Saturday July 22nd ~

Happiness is the only thing that multiplies 

when you share it. The happiness of your life 

depends upon the quality of your thoughts...

 I'm sure many places are exactly the same in that whatever you

 want to do depends largely on the weather that day.  Here in

 Norway it's no different, you make plans accordingly as well.

Yesterday we wanted to go out and have an ice-cream cone.  

We kept track of the weather for a few hours and finally when

 it cleared up a bit off we went, but as soon as we left the apartment,

 the clouds turned black.  Fortunately we managed to "gulp" down 

our ice-cream, return to the apartment before the rain came.  That

 was a good accomplishment, and the ice-cream was yummy.

All of that being said, we had a great time with Michelle and 

family in Sweden.  We spent a lot of time with the girls and the best

 part was when Vanessa finally called me bestemor/grandma.  I just

 melted.  Looking forward to more of the same from all of them 💛

Good morning everyone and a beautiful day to all.

  Right now it's on the cooler side here in Norway, but it

 feels good compared to being in the heat.  My Sniff is 

home and he knows mama will soon be there as well.

When you travel, remember that you’re not just 

a viewer but a part of the world you’re exploring...

~Nadiya~

Sunday March 7th ~

 Florida is a strange place: hot, beautiful, ugly. 

I love it here, and how nothing makes sense

 but still, somehow, there is a rhythm...

This is one of the busiest weekends for spring break,

 unfortunately for those in Fort Lauderdale yesterday was a washout. 

During the morning it was dark and cloudy, and then the rain came 

for most part of the so called "beach hours"  Friday was better, 

sunny and warmer.  Also there is a so called "cool" down.

We were happy for the downpour because it finally gave us a

 chance to clean the balcony.  It was pretty dirty and living 

in a condo you are not allowed to hose it down.  The rain

 camouflaged the extra water we used to scrub the dirt away.

Of course there was soccer before and after the rain. Both 

Sniff and Arvid were glued to the TV most of the day. Same will

 be today.  Arvid says there are many good games today.

As for me, time to catch up on some reading and have a day

 off from cooking.  Sundays are takeout days.  Happy for that.

  Already thinking of what to make for tomorrows meal.

The rain has eased off right now, but if the weather 

people are correct, there is a 70% chance of more rain

 today.  Bummer.  Plus it cold for Florida 🙈.

Life is a mountain. Your goal is to 

find your path, not to reach the top...

~Nadiya~

Sunday June 21st...

The true secret of happiness lies in the taking a 

genuine interest in all the details of daily life...

June 21 is the longest day and it is called the 

Summer Solstice. Long days are one thing and 

Summer Solstice is something way more

 complicated than just a long day.

From March to September, the northern hemisphere 

gets more sunlight than the southern one.

June 21st is the day when the northern hemisphere 

receives the most direct sunlight, which causes the day

 to last longer than any other day in the year.  After this 

date, the course of sunlight gets more south-bound 

and we get a Winter Solstice on December 22nd.

COVID cases keep increasing in Florida.  A few
 days ago Arvid said to me, "we need to get away
 from here."  We need to move to Puerto Rico.

Arvid goes through so many ideas, but I know him. 
 I know it's all in the moment talk.  Puerto Rico 
does sound good, but do I really want to do this?
When I look at the pictures then I want to 🌴

  Take Sniff and not know what will happen 🤷?  
Not sure.  Here at home all is familiar and I know
 where to go if something happens and what to do.

To all the dads our there.  Happy Father's Day.
To my dad, you're my hero and the first man
 I ever loved.  I love you daddy.  Always.

Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of 

darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning

 if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better to take 

things as they come along with patience and equanimity...

~Nadiya~

June 5th ~ Another day To Be Happy

Be happy with what you have,

be excited about what you want...

Sniff is not exactly feeling 100% today.  Seems 

like he goes through these "stages" too often.  I have

 to think we have a moody little boy with us, but

 he's loved.  Moody or not he's our little dude.

It began yesterday.  He won't eat, and he wont get

 out of bed.  When he did get out of bed, it was just to

 move to another bed.  This morning he didn't even want me 

to brush him.  I am going to be worried for the next few days 

until he gets back to :normal."  Maybe Sniff is also 

experiencing the "new normal" of today.

When I got back home from North Carolina Arvid

 and Sniff had looked up places we would be going to. 

 Arvid's favorite hobby when I am gone is to either buy

 a car, real estate or to find places for us to go to.  Here

 he and Sniff are showing me what they found 😃.

Will we go?  That's another question, but it

 kept him busy and happy.  One thing for sure,

 with Arvid everyday is an adventure.  

As we were talking about maybe going out to 

restaurants, Arvid as usual gets hesitant.  I said 

to him "so you are scared?"  He said the only

thing I am sacred of is you 😮🤷.  

Wishing everyone a happy day.  More 

rain is expected, but hopefully by the time we

 go for our walk it would have eased off.

So far 2020 has been a very chaotic year.  What next we ask?

A new day begins.  The possibilities are limitless.

Some cause happiness wherever they go, 

others whenever they go.  Happiness is inn you...

~Nadiya~

Days Like These ~

Be your excellent self today by creating a 

beautiful mosaic from yesterdays' broken pieces...

As I stood out on the balcony yesterday, I saw two 

little duckies swimming like crazy to get across the river.  

They were fast and in no time they made it to the other side.

While Liliana and I were having lunch we noticed

 another commotion going on across the river.  Of

 course we went out to the balcony to have a look.

There was a Memorial service going on for fallen officers. 

 Twelve Fort Laurderdale police officers who died on active

duty were remembered and honored in a Fort Lauderdale ceremony 

Wednesday. Some died decades ago, as far back as the 1940s.

Of course I had my camera ready.  Me with the camera 

and Liliana with the binoculars directing me as to where to aim. 

I love living Downtown.  I always did, and we are both so

 very happy to be back Downtown.  There is ALWAYS something 

going on, and usually we can always see it right from our balcony.

I am always amazed by the boats.  It seems that 

they keep getting bigger and bigger.  We love it and

 we are happy to be back here in Florida.

On the other hand, we will soon be going to Branson 

for a visit.  I am so happy to be going back.  To seeing as

 many people as we can.  Branson will forever be 

special to me and Almost Home and everyone there

will always have a special place in my heart.

It's been a great day and the sunset it calling.

Don't wait for things to get easier, simpler, or better.

  Life will always be complicated.  Learn to be happy

 right now.  Otherwise you'll run out of time...

~Nadiya~

It's Life ~

Thank you is the best prayer that anyone could say.
I say that one a lot.  Thank you expresses extreme
 gratitude, humility and understanding...

For the rest of the month and the first 10 days of February,

 I will be going through intense treatment all leading up to finding 

out if my body is still cancer free.  I am positive that this will be 

the case, but in the meantime it's a very draining process.

I started a few weeks a go with doctors appointments. 

 Many doctors appointments.  Then came the  blood 

work.  I have lots of blood work scheduled. 

As mentioned a while back, since we have been in Branson

 I never had the time to follow up on all the tests required. 

Fortunately, now I do.  This week is packed.  Started yesterday

 and it will go on until Friday.  One test after another. 

The days are different but this weeks tests follows the

 above schedule.  After I got home yesterday, I did not realize that

 the injection was what was causing me to be so tired and nauseous.

  You see I have a high tolerance for this stuff, but when I fell

 asleep and Arvid had to wake me up, I knew something

 was not right.  I NEVER nap during the day.

I feel better today and am ready for the other injection.

  The right side of my butt is sore from yesterday so 

today will be on the left side.  That will even it out.

I am looking forward to the results of all these test.
 Will hopefully get them by mid February.  That is if all the
tests are done.  On the fifth day of my first week of tests I will
 be having the entire body scan.  Have had one before. 

Just don't like to be still for long, but nothing I can do.
 Have to just lay down and stay still.  That is the
hardest part for me, other than that a total breeze.

This all sounds like a lot of "work" , but the truth is it's not.
 Just have to show up and do the test.  There are others
 going through a much more difficult time right now. 

My aunt is currently going through one of those very
 difficult times in her life.  One day she was fine.  Next thing
you know her life was turned upside down.  I may have a few weeks
of testing.  My aunt has been going through this for months now.

So when you start to complain and say how difficult your
 life is (me included) think about the millions of people, who
you don't know, and some of who you do.  Their lives are lived
day to day.  They have no idea what the next day holds.

Stop and look around you.  Be thankful for what you have,
for what you take for granted someone else is praying for.

There are only two ways to live your life.  One is as
 though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as though everything
 is a miracle.  Be thankful for what you have. Your life, no matter
 how bad you think it is, is someone else's fairytale...

~Nadiya~