We've known each other for a long time but the timing was never quite right... until a retirement celebration brought us together again! We bonded over beer pong and Brooks was lucky enough that Sarah was interested in a first date in November 2018. We quickly knew things were just perfect... and promptly moved in together in June 2019 to a house in King of Prussia PA. When you know, you know! The first true test of our relationship happened when our jobs went fully remote in March 2020 as the Covid pandemic hit the US. Living and working together 24/7 made us realize that we were and still are continuing to fall very much in love with each other. It was clear that we were meant to be. Thanks for quitting the workforce Aunt Chris!

Our vacation in 2022 was a road trip thru New Hampshire and Vermont in early September, that turned out to be quite the memorable time! We were staying in North Conway, near the White Mountain National Forest in northern NH, on the fourth day of our trip. It had been raining for a couple days, so we had to make the most of our time and headed out on the Kancamagus Highway to check out the park. Even in the cold, wet drizzle, everything was beautiful. The road winds thru the mountains and has multiple pull-offs for scenic vistas, small hikes to waterfalls, and spots for rock hopping near the rapids of the Swift River. Little did Sarah know, Brooks had a bit of a surprise for this day, and was waiting for just the right moment for them to be alone. However, despite the rain, the park was still busy as it was a holiday weekend. As we drove further and further along, the opportunities became fewer and fewer to find that perfect place. Towards the end of the highway, Brooks decided "this is it" and we pulled off to check out a promising spot by the Pemigewasset River. As we parked and were about to get out of the car, we noticed a black blur come into sight, moving across the small trail down to the water. We could hardly believe our eyes: it was a black bear cub about 15 feet away from us! As it looked up and saw us, and quickly ran away, it was promptly decided that we should keep driving... The very next pull-off, which happened to be the last on the byway, had to be it. No other cars or visible bears were here, so things were promising. As we got out, Brooks sneakily put something in his pocket. We hiked a short distance down the river and began to take in the beautiful views. As Sarah looked out across the water, Brooks got down on one knee. We're still not sure what exactly what was said, but it was clear that whatever that was: the answer was YES!