Our Family is Forever: February 2009

Almost 16 years ago, on April 10, 1993, the day before Easter Sunday (funny that Easter Sunday was on the 11th that year, 11 years to the day that we would welcome Kambren into our family), in the Jordan River Temple Celestial room, Devin surprised me with a marriage proposal. He did so by presenting me with a beautiful diamond engagement ring which he had kept hidden in his stocking during the Endowment session we had attended. The moment was as beautiful as the room we were sitting in, & also the ring itself. I had never felt more like a true Cinderella.

Unbeknownst to me, he had driven back to Idaho to purchase the ring we had chosen together & then driven back to Utah in a day. I know that marriage isn't about the ring, but rather the love that it symbolizes. Nonetheless, I have always been so fond of my beautiful wedding ring.

Fast forward almost 11 years to January 22, 2004. We were one week away from moving to Thailand. Devin was already here & I had stayed behind to finish packing up our house, selling our car, & attending my youngest sister Crystal's wedding. Her wedding was the 22nd & she had lovingly & thoughtfully planned an early morning sealing, for the convenience of those of us with children. (Just kidding Crys. I know that the SL Temple is busy & you take a time you can get.) So I was running around like crazy that morning trying to get all the kids ready in the middle of all of our half packed up mess. I'm sure that I was running behind anyway, since that is so me. But we finally got out the door & on our way. Somewhere just before the exit I was supposed to take, Aybrielle got car sick & started throwing up. I was on the phone with my friend trying to find out where would be the best place to park, since I was having 2nd thoughts about the underground parking at the Conference Center. I hurredly said goodbye & was trying to see about Aybrielle while still keeping my eyes on the road. Well, although I managed to keep the car on the road, I ended up missing the exit I was supposed to take. That was just about the time I should have been walking into the temple to go change my shoes.

Fortunately, I had been to Salt Lake enough times to still figure out how to get myself from the freeway back over to the temple without too much problem; except for the fact that the mistake cost me an extra 10 minutes. (Which I've learned is actually nothing. Here in Thailand missing an exit would cost you at least 40 minutes.) Anyway, I tried to find parking in a little lot that looked much easier to get in & out of than the Conference Center parking lot, but thank you, it was full. Given the time, I just ended up going to the Conference Center so that I could at least get parked & over to the temple.

Once underground, I completely lost my sense of direction & although I found a parking space, I didn't know how to get us & the stroller out of the parking lot. (Remember my 2nd thoughts about the Conference Center parking lot?!) The whole time in my head & heart I was praying for Heavenly Father to lead me to an exit out of the underground maze. I finally found some stairs, a lot of them, but at that point, who was complaining. So I carried Aybrielle, age 2, in 1 arm, the stroller & diaper bag in another arm, & kept coaching Rhees, age 7, & Ambrian, age 5, to stay close & follow me. We made it up the stairs only to find that there were just as many stairs outside that we had to go back down in order to get to the sidewalk & cross North Temple street. Uuuugh!

It was about 10 minutes before the sealing was to begin & I still had to hike back up the street to the temple entrance, get in & get the kids settled with my nieces & Broc's sisters who were going to be watching them. In addition, I had to get Aybrielle cleaned off, & still go change into my slippers. We were basically running the whole way.

We finally made it into the temple & after a short fashion, I was in my slippers & hurrying up to the sealing room hoping to make it in the door before Crystal & Broc did. Oh the tender mercies. I met my older sister, Jennifer, in the stairway & we were able to walk the rest of the way together & slipped in the room before the bride & groom.

You are probably wondering what in the world that whole, long story has to do with my wedding ring. Okay, so here you go. I hadn't been seated for more than a few minutes, & was trying to catch my breath - literally. (I was 7 months pregnant with Kambren & was totally out of breath.) I went to straighten & brush the wrinkles out of my dress, when I noticed a little fleck of something on my lap. I nearly brushed it off, until it caught the light & I realized it was a small diamond. My eyes nearly popped out of my head & I immediately looked down at my wedding ring. Sure enough, one of the small diamonds that make up a triangle on the right side, was gone. That was the diamond on my lap. I couldn't believe it! Of all the places that morning that it could choose, I know, as if a diamond has a brain & could choose where to fall out, it chose right then, where it could land safely on my lap.

Isn't that AMAZING!!! Jennifer had the great idea to wrap it up in a Toys R Us receipt that I had in my purse (yes, not cleaning out your purse can actually have it's benefits), & there it has stayed, wrapped up in that receipt in my jewelery box for the past 5 years. I know. I'm a geek. It really has been 5 years, & I hadn't ever taken it to get put back in. Partly it's because I always had a ton more things to do that go find a trustworthy jewelery shop, & partly because I was so afraid of my diamond being switched. Well a few weeks ago Devin & I happened to be at the new Central Mall here in the area & found a small jewelery shop. On a whim, I just decided to stop at their window & show them my ring. I asked them if they could put the diamond back in & also check the other prongs. They said that they could. I told them I was concerned about the diamond being switched, & they consoled me by saying that they were honest & wouldn't ever switch it. Of course they said that. What jewelery shop would actually admit that they did switch real diamonds for fakes. But I really did feel good about the shop, & they even offered to let me come in & watch them fix the prong & re-place the diamond.

Well, last Saturday I took the girls for a little bit of girl time & we went to the mall to get cinnamon rolls at Starbucks, walk around & look at clothes, & take my ring to get fixed. They did a beautiful job. They fixed the broken prong, one that was about to break, cleaned it, & then redipped it so that the gold looked nice & new. I was so excited! It looks like a brand new ring!

And the best part - it only cost me $10.00 US!! Oh I do love Thailand!

Thanks again Devin, for such a beautiful gift!!!

I LOVE YOU FOR ETERNITY!