Michaela and I first met in the winter of 2022, at the top of Ski Santa Fe on a very windy day. We crashed into each other—literally—and instead of just yelling at her, I offered to give her some “expert tips.” With my classic Cantellops charm, I slyly asked if we could continue the “snowboarding lesson,” and without fail, got her number. The day I knew I wanted her to be my girlfriend was at our first Halloween party together. Instead of the usual costumes most girls wear, I looked over and saw Michaela dressed as a Vet Tech, head to toe in full scrubs, and I just knew I wanted to be with her. As we talked more, I quickly discovered she’s an amazing Registered Vet Tech who loves animals just as much as I do. I might have stretched the truth a little by not immediately mentioning I was in the military—not because I was hiding anything, just to avoid biased thoughts. After a week, I came clean, and thankfully, she didn’t mind. That was the start of our relationship, and we’ve been together ever since. After a handful of dates and endless laughter, we decided to move in together. Our first home? My tiny Air Force dorm—cozy doesn’t even begin to cover it. Michaela, bless her heart, kept me in line with finances (I’ve always been terrible with money) and helped me focus at work instead of chatting too much. Life in that tiny space wasn’t glamorous, but it was full of love, fun, and growth. With her encouragement, I pursued my goal of becoming a Combat Arms Instructor, while Michaela now is pursuing her dream of becoming a Registered Nurse—power couple in the making. My plan was always to serve 20 years in the Air Force and retire in Costa Rica. Finding someone willing to leave the U.S. for that adventure? Not easy. But after I took Michaela to Costa Rica for the first time—her first trip outside the United States—she fell in love instantly and said she would happily leave New Mexico to follow me wherever my career took us. I wasn’t just blessed to have Michaela in my life… I also gained her amazing Aussie Cattle Dog, Dakoda, who I sometimes love even more than her (just kidding… maybe). As our little family grew, we added Ranger, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, who officially became my dog—though Michaela might argue he’s hers too. Eventually, we moved into a house on base once I ranked high enough, and we had a blast decorating for holidays, hosting friends and family, and building a home full of laughter, love, and a little bit of chaos (mostly caused by our two furballs). From snowboarding adventures and cozy nights in, to exploring new hobbies and chasing our dreams, our bond has only grown stronger. Now, with orders to South Dakota, we can’t wait to start this next chapter together, knowing that wherever life takes us, we’ll tackle it side by side—with love, laughter, and maybe a snowboarding crash or two along the way.