Meeting My Intended

2020 was a year full of good and bad surprises, to say the least. When 2020 began, I did not see myself in quarantine due to Covid-19.

I did not see myself saying goodbye to my sister Ashton when she left to serve in the United States Army.

I did not see myself in another relationship months after a break-up in March. So much changed within the last 11-12 months.

It is now December, a new year is about to begin yet again. Christmas is a few weeks away. I couldn't be more excited to be sharing it with my loved ones and my intended.

2020 saw us in quarantine, feeling alone, isolated from our loved ones. I experienced a break-up around the time where everything started to shut down -- schools, movie theaters, bowling alleys, restaurants. I felt alone again after spending 8 months with someone.

Being alone has been a struggle of mine. Since I was young, I always dreamed of finding my true love and spending my life with my intended. I didn't find mine until after graduating from college.

Months after a mutual break-up, I found myself online when I met this college senior Jake. Jake is currently in his fifth year at the University of Cincinnati, his major in Environmental Studies and his minor in Biology. He chose this major, considering his love for animals -- squirrels, otters, raccoons, owls being some of his favorites.

Not only is he an animal lover, but he is a Christian. We found ourselves sharing the same beliefs. He has always been a devoted Christian, something I've struggled with as well.

We have been officially dating for 2 months on the 10th, not a very long time. It's been a very fulfilling 2 months though.

September was when we first started talking. We had gotten along well even when he was going out on dates when we met. I would help him on his dates, which all have turned out to be disaster dates.

After the disaster dates, we started talking more and more which made me feel less alone and more at peace.

I started to feel something which I've heard everyone has talked about in the romance films I've watched when I was young.

From the Disney Princess films to Titanic, these movies showed how enamored the characters would feel about someone. When they found that special someone, they never want to be without them.

I started to feel smitten, enamored, giddy. I started to feel myself falling in love with someone my age who was religious, compassionate, and perfect.

This feeling has made me realize I was not in love with the guy I broke up with in March. I realized in the last relationship, I wanted to be with someone even if we didn't share a lot in common. To me, it was better than being alone.

This feeling I get with Jake made me realize that this feeling is a special one that happens once in a lifetime. I honestly believe I am in love with him. I feel light as a feather in his arms. I feel like my world as warm as the summer sun. I feel myself embracing his warm rays of love.

Jake has accepted me for who I am, a woman who is constantly needy, constantly afraid I will lose him to another woman.

He spoils me constantly, he makes sure he sees my smile every day, he loves to shower me with kisses. He makes sure to tell me I'm pretty, beautiful, gorgeous. He assures me he wants to be with me, despite my need for assurance.

Jake has been the one I've been waiting for all these years. Throughout high school and college, everyone was getting engaged, getting married, and having children. Meanwhile, I was on my way to becoming a single woman with cats as her only companions.

I realized why I kept being single, despite the several opportunities I've had of ending up with someone. It was never my time to meet him until September of 2020.

I had to continue to have faith I was going to find him. Despite all the years of waiting and waiting, I still held onto the thought of finding him and treating him like a king.

My sister has already given up on finding love. I believe that is the first step to finding your intended. Having faith will keep you going. When you have faith, anything is possible.

Knowing him has made me want to get closer to God and has wanted me to continue to grow so I can provide for Jake. I want to be the perfect woman for him because he deserves perfect.

He and his family participate in a charity every year for Christmas. The charity is Operation Christmas Child. Every year, he and his family fill shoeboxes full of toys, hygiene items, blankets, and school supplies for children in need around the world.

I was fortunate enough to participate this year which felt amazing. Giving back to the community was something I wanted to do more and now I'm able to give back with his help.

I'll always be grateful that I'm able to give back with him. We will be helping make blankets for those who need it Dec. 6, which will be a lot of fun.

I'll continue to work hard so I can inspire him and motivate him so we can build a life together we both have always dreamed of and more.

I'll leave with a word of advice. When you find yourself feeling like nothing can bring you down when you are soaring, don't ever give up on the one person who makes you fly. Ever. When it's real, you can't walk away.