Adam and Angela, a recent IJL success story are getting married this weekend. They share their story with us and we couldn't be happier for them...we love a great story in our office and they have a great one to share!
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IJL: What was your background prior to joining IJL?
Adam: I was divorced with no children and had recently joined the National Guard. I was meeting people through friends and not having much luck. I had been training for the military for several months and acting assistant manager of a retail store.
Angela: I was divorced with no kids and using online dating services since bars and friends are not good sources for me. I was working as an in-house attorney for a construction contractor and just finished building a house and was on winter break from an MBA program.
IJL: What were your fears prior to joining?
Adam: My fears was that I would not find anyone that would understand how I see the world. To me, it is an adventure with excitement everyday. I thought that I was destined to burn up every relationship that I would meet. Secondly, I was fearful of the backlash I would get from my friends and family. There was some hesitation and resistance to the idea that I "needed" a dating service to find someone. What ultimately tipped the scales was the quality of people I was meeting. I knew that IJL had access to people more in line with my direction.
Angela: That I would end up some lonely dog lady, living alone in a small town with only my work to fulfill me. I decided early on in being single that I was not going to try the bar scene as a way to meet my future partner; it didn't fit the mature, professional profile I was looking for. After trying online dating, I was almost sure I was better off alone.
IJL: What ultimately made you come in for an interview?
Angela: I am the kind of person that doesn't give up easily without trying all the reasonable options. When your faucet leaks, you call a plumber. When you need new tires, you see a mechanic. Those people get paid to do their work because they know how to do it. Perhaps the same is true for matchmaking. I obviously wasn't having any luck on my own, so what could it hurt?
IJL: Describe your first date.
Angela: The first thing I noticed about Adam was the combination of his eyes and smile. Both were so big and energetic that I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. The conversation was easy and didn't feel forced or strained. He made me laugh. Before we knew it, 2 1/2 horus had passed and we hadn't ordered dinner yet! It took us another 1 1/2 hours to get through our meals, and then another 15 minutes or so to take care of the check before he walked me to my car. I couldn't quite put my finger on why, but I knew I should see him again.
Adam: The first thing I noticed about Angela was her striking beauty. After a few open-ended questions, conversation was flowing normally. Many stories were told that night about family, past relationships, and expectations. Dinner had come and gone and the night was winding down. I knew there was more to her and I wanted to see her again. Despite my calm, confident best assumptive close, I was nervous as a freshman the first day of high school. I got out the words "When do I get to see you again?" The rest is history.
IJL: When did you know she/he was the right one for you?
Angela: After spending 10 weeks apart, I flew to South Carolina to see his graduation from basic training. This was a 2-day event at the end of training, with Thursday as "Family Day" and Friday as the actual graduation. Family Day was magic. On a military base with thousands of people, I felt as though we were the only two people in the world. As we walked outside the commissary after having ice cream, he told me he wanted to marry me. He wasn't specific about when or how, so I didn't expect it to come anytime soon. But, I didn't flinch, not even for a second. That's how I knew he was it.
Adam: I was away at basic training and hip deep in Army life. By this point I was thoroughly convinced that Angela was going to keep her promise and write me a letter everyday. We had bared our souls in these letters, trying to convey emotion in each written word. Through our campaign we came across my demon, money. I had turned much of my financial struggles around but was still far from where I wanted to be. She sent me a letter that fully disclosed her financial situation. To me it was more than just numbers on a page, it was vulnerability. I knew she was the one for me when I sat miles away in a barracks and felt accepted for the man I am.
IJL: Do you think your paths would have crossed without IJL?
Adam: Never without a chance would we have met outside of IJL.
IJL: What was your favorite part about dating through IJL?
Angela: Brenna and Stephanie were very receptive to the feedback I had given them about each of my dates. They didn't give up on me and got closer to the mark with each person they introduced me too.
IJL: Tell us about the proposal!
Adam: After graduation from basic training, we took a week-long vacation from North Carolina to Washington D.C and then to Chicago before returning home. We traveled by Amtrak between Charlotte and D.C. It was while on the train that the proposal started; I caught Angela off guard by opening a website with wedding rings. For a moment her breath escaped her. Since I was fresh from basic training, I had no ring, but now I had an idea. A couple weeks after we returned home from vacation, I had a ring specially designed. And on April 10th, I asked Angela to marry me.
Best Wishes Adam and Angela from the Minneapolis IJL Team, we enjoyed working with you and wish you a happy marriage!