Sunday April 6th~

Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to

 which you can retreat at any time and be yourself...

 Yesterday was a fairly quiet day.  Most of the day 

Arvid spent watching soccer.  Sniff and I caught up

 on some shark movies.  Everyone was happy.

After the games and the shark movies we were ready to do

 something, but not feeling great enough to go downtown.  Instead 

we went to the movies.  I love going to the movies.  Arvid enjoys

 all of Jason Statham's movies, and of course I have gotten

 to do the same.  The choice of movie was easy. 

These Cyber Trucks are everywhere, but I sure didn't

 expect it to become part of law enforcement's fleet.

Even though I think they are unattractive, I just 

can't stop taking pictures of them.  They have become

 a pretty common sight here in Fort Myers, like I'm 

sure everywhere else.  Even saw a few in Branson.

Wishing everyone a very restful and peaceful day.

A cat may not demand attention, but their love is 

ever-present, like a quiet shadow by your side...

~Nadiya~

Saturday April 5th~

The more relaxed you are, the better you are at 

everything: the better you are with your loved ones, 

the better you are with your enemies, the better you

 are at your job, the better you are with yourself...

 Arvid is very particular with our cars.  No matter the

 time, once we get back home from a long drive, especially 

Alligator Alley the car gets a really good hosing down.  

The bugs are insane during the night drive.

Yesterday we took it easy.  Had a quiet day and a 

quiet evening.  Neither of us feeling 100% as yet.  We 

caught up on some shows we missed and enjoyed a cozy 

evening at home with Sniff.  Was very good time.

Good morning and a good day to all.  Saturday is looking good.

Lighten up while you still can, don't even try to understand. 

Just find a place to make your stand, and take it easy...

~Nadiya~

Friday April 4th~

Goodbyes are not forever, goodbyes are not the end. 

They simply mean we'll miss you until we meet again...

 Yesterday we went to Fort Lauderdale to see Victoria 

and Michael for the last time.  Their six week vacation comes 

to an end today, and though they look forward to going back 

home, it was also very sad/emotional saying goodbye.

I will never get tired of saying how fortunate I am to have 

the relationship I have with Victoria, and yes, Michael.  Victoria 

and I have come a long way.  I have seen her blossom into a 

woman any parent would be proud of.  Beautiful she always

 has been and still is.  I admire the woman she is.  Kind 

and always willing and ready to help anyone in need.

They stayed in Fort Lauderdale.  We live in Fort Myers. 

On an average it's about a two hour drive if no traffic, with 

traffic all bets are off.  One week they came our way then

 the next we went towards them.  Not the most, but the 

times we had together were very good.  Relaxing and fun.

To Victoria: I may not have given you the gift of life, but 

life gave me the gift of you.  Thank you for being a part of 

my life.  I know we had a rocky start, but what matters is today.

  I am grateful for you and for all the joy you have brought 

into my life.  Know that you can always count on me.

Friday already.  The days seem to go by so fast.  I'm still not

 feeling 100% great, but I sure am better than I was yesterday. 

 Wishing everyone a happy start of the day and the weekend.

Kindness begets kindness.  You can accomplish 

by kindness what you cannot by force...

~Nadiya~

Thursday April 3rd~

No animal has more liberty than the cat...

 Sniff continues to be enthralled with these crime/drama 

TV shows.  Who am I to deny him anything?  Together as I continue

 to get better we spend time in the bedroom watching TV while Arvid 

watches some car show or a soccer game.  Everyone is happy.

I try to shield him from the very worse, but he's

 not having any of that.  He wants to see it all 😂

Mark Twain said,  "If man could be crossed with the cat, 

it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat."

There is, incidentally, no way of talking about 

cats that enables one to come off as a sane person...

~Nadiya~

April 2nd ~

 Sometimes when we are generous

 in small, barely detectable ways, it can 

change someone else's life forever...

Mornings and evenings are the most "painful" 

right now.  The cough I have seems to be hyper active 

at these times.  It does not help that I talk too much.

It's already record heat here in Southwest Florida,

 but that's part of living in Florida.  Don't like it.  As soon 

as we can it's Missouri for us.  Less humidity for sure.

I could not ask for anything else.  I have everything I 

need and for that my life is full and I am grateful.

You're a force of nature, Aries!  I'm not 

always calm, but I am always an Aries...

~Nadiya~

April~ Welcome New Month

April is the path to brighter days. May 

it be a time of relaxation and renewal...

 Spring weather is a welcome relief after months of 

cold, dark winter days.  Here in Florida it's summer just 

about everyday, but for those in the colder climates, 

April signals a green light to summertime🎕

Yesterday Sniff spent a lotta time watching TV

 with me.  We were binging on Lifetime movies.  Lots of 

suspense and some screaming.  No not horror.

April is special.  My Sniff and Arvid

 are April boys and I am an Aries woman.

As the new month begins I am looking forward to 

having a knee surgery to repair my torn meniscus.  My knee 

has been hurting since August of 2024.  Right after

 I got back from my trip in San Francisco.

Arvid is mostly on the mend from the flu. 

 He still has the cough, but he sounds better and 

has started to get restless.  That is the best

 indication that he’s getting better.

As for me the cough is worse especially 

when I speak.   As you can imagine, I cough all 

day long 😂 My throat is sore from coughing. 

That being said, it could have been worse.

On April Fools Day, believe nothing, 

trust no one, just like any other day.

  Goodbye March, hello April...

~Nadiya~

Monday March 31st~

 Real generosity towards the future

 lies in giving all to the present...

I saw this on the news the other day.  Just 

a reminder that we are not alone on this planet.

  If we don't protect our wildlife, who will?

Yesterday Arvid and I tried out a new restaurant

 not too far from us.  We both agreed that it is already

 a favorite.  Not fancy, but right on the water and 

with a breeze that is always so welcoming.

We saw people on jet skis, a family of ducks, a

 few sunbathing in that tiny little man made beach 

with very white sand.  We saw people enjoying life.

 We liked it and will be going back there fairly often.

 

Wishing everyone a productive and happy week ahead.  

Life will lead you on unplanned journeys.  Enjoy the ride, 

and trust that your final destination will be a great one.

Happiness is not made by what 

we own.  It is what we share...

~Nadiya~

Sunday March 30th~

Always remember, you are braver than

 you believe, stronger than you think, 

and loved more than you know...

 Today our second granddaughter, Vanessa turns 10.

She is a little firecracker and to know her is to love her. 

She's always on the go and never ceases to entertain us.

As mentioned in a previous post, this year we will not be

 going to Norway for the summer.  Instead we have treated,

 Michelle, Emil and our granddaughters a vacation here in

 Fort Myers, Florida.  Looking forward so much to this.

Arvid and I are still "suffering" from the flu.  I coughed 

most of the night, but I am very lucky that it has not so far 

developed into asthma or pneumonia.  Sniff is constantly by

 our sides.  Very aware that we are not doing quite as well.

The day has started out a bit gloomy, but even

 so the sun is on it's way out.  Can only get better.  

To all a happy Sunday.  Gloom and darkness are

 temporary. Joy comes in the morning.

Life can never promise you to be always happy, but life 

gets better after you accept things you just can't change...

~Nadiya~

Saturday March 29th~

Rough day, but I'm still here to caption the chaos...

 Arvid and I are not feeling that great.  Arvid 

got the flu when we got back from Branson and I 

got it from him a few days later. I think of all the 

things have been through the flu is the worst.  

Most of this past week we have been home just

 trying to get better.  I did go to my uncle's wake/viewing 

and that took a lot out of me, but I would do it again.  

That being said yesterday we had a very nice 

outing in Naples with Victoria and Michael. 

 Always a good time with these two.

It's a beautiful day here.  I was up early but tired. 

 I saw the sunrise and I have already done a few chores

 that needed taken care of.  That is all I probably do 

today.  The rest of the day will just be a lazy day.

A good day and hope you are feeling 

better than we are right now.  Tomorrow is 

another day and hoping for a better one.

Today, just focus on being 

a little better than yesterday...

~Nadiya~

Friday March 28th~

The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living...

Yesterday was a very sad day.  It was the wake/viewing 

for my uncle Paul who died on Saturday March 22nd. 

Families scrambled and came from all over the world.  

Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time.

My uncle left legacy that I doubt anyone can match.  As 

I said to Arvid, "if we lived 10 lifetimes, I do not think we 

would ever do half as much as my uncle did for his grandkids." 

  His grandkids were his life and he was a huge part in all of it.  

Uncle Paul even played a part in Gabsy upbringing 💜

To uncle Paul's family: although it's difficult 

today to see beyond the sorrow, may looking

 back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.

  His legacy of kindness will always endure.

Why does it take a minute to say

 hello and forever to say goodbye...

~Nadiya~

What Are You Grateful For~ Thursday March 27th

Sometimes the most important life lessons 

are the ones we end up learning the hard way...

I came across this the other day just as I was going
 through some not so happy times.  I read it, but did 

not really pay much attention to it.  I also saved it.

A few days ago, a wonderful man I called uncle died.  

I realized that what was bothering me was nothing 

compared to what happening to his loved ones.

Going through my stuff I once again came across

this thought.  Today I read it; I reflected on it and I realized
 how fortunate I am and whatever it is that was causing
 me to have a few not so good moments (now forgotten)
 is really nothing when put into the big picture.

I always know that I have a good life.  I try to never
take anything for granted because I know how it feels
 to be on the other side.  I know that there are others
 who are having much harder times.  I am grateful
and I appreciate the little things in life....

Remember never forget to be thankful for what

you have. It is NOT always better on the other side.

Life is one long, continuous race. It is only
when you reach the finish line do  you realize
you were your only competition.

Mistakes made in life are our lessons in disguise. 

And sometimes, the best lessons learned,

 came from the worst mistakes made...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday March 26th~

 My mission in life is not merely to survive, but 

to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some 

compassion, some humor, and some style...

Some days, nothing seems to go right, no matter 

how hard you try. We all have days like these, and 

that's okay.  Life is not perfect and we are all allowed 

to wallow in nostalgia a bit, but not stay there.

I saw this the other day and it made me laugh 

because it is so true.  A good sense of humor is very

 helpful in life.  If we can't laugh at ourselves or with

 ourselves, life becomes so much harder on us.

Another early start of the day.  At least today I did 

not get out of bed until 4am.  Lucky me.  Sniff of 

course is with me.  Asleep on his heating bed.

To all a very good day.  It's already looking good here at home.

The day is what you make it. 

 So why not make it a great one?

~Nadiya~

Tuesday March 25th~

 I can't give you a recipe for success, but I can give 

you a recipe for failure: try to please everybody...

A little more about our time in Branson.  This time 

we made it to Andy's frozen custard.  For me a trip to 

Branson is not complete unless we have some of 

Andy's frozen custard.  It is the absolute best.

The last days were so cold, Arvid made us hot chocolate. 

 Also I took some peanuts for the squirrels.  Lucky me 

they showed up and enjoyed them right on the deck.  Both 

Arvid and I said how Sniff would love this.  No matter

 how cold it was, the sunsets were always amazing.

Here at home in Fort Myers the day has begun on the 

cloudy side.  Rain is predicted, but so far there is none.  

We really need some.  Good morning and a good 

day to all.  Below is Sniff in his happy place.

The excursion is the same when you go looking for

 your sorrow as when you go looking for your joy...

~Nadiya~