Married for 11 years and recently divorced at the time, I was encouraged by some of my girlfriends to try online dating. So I joined Match. The bombardment of “Hi (dot dot dots)” was insane and one guy even hunted me down on Facebook and sent me a private message offering to be my youngest son’s “new daddy”. Truthfully, it scared me. I resolved to take time to focus on my kids and introspection into myself and my life.

I took 3 years to do just that…focus on myself and my kids. I went on a date here and there but nothing serious. I had one man, 21 years my senior, who was a “very nice man” that I would go to dinner or to the movies with during this time. But my focus remained on my goals.

Around that 3 year mark, I have a handicapped son who had moved into a new group home and I was meeting his midnight staff one Wednesday morning in late Fall. *Sue was telling me all about this WONDERFULLY AMAZING man she’d met on Plenty of Fish (POF). I was happy for her and pocketed the information, but still wary of online dating and semi forgot all about it. Come Friday of that same week and I find myself alone at home and I recalled my conversation with Sue. So I got onto the computer “just to look”.

Well, I looked at about 10 pictures and profiles and a window popped up with some questions and I answered them and was able to look at 10 more pictures/profiles. This went on a few more rounds before I was instructed to refresh to see my “Super Matches” and it was only then I realized I’d signed up for the site! I was literally laughing out loud and thinking to myself I’m a knucklehead! I certainly had no clue as I avoided online dating like the plague for the prior 3 years!

Regardless, when my “Super Matches” came up, the picture and profile at the top of the list intrigued me. Based on those previous pop up windows, this profile fit my every wish. So I sent him a note and to my surprise, he sent me one back. And it wasn’t just a few lines, but whole paragraphs inclusive with questions about me too.

By the following Monday we were talking on the phone and talked for 2 weeks before we met face to face in mid November. By Christmas we were looking at rings and by January I was preparing the house I’d lived in for 18 years for sale. He’d met my 3 children and I inherently knew he was going to be an awesome [step] dad.

We’re married 4 years now. He says that if he could order a woman like he does a pizza, with everything he could possibly want, that pizza is me. He is my soulmate and I cant imagine my life without him in it. The 3 kids call him Dad.

This is our love story, growing and continuing…..