The Making of a Family Heirloom

Since I first posted my ring on Instagram, I've been receiving so many lovely compliments and questions about it! I wanted to share the story and background on how this "little" ring came to be! (This ring that, let's face it, no 27 year old should ever be allowed to have on her finger. It's just ridiculous, really. But I love it. I lovelovelovelovelovelove it.)

I'm sure if you've been following my wedding Pinterest Board, you can easily see this has been my dream ring since the beginning. I just never, in a million years, thought I'd actually get it until I was like 75 years old after decades of ring upgrades. Or like, winning the lottery or something.

Anyway.

Once upon a time (10 years ago, to be exact), my father gave a ring to my mother.

The ring looked like this:

Don't mind my extremely orange, Oompa-Loompa fingers, this was back in my spray-tan days.

Throughout the years, I would always ask to try it on, whenever I got the chance, and flash my hand out in front of me and stare longingly. 

I begged my mother on multiple occasions to please let me have her ring when she dies. (Yes, we discussed where her belongings would go upon death. And no, she did not take offense to it - so you can wipe that look of horror off your face.) She would usually just laugh, which was a sign I took to mean, "Yes, Michelle, you may have this ring!" But looking back, I'm not sure if I ever got confirmation or not. 

Anyway.

Let's rewind to this past February.

Remember when I was in one of my best friend's weddings in Las Vegas? Well, my mom was there as well!

....with the ring!

I remember at one point during the reception, I put it on my finger (again), and paraded around, pretending it was mine. (Do you see how psycho I can be over a diamond? I'm not necessarily proud of this fact, okay? I blame it on my Korean side.).

ANYWAYYYYY...

At some point during the reception, when I was probably off gorging at the buffet or shaking my tail feather on the dance floor, my mom pulled Verner aside and said, "Just so you know, you can have this center diamond to propose to Michelle with, if you ever want to."

!!!!!!!!!!!!

She must have REALLY wanted us to get married, because let me just say, my mother guarded this ring with her life! She was always kind of reluctant to take it off and let me try it on (probably because I've been known for my carelessness), so the fact that she offered this so graciously says A LOT about how much she loves Verner. Not me so much, but Verner. ;) In fact, she specifically told him that she wouldn't do this for just anyone. But she loves him so much and she loves US together so much, that I think it was a really big way of giving her blessing to us and our future together.

So anyway, about 2 months after that, in April, The Dizz and I went to a jeweler together to look at rings. We had never done anything like it and I just figured he was humoring me with my constant marriage talk. Little did I know, that was the start of this whole process for Verner.

He called my mom and asked if the offer was still on the table (it was). He called my father AND my brothers to get their blessing (which I think is just the sweetest thing ever) and he went to work!

He worked closely with the jeweler and my mom throughout the whole process. They overnighted the ring (with lots o' insurance) from Georgia to San Francisco. He was there while the jeweler removed the diamond and placed it into the new setting, and he went back almost every Saturday while I was at work to check on the progress, give some feedback on the design, and see the updates!

^^^ it's like a little "V" for Verner. awwww ;) ^^^

....all the while I'm over here, without a clue, actin' a fool, and saying things like, "How come you never want to talk about getting married?!"

Moving on.

As a little "thank you,"( and I mean LITTLE, because really, how can we ever thank her enough for this generous gesture? I guess by never getting divorced would be a good start ;) Verner had the side diamonds from the original setting made into diamond studs for her. Then when he saw her in San Diego, he gave them to her with a beautiful card he wrote that made her cry (and then made me cry when I read it after).

And that's the story!

I just about died when he proposed. And I really can't stop staring at it. I'm so thankful. SO thankful. And I absolutely know and appreciate the rarity of this. Like I said, no 27 year old should have this ginormous thing. I have to guard this with my life! It's insane. But I love it so much more knowing that it's now a family ring and has a piece of my mama with it. 

But I guess a family heirloom means I have to pass it on to my own daughter one day, huh?

"Yes, you give it to your oldest daughter," said my mom.

"Well she can have it when I'm DEAD and will have to pry it from my cold, lifeless finger!!!" is what I responded when she told me that.

Have I mentioned my mother is a generous and loving woman, to whom I strive to be like every day? I guess I still have a ways to go on that end...

I am so grateful for you, Mom. Thank you for being you and thank you for being so supportive of Verner and my relationship. We love you so much! :) 

And honey, thank you for being such an amazing planner and ring designer and secret-keeper and human being and, and, and.... I love you and can't wait to be your WIFE one day! <---ahh!

(Has this blog turned to mush or what?)

xoxo