Our Wedding

After "swiping right" on each other and "matching" in the Bumble App, I messaged Kevin, and we started getting to know each other through instant messages. Both of us were looking to meet new people, so after a few weeks of messaging we decided to meet in person. On Good Friday, March 30, 2018, we met at a Mexican Restaurant near La Vernia for lunch, and as usual Kevin was early, and I was a little late (to be fair, I pre-warned him that I'm often running late... so I had to prove I'm not a liar! LOL). Kevin was waiting in a booth at the back of the restaurant. When I saw him across the room, I thought he was even more attractive in person than in his pictures! He was polite and the conversation flowed naturally, BUT ... he kept staring at me!?! Not in a creepy way, but it was making me self-conscious. After our food arrived his staring subsided and the conversation got even more interesting when I decided to break a cardinal rule and ask about his political affiliation -- I had to confirm my suspicion that he and I are indeed opposites on the political spectrum. Luckily, he doesn't like to talk about politics, and I get to talk about it with my debate students all the time, so generally avoiding the topic at home just works for us (plus, ideologically he leans WAY more to my side than he likes to admit). After we finished our lunch he invited me to hang out at his place for a while. Since I had decided he wasn't a weirdo (luckily he had kept his staring to a minimum), I followed him back to his house. When we got there, I asked to use the restroom. Once I was finished, I walked back into the living room and Kevin walked right up to me and kissed me... softly, yet so passionately. I melted as a flame was ignited, and since that moment my love has grown more and more everyday for this kind, brave, hardworking, smart, and handsome man who I am proud to say will soon be MY husband. #ForeverEasley R. Nicole Manning May 14, 2019

As we begin this story, I'm living in the small podunk town of Stockdale. I'm on a dating app swiping left on different people and all of a sudden I see a red-haired bombshell with sparkling-blue eyes that you could get lost in for days. So, I take a chance and swipe right. I don't know who liked whom first, but that doesn't really matter. We chatted for awhile and decided to go out on a date. I picked the day, time and location which she agreed to. Yes, our first date was at a Mexican food restaurant about halfway between us. I was so nervous as I was getting ready thinking she's way out of my league... this isn't going to happen... she'll never show. Well let me tell you what, she did and it's the best thing that's ever happened to me. I got to the restaurant about 30 minutes early because I was nervous. So I'm sitting in the corner of the restaurant watching the door, palms sweating, pulse racing, and then the door opens. In walks the prettiest woman I've ever seen. We locked eyes, and my heart seemed to stop in my chest. Everyone else in the place disappeared, and it was just the two of us. She sat down and introductions were made. Small talk ensues, and we're having a good time. After a while, she says all of a sudden, "I know you're not supposed to do this on a first date, but what are your political views?" I'm sitting here thinking, great a psycho!?! Turns out we have completely different views on some things and on other things we think exactly the same. Its creepy really, how much alike we think sometimes. We talk about everything, even if I don't usually remember it until reminded, and that's the key -- open communication. Nicole Manning is the best friend I've ever had. She may not BE perfect, but she's MY perfect. Kevin Jay Easley May 17, 2019