Looking back, stepping forward

Wow - I can't believe it has been so long since I've posted. I apologize if you've been looking forward to an update! So the last time I wrote, I was on a ship in the middle of the ocean. I left the Island Princess on October 10, to return to Massachusetts and my beloved fiancé (we decided we were getting married while I was on the ship). About my time on the ship - it was challenging in many ways, but overall I am grateful for the experience. I learned a lot about myself, about boundaries and standing up for myself, speaking up for myself, creating community and staying positive in an environment that just wants to complain. I got to spend time in the Caribbean, fell in love with Aruba, saw part of the America's Cup while in harbor in San Francisco, crossed off three "bucket list" items (saw where Joan D'Arc was martyred, sailed Alaska, and went through the Panama Canal), and had the best meal of my life in Funchal, Madeira. I made some amazing friends, and find myself a little more nostalgic and homesick for the ship than I ever thought I would be. October 11, the day I got home, Paul "officially" proposed to me. He looked at me and said, "Do you really love me? I mean, do you REALLY love me?" I said "Yes, of course you know I do." He then got down on one knee, pulled out the ring box to show me the ring, and said, "You know I love you. You know I want to be with you. You know I love you with all my heart. Will you, Kat, do me the honor, of becoming my wife?" I started to cry and said "Yes." He put the ring on my finger, and I jumped up and shouted to the place, "I'M GETTING MARRIED!!!!" The place applauded, and a lovely woman came over and asked to see my ring. We took some pictures, and it was a day to remember always. He proposed at the same table where we shared our first date, coffee at Starbuck's. Since I've been home, it has been a whirlwind of activity getting ready for the wedding on November 16. We did a lot of legwork while I was at sea, but there are still a lot of last-minute details to take care of. I have to say, this has been a far different experience than my first wedding to my ex-husband, and Paul says the same is true for him. I am loving having a fiancé that is so engaged and wants to be part of the process - it's really sweet how excited he is to get married, and how much he is loving planning and preparing for our wedding. It has been quite a process planning a full wedding on such a shoestring budget, but somehow we're managing without going *too* far over budget. All I can say, is how immensely humbled and grateful I am for the love and support of my friends who have rallied to help pull it all together, especially Allison Biggs, graphic designer extraordinaire who has singlehandedly organized the signage, decorations, reception, flowers, and a million other details I never would have thought about. Looking forward to the wedding in 2 days time! :) If you are interested, I am also selling most of the pottery I have made in a dual effort to downsize and to help fund the $4000 we need for my visa for Australia. Some of it is somewhat beginner, but all made by me with love. Feel free to have a look, comment on any piece(s) you may like, and let me know so we can organize getting it out to you (no reasonable offer will be refused).

He liked it so he put a ring on it!!!! :D