My 10 year Anniversary

Yes, it was back in September. I know. But life happens and we never got around to the whole gift and second honeymoon.  So I kind of got sick of waiting.

 I had gone and bought Joel a new wedding band.  His original wedding band had gotten tossed in the garbage during a kitchen clean up while we were on vacation.  Just 18 months after we got married.  So I bought him some cheap clearance ring.  It didn't fit right but it was a nice looking ring. I had always planned on replacing it.  Hopefully with something similar.  The original was a black titanium ring with a silver strip thru the middle.  But I could never find anything I loved.

While I was getting the diamond earrings I got from Joel's grandma Flora reset, we looked at rings.  I found a white gold one I really liked.  It was the first to catch my eye.  So I was ready in July.  I will give Joel a break since he works so far away and our weekends are always busy.  He didn't get out until the week after my birthday to get my gift.  He rocked it so I didn't complain. :)  OK maybe a little.  Anyways, I don't remember why but I was having a I HATE Turkey day and the kids were driving me nuts.... I was just in a foul mood.  So, Joel said get a sitter for Saturday and we will go spend the day wandering Eminonu and the Grand Bazaar.  I have been MANY times but never just Joel and I.  We were always being tour guides or dragging the kids around.  So we got up early and headed down with my trusty shopper, Ilknur.  Joel wanted a new leather coat and we wanted to order some custom tiles.  But my big goal, get Joel to look at rings!

 It has always been in the cards to upgrade my engagement ring.  We agreed that the money he had saved for my ring would go to buying our dream home.  Unfortunately, that came burning down.  Literally.  And the week after our house fire, he went and bought me a ring with our small savings.  It was very touching and I love my ring.  But it wasn't us.  So being that it has been 10 years and we are living in this amazing city, it was time.  And I know that every time I look at the ring, I will remember the wonderful years we had in this magical city.

Murat and Ilknur have a good friend that is a jeweler in the Grand Bazaar.  He is the one that reset the ugly diamond earrings into GORGEOUS earrings I love wearing. I had seen a ring there that I LOVED while there.  Unfortunately, it had sold but he was going to find a picture.  I was sure that was the ring.  Once I got Joel in there we looked at so many rings.  Nothing was right.  We found a setting that kind of clicked.  But wasn't right.  All the rings had the stones set high up with prongs.  Something my current ring had but I really disliked.  It was always catching on something or scratching a kid.  I need something inset.  So with Joel's little Turkish, some hand signals, and a drawing, we finally agreed.  We would pick it up on Valentine's Day.  I was so excited to see it and my college roomie and husband would be here visiting.

Finally the day arrived.  We set up a babysitter to watch all 6 kids.  My Helper, Thess totally rocks. She has really been a great help the last 18 months.  So off to the Grand Bazaar with the four of us and Murat and Ilknur.  I was so excited to see what he had made me.  He told me that he had many people try to buy it off him.  And he promised to never make another one like it.  He slowly took it out of the box and handed it to me......  It was perfect.  I couldn't help but cry because it was us.

Joel picked the size of the stone and told him to upgrade the size of the diamonds.  Plus he had him add four diamonds to the band for the four kids.  And of course, the Sapphire also represents our September wedding.  I'm totally in love.  I still love to just look at it.  I have gotten tons of compliments.  Even ones I don't understand!  LOL  Had a lady on Wednesday grab my hand and yell at me in Turkish.

While we were there, Jill got her earrings fixed and her rings cleaned.  Once we were all done, we went upstairs and had a fabulous bottle of wine and the guys had beer.  It was this cute little room and we chatted, listened to Turkish music on a old Gramophone that played Charcoal records!  It was such a lovely experience.  When they brought the tray with the drinks, there was a little white box.  I thought they were just giving me my box for my ring.  No, my amazing husband had picked out my Valentine's Day present when we had been there last.  He had the jeweler make me earrings to match my ring!  I never expected a Valentine's gift this year.  The ring was enough.

My husband has truly spoiled me the last three years.  10 years, 6 pets, 4 kids, 3 States and a new country.  I'm sure the next 10 will be just as exciting! And still holding out for the Morocco trip sans kids!