Connect How did your love story begin?

We met 20 years ago in ROTC, both prior enlisted (Nick: Marines, Maggie: Navy), both freshly divorced, each with a 3 year old. We’d all but given up on true love and marriage when we had our first date. Six duty stations, three more kids, including twins, and a full military retirement later, we're still best friends and still madly in love. 2nd chances are real!

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

In 2013 we trained together for the Marine Corps Marathon, raising money for veterans' mental health. Months of early mornings and sore legs, pushing (and pulling) each other through the hard parts, brought us closer than we'd been before. Crossing that finish line for a cause that meant so much to both of us is still one of our proudest moments as a couple. We spent the rest of the day at the Smithsonian Zoo, and we still talk about the river otters we saw that day on sore legs.

What would you do with $20,000?

Nick deployed to Afghanistan 10 days after our wedding and we never went on a honeymoon, so the dream is a magical and relaxing (wheelchair accessible) Mediterranean cruise to Barcelona, just the two of us. Whatever's left would go toward upgrading Maggie's wheelchair, leveling up our podcasting equipment, and donating to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis charities fighting to improve the lives of families like ours.