By this point in time you have probably tried singles events, church groups focused on singles, and met any available singles through your friends and families, but nothing has worked out. Have you ever considered internet dating? There is some risk involved, definitely some frustration, minor cost, some investment of your time, but huge potential rewards.

I found that internet dating was easier for me if I established criteria to guide me through the process. For example, I emailed the person several times to get a comfort level before providing any phone numbers or setting a date to meet. I also reviewed all correspondence carefully to ensure they were providing a consistent story about their life, background, situation, and what they were looking for.

If the emails did not track, I cut off communication, thinking I did not want someone in my life who was not honest. Once we got to the point to talk on the phone I developed a list of general information I wanted to work into the conversation, such as, do you have a good relationship with your parents? What about your siblings? Who would you go to first if you had a problem? When we got to the point of setting up a date to meet I always picked a busy, public restaurant that was mutually convenient and established a time limit on the initial meeting.

I told the prospective partner we will give it 30 minutes, if we don't like each other, one of us can say I have to feed the cat. Statistics have shown that you have to meet about 75 people through the internet before making one good connection. People are looking for various things and are all at different points in their lives, it is truly a matter of timing when you are internet dating. Who's on the internet at the same time you are, what you are both looking for, and then finding each other.

My goal was to go on two new dates each week and go to two new places in my area each week. For example, if I normally shop at the grocery store one mile from my home I would shop at another grocery store for a week just to expand my area of opportunity and open up any possibilities. I had been internet dating for a couple of years by the time I met my husband.

It was great because we were both love struck after the first date and the relationship moved very quickly. We met in November, 2003 and married in April, 2005. There are times when I still cannot believe he is real or our marriage is real. Love is real, believe it, it can happen to you.

My persistence and hard work have been rewarded one thousand times over, good luck to you all, wish you the very best of luck in your search.