Katherine and Jeff are both self-described dreamers. But neither one dreamed they would meet their soulmate this way.
Katherine had joined CatholicMatch in the wake of a six-year long-distance relationship that had ended unexpectedly. Jeff, 30, had been on CatholicMatch for five years, still searching for the right one after much heartbreak of his own. “For Jeff and me, relationships with other people were not working out,” Katherine, 29, said.
When they saw each other’s profiles, they sensed an instant connection. Jeff was hooked by Katherine’s description of herself as “nerdy librarian seeks hero to write a romantic happily-ever-after-with.” “Hers stood out, not in a ‘this is the one’ kind of way but in a ‘this girl is special’ kind of way. It really was like conversing with someone I had been friends with for years. I had to meet her!” Jeff said.
He was the first, and the most persistent
“Jeff was one of the first of many gentlemen to reach out to me. He was also the most persistent,” Katherine said. “Finally, I peeked at his profile and gradually gained confidence.”
One detail on his profile finally prompted her to message him: “Jeff had a Welsh Pembroke Corgi. I had a Cardigan Corgi. We both had corgis! It was impossible for me not to message him,” Katherine said.
They soon found their common interests were wide-ranging. In the ensuing days, they traded online messages about everything from books, dragons, games, and comedy to YouTube links to videos of classic rockers like Pink Floyd and U2.
“The feeling of connection was overwhelming, unlike anything I had ever felt before,” Katherine said.
Katherine suggested a first date
After two weeks, Katherine made the first move suggesting a first date at a halfway point—a café in town where her sister was in school. They had lunch and talked for hours. Afterwards they went for a walk to a nearby lake. Standing out on the dock Jeff said he wanted to pursue a relationship.
“By the end I knew I had to have her in my life in some way,” Jeff recalled.
Katherine hesitated. She was afraid of moving too quickly. So she only said she wanted to keep her options open. But she soon realized she didn't really want to. “All the way home I could not shake the feeling that I had just found someone special—and I was disappointed our date had ended so quickly just after six hours,” Katherine said.
Adventure is out there
They continued chatting online and soon went on a second date, when the two began what Katherine describes as an adventure-filled relationship marked by dates to zoos and museums and a trip to Colorado where they hiked the Red Rocks and visited the Overlook Hotel.
“Jeff and I were both nerds long before we met each other. When we met, we bonded, not only because of our similar interests but because our lives are so simple and we prefer to keep them that way. Neither of us are career-minded people, ‘party animals,’ or deeply political. We love good food, home and family, the natural world, and the occasional adventure! Our appreciation for life is in its simple pleasures, not the ‘great doings of men and Elves,’” Katherine said, alluding to the humility of the hobbit characters created by J.R.R. Tolkien, whom she describes as one of their heroes.
Besides these shared values, the two say their relationship was founded in their shared faith. “We talked long and hard about our desires for the future—all our hopes and dreams along with the realistic expectations we had for each other, marriage, and family. Spiritually, I felt we were on the same plane. We prayed together and talked of moral issues together. We even went to church together! Nothing felt as safe and peaceful as did my soul when I was beside Jeff in church, sharing a hymnal, and receiving Communion with him,” she said.
A proposal on the moon (sort of!)
After dating for a year, Jeff decided to propose.
His plan was to recreate their first date culminating in a walk out to the pier where he’d first suggested they pursue a relationship. But the area was crowded so he had to improvise. A quick check of a map showed there was a nearby “moon tree,” grown from seeds that had once been up in space. Jeff realized it was the perfect spot.
“What helped me to realize Katherine was the one was her childlike wonder and imagination. I wanted my wife and future mother of my children to be able to dream and imagine and play with our kids alongside of me,” Jeff added.
Seven months later, in January 2015, the two got married at the Most Pure Heart of Mary. ‘By happy accident, we celebrated our wedding on January 3, Tolkien’s birthday, a fact which makes our anniversary even more special to us now that we can share it on the day our hero was born!” Katherine said.
Dragons, staycations, and Elliot
In keeping with their love of Tolkien, they had a hobbit-themed wedding and reception. Bridesmaids wore Elvish-brooch pendants and their wedding flutes were outfitted with dragons. At the reception—where a sign announced that there was “no admittance was allowed other than party business”—mead was served instead of beer or champagne.
In keeping with their love of the simple things in life, Katherine and Jeff decided to save their money and forego an expensive trip. Instead, they binge-watched “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” over pizza and leftover chocolate coins from their reception.
In February, they “discovered” a “honeymoon surprise” and welcomed their first child, Elliot, that September.
“We knew we had found something special right during the first date! CatholicMatch.com truly helped us to find each other, but it is our Catholic faith [that] continues to be a source of strength and inspiration to live our lives for God, not only as man and wife, but as parents, and, ultimately, a family!” Katherine said.
“We have fun in our marriage—yes, we are adults and still have adult problems, with fighting and talking, but we're dreamers and players—and that keeps us young in heart and happy!” Jeff added.
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