Coming off the wakes of Covid 2020, Phil and Danielle were headed for a year that changed everything. After a year of a self-proclaimed strict no dating policy, Phil hopped on the dating app Hinge. Danielle, who had had no success on the dating apps yet, also decided she would give Hinge "one last chance" before swearing off the apps again. We matched on the app and started talking. In both of our profiles we listed music as a major part of our lives and started chatting about that topic. Danielle asked Phil for some song suggestions and he gave a Teskey Brothers song for her to listen to, amongst others. After a few nerve-racking days of waiting to hear back from Danielle, Phil received a message that stated she had loved the songs Phil suggested and asked him out on a date. We met at Publico in Southie Boston and the date lasted 8 hours! For the second date, Phil invited Danielle over on his 30th birthday (without her knowing it was his birthday). When she found out, she brought a cupcake and candle to their 3rd date.

Phil took Danielle to meet his Friend Parents, Aaron "Big Cat" Murray and his wife Caitlin. They went out to a bar, where Danielle came out of left field with impressive axe throwing skills, beating everyone. Then they won a game of Fowling (Combining bowling and football) in an epic fashion due to an amazing throw by Phil for the win, Danielle jumping into Phil's arms in celebration. When they sat down for dinner that night, everyone had forgotten napkins, without anyone asking she just jumped up and got the napkins. It was at that moment when Phil knew she was a keeper.

Not three months later Danielle took a leap of faith when she decided to meet Phil for a hike in New Hampshire. Phil was in the middle of cross country car-camping road trip with his dog Atlas from Maine to visit family in Indiana. During the casual 8.5 hour hike including scrambles, Danielle nearly watched Atlas and Phil slip 4400 feet off a mountain. They had gotten off trail and could not locate trail markers. Atlas chose the path for us when he jumped down a rock face pulling Phil down from behind and they both started to slide off the cliff. Phil grabbed Atlas, put him under his arm and used his leg to slow the fall finding a crack in the rock face to grab hold of. Hearts were racing until we reached the bottom, never being so happy to see flat ground. From then on, we knew life would always be exciting and that we could get though anything together.

We have continued our adventures and have only gotten stronger through every major life event. We like to say we're Sur-Thrivin' through life because we're always aiming to Thrive but somedays we are just Surviving. It helps us laugh through times that don’t always go to plan.

We've frolicked all over the world and country including Portugal, Ireland, St. Maarten, Utah, San Diego, Colorado, New England (mostly for other friends and families weddings). We moved into our first home in Roslindale (gutting and renovating it together, with a lot of help from Danielle’s Dad Mark). We've had many cooking/dance parties and created countless memories along the way. We’re looking forward to all the adventures ahead as husband and wife!