Jesse Bearden and Samantha DeLuna found each other through a mutual friend after moving to Seattle; Samantha in the summer of 2011 and Jesse in early 2012. They quickly bonded over the shared adventure of exploring their new city, and since then, they’ve built a life together filled with travel, culinary adventures, and a love for their local community. 

Jesse and Samantha’s family wouldn’t be complete without their two beloved dogs, Penelope Pickles and Judy Jalapeño. Penny, an Alaskan Klee Kai (also known as a “miniature husky”), was their first pup, joining their family early in their relationship. Penny has always had an independent streak, carrying a more cat-like personality; fiercely independent, a little judgmental, and generally unimpressed by anything that isn’t food-related. During the pandemic, they decided to expand their pack and adopted Judy from an organization that rescued her from South Korea. Little did they know, Judy would come with an extra set of needs. Judy now sees a neurologist, a behaviorist, and an ophthalmologist. While they’re both a handful, they are grateful for their unique brand of companionship. 

Jesse grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, and attended Arizona State University, while Samantha hails from Missoula, Montana, and studied at the University of Montana and Seattle University. Their professional paths have led them to impactful roles with Jesse as the Senior Director of Engineering at Twitch, while Samantha serves as the Director of Donor Engagement at Seattle Children’s, connecting donors to life-changing pediatric care initiatives. 

One of their favorite ways to spend time together is experimenting in the kitchen. After recently renovating their kitchen, they’ve been working on improving their cooking skills. During the pandemic, they mastered homemade dumplings, often making large batches to freeze. Occasionally, they invite friends over to enjoy their signature breakfast dumplings, filled with scrambled eggs, bacon, green onions, and a drizzle of maple syrup which is an unexpectedly delicious combination! 

Jesse, a tech enthusiast, enjoys playing video games and is always experimenting with new gadgets. His latest obsession? A pizza oven, where he’s learning the art of Neapolitan pizza. Meanwhile, Samantha is a cellist and performs with the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, which holds performances in Shoreline.

As a family, they love road-tripping to places like Friday Harbor and Lake Chelan, enjoying the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. When it’s just the two of them, they venture to international destinations like Sicily and New Zealand, with Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta on the itinerary for this spring. 

Samantha is deeply involved in supporting the arts community in Seattle. She serves as the president of the board for Shunpike, a nonprofit that provides business services and fiscal sponsorship for artists. This cool organization works behind the scenes to amplify Seattle’s robust arts scene, ensuring local creatives have the resources to thrive. 

Living in their neighborhood for the past five years, Jesse and Samantha have discovered its hidden gems. They love the local trails and enjoy hiking through the forest paths right in their backyard. One of their favorite discoveries was realizing the magic of low tide, which reveals a beautiful sandy beach just a few times each month—something they feel silly just now figuring out! 

One of the best parts of their neighborhood? The amazing people. Jesse and Samantha have helped organize an annual block party the past few summers and encourage newcomers to say hello and get to know their awesome neighbors. 

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