We started going out together with the aim of working towards marriage. Although the engagement (ring) isn't absolutely necessary with this kind of understanding, it does serve it's purposes in showing others and reminding one another how serious we are about this.
Now that the ring isn't in the box anymore, it's down to really acting out the promise: to continually learn and improve in taking care of her both materially/physically/emotionally, but in eternal matters (pointing her to Christ). With God's help =P
