We were both fortunate to be born and raised in Northwest Montana. Outdoor recreation was a cornerstone of our upbringing, as it is for many Montanans. We met through mutual friends in 2008 and shortly recognized a common love for nature and adventure. After recognizing that they truly had a lot in common, their friendship grew into greater feelings and they knew that their love was meant to be. Cliché as it may be, Wade always says that he knew from the minute he saw Andrea that she was his love.
Andrea’s family has always emphasized quality family time. Surrounded by mountains, lakes and rivers her family could be found skiing in the winter then riding horses, whitewater rafting or camping in the summer. Growing up with a family owned and operated health food store cultivated her passion for nutrition and holistic wellbeing. After receiving a business degree she went on to pursue her degree in nutrition and dietetics from Bastyr University in Washington State. Following this, she became a Registered Dietitian and is currently working within the rural setting in Central Montana.
Being the oldest of seven, Wade has always been a role model for his younger siblings. Aside from helping his mother take care of his siblings, he himself could be found in the mountains behind his house out to find some adventures. After high school, Wade enrolled in the Army and was stationed in South Korea as a medic. Once back in the states, he decided to go to nursing school and is currently working as a Flight Nurse in Central Montana.
Wade's previous marriage gifted him with two wonderful children who are not going to be considered kids for long. Elijah is 19 and Evalina is 15 years old. Andrea has known them since Elijah was 5 and Evalina was 3 years old, so she has been a huge part of their upbringing. They have developed strong relationships over the years. Both Elijah and Evalina are thrilled to have another sister or brother despite a significant difference in age. The way they look at it is that family is family regardless of age. What they are looking forward to is sharing their life experiences and making sure that their younger sibling has support throughout their life.