Eric and I will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary this coming August.
When we were first started discussing weddings and rings many months before our engagement in 1992, I told him that I didn't really want a sticky-up-catch-on-everything diamond. It's just my personal preference. I wanted a ring that was simple and different than the traditional diamond solitaire.
And so it was that he found a beautiful sapphire in a simple gold setting surrounded by diamonds. (A poor man's version of Lady Di's classic ring, which I had always loved.) The sapphire, by tradition, symbolizes truth, sincerity, and faithfulness. It's where we get the term, "True Blue."
Googling the meaning of sapphires turned up this gem. (Get it? I know. Shut up.)
Because sapphires represent divine favor, they were the gemstone of choice for kings and high priests. The British Crown Jewels are full of large blue sapphires, the symbol of pure and wise rulers.
Since sapphire symbolizes sincerity and faithfulness, it is an excellent choice for an engagement ring.
It was the perfect ring for me. For us.
But there was another ring. He got it for me as a wedding present. It also had sapphires and diamonds and I wore it on the ring finger of my right hand for many years. I loved that ring, too.
A few weeks ago my son, Adam, called to tell us he was very much in love with the beautiful girl he's been dating.
"Mom, I want to marry her."
Those words stopped me dead in my tracks. I knew he was serious about this one. *deep breath*
He also told me he had been saving up for a ring, but he couldn't afford the one he wanted to get her.
I thought of the other ring. The other sapphire sitting in my jewelry box that I hadn't worn for years. The wedding gift from Eric. My husband and I talked late into the night.
I sent the ring to Adam with an explanation. It was my ring and I loved it. But it would give me great pleasure (if he thought she would like it, of course) if he proposed to his girlfriend, Stephanie with that ring.
We crossed our fingers and said prayers and thanked God that our son had found someone so special. Our question was not, "would she say yes?" (We knew she would.) We were wondering, "would she like the ring?"
And then, Adam sent the following photo with the caption, "Got her!"
Internets, meet the future Mrs. Adam Hohneker. She's the one wearing that beautiful sapphire and diamond engagement ring.
And then I had the following text exchange with my future daughter-in-law. (Whoa! I'm going to be someone's mother-in-law? How cool is that?)
Mom...? YES!
Stephanie, welcome to our big, fat, Cuban family. We couldn't be happier for both of you.
Adam, you chose well, my son. *sniff, sniff*
