Through Laurie’s Lens:
We met in April 2019. Both having gone through a divorce and both looking for a new adventure. We had no idea the adventure that was ahead of us. Through the last 5+ years, we have had ups and downs like any other relationship. What we’ve learned is the importance of working hard on ‘getting it right’ every single day. Here’s our story: Right after our divorces we both got on dating apps to see what it would be like to “date again”. It had been 30 years for both of us! We found each other on ‘Bumble’. The funny story is that Joe connected with one of my single friends first. I will never forget, after talking on the phone every night for hours, when he said; “I have to tell you something”…. (Insert fear and dread of what he was going to reveal!) I was afraid he would be “too good to be true”. Turns out he connected via the app with a dear friend of mine. Their online relationship never developed into anything more. I was relieved that he really was the real deal! He saw my picture however, on her Instagram profile. Joe tells the story that he saw me and was intrigued to meet me. When we connected on Bumble, Joe had already seen me on my friends profile and he felt like this was a Godsend. Consequently, Joe was very much “all in” when we met. I was more hesitant and feeling quite scared after my divorce. He is a passionate man who loves big. I saw great potential in a future but wasn’t used to being loved so passionately. I remember feeling like I wanted to give him a sign that I can do this, but wasn’t ready quite yet. I found the picture above; “Stay Awhile” What I can share is that this was the turning point in our relationship. I learned to listen to my heart and Joe trusted that I was able to give him my heart, it just may take some time. Since then we have been inseparable. We’ve traveled the world, made new friends, supported each other during difficult times and still feel like we’re on our first date. We’ve met and fallen in love with each others kids and grandkids. We have the same values, religious and political views and approach to life. But, what’s the recipe? Our recipe is simple,
we are committed to “us”. Everything we do, everything we say - we think “is this right for “us”, does this protect “us”. We are both highly passionate people and we’ve directed all that passion to growing, nurturing and protecting the “us”. We’re not perfect but we are madly in love and completely committed to making “us” work! Thank you for being part of our new adventure!

Through Joe’s Lens:
In 2018, almost 5 years ago, I moved to Michigan from Illinois looking for a fresh start after being married for 28 years and going through a divorce.
I came here and transferred locations with the same company that I was working for but I really didn’t know what led me to venture out of Illinois.
Everything and everyone I knew were back there. I had never even lived on my own before. While I wouldn’t say I was putting myself in an uncomfortable situation, I was definitely in a vulnerable place. I rented an apartment in Royal Oak and began my journey. I started to soul search, exercise, go out to eat alone, cook and clean for myself, whatever I wanted. This was awkward for me since the last 28 years of my life, my primary focus was being a good father to my children.

Why I came to Michigan became very clear to me after I met Laurie on a dating app called bumble. It wasn’t the fact that I met Laurie on a dating app, since that’s how the majority of relationships start today. It was how, when, where, and the fact that we even met that was so serendipitous. It was the fact that our lives and our place in life had basically paralleled each others for the last 30 years and timing is everything! There is a saying that “you are always exactly in the place where God wants you to be” I believe God had a plan for both of us to find love and happiness in our futures and he brought us together. Before we actually met, we talked every night for hours upon end about everything and anything. We had so much in common. I remember how I would look forward to talking with her and the nervous excitement I was feeling leading up to meeting her in person for the first time. Would I still have that feeling when we finally met?
After a couple of weeks, I went to Laurie‘s home to pick her up for our first date. She opened the door and invited me in and I was literally speechless! She took my breath away! After we said hi, I couldn’t get any words to come out of my mouth, and Laurie asked if I was OK and if I needed a shot? Lol. I think I said “yes please”!
Our date went great and it’s still hasn’t ended. We joke that I have never left since that first night.
5 years later we are the love of each other’s lives, partners, best friends, each other’s biggest fan and supporter!
We are so blessed! Eight amazing children, two grandchildren, our health, happiness and “Us”. “I love us!” Being that I’m Italian, we agreed to get married in Italy. I can’t wait for our closest friends and family to share some time together to celebrate not just ‘our’ love, but our love for all our friends and families and all of life’s blessings!