"I met my husband through Date.com, in 2001. Our story is unique because my husband lives in Amman, Jordan and I live in the United States. At first I was a little skeptical of his interest and just decided to keep contact with him as a 'penpal'. Well, my husband is a very persistent man, and by the end of 2002, I thought of him as more than a 'penpal' and I came to rely on his communication so much, I couldn't wait to check my emails. At this point he was also calling and we were talking on the phone, considering the distance and the costs involved, it didn't happen with too much frequency, so we used email and video mail to talk most of the time. By the end of 2003, I had finally accepted my husband's proposal and we were finally going to get serious about the life we wanted together. We both cancelled our memberships with Date.com at that point.

Things finally worked out for me to go to Amman, Jordan -- I had all of my vaccinations (8 altogether, with some requiring more than 2 shots for one vaccination), my visa, permission from the country to travel over, and of course new clothes -- in March of 2005. We were both excited and nervous, unable to sleep or eat for at least 2 months before I was supposed to come out. Considering how we met, online, and the current crisis in the world concerning the Middle East, I was still a little leary, but I trusted him and knew that everything would be alright. I did not tell my family that I was getting married, but I worked with a seamstress to make my gown and a jeweler to make a ring for my husband in preparation of my leaving the country.

Finally the day came when I walked off the plane and met my soon to be husband for the first time. He met me at the Inter-Alia International Airport in Jordan, after many worried calls as to where I was -- there were many flight delays and changes.

Our first look at each other face to face was breathtaking. All we could do was hold onto each other; it was like nothing short of a miracle that we were finally together after all of that time. I had just gotten off a 15-hour flight and there he was, with his mother, brother, and uncle. We had no trouble picking each other out and conversation was easy and relaxed right from the beginning.

We were married according to Jordanian law at the court on March 15, 2005, after two very frustrating days of trying to get all of our papers and permissions in order, where we both spoke our vows in Arabic (I knew very little before I got there) in front of 2 witnesses. The whole procedure left me a little bewildered and I couldn't help feeling a little out of sorts, but my husband was right there guiding me through the whole process.

On March 19, 2005, we had our wedding where my husband invited all of the family from other towns and villages -- Irbid, El Serafieh, Tabarbour, etc.. My husband made arrangements for a local band, videographer, and caterer to come to the wedding hall and we all (about 100 people) danced the night away.

My husband was very patient and understanding through everything, because like every bride, I got cold feet. I was so out of sorts with being so far from home, away from my family, and not able to understand ANYTHING that was being said, the night before we were having our wedding I lost it. Well... my husband was wonderful, after all of those years of talking online and by phone, he let me know that he was REALLY listening and he knew exactly what to say and he knew how to get me back on the right track. For my husband, patience is not something that comes easy, but the 20 days that we had together while I was in Jordan, he was absolutely incredible. He is everything that I had waited for (I was 33 when we were married) and more than what I expected. There was no doubt in my mind that he was the one for me, he is the man God intended for me to grow old with.

Thanks Date.com for bringing two people together who were worlds apart. Distance, culture, and world events could not keep our hearts from coming together."