My sister has not had an easy life. The men she has been involved with have had issues and been abusive and have done nothing to support her and her daughter that she ultimately raised beautifully alone.  She knows what it means to need and not be able to afford; to say no to her Maddy when she wanted to say yes and to do without what many consider stables because the money was not there. 
Anyway, Karen met Nolan three years ago and her life changed.  She seemed to truly love this man, Maddy saw the love they possess and her and I talked many an hour last summer about how the two of them should make a move as life is too short.
Just before Christmas, I was able to talk to sissy as Nolan and her were having coffee on the beach the morning before the three of them were going out to celebrate Christmas before Nolan took off to Texas to be with his 91 year old mama.  (Long sentence!!!)  Anyway, as our conversation drew to an end, I asked her when the two of them were going to move in together.  I shared how they love each other and how time is "a ticken" and how waisting time is not worth it.  Nolan chimed in that he has told Karen the same thing, I echoed that Madalyn wants them to be happy and Karen asked if I was finished.  We laughed, hung up and who would have thought that that very night at dinner, when the opportunity presented itself, Nolan got down on his knee and proposed to Karen. 

 Tears are in my eyes as I type as Karen deserves to be happy and the one thing I have never wanted was for her to live this time of her life alone.  Here's to a 2013 wedding!