Cox & Kin

 Summer has a way of speeding up just as my soul is asking to slow down. For years, our summers were a gentle mix of quiet days and small adventures, but lately they've taken on a fuller rhythm - wrestling schedules, Dungeons & Dragons nights, weekend getaways, and our annual Fourth of July trip to the Cove. It's a good kind of full, the kind that comes from traditions we love and people we want to be with. But even good fullness needs balance.  Somewhere in the middle of the noise and the fun, I've been learning to pay attention to the small practices that bring me back to myself. Music has become one of my anchors - soft background playlists while I write or work, something steady that keeps my mind from scattering. D&D nights and wrestling pay-per-views are a blast, but when I need grounding, I need something slower. Something quieter. Something that lets me breathe.  One practice I'm leaning into this summer is free writing. No structure, no pressure, just l...

 May moved in softly this year, almost unnoticed at first, and then suddenly full of moments that nudged our family forward in ways we didn't expect. It was a month of slow shifts - not dramatic, not loud, but meaningful in the way only quiet change can be.  If I had to have a song to describe the Month of may, it would be Slow Fade by Casting Crowns: We started the month celebrating Madison's 20th birthday, which still feels impossible to say out loud. We took her to Carolina Ale House , just the four of us, and the whole evening felt like a gentle step into her young-adult life. The most "Mads at 20" moment came right after dinner when she announced, with absolute certainty, "We need to go to Crumbl next..." Some things never change, and I'm grateful for that. She's also been thinking more seriously about her "adulting path, leaning toward taking the para-pro exam. Helping others comes naturally to her, and she's always had a knack for tea...

 April moved quietly, carrying a mix of celebration, tradition, unexpected sickness, and the steady hum that comes with everyday life. It wasn't a loud month, but it was meaningful in the way only a soft month can be - full of moments that remind us of just how God meets us in both the joy and the stillness.  This month actually began the night before it officially started. On March 31st, Ryan and Mack drove to Charlotte for her Christmas-gift concert - TWICE. She had been counting down for months, and sharing that night with her dad made it even sweeter. While the two of them were off to the venue, Mads and I had an all day Wicked marathon with Auntie Angel. Having this day to connect 1:1 with our girls set a warm tone as we headed into April. But it was more than just a warm tone... it was a reminder that joy often shows up in the things we plan for far in advance and then finally get to experience.  A few days later, WrestleMania weekend arrived, and with it one of our...

  As we wrap up March, the house feels full. Full of new characters, new stories, and a lot of gratitude. It's been one of those months where the weekends flew by, but the memories feel like they're going to stick around for a long while.  We started the month on a high note right here at home. Maddie and I had our Coffee Team rotation at Greenville First. While we missed our usual trip to the mountains, there eis something so special about serving our local church family and sharing that time together.  While we're talking about blessings, Ry had an incredible experience this month. He was gifted a ticket to see Phil Wickham with our dream friends, Matt and Crystal. It's always a joy to see him recharged by such powerful worship and great company.  Around the table If you've been following our "Kin" adventures, you know that we love a good story. This month, our tabletop gaming took a fun turn!  Homebrew Beginnings: I welcomed the Storm wreck Isle party b...

A note from the heart of me Life is full and beautiful right about now, and ruing this season of busyness, I'm needing to shift Cox & Kin to a gentler rhythm. As such,  will be posting one Month-in-Review post each month. this gives me space to be present with my family, my work, and the creative projects God has placed in my hands, while still sharing the heart of our home with our readers. February in Review February arrived with a mix of celebration, stillness, and a few surprises that only God could weave together. it was a month that reminded me how much life can shift in small, meaningful ways - sometimes through joy, sometimes through uncertainty, and sometimes through the simple act of paying attention.  Family moments that mattered this month held two big highlights for our family: Mackenzie's birthday and the excitement of WWE Elimination Chamber. Mackenzie's birthday was especially sweet. Instead of taking her out for Korean BBQ, I surprised her by making it ...

 Be still, and Know that I am God. - Psalm 46:10 Over the years, Sundays have become a sacred pause in our home. A day where pace softens and the expectations loosen. Even when we're not serving on the Coffee Team, the rhythm of getting ready for the day helps reset our hearts.  We settled into the usual Sunday quiet:   - Mads catching the sports highlights  - Ry catching up on golf news  - I took a few minutes to breathe  - Mack researched a bit about the Outer Banks Tonight I have D&D. No matter who is at the helm, it's funny how something as simple as a weekly game has become a thread that keeps our family connected across the states. It's community. It's creativity. And it's laughter woven into the beginning of a new week.  Where might you feel God inviting you to slow down today?