The
Alisandra Photography Blog

Chad’s grandfather passed a few months into our dating relationship. He was a quiet man, but I loved listening to his prayers. He was so thankful for God’s “lovingkindness.” I can’t read that word in scripture without thinking of a man about whom I knew so little. Chad was gifted his grandfather’s high school ring at some point, and it became SO special. He wore it everyday, and it looked good on him. One day during college, Chad attended a guy’s night event for InterVaristy Christian Fellowship. Guy’s night involved grilling chicken underground, and a slip ‘n’ slide [with soap] on a hill in one of the leader’s backyard.

That night, as Chad was leaving, he noticed his ring was gone. The sinking feeling that he hadn’t removed it himself sent him into a panic. Somewhere, over this 1/3 of an acre, was his grandfather’s ring, buried beneath the soapy mud. He gathered the last of the guys and they started a search with flashlights. Unsuccessful, I encouraged Chad to go out the next day, rent a metal detector, and try again. He was again, unsuccessful.

Burdened by his loss, and overcome with determination, I decided I’d surprise Chad by finding his ring. I had graduated, was living at home, but had plans to come up Friday – Sunday to visit Chad at JMU. I borrowed one of my grandfather’s metal detectors, and drove out around 7am Friday. I spent 4 hours looking for that ring. Needing a lunch break [and some sunscreen], I went to Chick-fil-A, regrouped, and planned my afternoon strategy. I bought orange marker flags from Home Depot, and drove out again, still determined. I would go horizontally over the yard. Then vertically. Everywhere I heard a beep, I’d poke a flag down into the ground and continue canvasing the yard. Late into the afternoon, I had a field of orange flags. One by one, I dug. The first. Unsuccessful. The second. Unsuccessful. The third…

Unsuccessful.

I think it was the 2nd or 3rd to last flag when I bent down, and started to dig. I pushed grass away, then a layer of dirt. And then as simple as that, I found it. It was as if manna had fallen from the sky. I was not convinced I was seeing it for real. I dug it out and ran into the house. “I FOUND IT!!!!!!” My heart was racing. As I washed it in the sink, I looked at myself in the mirror. My little stubborn self was sunburnt. Sweaty. Sore. But most importantly…

Successful. [Girlfriend of the Year Award, 2008]