Christina & Carter

Carter and Christina met in 2021 during their Air Force technical training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. Carter befriended David Janousek, who happened to be Christina's closest friend at the school. Aware of Christina as one of the "teal ropes," Carter soon discovered her friendship with Janousek. Christina's first memorable interaction with Carter occurred while she and Janousek were walking back from class. Carter approached them excitedly discussing an Amazon gift card he had just received from his aunt. Christina jokingly expressed interest in the gift card, although Carter didn't give it to her. This playful moment marked the beginning of their friendship. Later that evening, while playing cards together, Janousek snapped a photo of Carter holding the Amazon gift card and sent it to Christina. Beneath the photo, Janousek humorously wrote, "White said he'll give you this Amazon gift card if you be his wife." Though the grammar was questionable, little did Christina know that this text would foreshadow their future together. Initially unsure about Carter, who exuded confidence from the start, Christina found herself drawn to his magnetic personality. Their friendship quickly blossomed into something deeper, but soon after, Carter was stationed in Alaska for his first duty assignment, while Christina, then a reservist, was set to return home to Ohio. Before parting ways, Christina made a promise to visit Carter in Alaska. Although they had known each other for only a few weeks, Christina kept her word and visited Carter two months later. Thus began their journey into a long-distance relationship, which would define the next three years of their lives.

They say distance makes the heart grow fonder. For Christina, distance wasn't just a test but a revelation. It quickly revealed whether someone was truly "the one." It demanded daily commitment, creativity, and nurturing to sustain and grow the relationship. It involves days spent missing each other, navigating life apart, and yearning for every second together. For Christina and Carter, counting down the days until reunions became a ritual and each moment together was cherished. Christina and Carter embarked on their relationship from 3,500+ miles apart after her first visit to Alaska. Their days were filled with countless texts, FaceTime calls, and virtual dates—a special shout-out to FaceTime for anchoring their connection in those first three years. Carter's signature countdown "3, 2, 1, Go" marked the start of movie nights over the phone, while synchronized cooking sessions with matching ingredients added to a list of remote dates. Navigating a 4-hour time difference was just one hurdle; when Carter was sent to Guam for a month and a half, it ballooned to a 15-hour gap. Yet, they persisted. Christina juggled Air Force Officer Training School, where daily communications were capped at 20-30 minutes, but they always found a way. They planned their next visits meticulously, carved out space in their routines for each other, and made every moment together count—whether in Ohio or Alaska. Every reunion, from the exhilarating leap into each other's arms to the inevitable tearful goodbyes, deepened their bond. Each trip strengthened their love as they met each other's families, shared holidays both together and apart, and affirmed their choice to be together, every single day. Their love knew no distance.

Carter chose the summit of Flat Top Mountain in Anchorage, Alaska, as the perfect setting to propose to Christina. After two previous attempts to conquer the mountain together had fallen short, they finally reached the peak on their third try. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Alaska's wilderness, Carter asked Christina to marry him, marking a pivotal moment in their journey. For Christina and Carter, reaching the summit symbolized overcoming the hurdles of long-distance and military life as a couple. In April of 2024, they finally got to say goodbye to long distance and are now stationed together in Virginia. They eagerly anticipate the next chapter of their lives and look forward to celebrating their love with family and friends on June 29th, 2025!