She Was Told She Was "Un-Datable"!

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In August of 2020, mere weeks after creating a CatholicMatch profile, Ramon received a message from a beautiful woman named Paige.

While he appreciated her straightforward “Hi Ray, how was your week?” and was attracted to her profile pictures, he hesitated before responding when he saw that they lived two hours apart- she in Atlanta, Georgia and he in Birmingham, Alabama.

While Ramon had tried a handful of other dating sites, he’d felt frustrated at repeatedly having to defend his morals, even to other Christians.

And while he’d had a large number of matches and connections, none had led to a meaningful relationship or “left me feeling positive or hopeful.”

The commonality of their faith background ultimately led him to write back to Paige. From there, conversation flowed easily between the financial controller (him) and the wealth management firm executive (her) for several weeks before they decided to meet in person.

A hiccup in their first date plans...

Early in the day before their first date, Paige had a dental emergency! She recalls, “I would have normally backed out of the date, but something told me I should go on the date even with my dental issues!”

Despite feeling “totally self-conscious” about her appearance and altered smile and speech, Paige found Ramon “very handsome” and “liked him right away.”

Due to nervousness on his part, though, she felt sure that he wasn’t interested! But she learned she was mistaken. Ramon commented, “I was interested. I found her 'attractive, classy, and articulate."

The pair also share similar tastes in music. Their budding relationship almost didn’t get off the ground, though, when she invited him to Mass after the date and he said ‘no!’ She laughed recalling how many times they’ve attended Mass and Adoration together since then.

On the third date, she told him this!

Paige, too, had previously tried various dating sites, including signing up with “a well-known dating service in Atlanta” that communicated “that I was ‘not dating material’ for their clients based on my conservative values and chaste dating commitment.”

Even some friends told Paige in no uncertain terms that her devotion to her Catholic faith and her determination to date chastely would severely limit her chances of finding a man. When she told Ramon on their third date that she was committed to a chaste dating relationship, she immediately followed it up with “I understand if you want to break up with me.”

Ramon admits that he was initially shocked. His next thought was “that’s the best thing anyone’s ever said to me.” Paige remembered, “He told me ‘I can't believe that you think I would break up with you, and I think that's great and that's exactly what I want.’”

He’d just found the missing piece that had been lacking in his interactions on other dating sites.

“Getting to know you, getting to know all about you”

Over the following months, the couple developed a dating routine. On Fridays, Ramon would make the two-hour drive to Atlanta on Friday nights to take Paige to dinner. He stayed in various AirBnBs, which he summarized as “some were sketchier than others!”

On Saturday mornings, she would make breakfast at her house, then they would run errands before returning to her home for supper. On Sundays, he’d make the trek back to Birmingham. While COVID curtailed their options of things to do together, the couple spent lots of time talking through their common interests and similar backgrounds.

Both were devoted to their faith, previously married twice, had kids, were older, and enjoyed active lifestyles, especially swimming, playing tennis, biking, and running. They both went to Southeastern Conference (SEC) colleges- he’s an Auburn Tiger and she’s an LSU Tiger- and each avidly followed their alma mater’s football team.

As every couple does, Paige and Ramon faced their fair share of challenges- in their case they navigated distance, incorporating her teenage children, addressing baggage from each one’s past, and COVID restrictions. Ramon observed, “The many obstacles we had to overcome were difficult, and at times, quite daunting but, we managed to get through each one – I would suggest, as a result of Paige’s faith and commitment and calm and perseverance. I attribute the fact that we overcame all as a result of her ability to talk through each with patience, love, faith, and understanding.”

Engagement time!

In July of 2021, Ramon bought a ring. Once he had the ring, he found it impossible to wait any longer to propose! One Friday evening after they returned to his AirBnB following dinner, he casually placed a box in front of Paige and said simply, “I have something for you.”

Paige was “in shock at first but then was so excited and filled with gratitude that God had brought the man of my heart's desire into my life.” Ramon shared, “She was surprised, she cried and laughed, I was truly touched. It was a very happy moment for me and I was excited about our future. I had no idea what to expect at that time but I did know that I was in love with her and wanted to spend the remainder of my days at her side.”

They couldn’t have anticipated this happening just before their wedding...

They could never have foreseen that Paige’s mom would pass away unexpectedly just two weeks beforehand. And while some around them insisted that they postpone the wedding, Paige and Ramon believed in the importance of the sacrament of marriage, and that her mom would have wanted them to continue with their plans.

They wed during an intimate ceremony in the chapel of Paige’s long-time parish church, where she’d dreamed for years of getting married. Paige was immensely grateful for the support of a dear friend and mother figure who assisted her on her special day. The woman is a Protestant pastor, and the couple was touched when she offered a beautiful blessing prayer after the wedding ceremony.

Asked what advice they’d offer other singles, including those who have previously had difficulty finding a mate with shared values, Paige answered, “Don’t listen to anyone who says that your faith makes you un-datable. When God has placed the desire for marriage to a faithful Catholic in you, He will see it through. You can do this, and you can be true to your faith.”

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