Sometimes life brings two people together in ways you could never plan. Justin was born and raised in northeastern Wisconsin, and the Marines brought him to Southern California, where he chose to stay after serving for four years. I was born and raised here, and somehow our paths crossed exactly when they were meant to. We met on Bumble, and after talking for a few weeks, we planned our first date at the Anaheim Packing House. In true fashion, I was running late… and Justin was over an hour early, but he chose to wait for me. I’m so glad he did. What was supposed to be a casual night turned into hours of conversation over grilled cheese. We stayed until they closed, not wanting the night to end. But what made that night unforgettable was Justin. He showed up with Harry Potter books and packs of pencils for my classroom, something I had only mentioned in passing. As a teacher, I’m always looking for ways to support my students, and that small gesture meant everything to me. It showed me the kind of person he is, and it was the way straight to my heart. In that moment, I realized this was something different. It wasn’t just a sweet gesture. It was the beginning of something really special. Four years later, with two dogs and a bearded dragon, we’re continuing to build a life we love and know that home is wherever we’re together with our girls.