the ring | Good to be Home

I looked for the tiny ring all over the house.
Not only I, but my whole family.
Under the radiators.
Under the beds.
In all my jewelry boxes.
In the pigs on my kitchen windowsill.
On the piano.
Under all the furniture.
Down the drain.
In the bedding.
Under the fridge.
On the counters.
Behind washer and dryer.
In the lint drawer.
In my bed.
In the bathrooms.
In the couch (twice) cracks, cushions.
Under throw rugs.
In the bookshelves, behind them, under them.
In the clothes in my dresser, pockets of jeans, coats, and aprons.

I searched diligently for an entire week, I vacuumed, dusted, swept, moaned, groaned, cried, howled, sighed, talked about it incessantly, offered rewards, and had nightmares all because of my beautiful lost Tiffany ring. By the end of the week, I began to accept the fact that it was lost forever. I even began dropping it from conversations with my loved ones.

***

We had another snow storm on Saturday, so on Sunday after the skies cleared up and the snow melted off the roads I thought I would get out of the house with the kids. I got myself dressed and thought I would put a ring on my right hand, which felt rather blank without decoration. (I’ve been punishing myself by not wearing any superfluous rings. Maybe deep down inside I felt they were safer in the jewelry box.)

I was alone in my quiet bedroom as I walked over to my dresser. I lifted the lid to the glass dish in which I keep my rings …..

I chose one and slipped it on my pointer finger. It was a purple stoned ring that I bought at Brimfield with my sister a few years ago.

It felt loose and seemed a bit too flashy for shopping at the mall with the kids so I took it off and put it back.

As I placed it in the dish, I took a moment to see if there was a different one to wear. At the very same time……I saw my missing ring.

It had been hidden inside the purple one. (see above photo) I had looked in the dish several times, even stirred the rings around with my finger, and never saw it.

I stood in shock for a moment and then picked it up. I felt nothing but disbelief and shame. I slipped it on my finger and walked out of my room. I didn’t feel like celebrating, I felt rather stupid, but I knew after all my fussing I had to do something so I loudly announced, “I found my ring!!” to the family. The children groaned when I told them where it was.

WE HAD SEARCHED AND SEARCHED THE ENTIRE HOUSE, FIT TO BE TIED, AND ALL ALONG IT WAS RIGHT WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

And now it’s back on my joyous finger again.

THANKFUL

I woke right up this morning thinking about the ring. I fell asleep last night thinking about it, too. I’d rather not blog about it. Suffice it to say that I lost my Tiffany ring that Rich gave me for our anniversary a short 5 months ago. I have looked all over the house, cleaning as I go. If you ever want to get Spring Housecleaning done in February might I suggest losing something tiny and valuable in the house? It’s been remarkable how much I’ve found but mostly dirt and dust, about 1,000 marbles and legos, bobby pins, small change, pony tail holders, an earring that I thought was gone forever, a set of keys, crayons, pens, and pencils, but no ring, and oddly nothing belonging to my poor husband. Only crap that belongs to myself and the children.

This morning Sarah and I went to town. I had to go to the Post Office, which I don’t like doing, and I was struck once again by the cheerful attitude of my little girlie who doesn’t mind going out into the cold with Mama on a constant basis. She puts her hand in mine and we go. “Mom, remember. Cars go FAST.” she says as we cross the street. We bought a bag of books for 2 dollars at the thrift store. We went to the grocery store and then home again to read them.

The cats are always inside now that it’s been so cold. Billy amuses us all the time. Today he decided to get a drink from the kitchen sink.

I began taking way too many pictures of Billy drinking water from the faucet.

Then something caught his eye and he forgot all about the water.

What could it be? He stood up on tip toes.

And he pressed his orange head against the screen. His tail was twitching.

Birds. Lots and lots of birds. They were politely taking a seed and flying right by the kitchen window in front of the orange cat. He wanted so badly to go and catch one but I said no.

I poured my coffee and invited him to sit with me for a chat instead.

He had a hard time focusing after all the excitement of water and birds.

“I’d rather have bird.” he says. “Also I would rather scratch you.” he confesses.

Grace is shrinking. Either that or Davy is growing taller. I’m not sure.

She is 15 and he is 12. It’s an odd thing to see the little brother catch up in height. His feet are already bigger.

This was my napping buddy yesterday. The children had no school because it was (NOT A SNOW DAY –I know hard to believe!) President’s Day. I read Seth a chapter of Henry and Ribsy, by Beverly Cleary. And then we fell asleep back to back in the big bed. He’s the apple of my eye. Rich and I took him to his wrestling tournament (states!) on Sunday and he placed 5th.

Back to the Ring Saga:

Last night, Rich pulled the washer and dryer out to check for the ring. The boys were right there watching the entire time.

At dinner Rich prayed and thanked the Lord for the food. Before he forgot, I interjected, “And please, dear Lord, help me find my ring,” prompting Grace to groan aloud, “PLEASE!” “Amen” said Rich, and when we opened our eyes Jacob expected the ring to fall from the sky onto my plate. If only!

David read this in his book last night: