How They Met:

Kim and Stephen lived across North Kings Highway from each other in 2010.  They had many hobbies in common, including ballroom dancing, backpacking, and enjoying the Washington, DC brewery scene.  So they met exactly how you might expect: three years later via eHarmony.

Their First Date:

Kim interfered with Stephen’s efforts at gallantry at every turn: she refused to give out her phone number online (so he could call and ask her on a date, like a gentleman~!), and insisted on arranging the first date herself.  

 

 

But the first date lasted until midnight,

 

 

 

 

and the second scored a kiss at the Titanic Memorial,

 

 

 

 

and the third involved a motorcycle (and really, what girl can resist a motorcycle???).

 

 

A month after the met, both Kim and Stephen knew they had found something special.

When Kim Met Stephen:

I’d been on a lot of eHarmony first dates, and I had learned to temper my expectations.  If he looked handsome, he was probably scrawny in person.  If he was an engineer, he was probably socially awkward.  If he wrote eloquently about interests we shared, it was likely an exaggeration, and he’d have nothing further to say of interest.  So as Stephen turned around, a muscular navy sailor with a confident bearing and engaging personality, I found myself tongue tied and tripping all over myself.  I was pretty sure he was never going to call me again after I cut off his hug with a handshake not once, but twice!  But I certainly hoped he would: our first date had lasted until the bar closed, and I’d never met anyone I was more interested in seeing again!

When Stephen Met Kim:

I had been in the Washington D.C. area for a little more than 2 years.  I was young (still am!), single, and just tired of meeting the same types of people through work or around the Hill.  I joined eHarmony to meet people outside my current social circle.  I went on dates with different people a couple times a week – having fun, but definitely nothing serious.  So when Kim and I hit it off at the brewery, I was excited.  Unfortunately, my family flew in the day after our first date for a week, so I didn’t have time to actually call her back until a week and a half later (sorry hun!).  Luckily, she reached out to me and that led to our second date and first kiss.  After that, it has been me and her and a whole lot of fun and happiness.

And the Rest was History:

Before date one, Kim already knew that an overseas posting was in her future.  Kim and Stephen decided to take it day-by-day, figuring any relationship that wasn’t worthwhile would peter out long before her PCS date.  When their relationship only got stronger with each passing day, they knew they’d have the kind of connection that could survive a physical separation.