Way back in 2016, Casen and his family moved to Nixa from Colorado Springs. Shortly after moving Casen's sister, Kinley, started working out at The Basketball Movement, where I played basketball and spent all of my time. This is where our lives first crossed paths! I still remember meeting him for the first time at the gym! Let's just say my first impression of him was that he was shorter than me haha.

Kinley and I worked out together often, and Casen's mom mentored and coached me throughout middle/high school. She even ended up being my assistant college basketball coach at Evangel. I spent a lot of time around Casen's family, so before dating was even in the picture, I knew I was deeply loved and important to his family.

During high school, Casen and I were never single at the same time. However, we both vividly remember the jokes our parents always told us about getting married one day. Then at the end of our senior year of high school, God aligned our paths perfectly!

We had a lot of fun together the summer after we graduated. However, we knew in the back of our minds that Casen was was going away to college at the beginning of August. The whole summer I told myself that I did not want to go to college with a boyfriend, but I did in fact go to college with a boyfriend. In the early hours of the morning on August 4th, 2022, we made it official! Just in time for Casen to leave later on that day to move into college...almost 4 hours away.

And so it began, the long, yet sweet, months of dating while living in different states. There were MANY road trips to Searcy, Arkansas to visit Casen at Harding and Casen made MANY road trips back home to see me. Freshman year came and went. We both said goodbye to a sport we loved and I transferred to MSU. I don't remember much about Sophomore year other than the fact I was ALWAYS talking about wanting to get married.

Long distance was hard and very challenging at times. Our relationship is one of the greatest testaments to God's faithfulness in our lives. He saw a way when we could only focus on our current circumstances. We are forever grateful that our Savior was so kind to let the distance strengthen us rather than tear us apart.

This past summer, Casen proposed!! After months of anticipation he popped the question and I could not have been more surprised! He planned the most epic day with all of our friends and our favorite things. He loves me so well and I can not wait to spend the rest of my life with him!


So now we are here! Counting down the days of getting to do life together and not having to do long distance anymore. July 28th we will celebrate one year of being engaged and August 4 will mark three years together! Our wedding day is one that we have looked forward to for a long time and are so excited to celebrate with you soon!


XOXO,
Lyla and Casen