 

the Lord is enthroned as King forever.

The Lord gives strength to his people; 

the Lord blesses his people with peace.

Psalm 29:10,11

I designed this shirt to raise money to help Louisiana flood survivors! If you click “Shirt style” you can pick other styles and colors (including purple!)! Countless family and friends have lost their homes to flooding and do not have flood insurance. All profits will go to help them. Thank you. http://www.bluecotton.com/campaigns/louisianaflood2016

671 August 17, 2016 14.57

Filed Under: Better Than Newlyweds, Date Night, Marriage Monday Tagged With: family, flood, friends, heart, life, louisiana flood, the great flood of 2016

Trusting God in the valleys of marriage is not an option, it’s a must. | Stacy Hudson | Better Than Newlyweds

June 27, 2016 by Mrs. Hudson

Trusting God in the valleys of marriage is not an option, it’s a must. That is, if you want to make it out of the valley. If you like it there the enemy of your soul is more than happy to keep you comfortable. I have a feeling that deep down no one really wants to stay in the valley. However, I do believe God will use every valley to reveal Himself to us and bring us closer to His heart… if we let Him. 

Recently, I was listening to a song that mentioned being in a valley and this image hit me. I saw a dry hot valley that was suddenly flooded and filled with water rising to the mountaintops! It got me thinking about how we try to climb out of the valleys of marriage (and life) in our own strength. When we fail we feel defeated. We feel like God has forgotten about us at our lowest point. If we would only realize that God is waiting on our surrender. That in the valleys is where we learn to trust Him deeper than ever before. Once we trust Him deeper than ever before He will take us higher than ever before. God wants to flood the valleys of marriage we find ourselves in… once we surrender to Him. He will carry us to the mountaintop in the sea of His Love, Grace, and Mercy!!!

I am blessed to have friends who are willing to share about the valleys of marriage they have gone through or are going through. These are real women talking about real valleys of marriage and how they made it through with God!

In our second year of marriage, our relationship went through a really tough time. The effects of this lasted for many years after. At the time, I wasn’t sure if our marriage would survive but I can reassure you that God never left my side. I would speak to him constantly, I would cry in his presence and I would lay myself down exhausted at his throne. I think sometimes when you feel that sheer desperation in a situation is when God comes and works His holiness. In many ways, God taught me how to pray and then wait. I had to let God do his work through both of us during that time and not try to take matters into my own hands. If you are going through a valley in your marriage then I would encourage you to pray and seek God’s way and then let go of your control and let God do what he does best.

Megan Watson – www.myfaithtree.com

 

About year 6, we went through a very rough time. Honestly, looking back, as much as it pains me to admit, it was almost 2 years of not feeling any sort of love for my husband. My biggest words of encouragement now looking back, which I often share are 1. Hang in there. It will get better again, if you don’t make it worse. 2. Your commitment in your marriage is to God and it is not in relation to your husband’s behavior. 3.Keep on serving your family and others around you. 4. Read through the Psalms. Satan is your enemy not your husband. Focus on truth and not feelings!

Nickole Perry – The Mom I Want to Be

 

Over the past five years I have been in a marriage with a man who is having a faith crisis. Regularly I can feel this separateness creeping into our marriage because of his current views towards Jesus. My heart aches and many tears have streamed down my face. While I am not out of this season in my marriage, I am finding Ps 84:5-7 seems to be God’s work right now. He is making springs in wastelands. He is changing the landscape. Through all of this, I find myself clinging to God and every promise he has ever made both to me and in the Bible. I hold tight to them. I am learning to trust him as good and faithful. My encouragement to other wives is don’t give up. Love your husband with every fibre of your being. Ask God to show you how to express your love to your husband in a way that will minister deeply to him. Hold him in the highest regard, believe in him, pray over him (even if it is in secret). Above all, pray out of love, wage war out of love not fear. Love is the greatest weapon you have. Love is God himself.

Ailie Baumann – www.p3alive.com

If you are going through valleys of marriage right now… pray.

Prayer is not the last resort. Prayer is the answer.
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Ask God to show you what He wants to do in you while in the valleys of marriage. Then trust that when the time is right He will carry you to the mountaintop. 

I would Love to connect with you and hear how you make it through the valleys of marriage. If you have insight of your own to share please comment below or email me via the contact page! 


Psalm 84

1How lovely are Your dwelling places,
O LORD of hosts!

      2My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD;
My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.

      3The bird also has found a house,
And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young,
Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
My King and my God.

      4How blessed are those who dwell in Your house!
They are ever praising You.

Selah.

      5How blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
In whose heart are the highways to Zion!

      6Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring;
The early rain also covers it with blessings.

      7They go from strength to strength,
Every one of them appears before God in Zion.

      8O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
Give ear, O God of Jacob!

Selah.

      9Behold our shield, O God,
And look upon the face of Your anointed.

      10For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside.
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

      11For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

      12O LORD of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in You!

Filed Under: Better Than Newlyweds, Marriage Monday Tagged With: friends, marriage, pslam 84, surrender, Trusting God, valleys of marriage

If We’re Honest About Past Hurts | Stacy Hudson | Better Than Newlyweds

May 9, 2016 by Mrs. Hudson

God has been dealing with me lately about friendships. And I don’t mean casual friendships. I’m not even talking about close friends. I am talking about the kind of relationship that makes a person family. A friendship where the blood of Christ makes you sisters. The kind of friendships I think we all desire to have.

I’ve been wondering why God would have me share so much lately about friendship (or rather the unexplainable sisterhood thru Jesus) here where the focus is marriage. It is simple but yet complex … we need those kind of relationships to grow. We need those kind of relationships to turn us back to Jesus during hard times. We need them during hard times in our marriages to turn us back to our husbands.

God has been dealing with me about this because I (and many of you) have been hurt by friends in the past. The thing with those past hurts is that we usually don’t leave them in the past. Almost 2 years ago God led me to an incredible Bible Study group full of Jesus Loving, Holy Spirit Filled, Devil Stompin’, Lay it at His feet ladies. They have blessed my life more than I could ever put into words. YET… I still had reservations… doubts… because of past hurts. I did not…. do not…. want a repeat of the pain I felt before.

I had already given forgiveness and I am not bitter. And I really don’t think about the past hurts. So what was my problem? I didn’t think I had one until God decided it was time to stir the pot. Time to deal with the gunk at the bottom. The stuff that you can’t see once everything settles. I have friends… but God wanted me to not only have them but trust them. And not just trust them but trust them fully.

Once I surrendered to God… and was honest with myself about how I approach friendships. He was quick to show me that, while I was sitting here doubting a friend who had given me no reason to doubt them, I was putting my past hurts on my present friends. Friends who have given me no reason not to trust them or give them the benefit of the doubt. Friends who have gone to battle with me at the feet of Jesus. Friends who have done nothing but Love on me and pray for me.

I was still telling God that these friendships were “as good as they could get” but I wasn’t satisfied and God knew my heart. I got frustrated and I was pushing back against the thing I wanted… deeper friendships… covered in the blood. I told Him the friendships had reached their peak.

I didn’t want to push it…and put too much in the friendships and lose something I treasured… again.

BUT God.

He didn’t give up on me. He never gives up on me. He won’t give up on you either.

After much stubbornness He made me realize that they had peaked because of me… not them. That I was the one putting old hurts ON them. I was the one second guessing their actions and motives because of something someone else did… NOT them. And that my pain was in the past NOT the present. I was the one pushing back against God when He was trying to give me what I wanted. That was the gunk at the bottom of my pot.

This song  sums it up beautifully:

 

 

I had shared all of what I’ve posted above with my husband late one Saturday night. The next day our pastor shared a verse during her sermon that my husband illuminated for me:

24 Give freely and become more wealthy;
    be stingy and lose everything.

25 The generous will prosper;
    those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. 

Proverbs 11:24-25

492 May 09, 2016 03.31

My husband leans over to me and says “that can be for friendship too”… all I could do was grin and give him a kiss. I had never read that verse and thought about friendship. (Swoon and Wow.)

A friend in college used to tell me that I refreshed others like in verse 25. She actually called me a “downy sheet”. However, after being let down and hurt by friends my walls went up.  Again, God knew my heart. Since He has placed me in this Holy Sisterhood the walls have come down and I feel like a “downy sheet” again. Each time I have given freely in these new friendships God has been faithful and these friendships have prospered. I am able to refresh others again. That was difficult to do behind the walls I had built.

If I have learned one thing from being in this group it is that it scares the devil when women gather to pray. When we press in to God together of course he is going to try and bring division and isolation… and walls. He knows that something special happens when we stand in agreement with each other and declare that our pains and hurts are nailed to the cross and it is finished. In the end it is about walking in freedom with God first so we can then walk in freedom in our friendships and bring Him glory.

*Below you will find my affiliate link to a book I think can help you deal with past hurts and grow:

Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out and Lonely205876
By Lysa TerKeurst

Rejection often finds its way into our hearts at an early age. Perhaps as a child you were teased mercilessly for your hair or clothes, or you received an injury and couldn’t play the sport you loved and had to watch from the sidelines, or maybe like Lysa TerKeurst, an adult who should have cared for you and nurtured you, left without explanation. These wounds dig deep into our sense of self, and can resurface in surprising ways as an adult. However, this doesn’t have to be the end of the story.

In Uninvited, Lysa shares honestly from her own struggles with rejection and gives readers concrete truths to combat the lies our old Enemy hurls our way. You can stop feeling left out, because even when you are overlooked by others, you are handpicked by God. You can change your tendencies to either fall apart or control the actions of others by adopting healthy ways to process your hurt. You are designed for a love without limits, a love that will never let go.

 

Filed Under: Better Friend, Better Than Newlyweds Tagged With: friends, God, heart, Jesus Loving

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Hi, I’m Stacy!

I am married to the Love of my life... my Prince. We strive daily to have a marriage better than newlyweds. We want to know each other better than when we were first wed. We want to please God by serving each other. Marriage is so important as it represents the relationship between God and His church... we must protect it and fight for ours. Read More…

Good Reads for Your Marriage:

679599: The Love Dare The Love Dare
By Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick
{These are affiliate links but I truly believe these books would add value to your marriage.}

Recent Posts

  • 5 BIBLE VERSES FOR TROUBLED MARRIAGES | Stacy Hudson
  • More than a baby was delivered when I gave birth | Stacy Hudson
  • What I’ve learned Being Married to an Agnostic | Guest Blogger: Ailie Baumann
  • How to Improve Communication in Your Marriage | Stacy Hudson
  • How to Put the Spark Back in Your Marriage | Stacy Hudson

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