In June 2020, Brian had decided after using Christian Mingle off and on for thirteen years with little success that he was going to give it one last try. His subscription was about to end and he sent messages to multiple women on the site providing his cell number and telling them that he wasn't going to renew his subscription but that if they were interested, they could shoot him a text. Months went by. Crickets.

Until one day in October when Brian was in his office at the church that he was pastoring at the time. He received a text message from some random number saying hello. Confused, Brian inquired who was texting him. The random texter told Brian that it was Shalomi from Christian Mingle and that she got his message. From there, they exchanged a few texts before Brian suggested he give Shalomi a call that weekend. Brian called that weekend and they set up a date to meet.

The initial plan was to meet at an Italian restaurant in Rockville, MD. But out of concern for the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, they agreed to instead have their first date be a Zoom call. The "Zoom Date" went well and they talked for over an hour. But Brian really wanted to meet Shalomi in person. So they made plans for their second date to meet in person at a park in Rockville. On October 24, 2020, they met at the park. They sat on a bench together and talked. Brian then invited Shalomi to join him for a meal at a restaurant across the street. At the end of their date, Brian initiated a kiss. From that day, the romance and love between Shalomi and Brian only grew from there.

They continued seeing each other. Brian asked Shalomi to be his girlfriend on December 2, 2020. In the months that followed, Brian and Shalomi would take turns visiting each other in Frederick and in Calvert County. Despite the geographical distance between them, their love for each other continued to bring them closer together.

Shalomi's beauty and her deep faith in Jesus Christ is certainly what initially attracted Brian to Shalomi. But what made Brian fall deeply in love with Shalomi was a combination of her warm personality, kindness, humility, gentle spirit, and her awesome sense of humor.

(MORE TO COME...STAY TUNED!)