We're getting married!

Forrest & Olivia almost crossed paths in Kindergarten, but Forrest was in Mrs. Beason’s AM class and Olivia was in the PM class. They officially met in middle school. Forrest sat behind Olivia in Mrs. Streeter’s math class most likely paying way less attention than Olivia. They were both kids who took the bus and had to sit on the bleachers before going to homeroom. Forrest caught Olivia’s eye with his cool Etnies skate shoes, and he seemed to like cool music and always had his headphones on. During a middle school dance, Olivia was wearing her black Incubus tee shirt and Forrest took a chance and asked her to dance during the song “All My Life” by K-Ci & Jojo. After that, they dated for a short time - it was June 2003 and they were two 14-year-olds just trying to figure it out. After Olivia broke up with Forrest over Instant Messenger for another boy, she was then also dumped and then just like that, high school started! In high school, Forrest and Olivia saw each other in the halls, shared some classes together, and even had similar groups of friends. Senior year would set them off on a journey they never would have anticipated. Olivia’s 18th birthday was in September, and she was throwing a little party at the local train station. One of Forrest’s close friends mentioned to her that Forrest had been asking about her lately. Olivia was intrigued and gave Forrest an invitation to her birthday party, and he offered to be the DJ. Well, he DJ’d right into her heart. He had the cutest curls, great taste in music, and he was much taller and more confident than she remembered. After her birthday party, they went for a drive in Forrest’s Honda Accord to the local playground and it seemed like that would not be the end of their story. They started chatting on Instant Messenger frequently and went on long car rides, just talking and listening to music. One day after dropping Olivia off at her house, she got out of the car in the parking lot and was walking up her sidewalk. Forrest came jogging up behind her, looked at her with those big blue eyes, and said he would like to take her on a date. Olivia was impressed and also worried because high school has drama and this made her hesitate and become ever more flustered. She said yes, but you better believe she talked to her closest girls, Corkie & Alisa, to make sure it was the right decision. To this day, those same girls have always encouraged her to follow her heart and stop putting others' needs before her own. They were right, and Forrest and Olivia had their first date at Ooka in Doylestown eating Hibachi with 6 other strangers. She definitely thought he was fancy! Little did she know, Forrest's family is no stranger to hibachi and sushi, and she would be very fortunate to relive this experience over and over again. On October 9, 2006, they shared their first kiss at a playground at the top of a slide and decided to officially become boyfriend & girlfriend on October 15, 2006. Their senior year flew by, and Olivia and Forrest went to all the school dances together including Prom in which they rode in Forrest's beloved '86 Supra. The summer after high school graduation, there were lots of hangouts with friends, cruises in the Supra, pizza at Dominick's, water ice at Rosemarie's, and late nights at P&F. With college life ahead, Forrest and Olivia decided not to take things too seriously, but by the end of summer, they were seriously in love.

In August of 2007, Olivia and Forrest headed off to different colleges. Olivia to DeSales University in Center Valley, PA, and Forrest to Penn State University in State College, PA. Never did 3 hours seem so far away! Olivia commuted her first year but then became an RA and lived on campus for the rest of her 3 years at DeSales. Forrest spent 2 years at Main Campus and then moved to the Harrisburg, PA satellite campus. Over the course of 4 years, Forrest drove back and forth many times, and Olivia took the bus out to PSU to visit, too! Living separate lives during the week proved to be challenging but rewarding. Communication has always been key - Skype calls, mid-day phone chats, and cute texts. There was always something to talk about with so much changing in their lives. Forrest helped Olivia move in and out of her dorm every year no questions asked, tag teamed with Corkie to teach Olivia how to drive so she could student-teach, and bought her an iPod Nano so she could listen to songs that reminded her of him. Olivia used every Spring Break and long weekend to go visit Forrest, received silly winks from her residents every time her cute boyfriend visited, and bravely drove out to Harrisburg in a torrential downpour to accompany Forrest to an interview in Erie, PA. Olivia graduated from DeSales on May 21, 2011, and at her graduation party, Forrest let her know that he landed the paid internship from that interview he had in Erie, PA on May 4, 2011. That was not the only exciting news, because on that day, Forrest also asked Olivia to move out to Erie with him.

On June 4, 2011, two weeks after Olivia's college graduation, Forrest recruited his uncle to drive them out to Erie, PA. After a hasty search on Craigslist, they moved into their first apartment together. Like any good first apartment, the dwelling was questionable and the neighborhood was unsafe, but it was new, exciting, and fun - and only $375 a month for rent! The first year away from friends & family was challenging, for sure. After finally settling into their jobs, figuring out each other's quirks, and refining their communication styles, a year flew by. Breaking down their budget, moving into a new place, and fully jumping into all that Erie and the surrounding cities had to offer, Erie will forever be a fond memory and a huge milestone in their relationship. The 6-hour drive across PA was a lot, and Olivia and Forrest were lucky enough to find local friends who loved a good happy hour & live music as well as the Heise family who adopted them and lovingly opened their hearts and home on holidays away from "home." The 7 years they spent in Erie allowed Olivia and Forrest to grow together and independently as well. They were able to find their groove, face physical and mental challenges, excel in their careers, and make the most out of their 20s! Those years also provided amazing insight into the amazing friends and family who supported them, visited them, and always made time for them after a long drive across the state. Breaking out of her comfort zone, Olivia learned a lot about herself, her strength, and her love for Forrest. Never one to shy away from a new adventure, Forrest enjoyed exploring and traveling, buying lots of different cars, and fiercely excelling as an engineer. Both vowed to be a team, make decisions as a team, and always support and love each other like a team. Team Erie was never meant to be forever and they both agreed on not planting roots 6 hours away from friends and family. Like the snow squalls that were ever in abundance near the lake, Erie shaped a very important moment in time for Olivia and Forrest. By 2018, Olivia was approaching her 30th birthday and growing tired of both the long weekend drives and renting spaces that would never truly be theirs. The job hunt was in full swing, and the lake effect winds would soon blow Olivia and Forrest back east where they knew they belonged.

February 4, 2018 - one of the most important days in history. Super Bowl LII - the day the Philadelphia Eagles beat the New England Patriots and became Super Bowl Champions! Philly, Philly! E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES! Okay, you get it. Olivia and Forrest were in Kempton, PA for that game not only to watch the big game with family but also because Forrest had a full-day interview in Colmar, PA the following day. On February 5, 2018, Forrest absolutely nailed his interview at Dorman Products. It had always been a dream of his to work at a corporate headquarters AND in the automotive industry. On March 5, 2018, after meticulously packing and labeling all their belongings, Olivia and Forrest said goodbye to Erie, PA. It was definitely bittersweet, but they were ready for their next adventure together. Forrest thought it would be fun if Olivia not only surprised her closest friends with the move but also kept their arrival a secret. On March 8, 2018, she got to say "We're Home!" and celebrate with her best friends who still remain her closest friends today after 18 years. The rest of 2018 and 2019 would be a whirlwind of trying to buy their first home in a wildfire of a housing market. 2020 brought the pandemic, and luckily, both Forrest and Olivia had 2 streams of income which allowed them to save all their pennies! On January 12, 2021, they bought their first home together, and signing that deed has been one of the best decisions they have ever made together. Roots were finally planted in Lansdale, PA in a perfect little home, in a perfect little neighborhood - with plenty of room for all of their vehicles and colorful decor! After living in a state of homeowner's bliss for 1.5 years, Olivia and Forrest started seriously discussing marriage (heck, they already signed the deed to the house!). As promised, and like all other major milestones in their lives, they would make this decision as a team. On October 15, 2022, their 16 year anniversary, they went to the local Saturday farmers' market, ate brunch downtown, and found a beautiful autumnal backdrop to take pictures on a beautiful not-too-sunny, not-too-warm crisp fall day. Forrest kept it short and sweet and asked Olivia to marry him, and of course, she said yes! With no hesitation to wait much longer, they toured a few venues and set their wedding date by the end of 2022 for November 12, 2023, at Hotel du Village in New Hope, PA. With so many things checked off the list - all that's left to do is make it official and throw a huge party with everyone who has supported them on this amazing ride! ♥