In a neighborhood where the community feels like family and every sunset paints the sky with magic, Dawn and Derek have discovered that home isn't just a place—it's finding your person in the place your heart has always belonged.

As a little girl living nearby, Dawn would wake Saturday mornings to tournament announcements echoing across the Forest Ridge golf course. Even as a teenager, she'd drive through the winding streets, her heart whispering, "Someday I'll live here." That someday became reality in 2004 when she built her home in The Highlands, creating a safe haven where her four children could experience pure childhood joy—riding bikes through trails, fishing in peaceful ponds, and growing up with the best of friends.

That magical Saturday in 2023 began with Dawn repairing her broken "Faith" necklace, a treasured piece that had sat unused for eight years. Something stirred in her heart to wear it that day. Meanwhile, Derek felt inexplicably drawn to Forest Ridge, abandoning his golf plans to sit at the Ranch House bar next to a friendly stranger named Hugh.

When Dawn and her dear friend Jen arrived to meet Hugh for dinner, the introduction was simple but life-changing. What followed was pure enchantment—running through sudden rain, sharing stories over dinner, and talking for hours in Dawn's driveway. They knew they’d found something extraordinary.

The timing was beautifully orchestrated. After thirty devoted years of motherhood, Dawn's youngest had just left for college, leaving her wondering what wonderful adventure awaited next. Derek's gentle question that night—"What are you going to do now?"—would soon have the most beautiful answer.

Within a year, Derek proposed to Dawn where they first met, the Ranch House. They are now lovingly restoring a charming pink stucco house on the 18th tee box with breathtaking sunset views. They're preparing their dream home for a September 23, 2025 wedding—exactly two years after a chance encounter changed everything.

Their union weaves together two beautiful families. Dawn's four grown children—Tyler (32) with wife Jerica, Jordyn (25), Kaiya (23) with husband Spencer Neal, and youngest, Koby (21)—and  Derek's daughters Josie (30) and Vora (28), their husbands Tyler Lloyd and Justice Quinn, plus three precious grandchildren: Vada (6), Venice (4), and baby Violet (1).

While Dawn excels as a Project Manager at DXC Technology and Derek thrives in medical sales, their hearts find fulfillment in life's simple treasures. They attend Church on the Move, where Dawn has called home for 25 years, and passionately cheer on OKC Thunder and Oklahoma State. As they blend their lives, they're weaving together cherished traditions and creating new memories together, as a couple.

Their hearts for community shine through Dawn's volunteer work with the HOA Event Committee, organizing Easter egg hunts, the Fourth of July parade, and the Light up the Ridge celebrations. Derek supports every endeavor, embracing the Forest Ridge family that has become his own.

Whether they're exploring new restaurants, planning adventures to Europe and Japan, or simply walking the trails they treasure, Dawn and Derek have found that the greatest journey is the one they're taking together—building a beautiful life in the place where dreams come true and love stories begin with a simple act of faith.

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