Our...

My family needs no excuse to take a road trip. My aunt, grandma, mom, and I always load up in my Mema's Caddy, and off we go! If one of us has to leave the city, we all join, just for the ride. It's what we do.


We talk, argue over stereo volume, laugh until we cry, stop multiple times over the course of a few hours because no one will coordinate bathroom schedules, make fun of each other, fill out crossword puzzles, fight over who has what word correct, eat together...etc. Needless to say, time passes by quickly.




I thought I would share some quotes and experiences from our last trip. They are most typical.
1. My mom and grandma both tried sushi for the first time!
2. Foods eaten included fried green tomatoes, country fried steak, onion rings, bacon, biscuits...Let's just say...Southern.
3. My whole family + Teen and Daniel ate at an Ethiopian restaurant.
4. I graduated with my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. My Uncle gave me flowers.
5. I was given breakfast in bed.
6. My mother and I decided to take a midnight roadtrip to a convenience store in my grandmother's cadillac...entitiled "Raspberry Baby" per my Mema.
7. My mom, grandma, and I drank some tropical beverages outside the pool at our hotel. My grandma and I danced the electric slide.
8. My grandmother flirted with the bartender who she said looked exactly like "Van Diesel"... I let her know Vin would be offended.


Some quotes:
Exactly 5 minutes after leaving Orlando for Panama City :
      Ma: "Are we to I-10 yet?" Me: "No, Ma...not quite yet..." [ I-10 is at least three hours from Orlando.]
When 5 of my family members showed up to take me to my pinning ceremony...in a 5 seater vehicle:
      Ma: "we're squished in this backseat like a tuna!" Me: "Ma, I think it's sardines..."
After Mema explained to the family that when someone is driving too slowly, she pulls into the lane next to them, cranks the gas, then switches back to their lane leaving an uncomfortably short distance between their front bumper and her red cadillac:
      Mema; " I suffer from a bit of road rage..."
When I suggested we go to dinner at a place we had not originally intended:
      Mema: plans are made for changing, baby!!
My 76-year old Southern Belle of a grandmother, at the dinner table after having seen some people dancing at the poolside:
      Mema: "When I start dancing that rap, I'm gonna get loosey goosey..." 
[She has apparently decided dancing to "that rap" will aid her in improving her cardiovascular health...She has asked that I burn her a CD ASAP.]


These are only a few. I am going to start recording the crazy things my family members say and post them up here for your viewing pleasures.


Love,
Cody

I liiiiikeeee....

Via.

For those of you who know me well: No, I am not talking about the boy in the picture, I am talking about the shirt! The verse is Matthew 7:3-5.

"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."

"The winds of change are blowin' wild and free..."

 Change is coming!
I have THREE drafts that I will be working on soon:
1. Christine [Part 3: The Finale]
2. Orlando Church Family Tribute [ In light of my recent move back to the Panhandle]
3. General life Update

There may be some small stuff in between those posts, but I want to make sure I'm intentional about maintenance.

I am a new graduate and have a bit more free time now that I am living back in Panama City. My blog will experience much more upkeep and creativity.

Stay Tuned...

Love,

Cody

Girl's Night In

Juli and I got bored waiting for Christine....So we made up a game. We entitled it "Candy Land Massacre."

We set up the cupcake trays in anticipation...

Cupcake making gone awry Exhibit #1

Cupcake making gone awry Exhibit #2

After painting, making hot dogs, eating Doritos, and watching Despicable Me, it was toothbrush time!

Then there was sweet, sweet sleep, then church. Amen.

One of my favorite little people in the world...

Be careful....the cuteness may overwhelm you...

Kitty...

Christine Part Du

And so the plot thickens...

High school proved to be trying. These years were truly the beginning of my life as a Christian, and Christine was with me every step of the way. Those four years were some of the most amazing, transitional, and defining times of our lives. I spent my four years learning how to cope with a wild and unruly father, enjoying proms and formals, frequenting jails and rehabilitation centers, overcoming an eating disorder, playing on the basketball and volley ball team(with Christine), becoming a member of the competition cheerleading squad(with Christine), playing in the praise band for school chapel(with Christine), enduring multiple knee surgeries, joining a church and learning about the Lord, engaging in immature romantic relationship(s), getting my heart broken...The list could go on and on. Christine was ever-consistent. She was active in her church, held various leadership positions in our class, was voted "Most Intelligent" and "Best Christian Character", and was actively building a relationship with God. She steered clear of boys for the most part, which was completely odd to me at the time. Having a boyfriend made me feel as if someone needed me. Relationships fed that void in my heart until they could do so no longer. That place was for the Lord to fill... and He did. Christine always had to be home before everyone else. It drove our group of friends to the point of insanity at times. I understand the need for structure, but there were many times I can recall that she was sorely missed. I had no defined rules in regards to curfew, traveling, goings and comings... I was, if you will, kind of a free sprit. Looking back, I thank God for the Spirit of conviction He gave me early in life. Otherwise, I truly do not know where I would be. Thank you, Jesus, for imparting even an ounce of wisdom to that inconsistent, selfish teenager that I was. It has made all the difference. Christine and I spent countless nights at each other's houses. I would have rather cuddled with Teen than most any person on earth. This statement is still valid to this day. We played board games,hung out with her siblings and family, played basketball, went on school trips, attended band concerts, walked around her neighborhood, watched movies, shared food, did crafts, painted fingernails, told each other our deepest secrets, talked about things we shouldn't have, did things we shouldn't have done...I always thought to myself, "Now this is a friend." I had the privilege of watching from the bleachers as Christine was nominated Homecoming Queen our senior year... this is the competition I dropped out of at the last minute because the thought of us competing for a title made me truly sick. She deserved it, anyways. I don't think I ever told her the reasoning behind my actions... I remember I was so proud I couldn't even think straight. Our grade situation ended up evening out...I still had trouble showing up to classes, but we were pretty even GPA-wise. Teen had all things math under her belt, English too. If you know her now, watch out! She may or may not correct your grammar if you aren't careful... She's the sweetest grammar Nazi I know, though, so don't be shy. These are the years that biology and the sciences became my strongest suits and passions. We both had our share of messes that we got ourselves into... Everything that happened in my life, Teen would be the first to know. Anything that was going on with hers, I would know. She was the first to know about my first kiss, my bad decisions(there were many), and anything going on with my family. We often talked about how our family lives affected us. We came from two completely different backgrounds, but often found common ground in that we were in need of constant encouragement... These were truly amazing years. We grew in the Lord, and were starting to build the foundations of who were were to become. We had ups and downs, disagreements, and times when we found it hard to talk to each other...but it always subsided. When it came time for graduation, we had to part. Teen headed South to Palm Beach Atlantic University where you'd have to pay me to attend...and even then, I wouldn't be thrilled. I stayed in Panama City and went to a community college...where Teen wouldn't be caught dead after graduating from high school.


We stayed in touch, and I can't even begin to tell you how much this woman affects to me to this day...


If you thought the first two parts were at all a pleasure to read, stay tuned for part three. [The Real Deal]


Bring tissues if you're a cryer.