Gabriela had so many unrealistic expectations about what her future husband should embody.
She admits that these dream husband qualifiers contributed to her being on CatholicMatch for five years before finding Mr. Right.
When Cameron contacted Gabriela in October of 2017, she didn’t have an inkling that this man would become her husband. After all, he didn’t fit her type. Cameron was tall, dark, and masculine. Gabriela thought she preferred shorter and slighter men.
Even so, she gave him a chance because she noticed that they shared a lot in common. They both are in the early 20s, and they are both Southerners—he is from Tennessee and she is from Louisiana. More importantly, Gabriela liked that they both aligned well spiritually and politically.
“I remember reading his bio and thinking, ‘It sounds like I wrote this!’” says Gabriela in her ebook, Diary of a Traditional Catholic Courtship, a book about their relationship struggles and challenges.
He acted boldly...
Gabriela noticed that Cameron was different from the other men she’s met online. During her five years on CatholicMatch, only one guy had the guts to ask for her phone number, and she only ever met one member in person even though she had numerous correspondences. After only a week of messaging, Cameron suggested that they talk on the phone.
“I usually messaged for months before even thinking of phoning! I was very impressed by Cameron’s initiative, but very nervous as well,” she shares.
No fireworks went off during their call, but she felt interested enough to give Cameron another shot. Their second conversation took place several days later via Skype.
Seeing him on her computer screen, Gabriela felt taken aback by Cameron's good looks, which surprised her because his profile photos hadn’t done him justice.
“I’ll never again judge how attractive someone is by their pictures,” she says.
Now she believes if someone feels faintly attracted to another member’s photo, they should give the person a chance and meet as soon as possible.
Gabriela and Cameron Skyped for four hours, and she left that conversation feeling like she wanted to pursue the relationship. She hoped he agreed.
After one month of phone calls and a Skype date, Cameron drove the eight hours to Louisiana to visit Gabriela. On their first date, they went to an Italian restaurant and then sat by Lake Pontchartrain, where they shared “the first kiss either of us had ever had,” she says.
Over the next month, the couple continued to talk every day and to visit one another as much as time and money would allow. Everything seemed to be going in the right direction, but despite having chemistry and compatibility on their side, trouble lurked around the corner.
Complications arise...
Some early, negative life experiences had made it difficult for Gabriela to trust. As a result, she kept testing Cameron and looking for red flags in their relationship. Gabriela thought she needed to escape the uncomfortable feelings of vulnerability that Cameron made her feel, and she wanted to get out before he hurt her.
To Cameron’s surprise, two months in, Gabriela broke ties without really explaining why. Cameron expressed his confusion and told Gabriela that he still loved her. He said, “If stopping all contact would make you happy, then I’ll do it.”
For a few days, Gabriela felt relieved that their relationship was over.
“I had nothing to worry about anymore. No scruples, no doubts. No vulnerability,” she explains.
After six days of not talking to him—and feeling the deep, gut-wrenching pain of being separated from someone you love—she swallowed her pride and told him that she wanted to get back together.
Though Cameron felt hurt, he loved Gabriela enough to forgive her and continue dating her. He also let her know that he didn’t have any doubts about her. The short breakup, though traumatic, ended up strengthening their relationship. Gabriela no longer feared that Cameron would abandon her.
Moving to Nashville!
After graduation, Cameron moved back to Nashville, where his parents live. A Novena to St. Anthony helped Gabriela to also move to the area.
Nine months after meeting on CatholicMatch and two months after Gabriela had moved Tennessee, Cameron asked her to wear something fancy because he had dinner reservations for them at an upscale restaurant. Gabriela’s proposal radar went up, so she went out and purchased a new dress. After dinner, he took her to a lookout hill in Nashville, where they had their first date after Gabriela had moved to the area.
Gabriela doesn’t quite recall what Cameron said when he proposed because she was trying hard not to cry. When their families heard the news, everyone expressed their joy about their engagement.
“We set our wedding date for the earliest available date, which was four months later,” she shares. “We got married a little over a year of knowing each other.”
Gabriela and Cameron were able to economize by only spending $5,000 on their wedding and reception.
In January 2020—one month before their one-year anniversary—the couple had their first child.
They say, “Our marriage has been a constant joy and blessing.”
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