I've Made My Decision

I was deleting some pictures from my computer this evening when I came across some photos from the night Grant proposed. The pictures are of my hand, proudly wearing the beautiful diamond ring that Grant picked out especially for me, with no help from me at all. It was then that I realized that when I fix my ring, I need to get it as close to the original setting as I can. It's my ring! And for the sentimental value of it all, I am not going to get a new setting. I am going to make sure that the ring is stable and will not damage again, but I am going to keep it as close as possible to what Grant chose for me.

I realized in the middle of all of this that I don't think I've shared my engagement story with you all! If I have, I apologize. (Many of you were there, aka Linds, Jo, Sally, Jaclyn, Ronda, the list goes on and on and on...). Here is a pic of us at lunch the day he proposed. I had no idea at this point!

I was performing in Anne of Green Gables in downtown Houston. It was my 21st birthday and I had coordinated for my friends and family to come to the 8:00 performance that night and then afterwards we'd go out for drinks and dessert at Birraporetti's.

That night was hands down the best performance of my entire life. I knew I had everyone near and dear to me in the audience and I was just on fire with adrenaline. I wanted the show to end so we could all go out!

Grant and gotten permission from the director a few weeks earlier to come onstage after the final bow. As the cast and audience sang Happy Birthday to me, my now husband walked onto the stage with roses. I will never forget looking down into the 3rd row and sharing that look with Lindsee and Joanna. We all looked at each other with this face as if to say "This is really happening!". My darling husband had an adorable little speech prepared and asked me to marry him. It was perfect and wonderful. My "birthday party" at Birraporetti's was transformed into an Engagement party behind my back. There were about 50 people there and it was perfect. Special thanks to my sweet sister Jaclyn for thinking ahead and bringing a black cocktail dress for me to change into. Sister knew I wouldn't wanna be wearing JEANS at my ENGAGEMENT party!!! (Too bad I was wearing a horrible white costume with horrible 1906 hair when he proposed!) Check out my gorgeous puffed sleeves in the video below! :)

When I got home that night, I took a few pictures of my beautiful ring.

I just can't do something that drastically different. As fun as it would be to design a new ring, I just can't let go of something that was so personal.

Thank you all for your advice and input! And I think we all agree that cheaper is better! :)