Jess: Love story, huh? Where do I even begin? Late December 2021, reluctantly I agreed to do a guy/girl crossfit competition with a friend. I started following the host gym's Instagram account and that's where all the chaos began. Then, out of the blue, I got a follow request from that gym. Naturally, I accepted, thinking nothing of it. A few days later, I received a DM from a stranger that simply read, “So do you do CrossFit?” Spoiler alert: it was Mitch. He had been running the gym's social media, creeping on me from the gym’s account, and then slid into my DMs like a true romantic. In a moment of sheer spontaneity (or maybe madness), I jokingly agreed to go on a date with him. We finally met in real life on January 2, 2022. I also thought he was going to bail on our first date, he would disagree with me. Mitch: Fast forward, and we’ve survived me going through the sheriff's academy, Jess’ schedule in the world of Orange Lutheran athletics (fun fact – football season blows), and a grueling 18 months of night shifts at the jail. Oh, and let’s not forget that time Jess broke her foot.. Together, we’ve faced wins and losses, highs and lows, and lived life all while juggling our non-traditional schedules. We’ve traveled, tackled injuries (don't ask Jess about my back), eaten too much, and made memories. Oh, and we got Tobi. She’s pretty cool. Jess: Through all the ups and downs, there’s been a LOT of good food involved, and we’ve both grown in our faith together. Good, bad, ugly—every moment has been a part of our crazy journey. He’s not just my partner; he’s my best friend. I honestly can’t remember what life was like before he came along. But here we are—three and a half years later, a puppy, and a bunch of adventures later—and I couldn’t be happier. I never thought I’d find someone who can handle my weirdness (or who is even more weird than me) that makes me laugh every single day. I guess 29 years to find Mitch was worth it.