Our story begins in St. Louis, Missouri! Mary and Caleb both started OT school at Washington University in St. Louis. We disagree on how our first conversation went, but since Mary is narrating this story, we're hearing this side! We officially met standing outside after a fire alarm went off during class. Mary tried to talk to Caleb. Caleb looked like he was wishing they would figure out the fire situation as quickly as possible so he could go back inside.

Following our first OT fieldwork, Caleb and Mary had gone for tacos and margaritas with a mutual friend at Burro Loco in St. Louis...shout out to Beth Lynch-Gonzalez! The week after that, the world shut down due to COVID-19. Mary was quarantined with 4 OT roommates and a rescued cat, so documentation from that time consists of a dreadful number of cat selfies.

Our first photo together via Zoom! Taken by Mary's roommate during class. Our first "dates" were when Caleb would ask Mary to "go over our answers for that assignment together over Zoom." Caleb had long before submitted that assignment, and Mary hadn't even started that assignment.

We began our long distance relationship in May of 2021 as we both left St. Louis for OT fieldwork. Mary travelled to Minnesota to visit Caleb and his family. And so begins several years and many miles of travel!

Mary and Caleb celebrate their FIRST anniversary in Madison, Wisconsin. It was the perfect half way point to meet between Caleb's fieldwork in Minnesota and Mary's in Indiana. We also discovered that Mary will take the selfies in this relationship!

Much better!!

Caleb visiting Mary on her fieldwork in Dubuque, Iowa. Got his very own Loras hat...well, sort of, Mary wore it to homecoming, then gifted it to Caleb. Go Duhawks!

Mary visiting Caleb on his fieldowrk in Kansas City! Best dressed at the Christmas Village!

Caleb visited Mary in Pittsburgh following her board exam, and we found our favorite place for tacos and margarita flights!

Long weekend in Chicago and visiting Caleb's favorite place...the Field Museum!

Our SECOND anniversary, and we're back in Kansas City for the weekend! Caleb still sporting that Loras hat like a good honorary Duhawk.

Caleb joins the Phillips Family tradition of matching Christmas jammies!

Our THIRD anniversary in...South Bend, Indiana?? Good half way meeting point between us and we got some good stares in our matching t-shirts.

The best day ever!! Mary said YES under the St. Louis Arch in the city where it all began.

Mary's parents also got engaged under the St. Louis Arch. So special!

Caleb even surprised Mary by inviting both families to celebrate! All the hard work nearly given away when Mary's dad accidently added her to a group text asking "When is go time?" The best memory.

Cheers to Mary taking the selfies for a lifetime!