We met through our mutual friend, Sam, in the Fall 2008. He was a close friend of Brian's and Miranda knew him through her daddy's barbershop singing hobby. He introduced us to one another at a bowling alley in DuBois, PA. There were no sparks in the beginning for either one us. 3 months went by without any communication, but one day, Brian logged into facebook and saw that he had a friend request from "Miranda Crowell". Miranda had asked Sam to relay contact information to Brian, but Sam kept forgetting, so she took action upon herself to try to get to know Brian a little better, as he was very quiet and very reserved the first time they met. The two talked online for a couple weeks to try to get to know each other better before a possible 2nd hangout. Brian decided that he would go out with Miranda, but did not know if there was a realistic chance of Miranda being a potential girlfriend knowing they were 50 miles apart from one another. The two of them had one very important quality going for them, PATIENCE. Sometimes, days would go by without them seeing one another, sometimes up to a month at the beginning of the relationship. By Valentines weekend of 2009, the two started communicating more and saw that they had some very similar lifestyle interests/morals and values.
Brian bought his own house in the fall of 2009, and even though it was just up the yard from his mom and dad's, it was a little bit more privacy for him and Miranda whenever Miranda came to the area.
By the end of 2009, there were encouraging signs that maybe there was a future for the two of them together. At the beginning of 2010, things did not start out well for Brian. He got very sick one day in March, right after Miranda's 26th birthday. Brian texted Miranda and told her that he was very sick and didn't know what was wrong. Miranda, out of the goodness of her heart, came down to see Brian even though Brian said he would be too sick to offer much company. Brian asked Miranda if she could take him to the emergency room that evening, and she did, even though it was getting sort of late and she lived 58 miles away. Miranda wanted to make sure Brian was ok before she went home, so she spent the night by Brian's side and went home the next afternoon. What Miranda didn't know, was what happened the following day. Brian gave his co-workers a huge scare when he collapsed in the hallway. An ambulance came and picked him up and took him to the emergency room again, while Miranda knew nothing about any of this. Brian didn't want to tell her, but he did, and she was very shook up to find out what had transpired that day without her knowing.
By April of 2010, Brian was recooperating, but what he didn't know, was that Miranda was going to put a status on facebook that would shock the area. On April 1st, 2010, Miranda posted a status on facebook that said that Brian proposed to her. Brian was getting lots of congratulatory text messages on his phone, but he did not know what they were talking about. Even her own Grandmother was confused. Miranda would later tell Brian that she was playing an April fool's joke on him. It was definately a shocker to Brian, but what a relief it was to Brian when he found out it was a joke. At that time, Brian had stronger feelings for Miranda, but they still weren't strong enough for him to want to consider getting married.
Brian's brother Joe had some very serious health scares starting in mid summer 2010. Brian and his family had doubts that Joe would make it through and life a normal life again, but Miranda, even though miles away, tried to keep encouraging Brian that Joe and his mother would make it through this ok. Miranda was really there for Brian, Joe and their mother. She was always so positive and encouraging no matter how bad things really got. By late 2010, Brian was convinced that Miranda was the right person for him, but still hesitant to say that four letter saying (Will you marry me?). By the beginning of 2011, Brian and his brother Bob both had some decisions to make in their relationships with Miranda and Summer. Bob mentioned to Brian about going to Ben Rossi Jewelers to go "ring" shopping. Bob was completely set on a ring, Brian was scared and quiet about his feelings towards Miranda. Bob was more open and all his family and some of his friends knew about a future proposal. Both of them went to Ben Rossi jewelers at the beginning of 2011. Neither wanted too many people to know about it. Bob at least told his mother, Brian was too scared to even tell her. Mirandas celebrated her 27th birthday in March of 2011 without Brian being there, but what she didnt know, along with so many other friends and loved ones, was that Brian was in the process of buying a "ring" for her. Brian's mother had actually showed Miranda the ring Bob bought for Summer, but no one knew that Brian had a hidden ring for Miranda. Brian had planned to propose to Miranda on April 1st, 2011, and this time, it would be no joke. However, through a couple phone conversations with Miranda, Miranda told Brian that it would be a big insult if anyone ever seriously proposed to someone on April Fool's day. This changed Brian's plans significantly. Miranda came to visit Brian on the weekend of March 19th and March 20th, 2011, and Brian thought that maybe this would be his opportunity to finally propose to her. They went for a walk on March 19th and Brian had the ring in his golf bag ready to ask her. He even texted Bob to tell him that he was going to shock the area and himself by proposing. However, Brian could not find it in his courage to ask her. Sunday March 20th came along, and this time, when they took Opie (Brian's dog) on a walk, Brian somehow found a way to ask Miranda to be a part of his life forever. After the engagement was official, Brian asked Miranda to do him a big favor, and that was "Dont tell anyone" and dont post it on facebook. Brian's parents did not know anything, and he didn't know when Miranda would be coming back to the area, so he didn't want his parents to find out through facebook. He asked Miranda if there was a way she could come down for a few hours the weekend of March 26th and March 27th, so she could be there whenever he found a way to tell his parents. With much hesitation, Brian found a way to tell his mother, and she was astounded when she found out. She laughed because she knew nothing about the engagement, but she was excited and knew that Brian was more reserved and private about certain things. Brian's dad was not home that evening, but when he did arrive back home late that night, Brian found a way to tell his Dad. Even though his Dad was half asleep, his Dad was very excited for Brian and Miranda. Neither Paul or Karen were shocked to find out. The friends that Brian found a way to tell were shocked, as they had betted that Summer would have a ring on her finger way way sooner than what Miranda would. Little did anyone know that Miranda was first to have a ring on her finger.
