It must be noted that 18 years ago today, Tim and I were officially engaged, although those that knew us well know that we were pretty much married after dating about 6 months, if even that long. It was "TimandCheryl" then and still is today. Even if I DID have to buy my own engagement ring.

Yep, you heard that right.

We were in Buffalo, visiting my family, and while there, my aunt was going to take us to a friend's jewelry shop so we could buy my ring. Not the romantic "sweep her off her feet" kind of engagement story some have to share, but trust me, it gets better! We got there, looked at a bunch of rings, and decided on the three stone ring, in gold, which a few more years down the road would be marketed by the diamond industry as "A ring for your past, present and future." What a trend setter I was! Buying it again today, I'd go for platinum...seems like more and more couples today go with platinum, and considering I wear mostly silver...but at the time, it just was gold...that's what ya did.

We were giddy with excitement, and Tim took out his Discover card, "the card that pays you back," to pay for the ring, only to find that the shop didn't take Discover! SO, I wrote a check for my ring! All the way home, in our little blue Mazda 323 I gazed and gazed at my left hand, and I still look at it today with such love, happiness, and joy for the blessing that is my marriage.

In case you were worried, Tim, as SOON as we got home, wrote me a check to pay me back, and, with that hurdle behind us, we just fast forwarded ahead and began to make wedding plans. But when I think back, on that whole year, the ring debacle is one of my very favorite parts! We started together, with nothing, and pooled all our efforts, financial AND emtional to be together. All we cared about was how were were going to be together, and nothing was going to stop us.

How I wish I had saved that cancelled check...our beginning...our engagement.