Her name is Khadija:) →[More:]She's 22 years old. She has a son named Ali, who is 1 and a half right now. He's cute as a button, has long curly hair upto his shoulders, and gets two dimples whenever he smiles. He loves Dinosaurs, and couldn't stop imitating one when we were online. I've seen them both on the webcam and it was love at first sight with Ali. Khadija seemed a little different from the picture she posted on the Marriage site, but she looked even more beautiful in her morning face:)

She works as a Nurse's Assistant at a retirement home (has been working there for the past five years) and loves her job. She plans to complete her graduation and then move into Teaching/Social Work. She's living with her friends right now in Chicago (she's a native of Illinois) and has basically grown up there after her parents moved from the Philippines to the US when she was 10.

She was born Christian (her father is a devout Catholic) and was very much a part of her church. She took part in the choir, Sunday School, and also did work with the Evangelists. She had never seen a muslim until she migrated to the States, and until then--all she knew about the religion was that it was some "barbaric cult" (in her own words.

When she arrived there, and saw the men with the beards, and the women all covered up--she wanted to save them--the women (in her words again). She then got introduced to her cousin's fiance, who happened to be a muslim, and they both would have debates about Islam. She would try and convince him of how evil and wrong it is.

But, the more she tried, the more she realized that maybe it wasn't he who was wrong. That's when things started to change--she started questioning her faith, and wondered if Satan was trying to test her... After going through this ordeal for eight years, one day--she decided to visit the Islamic centre and see for herself what they had to offer. She had already done a lot of research on the religion and so had a lot of questions that she wanted to ask...

They told her that she could come with them to the mosque if she liked, and she accepted... she says the minute she stepped inside it felt as if she had come home--as if god was calling her--and that this was her place.

She then said the Shahadah (a year ago) and formally became a muslim. She wears a hijab, and recently just purchased an Abaya. I have never met anyone like her... anyone as pious, and strong, and as dedicated to her faith as she is. I love her, and told her so, numerous times, but she said we shouldn't talk of such things yet.

I told her I'd already informed my mother about her the first day I'd read her profile, and according to Islamic tenets--I had asked my mother to give her mother a call and ask for her hand in marriage--since the boy can't proposition the girl face to face.

Of course, she being the voice of reason--made me see how unrealistic it would be right now for us to jump into such a thing--so we've decided to wait. I wanted to get married to her within a year, tops, but we've decided to give it three years, with Allah's blessing.

If I work hard (I've already finished my joining formalities at my new work place--which was on Saturday, and had gone to the Lab for my Physical work and blood test--so that's out of the way too), and save my money, I think I should be able to afford a trip to Chicago within the next year or two, Inshallah!

She's got me saying all of these Islamic terms now because I don't want to be any less of a muslim in her eyes. I've always prayed as much as I could, but now I've become determined to be a much better muslim. I still haven't figured out if it's right to be doing that for the woman you love, instead of God himself, but I hope I can do justice to them both, Inshallah.

Just wanted to give you guys a heads up on what's going on in my life, and to ask you for forgiveness if I haven't been on here in awhile--I'm just trying to balance so many things at the same time--it's a bit of a juggling act right now. One which I will hopefully remedy soon.:)

My love to you all as always, please pray for me/send me good wishes, that all of my prayers and hopes and dreams are answered, as are yours...

Thank you.