Building CaCa's Place: A Legacy of Love

Honoring Erica: Building CaCa’s Place for Her Boys

Thank you all for the incredible outpouring of love and support as we honor Erica’s memory with the dream of building a shop for her boys. We want to share a little backstory about why this project means so much.

Before moving into their forever home, Erica and Cody spent countless afternoons on the back porch of their old house, always open to friends and neighbors who would stop by just to chat. You could see them sitting there from the road, always welcoming, always ready with a listening ear. Their home became more than just a house—it was a refuge. The running joke was that their back porch was going to be named “Heartbreak Hotel” because if you were going through a hard time—grieving a loss, facing heartbreak, or just struggling with life—you’d somehow end up there. Swinging on the porch, sharing a meal, or talking about Jesus. That’s just who they were—two people with a rare kind of warmth, a magnetism that made everyone feel like they belonged. And now, through CaCa’s Place, we hope to carry on that legacy. We pray that one day, passersby will again be able to glance over and see Cody and the boys in their shop—laughing, working, and just being together. And just like before, we hope friends and neighbors will feel that same unspoken invitation to stop by, pull up a chair, and know they’re always welcome.

Cullen and Rowen are true country boys. As much as they love sports, they love anything that goes fast. And when you have toys that go fast, you have to learn how to work on them. What better person to teach them than their father? This shop will be more than just a building; it will be a place where Cody and the boys can create lifelong memories, working side by side, growing their bond, and carrying on the values Erica held dear. It will also bring the peace of knowing exactly where his boys are in the late afternoons—just outside, turning wrenches, learning, and growing. Our greatest hope is that, like their mother, Cullen and Rowen will radiate love and compassion so deeply that their friends will feel an almost immovable force drawing them to this space. That they will gather here, not just to work on what goes fast, but to learn about life, love, and Jesus—with every turn of a wrench and every moment spent together.

To bring this dream to life, we are starting a GoFundMe for CaCa’s Place. Every dollar raised will go directly toward the construction and building supplies for this special space. We are also incredibly grateful for the many love offerings that have already been made. Please know that those funds are going directly to Cody, allowing him to use them as he sees best—whether for hospital bills, everyday living expenses, or the boys’ education.

If you prefer to give a love offering, several churches are accepting donations, or you can send support through his sister, Dusty, via Venmo.

Above all, Erica’s faith was unshakable. We know that no amount of money can replace what has been lost, and more than anything, we ask for continued prayers for Cody and the boys—for peace, strength, and understanding during this unimaginable time. Your prayers mean more than anything and are the greatest gift you can give.

Thank you for helping us honor Erica’s legacy by building CaCa’s Place, a space that will continue to bring people together—just as she always did.