Saturday December 10th ~

 Life is about accepting the challenges along the way,

 choosing to keep moving forward, and savoring the journey...

One week, five days of radiation done, and I can’t tell the 

difference too much.  Today and tomorrow are my days off. 

Thursday we "celebrated" with Cuban food.  Was so good.

Fifteen more treatments to go. Hopefully not more than

 that, but as my doctor said, “ that we will decide at the end”

  I actually like going out everyday for a little.  The drive 

is soothing and just long enough to enjoy my music.

Last night we tried out a different place.  Live band,

 good drinks and a beautiful evening.  So the music was not

 great, but my drink, Sex on the Beach was just delicious.

Yesterday and today Arvid has been and will be busy 

with soccer games. Works out great for all of us. 

Friday night means we get to indulge in a slice of pizza.

 Sounds insignificant but I look forward to this all week long. 

 That one slice on Friday nights is the best pizza.  I dream 

of it all week long. Makes us happy 🍕 and it's delicious.

Saturday.  What shall I do while Arvid and Sniff watch soccer?

Good morning everyone.  Today I will bake a bread pudding. 

 Lately Arvid has been enjoying a few sweet treats.  Let's see if he 

likes my bread pudding as much as he liked my rice pudding 😂

No matter who tries to teach you lessons about life, 

you won’t understand it until you go through it on your own...

~Nadiya~

Friday March 26th ~

 The little things.  The little moments.  They aren't little.
Enjoy the satisfaction of doing little things well...

This bird has been visiting us for some time now.  At first 

Arvid was OK with it.  Thought it was so cute because the 

bird won't fly away when we were on the balcony, but then

 suddenly the bird started to poop all over the place.  Arvid 

was not so happy then.  Suddenly the bird was not that cute 

anymore.  It won't fly away, even when we go close to it.

Sniff has also been spending time people watching,

 and squirrel watching.  He has the perfect lookout 

point in the bedroom, under my desk which is really 

his bed.  I gave up my desk for him to have a bed 

with a view and lots of sunshine.  He just loves it.

Life is strange.  You never know what each day

 may hold.  So appreciate what you have and enjoy it

 to the fullest, for one day it will change.  

Change is not always bad, change is just part 

of life.  Life is a journey and who knows where it

 can take you next.  Happy Friday all.  it is the

 weekend and I am looking forward to it.

It's the little things that make life wonderful. There are 

some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm...

~Nadiya~

May 17th ~ Celebrating 2 Birthdays ~

You are  part of my life that will never come back,
but existed and will continue to exist and live on in
my heart.   I'd give anything for one more minute
 with you, I still miss you and always will...

Both Brutus and Shadow have birthdays today. 

 Both Brutus and Shadow are dead 😢.

A day does not go by without thoughts of Brutus.  It's
very difficult to not think of him.  He brought us so much
happiness that when he died a part of us died as well.

  I won't say I cry all the time.  I don't.  I grieve for him,
but the pain is bearable.  It's not as intense, and with
each passing day it's more and more bearable.

Today Brutus would have been 14 years old.
My baby who I wish I could hold again, hug and kiss.
  Yes, I really miss him.  My heart will forever grieve for him.
I loved him/love him like I never imagined.  I always will.

Shadow would have been 5 years old.  We only had him for
4 months.  It is heartbreaking thinking of Shadow.  He was
 so little.  He never had a chance and because of that a part of
me is always angry at the one who made this happen.

Happy birthday Brutus.  Happy birthday Shadow.
Your dad, Sniff and I are good. We have a good life,
 and we are happy, but Brutus, every so often we think
of you.  Your dada always told me we were going to
 probably have you for 21 years or so if we were lucky.

I want to say then that we were not lucky
 because we only had  you for 9 years Brutus, but
 on the other hand those were the best 9 years.

Birthdays are supposed to be happy times.
 I'm happy because you Brutus filled our hearts
with love and our home.  I am happy because we
shared 9 years with you, but at the same time I'm
heartbroken because we wanted so much more.

 I miss you and there is nothing I can do
about that.  This week has not been that easy.
You have been in my thoughts a lot.

Shadow, you were feisty and I am so sorry we
 never had the opportunity to see you grow.

Brutus, Shadow. I think perhaps I will always
 hold a candle for you – even until it burns my hand.
And when the light has long since gone …. I will 
be there in the darkness holding what remains,
 quite simply because I cannot let go.

You can close your eyes to reality but not to memories. 
It's has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. 
The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity,
 covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens...

~Dada, Mama & Sniff~

Amazing Beauty In Vermont ~

Learn to appreciate the things you have

 in the life you're living. It is your present...

Probably one of the coldest places in the winter time, 

but definitely it has an extraordinary beauty.  I love coming

 to Vermont because I get to see Mala and family.  

As far as it being on the colder side I could care less.  

Since living in Branson, I got to really enjoy and 

like the cold weather.  This is a treat for me

 in more ways than one would know.

My sister Nina who moved to Florida last year is missing

the change of seasons very much.  So much so that she

 and David decided to take a week in New York just so that 

she can enjoy the scenery.  Granted they will be staying in

 Manhattan, but she also want to experience the cold.

Rio loves taking walks and eating wood.  Fortunately

 he seems to be outgrowing the wood eating days.  It's been 

twice that he was rushed into emergency surgery for swallowing

 wood.  He sure put his family and all of us through a

 lot of stress.  But look at him...how cute is he?

In Vermont there is beauty all around you.  Mala lives 

in this amazing area.  The colors you see are just stunning. 

 For the next few days I will be enjoying my family,

 and some amazingly beautiful sceneries.

Whenever you are creating beauty around you,

 you restore your own soul.  The best way

 to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it...

~Nadiya~