A story like ours is hard to put into words. Not because there isn't anything to describe it, no, quite the opposite, actually. It's the feeling of trying to capture the universe into one image, or pulling the ocean into a single cup. There isn't enough air in our lungs to convey the love we have, and yet, we'd die trying, for it is a love that withstands, a story worth telling. We met years before our hearts understood what it meant to be together. We were simply classmates, sitting in chemistry class, our future together unbeknownst to either of us. Somewhere within the uncertainty, our paths aligned, a moment to realize we were searching for something that was always there - waiting to be unearthed. And from that soil, we cultivated a life together. Every milestone, we accomplished all on our own, but we eventually learned to celebrate each one with each other. We graduated college and our careers launched in our respective fields, ushering in a new era for us. Before we knew it, we grew up, and the world was a lot bigger. Its problems became ours too. It would’ve been easier to let the world dictate the lives we were allowed to live, but what fun would that have been? In the face of what should’ve been, we paved a new path forward, leaning on each other in all the ways that mattered. We travelled the world, only to realize we held it in each other’s hands, and no matter where we went, we knew an adventure was waiting to be had. Along for the ride, was always Mr. Whale, who taught us that with soft heart, home could be anywhere as long as it’s with each other. It didn’t take long, however, for us to build a home base for ourselves. We moved in and learned our habits, our values, all while creating a culture of our own. And shortly after, we made a family. Dutch, the heathen that he is, was a welcome addition. We’ve learned a lot from him too, growing a hunger to be loved and to belong (even if for him, that’s just being fed). And just like that, the epicenter of our story continues to evolve, as we take each day with stride. And it all began that fateful night, in a cramped Toyota Yaris in a Southern Highlands parking lot. Not all stories begin in a grandiose fashion, but the best ones make the most out of the subtleties. All the best, Johana and Brandon