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.