Operation Heart - Happy First Day of Spring (late post)

**I'm a little late posting this, but enjoy!**

Back in February, I started a "project" called Operation Heart on my Facebook page. Of course, February is the time where Valentines Day hits and so one can't help but think of love and hearts! Actually, how Operation Heart came about for me was, I was sitting down thinking of how I can show my husband love, not just on Valentines day, but how I can leading up to the day.

It was hard! Because I'm like what does he like, how can I encourage him, etc. Then the thought of a love note each day came to mind. So alongside that, I put my first heart on Facebook. My hubby appreciated the little notes though sometimes I thoought he got tired of them. He told me in his Valentines Day Card to me that the notes help him get through the day (in so many words).

So being that it is the First Day of Spring (started on the 20th), I thought I would share with you my heart.

Have a wonderful start to your spring!

Happy Anniversary to me!

This was me, 2000-2001

This is me, 2012

Oh, how time flies! Twelve years ago, March 13th, 2000, I started with my job as a young 23 year old. If I told you what I did, I would have to kill you, sorta of, okay not really. But I can't say what I do on this public site.

On that note, this week I celebrated my 12th year anniversary with my job, as a young 35 year old! Wow! I thought I would not be here but for 5 years and here it is year number 12! Okay in the big scheme of things, in the light of unemployment rates, companies collapsing, people being disgruntled with their jobs, etc. that's good! I'm not bragging or boasting. Trust me! There have been times where I have said to myself and to others, "What am I doing here!? Lord, please get me out!"

There have been ups (traveling, meeting high ranking folks, getting pay raises, having a co-worker come to know Christ, etc.) and downs (office politics, one horrible boss, feeling like I'm on Survivor in the negative sense, etc). But all in all it has been a stable job.

So, thank YOU Lord for bringing me here!

That's all :)

Wedding Band Etiquette?

*Started writing this on February 29th*

Today marks me and my hubby's fourth month wedding anniversary thanks to the Leap Year! If it wasn't for this 29th day of February, what would we have done? *GASP* Perish the thought!

Okay, enough of the dramatics.

So, I posted a picture to Facebook, showing my wedding ring-fingered-hand on topside of my husband's. This is what the ring looks like on my hand:

My "Navy mom" (I call her that because she is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the Navy. Her husband is retired doing other things these days), then commented on an old wives' tale, pretty much stating that the band should be worn on the other side, "closest to the heart". I looked it up and it was tradition to do so. According to tradition, during the wedding ceremony the woman is suppose to wear her engagement ring on her right hand. During the ceremony, the husband puts the wedding band on her ring finger while reciting his vows and this my friend is why it is important to have your wedding band put on first.  The band to which your husband made his vows with; the band which is closest to your heart. Then AFTER the ceremony, not DURING, do you put the engagement ring back on the ring finger, on TOP of the wedding band. The engagement ring is to guard the most precious vow made on your wedding day. Wearing the ring the way that I have it on is, I guess, considered bad luck.

Before I got married, NO ONE ever told me of this tradition and I've looked at many married fingers admiring the beauty of the ring.

So on my wedding day (OH HAPPY DAY!), with hardly giving it a minutes thought (because I did kind of think of it) I left my engagement ring on my ring finger.  When the time came, my darling husband put on the wedding band on TOP of the engagement ring while saying his vows to me.

So in the light of this new revelation and old tradition, is yes in some cases it might LOOK better to have the wedding band closest to the heart but when my husband put that band on my ring finger while saying his vows to me, he was sealing the deal, sealing the commitment that he made to me the day he proposed. Plus, if the ring were to start to slip off my finger, the first to start dropping would be the LEAST expensive part of the ring. (Thanks Maria for bringing that perspective!)

And that's the way I look at it.

Either way, just as the ring symbolizes unity and oneness, my husband and I are now one, united under God. And under Him there is no bad luck. Under Him is what I call a blessed union!

Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.
Song of Songs 8:6