Thanks to two people who are no longer friends or acquaintances of Anna & Andrew, they were able to meet one another in York, PA, at the beginning of November 2016. Andrew was in town with the promise of a party, and Anna spent the night at the local bar, Murph’s, with her roommates. Later that night, in Anna’s apartment, with about 15 other people, Andrew ate Anna’s homemade pierogi, and Anna fell in love with Andrew’s dog through photos and stories. They exchanged Snapchats and continued getting to know each other.

Right before Thanksgiving, Andrew & Anna saw each other again for a date night, and this solidified their relationship continuing to grow. The relationship became “official” when Anna met Andrew’s family in the middle of December 2016. A few months later, Andrew met Anna’s family when they went on their first trip (of many) together to the Finger Lakes.

In December of 2017, Anna graduated from York College of PA and decided to continue living in York, PA. She accepted a job with a company that she had been interning at during her last semester of school. Andrew and Anna continued to commute between York, PA, and Kingsville, MD, to continue their ever-growing relationship.

After almost 3 years together, Andrew and Anna decided to take the next step and move in together. They found an apartment in York City with Sazha in the summer of 2019, right next to Central Market York. It was a perfect spot for them- they were able to take Sazha on nice long walks, go to Central Market for fresh meats and vegetables for dinner, and eat at all their favorite restaurants in the city. It also made their apartment extremely convenient for nights out with friends.

At the end of 2020, Andrew, Anna, and Sazha moved out of York City and up to Factoryville, PA, to live with Anna’s mom. They helped her organize Swep’s Garage, the family business, and sell items that had been hoarded for years (thank you, Grandpa Swep) on eBay. They even helped facilitate a weekend Yard Sale. While living in Factoryville, Andrew began to hone his construction skills and saw this as a future career path.

In November 2022, they found a new addition to their little family- Poppy, the orange tabby cat. Sazha loved her from the moment she smelled her. Poppy’s love came after a few weeks of warming up to the big dog.

Andrew’s career path led to him being offered a job in Baltimore, MD, with the Housing Authority of Baltimore City Construction Company that would begin in August 2023. So, Anna and Andrew packed up and moved, with Sazha and Poppy, to Kingsville, MD, to start their next chapter. Andrew working a blue-collar union job, and Anna working in a private school’s college counseling office.

Andrew and Anna experienced heartbreak together in January 2024 when they unexpectedly had to put Sazha to rest. She had been with Andrew since 2015 as a Christmas present from his mom, but Sazha had been theirs since the moment she met Anna. All Anna had to do was feed her some pancakes at breakfast, and it was a done deal. They did not let the loss of their loving dog deter them from continuing their life together, but it was a difficult year for them both.

After a terrible year, they both knew 2025 would be a better year. They have stable jobs, great friends, loving families, and a cat that adores them. By April 2025, Anna and Andrew started looking at engagement rings. Anna didn’t want a new ring, she wanted something vintage & antique. In June 2025, they found a ring they both loved.

Andrew asked Anna to marry him in Long Beach Island, NJ, on August 31, 2025. They have been together for 9 years now, and when the wedding happens, it will be a perfect 10.