Supercool Hotmama asked me to share the story about my true-love-waits ring =)

On my "wedding-planner" blog, I gave a play-by-play of the proposal.
What you didn't see from the pictures, is that before Brian slid on the engagement ring, he asked if he could "borrow" my true-love-waits ring. (I of course, said yes)

Goodness, my TLW ring has a long story to it.

It started in the eighth grade, when my mom bought one for my sister, Sarah, and I. A silver band with a little heart-shaped key etched on it.
The ring came with a little contract I could sign, declaring (if I remember correctly) that I would remain abstinent until I was married. To be honest, as an 8th grader I still didn't quite *get* sex-- as in, I didn't understand what it was or how it was done.
I gladly signed my contract and proudly wore my ring, showing it off to everyone I saw, and was quick to tell them what it stood for! (Yeah, that's right, buddy! You ain't gettin' none o' this!!)

*sigh*-- oh, I'm so glad I never have to be a teenager again. Thank you Thank you Thank you, God, for letting me make it out alive!

As a tomboy who didn't know how to fix her hair or makeup, I was used to not getting ANY positive attention from boys-- and that began to hurt just a little. I saw my best friends getting hit on all the time, and I just accepted the fact that I wasn't pretty enough for that.
Until high school... (dun dun dun!)
It was my freshman year in highschool that I met a boy who gave me attention, and a LOT of it. I couldn't believe that someone actually thought I was... Beautiful. "Really? me? But no one thinks that!"

And of COURSE, like the typical freshman girl, I *fell in love* with this boy. (pardon me, I just threw up in my mouth a little). And like the typical high school boy that he was, all he wanted was to get in my pants.

Now, all the moms out there, PLEASE PLEASE do this one thing. I know it may be hard, awkward, TERRIBLY embarrassing and dreadful-- but it might help your girls out one day.
TALK to them about sex. And not JUST sex. I mean all the stuff that leads up to sex also (do I have to actually name the different acts? You're a mom, you should know exactly what I'm talking about).

I, luckily, didn't make it to having sex with this boy (by the grace of God). But all that other stuff I mentioned? I had NO IDEA what that stuff was, and therefore, was easily convinced that it was okay to do that, since it wasn't sex. Possibly one of the worst experiences I've ever had.

Wait? where does this leave my TLW ring? (also known as a purity ring)
Didn't I just throw my Pure-Card out the window?? Crap. Yep. I did.
After confessing to my parents what I'd done, and putting time and distance between myself and *the boy*, time did heal all wounds.

But, then came college. (another dun dun dun!!!!)
Another freshman year, another boy, another broken heart-- but this time I threw the whole rule book out the window. *oy ve*
Yep, I'm just putting this out there. I lost my virginity-- to a man who could care less, no doubt.

There I was, staring at my TLW ring, strung with guilt like I'd never felt before.
"I don't deserve to wear this... How could I give up on this so easily? Why did this happen?"
I sort of became a recluse for the rest of the year-- as though I had truly lost a PART of myself, a part of ME.
I learned that it wasn't my virginity I was missing though (that's become more of a simple technicality)-- what I was missing was the REASON behind my ring. I was missing my relationship with God.

Wasn't He the whole point to begin with? In letting my standards drop, I slowly began turning away from God. I wasn't trying to be some rebel, but I knew God didn't approve of what was going on. And now I knew what I had to do.
It was a very long year, and a hard uphill climb with lots of stress and tears, but I was determined to get my faith back in tact. I'd never stopped believing in God, but I had stopped having faith in Him.

I read a book called "Captivating," it is one of the BEST books I have ever read. I cried, I laughed, I mourned, and I at last felt joy and hope.

Again-- where did this all leave my TLW ring?
Funny thing happened. One morning, while blow drying my hair, my ring fell DOWN the DRAIN. (how ironic, so did my virginity). I panicked.
"I have to get it back!!"
I called a maintenance man who twisted the pipes below the sink until he retrieved my ring. The ring he handed me however, was NOT the same ring it was before. It was scratched and bent out of shape. Attempting to bend this very old ring back into shape would have resulted in its snapping in two.

With a sad, heavy sigh I realized I had to go buy a new ring. A new TLW ring to go with my new hope. A simple, thin, silver band with the word "Love" etched into it.
So am I a virgin again? Well, not technically. In God's eyes? Heck yeah. I think He wanted me to have a new ring to represent my new faith and hope.

Everyone makes mistakes, everyone is human, everyone deserves a second chance and the unfailing love of their heavenly Father.

So that's the end of my True-love-waits ring story! (quite a roller coaster)
I apologize for it being so long! I tried to make it shorter, I swear!!

Oh yeah-- and one more thing.
If you have any little girls, make sure their father (or any other father-figure) tells them every day that they are beautiful, and convince them to take your girls on "dates"!