Our Story
Then Until Now
Riccardo Ciofani
Marianne Lins
Where things were
The story of Riccardo and Marianne and how their paths crossed is a curious one that must be attributed either to the most improbable and unlikely series of coincidences or by a sequence of carefully arranged intersessions by the Almighty. In 2019, Riccardo had arranged for the sale of his house in Crossfield and had nearly committed to leaving a comfortable engineering career in Alberta to start over with a new education in agronomy. At the same time, Marianne had just moved from California to Arizona to complete the last year of her MBA and settle into demanding responsibilities at a new job.
Ready to go?
Riccardo and Marianne crossed paths in the midst of these circumstances through the urging of friends and family. This was a meeting that nearly didn’t happen as all aspects of life seemed to conspire against such a diversion from the busyness and focus on transitioning to new and future circumstances.
Ultimately, everything hinged on Marianne travelling to Calgary in Canada to meet people she had never seen before whom were known to her only through a mutual friend. In a sense, it was a leap of faith spurned on by hope; having searched for a suitable man and lifelong companion that would earnestly match her prayer list, she had been left without comfort up to that point. On Riccardo’s side, his hope of finding a genuine and loving woman to build a life with had long been little more than a dull consideration buried away.
Rocky encounter
Despite the odds, Marianne arrived in Calgary on May 28, 2019 with a return flight scheduled for June 3, 2019. During this week, Riccardo and Marianne met several times, had several conversations that ranged from superficial (i.e. what is your favorite color) to deep and personal (i.e. what does the narrow path mean to you), and had several long stretches of awkward and uncomfortable silence on a drive out by Lake Louise for a family picnic. At the conclusion of the time, with Marianne checked-in and ready to head off through security at the airport, Riccardo was still processing the events that had just transpired over the last few days and had no surety of where the circumstances lay at that moment in time. Nevertheless, he knew there was something there, something worth having, something worth pursuing, and awkwardly concluded their moments together with a hug.
Marianne was in a similar state of consideration, and there were many uncertainties in her mind at this point as well.
Forming of a foundation
An external observer witnessing the events of Riccardo and Marianne’s meeting and time together might have thought that there was little between these two souls to bind them together, and that the awkward, timid time they had with one another was an indication of two persons that were far too different to have a meaningful chance of success.
Yet just as a tiny seed planted in soil appears to have no life, no potential, and no future, yet slowly over time it springs to life and grows and develops in its infinite complexity into a beautiful tree grounded in strong roots, so too was the foundation of Riccardo and Marianne’s relationship planted.
Growth and love
From that moment, Riccardo and Marianne’s connection grew and grew over seemingly endless long-distance conversations on Whatsapp and Telegram and video calls almost daily. Then there was Riccardo’s visit to Arizona to meet with Marianne and chaperoned by his brother Stefano, to Marianne’s visits to Saskatoon to meet Riccardo’s family, to failed plans for a trip to Marianne’s hometown of Goiania in Brazil in February 2020. It wasn’t the time to travel in February, but the window of opportunity was opened and Riccardo completed a successful trip down in July of 2020 where he met much of Marianne’s wonderful family. Then, with the Canadian border closed, it was a waiting game of months for the next time they could meet, with no certainty when it would be. And yet, just as provision had been made at the proper times before, so too did it come this time as the opening up of an exemption for Marianne’s travel back to Canada in Dec 2020. From then, it has been a busy time with new experiences, work, and exploration.
Here we are
The seed that was planted has only grown more beautiful, lush, and well-grounded over time, just as it was designed to be. Despite barriers, uncertainties, and foiled plans in a global lock-down, and despite coming from completely different (though complementary) backgrounds and experiences, despite all that threatened to interfere, by the grace of the Almighty did everything fall into place at the appointed time every step of the way. For Riccardo and Marianne, it is a humbling story that speaks to hand of YAH as he places blessings into our lives, gives us the things that we need when we need them, and opens the doors for us when the right moment is at hand.
There is much more that could be spoken of such matters, but the extent of this summary is too lengthy already, and it is better to hear these stories spoken in person.
Gallery
From Saskatoon to Calgary to Lake Louise to Chandler to Goiania to Piracanjuba to Caldas Novas to Pirenopolis and many more. Friends, family . . . the adventures have only started.
