Our Love story began with something we both constantly obsess over: COFFEE. 

Thanks, Starbucks, for the introduction! 

I was a new barista, bubbly and bright-eyed for a 5am shift when Cody walked in the door. The other baristas working yelled excitedly "CODY!" when he walked in the door. Me, being me, jumped on board and shouted right along with them "HEY CODY!" He laughed, and responded with "Morning!" as if we were old friends, ordered a Trenta water, and continued on his way. Over the next month or two, I began training to open a new store, he moved back to our town, and was rehired at Starbucks. 

During this time, I was in a "transition period" of my life. It was difficult, and being in a state I didn't grow up in, without many supportive friends or family members around me, I was struggling. I needed people in my corner; a friend who I could depend on and trust. I made these statements abundantly clear, I set boundaries, and Cody upheld them. This allowed me to develop a deep respect for him, but what I appreciated most was his willingness: he was willing to listen, willing to go out of his way, willing to be a great friend, willing to discuss the difficult mental health topics that were so present in my life, and willing to sit beside me during the hardest days.

But you can only tempt fate for so long; I quickly realized that this charming gentleman could potentially sweep me off my feet. . . Little did I know then, but Cody would come to love Jameson and I in a way that I didn't know was possible. 

November 15th, 2016 was our first official date. We hiked at Tyler State Park, and got a little lost, which he took full advantage of by swooping in for our first kiss. (This is Cody's 'anniversary date') 

December 15th, 2016 was the day he made it "official." 

Since then, we have adventured together a ton - Adventuring together is our favorite thing in the world! 

• We camped together, while a violent storm tore through Travis County, tearing off our brand new tent cover - which I promptly ran out of the tent to fix - in my underwear and a headlamp (Yes, I just wrote that on a live website. Yes, Cody fully dressed himself before coming to help me. Yes, I'm still calling him out about it.)
• We hiked 9 miles and kayaked 1 - in flip flops, without adequeate water or snacks together. Neither of us said it at the time, but we were both pretty sure we were going to die without seeing the waterfall we'd set out for. It was hot and miserable. 
• We accidentally took Cody's Corolla off roading once, at midnight. 
• We scuba dived together.
• We survived highly-trafficked streets, with incompetent drivers, on a motorized scooter. 
• We have taken a mini road trip along the Texas Coast together, and battled creepy sand crabs and jellyfish. Here, we endured the literal worst camping conditions.  
• Most recently, we survived a raccoon invasion. 
• We've also parented a child together for nearly 3 years - thats a big one! 

But, it isn't the most exciting of trips and exploring that has been the best part of our relationship... No, the best part has been truly learning to "lean in" on each other during the most trying times. The past 3 years since that first day we met has been a whirlwind for us both. Between sickensses (IBS & Autoimmune-type symptoms, shingles, severe infections, etc.), online schooling, coparenting, finance managing and career switching, we have learned that the best way out, is through - together. We have learned the best thing (I believe), you can develop with your partner: Teamwork. Our relationship isn't always 50/50. Some days, one of us is stronger (mentally or physically) than the other - that person is the leader of our lives and our home. That person carries the weight that day... or week... or month. And we trade that responsibility on and off willingly, with love, and without judgment or bitterness. There is nothing that compares to the contentment I feel with the knowledge that Jameson and I have someone in our corner who can carry us through the dark... and make the Best days, even better.

There's a type of dependability, accountability, and perfectly imperfectness that make us feel as though we have been specifically Taylored for eachother. 

The Future: 

What's next for us? 
Other than the usual 40-65 hour work weeks, holidays, more online schooling, coparenting, soccer, Kindergarten, and coffee-every-damn-day to keep us going? 

W E D D I N G   B E L L S ! 

We have chosen to celebrate our marriage with a Destination cruise to continue our tradition of adventuring together. Hopefully this time, some of you reading this will be able to join us! 

T H A N K F U L N E S  S 

For those of you who rooted for us from Day 1. 

For those of you who supported us through difficult days. 

For those of you who reminded us that relationships aren't always easy, because life isn't easy. 

For those of you who are continuing on this journey with us in all of the years to come.

Late 2016 I met Brandi.

Disclaimer: My memory on this is vauge.

I was on my way in to town and it was early in the morning. I stopped to meet some of my old Starbucks crew because they always make my day a little bit better and, unbeknownst to me, my life. I came in to get my usual Trenta Water and make my rounds when everyone greeted me as a I walked in, including a really foxy young lady I had never seen before (She's gonna kill me for that). [After her proof-read, I was given a major eyeroll. There is likely more coming]

I grabbed my water, said goodbye, and left trying to play it cool and not turn around to look at her again and seem like a total dweeb.

Fast forward a couple of months, I moved back into town and began working at Starbucks again. One evening after working a late shift, I was playing a game online with a friend of mine when someone I had never spoken to over the phone, and had only a few random Facebook conversations with (discussing Step Brothers and Star-Gazing), decided to call me while stuck in horrible traffic on I-20. I will give you three guesses as to who it was.

After talking to her for about 2 and a half hours, she had me intrigued. I was hooked and, to say the least, I had to know more about this amazing person so we rode around town searching for her apartment and things needed to fill it with. Budget friendly places, like the Dollar Tree and Big Lots were where learned many things about each other.

After a trip to JC Penny and Bed Bath & Beyond with Jameson, I felt a bit honored by the fact that I was given a chance to really interact with him. To be given that opportunity to be closer to them was a huge turning point which gave me the courage to ask Brandi on a proper date. (I really didn't expect her to say yes!) When she hesitantly agreed, we decided to have our FIRST OFFICIAL DATE at the beautiful Tyler State Park! The rest is history!