Guess whose version of the story this is….

Stherline fell in love with me in March 2023—and if she tells you otherwise, she owes you a shot.

There was this short, beautifully melanated, head-bobbing, bright-eyed woman walking through the staff hall. I just happened to be walking down that same hall, and I conveniently decided I needed to follow her into the operations office to introduce myself. Little did she know, she gave me the classic “up-down” right then and there. The light was green. She wanted me.

We actually didn’t speak again for a month. She chose to abandon this clear path to romance for a work trip to the dusty streets of Fort Bliss, Texas, thinking she might find love out there (spoiler alert: she didn’t).

Fast forward to May 3rd. We were supposed to be at the shooting range, but the weather canceled it, so we grabbed lunch. That’s where I hooked her. I baited her with a challenge.

Me: “Are you doing the Norwegian foot march this Friday? There’s no female officers doing it, and you’re about to take command.” Sther: “I was thinking about it, the Battery invited me.” Me: “What’s your number? I’ll send you the details.”

Number secured. The deal was sealed, and she knew exactly what was up.

I texted her the night before the grueling 18.6-mile march to make sure this young, beautiful Captain was packed and prepared—it was just the right thing to do. The next day, after I finished my own miles, I texted to make sure she was crushing it and finishing strong. She was well within qualification, officially passing my test to earn our first date. My big move? I asked her if she wanted to go get pedicures the very next day.

She said yes. Her mistake, really. The first date was set, and the heart was locked in.

By June 9th, the day after an official ball, Stherline became my girlfriend. Two months later, she bought a house, and we moved in together. We didn’t even discuss it. When it’s right, it’s right.

Since those early days, we’ve packed a lifetime of fun and chaos into a short window. We’ve commanded in the same battalion, survived a grueling month-long desert training rotation side-by-side, combined our households, and adopted our wild girl, Maizie. We’ve sacrificed time apart through cross-country moves and my overseas deployment. And now, we move together into the next chapter of our lives: navigating careers, building toward a future family, and throwing the ultimate celebration to do this thing right.

'Hey y’all, it’s Sther… about 80% of that story is true. Some of these details were all made up in my future husband’s creative mind! If you listen to the actual story- I’ll take a shot with you!! (Y’all know I’m not a drinker……insert crying emoji)