A note to the weary Moms

Do you ever just feel weary and burden down, no matter how much you know there are children and a spouse needing you at that moment, you just want to crawl in bed and cry? 

In the morning, you wake up and peep through your eyes to see who is standing at you bed needing you, all the while wanting to just send them back bed, you get up and start down the hall to the kitchen. You begin your morning routine but it really seems you aren't really there, the day is a blur and you just seem to be existing. You are snappy and don't mean to be, i'm talking to us moms who sometimes are just weary and beat down! It's okay to be tired sometimes and admit that I just can't do it all, all the time.

Let's find time today to just get alone with Jesus and pour our struggles out at His feet. We need to embrace the fact that our Father cares and He sees our hurts and wants to be a comfort to us. Once we give it all to God and let Him soothe us, we will be better (less grouchy) moms and wives. 

Need some ideas on taking a little momma break today?

• Get our your Bible and dig in! 
• Take a walk even if it's just around the yard
•  Spend time doing something you enjoy
• Read a book
• Take a long hot bath
• Play with your kids and spouse and let the housework wait a minute!

I know it isn't an extravagant list but it's a start! Moms, it's okay to be weary and tired sometimes! It's expected but don't stay there, Lay it on Jesus!

What are some things you would add that you do when feeling weary?

Be Blessed,

Regina Cozad

My Review of The Unveiled Wife book

Are looking for a book to change you and your marriage? Is there something keeping you from enjoying the complete joyous marriage you deserve?

I was so excited when Jennifer wrote her new book The Unveiled Wife and asked me to be apart of her launch team! I absolutely love her daily posting and inspiration. Her story is so much like mine in many ways and this book has really helped me to confront things, deal with them and let them go. It gave me that extra encouragement I needed to just let my past go and realize that by holding onto it, it was having a negative affect on my now and my future.

God has become so much more real and intimate to me than ever before. I highly recommend every wife I know to order it, read it and pray about the things you have read and apply them to your life and marriage. I can't say enough how much hearing her story about her marriage hardships and relationship with her dad has helped me because I had so very rough things go on in my own life that caused me to want to give up. It was only God and His love and mercy that helped me to where I am now. This book truly is an encouragement and a help to me and I hope that everyone that reads this post will order it and see for your self! You can download a free introduction and the 1st chapter here.

This awesome deal is available until March 3rd, you can get 4 books for the price of 2. You get 2 "The Unveiled Wife" books, 1 "Wife after God" book, and 1 "31 Prayers for My Husband" book. Go to this link to get it now!

Be Blessed,

Regina Cozad

Learning to follow God's Will

Do you ever feel like God's way is just too hard and you would rather just coast along doing what feels easiest to you? 

Hello everyone! 

I want to share a little of what is on my heart on the this night. I sometimes feel like we try to take the "easy" road when God has called us to do something but in all reality it isn't the easy road because we are pushing against the very thing God has called us to do. God called us to be parents, spouses, disciples for Him, and many other things in this life. Sometimes instead of us seeing the joy in those things, we tend to complain about how "hard" it is but what we don't realize is that we are fighting against God's will!

 One night I was up and just couldn't sleep no matter how hard I tried and realized that God was trying to show me something about myself, I had become this grouchy person who seemed to snap at the drop of a hat towards my kids and my husband. Did I intentionally become this person? The answer is no, sometimes life has a way of just helping us unintentionally show our fleshly side. I have never been one to snap easily so I immediately called out to God and said Lord I can't keep this up, I need your help! I don't want to be known as the parent/spouse who constantly yells and is harsh! I laid everything on Him, all the worries of my day to day life and struggles that I had allowed to overcome ME and you know I didn't hear a voice right away but I felt peace. For the first time in a while I felt like it was all going to work out and daily I see that shown before me. You know I realized that as soon as I allowed God to just retake that driver seat and have His way in my life, everything balanced out. God is our balance and if we are out of sync with Him then we can expect our life to be chaotic and a tad bit insane but when He's in control it's much easier.

No I can't promise you that you won't have road blocks and bumps along the way because the devil is out there seeking to destroy anyone that He can but I can promise that as long as you are in sync with God and He's driving, It will be a lot easier than if you had continued to fight against Him and not do what He's called you to do.

What are some ways God has gotten your attention before? How have you allowed God to work through you in those hard times? I'd love to hear from you so leave me a comment. 

I will be writing more on this subject and more in the days to come, God has really been giving me some things that I feel He wants me to share with you. Be sure to subscribe and tell others to join us! Let's have a great 2015 here at Love and Marriage!

Be Blessed,

Regina Cozad

Miss me? Here's why I've been missing.

Life has been super busy but I am learning I'm the only one who can better organize it!

I want to apologize for not posting since November but in my defense :) in August my husband and I took on the role of parenting a 5 year old whom we love dearly. He fit right in with our little girl and if you didn't know any better you'd think they were blood siblings. He's been through way too much trauma than any kid deserves in his little life time and I need your prayers that we can continue to help him heal and give him the family he deserves. We began homeschooling in September and made the decision to begin traveling with my husband (for work) as much as possible, did I mention we are 2 adults, 2 kids and a dog in a fifth wheel? So we can be close :) (really close). We currently only have internet on our phones which is how I'm giving you this wonderful news. I'm going to try to get back into my blogging soon because all this have given me new perspectives that I'm eager to share. God is using this to really draw me closer to Him, my husband and our kids and I am looking forward to sharing it with you.

Thank you for being my awesome readers! May God bless you!

Be Blessed, 

Regina Cozad

Making Your Home a Haven : Week 4

This week's challenge is involving our kitchen, I don't know about you but that is the main hub in my home. You can read Karen Ehman's post today on Courtney's blog here.

Well this is our final fall challenge week already! Time surely does fly by when you are enjoying life! This week our challenge is to focus on our kitchens, bake or cook things that puts a lovely warming smell throughout our homes. By preparing meals and goodies for our family when it's not a special occasion shows our love towards our families. Invite those little kiddos or teenagers if you have some (my 2 is under 6) to get busy along side of you, hey my hubby loves to help in the kitchen too so it don't hurt to ask. Family meals is so important and we always try to make that the most important meal of the day where we all sit down and enjoy it together. Let's work on showing love, faithfulness and goodness to our families this week.

I have so enjoyed burning my fall candle, playing our soft music and our family night last week and this week I have quite a few things planned to involve my little family in the kitchen with me. My kids are always wherever I am wanting to learn, so it's easy to get them to do things with me. Baking cookies, bread or cooking is always fun with kids, even if it's messier, it's memories that can't be replaced and they will always remember it.

I hope you all have a fantastic week! How has the Fall challenge helped you this year? Any thing you would like to say? What is something you would love to have some advice or an opinion on?

Be Blessed,

Regina Cozad

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti

Here is the second recipe that is a huge favorite at my house! We have it on special occasions, family game night and just any night really. It's super easy to make and very delicious.

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti

Ingredients

• can of Cream of Mushroom soup
• can of Cream of Chicken soup
• can of Cream of Celery soup
• 16 oz velveeta cheese
• 5 frozen chicken breasts
• can of rotel
• 16 oz angel hair spaghetti

Directions:

Boil noodles set to the side. Boil chicken breast and then drain the water and put chicken to the side and shred to bite size.

Cut cheese into small cubes, add cheese, soups, and rotel into pot, season to your liking, and put on medium until cheese is melted.

Add chicken and angel hair spaghetti and stir until covered with sauce.

Serve with texas toast for an awesome meal :)

I hope you enjoy it as much as we do :) 

Be Blessed,

Regina Cozad

Creamy Nachos, A Favorite recipe of mine :)

I was asked about 2 recipes that I mentioned on a fellow blogger of mine's post and I thought just maybe I should share them with all of you because they are sooooo amazing! 

So here is one of them and tomorrow I'll post the other :) These are definitely wanted constantly in my home! 

You can't go wrong and if you do just try again.

Creamy Nachos

Ingredients

• 4lbs ground meat
• 1 can of rotel
• 1 can of evaporated milk
• 1 pack of taco seasoning
• A few sprinkles of Tony's seasoning or your favorite seasoning to season meat
• A few sprinkles of garlic powder
• A few sprinkles of onion powder
• 1 can of water
• 32oz velveeta cheese cut into small cubes

1. Brown your ground meat and drain grease your meat to your liking

2. Add rotel, evaporated milk, and 1 can of water

3. Sprinkle taco seasoning and add cubed velveeta.

4. Cook on medium heat stirring until cheese is melted completely and not lumpy.

Serve with doritos, fritos scoops, on the border chips or your favorite chips.

If you have leftovers save for a snack later :)

I hope you enjoy this as much as my family does! Until tomorrow!!!!

BE BLESSED!

Regina Cozad

Making Your Home a Haven : Week 3

I apologize for not posting last week but I do hope you were burning your fall candles and playing encouraging faith building music to make your home a peaceful place. We were so busy last week with school and visiting my hubby whose job has him traveling alot so we try to go along with him as much as possible. Check out Courtney's post for this week here.

We have established a family game night here that started when we were expecting our little girl. We realize that families that don't take time for each other usually end up in divorce court and we didn't want to be that statistic. We have set aside Friday nights to cook, eat and then play a game usually mexican dominos :) or occasionally LIFE and just enjoy each other's company. It's the togetherness without distractions (electronics) that just makes it so enjoyable.

Saturday night we were having a game night with some friends of our that is a young married couple like us when suddenly the phone rang with some bad news of their pastor who is also the husband's grandfather being rushed to the hospital with symptoms of a stroke and in that moment we prayed because we know the great physician and everything turned out ok. I said that to say this please always enjoy your family because that could've been so different. Things happen so fast and sometimes there isn't always time to call and say I love you and appreciate you. 

This week take time to continue burning your fall candles and praying peace over your home, play soft encouraging music and set the tone of your home to be inviting and loving, plan a night for a game or two with family dinner. Enjoy the family God has given you because you never know when He may take them from us and bring them home with Him.

Be Blessed,

Regina Cozad

Making Your Home a Home : Week 1

I'm joining Courtney Joseph in her 5th Annual Fall Making Your Home a Haven Challenge. Every year since she has started it I have been involved and I absolutely love it. It's so inspiring to just welcome God into our homes and really focus on Him.

This week's challenge is to buy an extra large candle and light it daily. Place it somewhere that you will notice it often and pray for peace and patience in your home every time you see the flicker of the flame.

I am so excited to start this because here lately my life has been so stressful with so many things going on in just my close family that I've about went insane! Thank God that we can come to Him with all our problems and He just eases our pain and relieves the stress. Sunday night at church during worship service I just let Him have everything. Sometimes stressful things happen and there is nothing we can do to help the situation but pray and that is the best thing that we can do! 

I have my pumpkin spice candle burning and it smells amazing!!! Let's be sure to speak peace and practice patience when speaking to our family this week. Keep a spirit of prayer going constantly. Involve the family in prayer and the different things you are doing. 

Are you lighting your candles this week?

What scent is your favorite Fall scent?

How can I help you pray for your family?

Be Blessed,

Regina Cozad

Prayer and Fasting can change things!

Sometimes things just look as though they aren't going to change and it just isn't getting better no matter how hard we try, which is the problem, we can't change it in the natural but by getting a hold of God, He can change our situation. 

We need to speak to our problems and tell them how big our God because He is the answer to all of our problems and needs. He is the Alpha and Omega! The beginning and the End! Somethings can only begin to change when we get on our knees and pray, humbling ourselves and letting God take control our situations. We have to deny our self and our will and let God give us what is His perfect will for our life. The bible also states that fasting and praying together can rid things that prayer alone can't move. We will begin to see change when we pray and fast. He doesn't promise immediate results but in His time it will all work out, God honors persistent prayer!

When we begin to pray demons flee, angels work and God can give us what He desires for us to have but until we deny Self and accept God's will, we can't get true victory!

Start fasting and praying today and see God start working in your life!

Where is God working in your life? I'd love to pray with you!

Be Blessed,

Regina Cozad

You are Chosen!

We are a chosen people, so special that our Heavenly Father died for our sins so that we didn't have too! My what a Father we have in Jesus!

How awesome is it to know that we were loved so much that our Father in Heaven died for our sins so that we didn't have to! Isn't that enough to make you get up and have a praise moment right here? When I feel as though life is just passing by and I'm just coasting through, I pull out my Bible and read that I am chosen and loved by an awesome God that knows my every need, problem, want and all that I am. He has everything already taken care, he knows my future and my past. I just wanted to come by and let you all know that even when you feel like you are not important, that you are just here and the kids and hubby doesn't seem to know you exist except when the laundry is dirty and no food is cooked, God does and He is waiting for you to just lean on him! Take sometime to just reach out in prayer and let God give you the rest and comfort you need! He chose us to be His own and will love us with an everlasting love! Hallelujah! 

Be Blessed,

Regina Cozad

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there today! We have had a very busy day but it has definitely been a great day! I am hoping to return to the blogging world soon but so much has been keeping me busy. Everyday I think of things I want to say but it seems I can never get over here to tell you. May God continue to bless you all daily. See you soon.


Be blessed,

Regina Cozad

Why I Did Away with Facebook

You know those long hours wasted on social media that you long to get back but just can't? It seems every time you plan to do something productive you always find yourself drawn back to check your Facebook news feed just in case something interesting happened in the last 5 minutes?

I have been praying for direction as to where to go with this blog this year and I have been away on a little break trying to adjust my schedule to what the Lord wants for me. As you all know in December I gave birth to a beautiful little girl and over the last few months I have been seeking God to be a better mother to her and a better wife to my husband that God has so graciously blessed me with. I have also been praying that He would lay on my heart encouragement to give to others who are battling things that I can help them with. Facebook took up a lot of my time that I really should have been putting towards God and my family.  I wasn't on there doing anything wrong so say but it was taking my presence from where I really needed to be. 

So I wanted everyone to know why for now, my Facebook personal page and blog page aren't being updated because I'm no longer present there. I may eventually go back but I won't be there as much as before. So I do hope to still see you here and I will keep my pinterest open so that you can connect with me there and share my post with others. Sometimes we just let technology rule our lives even though we don't mean too and it can really take away from who we really are. 

So this is my challenge for you: Please be in prayer for me as to know what direction to go with this blog this year and spend more time off social land and more with your family.

May God bless you,

Regina Cozad

Trusting God When Times are Hard

                                                  Hello to all my wonderful readers!

The past 6 weeks have been such a test for me, a test of my trust in God that no matter how uncertain everything may seem in my eyes that in His eyes it is exactly what He had planned for me. My baby girl was born on December 11th with very bad Acid Reflux and it literally had me to the point of desperation. I just wanted her better and I was doing all I could all the while in prayer for God to intervene. She is doing so much better and even though she has moments where she is still spitting up it isn't as bad. She had lost down from 8lbs 2ozs to 7lbs in 2 weeks but after a month of AR formula she is 9lbs and 6ozs. It killed me to know I had to cease breastfeeding but when it was in the best interest of my baby, God held me through it. I am a firm believer in breast is best but my production was as plentiful as needed and it had me on edge and my nerves were shot. 

After that trial another one hit, After months of my husband being unemployed, he got called to work about 3 hours from home which means he has to be gone for weeks and maybe months at a time. I'm happy he has found a job because in this economy it's very hard but it is hard for me because I hate being away from him. God opened a door for us to get a travel trailer so we will be able to go visit days at a time and won't have to spend tons of money on hotel rooms. It always seems that even when we become undone and worried God is there to comfort us and let us know He has it under control. 

I never once let my trust fail in God, even when it seemed I was at my breaking point God was there for me. Isn't it wonderful to have a Savior that cares for us even when we are undeserving and don't feel worthy of His love and mercy? I want to encourage you, if you feel like you are at your wits-end and feel like you can't take any more just hit your knees and let God comfort you and lead you in the right direction. His answers may not be what we think is best and it may not come when we want it but it's always in His perfect timing. 

When things get rough how has God guided you? What are somethings that God worked out for you when you just couldn't see answers?

Be Blessed,

Regina Cozad

Focusing on God's Word

               It's a new year and this year we need to focus more on God than our problems.

 We need to read His word and dig deep into the scriptures and put our worrying aside. We need to replace our worrying and anxiety with prayer and fasting. If we would trust God and really put our focus on Him more than we ever have before, then and only then could we see things change like never before. When we feel like life has let us down and we can't go no more, we need to fall to our knees and let God hold us and work everything out.  

This year I am doing more devotionals and devoting more time to prayer instead of wasting time with things that will not help my life but only complicate it more. I am participating more in HelloMornings and GoodMorningGirls than I did last year and reading my devotionals and bible more. Our church is also doing the Daily B.R.E.A.D. readings. I want to encourage you to find time to dig into God's Word and sincerely put your focus on God. In 2014 let's put more focus on God and His Word than on Social Media and let Him give us encouragement and guidance.

What plans are you using this year? How are you making more time for God?

Be Blessed,

Regina Cozad

Happy 2014!

                                                   May you all have a great 2014!

I hope all of you had a great holiday season! I'm sorry I haven't been here much, We had our baby girl December 11th and things have been crazy. I am going to try to spend more time here this year and really rededicate myself. I really appreciate you all for being apart of this community. I'm asking you to reach out this year and let me know who you are and what you like about this blog. If there is anything you would like for me to talk on this year please feel free to let me know. I want to help and would love to hear from you.

What are your new year resolutions and what do you want to do more of this year? I hope you put God first and let Him lead you in all you do. I have learned in the last 2 months that even when you have faith and you have been praying and seeking God, that you still can feel faithless at times of trouble. We have had some major faith building trials in the last few weeks. So I want you to know that even though you may feel weak at time and feel there is no hope, Call out to Jesus and let Him hold you through your trials. He already knows the ending and He will help you prepare for it. Prayer can change any situation!

What are somethings that has really helped build your faith in 2013 that can help you have a better 2014?

Be Blessed,

Regina Cozad

Be Thankful :)

This month has been a month of Thanksgiving, I didn't wait til Thanksgiving Day to give thanks for all of the things I am thankful for, I did it daily. I haven't been here this month because I have been so busy getting everything ready for my little one who will be here in just a few weeks. I thank each of you for coming by my blog and being supportive of what I do here. I pray for God's blessings to cover you all. 

Thanksgiving is about more than just food and fun, It's about truly sitting down and realizing how blessed you are. So many others don't have what we do, God covers us with His blessings even though we are undeserving. We have to remember to be thankful daily because just as He gives them, He can take them away. I am so thankful for my little girl who will be here on the 11th if she stays breech and if not then I'll let her decide when she is coming :). Some of you know that I lost a baby at the beginning of the year and that nearly devastated me. I had pretty much given up and then I found out I was pregnant with her. This year has been a year of ups and downs but one thing never changed, God stayed by my side through it all and I am so thankful for Him!

We held Thanksgiving at our home this year and it was a success. We had plenty of food and goodies, family in every little corner and games. We spent the entire day just celebrating our family and what God had done for us. I hope you all had a pleasant day and that everything went how you wanted it too.

What are you thankful for this year? What did you do for Thanksgiving?

Be Blessed,

Regina Cozad

Even in the Storm There is Peace

Do you ever wake up just feeling so weary and burdened?

 Sometimes when we arise in the morning the devil is right there to remind us of all the hurtful things of yesterday and days past and it causes us to just feel alone and helpless. Some days it can be so frustrating to even get up but we know our family needs us. 

I want to encourage all of you, before you even let your feet hit the ground, grab your bible and read, even if it is just a verse or two. Pray for your family and how you can apply what you read to your day. Sometimes we just get so overwhelmed with life and where we are that we forget that the one who died for us and walked this life knows exactly where we are and what we need. He is just waiting with open arms for us to fall into Him and let Him guide us and give us peace through the storm. There is a saying "sometimes God doesn't always calm the storm, but calms His child through the storm." I'm not sure who wrote it but it's so true. Sometimes my life is a struggle and I know that a lot of my readers probably think I have it all together but that isn't true I'm human just like you and I fall just as you do but that is why I started this blog to encourage you that even when we fall we have to get back up and keep on going. You can come here and share how God lifted you up and encourage someone going through the same thing that they will make it.

I pray that you can be encouraged here no matter what you are going through. Know I will be praying for you if you need it, I'm here to walk besides you in the storm because we need community and friendship. God created us to help one another, to serve others when they need it. You never know what the person next to you is going through so always offer a smile, open a door and reach out to those around you even if they reject you, God knows and sees all things.

Are you struggling today? Do you have a testimony of how God has calmed you through a storm? What bible study do you use? When is your quiet time with God?

I'm also linking up today at Christian Mommy Blogger for Fellowship Fridays, come by and see what others are talking about.

Be Blessed,

Regina Cozad

Happy October!

Happy October to all of my wonderful readers!

Thanks for coming by and standing with me as I try to share what God has laid on my heart to share.

This month holds so many things for me, some are hurts and painful memories from the past that try to drag me down, while some are happy memories and some are just things that have to be done like the remodeling, fall cleaning, and getting ready for my little newborn baby girl that is due to make an appearance in December!

What does October hold for your family? I'm super excited about Fall and getting my house smelling like Fall is here! That is always the one thing I look forward to each year, I get excited walking into Walmart or any store really and seeing all the Fall colors, decor and of course the seasonal candles (oh how I love candles). We are in the midst of remodeling and boy can I tell you my home is some what upside down but we are getting there, one day at a time. 

Fall means family and fun, getting back into routine, and really getting back into step with Jesus. I have that struggle that we all do, finding that quiet time to just settle down with my Bible and just falling at Jesus's Feet and saying Daddy, what is it you really want from me? I want to fall into His arms, the arms that were tied to the cross, I want to hold the hands that were pierced for my sins. I need to be in the arms of the One who died for me. During Summer time I read my bible and I pray but it isn't like I really want too, it's always rush rush and to me that just isn't good enough. I need to really hear what God is wanting for me and for me as a wife to be a better leader at home and helpmate to my wonderful God given husband (sometimes I wonder how in the world did I get him, I definitely didn't deserve such an amazing man of God!!!) If we get too busy for God, then we are definitely busier than He ever intended for us to be. Let's learn to lean on Him and make sure that our time with him isn't out weighed by the things of this world! 

I am praying that we use this fall time to get back into step with God and really let Him lead and shine His glory on our lives and marriages. Let's learn to let Him show us what He wants, instead of always going after what we think is best for us and what we want for us. May God lead you today! 

What are you doing this Fall to get back close to God? How are you preparing you home for Fall? I would love to hear from you!

Be Blessed,

Regina Cozad

It's that time again ~Fall Time~

It's that awesome time of the year again! Time for Pumpkin everything, hayrides, snuggling by the bonfire with the hubby and kids, and holidays with family! Of course every year we also have the awesome FALL Challenge where alot of bloggers link up with Courtney over at www.womenlivingwell.org and make our homes a haven that is peaceful and inviting. You can read more about the challenge here and have a chance to win an Ipad mini.

You don't want to miss out on this challenge, I'll be posting here and also linking up Courtney's post where you can find others who are joining in. Be sure and come back each Monday in October and see what we are doing next! I don't know about you but Fall is my favorite time of the year and I love to decorate my home in fall decor and spend time with the family. 

What is your favorite thing about Fall? Are you going to be joining in the challenge? What are somethings that God has been working on you to do this Fall? Can I help you pray about anything?

Be Blessed,

Regina Cozad