Michael spent the summer in Montana brewing barrels of Moose Drool Ale. Bria was a barista in NW Portland, serving tasty food and making delicious drinks to put herself through college. OkCupid brought them together online. They talked for nearly 5 weeks over the internet. Michael had driven home for Thanksgiving, not letting on that he had quit his job at the brewery. He was planning to stay back in the Portland Area. Then on December 5th, 2013 Bria couldn't pass up taking a sunrise picture as she headed over the 205 Bridge to work. What she didn't know then, was that would be the first sunrise of the rest of her life. That clear and chilly evening in December, they finally had their first date. Bria had worked at both her jobs that day, and almost cancelled on Michael. But he encouraged her to just, "grab a beer after work" with him. She agreed to meet him at Night Light Lounge in SE near where she was working, they met at 6 pm and the rest was magic... *Ahem, Well... Not exactly... If we're being totally honest, the first 40 minutes were brutal. Michael was shy, and quiet. Bria felt like she was drilling him with questions. She didn't know then she was torturing him by making him play Gin Rummy. Michael hates to play cards. But it gave him something to do with his hands, and they eventually snuggled into the corner booth for an evening of cards and conversation.

As they were leaving each other's company that night, it started to snow little flurries. Michael pulled Bria in for a hug. Bria went in for a kiss, he kissed her back. She followed it with an Eskimo Kiss. He smiled and rubbed noses. They spent every day together, there was barely a day between each date. By Christmas 2013, the two were falling madly in love. In February 2014, unbeknownst to his parents, Michael & Bria moved in together.

Bria took Michael camping in March of 2014. She couldn't wait to get him out into the woods to see her very favorite camping spot just past Cougar, WA. However, being that it was March...It poured on the two love birds all weekend. We snuggled up to keep warm and played countless games of Gin Rummy huddled under the tarps we had hung to keep the ever-changing rain and wind from drowning out the fire. It occurred to Bria, this may not have been an ideal situation to introduce Michael to her love of camping - She hoped he would love it once she showed him her favorite fishing spot, or how to tie up the inner tubes to trees so they could sunbathe on the river during the heat of the day and not get cast into the rapids. But all it took was a fresh beer at 9am, bacon and eggs over a roaring fire, and Michael agreed to go camping anytime she requested. As summer was nearing an end, Bria requested one last trip before the fall weather would cool the shade and it would be too chilly to float the river. Michael agreed and on September 12th, 2014 they left work early and headed into the woods.

When they arrived at their favorite camping spot, Bria was distraught, as the log next to the campfire that had existed there since high school (when she first discovered the spot) had been chopped up and used as firewood! Bria stood there, speechless, not understanding why anyone would do such a terrible thing, then suddenly something caught her eye. Michael had bent down, and was on one knee, with a ring in his hands. Michael asked, "Will you be my wife?" Shocked that he wanted to marry me. "Are you for real? Of course!" He replied, "I'm done waiting." PS: Joke was on him, because I made him wait until I was done with Grad school, and my braces were off before we'd finally tie the knot! Copy & Paste To Watch The Engagement Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B085XS5YMh2BbGYyOUVqR0txaGs/view?usp=sharing

On Valentine's Day, February 2015 We bought a house. We signed papers and moved into our First Home March 2015. There was a lot of work to do... We painted the inside. Then the outside. Then we landscaped. And tore up the front yard for a full make over. Bria painted the front door bright orange. Some thought she was crazy. But everyone loves it. We've now lived here over 3 Years. We love this tiny house, it's not large... just 1300 sq. ft. Our dream is to purchase some property to build our Forever Home.