I was starting to find my rhythm in my new job with the City of Philadelphia—getting used to the steady stream of contractors, attorneys, and all the characters that orbit the world of construction and development. Then one day, Dante walked through the door. I had just queued up the next customer when he took a seat beside me. From the moment we started talking, the conversation flowed effortlessly. He told me about his construction company, and I shared stories about grad school and my upcoming plans to travel for my 40th birthday. We exchanged numbers and made plans to grab drinks later that week. He still teases me about how I “interviewed” him on our first date—but really, it was just one of those rare, soul-stirring conversations. We talked about everything—life, growth, the grittiness of transformation—and how we were both in the middle of becoming something new. Then... radio silence. A few months of it, mostly on my end. But thankfully, he didn’t give up on me. And then, the world shut down. COVID turned everything upside down, and in the stillness of that wild and strange time, a text from him came through—just checking in. That one message broke the silence, and from there, everything changed. Now here we are—two beautiful children later, with an entire lifetime ahead of us. We’re excited for what’s to come, for the love we’re building, and the plans God has for our family. Thank you for being a part of our journey. ---