Our story is quite funny and not your typical meet and marry. In fact I (Brooke) was not even active on this website when Garrett first messaged me. Our story moves very quickly and after only three months of dating we were engaged. We are getting married on October 23, 2009 and cannot wait.
Garrett had viewed and passed my profile before a couple of times but because it said I was only seeking friendships at this time, and I lived in Las Vegas, he decided to skip over me. However one day he decided to write me a quick message. All it said was “If this is the only contact we ever have I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate your profile and how you shared your story about your son and past mistakes so beautifully. God Bless.”
My membership had expired, but my profile was still visible online. Even though I was inactive, I never had changed my profile become officially so. When I went to log on to my hotmail account it advised me I had a message from Garrett waiting for me on Catholic Match. I was curious, so I logged on to read it. There was just one little hurdle I had to overcome...
My membership had expired, so to read just one message I had to pay $24.95 for a one month subscription. After reviewing his profile first ,I decided to cough up the cash (lol). There was something about him and I really enjoyed his profile. But I was a little upset. I had just paid twenty-five dollars to read some guy "appreciated" my profile. So I decided to write him back and I told him look I just paid twenty-five dollars to read how you appreciated my profile. I at least deserve a couple emails back so I don’t feel ripped off. I thought he will either get my sarcastic humor and write back or he won't.
Well, it looked like he didn't because two weeks went by and nothing. Then, to my surprise, one day I got a message back from Garrett sayihg that he was so sorry--that instead of hitting the send button, he hit the save button, and would make it up in the few short days I had left on my one month subscription.
After emailing a couple of times we really clicked. Our personalities were very similar, and he didn’t live that far--about five hours from me in Tempe, AZ. Finally, I gave him my phone number, because being a single mom it is easier for me to talk than email. After Garrett overthinking it for about three days, he finally decided to call me before work one night. We totally hit it off. He was normal and funny and loved his faith. We kept talking almost every other night, and than finally decided to meet in early December.
He drove down to Vegas to meet me. I have to be honest though--I already knew he was the one God had sent for me before I even met him. There was no doubt in my mind. I ended up being right. We hit if off and he even met my some of my family. Then, for Christmas, his family decided to invite me to celebrate with them. I think they were curious to know who this girl was that there son was constantly talking about and telling them he wanted to marry after such a short time.
It was an unforgettable time and after that second meeting, Garrett knew he wanted to move to Vegas to discern if we were to be married. He told me he was moving down in late January, but to my surprise he secretly quit his job early and moved down a whole week before he was supposed to.
One night after driving home from work I was talking to Garret on the phone. He told me that his interview for a job had been moved up a week. And of course I said, well how are you going to do that if you are not moving for another week. I was totally clueless, but my whole family knew. He told me to look up and there he was standing in my driveway with a dozen roses. He was so nervous, but he asked me to be his wife and of course I said yes.
I was always for the taking things slow kind of approach and courting for at least a year before even discerning marriage. I still am, but God had a different plan for us. We are both very into living our faith. Garret did ministry work in different parts of the country and worked with young people. I was involved in a young adults group at church and into different causes. Our families were a little hesitant and skeptical because it had moved so fast, however once they saw us together they said there was something about us that made them not worry and to fully support our decision to get married in October.
We have had hurdles to overcome and struggles to deal with, but that is what builds character and has let us see each other for who we really are in good and bad times. I just love everything about Garrett and cannot wait for the future and see what God has in store for us. We have been so blessed, and know it will continue to be that way if we live our lives for the Lord always putting him first and remembering that our marriage is the most important thing and loving each other is the greatest witness for others to see God's love in us. For God felt marriage was so important that he made it a Sacrament, a covenant.
We have just completed our marriage prep with the Church and to even our surprise we scored 100% on most of the catagories in the survey you must take. We know marriage is anything but easy, but at the same time one of the most rewarding gifts God has given us, if not the most rewarding.
Just one more note to couples who might be reading this. Do not give up hope. And to the single moms on this website--you know he is the one when he is willing to sacrifice and move for you, not the other way around. A man should know your predicament and does not allow you to travel and move. If he believes you are worth it he will do the pursuing. God Bless to everyone.
