pressure....

When I was proposed to by Jason (that's a whole other story) and we went looking for rings, I didn't want any diamond.....I just wanted that union....that bond.....and a simple turquoise vintage ring was what I thought I would get

His mother owns an antiques store in Geneva, IL (it is rated the #1 antiques store in the Fox Valley area) - it really is quite a nice store! (I even do the window displays) - and Karen - Jason's mom - has a beautiful selection of turquoise........nothing was quite what I was thinking.......and while shopping with her and Jason, she said "Oh Anne Marie...just look at a diamond....just for fun...."

so I did

through a special eyeglass (forgot the name)........

I was blown away at this rock......so amazingly beautiful........from the 1920's and in perfect condition......set in white gold - almost like silver.........

She went on to explain to me how diamonds of this beauty are so rare and.....well....she said a lot and I'm sorry to say that I don't remember everything she said......my heart was swelling inside thinking of why this ring was in the store......why someone brought it in and sold it......or was it found.......was it someones grandmother's and they needed the money...........a family heirloom........was it a ring that was given back to a man who loved that woman and was rejected by her love and she thrust the ring back at him never to speak to him again.......

the inscription says 1920 and has the couple's initials....

of course, I envisioned her with her cloche hate and smart skirt suit on and him dapper with a fedora and trench coat and pinstripe suit........they were out to dinner and he proposed - she threw her arms around him and.........well, you get the idea...............this ring was more to me than a diamond - it is like making a new life to this rock......giving it that sparkle that was lost sitting there in the store.......

we are so much like a diamond..........we start out in life so raw and rugged.......and with the constant pressures to do good to ourselves and others we are crushed on all sides.........sometimes so stressed we just want to hide away with a lemon meringue pie and a pot of coffee (hypothetically speaking of course ;)

let those pressures crush us - it will make us spectacular in the eyes of others and God..........

to me, there is nothing in this life more important than being beautiful in the eyes of God

but immediately, we show our beauty to others by our acts towards them.......

when things don't go smoothly, on whatever project you are working on, know that is just part of this life process of crushing you further and further until that pressure makes you beautiful in the eyes of God, to others, and yourself.........

it's all part of this process............just have patience.......we all go through pressure.......

many of you have emailed me about diamonds since I posted this....and I wanted to share with you more on how a diamond is made....you can go here.

peaceful Lenten blessings,

btw: you can find an amazingly clear diamond for a fraction of the cost in antique stores!!