
over seventeen years ago, ben asked me to marry him and he put a diamond on my finger. at our wedding on November 10, 2001, we exchanged very traditional wedding bands.

just before our ninth wedding anniversary, we realized that if we sold our platinum wedding bands, we could buy all of the camping gear we wanted. so, we did. and we bought ninety-nine dollar black ceramic bands to wear instead. just simple.

then we took our kiddos camping on the shore of lake superior and in the north woods and in the southeastern minnesota river valleys. ben took me to yellowstone and to the tetons. and we took our kids on a twelve day road trip on which we did most of our sleeping and cooking out of the back of the pick up. we've camped in campgrounds and on the shore of a reservoir. we have used that camping gear so much and will continue to use it, over and again. experiences over things, right?
over the years i thought off and on about having something made with the diamond from my engagement ring; maybe a pendant, something i could wear every day.
then, about a year ago, i discovered broken pine studio on instagram. and i began to follow shannon. and all of her work struck a chord with me. shortly after i found her account, she hosted a contest / give away, and i won a personalized key chain. the care she took with the keychain endeared her to me as a person, not just as an artist.

once i held a piece of shannon's work in my hands, i knew that i wanted her to do something with the diamond ben had given to me. i looked through her archives. i found some ideas. i had conversations back and forth with her. she invited me to send her my ring and some other stones i had. she asked to know more of ben's and my story.
this is what i wrote for her:
The first five years that Ben and I were together (6 months before we got married and then for the first four years of our marriage) we lived near Lake Superior. We brought both of our babies home up Highway 61 - right along the shore of the big lake. We spent countless hours walking and sitting, sipping coffee and picnicking, talking and listening, drinking in beauty. And I found pretty stones and beach glass and tiny agates.
Five years ago, when I was 33, Ben took me to the Tetons. I had never seen mountains before. That trip changed my life. The mountains, the huge, overarching sky, the clear air - all got into my veins and woke something beautiful and visceral inside of me.
Three years ago, we moved out of Minnesota. We moved west. To the Little Missouri on the eastern border of Montana. I spent countless hours resting, breathing, wandering, finding more stones and fossils and beauty by the river and up in the hills and buttes. Sometimes with Ben, sometimes with my kids, once in a while with a dear friend, and so often just me. I am so grateful that Ben moved me, moved us, west.
And certainly, the diamond that Ben put on my finger when he asked me to marry him must be in this ring. Because yes. And yes. And yes. Every day is yes.
I am leaning toward one of the shield rings - with a mountain, and my diamond in the sky. Then maybe one of the other pieces I sent you at the base of the mountains. Or maybe not? What do you think? I want you to do something that works. The other thing that fits me - always - is wildflowers. Ben knows I love wild places and wild flowers. The Tom Petty song, “you belong among the wildflowers; you belong somewhere you feel free” has long been my anthem. And, without knowing that, Ben told me that song reminded him of me. So, maybe some of your handcrafted flowers at the base of the mountain? The other bits I sent are from Lake Superior and the Little Missouri. I feel like those places are touchstones on Ben’s and my journey. But I want what you make to work, and to flow easily for you . . . It will be more beautiful if you don’t have to force something, this I know.
and shannon read my words, and mulled over what she has learned about ben and i over the past year as she and i have begun to grow a friendship, and she created a ring that tells the story of b+e. she used an agate from lake superior. she crafted some wildflowers and beautiful stems. she cut out the tetons. and she placed the diamond in a starry sky over the mountains.
when shannon told me she had the ring finished, and sent me the tracking number, i was so excited! each day the ring was in transit, i had numerous oh my goodness! i will get to wear it soon! moments. the day it arrived, i made myself sit and take my time with opening the box, and the brown paper wrapped items within.

shannon returned the extra stones and the setting from my diamond. she also included the most wonderful pair of earrings!

and then! the ring!

it is everything i had hoped for, and then some. it is perfect.

i absolutely love the weight of this ring. i love the design. each element tells part of the story of b+e.
and! the day it came, ben was in miles city! he was able to stop by the house, and put the ring on my finger.

he asked me if i would stay married to him until he dies.

yes. of course yes. always yes.
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and, if you've stuck with this all the way to the end, here are some pictures that shannon sent me before she mailed the ring, to show me what she had created :


