Our Story

Gianna + Brian

We met as young expats living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - two people from different places who somehow found each other on the other side of the world. What began as friendship quickly became companionship, and in the middle of all the noise and newness of Saigon, we built a little life together.

When the world shut down in 2020, so did our jobs. Our plans had to shift - but, only shortly after meeting, we decided to take them on together. After a lot of late-night balcony talks and bowls of street noodles, we made the decision to return to the United States and start over. The transition home was harder than we expected. Rebuilding careers, financial uncertainty, and living with family taught us more about patience and partnership than any easy season ever could. Pushing through, we managed to purchase our first home - leading us toward the next step in our journey together.

Slowly, things began to take shape. One of us launched a business online. The other earned a place as a Masters student at Columbia University, and we moved to New York to chase big academic and professional goals. That season tested us as well. Long hours forced us to learn how to grow individually without growing apart. But it also rewarded us: we learned how to keep choosing each other on both the hard days and the good ones, while finding comfort in planning for the future we wanted together.  When Gianna graduated, we adopted our German Shorthaired Pointer (Pepper), got engaged in Central Park, and plotted our next great adventure...

In a much better place and knowing we wanted to start a family soon, we took a leap few people get to experience - an RV journey across the United States. On a eighteen month trip to the west and back again, we saw mountains, deserts, oceans, and the inside of a few repair shops - but even the detours became part of our gratitude. During this time, we also married in Italy surrounded by the people who love us. At the end of our journey, we returned to build a quieter life close to family in our home in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

Today, our life is slower, steadier, and full in a different way. Brian is still streadily growing his online business, while exploring other business opportunities along the way. Gianna is now a BCBA and manages an ABA clinic, working from home two days weekly. We still travel, still dream, still laugh at the same inside jokes- now all surrounded by those we love most. Most importantly, we are ready - ready to expand our love, our home, and our story by becoming parents through adoption.