My name is Amy. I first came in contact with Matt, on October 3rd, 2012 through ldssingles.com. Something about him caught my attention, and I just liked his style. I sent him a flirt, the next day he returned with a smile, so I, feeling brave, sent him a message saying I thought his son was cute, because I have kids myself. A few messages of conversation took place for a day or two after that. It was a bit funny though that, later on, he referred to himself as a "feet dragger" and wasn't loving the idea of dating of being a single's website, but thanks to his inspired friend, Tony, for helping him set up the account. Matt had almost given up after not receiving messages from any one of interest.
Now I on the other hand, wasn't interested in just sitting and waiting. I believe I was inspired to contact Matt and be as forward as I was. He thought I was very pretty and his interest was sparked like it never had been before. After a few message exchanges, I was surprised that he hadn't asked for my number, so I just volunteered it, lol. I think I liked that he wasn't being aggressive or forward. I guess I liked his cool, laid-back, a little hard-to-get appeal, but I was still eager and didn't want to wait around.
I could've left it all up to him, but I felt like time was running out. I had other people pursuing me and I was actually really interested in Matt. He was one of the only "local" (an hour away) guys I had any interest in. What caught my eye on his profile, was first, I thought he was cute, and just my type. Then, I saw he had brown eyes, and even his shaved head appealed to me. It was as if I'd been searching for him my whole life and I'd finally found him. It was as if I finally understood why I had a "type" I was attracted to. Brown eyes, shaved head, football/wrestler build, not too tall, and strong features. Was it because I had been searching for him? Was he familiar to me?...
Our first texting session didn't really take off, but his interest was caught. He texted me a few days after me giving him my number, which he says was a big deal. He hadn't been dating or talking to any other girls for a while. He was a little hurt when I didn't respond after a few ho-hum back and forth texts, but was surprised when the following day he felt very impressed to send me a message and decided to do it through ldssingles even though we'd been texting, yet I didn't respond to his last text. I received the ldssingles message around 11 pm on a Monday night, the day after conference. I was feeling very close to the Spirit, but, not yet able to recognize that the other gentlemen pursuing me just wasn't right. What was special about Matt's message that night is I hadn't experienced a comforting feeling yet about any guy I'd dated, yet I felt very comforted by Matt.
The next morning I said a pleading prayer that I would be able to forget my most recent break up and to not be upset by the other gentlemen pursuing me, because his aggressive nature was making me nervous. In the middle of this heartfelt, pleading prayer to forget these two men, my phone received a text from Matt. It was no coincidence. The Lord was bringing us together. Had Matt waited any longer, I would've committed myself to giving this other man a chance, or the past boyfriend, who called 2 weeks later, would've been allowed back in. This was not the Lord's plan, and He was making it very clear.
The Lord allowed my heart to be healed from past hurt, and therefore it was prepared to receive Matt. The Lord allowed Matt and I to fall for one another right away. That Tuesday we texted all day long. The texts were heart felt and gospel centered. There was no "interview", just non-judgmental conversation. I had found someone who wanted to be treated the way I wanted to be treated, and someone with the same goals, to live righteously and obey God's commandments, and be a strong family. I must have lacked patience, lol, because even after an amazing and exciting day of texting, he was still yet to offer up a phone call or ask me for a date. I was very excited when I learned that we would be in California, San Diego area, at the same time the following weekend, yet we only lived an hour apart in Arizona. I had found my excuse to get together with him in California, and he was on board.
Thursday, he called me for the first time, and it was almost instant, the moment I heard his voice and his laugh, that I knew he was the one for me. Later that night, we talked for four hours. That was the first time the Spirit bore witness and flooded over me, telling me that I was in the right place. This was where The Lord wanted me to be.
I, being more forward and going with what I was feeling, told Matt I had to see him right away, so Friday evening, I drove an hour to see him because he was waiting to get paid and had no money for gas, as well he had a football game the following morning (he is a coach). I was worried I was being too aggressive and making it too easy for him, but I sensed he was not that kind of guy, and I was right. He said no girl had ever treated him so good.
So, that Friday night, October 12th, we met for the first time. I remember hugging him, and feeling so at ease. I remember feeling like I was home, or with a childhood friend. I felt as if I'd grown up with him. We have to come to believe it is because we were together before we came to the earth. We shared our first kiss that same night, and I drove home around midnight. I texted him immediately and told him I'd never felt this way before, and he responded, "Are you serious?" because he could not believe it himself either. He prayed that very night if he should still pursue me and before he could even finish the question he was told very clearly, over and over, "she's the one". The next morning we both left, in separate cars at separate times, to drive to southern California. He told me which way to go, and I tried to time it so I could be driving at the same time, and sure enough, he caught up to me not knowing it really, and we were able to say hi in Yuma, and he met my kids for the first time.
That night we were able to go out in San Diego. He surprised me with a visit to the San Diego temple, and he told me his experience about finding out I was the one. We then walked on the beach and then talked for hours on his parents couch. I already knew I loved him. A few days later, after texting every day and talking for hours each night, I prayed and received my answer, "he's the one...". Six days after meeting in person, Matt could barely contain himself, and couldn't wait another day to tell me in person, told me he loved me, and I was bursting to say it in return.
We then solidified our love through dating, and spending as much time as possible with one another. We talked on the phone for hours each night when we weren't together, as well as texted all day. We shared pictures, and very easily talked about marriage and our future together.
We got engaged November 24th, in Gilbert Arizona, where I was living at the time. We have set the date for February 2nd, 2013!! We plan to be sealed together a year from our wedding day in Denver, Colorado, since that is where he served, but hopefully our first temple session together will be in the San Diego temple.
Our LDSsingles.com story is one where neither of us were there to "make friends" or to just date. I felt inspired and guided, and pressed, to find someone. I was so excited when the person I was interested in showed interest in return. It turns out it was meant to be. We were both exactly where we needed to be. It gets better. Matt had prayed, last January, right after his divorce, as to whether he should move back to California when the opportunity was open, which he had wanted to do for years but couldn't, was told "no". He couldn't understand why, because his ex-wife was willing, but he felt impressed to stay in Arizona. He learned one thing, and that is to listen when being told something. Neither of us are from here or have any family here. I felt impressed to stay here after my divorce, even though I could have easily moved to Utah after I left my husband.
Matt and I now plan to live in Buckeye, AZ and are so excited to merge our families together. He has a 9 year old son, and I have a 4 year old boy and a 3 year old girl. We can't wait to have children together and see our family grow. We feel that we are in Arizona so our children can still have their other parents, but also because this is where we are to build our lives and do the Lord's work. We have felt inspired in every step along the way, even in where we were to live. Matt has shown me what it means to not only pray for guidance, but be prepared to obey when an answer is given. We are proof that blessings come for being obedient.
Thank you for your time,
Amy & Matt
