Tara: Well - My sister, Simone invited me to a Superbowl party. She said, “I’m not feeling very sociable today…so you have to be the sociable one. So, I was. I talked to everyone at the party, including Cody. He was winning all the quarterly squares betting contests and I wanted to know how he managed that. He thought I was flirting. I was not flirting - just being sociable!

Cody: I noticed that Tara was smart, kind, and, I know you will agree, a little different than most people in Lake Park. BTW-She was flirting!

I was intrigued. Tara needed a car transported from her Colorado house to Lake Park and I needed to drive to Illinois to pick up Jakob. It made sense for me to fly out and drive the car via Illinois to Lake Park.

That's when the real story began. I flew out to Colorado to pick up her car. We spent an evening together having great conversations and being honest and vulnerable.

Tara: We met at a time of transition in each of our lives and we were able to support each other through the challenges that transitions bring.

Cody: After I returned from Colorado, Tara came back to town, briefly. We spent time in the evenings just sitting and talking. Friends being friends. Supporting each other through some of life's tough spots: healing together. We talked a lot. Then, Tara left town.

Tara: It was great to spend time with Cody. His sense of humor and his joy and enthusiasm for life uplifted me. We enjoyed the differences in perspective and had lively conversations. BTW: Around this time Chuck and Cody had begun some work on the house, and I enjoyed seeing Cody every day.

Cody: When Tara left town for a while, I realized I missed her. It was a strange feeling for me and I was anticipating her return. When she returned, things were different, I knew I wanted to grow our connection.

Tara: Even though I had multiple things pulling me in all different directions, I was so distracted (I still am) by Cody and his presence in my life, so much so that despite all of the reasons to close the door on a deeper relationship, I decided instead to be open to possibilities.

Cody: We had spent hours, together sharing and strengthening each other, I was smitten. On the night of the lake party with family and friends, when I reached down to help Tara get out of the water onto the dock, she held my hand a bit longer than necessary, and I knew there was more to pursue.

Tara: When Cody reached for my hand and helped me up, our hands held longer than they should and my hand was on fire. From that day forward, we knew we would be together.

Cody: I gave all my anxieties to God, the day we decided to say yes to US.

We have spent most of the last two years on a grand adventure. We have been forging our new family by prioritizing our children (Elliott - 22 and Jakob - 4), focusing on our family, and gathering and nurturing a supportive community.

Tara: Since we met, we have enjoyed some amazing travel adventures- Cabo, Garden of the Gods, etc.

We spent some time in Colorado visiting Elliott and prepping a condo there for rental and eventually, for sale.

We spent time with Aunt Jourdan and Uncle Bill while Cody (and Tara and Jakob) assisted as needed prepping for their wedding and enjoying the festivities.

Cody proposed to me in early November of 2023. I said yes! We were married in Blue Ridge, Georgia in August.

In March 2024, we bought a lovely cabin-style home in Blue Ridge. We have been working together to enhance our home. We have found a church community we enjoy. We have been adopted into The Real Mountain Manna Jamma’s Family here. We’ve been here creating community and exploring our new hometown.

We hope that our love story resonates with you and that you will join us at our celebration of love while enjoying and experiencing the unique aspects of Blue Ridge.

C&T

Celebration of Love