My dancing, wavy girl

So Alyssa graduated from UNCG yesterday with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and it was amazing! While most people, including the Cordell family, and definitely Chelsea would be screaming at the top of our lungs and trying to embarass one another because we love one another, I just sat there tearing up because I thought about how proud I am of her. Then I look over to my crying mom who says, "I am so proud of her." That didn't help, but I didn't lose it. I had some comedic relief on the other side of me because Alyssa's 14 year old brother was bored to death and kept looking at me like, "Is this thing over yet?!?!" But most of all I just sat and enjoyed it. I began to realize what it meant when the waving girl on stage at her first dance recital meant to her parents, because my girl was "on stage" waving to me, and we both were so happy and giddy and nervous and scared and totally calm. I love being married to my best friend.

So I ran around at the end, because Alyssa's phone died, to get to where they were going to walk out and I wanted to get a wonderful picture and coordinate a meeting place. While I was waiting I was standing next to an older Chinese man whose daughter graduated and we swapped congratulations. BUT THEY WENT THE WRONG WAY! I don't know who told them to walk the opposite direction, but they are not on my good side. Thankfully she had my number memorized, otherwise we would be stuck at the coliseum still trying to find each other.


At this point I found out my grandmother, Mimi (who Alyssa and I went to see Wednesday at we went to the temple), had another stroke (#3), and that she wasn't responding. So my mom went to go see her with my dad and all of Mimi's (3) children. I know that is kind of a random entry, but it is what happened and I don't really know what else to say and not sound heartless. Alyssa and I knew when we saw her that she wasn't going to be with us much longer, so it was sad, but we know about God's plan of salvation so it's not really sad.


Then we went to her department graduation where everyone was getting an art degree and it was funny because only half of them were wearing their gowns. Alyssa and I joke about how its because they are art students. Doc (Alyssa's dad) realized the correlation between sculptors and bikers, they were big, and balding. And there was the stereotypical side note by the commencement speaker about gay and lesbian rights in a free world, to which no one in our entire row clapped (we were only a fifth of the row).



I am so excited for her to start teaching art and for her to be able to come home again and tell me about kids that do crazy things and the fun art lessons they are doing. Thank you Heavenly Father for my eternal best friend!

Being in Charge

.........or not! I am here at my school. Teaching. Alone. Ahhhh! My Mentor called out sick and so I am here. With out her. Alone. I LOVE IT!!! Finally being able to teach and feel like a real teacher- not a student. I can't wait to be on my own. I love my Z- he packed my lunch:)

Ok- off to teach about the Solar system!

People should smile more

Yesterday, I went sketching with my wife in the Greensboro Arboretum, this was after we can back from camping with her family, where her brother and dad were called down to participate in the Order of the Arrow. Then we went and ate dinner with my family and watched the Amazing Race. My life is good. REAL GOOD.

Hummingbirds

So, I don't know why but I am obsessed with hummingbirds, well, not really obsessed but I like the idea of them. I think they are interesting. Kind of like me, not "interesting," but I meant in another sense. The sense of they are always moving but they need to be still to get anything done, aka, stay alive. It's kind of like the gospel, you have to be moving and serving but the Lord says "be still, and know that I am God." That's what I need. I've decided to paint a hummingbird, perhaps. I've done some sketches and here's what I've got. Don't judge me, I'm not done. And my wife is the real artist :) she's gonna help me!

The Coo-Coo Nest

This was my crazy morning and why I think I needed it. You think the pharmacy is a safe place, right? You go there thinking- I'm getting my meds...maybe a chocolate bar and I'll be on my way. Unlike those old people that seem to sit in those blood pressure chairs for hours waiting for St. Peter. I got dressed and ready to leave the house at 6:45 like every other morning. Thinking the pharmacy opened at 7, I would get my insulin and head out to work. Checked online to make sure it was open at seven so I didn't drive the three blocks to be disappointed. good thing I did! They opened at 8. Of course this is on a day when I really was ready at 6:45 and not 7. Called the school and told them I would be a little late. Got to the pharmacy found out my policy had changed this year and I had to pay a butt load for my medicine. Normally this would not bother me. I mean, ya, I don't wanna spend money- but I usually don't cry about it.
Today was different.
I called my dad to ask him a few questions about the insurance to make sure I wasn't totally in the wrong here. Well I woke him up...it was 5 am his time. He was in CA. Whoops. He was nice about it though. He talked to the pharmacist...and while he was I could feel the blood leaving my face.
I had a distinct feeling.
I was gunna pass out.
My had just checked my BG and had eaten so I knew something was wrong. I was having a panic attack. I got the phone from the Pharmacist and did my best to find a chair. All I could hope for at that moment was for a chubby grandpa to pass out next to me first. No luck. But I did find a chair...hidden..in a corner. I sat down and told my dad to had to call him back in a minute. He had sounded like the Charlie Brown teacher. Then I hit the moment that we all have and probably should more often. I just let go of control. I instantly knew I wouldn't pass out. I sat there and said-Heavenly Father, I'm trapped. then nothing. then He said- Call Zach. I did and he didn't ask any questions. He listened and as I told him about it- I heard the sound of a whizzing truck.
Z was on his bike.
His white steed.
He sat with me and we talked, laughed and cried. I realized he didn't have class until 11 and it was just a workday for me. This was the perfect day for trouble. So, trouble showed up- but trouble always brings peace. I called my dad back. He was so sad for me and made me feel so special. Zach took us home to drop off his bike and then I was off to work. We had both windows down and I felt safe. We pulled up and got out to say our goodbyes. I was about to get in the drivers side- when two birds that were mating/fighting/trying to win a thumb war with each other flew into our car!!!!! These birds were not small birds. I screamed and ran over to Zach. One flew out and the other was confused by the windshield. Zach thought that it needed to be scared of the windshield, so naturally, he flung his arms towards it. The bird flew out. Leaving gifts of nature all over the dashboard. Not the feathers, twigs, leaves kind of nature either. That's just like humans- we have the whole world to discover and we find ourselves in the weirdest tightest spaces. Once I got to work my mentor asked me to sing a Beyonce song with her for a assembly. Needless to say we practiced. Twice. She's awesome.

I love my husband. He believes in me. He is the kind of husband that you really hope every woman has. He is better than any chocolate bar.

Today felt like fate. Everything. Even singing I'm a survivor, I'm not gon' give up at the top of my lungs with a 50 year old.

Crocheting Cordell

She's a machine, no joke.

Well, more of an addict, but it is healthy and productive and not at all detrimental to our relationship haha. Alyssa has started crocheting and I would have posted pictures, except she has already given them all away, for birthday presents and niceness points and just in good nature. I keep telling her that she should just sell them, but noooooo. :) Well, our life is good, "REAL Gooood" as Nacho would put it. Alyssa is student teaching now at two Elementary Schools and getting on the MUST HIRE list! And I am still doing nothing. I just figured I would take a break and update our blog in the midst of studying for my Nutritional BioChem exam tomorrow at 8 in the morning. I was up in our study/guest bedroom/closet area studying last night and kept rocking the studying today. One day I will get to teach this stuff and it will be really nice. Because I will be getting paid for doing what I want to do. Since we have been married my affinity for cheese as increased and my relationship with facebook has had a congruent but negatively related effect. So, I figured maybe I could just keep up with those that I love and care about here, and look at their pictures some other way. Oh we have some of our wedding pictures, but not really, they are online.

This is my favorite.

Man, she is pretty.

If you want to see it closer you can put your face closer to the screen....

oooooor you could push the command and + button.

Well,

LOVE YA!

SEEYA!

BYE!

It happened

So, we're married :) And she destroys me at Candy Land, thanks Keri and Devan.

Hew Neuw

I just want to get married. I never realized that this party took so much planning. Then again I never realized how awesome my life is. I know this is "newly wed talk" but Alyssa is amazing. She is my best friend and it's neat to see how the Lord allowed everything to happen in such a way that we could come to where we are today and where we plan to be in the future. It's fun to announce when someone asks what I did over the summer because I can say that I asked my best friend to marry me... and she said yes. We made dinner for my family and had family home evening last night, it was AWESOME.


We also dedicated the apartment Sunday and are going to put the dedicatory prayer in our Mezzuzah. My mom asked if we were of the house of Israel now or something..... yuuuUUP!
Alyssa got it for my birthday :) It says, "Benevolent God - Thou hast chosen me to watch over the health of thy creations"

I love it



Also, I made a sign for our home that is all parts from an Architectural Salvage store here in Greensboro. It consists of a door knob, 3 apartment numbers, 4 door lock sliders, and 2 cabinet handles. So what if it's reversed, you get the idea.


Have a GREAT DAY!

Who'da Thunk?

My mom was telling me about the day I was born and how she was plotting with Becky Hiatt about how I went to Cone and we booted them out to the lowly Wesley Long hospital. Yeah, that's right, bossing people around before I was even out of the womb. Now I just wanted to post this picture and smile.






I mean, honestly, who would have thought that I would one day be the co-owner of that plate? I mean, granted she is super cute, and those fudge muffins were scrumptious. Op! She's calling. She's dropping the beat, I gotta pick up the phone.

The Tour de France

Okay, to MY defense, I don't like Celine Dion(although she is very talented), I like Alyssa and SHE likes Celine Dion and I like the smile that she has when I play songs she likes. And that peach ice cream was REALLY good. Gotta love "YumYum's" even though their hotdogs are weird and just pink, I mean, what's up with that?







AnywayS, yeah I know there's not suppose d to be an "S," I was watching the good ole' Tour de France and Alyssa was acting interested. I appreciated that she was asking questions, even though she didn't really care about it (and I knew it, but I let her be cute) :)

Maybe I'm not suppose to tell this, but it's a teaser,

we've GOT PICTURES,

ya know, of the engagement sort....?

You will see them soon enough.

Oh. By the way, I went to volunteer at the hospital and work with a clinical dietitian and thought of different ways that I would approach similar problems. I decided that one person doing it different might be better but I am still stuck on the professor approach, be better and teach someone how to be better.

P.S. She is the cutest waitress you could ever ask for.

Alright, I guess I do like Celine Dion

"The Power of Love"

I buy my boy peach ice cream- he puts on celine dion and vacuums. Today is about slow kisses and clean floor boards.




Now on to funny things:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNp13PEOghA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aalzI43GuFw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBSJ9j0V5jQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk9vAD7OS84

My Asian Explaining Friend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2ALsvU50wQ

Now I don't know that I would be as happy about it, not that I'm not happy, because I am happy, very happy. But if you've been in our shoes, the prior to marriage, pre-wedding shoes, I think you know what I mean.

Alyssa and I have BOTH decided, that if we were not in love we would not go through the annoyingness, yeah I said it, annoyingness of planning a wedding and reception.

Good thing she likes me :)

So food, art, and religion have been connected since the earliest human times - at least in France. Cuisine and culture civitello

Comfort before Glamour

And our eternity is already flying by...but Lets edit that previous post by saying... the chapel could have fit 20 ppl- believe me not him!!!

Here I stand a future Mormon blog wife. Me, a year ago, would be shaking my head in disgust. Shame, shame on my hip-hop life style. But mark my words, If I ever, I said EVER bring jello to an event of any kind- buy me some stilettos and take me out! :)
The one thing I wouldn't ever shake my head at, however, is the amazing man that chose me to be his wife. I thought I was happy! But I have reached a whole new level of lucky. This man has made me realize what I need to fix in my life, what I enjoy, where I am going, and who my Savior really is. I didn't think that what I really wanted would ever really happen- every girl thinks she'll have to settle. But boy, I didn't.

On to the juicy stuff....We're making our own rings! A few weeks ago we went downtown to look at the old estate rings and a few jewelers. We got all dressed up and walked around acting like grown ups. Zach had his planner that he takes everywhere- so we were lookin' legit. (We were going to look another day- but Zach was wearing cut off jeans so....I said no.) We soon stumbled upon a hole in the wall place that had a -We sell gold- sign flashing...ehh...I was excited so we went in. It was just what we wanted! The guy had been making custom rings for 35 years and he knew just what we wanted. I wanted the ring experience to be just that- something that we would remember and a true work of art on my finger. Once he found out I was an art major he gave us tools and wax to take home to practice designing. So we have been sketching for weeks and think we know what we want. But until then people will be asking - is that it?- to my band and I will make them feel bad by saying- yes. :)..enough with the glamour...on to the comfort.

We bought our couches yesterday after he called me at 2am to tell me we should get them..and I don't remember saying yes...but he waited til I was conscious to make sure it was still ok.They're beautiful leather and we are sitting on them right now! They're in a corner of the basement- but they still need our butt lovin'! mmmmm butt lovin'.
So we're engaged and everything. Now, what??? Now we get the take pictures in fancy clothes and shoot electronic guns at expensive stuff, think of colors we like that go with flowers we like to show people that we like what we like, and strangers are happy for us. But the best part is that when all of that fancy stuff is done I get my Zach for forever.

-AD{L(soon to be C)}

The beginning

And so it wAs. HAgAn Stone PArk chAnging destinies

And Altering eternities.

I called my cousin and asked to borrow her BMW convertible. She allowed on the pretense that I would be proposing to my, then, girlfriend.

I go to pick up this fine And friendly lady where we proceed to be cute and drive looking fAncy And listening to good ole' MichAel Buble. All the while cArrying on a conversAtion of which I wAs only hAlf AwAre of, seeing As I wAs in the know of whAt wAs going to be hAppening soon.

Following the 20 minute convertible ride with

a beAutiful giggling girl we drove Around HAgAn Stone park. We sAw this little cute chApel that could only fit 10 people inside and ended my purposed wAndering At the perfect locAtion. Sitting on A bench At the waters edge we spoke for A few minutes. I finAlly sAid, and I quote, "CAn I Ask you A rAndom question?" to which she responded with A, "yeAh." I then inquired As to her feeling towards my Ability to write poetry.

She responded, "I think you're good." To plAy it cool I prodded with down plAy and humble bAnter consisting of questions whether she thought I was good becAuse I was her boyfriend, or if I wAs Actually good. I then informed her that I hAd written her Another poem, but it was in the cAr. She Asked me to get it but to throw her off of my intended trAil of Action I stAyed suAve And told her I would get it for her lAter. She insisted I give it to her so I rAn to the cAr to get it.

--- SidebAr!----- I hAd written this poem About A little green box hol

ding A rounded object. It went on to tAlk About how this simple little shApe could chAnge everything. Both the poem and the box are in the picture titled Figure 1.1.-------

Figure 1.1

And As I wAlked back down to the lAkeside bench my heArt neArly killed me beAting so fAst And I sought for An excuse As to why I would be so sweAty And nervous (not thAt thAt is Anything new or out of the ordinAry for me). I sAt down and gAve the poem to her.

I wish I could show you the reaction she gAve As she reAd. It spAnned the gAmut of, "this is cute," to "wAit is this....?", ending with "oh... oh, this is it."

Then I knelt And Asked Alyssa DreAnne LAfferty to mArry me. She said yes And so begAn our eternity. :)

-ZJC