If you ask Kellie:

Caleb stood out even in high school as a quiet servant, diligent student, and loyal friend. His ways were different, marked by humility and care, which earned him the respect of teachers, parents, and peers alike. Though we weren’t close at the time, Caleb was someone I knew I could trust and rely on. How did I know this? Because he told me so in a letter he gave me at graduation. His last words were, “I’ll always be here if you need anything. Don’t be shy like I am.”

Somehow, I forgot about that letter and neglected to consider Caleb’s promise—his vow to always be there for me. It wasn’t until years later that I rediscovered this letter, and in rereading it, was reminded of Caleb’s gentle and caring nature. The more I dwelled on his words, the more I longed for a deeper connection with him. Yet, our interactions remained limited to occasional birthday texts and brief group hangouts during college breaks.

Then, in April 2023, we reconnected at a mutual friend’s wedding (Julia Rogg Lim) in Philly. After talking most of the night, my tenderness for him grew. But with the distance between our cities, we both returned to our busy lives with infrequent moments of connection.

Later that winter, while back in Wichita, a friend (Katie Wolgast Pflugradt) encouraged me to reach out to Caleb. Despite my doubts and concerns, she insisted I shouldn’t let the opportunity slip by. Too shy to do it myself, Katie reached out to him. In summary, he responded to Katie's matchmaking efforts with, “Kellie is great, but I’m not ready right now. I just bought a house and am busy preparing it to be move-in ready.”

Feeling crushed and rejected, convinced that Caleb’s “not now” was code for “not interested,” I went back to Kansas City after the break and moved on. I shifted my focus to connect with people elsewhere–through dating apps and set-ups–yet nothing satisfied.

Then, a couple months later, another mutual friend (Elise Alexander) put Caleb and I in a group text and convinced us to visit her in Chicago. As we planned our trip together, we began talking more regularly, and before long, we started dating. From that moment on, I knew Caleb was the one I was meant to marry.

Looking back, I realize Our Story mirrors a far greater story–the story of Christ pursuing and coming for His bride, the Church. It started with a letter written long ago–God’s Word to us–which revealed the very nature of the author...An all-too-common disbelief of His love for us, despite the reality that His heart was tender towards us all along...The preparation of a house that kept me waiting–much like Christ preparing a place that reflects His love for us, a place where we will ultimately be cherished, honored, and loved forever...The Father’s loving presence sustaining us as we wait for Christ's return and learn to trust Him in the meantime...And in the end, nothing satisfying our longing but the joy of finally being united with Him for all eternity.

And so, as we prepare for our wedding and the life ahead, we do so with anticipation, knowing that it is but an earthly glimpse of the ultimate union that awaits all believers—when Christ, the Bridegroom, will finally unite with His bride, the Church, and the wedding feast will be for all eternity. We look forward to celebrating not only our love and commitment to each other but also the incredible gift of God’s mercy and grace that has brought us to this moment.

Registry