A mum who tied the knot with her childhood sweetheart after they reconnected at their 'dreaded' high school reunion believes it was all part of 'God's plan'.
Heidi Armbruster met Parker Armbruster in 1984 at a swim club party when they were 13 and the smitten pair started dating. But after six months Parker called it quits - leaving disappointed classmates writing wishful yearbook messages that read 'hope you and Heidi get back together again'.
But the pair grew up, got married to new partners and had children of their own with no further contact before unexpectedly bumping into each other 34 years later. After reuniting at Quincy Senior High School's 30th reunion in 2018, the substitute teacher and her old beau, both 53, began to rekindle their flame.
Describing Parker as her 'first love', Heidi's kids began nicknaming him her boyfriend when he started dropping by the house to help with chores like mowing the lawn and running errands. The mum-of-three and the supply chain manager, who were both divorced when they met, felt an 'instant connection' and got married three months ago [May 2023] in a small affair with family and close friends.
Heidi and Parker at their wedding earlier this year after rekindling their relationship (Kennedy News/K.Elise Photography)
Daughter Avery shared the couple's sweet love story in a video (Kennedy News and Media) Heidi's 23-year-old daughter, Avery Schlipman, posted a video online sharing their love story with the caption: "Been meaning to make this video for a while now!!! Parker & my mom's love story." Heidi, from Quincy, Illinois, US, said: "We met at a swim club here in Quincy. It had these team parties, they called them 'splash bashes'.
"We weren't together very long, maybe about six months, but it was long for a 13-year-old. He was my first love, so there was always some special feeling. When we broke up I was devastated, I carried a torch for him for a long time.
"We live in the same town so we saw each other over the years but we were both married. Of course, we had both moved on [from our high school relationship]. It wasn't like I was in love with him over the years when I got married.
"We reconnected at our 30th high school reunion in 2018, there was just an instant connection. I wasn't looking and I didn't even want to go to the reunion. I'm more of a stay-at-home type, I don't really go out.
"It started as a friendship, we started talking and eventually started dating again. I don't know if I believe in fate, but I do believe God has a plan for us."
Heidi and Parker at their wedding with their children (Kennedy News/K.Elise Photography)
Heidi, who's also a township assessor, almost didn't go to her high school reunion but after being convinced by friends decided to go 'almost as a joke'. After reconnecting with Parker, he came back to her house for a drink and met Heidi's daughter Avery.
Avery, who is a nursing agency worker, said: "My mom really did not want to go to her high school reunion. I remember she went to it because her friends wanted her to, almost as a joke.
"My mom and Parker ended up talking that night and they kind of rekindled their relationship at little bit. Parker came over for an hour that night for a drink. I said hi to him, I had no idea who he was.
"I didn't see him for a little while but then he started coming around more consistently and never left. He started looking out for my mom and overtime I was like 'mom this is your boyfriend, you know?'
"He'd mow her grass for her and run any errand that she needed. He'd take care of stuff round the house for her, stuff she didn't have time for. It gradually developed over the months. It was really sweet. I knew there was someone out there that would fill the missing piece in our family.
"After my parents got divorced, I just knew there was someone that was meant to be there and that wasn't the end of my mom's story. My mom really deserves all the love that he gives to her, I just wanted her to have that too. She's living her best life, I've never seen her happier."
Heidi described their first date as 'magical' after they went to a Christmas street show together. Five years after they reconnected, they tied the knot in a small ceremony with close friends and family that she described as ' joyful'.
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Heidi and Parker at their wedding earlier this year (Kennedy News/K.Elise Photography)
Heidi's yearbook photo from 1984, aged 14 (Kennedy News and Media) Heidi said: "One of the first things we did together was around December [2018]. We went to St Charles in Missouri where they have this Christmas tradition and all these Victorian characters out on the street and it's kind of magical.
"He took me to Chick-Fil-A after, that was the first time he took me out to eat. We then moved in together. All my kids are out of the house, so it's just the two of us.
"We cook together, travel together. We have a lot of freedom. We like being spontaneous together. We just got married in May. It was just joyful. We'll just keep growing together. Keep travelling. Maybe have some grandkids one day."
After finally finding 'peace' in each other, Heidi advises other women to put themselves out there and take a chance, as love often happens when you least expect it. Heidi said: "Getting back together was kind of surreal. We just felt comfortable with each other right away.
"We just get along very well, we respect each other. Our number one thing we wanted coming out of our previous marriages was peace. We found that in each other.
"Avery said to me one day I'd meet the man I'd marry and he'd make our family complete. I think she knew. I think it comes when you least expect it, so I'd say to other women put yourself out there and just take a chance."
Avery's video went viral racking up more than 8.4 million views, 2 million likes, and 7,000 comments.
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