Marissa & Cody

Our families really value quality time. We rotate Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings every year between Marissa’s side of the family and Cody’s side of the family. Marissa: I grew up in Louisiana and have lived in Texas for most of my life. My mom, stepdad, and dad are a big part of our lives. We maintain a close relationship with regular phone calls, several visits throughout the year, and planned holiday gatherings. My mom and stepdad have been married for over twenty-five years, and although my parents separated when I was very young, they all have maintained a friendly and respectful relationship, even including each other in family gatherings. I am the middle child. My older sister and younger sister are both married with two daughters, ranging in age from one to eighteen. My family members are spread out across several different states, which can make it difficult for everyone to get together during major holidays. As a result, several years ago, my mom and stepdad started a family tradition of Christmas in July; We all meet either at their house or at an agreed-upon location every summer. We love sharing yummy homemade meals, playing games, and just hanging out together.

Our families really value quality time. We rotate Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings every year between Marissa’s side of the family and Cody’s side of the family. Cody: I grew up in Texas with my mom and sister, just a 10-minute drive from our grandparents. We loved playing outside with neighborhood friends, including all kinds of sports on our street’s cul-de-sac. Although I grew up in a family of engineers, my grandparents loved listening to music and signed me up for piano lessons at a young age. I went to their house almost every day through high school, and we were very close. My grandparents have since passed away, but my mom and sister still live close by. We see each other frequently, including for birthdays and holidays. My mom loves hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings, and we always look forward to our holiday traditions, including fun games and family recipes. Family will always be a priority to us.

We truly value making our house into a home by creating a loving, encouraging environment filled with laughter and focused on quality family time. Sharing a meal together every evening and enjoying fun family games are really meaningful to us. Our 2-story home has 4 bedrooms upstairs, including Cody’s home office. Downstairs is an open floor plan filled with natural light and includes a cozy living room, welcoming dining room with a large round table (perfect for our family games), and a kitchen that is often in use for preparing our yummy meals and snacks. Our home is filled with lots of family photos, books, games, and furniture passed down from family. We love our spacious backyard for grilling, watching the birds and squirrels at the birdfeeders, and tossing the baseball or football. We live in a safe, quiet neighborhood with a diverse community in a good school district. Our neighborhood park is just a quick walk away and consists of a playground, walking path, and large grassy area. We also enjoy visiting other local parks, including our favorite place to feed ducks and geese. Our church is within a 20-minute drive and offers fun family events and a wonderful children’s program. Since we both work from home, our flexible schedules will allow us to be very present in our child’s life - for school events, activities, and everyday moments.

Bear came into our life rather spontaneously after being rescued by a friend. We have shared a life with our Little Bear for over 8 years now, and it is hard to imagine a life without her. Funny story about Bear’s name: As a young boy, Cody loved his teddy bears, and, since then, he has wanted a bear as a pet. As a kitten, her face looked like a bear cub; So we decided to call her Bear since that was the closest Cody would get to having a bear as a pet. Bear has such a fun personality, is very social, and loves spending time with us. She interacts well with our nieces and friends’ children, and we are confident she will embrace her role as a big sister. Her favorite things are napping in boxes, bringing her squirrel toy to us, and watching her squirrel and bird friends through the windows.

• Age: 33 • Education: Degrees in Health Sciences • Occupation: Homemaker • Favorite Places: Home with Cody and Bear and in nature • Favorite Movies: Inspirational sports • Favorite Music: Christian and big-band jazz • Something Silly: She loves eating slowly to savor her favorite foods and eating Asian food with chopsticks • Fun Fact: Marissa did gymnastics growing up, and she can still do cartwheels! • Hobbies: Cooking/baking, making gifts for family/friends, biking, spending time outdoors, playing games, reading before bed Marissa is the most thoughtful person I’ve met; she is a light to everyone around her with her frequent acts of kindness, encouragement, and contagious smile. Her words are not only uplifting but also sincere; she truly cares about the well-being of others. She is a natural at helping others feel welcome and comfortable, especially when family and friends visit our home. Marissa shows her love in many ways, such as cooking and sharing homemade meals, crafting handmade gifts, and actively listening with genuine curiosity. Marissa’s thoughtfulness is evident even in the small details, such as sending me encouraging text messages when I’m working or remembering special occasions (birthdays, anniversaries) with handwritten notes. Marissa is a fantastic cook! She puts her heart into every dish, whether it’s a mid-afternoon snack or a family dinner. We eat dinner together as a family, and she turns each meal into something special. She considers our meal plans far in advance to ensure we always have delicious meal options. She loves routines but is also very creative! Marissa will be an incredible mother because of her nurturing instinct and genuine care for others. She also has a strong sense of resilience and is able to adapt to challenging situations with grace. Her ability to maintain a positive outlook is a testament to her inner strength and steadfast love. Marissa prioritizes taking care of our family and our home. She ensures that our home is tidy and organized while also filled with warmth and comfort - with calm colors, family pictures, and encouraging scriptures throughout the house.

• Age: 35 • Education: Degrees in Music + Finance • Occupation: Educator, Business Owner • Favorite Places: Home and the mountains • Favorite Movies: Military + documentaries • Favorite Animal: Bear • Favorite Music: Gospel + jazz • Something Silly: Enjoys popsicles after meals • Fun Fact: He visits and names all the outdoor cats on his neighborhood walks • Hobbies: Watching educational videos, listening to podcasts/audiobooks, playing games (basketball, baseball, cards, video games), neighborhood walks, biking, music, fishing during family trips There are so many wonderful things to write about Cody; It is difficult to fit them all on one page! Cody is really friendly and truly has a gift with words; He can have a conversation with anyone. He is very dependable and thrives on a structured routine, but he also has a really silly side and a great sense of humor. Cody is so respectful, thoughtful, and kind; He often thinks of others first before himself. He is my biggest cheerleader; His love, support, compassion, and honesty are appreciated more than he will ever know. Cody’s passion for learning and sharing what he has learned to help others is truly admirable, which is a huge part of his job. As a financial educator, he shares his knowledge and experience to help the families he serves and also others within the financial community. It is so clear to see the passion he has for his work by the way his whole face lights up upon describing the positive impact his work has on others. His generosity also carries over into his work with giving his time, knowledge, and educational scholarships. Cody also loves the flexibility that comes with running his business from home; He truly values scheduling work around family, rather than scheduling family around work. Before changing to a career as an educator and starting his own business, Cody was a professional musician for many years working mainly as a music director for a church. His background in music began at the age of 6 and continues today through volunteer opportunities at our church. Cody is already excited about playing piano for and with our growing family one day. The foundation of every part of Cody’s life is rooted in his relationship with God. Cody is a truly amazing man, friend, and husband. He gives his ALL in whatever he does (in his relationships, tasks, work, and, eventually, as a father). It is easy to see that he will be an incredible dad, especially after seeing him interact with our cat and children in our family, of friends, and at church. He truly values family, and he is really looking forward to growing our family.