Niels did an amazing job picking out my ring. I can't imagine anything more perfect for our story. I love symbolism and in many ways, my ring symbolizes our unique story. In fact, the more I gaze upon it--and yes, because I am a bride, I have spent much time admiring my sweetie's token of intent--the more symbolism I see.
The center diamond is an Asscher cut, which was developed in Amsterdam. It's not a very common cut, so even though it was our first choice, we wondered if we would be able to find one. What makes the Asscher cut unique is that it focuses the eye inward, inside the heart of the diamond, rather that creating a lot of outward sparkle. Our hope in live as Christians is to draw the eyes of others to our hearts, the core of who we are, rather than on what is outward and fading.
The center diamond is circled by an "O" of smaller diamonds, which symbolizes the need of community to support and encourage us as we begin this new chapter in our life. Of course, "O" can also represent Ohio, which is where we are beginning our marriage.
There are arrows on each side, which symbolize past, present and future.
Three is an important number to Niels and I, symbolizing the fact that a marriage needs three people to make it strong: the bride, the groom, and the God who brought them together. The center stone represents God, and the two much smaller stones on the front and back (not pictured) symbolize Niels and I, who were brought together by God, even though we were born oceans apart. (Again with the "O").
Because Niels grew up in The Netherlands, known for its tulips and other flowers, it's only fitting the my ring would have a tulip on it.
And if you flip the ring around, the other side looks like the Eiffel Tower, which is where Niels proposed to me.
Niels and I have been working like crazy to get the house ready to accomodate the influx of Dutchies arriving TOMORROW from The Netherlands. We have prepared Bailey for the fact that for the next two weeks, our house will be a little bit of Holland in Canton--complete with freaky deaky Dutch-speaking, as Jared would say.
