Saturday May 11th~ Kindness ~

Carry out a random act of kindness, with no 

expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that 

one day someone might do the same for you...

Brutus taught Arvid what kindness, compassion, and

 patience was all about. Brutus also taught Arvid to be

 more caring to to express his feelings more openly.

Today I am missing our Brutus and would 

love to hug him and hold him one more time

Arvid today is a better, kinder person because of Brutus. 

 Brutus left not only his legacy of love with us, but he made

 his dada a better person. Mama misses you so very much.

Saturday already.  May is also flying away.

  Early this morning I picked up my Mother's Day

 card my mom always sends to me.  It's as if Sniff 

was sending to me.  She does/did it every year

 starting from the time we had Brutus.

Wherever there is a human in need, there is
 an opportunity for kindness and to make a difference...

~Nadiya~

Monday New Week ~

Problems teach us life lessons that smooth sailing days don't.
Don't look at Monday morning just as the day that you 
must go back to work, be thankful that you have
 a job to go to, so you can provide for yourself 
and just be thankful that you woke up...

The first Monday of 2020.  We are experiencing a little

 of a cold front, but this being South Florida it will 

not last for long, but when you are accustomed

 to warm weather anything below 70 is usually

considered cold.  We Floridians are very spoilt.

We will be heading to Puerto Rico to warm us us

 a little better.  There the warm weather hardly ever varies.  

Hopefully we do not have rain.  It always happens when 

one travels the weather does a switch around.

As we bundle up for another cod day, Arvid will
 once again make his cold weather specialty.  His famous
hot chocolate.  We had it yesterday and we will have
 it today .  He does make a pretty good hot chocolate.

For now wishing everyone a great start of the new week.
 Stay warm and don't forget that your pets also feel the cold.
 Please make sure they are kept indoors.  New week.
  7 days.  168 hours.  Crush your goals.

I just heard from my step daughter in Norway.
  She and Michael have two beautiful kitties.  Both are
right now under anesthesia.  Her big boy Loffen
 aside from having tartar removed also has
 whats known as FORL.  FORL IN CATS

Everything is going to be OK.  You have us on your side.

Every day is different, and some days are better
 than others, but no matter how challenging
 the day, I get up and live it...

~Nadiya~

Sunrise or Sunset ~

When the sun has set, no candle can replace it...

Too of my favorite times of the day. 

 Sunrise and sunsets.  Love them both.

Yesterday's sunset from our balcony.  

Had me looking at it for quite some time.

What everyone says it so true, there's a 

sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they're

 absolutely free.  Don't miss too many of them.

Then waking up this morning I managed to see

 a bit of the sunrise.  Both Sniff and I are awake

 and enjoying the silence of the morning.

The day is looking to be a great day.

 A little on the chilly side, but will warm up

 a little more.  You can feel fall is in the air. 

 Summer is just about over for Chicago.

Wishing everyone beautiful days.

Good morning all.  Rise up, start fresh and

see the bright opportunity in each day.

Fall asleep with a dream 

and wake up with a purpose...

~Nadiya~

Happy days ~

Time spent with family is worth every second...

Yesterday will remain one for the books. 

 The day that is.  It was Victoria's birthday and we 

celebrated with her and Michael all night long.

Let's just say that this morning I was still spinning. 

Everything was dancing in front of me.  Feeling

 a little better right now.  Happy about that.

Today we were treated to dinner by Victoria and Michael.

We all had a good time at The Cheesecake Factory. 

 The days they have had in Chicago has been 

very nice for all of us.  So happy about that. 

 Can't believe my step-daughter is 35 years old.  

I have seen her grow up from the time she was just 16. 

 Both her and Michael have succeeded in just

 about everything they have set out to do. 

 Today because of their hard work they have a life

 that is envied by so many.  What people forget is 

that it was not dropped on their laps.  They have and

 continue to work for EVERYTHING they have.

We still have tomorrow with them.  For now all four

 of us are still a little "tired" from yesterday.  The rest of 

the evening will be spent relaxing at home with Sniff.

Hope everyone has also had a great weekend so far.

Life is short.  Don't waste it being angry or sad.

Be happy and enjoy the time you spend with your loved ones...

~Nadiya~

Happy Day ~

Time spent with family is worth every second...

Yesterday was one of those days that makes you happy. 

 We went to Victoria and Michael's for dinner. As always 

this is one of my favorite times in Norway.  I do have

 a few favorites, and going to them is one of them.

When it comes to presentation, no one does it like Victoria. 

 You walk into their home and you are greeted with a

 beautiful table setting be it indoors or outdoor, 

it is always well thought out, and you can 

tell she put a lot of time into it. 

 Always perfect, and I love looking at it.  For me it's 

a special treat to just see it and of course take pictures.

 Of course we then eat, and the food is always delicious. 

 They also go out of their way to get special seafood 

for us.  They put time and thought in all of it.

At their home everyone always have a good time. 

 Aleah and Vanessa love it there because of the beautiful

 pool, the pond with fishes and of course because

 auntie Victoria and uncle Michael always have 

lots of goodies for them and love them to pieces.

Yesterday made everything seem so much better.

Today is a new day, and of course I am missing 

our Sniff.  Even more so after seeing Loffen.  

Sniff is doing good, but he also misses us.

It's Saturday July 12th. In 10 days we will be home with Sniff.

The only secret behind a good day is a good attitude...

~Nadiya~

Eleuthera, Bahamas ~ Relaxing

Even in a world with much sadness,

 at its essence, life is beautiful. .

Another beautiful day it was yesterday.  We spent

 the evening at Sky Beach listening to Reggae music,

 and enjoying a delicious dinner.  Sammy the

 bartender remembered us from years ago. 

 Sammy used to work at a place called Captain Jack's, 

then he moved to Cocodimama and is now at Sky Beach. 

 His Pina Coladas are absolutely delicious.  So far I have had

 good Pina Coladas in all the places we have been to.

Arvid is very tanned.  Just a little time in the sun and he's rosy.

I just get darker.  In me not so noticeable as it is with Arvid.

Good morning all.  For me it's back to the beach for my morning

 walk and of course some pictures.  I love  mornings.  The where 

I am does not matter, but it sure is beautiful to wake 

up and just walk straight out to the beach.

I suppose there are a lot of reasons to be jaded 

or sarcastic or bitter in life, but I hang on

 to the reasons why life is beautiful...

~Nadiya~

Happy Sunday ~

Life is made up of small pleasures. Happiness is 
made up of those tiny successes. The big ones come 
too infrequently. And if you don’t collect all these tiny 
successes, the big ones don’t really mean anything...

Every morning Sniff comes to the bedroom to wake 

me up and let me know it's time for his brushing.  Even before

 I have my cafe, I spend a good 5 minutes brushing him.  After that

 he wants his foodies.  It's a routine we have and I love love it.  Sniff 

is just so precious and he has made our lives so much better.

Yesterday Arvid and I celebrated 17 years of marriage.
 I decided to treat him to a day out on the beach.  We started
 out by having drinks from place to place.  I do not tolerate
alcohol too well so after the first place I was way
too tipsy, but it was our special day after all.

Nothing better than to start off the evening with
a Mojito on the beach. The beach is now full scooters.
 Maybe they were there before, but we have not been
 around for so long so I am just noticing them. 

California has them and Chicago has also had them for years now. 
You can rent it and just drop off wherever you like. The latest
craze.  No one has to walk anymore.  Yesterday,  Arvid
was also treated to his first Uber ride.  The driver was not
sure how to navigate through all the construction
going on so Arvid of course directed him.

Arvid's day so far is filled with soccer games.
 Three games. After the first two he said he was a
little tired watching TV.  I wonder why? 

Sniff follows him around like a little puppy.  Arvid loves it.
It's a beautiful and very warm day here in Fort Lauderdale.

 Soccer is about to be done and soon we will go and enjoy our
Sunday outing.  Life is always good when one stops looking
for all the things that can go wrong.  Just enjoy and make
 the most of it.  At least give it your best shot.

Wishing everyone a Happy Sunday and to
all the Veteran's a Happy Veteran's Day.

Happiness is not a station you arrive at,
 but a manner of traveling.  Even if happiness forgets
 you a little bit, never completely forget about it...

~Nadiya~

Friday ~

Courage is grace under pressure.  Be kind, 
be thoughtful, be genuine, but most of all be thankful...

Every morning as I wake up I check messenger.  Living in

  Branson my parents and 2 of my sisters are an hour ahead of us.  

There always send good morning wishes and we fool around

 a bit before each of us "takes off" to do what we have to do.

Rima lives in a completely different time zone so she sees
 the messages long after we have been chatting for a while.
 Then there is Norway.  Norway is now seven hours ahead
of us in Branson and six when we are in Florida.

Imagine my surprise when I checked messenger this morning

 and the first and only message was from Michelle.  My step

 daughter and mother of our two adorable grand daughters.

  The message was brief, but it warmed my heart.

She wanted to know if I was in any danger from Florence, as

 in Hurricane Florence I'm still feeling good and smiling thinking 

of her.  I love her, and right now I am feeling loved as well.

Hurricane Florence is making big news around the world.
Norway is keeping an eye on it, but what matters the most is
the text I received this morning from that special girl named
Michelle.  She cares enough and that has made me happy.
The best start of my otherwise gloomy day.  Yes, it's dark
and has been raining everyday here in Fort Lauderdale.

Sniff and I are doing good.  We are not in the path of Hurricane Florence.
For all of those who are just know everyone is praying for you to
be safe.  Today I go again to the movies.  I really missed going
to movies while in Branson.In the almost 2 years we have
 been there we went once.  Never had the time.

Wishing everyone a great start of the weekend.
Just remember, to say a little prayer for those less fortunate
 than us.  As you may know, the things we take
 for granted, someone else is praying for.

  Hurricanes are like women.  When they come they are wet
 and wild,  but when they leave they take your house and car...

~Nadiya~

Heading Home To The USA ~ YES! YES! YES!

No matter what road I travel heading home is my favorite...

This says it all.  Homewards bound we are.

As always we have had a great time in Norway.  As always the 

best part of any vacation is going home.  We're going home

 and could not be happier.  Yes it is always sad to leave.  

Leaving loved ones is not easy, but knowing that we have

 made great memories, had a great time makes it all worth it.  Home 

to Sniff is where we are headed and I could not be happier.

Do more of what makes you happy..

~Nadiya~

Hello Thursday ~

Keep calm and be crazy!  Laugh, love and live it up because this

 is the oldest you've been and the youngest you'll ever be again...

She's my step daughter, Arvid's eldest daughter.  Her name is Victoria,

 and I consider her my friend as well.  We have a good relationship,

 and for that I am happy.  She and I have been through some trying

 times, but we came out stronger and with a special bond.

  Today is her birthday.  This girl is AMAZING!  She always gets what

 she wants, and not because it is given to her.  What she gets

 is from her hard work and determination.  She stops at 
nothing to achieve her goals. Goal oriented she is.

Like every year on her birthday she and Michael take a trip to a 

beautiful destination.  This year Marbella and Puerto Banus 

is their destination.  They are actually there right now. 

 As I always tell her may you always live in interesting times,

 and may this journey you are on never stops.  They work hard,

 and play hard.  For the next few days it is sun, beach and 

those fancy drinks served with umbrellas.  

Here in Branson all is good.  The city is gearing up for the Summer
 Cruise car show.  Branson and more specifically Shepherd Of The Hills,
this is where Almost Home is located is expected to see close to 500 cars on display.  
Unfortunately, as of today and through the weekend rain is predicted.

To all a good day, and don't forget to be amazing.

Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire...

~Nadiya~

Sunday Vibe ~

Be stubborn about your goals, and flexible about your methods..

Looking forward to a beautiful day filled with possibilities.

Thank you Anna for reminding me that there are so many reasons to be grateful.
Not that I forget, but it never hurts with a little reminder.  Thank you.

Happy Sunday all.

When you love what you have, you have everything you need...

~Nadiya~

Friday ~ Weekend Is Here ~

Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. You should never
 regret anything inn life.  If it's good it's wonderful, if its bad it's experience...

Both of our hotels at full.  Of course very happy about that.  The last two 

weeks there has been a flurry of people looking for a place to live. 

 We are still getting used to Branson and it's tourist season. 

 I feel bad for some of the people because they come to our hotels in 

desperate need of housing.  Now is the time for anyone to find a job  No excuses.

  Of course there will always be those that claim how it is "so difficult to find a job." 

 Truth being told there are hundreds of job openings right now.  Right 

here in Branson.  Every single hotel is hiring and there are hundreds

 of those.   160 hotels  according to booking.com.

Yesterday it rained and rained.  Today and the next few days same predicted.  

Just have to wait and see if it is so.  Saturday is expected to be cold

 again.  Life continues here I Branson.  Some days are busier than 

others, but everyday there is something unusual happening.

Yesterday I found a stray turtle climbing up our driveway.  Poor thing 

looked exhausted.  I picked him up and carried him safely to the other 

side of the road in a grassy spot.  Hope it was the right thing I did. 

After work, I come home to more work.  Sometimes I think it's easier being 

at work than being at home.  At home it seems that work is never done. 

 There are loads and loads of laundry all the time.  It's only the 3 

of us, yet I do laundry everyday.  Worse part is the folding.  

It's already Friday.  Today another of my tenants want to do lunch with me.

Looking forward to it because she is from Florida.  She's young and we 

will have lots to chat about.She comes to my office and when I'm not

 busy we have interesting conversations.  Looking forward to it.

Hopefully there will not be too much excitement at the hotels.  It will

be  ice to come home and just relax when the work day is over and not have

 to run over to either Arvid's or my hotel.  Yes..those days of 

sipping umbrella drinks are long gone for now.

Happy Friday all and may your weekend be one of relaxation 

and good times shared with the ones you love.

Sometimes you just have to pick yourself up and carry on..

~Nadiya~

Happy Tuesday ~

Transformation Tuesday.  Success doesn't come to you.  You go to it.

Being gone so much these days makes it a little difficult to have much time with 

Sniff, but both Arvid and I try to make up for it when we are home with him. 

 Every morning he gets lots of brushing from me and as soon as I come home 

in the afternoons early evenings I make sure to have quality time with him.

  Sniff Sniff is still is not too fond of being picked up, but he loves being 

touched and we do it all the time.  He gets lots of petting from both of us.  He

 can never seem to get enough of that.  Bot Arvid and I are happy to oblige.

Monday came and went fast.  Sunday was very relaxing and it was one of 

the first Sundays I can remember that we did not do much running around.  We

 had time to go out and have our Sunday outing just the way we used to do back home.  

The weather was beautiful and we had an outdoor table by the water.  Was perfect.

I have been having serious allergy attacks.  Sunday was the worst.  Sneezed for hours. 

 Was awake with the worst sinus headache.  Never have I had an allergy problem,

 but now with all the pollen and flowers here in Branson, I sure am having it. 

 Another reason I love city life.  Condos.  Concrete and no grass.  

As Tuesday begins I know it is going to go by fast.  The time sure 

is flying. Weather is perfect.  Sunshine and warm predicted for the next

 few days.  Can't believe that we are actually hot. Arvid got a tan on Sunday 

just by sitting out while we had lunch.  We never did in Florida, but

 everywhere else we do.  He even gets a tan when in Norway.

Hopefully everyone has had a good start of the work week.  Mondays are usually

 the hardest of days to go by for many, now it's done and for sure the rest will fly by.

If you change the way you look at things,

the things you look at change...

~Nadiya~

Choices. Chances. Changes. It's Here

Choices.  Chances.  Changes.  You must make

 a Choice to a Chance or your life will never Change...

We are far from home right now.  Not many Palm Trees in sight and no beautiful

 beaches.  Totally different scenery, but it is an open road that leads to changes.

Here in Missouri we get to cruise along bits and pieces of Route 66.

Arvid said he has found his niche here.  He's very excited about all the trades possible 

to do.  Unfortunately it is very cold right now compared to how it is back home.

Sniff was home alone for about a week and a half, but I went to Florida and brought him
 to what will be his new home for a while.  He is still getting used to it, but I can tell he already
 loves it.  He will be happiest here.  Trees, birds, falling leaves.  Just what he loves.

All is good we.  Lots of interesting things to see and do, but it is different from 

Fort Lauderdale, and it's cold.  No shorts for Arvid and I right now.  We are

 fully bundled up.  Hmmm... Not sure how I feel about being so cold.

Time to go and get something warm to drink and to heat up the body.

Good morning everyone.  Wishing you a beautiful day and hopefully 

it's warmer where you are than it is right now were we are.

Remember everyone it's the things we can't change that sometimes end 

up changing us.  I'm on the hunt for who I have not yet become.

Some days you just have to create your own sunshine.

Change is hard at first.  Messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end...

~Nadiya~