Caleb and Mackenzie met when Mackenzie was in fifth grade and Caleb was in 6th grade (2013). Mackenzie started to attend the Catlin Church of Christ's youth group. She shortly became close to the Lashuay family because her house was on the way to the church. Mackenzie often hitched a ride with the Lashuay's to youth group for the convenience of it but also for the close bond she had created with Lisa Lashuay. Lisa mentored Mackenzie and was her small group leader until she graduated to the high school group. However, the Lashuay boys did not appreciate stopping at Mackenzie's house to give her a ride to youth group because little Mackenzie loved to talk! The Lashuay boy's, Caleb included found Mackenzie to be very annoying. Then God blessed the Lashuay family with two amazing daughters from Ethiopia. After the girls joined the Lashuay family, Mackenzie spent a lot more time over at the Lashuay's house. Mackenzie loved hanging out with the girls because they were able to create many fun moments together. Especially hanging out with Chester the rabbit. Being around the girls a lot more, inevitably meant that Caleb and Mackenzie were "spending time" together.

Fast forward to high school where Caleb and Mackenzie attended rival high schools but still attended youth group on Wednesday nights. One night in January, Caleb added Mackenzie on Snapchat, along with some other people on his people you may know button. Caleb, not expecting a response was slightly confused as to why Mackenzie responded and kept responding very quickly. Shortly, after being slightly annoyed, Caleb gained the courage to ask Mackenzie why she was snapping him back so many times and so quickly. Mackenzie being the outgoing, bold, girl she is, told Caleb she liked him and thought he was very cute. Caleb continued snapping Mackenzie and eventually started liking Mackenzie back. The more Mackenzie and Caleb talked the more they grew fonder of one another. After talking for a month and going on a date, Caleb asked Mackenzie to be his girlfriend, February 15, 2020. After a month of dating, the Covid-19 pandemic went into full effect. Not knowing what the pandemic was for a bit, Mackenzie and Caleb's relationship relied heavily on Snapchat and Facetime. After a few months of isolation and learning more about the pandemic, Caleb and Mackenzie would meet up at the track and go on social distance walks, play catch with a frisbee, and Caleb would catch Mackenzie's pitching. Then came August, time for Caleb to go away to college. The three and a half hour drive apart, meant that Caleb and Mackenzie's relationship would rely heavily on Snapchat and Facetime again. Since Covid was still a very relevant thing, the college gave their school break right before Thanksgiving through the new year. The time spent together was so nice but made it harder for Caleb to go back to school. Right around the corner was their one-year. For their one-year, Caleb surprised Mackenzie by coming home and spending the weekend in Illinois. Time passed by and it was time for Caleb to come home from college. This meant that the long distance for Caleb and Mackenzie's relationship had officially ended as Mackenzie would attend Cedarville as well, starting in August. The next year together, took some getting use to as Caleb and Mackenzie switched from seeing each other maybe 5 times the whole year to seeing each other every day. Once adjusted, their relationship has been so wonderful. On April 2, 2023, Caleb took Mackenzie on a hike through Clifton Gorge and asked her to be his wife! Mackenzie had been dreaming of this moment for a long time, that is for sure!

To this day, we have grown and matured in so many ways since we first started dating. We both loved the simple aspect of our relationship when we first started dating, but we are so fortunate and lucky for the future that God has in store for us together. The past four years we have been together have been amazing. Finding our lifelong partners at such a young age has allowed us to form a bond and connection that is so deep and so real. Our love for each other grows every day as we cannot wait to say 'I do' and spend the rest of our lives together.