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? 

 

Greenville moments: Where can I find joy in the ordinary?

 "In all things give thanks." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tuesdays have a steady rhythm: 

• work during the day
• D&D with Red's Raiders tonight

Today, I made a point to step out for a moment between meetings for a quick walk. It's important to let myself breathe outside of my normal routine. Greenville has this way of making ordinary moments feel just a tiny bit brighter. Maybe it's the friendliness of people in line or the way the foothills peek through when we are driving to and fro. 

Joy showed up in small ways today: a productive meeting, the excitement of Ryan about his new job, a funny meme from Dr. Ponsia Bile in our D&D chat, and the anticipation of gathering for tonight with Uncle DM at the helm. All of these tiny things add up. 

Cox & Kin has always been and will continue to be about noticing these everyday graces. The more I look for them, the more I find them. 

As you went through your day, what ordinary moment brought you unexpected joy today? 

A Monday of small wins

"Do not despise these small beginnings." - Zechariah 4:10

Mondays can feel like an abrupt beginning after a restful weekend, but today held a surprising number of small wins. Working from home as a Learning Manager means my Mondays are full of planning, meetings, catching up, and moving projects forward. However, I've learned to look for the tiniest of victories. This one action helps to make my day feel lighter and go faster. 

• a smooth morning routine
• a productive meeting
• a sweet message from Mackenzie excited about her upcoming travel agent training
• my sweet Turtle showing me a new Caitlin Clark clip she loved
• Even a quick check-in with Angel and Chris before they start their day in Wisconsin

All of the above add just a touch of brightness and blessing to my day. These may seem like things to overlook, but I count them as small wins. They are the building blocks of gratitude. When I take the time to slow down and notice them, I realize how much God is doing in the background. It is a gentle reminder that He is in the details of our lives no matter how tiny those details may be. 

What is one small win you can celebrate from today?  

The beauty of beginning again

"His mercies are new every morning." - Lamentations 3:23

Sundays always feel like a gentle invitation to reset. There's no rush to open my laptop, no meetings waiting, no deadlines tugging at my attention. Today carried that soft, sacred, quiet - the kind that makes space for reflection. As we got ready for church, I found myself thinking about how often God invites us to begin again. He does this not with fanfare, but with subtle nudges. 

Greenville First Assembly not only welcomes me home, but grounds me. It may look like the family serving Reach Day, Ryan ushering, Maddie and I serving on Coffee team, or just attending. Today's service felt like a deep breath. With Ryan on the brink of starting a new job and the girls each stepping into new seasons of their own, our home feels like it's shifting in small yet mighty and meaningful ways. Sundays deliver the space to notice these shifts - to see where God is moving beneath the surface. 

Later in the day, we had our usual family check-ins with Angel and Chris, and the familiar comfort knowing we'd gather online tonight for our Sunday role play session. These rhythms remind me that beginnings don't always happen on January 1. Sometimes they happen on an ordinary yet extraordinary Sunday in February. 

As you prepare for the week ahead, think about this question: 

Where in your life do you feel God inviting you to begin again? 

If you'd like to dig in further, I've included a printable journal page where you can do just that. 

 

Coffee with Christ

 Saturday mornings mean coffee and bible study in my house. The table is laden with books, notes, and my cup of caffeine. I have Angel on Discord and we are ready to roll. 

There's just something grounding about spending time in the Word disconnected from technology where possible and just soaking in all He has for us. 

In 2026, we are encouraged to optimize our time. But there's no way to optimize the Alpha and Omega. He is ever present in our lives and no time in his presence is ever wasted. We talk about the lessons He's teaching us. Our struggles. Our celebrations. 

It's just our way of communicating not only with each other, but with our Lord and savior. 

Friday Night... SMACKDOWN!

 

We've had a change in plans for the no-glow experiment. Friday nights in this house belong to WWE Smackdown. In 2026, they tell us we should spend less time in front of screens, but I'd argue that when the whole family - Ryan, the girls, and even Angel and Chris (from afar) gather around shouting at the TV, it's as analog as it gets. For us, it's not about the blue light. It's about the shared adrenaline. It's about the predictions. It's about the collective "OMG" when a finisher hits. 

There's something special about the tradition of a Friday night match that brings out the best (and loudest) versions of us. it's the one time of the week where the mental load is put on pause and we just let ourselves be fans. 

Tonight's vibe: 

• Snack status: Pizza and a veggie tray
• The house divided: Is it Cody and Randy or Sami and KO? 
• The memory: Looing over to see Mack and Mads just as invested in the storylines today as they were when Booker T was in the ring... 

Some traditions are meant to be 'glowy.' We'll get back to the candles and Legos tomorrow - tonight, we're here for the MAIN EVENT. 

The stories that raised me

 It's Throwback Thursday and in the spirit of Analog  Love, I've been digging through my books for the stories that shaped my own world before screens were everywhere. 

Today, I put my Kindle and iPad away and pulled out Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. It's worn around the edges, and has that old library pages smell. There's just something different about reading a physical book. You don't scroll, you physically turn the pages. You don't click, you lick your finger. 

I spent a few minutes today just looking at the illustrations on the pages. It reminded me that even at 19 and 23, my girls still appreciate a good story. These days our stories happen through role play at the D&D table with dice deciding our fate rather than bedtime rhymes. 

Challenge: Go to the bookshelf today. Pick up a book you haven't touched in five years. Read the first three pages out loud to whoever is in the room with you (even if it's just your pet).

What's in your ears?

 Part of Analog Love is actually listening to what the people we love are into. Today, Mack and I did a Playlist Swap. 

I gave her a taste of what I've been looping, and she shared her latest kpop binge-worthy album. It's funy how music can bridge the gap between being 'the parent' and 'the person.'

Mack's current rotation includes: 

• BTS
• Twice
• Kpop demon hunters
• MonstaX

The best part of the day had to be catching one another humming a song from the other person's list. Music is the ultimate analog connecter, even if we are listening to it through digital means. I can't wait for Ryan and Madison to join our music swaps! 

Our analog love manifesto

With Mack's 23rd birthday in the books, it's time to turn our hearts toward our February goal: Analog Love. 

In a world that wants us sucked in and scrolling social media every waking moment, we're choosing intentional family time instead. It's easy to say we "want" to be present, but this month, ,we're putting some 'intentional friction' in place to ensure it actually happens. 

Our 3 analog intentions: 

1. The tech basket at 7pm: All devices go in the basket on the kitchen counter until the next morning. 
2. The table project: We're keeping a 'permanent' setup on the table this month. It may be a high-stakes game of monopoly, a quick card game, or a Lego building session, the goal is to have something tactile to do with our hands during family connection time. 
3. The 'sticky note' exchange: Instead of texting a 'good luck' or 'thinking of you,' we're leaving physical notes on the refrigerator or bathroom mirror. 

It's not about being anti-tech. It's about being pro-connection. I want to spend this month noticing the small things - like the way the light hits the living room in the late afternoon or the sound of real-time laughter without a background stream. 

We are remembering the goal isn't perfection. It's presence. All the way present in all we do. 

The Sizzle and the Silence

 Yesterday was all things celebrating our Mack-a-doodle-doo. Today the house is quiet, I'm back to work, and if I'm being honest, there are still a few stray dice scattered on our coffee table. 

It's Groundhog Day, which feels fitting. In the world of family blogging, we often chase after the "new" and "exciting," but there is something so grounding about the repetition of February. The way the coffee pot sounds at 7:00 am, the way we reset after entertaining, and the familiar rhythm of a workday. 

If we're stuck in a loop like Phil Connors, I'm glad it's this one. Today isn't about the big milestones; it's about the beauty of the mundane tasks that keep our 'village' running. 

As we prepare for the rest of our week, what are your plans?

Happy 23rd Mack-a-doodle-doo

 Dear Mack,

Today you are 23. It’s a strange and beautiful age—the threshold of so much "new." While the rest of the world might see a young woman starting her professional journey, I’m still here witnessing the "analog" heart of you that hasn't changed.

In 2026, where everything feels fast and digital, I want to record the things about you that are wonderfully, stubbornly real:

• The "Music Catch": There is no better sound than your giggle when you realize I’m actually listening to (and enjoying) the music you like. It’s our own little bridge between generations.

• The Dungeon Master: I love your obsession with Dungeons & Dragons. Watching you build entire worlds with nothing but imagination, some dice, and a heavy dose of strategy is a masterclass in creativity.

• The Travel Agent Hustle: I’ve watched you quietly put in the hours, researching and preparing to help others see the world. It’s a "micro-milestone" that has turned into a massive feat of discipline. You’re building a bridge to your future, one flight path and itinerary at a time.

• The "Mack-ism": I never want to forget the intensity and humor of you shouting, "I said FIREBOLT!" during a heated session. It’s basically our new family motto for "committing to the bit."

Tonight, we’re leaning into the best kind of celebration. There will be the sizzle of Korean BBQ, a high-stakes game of Farkle (I’m prepared to lose), and absolutely no distractions.

Mack, watching you navigate your twenties with such a distinct sense of self is the greatest gift. You are brave, you are hilarious, and you are exactly where you are meant to be.

Happy Birthday, Mack. Now, let’s go eat.

Love,

Mom & Dad