I'd like to introduce you to Eva and Ryan from Calgary Alberta. Eva and I began talking in January of this year. What a lovely woman. I suspect she is an old soul; so thoughtful, compassionate and down to earth. I really enjoyed our communications.
Eva loves animals and especially loves horse back riding. Sadly, she lives with chronic back problems and is not able to ride much anymore. The pain she lives with doesn't appear to have dampened her spirit or her love of life.
Ryan grew up in Niagara Falls New York and one of his happy places, as Eva put it, was playing in dangerous waters.
Ryan and Eva got in touch with us to design Touch Wood Rings which they would use as their engagement and their wedding rings. These are the Hawaiian Koa and Birds Eye Maple wood rings David created for them. They received them in early March.
Fast forward a few months.
You may remember that the City of Calgary was hit with an unprecedented flood earlier this summer. I want to let Eva tell you her engagement story in her own words. (Thanks Eva)
"It has been
an interesting couple of weeks here in Calgary – because of the flood, we were evacuated on June 20th .
When we were allowed to return to the house
two days later, we discovered just under 5ft of water and muck in our basement.
Kind of a shock when you see your washing machine floating in the basement! But
in comparison to many of our neighbours both near and far, we knew we were
lucky and everything that got ruined could be replaced in time. It took us a
couple of days of hard work but with the help of friends – both old and new –
we were able to clear out the basement and work towards getting our house back
up and running (the first hot shower after 10 days was the best EVER).
It was
on the evening of June 23rd when Ryan and I, both covered in mud and
having a therapeutic beer after a long day’s work, were surveying the damage
that we both realized – it’s just stuff, we are OK.
Yes, we didn’t know when we
would be able to live in the house again or how extensive the damage was…but we
knew we had each other and that together we’d get through the unknown obstacles
ahead.
And that’s when Ryan went down on one knee and proposed! In the mud! We
are engaged! :)
I’ve attached
a photo that was taken shortly after. You can tell Ryan wasn’t wearing hip
waders that day! It was one of the most authentically muddy-romantic moments of
my life. As luck would have it – Ryan grabbed the wooden rings and stored them
in the car when we were evacuated – so we had them right there! And they look
fantastic. Thank you again for the wonderful rings.
I thought I
would share a happy flood story with you."
Eva titled this 'Our Engagement Photo' and it just warms the cockles of my heart. Thanks you two.
In the spirit of this post, may I leave you with an excerpt from a Poem
by Mark Nepo titled "Where is God" from his newly released "Reduced to Joy"
if you want to last,
hold on to nothing. If you want
to know love, let in everything.
If you want to feel the presence
of everything, stop counting the
things that break along the way. - See more at: http://threeintentions.com/blog/#sthash.45p4NTs8.dpuf
He writes
" ... if you want to last, hold on to nothing.
If you want to know love, let in everything.
If you want to feel the presence of everything,
stop counting the things that break along the way."
if you want to last,
hold on to nothing. If you want
to know love, let in everything.
If you want to feel the presence
of everything, stop counting the
things that break along the way. - See more at: http://threeintentions.com/blog/#sthash.45p4NTs8.dpuf
"o.... I just got a little package in the mail this
afternoon. My ring is absolutely beautiful. Although it pains me to allow it to
sit and acclimate for the next few weeks I know it will just mean our
relationship will start slow and steady. It is everything I hoped - you two are
amazing human beings and I have loved working with you. Thank you for sharing
your gifts with me - the ring, the beauty of your characters and the
communication.... I will definitely be back. Thank you so much. "
