Well, you asked for it, so here it is, a very long abridged version of how Laurie and I found each other and fell in love with one another. Enjoy!
Jeb R. Mortier & Laurie L. Macaraeg
Around January 2001, as per my ministers request, I signed-up on the yacog.org forum for Young Adults of the Churches of God, which just so happened to be hosted and run by one of my church friends in order to give young adults in the church the ability to keep in touch with other young adults they've met during church events and holydays in the churches around the globe.
In May 2001 I graduated from MSOE (Milwaukee School of Engineering) and was finally able to pursue a career as well as a relationship if God ever choose to help me meet the right girl. About one week after graduation, I received an email from Laurie. As it was, I didn't know any Laurie, and the letter was simply signed Laurie Lynn Macaraeg, your sister in Christ.
Of course, this sparked my interest, and, since I didn't know anyone from the Philippines, and definitely not anyone named Laurie Lynn Macaraeg, I decided to email her back and learn a little bit about her and what made her decide to email me. As it happened, she was also on the yacog.org church forum, and her dad was a Filipino minister of our church in the Philippines.
She just happened to be looking at different bios listed on the yacog site of her friends, and happened to run across mine and decided to read it. She told me in her email to me that she found it to be inspiring because of how I put my faith & trust in God, and she loved to see that in people, especially in this day and age.
After this, we continued to email each other just about every day, and sometimes even twice a day. As I was still on a job hunt, I was spending a lot of time on the computer so it only seemed the right thing to do to email her. We built a very strong bond and friendship through our emails and through instant messaging.
One day I decided to call her for no reason at all. I simply wanted to hear her voice. That was it, after that first phone call we were hooked and we called each other every weekend from that day on. We choose the weekend because we knew that eventually I would get a job and wouldn't be able to call then, and also because we knew that if we called on more than just the weekend, I'd go broke really quick. Even on the weekends we would call, and still do, we'd talk for at least 2 hours, and at times, we even spoke for 7 hours straight once or twice.
Through that summer I took classes at the technical college to finish up my last 2 credits to get my diploma from MSOE. While I was taking my last classes, I would instant message Laurie while I was in the computer lab as I completed my projects. Even though Laurie was still finishing up her own college courses, she helped me write my psychology paper on the different aspects of the Philippines, and in turn, I helped her with some of her projects as she finished her last year of college.
After a very long job hunt, I was finally able to get a career job at Klein Internet Marketing Group as a Web Development Specialist and Project Manager. I quickly found that, through the blessing of the owner, as well as my production manager, I was allowed to instant message Laurie while I was at work. We continued to chat every day, as I would come into the office in the morning, which was just before she was going to bed each night. Being able to talk all the time, we became very close & became best friends and soul mates. Even to this day, after a year and a half of working at Klein Internet Marketing Group, I am allowed and continue to instant message and email Laurie every day.
After I started to work at Klein Internet, I purchased a web camera for both myself and for Laurie and we started to videoconference every time or whenever I was at home and we were both available. It allowed us to see one another and have a more intimate and closer relationship and in which we could see each other's facial expressions and see into each other's worlds.
As our bond grew closer, we began to send cards & gifts to each other, and I sent her a dozen long stemmed roses for her graduation as well as several other occasions. As we continued to grow closer & become more attracted to each other, we decided that for one of our upcoming religious holydays, I would fly her here so we could finally meet in person for the first time. As it so happened, the holyday fell just after September 11th terrorist attacks and even though we both wanted to still go through with our plans to meet, both Laurie & I felt it would be unwise and an unnecessary risk.
I had bought her a gift of a very nice, quality telescope because we both liked the stars and the night sky. I was going to give it to her when I flew her here but instead found that I had to give it to her brother, Charlie, whom I became very close friends with after our first meeting. He was in Cincinnati, Ohio, at our churches home office attending bible classes before he went back home at the end of October 2001. The gift also contained fall leaves from my home in Wisconsin, as well as some gifts for her sisters Cheryl and Meryl, whom I became friends with while becoming best friends with Laurie.
Eventually we realized that we really liked each other, and I realized I was falling in love with her, and vice versa. Because her family is a somewhat traditional Filipino family, it was my duty to ask her dad's permission to court her. It just so happened that he was going to be in Cincinnati, Ohio on a ministerial business trip to the churches home office, and it offered me the chance to speak to him and ask his permission to formally court her.
In May 2002, after an 8-hour drive to Cincinnati, Ohio, I took her father to dinner where we talked for 6 hours about everything but her. I was very nervous, and though he may not admit it, I think he was too because he knew why I was there. After 6 hours, I finally got the nerve to ask her father, whom I had already grown to love and respect, for his permission.
As I asked him, the look on his face turned from serious, to dead serious, and we discussed all the possible repercussions of us courting, and of a long distance relationship. We discussed the future and any possible plans for us getting married. In the end, he gave me his blessing, and I was finally able to stop holding my breath and let out a huge sigh of relief.
As soon as I got home from Cincinnati, Ohio, I informed Laurie that her father gave me his blessing and we could formally court. Because we were unable to actually see each other in person every day, this mostly meant that we could start to have a more intimate and personal relationship and talk about deeper subjects such as marriage. Needless to say, we were both very excited.
All through this time, even today, we continue to write, email, video chat, instant message, send gifts, cards & flowers to each other.
Because we so desperately wanted to meet in person, I convinced my younger sister Kimberly to fly with me to the Philippines to meet Laurie and her family for 3 weeks as well as attend the fall religious holydays that were coming up in September 2002.
The first time I saw her, I was truly amazed at how beautiful she looked. In fact, the first words out of my mouth were, "You are so beautiful!" after which, we hugged and I kissed her on the forehead, which was completely spontaneous. I had never even kissed a girl before that. She is the first and only girl I have ever kissed, and the only one I ever want to kiss.
After 2 weeks, Laurie & I decided to speak to her parents while we were visiting Eden Nature Park in Davao City. We talked for a long time about all the things that matter in such a huge decision, and finally we got her parents blessing to get married. That night we got engaged though we felt it was a bit informal because I didn't have an engagement ring.
I felt a little foolish for not having bought a ring, but before I bought her a ring, I wanted to be sure she was the right one, and she did as well. At that point we knew that we were right for each other, and though I could not find an engagement ring for her, I bought her diamond earrings as a temporary replacement until I could find the right ring for her.
In October 2002, after 3 wonderful weeks with Laurie and her family, my sister Kimberly and I flew back to Wisconsin. Laurie and I desperately missed each other. For several weeks we would constantly call, chat, email and video chat with each other at every possible chance we could get.
By November 2002, Laurie and I were already discussing the possibility flying her here for a visit so we could be together again, even if only for a little while. We decided that it was best for her to come here with her parents in April/May of 2003 so she could have travel companions for her first time flying here & so she and her parents can meet my immediate and extended family.
During mid December 2002 through mid January 2003 Laurie and I decided to go on a relationship fast, breaking all communication with each other for 1 month. We did this to turn to God and make absolutely sure that He is the center of our lives, that He is guiding us, and that it is absolutely His will that we are right for each other.
After we broke our relationship fast, we desperately needed to talk to one another because we missed each other so much. We knew for certain that God had brought us together and that He is the center of our lives, our love for one another, and that He is guiding us.
Because of our fast, we decided that we did not want to be apart any longer than we have to and decided that after Laurie's visit in April that we would file all the paperwork so she could get her fiancé visa and we could get married.
Beginning February 2003, after looking at everything involved in filing for a fiancé visa, we decided that it would be best to search for an immigration attorney to handle our case. We both felt it would be wise to have an immigration attorney handle this because we didn't want to make any mistakes and be apart any longer than we needed to. I talked with Laurie's dad, Edmond, about what type of Lawyer I should look for, and then I began my search.
By March 2003, I was able to talk to Steve Riznyk and hire the services of Riznyk & Company to handle our case. As soon as we found Steve, Laurie and I began making wedding plans and began deciding on invites, dresses, suits, and all other aspects of the wedding. We began to fill out the paperwork the firm sent to us and after Laurie leaves in May 2003, we will process the paperwork so we can get married.
I had also had an engagement ring designed for her, picking out the band and the stones and settings for her engagement ring, which I would be giving to her upon her arrival in April. I love her more than anyone in the world, and I would do anything for her, including moving to the Philippines in order to be with her as husband and wife. She is a gift from God and I cherish her and thank God for her every day of my life.
Jeb R. Mortier / Laurie L. Macaraeg May 21, 2003
Laurie and her parents came for a visit from April 25th through May 12th. I picked them up at the General Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the morning of April 25th, where I had a dozen long-stemmed red roses, each one I hand-picked myself, waiting for my dearest Laurie.
Laurie later told me that this was the best part of the entire airport scenario. She said that she would never forget this day. She even had the roses dried and preserved, and said that she would be framing them as well. After brining Laurie and her parents home to meet my parents, they unpacked and spent the day visiting with my family.
The night of April 25th we all went out to a nice restaurant on Lake Winnebago where Laurie and I went to the top of a light house by the restaurant and I formally asked her to marry me, giving her the ring that I had custom made for her and had waited so long to give her.
After she said yes, we went down to eat in the restaurant, where, to our surprise, our families, including her parents, my parents, and my brothers and sisters, along with some of the people eating at the restaurant gave us applause and congratulated us.
After dinner we spent the evening together talking and catching up on all the little things that had been happening that we normally didn't talk about during our phone calls or letter writing.
On Saturday, April 26th, her father, a minister of our church in the Philippines, was invited to speak by our local Pastor, Mike Hanisko. Edmond Macaraeg spoke on the Philippines and how God is working there and gave a slide presentation. Afterwards, people in church came and met Laurie and I and congratulated us.
Sunday, April 27th, we went to a family reunion, in Laurie's honor, on my mom's side so that the family could meet Laurie and her parents. To our surprise, they had a bridal shower for us and gave us gifts and cards.
Monday and Tuesday, the 28th and 29th, I went to work in the morning and spent the evening with Laurie and her parents and my family. We would have dinner together and discuss wedding plans, plans for the future as well as the rest of my family getting to know Laurie and her parents better.
Wednesday, the 30th, I took Laurie to work with me where they held a pot luck in her honor, and so they could try some of her Filipino dishes, and so they could meet her finally. After work, Laurie and I went to a favorite restaurant of mine, after which we went to a professional base ball game at Miller Park, where the Milwaukee Brewers played the Expos, and lost horribly.
Thursday, the 1st, I went to work as usual and came home and did some wedding gift registry at some stores in preparation for our wedding.
Friday, the 2nd, I drove Laurie and her Mom down to Cincinnati, Ohio, where we met up with her father, Ed, who had left on Thursday for the Ministerial Conference of Elders, which was held by the United Church of God for all of it's ministers world wide. We spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Ohio, and visited some friends. After our visit, I drove Laurie and her mom, Lorna, home Sunday night.
Monday through Thursday, the 5th through the 8th, were pretty standard, I'd come home from work, spend the evening with Laurie, and because her father is a minister, we would marriage council with him. We would eat dinner as a family, and spend time together as much as possible.
Friday, the 9th, Laurie, her parents, and I went to Milwaukee to spend the evening and have dinner with one of their long time family friends, as well as see some of the sights of Milwaukee.
Saturday, the 10th, we went to church, and then went up north to Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, so Laurie and her parents could meet my grand parents and great grand parents on my dad's side of the family.
Sunday, the 11th, was Mother's day. For mothers day we had my dad's side of the family over for a family reunion so they could meet Laurie and her parents.
Monday, the 12th, I brought Laurie and her parents to the airport and we said our final goodbyes. I went to work and have been looking forward to our wedding day ever since.
UPDATE:
On October 9th, 2003, I married my best friend, and love of my life, Laurie Lynn Macaraeg. Only God is first in my life, and Laurie is definately second.
On October 28th, 2005, Laurie and I became parents. Laurie gave birth to our first child, Jordan Hunter Mortier. He is the first grandchild on both the Mortier and Macaraeg sides of the family. Pictures of our son have been uploaded to our website.
On April 12th, 2007, Laurie gave birth to our second child, a daughter, Aubrey Lynn Mortier. Photos have been uploaded to our website.
To keep up to date with what's happening in our lives, please feel free to read our blog.
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