Last night I took off my commitment ring. I put it back in its little heart-shaped box, in its blue velvet pouch, and I put the whole thing in a drawer. I'll save it, maybe give it away someday to a girl who won't forget what it's supposed to represent. I won't wear it again. I don't need to. To me, that ring symbolized a commitment that I didn't keep. Putting it away meant I put away a whole piece of my past. I'm making a fresh start. I'm lucky enough to have a second chance.

My wedding-ring finger won't be naked though. I still like the idea of having an outward symbol of that commitment. I probably would have kept my ring on until my wedding day, had Joe not said, "Do you want a new one?" And I realized I did. So yesterday we both took the day and went shopping together, to a whole bunch of different stores, until we found just the right one. And then we ordered a pair of them.

I'm not sure I can really describe what this little thing, that pair of rings, means to me, so I probably shouldn't try. I should just say it means a lot, but it's so much more than that. This time I know going in what we're up against, and I know it will be hard. But we are both committed to it, and we're going to keep each other on track. Personally I think it's totally awesome, and I know he does too. So three cheers for us. :)

Unfortunately our rings won't be in for another two weeks. Since I took my old one off last night, I moved my star sapphire (my mom's pre-engagement ring) to my ring finger temporarily, until my new ring arrives. And then we're going to get them engraved, and get them blessed, and put them on. Maybe they aren't much, but what they represent is something huge, and that makes them pretty special. :)