It's happening!

In their mid 20's, Brianna was working as a nanny and at a retail clothing store while preparing to search for a teaching position. Billy was serving in the Navy as a Corpsman, working in the hospital in Norfolk, Virginia. One evening on August 10th, 2016, Brianna stopped by Bar Louie's with a friend for a drink. Brianna visited Bar Louie's often after work or with friends many times. She got to know the bar tending staff pretty well. That night her favorite bartender, Libby, was working. Libby mentioned that her brother was home on leave from the Navy. Being the funny person that she is, Brianna asked "Is he cute?". Libby immediately said "Oh my gosh, you two would be perfect together! Let me send him a picture of you!" Embarrassingly Brianna smiled for the picture, but didn't think anything of it until about 10 minutes later when Libby's brother, Billy, and 2 of his friends showed up at the bar! Introductions were made and Billy and Brianna began conversing about your usual 'get to know you' topics. He poked fun at her for drinking her beer too slowly and she still remembers him showing her where he would insert an IV on her arm. She was so impressed by his intelligence and he by her beauty. Brianna had to leave about an hour later to visit another friend, but not before exchanging phone numbers with Billy. He was heading to Cedar Point the next day and then back to Virginia.

Billy and Brianna continued to text each other almost everyday, and Billy even invited Brianna to his best friends wedding after only 2 or 3 weeks of texting. Brianna was hesitant, but after a small push from Libby, and maybe some liquid courage, she agreed. However, Brianna felt like they should have a first date before the wedding together, and Billy agreed. So he planned it for the night before the wedding. He picked her up, and met her parents. He ended up taking her to a chic wine bar in Flint called Cork on Saginaw. They had a romantic dinner and even had their first kiss as he dropped her off.

After enjoying the wedding together, Billy and Brianna, continued to text, call, or Skype everyday. Brianna, even went to visit Billy in Virginia for New Years 2017. They had the best time together and feelings were definitely growing. In February of 2017 Billy returned home to Michigan for good, as he was honorably discharged from the Navy in March 2017. (We thank him for his service.) Billy and Brianna began visiting each other every chance they got, and despite their strong feelings for each other, they hadn't made it official yet. On March 3rd, 2017 (also Brianna's parents wedding anniversary), they were going out shopping together. While driving, Brianna got up the courage to play a song for Billy. It was a country song (his least favorite), so she told him to just listen to the lyrics. The song was called "Put a Label on It". Brianna ask billy if he understood why she wanted him to listen to it, and he said yes. They were officially official, boyfriend and girlfriend.

Brianna and Billy could not stand being apart so they moved in to an apartment together in November of 2018. They got 2 cats together, first Totter, and then Oliver. They were so in love, and never got sick of each other... :). They always talked about forever and one day Billy decided to turn that talk about forever into a real forever. Billy realized that waiting for some picture perfect moment was the wrong idea, and that he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Brianna. He was ready to solidify that. It was mid November 2021 and Billy asked if Brianna wanted to have a casual Thursday night date night and have dinner at the amazing little Italian restaurant down the road. They hadn't gone out on a date in a while, so Brianna was excited. She was so excited she told a coworker, who asked if he was going to propose. To which Brianna responded with a confident "No way!" Billy and Brianna decided to meet up at the restaurant after they both got off of work. When Billy arrived to the restaurant he had some beautiful flowers for Brianna. She was happily surprised. During dinner they ordered drinks from the specialty menu, which they liked to do from time to time. They shared some delicious appetizers, pastas and brick oven pizza. They were stuffed and had hardly eaten all their food, so the leftovers were bagged up to take home. They walked out of the restaurant into a dusty first snow of winter. As they were walking to their cars, under the faint glow of the street lights and snow falling, Billy stopped and set the leftovers on the ground. He then pulled out a big black box, with a bright light that shines when you open it. The light was shining on a beautiful sparkly ring inside. Billy told Brianna that he couldn't wait any longer to have forever together. And didn't see any reason to keep waiting to get engaged. He loved her for exactly who she was, and she loved him just the same. In total shock, the only word that Brianna could get out was "WHAT?!" over and over again. Billy had to ask if she had an answer for him, and she, of-course, said YES!