Brandon Keilen

Brandon in November of 2019

### Siblings

Angela Keilen, Ronald Keilen Jr., Alison Keilen, Craig Keilen, Rebecca Forman, Brent Keilen, Cara Keilen, Christy-Ann Keilen, Amber Keilen

### Spouse

Michaela Keilen

Brandon Timothy Keilen is the son of Ronald and Jillene Keilen. He is the younger brother of Angela, Ronald Jr., Alison, Craig, Rebecca, Brent, and Cara Keilen and the older brother of Christy-Ann and Amber Keilen. He is married to Michaela Keilen.

## Early Life

Brandon Timothy Keilen was born on September 15, 1989, to Ron and Jill Keilen. He was the couple's eighth child, and they went on to have two more children after him.

### Childhood Education

Brandon was homeschooled and raised in a strong Baptist family. He played Cello for a number of years in the Lansing Homeschool Music Association before switching to Euphonium, which he played up until his graduation.

## Family

*See also: Michael Bates and Brandon Keilen wedding*

### Courtship

Brandon first met the Bates family in December of 2009 while members of the family were serving with the ministry where he worked. One of the people he met at this time was Michaela, although she was only briefly in Chicago and he didn't get to know her very well. The two crossed paths many times over the next few years, and he began noticing her more. He felt it hard to get to know her at first as she was shy, but the more he noticed her taking care of her siblings the more he paid attention. He also began feeling more and more like she was out of his league.

   In November of 2013, Brandon called Michaela's father, Gil Bates, and asked his permission to get to know Michaela better, which was granted.

On December 30, 2013, Michaela came to Lansing, Michigan, to visit Brandon and his family, and he took her out to The English Inn where he presented her with a journal with her name engraved on it. He had filled the first dozen pages with a fairy tale he had written about the two of them. He then gave her a box that contained a gold-covered rose and asked her to begin an official courtship, which she accepted.

### Engagement

Brandon knew he wanted to propose to Michaela in Washington, D.C., during cherry blossom season, so in 2015 he conspired with her parents to get her to the area. On April 13, he sent her on a scavenger hunt, where she followed clues to seven locations before arriving in Great Falls, Virginia, where Brandon proposed and Michaela said yes.

### Wedding

Brandon married Michaela Bates on August 15, 2015, at Wallace Memorial Baptist Church in Knoxville, TN. He had six groomsmen, including some of Michaela's brothers.

For their honeymoon, the couple went to Montana and Wyoming.

### Married Life

After getting married, the couple moved into Brandon's home in Chicago, IL.

#### Infertility

On June 25, 2017, Michaela Keilen shared a post on her blog about her struggles with infertility. The post did not list many medical details, simply saying that they had been seeing doctors after trying to get pregnant with no success for over a year. Michaela said in her post that Brandon was being very supportive through this struggle. As of February, 2019, Brandon and Michaela are still struggling with this.

On February 1, 2023, Brandon and Michaela revealed that they suffered a miscarriage. Though they did not reveal when this occurred they did reveal that the baby was a girl.

## Resume

### Education

He began attending Bible college in Texas some time around 2009, and graduated in 2010.

### Ministry Career

Some time prior to 2009 Brandon began serving for a ministry in Chicago, IL.

### IBLP

After graduating from college, Brandon was hired to be a videographer for the Institute of Basic Life Principles in Chicago, IL.

### Writer Career

In 2017, Brandon began writing and illustrating a children's book. On October 17, 2019, he self-published this book, titled *The Quest of Quinton.* It is available for sale from his and his wife's web store, Keilen Corner.

### Television Appearances

Brandon is regularly featured on the UpTV show *Bringing Up Bates*, which chronicles the lives of his wife Michael's family.

*profile photo credit*

## Wedding Involvement

* groomsman: his sister-in-law Carlin Bates's wedding to Evan Stewart (5/25/19)

## References

1. ↑ http://brandonandmichaela.com/our-story/
2. ↑ https://thebatesfamily.com/2014/01/love-in-the-air/
3. ↑ https://thebatesfamily.com/2016/07/michaels-engagement-part-1/
4. ↑ http://archive.knoxnews.com/entertainment/pop-culture/bringing-up-bates-star-talks-about-show-married-life-in-chicago-2c750f56-0aab-4a35-e053-0100007fe336-370116301.html
5. ↑ http://brandonandmichaela.com/2017/06/25/learning-to-trust/
6. ↑ https://imgur.com/qxMDCUE
7. ↑ "Here's the Scoop!". *Bringing Up Bates*. UPtv, College Park, 31 Aug. 2017.
8. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B3s4qrLHa7a/