When Michelle's spiritual director recommended that she try CatholicMatch, she felt reticent. "I thought that wasn't the kind of thing I would like to do," says Michelle, who has an annulled first marriage. Adding, "I was shy about online dating."
Stepping outside her comfort zone, Michelle decided to listen to her spiritual director's advice. After joining in May of 2020, she noticed Adam's profile on CatholicMatch. The selfie he took while traveling in London caught her eye. She thought his face "looked sweet." Michelle also noticed from reading Adam's profile that he liked to cook and garden and that he was looking for a nice Catholic girl who would enjoy praying with him. It didn't bother her that Adam lived in Ohio and she in Texas.
"Adam seemed different—like a man with great character and the kindest heart—and very cute. I could see myself being the woman praying by his side," she shares.
She prayed for the one.
Before meeting Adam, Michelle asked the Blessed Mother and St Joseph to help her find the man God intended for her.
"Not the one I chose, but the one God wanted," she says. "Little did I know how faithful our God would be! He prepared me for the sweetest love."
A simple "Hi" began their love story...
Michelle took the initiative to message Adam, and the next day he responded. That's all it took to begin their love story. After a few messages, Michelle invited Adam to pray the rosary with her, and he agreed.
"After writing to each other for a few days we had our first 'date' on a Sunday night. We prayed together and received the grace to have a three-hour video conversation which led to two weeks of three-hour video dates and a Holy Spirit Novena that we prayed together."
A road-trip was in order.
Out of the blue, Adam mentioned to Michelle that he was taking a vacation West. He began his adventure by driving to Yellowstone National Park and continued his trip to Grand Teton, Jackson Hole, Salt Lake City, Bryce Canyon, Vermillion Cliffs, and the Grand Canyon.
"From place to place, he would send me photos, and when he stopped for the night, he would tell me of his daily experiences. He shared how he would recite the rosary with the most beautiful views."
For Michelle, it felt wonderful to learn about Adam's perspective and listen to his stories. "The whole time, I couldn't wait to find out what he was up to next. While at the same time, I was trusting in God, hoping he would decide to visit Houston."
She got up the courage to ask him.
Michelle finally asked Adam if he had plans to come to see her. He told her that he had been thinking about asking if he could visit.
"Next thing, he was heading to Texas and we had a date on first Friday," she remembers happily.
Michelle and Adam hit it off, and their relationship progressed naturally. Michelle reveals that before Adam, she had never known a love "so gentle and beautiful."
"Our Lord heard my prayers and saw my broken heart and embracing me in the warmth of his love he led me to Adam."
Adam found Michelle attractive because she enjoyed life, and Michelle was fun to be around. As he got to know Michelle, Adam discovered her many endearing traits.
"I fell in love with her because she's a kind, beautiful, compassionate, intelligent, God-fearing woman, who will make a wonderful mother someday," he shares.
Four months later, an engagement ring!
After four months of dating, Adam surprised Michelle with a ring during her visit to Ohio. He proposed in a beautiful, little chapel—a replica of St. Francis' church that he built in Assisi—at Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio.
"We went there to pray the rosary, and after leaving the chapel, he got on one knee, and said, 'Michelle, you have brought a lot of joy and happiness into my life will you marry me?' He also had a photographer there, so he captured every moment of it," she says.
They were married just a year after meeting!
On May 8th, 2021— one year after meeting on CatholicMatch—the couple made their vows at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston, Texas.
Michelle closes, "'Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).' Adam and I are happily married, living in Houston, Texas together and enjoying the blessing that is the Sacrament of Marriage."
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