Good day... :)

Ok so I took a break from this when I got back from Jamaica, no real reason just haven't gotten around to doing it too now.

So today was a pretty good day. Had lunch with a pretty cool dude that I hope continues to let God lead his life.

I was asked to share about my time in Jamaica to a fellow church. It's pretty exciting to be able to tell people how God moved in my life as well as in the lives of people in Jamaica.

Then tonight I attended a bible study geared for the collegiate age. I'm excited because I've been looking for one and have come up dry until tonight.

I'm excited to see what God has in store for me through this group. I pray that God continue to prepare me for the future.

So Sunday is the first service ALF will hold in the Civic Center as a step to move forward to prepare for growth.

Good day overall! :)

Prayers welcomed.

Mascot saved by grace.

I don't know who she is yet.

What I'm looking for:

She MUST be in love with God.
That's nonnegotiable.

She'll have a love for music. All kinds of music, but have that one band that she could listen to all the time and it never get old.

She'll have a sense of style all her own. She will have a knack for picking out clothes that makes her stand out in a beautiful and unique way.

She'll have a want to learn. She won't become content with the status quo. She'll always be willing to try new things.

She'll want to drive with the windows down, radio bumpin when the weather is nice.

She'll have a sense of wonder. An imagination that's not quite sold on reality. A want to be spontaneous, but a knowledge that certain things take responsibility over craziness.

She'll want to hold hands.

She'll have the ability to look into my eyes and know why I'm thinking and I'll be able to do the same.

She'll be ok with me taking her picture whenever. LOL :)

She'll be ok with laying in the grass for hours and just being with me.

We'll always lean in for a kiss at the same time everytime perfectly like in the movies.

She'll want to get to know everything about me as I get to know everything about her.

She'll want to kiss in the rain for the sole purpose of fufilling the clichè.

She'll be my reason and I'll be her rhyme.

She'll have "the look". You know "the look" that says that she's annoyed, but still in love.

And she'll also have "the look". You know "the look" that says she's happier to be with me than anyone else.

We'll share a song that we're both probably sick of, but don't have the heart to tell the other.

She'll not mind walking down the aisle to "Sit Still" by Brightwood.

We will write our own vows. She'll cry. I'll cry.

She will be everything God wants for her to be for me. And I'll be everything God wants for me to be for her.

She'll be willing to be rescued by me, her knight in shining armor. But not helpless.

We'll like the same foods and drinks so that when the other is done, the other can pick at and sip on the leftovers.

We'll both be crazy about serving God at a church. A church that God can help us be leaders as well as followers of Christ.

I don't know who she is, but if she's out there and she is anything like this girl...I'm more than excited.

I pray for her daily that God is protecting her and she is growing closer and closer to Him.

Prayers welcomed.

Mascot saved by grace.

Super excited. Super nervous. And super blessed.

Sorry for the absence of a post yesterday, this mascot was TIRED!

The 30 Hour Famine was a huge success. The kids all participated with a great amount of faithfulness and commitment. And the meal on Saturday afternoon was very well accepted and very quickly consumed.

We are showing the video today at church and I am super excited.

I didn't get to hang with Michael this time, but it's ok. He should be at church this morning! :)

Today is my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary. Wow. 50 years! I just hope that if God putIna woman in my life for the purpose of marriage, that I could live long enough to see 50 years of marriage.

At the moment I'm at Starbucks waiting on my cold brewed tea. Passion/Orange Blossom with Apple Juice. So Good.

So I leave for Jamaica in 5 days. Super excited. Super nervous. And super blessed.

Ok drink is almost ready, then off to church!

Prayers welcomed!

Mascot saved by grace.

Proud beyond measure.

I am cold. I am hungry. I am worn smooth out.

This has been the weekend of the 30 Hour Famine. I am absolutely beat.

Along with the youth I am privelaged to lead at my church, I have sustained from eating since breakfast Friday morning. Added to the no eating, starting at 6:30 Friday evening, we met the kids up at the church for the actual 30 Hour Program.

The program is designed to raise awareness and funds for world hunger.

It is 5:32am and I have just woken up from inside the cardboard house me and my "tribe" constructed in the parking lot of the church.

This has definitely been an experience I will not soon forget. We have approximately 6 1/2 hours left until lunch and the end of the fast.

I am proud beyond measure of my kids who chose to do this. It makes me happier than ever to know that the kids I have nearly constant contact with are living for God in such a way that most teens will never know.

My weekend had just begun. I still have the some 6 hours of the famine remaining, after that has ended then I begin editing and producing the video of the event to show Sunday morning. Then Sunday is my grandparents' 50th anniversary.

Not to mention, my "little brother/best friend" is in this weekend from the Air Force and I really hope we get to hang out. I fear that won't happen, but I tryst God knows best! :)

I am cold. I am hungry. I am worn smooth out. But, I am loving it!

It's hard, but it ain't the cross!

Prayers welcomed!

Mascot saved by grace.

Hi Cody, whatchu doin?

Third day of sun!

Work was ok...sub par.

Lunch with Kayleigh was great! Subway.

I got a new windshield, which is awesome because the old one was cracked.

"Hi Cody! Whatchu doin? I'm watchin da chipmunks!"
Vincent called me tonight, which was amazing, especially since his mom told me that he was throwing a fit to call me. He's 2 1/2...so it makes me smile. :)

Tonight's work out was great! I hit 45 min on the bike for 14 miles...amazing!!

I am sooo tired, but ready to tackle this weekend! 30 Hour Famine, Grandparent's 50th, and hopefully see Michael.

Tired. Prayers welcomed!

Mascot saved by grace.

Sun for a second day in a row! :)

So today was a very long day. Spent the majority of it working at the church preparing for the 30 Hour Famine this weekend.

I ate at Yen Jing for the first time in a long time, and it was amazing! Lol The gunk on the bottom of Jimmy's glass was a bit weird, but I still love the place!

The sun for the second day in a row was very well accepted.

So, I am 9 days away from leaving for Jamaica and I couldn't be more excited! :)

Well I'm off to bed.

Goodnight! Prayers welcomed!

Mascot saved by grace.

Today was a good day. :)

So today's weather was great! No rain. No snow. No ice. Just cool temperatures and lots of sun! Made me smile.

I was picking up paint from the Terrell Sherwin Williams store and the district manager for my store and that store was there. Our interaction was that of usual, just normal small talk. As I was leaving, instead of shaking my hand, he fist bumped me. I felt a little cool about it. My DM is comfortable enough with me to fist bump.

At lunch, instead of eating, I prayed. I prayed that God would make my future goals and direction clear. I was quite frustrated, and to an extent, I still am, but a talk with my pastors, I feel a bit better to face this struggle. Thanks guys!

My "little brother/best friend" Michael told me today that he is coming home this weekend. Very excited. Now i just have to figure out a time to see him amidst all that I have to do this weekend. But I WILL find a way.

Part of this weekend is my grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary. More about that in the coming days. But I am trying to figure out what I'm more excited about, their anniversary or getting to see Vincent. Tie I think.

Also this weekend is the 30 Hour Famine with the youth. More to come about that later too.

Today was a good day all in all. Good weather. Good advice. Good texting with my "little brother/best friend". Good Subway. Good work out. Hopefully a good night's rest.

Thanks to today for being so good! Prayers welcomed!

Mascot saved by grace.

Growing up is hard to do...

As I sit here on the couch of what has become my second family, I find myself longing for the days where I had minimal responsibility.

I know that those days are long gone and I must accept my age and my journey into adulthood.

I won't lie, I am more than excited to see where God is leading me and what amazing things He has in store for my life. But it's the thoughts of school debt and finding a "real" job that have me anxious, nervous and hesitant.

I understand that growing up and moving on with your life is not only necessary, but also one day enjoyed.

I feel at this very moment, I find myself not only in between couch cushions, but also in between milestones in my life. Those milestones being graduating college and becoming a moved-out-of-the-house, career-having, tax-paying member of society. And all of this coupled with finding where God wants me, can be quite tiresome.

So as I take this journey, I hope you enjoy reading my blog as I attempt to adequately document it.

Thanks! Prayers welcomed!

Mascot saved by grace.

12 Days and counting...

Good evening, this is written with the heart of a man who has been praying for the past 30 minutes trying to calm his heart of anxiety of things to come.

I am traveling to Jamaica in 12 days to photo-document a children's ministry. I am excited, nervous, happy, scared all at the same time.

I have no doubt that God will use this trip to transform my heart closer to His will, and leave me a different man. I was blessed by the congregation of my church with the entire cost of the trip which adds somewhat to the nervousness. There is a certain sense pressure put on me by their expectations. Even if that pressure is self-created and a bit unreasonable, it's there and it's real.

I am, and will be for the next 12 days to prepare myself for this trip. Prayers welcomed!

-Mascot saved by grace.