Smile! You're Engaged!

I have a new "banner" that runs across the background of my phone. It reads:



For several of you whom are friends of both Adam and myself, many of you may have read about our engagement story on his blog, The Adventurer. If you haven't gotten a chance to read it, take a few minutes now to indulge yourself in the "mini-romance."

As today dates us to three weeks since the proposal, I find myself still in shock about my updated "relationship status." I sheepishly admit, I find myself gawking at my ring with my friends numerous times, moving my finger up and down, left to right, especially in areas where the lighting is stellar! (Our church building is one of these places!) My peers within my campus organizations tease me, asking me to not "pull the engagement card." I find myself retelling the story to complete strangers (such as this past weekend when I led a teenage girls' workshop on accountability and mentors), and I still have friends congratulating me!

Here are some of the silliest changes that I've had to grown used to since receiving "the ring:"

• Seeing my new Facebook relationship status read "engaged." Ahh!!
• Having a sudden desire to not wear gloves. (Joking-it was 18 degrees today.)
  
• Always wanting to wave or shake people's hand with my left hand. (Okay, just kidding!)
• Feeling as if my left hand is a bit heavier than my right. (Again, kidding.)
• Needing to find ways to readjust my wrist so that when I lean against my hand I'm not gashing my face. (Not kidding. It hurts sometimes! I'll stand the pain, though!)
• Being extra cautious to not knock my ring against furniture, walls, or objects in fear of damaging it-even though it's nearly harmless!
• Being extra cautious to not knock my ring against furtniture, walls, or objects because my diamond is just so BIG! ;)
  
• Taking my ring off when I use cleaning products-and then remembering to put it back on!
• Using a toothbrush and toothpaste to occasionally, just occassionally clean my ring. (Obsessed, I know.)
  

With all jokes aside concerning the ring, I'm excited to celebrate this next period of my life with Adam. More than any shine, shimmer, or sparkle that the ring projects, I treasure it because it is a symbol of his love and commitment to me. I value Adam's investment in the purchase of the ring-he had been changing and rearranging the ring and making payments on it for more than year and a half! Yet, I value more his investment in our relationship as a couple: our communication, team-work, and perseverance to encourage and support each other in what we're bested gifted and passionate to pursue.

With all of the excitement of wedding planning, I value that Adam is constantly redirecting my focus to concentrate less on the wedding and more on the marriage. While planning how we'll spend our time together within this next year or while brainstorming specific details for the wedding, he reminds me that our wedding day should not be regarded as our highest priority because it will be our relationship that lasts our lifetime that we'll need to extend our greatest efforts towards.

I'm extremely grateful that I'm committing to celebrate and adventure through life with Adam. I'm attracted to his passion, enthusiasm, and love for other people. (I'm focusing on the interior here, the exterior attraction speaks for itself!) He offers me moments of simplicity and celebration when I forget to "schedule" them in myself. He has helped me to view life as an "adventure," and how to love it! I am excited for us to continue to use our gifts and strengths to draw each other closer to "just be" with God.

Big plans are ahead for us two....and I'm excited to share them with the wonderful community that embraces and celebrates life alongside us.