March Memories

 

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 back to the table to kick off a brand-new adventure I've been home brewing. 
• Humblewood Havoc: The following weekend, the whole crew - Ryan, both the girls,and I joined a new Humblewood campaign run by Angel. It was so much fun to step into those characters together. 
• The Rotation: We've officially moved to an every-other-week rotation for the DM spot, which gives everyone a chance to both build worlds and play in them. 

Ring side & Writing Desks

Our Friday night traditions stayed strong, but our wrestling roster grew a bit! We tuned in for WWE NXT Vengence Day, which was a blast! I've also officially added TNA Impact and AEW to my watchlist. There's just something about the storytelling in the ring that keeps us hooked. 

On the personal side, my creative spark has been leaning toward some deeper projects. I've begun writing a new Bible Study, and I'm officially starting to outline my autobiography. It's a bit daunting to look back at the whole story, but it feels like the right season to start getting it all down on paper. 

A birthday and a look ahead

I also celebrated another trip around the sun this week. It was the perfect quiet cap to a busy month. 

As we look toward April, we are getting ready for: 

• Easter weekend with the grands 
• Mania weekend (basically a holiday in our house)

How as your March? Did you start any new hobbies or celebrate any milestones? Let's chat in the comments! 

A month in the life (February edition)

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 at home - and the look on her face made every bit of preparation worth it. A few weeks later, we celebrated again with her grandparents at Buffalo Wild Wings (Mackenzie's favorite restaurant), stretching her birthday joy across the whole month. 

She also began stepping into her next chapter by researching and planning upcoming trips as part of her travel agent training. Watching her lean into something she loves is a gift from God for this momma. 

Madison had her own highlight when she got to go to a local minor-league hockey game with her dad, which fed her growing love for sports. And while Ryan's job transition took an unexpected turn, we're trusting that the right door will open in God's timing. 

A rare Southern ice storm

The South doesn't see ice storms often, and February delivered a storm that shut the Upstate down for days. We stayed home, stayed warm, and stayed together. The stillness was unexpected, but it created space we didn't know we needed - a forced pause in a month that was already full. 

Faith in the details

If February taught me anything, it's that God is in the details, even when I don't understand them yet. There were moments this month when I felt unsure, moments when plans shifted, and moments when I didn't have the answers I was seeking. But God kept whispering the same truth: "I'm here. I'm working. Trust Me." 

Greenville First Church continued to feel like home - a place where we are loved, welcomed, and seen. And somewhere in the middle of the month, I had a quiet breakthrough when I realized that it's okay to not be okay sometimes. Jesus has my back when I need Him most and has an amazingly loving way of reminding me that very thing.

Home rhythms and small wins

At home, we leaned into a simple practice of creating space for one fun thing each day. It helped us disconnect from the stress and reconnect with each other. I didn't make many changes around the house yet, but I can feel them coming - the kind of shift that happens when your heart is preparing for something new. 

My biggest personal win was recognizing that I can choose how I respond to my environment. that truth settled deep this month, and it changed the way I moved through my days. 

D&D, creativity, and connection

February was full of meaningful moments around the table - or rather, around Discord. 

• One of the most memorable sessions was when Ryan stepped in for Nate during a family emergency. Watching him join the game was unexpectedly wornderful.
• I ran our monthly One-Shot, which was fun but taught me that the pacing needs more breathing room for our group to not feel so rushed.
• During a Sunday session with Chris DMing, Angel and I began connecting our characters in a deeper way - a sweet blend of sisterhood and storytelling.
• And perhaps the biggest surprise of all: I started homebrewing the next several arcs for my Saturday campaign. 

It stretched me... challenged me... and showed me something unexpected: I can creatively write... AND I LOVE IT! 

Staying close to home

I didn't make it to Hendersonville this month, but Ryan and Mackenzie did, keeping that connection strong. With the ice storm and everything I have in motion, staying close to home was just what I needed. The weekend they went up, Maddie and I were serving on Coffee Team so we had to prioritize a bit. Sometimes staying home and serving in the Lord's Army is the best place to be.

Looking back and looking forward at the same time

February wasn't flashy, but it was full - full of learning, love, unexpected creativity, and God's quiet presence. It reminded me that growth often happens in the in-between places, in the pauses, in the storms, and in the small celebrations that stitch a family together. 

The gift of a slow Sunday

 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? 

We are rooted in grace

 

"We love because He first loved us." - 1 John 4:19

Saturdays are my exhale... no work... no meetings... just space to breathe. Well, that's usually the pace I practice. Today that rest blended beautifully with Valentine's Day. Instead of pressure or expectations, I lean into a celebration day rooted in grace. Love that doesn't perform or compare. Love that reflects the heart of my Lord. 

This year, we chose to intentionally keep things simple. A shared meal, a few laughs, and a moment to acknowledge the ways we've grown over nearly 24 (woah did I say that) years of marriage. The girls add their own sweetness to the day and then we have D&D tonight. 

Speaking of dungeons and dragons tonight, I will be the DM and I'm taking the party on a fun one shot adventure through the process of finding what happened to the post man and rescuing him then delivering the candy grams he was supposed to be helping to find their owners. I just love how love shows up in these shared stories. 

How has God's love shaped the way you love others? 

Love in the everyday

 

"Let all that you do be done in love." - 1 Corinthians 16:14

Fridays always seem to feel lighter... the last stretch of the workweek... the anticipation of rest... the sense of exhaling. Today, I anticipate thinking about Valentine's Day and the small gestures that make love feel real. 

• A hand written note
• A favorite snack
• A message reminding how proud I am of the recipient
• Love you guys text messages to family afar

Love grows in the everyday. It's built on the routines, the shared jokes, the forgiveness after long days, the dungeons and dragons nights that keep us connected across states. As I wrap up work for the week and look toward the weekend, I feel grateful for the ordinary love that fills our every day at home - we are imperfect. we are steady... and we are real! 

What's one simple way you can show love to someone tomorrow? 

A Homemaker's Heart: Creating Peace in Small Ways

 
"She looks well to the ways of her household." - Proverbs 31:27

Thursdays always feel like the quiet slide toward the weekend, and today I find myself noticing the house more than usual. Working from home means I see every pile. Every dish. Every corner that needs attention. However, instead of tackling everything, I focus on creating small pockets of peace. I like to call this putting out hotspots. 

Turning on my wax warmer. Clearing one surface. Turning on the Tunes while I wrap up work tasks. These small things help anchor us. Especially with the family in a season of transition - Ryan with his new job. Mackenzie stepping into travel training. And, last but certainly not least - Mads navigating what remains of her gap year. 

Homemaking is spiritual work. It may not be glamourous, but it's holy. 

What is one small act that could bring more peace into your home today? 

Midweek Mercy: When you're tired but still trying

"Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28

Wednesdays tend to carry their own version of tired. Some rely on the Great Camel when the to-do list grows, the laundry multiplies, and the week's weight starts to show. Today was one of those days where I felt stretched thin - not overwhelmed, just worn out. Balancing home, work, and the emotional load of guiding young adult daughters is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful, but it's also a real challenge some days. 

Mercy shows up in small ways though. A quiet moment between meetings. a task I gave myself permission to push to tomorrow. A reminder that God has never, and will never, ask me to carry ALL THE THINGS alone. 

Evening will bring just a bit of calm. We don't have dungeons and dragons tonight. Only a space to breathe... reset... and let my spirit settle. Sometimes that mercy looks a bit like rest. 

Where do you need to receive mercy instead of pushing harder?