[SthrnZeta]

Well, I have an update on the Christmas plans... he wants to exchange gifts before he leaves to go traveling with his family for Christmas. I am a total snoop and when he left his ebay SN up on my computer, I had to see what he was buying (plus he told me my gift came from ebay) and I saw what he's getting me for Christmas - a Coach purse I've been eyeing. Still, a very nice and thoughtful gift, not a ring, but still very cool. AND we ended up buying a townhouse/condo and we close next month right before he leaves. Sooo... my point is that we've definitely made a huge commitment and he continues to make comments about our future when he returns (we'll have two incomes, our next house we'll use the VA, etc.) so I'm not too worried now. He doesn't seem to like the fact that the listing agent for the house assumes we're engaged though... So yeah, I'd still like to get engaged before he leaves but I get the feeling this deployment may be a test for me. Any thoughts??