My Dreamgirl JoanBlurry AaronWhen the pandemic hit in 2020, I was still an old bachelor. Though I'd met and dated some absolutely wonderful women a decade earlier when I was attending an LDS Singles Ward (local congregation for single adults) for (at that time) ages 35-45, no long term relationships developed—though friendships did. After I "expired" from the ward's age range, still single, and returned to my local family ward (congregation), my dating life slowed nearly to a standstill. Until 2020. I was isolating at my home in Southwestern Utah, and in October, I decided to give online dating a try again and re-enabled my profile (and tweaked it with a few updates) on the Mutual LDS Dating App (think "Tinder" for Latter-day Saints). And to increase the profiles available for potential matching, I expanded my geographic range to the whole world, and increased the age range of women's profiles I was willing to consider. While exploring profiles, I saw this lovely and beautiful young Asian woman from the Philippines named Joan. Wow, she was CUTE! So of course I "swiped up"--think Tinder's swipe-right to match. But she was much younger than I was, my sister Julianne's age. When I'd dated in the Singles Ward a pretty girl much junior to me, I felt very uncomfortable about the age difference. And Joan was younger than she was. I didn't think a match would be likely.

Then on Sunday afternoon, October 4th, after watching the final session of LDS General Conference on my television I opened up the Mutual app. There was a notification. I had a MATCH! Now I'd had matches before. Some of them were fake "Catphishing" profiles—scammers. And some were real women. The Catphishers sometimes would message me first. But none of the real girls ever did. Sadly, none of the real matches had ever quite led to dates, though a few came close. So while I was intrigued by this match, I had low expectatations.

And she had send me a message first! My catphishing alarm bells were sounding. Then I clicked on the message, dated Oct. 4, 5:06 PM (Utah time was what was showing to me). It was simple: "Hi Aaron!" And it was that CUTE Filipina Asian girl, Joan! Was this real? I double-checked her profile. It looked legitimate. Catphisher profiles usually had a style that looked fake, looked catphishy. Joan's profile looked like that of a real woman with a real life.

Of course I responded, though it wasn't until 7:31 PM (again my time, Utah time): "Hi Joan! Nice to meet you. how are you? I am feeling grateful, having watched general conference yesterday and today."

She was ONLINE! And replied right away! We were chatting!

Joan Prepares for WeddingAaron is Ready to WedLong story short, we soon were video dating EVERY DAY for hours at a time. And doing our LDS gospel study together, praying together.

Who said "I love you" first? She did, early on. And while I really, really liked her, and even was beginning to love her, I wasn't quite ready to say "I love you" in return. But just a few weeks later, I was smitten and gushed, "I love you!" easily in return. She was WONDERFUL!

Oh, yeah, I was making the long story short. I got a passport. I flew to the Philippines. And we've been husband and wife for a few years now.

And she is still my dream woman. I love her more and more every day!