Mark and I joined ChristianMingle searching for someone to make us complete. When that first hello card came from Mark, on February 17, 2011, I read it with excitement and then viewed his profile. I was impressed by his openness and responded with a greeting of my own. We continued exchanging cards for a few days, and it was always a great way to start my morning!  It only took 3 days before we both knew we needed to hear each other’s voice. We were nervous, but after the first few lines of greeting were said, it seemed as if we had known each other for a long time. Although we only lived 15 minutes away from each other, we talked on the phone for hours each night for a month, before venturing out to actually meet in person.  In our conversations, we shared about our families, our pasts, our failed marriages, and our beliefs. But most importantly, we shared how God was the focal point of our lives and how He had reached down to each of us individually and drew us back to Him, through the struggles of our lives, the pain, and the desperation. In filling out our profiles, we each had affirmed that neither of us would settle anymore and we both wanted a true Christian mate to begin a brand new life together, with Christ at the center.

Mark and I became so close sharing that first month on the phone. We took our time to get to know each other, opening up about mistakes, hurts, and wounds, and even reading scripture together. Our conversation each night always included God and his blessings in both of our lives. Finally, we decided to meet for our first date. By then Mark had told me that he was certain that he loved me and knew that God had brought us together through ChristianMingle. I was a bit skeptical about the love bit, but I, too, was convinced that God had blessed me with Mark.

Our first date March 17, 2011 was unreal! We met very nervously at a restaurant and when he arrived, Mark wrapped me in his big strong arms and gave me a hug. It was not just a quick hug that says, “Hi, it’s so nice to meet you”, but a tender hug that lasted a long time, and said, “I don’t ever want to let you go!”

When he stepped back and looked into my eyes, we gazed for a few seconds and then we came together for a short sweet kiss! It was incredible! We sat down to eat and he took my hands and gently rubbed his fingers over mine as we ordered and waited for our food. The nervousness had disappeared! When we began to truly talk to each other, it seemed that we were old friends starting a romance, rather than new acquaintances on a first date.  All of the time that we spent on the phone, texting, and emailing, was so worth it because it had brought us much closer and helped us prepare to meet. All of the insecurities disappeared and we could enjoy being together. He brought me beautiful flowers and an absolutely stunning cross necklace for my birthday, and then after putting it around my neck, told me how beautiful I was. My heart melted. He had me at that first hug and then to add such tenderness was a bonus! We spent hours sharing, laughing, holding hands, and smiling! Neither one of us wanted the night to end after we left the restaurant, so we drove around and then parked in my church parking lot to listen to some music.

Since that first date, we have been together almost every night. We have had a lot more time to see each other in different situations, finding out more what makes each other tick. We even began having devotions and praying together each night, and joining hands to pray together at mealtimes; something I had wanted for a very long time. Another important bonus of our relationship is that my seven year old son adores Mark and vice versa, and it is such a blessing to see them interact as father and son.

One month after meeting in person, (two months after meeting on ChristianMingle) Mark asked me to marry him, and I said YES! We both know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is God’s will for us…to create a Christian family together honoring Him! Our wedding will be August 6, 2011.

We feel that God has big plans for us together, perhaps in a music ministry, as I sing and Mark plays guitar. We have discussed working with the incarcerated youth to share Mark’s story of his rededication to Christ. Thank you ChristianMingle for being a conduit for God to bring us together and work in our lives!