Our story began the modern way—on Hinge in late 2024. What started as a simple match quickly turned into something much more, and we began dating shortly thereafter.

By the time the holidays arrived, our relationship was already something special. Just before Christmas, we met each other’s families and spent Christmas Eve and Christmas together—attending Mass side by side and beginning what would become a meaningful shared tradition. We even won the family beer pong tournament on Christmas Eve!

As the new year began, I stepped into Michael’s world, helping plan his full pilot party. This was a milestone he had looked forward to his entire maritime career and I was so proud to be standing by his side. Not long after, a stretch of unexpected snow days gave us the gift of uninterrupted time, spending each day together and building a foundation that felt natural, steady, and full of joy. Many puzzles were completed and many home cooked meals were enjoyed.

I introduced Michael to some of my favorite traditions and places here in Louisiana. A Texan boy stepping foot in this Cajun world of ours.I brought him to his first Mardi Gras in 2025 and his first ever experience at Flora-Bama—both moments that quickly became unforgettable highlights. I proved to Michael early on that life together will never be boring

One of the things I loved most early on was bringing Maggie into my world and showing her what life as a ship pilot really looks like. I got to take her on a ship, walk her through how everything operates, and let her see firsthand what I do every day—she even got to sit in the captain’s chair, which I’m pretty sure was her favorite part (and possibly when she thought she could do my job better). It meant a lot to share something that’s such a big part of my life and to be able to watch her knowledge of my job grow.

We also quickly learned that we share the same love for traveling, which has taken us all over—including a trip to Scottsdale for her birthday, trips to Florida, the Bahamas, and plenty of weekends in Houston. Of course, one of the more “educational” trips was to the world-famous Flora-Bama for the Mullet Toss, where Maggie introduced me to what getting “bushwhacked” really means… let’s just say I learned that one the hard way. Life with Maggie has been equal parts adventure, fun, and a little bit of chaos- in the best way possible.

From there, life together found its rhythm. Our weekends are often spent at tennis or now pickleball tournaments, weekend trips to Houston, or enjoying dinners with friends and family. At home, our shared love for great food, good wine, and a well-crafted cocktail naturally turned into a love of hosting—bringing family and friends together around our table and creating a space filled with warmth, laughter, and connection- as long as our desserts were up to snuff for Carrie Kuehn.

October 3, 2025 was the day we got engaged here in Lake Charles- beginning the next chapter of our story.

What started with a swipe has grown into a life we are building side by side, centered on faith, family, friendship, and a deep love for being together.