Band of Grandmothers

I went from being a girl who didn't want a wedding band to one who now has two.

Yes, two.

Here's how.

Over my Virginia weekend, my mother and I were rooting through her jewelry - the family heirlooms, if you will - when she pulled out my paternal grandmother's wedding band.

I couldn't believe my eyes, thinking, "WHERE HAS THIS BEEN ALL MY LIFE??"

Shoved under the bed in a lock box, that's where.

While it was several sizes too big, it snuggly fit against my engagement ring when I pinched it back - a quality I had yet to find in almost every band I tried on.

I ran around the house showing everyone, apparently making weird alien hand gestures (pictured above) saying "Can you believe it? I just can't believe it! It's just perfect!"

So, here I am with two wedding bands - one plain knife-edged band and then my grandmother's white gold band with six diamonds (one of which is being replaced).

I've chosen to look at it this way: my original band is a symbol of my covenant with Adam; the family we are becoming. My grandmother's band represents the family from which I have come.

The ring belonged to my father's mother and its six diamonds can represent my mom and her five sisters - the six Woodward daughters - who have all been forces in my life.

As one of my favorite Jane Austen quotes explains, "I have always maintained the importance of Aunts as much as possible."

It's funny how this has come full circle - both literally and figuratively.

I just can't wait to get all those rings on my finger.

Love,
BTB