We grew up 15 minutes from each other but had to travel two time zones away from home to have our paths finally cross. Prior to going to the US Air Force Academy, Sam heard a guy from Manorville would be attending USAFA as well. She never cared to find out his name and figured she would never meet him. She was proven wrong very quickly because at the start of basic training in June 2017, we both ended up in the same squadron. Then at the start of freshman year, we were assigned as neighbors. After a year of growing our friendship, TJ asked Sam on a date. She did not even realize it was a date at first due to how good of friends they were. The rest is history!

Turns out we were in the same place months before actually meeting! In January 2017, we both attended a ceremony to accept a congressional nomination to USAFA from our congressman. A picture showed we were standing right by each other and had no idea! When we left that ceremony, we were both clueless our 17 year-old selves just stood a few feet away from our future spouse!