Marriage Archives • Page 4 of 17 • New Nostalgia

FAMILY/ Marriage/ Sponsored/ Valentine's Day

Datevitation–The Perfect Gift For Any Occasion + Giveaway

We were recently at a family get together, and all the adults were discussing Valentines Day. I realized in that discussion that I usually plan ahead and have lots of fun ideas for my 3 lovely girls for Valentines Day each year, but have fallen in a rut when it comes to Valentines plans with my sweet husband. Don’t get me wrong–getting dressed up and going out for dinner and an evening focused on the two of us is pretty close to perfect, but I wanted to think outside the box and get a bit more creative this year.

Usually getting creative means getting crafty, and honestly, that is not too appealing to me right now. I’m trying to live the simple life, with less mess and more time. After spending the last 3 months laid up while healing from surgeries, I am in the habit of looking for ways to simplify. Using online services for creating gifts and shopping for gifts certainly is convenient, and when you can customize those gifts, it makes it so much more personal.

This is why Datevitation jumped out at me as something fun to do for my man. It is the web’s first online platform to create a custom love coupon book. Unlike the pre-packaged coupon books on the market, you get to pick the title, the dates, and the text. Datevitation will then print it out and and ship it to you.

That alone intrigued me, but when I saw that their library contains over 500 date ideas ranging from skydiving(um, no) to stargazing(maybe) to steamy adult-only(umm…ok!) activities, I knew this was the fun gift I was looking for for my Todd.

I loved all the different & fun date ideas they had to choose from, there is no way I would have been able to think of all of them myself! I also thought the stick figures and graphics were really cute. The Datevitation website is really well laid out and super easy to use, and I think Todd will love the dates I chose. Two of them were pretty traditional, but things we both love to do. The last 3 dates I chose from the steamy adult-only section, which are also things we both love to do {blush} and I think they will make this a Valentine gift he won’t forget!

I especially loved the new feature that allows you to add your own photos to the faces of the illustrations. So funny!

The packaging is simple, which of course appealed to me. I liked that it was not too fru-fru as it IS for my guy.

The thing that appeals to me about a love coupon is that it gives the recipient something to look forward to. It also gives me, the giver, a way to stay committed to giving to my husband in a creative and purposeful way. I need this accountability, as life can get busy. I like that I am the one who chooses what I am committing to, and being this purposeful about a gift makes it happen. The process of ordering Datevitation coupon love book was so fun that it sure made me look forward to fulfilling those coupons.

Especially THESE coupons! {wink}

Datevitation is not only for a significant other. They make great gifts for all ages and all occasions. All 3 of my girls (age 14, 13 & 10) would love this, and I love that I could customize them according to their personalities and interests. My middle girl would especially love coupons that includes spending quality time together, as that is her main love language. My oldest would appreciate getting to go out and shop or get a manicure with me. My youngest would like just about anything, and would really get a kick out of seeing her own face in a book and on a stick figure!

So how much are these super cute love coupon books?

Well, regular price starts at just $25 so it makes for a super thoughtful yet economical gift. But, with Valentines Day is coming up, Datevitation wants to spread the love to all of my followers, so by using the code ‘NEWNOSTALGIA’ you can get $10 off you purchase plus FREE shipping. (total values of $13.50) That means you can order your Valentines a customized gift starting at just $15!

To guarantee delivery by Valentine’s Day, the order cut-off date is February 3, so make sure you get your order in before then!

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Datevitation is also sponsoring a super great giveaway, so be sure to enter via the rafflecopter form below.

Winner will receive a coupon code for a Datevitation coupon book with 5 personalized pages and free general shipping (Additional pages are $1 each.) Books ship to U.S. only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FAMILY/ Marriage

5 Step Secret To Getting It All Done

“Marriage is Not a Destination, But Rather a Life Long Journey”

From our new Monthly Contributor, Cassie from True Agape:

I am a student at heart. I believe reading is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to learn. You can read about anything really and learn a new skill in a matter of days, weeks or months. So not too long ago I was reading Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Matters by Jon Acuff. The premise of the book is a lot of people at the age of 50 or 60 (or younger) ask themselves, “How did I get here?” because they never started. They didn’t particularly aim for average or ordinary but they never started doing things to make them above average or extraordinary.

When reading I got to the section titled “5 Step Secret to Getting it All Done.” I thought to myself, “Oh this is exactly what I need. Right here. It’s the missing piece!” Then, every area of my life flashed before my eyes: wife, housekeeper, blogger, events coordinator, soon to be mommy, on and on. I pictured me getting it all done in each of these areas of my life.

I mean wouldn’t that be nice?! If each of us could get everything done in all areas of our lives all the time? We as woman want that sometime (or often) don’t we? We are the ones that take care of it all! We often stress ourselves out trying to get everything done. I mean if I am being honest I would take getting it all done in one area of my life such as marriage. To be a great wife, support and meet the every need of my husband. I would take even just that!

Needless to say, I was ready to read, take notes and learn what these 5 secrets were. I continued to read and learned more than I ever expected to learn. Today, I am sharing these secrets with you so you can hopefully do the same! This is what I read:

After reading this three times and letting it simmer I realized Acuff was on to something with these steps. We can’t possibly ever get it all done! Yes, we can check things off our to-do list, but typically more is added to it. Daily I can try to check off my mental list of how to be that perfect wife, but it’s just not going to happen. One because I am not perfect. Two there are going to be days that things don’t go as planned, I don’t have enough will power or I am in need. And guess what? That is okay!

Accept the fact that “getting it all done” is not realistic. That is the reality. It does not mean you are a failure!

Leave a comment: Do you agree or disagree with Acuff’s 5 Steps?

Cassie has put together an amazing resource on this marriage. The Secret to Making Your Husband Feel Loved: 75 Ideas Using His Love Language. She has made this FREE for us and you can download it by clicking HERE.

You can also find & follow Cassie & True Agape Here:

BLOG

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

FAMILY/ Kids/Family/ Love/ Marriage

5 Love Languages To Create A Successful Marriage

Hello everyone! I am Cassie, a marriage blogger over at www.TrueAgape.com . After several weeks of linking up to Anti-Procrastination Tuesday Amy asked if I would like to be the monthly marriage contributor! I was so super excited about the idea and it took me about two seconds to respond with a“yes!” Now here I am writing my first contribution for New Nostalgia! I will be here the 3^rd Saturday of the month. I hope you find value in each post!

Today, I want to talk a bit about a topic that really can help create a successful marriage! There are so many tips, tricks and advice that you can find now that promises to aid in your relationship. Over the next few months I will be sharing some of the best ones I know. But today I am starting with one resource that truly has made a huge impact on my marriage. It is “The 5 Love Languages” by Gary Chapman.

In the book “The 5 Love Languages” Chapman explains that each person feels loved in different ways. Ok, that made sense to me! He also says it is important to love our spouse in their “Love Language” so that their “love tank” can be full. That made sense to me too! When I started trying to implement speaking my husband’s Love Language I realized it wasn’t as easy as I thought!

For two different reasons:

1. I thought I knew his Love Language- after reading the book I assumed I knew my man’s love language. I soon realize maybe I was wrong.

2. There are three ways to find out your man’s Love Language. Take the time to do this instead of assuming you know!

It was easiest to speak my Love Language, but that was not his Love Language

We often speak our own Love Language because that is what we enjoy. It comes natural to us. Once I found out my hubby’s Love Language was Words of Affirmations I had to practice and learn how to speak that language. It did take practice. It did take time.

Here is a very quick overview of the 5 Love Languages:

~Acts of Service- doing something for your spouse that would be helpful to them

~Quality Time- spending time together where your attention is on the two of you

~Receiving Gifts- bought or handmade gifts for your spouse

~Words of Affirmation- verbal or written words that praise/lift up your partner

~Physical Touch- holding hands and making a wide variety of physical contact

I highly encourage you to get your hands on a copy of this book! Chapman goes into detail about each of these Love Languages along with examples. After reading the book my understanding was so much deeper than before. My original thoughts about each of the languages were not complete accurate.

Over at www.TrueAgape.com I often blog about The 5 Love Languages. We discuss ideas to implement, what each language really means and how to truly make your man’s love tank be full!

I put together a 6 page FREE report titled: “The Secret to Making your Husband Feel Loved: 75 Ideas Using His Love Language.” It has bits and pieces from all the blog post combined into one great resource- so make sure you get it! Enter your email address here and I will send you the download!

Leave a comment below: Tell us if you currently speak your husband’s Love Language or if you need to learn it.

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You can also find & follow Cassie & True Agape Here:

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FACEBOOK

TWITTER

Have you met our other monthly Saturday Contributors?

Click here to meet them.

FAMILY/ Marriage

Meet Our New Monthly Contributor

“Marriage is Not a Destination, But Rather a Life Long Journey”

I’m so excited to introduce you to our new Monthly Contributor, Cassie from True Agape. She is a newlywed with a passion to help couples through the early stages of marriage by “giving resources that help them embrace their spouses’ quirks, accept their spouses for who they are and love EVERY day of it!”

I have found that Cassie’s words of wisdom are not just for newlyweds. I have been married 17 years and I find her words inspiring, motivating and full of truth.

You all, too, have shown that Cassie inspires you. She links up to our Anti-Procrastination Tuesday and is often the winner of our “most clicked-on link.”

I love her message, and I’m so excited she will be here monthly to encourage us on in marriage & teach us what True Agape looks like.

Some of Cassie’s most informative posts have to do with learning the 5 Love Languages. Did you know we all speak different love languages and feel love and give love in specific ways? I learned so much from reading the book and realized I was loving Todd in my own love language and not his.

{Cassie and her Husband Ryan, on their wedding day}

Cassie has put together an amazing resource on this very subject. The Secret to Making Your Husband Feel Loved: 75 Ideas Using His Love Language. She has made this FREE for us and you can download it by clicking HERE.

You can also find Cassie & True Agape Here:

BLOG

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

Have you met our other monthly Saturday Contributors?

Click here to meet them.

Books/ Cancer Journey/ HEALTH/ Love/ Spiritual

Suffering & A Health Update

Because of my faith, I long to suffer well. Suffering well does not mean denying pain, for to suffer well means to suffer real. Pain in this world is a reality, but I believe in a God who has come to overcome this world.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

After a week of physical pain & suffering, those words mean so much more. Thanks to all your prayers and a very good God, I did feel peace in suffering. I had a few real moments, what I call “shaking my fists” type moments, but God gets that and hears my cries in those fist shaking times. Those moments happened when I tried to go back onto Tamoxifen (a hormone drug I take for cancer) and when I learned I would need a second surgery due to a defective expander. Despite these times of struggle, I truly was overcome by the peace and even joy that I have felt the last week.

That is what God does. He gives purpose to pain. I want you to meet someone who I know who has been through so much pain in her lifetime, yet claims God’s purpose in her pain.

“Sexually, mentally, and physically abused, stage 3 breast cancer, homeless, divorced and a single mom are only a few of the challenges that Patti has faced.” Watch this incredible story.

How amazing is she? Do you want more of Patti?

Order her book, Peace In The Pressure Cooker –> here.

Follow her on Facebook here.

Visit her website here.

Her story is so inspirational. She spurs me on to suffer well. She is such a beautiful example to me and I am so grateful to know about Patti and her story!

I am doing great, my last surgery went really well and 2 days later I’m only taking Tylenol for pain. I am slow and sore, but what a huge change from the first surgery. Those nasty little red tubes were removed and also my left drain. What a relief!

Cancer Journey/ HEALTH/ Love/ Music Renews/ Spiritual

Super Abundantly Loved

{source}

He tells me to simply love.
Love, pure with out self-interest.

Without seeking return.
Without being disappointed when it is not returned

For you see, I am so deeply loved–that is why I can love.
I can say “yes” to this call of love

Love poured out.
Love poured over.

Grace has overflowed onto me.
I am abundantly surrounded, love swirling,
caught up and enraptured by love.

Love as fierce as a hurricane
and I bend beneath the weight of this God love.

Its bigness cradles, a hammock for my heart.
He rocks me gentle.

Movement– love moves.
It flows, it pours, it comes toward.

I am called to love.
I am called to move toward.
I can, I am God-breathed empowered
I am loved.

Inspired by my reading in

I Timothy 1:14
“And the grace (unmerited favor and blessing) of our Lord flowed out super abundantly and beyond measure for me, accompanied by faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”

I John 4:19
“We love because He first loved us.”

Maybe you need this reminder today? I sure did. I had a rough Monday morning as a Mom & tears flowed. I know I am called to love. To come toward. Sometimes this calling can feel next to impossible because my own emotions and hurt feelings get in the way. The type of love God calls us to is only possible when we recognize how very completely & perfectly we are loved by our Creator. His love, grace and blessing flows SUPER ABUNDANTLY & BEYOND MEASURE. Did you get that? Think about it for a minute. A perfect God loves super abundantly & beyond measure, right here, right now, no matter what–more than we can even imagine. We cannot even grasp this, yet I find myself asking God to help me KNOW this, for I know that it is only through His love that I myself can put aside my pride & hurt feelings, move toward, & simply love.

{A Fav Song Of Mine}

Cancer Journey/ Counting Gifts/ FAMILY/ HEALTH/ Love/ Spiritual

PET Scans, Cancer, & Looking At The Insides

I just learned that my dear friend Karen’s PET scan came back clear. Oh how I am rejoicing! Karen blogs over at I Choose Hope and if you don’t know her story, you are missing out.

Karen and I met through this blog while we were both in treatment for cancer. She is a California girl, and came all the way to Nebraska to meet me. Since then our hearts have been bonded, never to let go. I have visited her in Cali and she has been here twice. I have fallen hard for her family and she has done the same with mine.

Girls receiving gifts, lotion and smoothies

{Karen visiting, loving on my girls, and bringing gifts}

Hearing that Karen is NED (no evidence of disease) is some of the best news I have ever received. You see, I worry about her. She had triple negative breast cancer, which is a type of breast cancer that is aggressive and there is not as many treatment options for. Not only that, but it has shown her just how aggressive it can be. We finished treatment about the same time, but, my dear friend ended up having to get double treatment. After reading a post here at New Nostalgia about survivors checking lymph nodes, she reached under her arm and found an almond shaped lump. Her cancer was back already. She went on a little get away with her husband to process this awful news, and ended up getting in a car accident there. She had to learn how to walk again before starting another tough regimen of cancer treatment. She is the strongest woman I know, both inside and out.

{Silliness at a retreat we both attended in the spring}

Black and white photo of two women at a retreat

{She supported me through my first speaking engagement. Her calm presence melted my nerves}

Waiting this last week, holding my breath with her as she prepared to know what was on the inside, reminded me of this post I wrote early in my battle with cancer. I thought I would share it with you again.

So many body images taken

Vulnerable insides exposed

Ultrasound

X-rays

Cat scan

Bone scan

Pet scan

MRI

Images show so many shades of grey,

Sliced shapes of organs..

Tell me they are ok?

Images of this body of mine

Fragile with disease yet so strong

My brain works, fingers move

Digestion. Menstruation.

Walking. Talking. Fine.

But not.

Images show a cluster of cells that don’t belong

Cells that have the ability to meander

To go with the flow and end up where they may.

They multiply and make friends,

Their celebrating clusters destroy my tissues.

So we take images..

We peer into the insides

Looking for the “don’t belong’s”

I lay on display, cold and in dismay,

Enveloped in large, rotating tubes

Small tubes inject a solution

So we can find a solution

Tubes rotate

I lay and pray

For what my 3 girls will learn

At the end of this day.

The same 3 girls

Look at their own body image

So many times I’ve whispered,

“my lovelies, its what’s on the inside that matters“

This is one moment when I wish that were not true.

I peer deeper,
I see Him in whose Image I am made.
I find the solution.

———

Thank you Lord, for keeping my friend safe and NED. Thank you for being close and with us, in control, always bringing hope no matter what our insides are feeling or showing. Thank you for ALWAYS being the solution. Amen.

Get to know my friend Karen

{Website}

{Facebook}

{Pinterest}

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