Best Place On Earth... Home

Where we love is home-home that our feet may leave,
but never our hearts....

As we woke up early Saturday morning in Norway, Arvid looks at me with a big
 smile and he says, "we are going home."  Those were the best words I could hear.

The Norwegian sunrise was pretty amazing as we headed to the airport in Oslo,

but even that could not contain our excitement to be heading back home.

As mentioned the summer was a good one. Many memories made and many friendships-bonds 

that were strengthened.  Could not have been better except for the fact that we

 were on  our way home.  Even at this hour in the morning, Norway was 

waking up to a beautiful day, but also very cold.

We arrived home exhausted.  We were on the road for a total of 24 hours.

First time in my 14 trips to Norway that I have been this exhausted.  same for Arvid.

Even so once we got home, Brutus was waiting for us and for his brushing.  I dropped 

everything and brushed him for a very long time.  In between he had many nibbles with Arvid.

Good morning everyone.  The best feeling in the whole world is to be back home.

I have never been away from home this long.  26 days.  Though very good,

 I am not used to it.  Next year is far from here, but right now I don't know

that i would want to be gone from home for that long, but then I say

the same thing every year.  Whole year to think about it :)

For now it's back to reality and boy do we love it!!!

Good morning everyone.  I can never stop saying how GOOD 

it is to be back home where we belong.  Wishing you all a good day.

Remember to count your blessing and to be thankful for what you have.

We do!

Home is where the heart is...

~Nadiya~

Florida...

A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire 
for the mind as well as the body, and Brutus and Arvid.  
We are home. Where we love is home -

 home that our feet may leave, 
but not our hearts. ..

Greetings from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
We are home in the Sunshine State  once again.

Feels good to walk out and feel the warmth on your face.  Goodbye sweaters, and jackets.
Hello sunshine, palm trees and drives along the beach.

Let's not forget, being able to drive my own car and going to some of our favorite restaurants.
 As Arvid says, "Flannigan's here we come."  He loves baby back ribs and
they have some of the best in town.  Seeing Liliana and so much more.

Good to be home in Florida.
Nothing better than laying to rest on your own bed and
having Brutus sleep with us all night long.  We could not get enough of each other.

Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do.
But how much love we put in that action....

~Nadiya~

Where We Belong....

And when the day arrives I'll become the sky and I'll become the sea 

and the sea will come to kiss me for I am going home. Nothing can stop me now...

It been 26 days since we left home and Brutus, but who is counting.

It has been a good summer here in Norway, but today we go home.
Almost 5am in Norway...almost 11pm back home in Florida
where Brutus somehow knows we are on our way home to him.

It has been great to see everyone and to spend time with them.

Friends and family have made this vacation a memorable one, but today we

 are on our way home to Brutus and to the life we have.  Already missing Aleah.

Norway is a beautiful country, but it is not my home.  The USA is home.

Florida is where we are going and yes, I am very excited to be going back home.

Beaches, palm tree and tropical drinks.  Oh...how I have missed you!

Vacations are great.  Seeing everyone was good, but nothing, NOTHING compares

to going home.  The excitement we both feel is palpable and I am sure it is the same for all.

To all thank you for making this such an enjoyable summer. 

 The memories will last forever.  ~Goodbye Norway~ 

Hello ~Fort Lauderdale and Brutus~
HOME WHERE WE BELONG....

Home where we belong and where we soon will be.

For the two of us, home isn't a place. It is a person. 

And we are finally  almost home...

~Nadiya~

Little Of Horten, Arvid's Hometown...

Don't let your luggage define your travels,

 each life unravels differently...

Arvid's mother lives in the best location of all of Horten.

That's the view from her apartment, and one of our favorite spots when in Norway.

This is Fishland.  Marina and restaurants and the place we go every afternoon to relax on our own.

A must is always a few trips to the cemetery to visit Arvid's dad.  Believe it

or not going there is always a peaceful time for us.  We go alone and we go at times 

with his mother.  She goes there at least three times a week to keep everything in ship shape.

Coffee time is a special time for us.  We go to Fishland a favorite place of ours.

Sitting and watching people and boats pass by makes us think we are back home.

Pleasant experience always.  Nice scenery and good coffee.  Quiet times for us.  Very good.

Spending time with everyone is of course the best part of a vacation.

That we do quite a lot of.  We see his mother almost every day and we also see Aleah

and the girls often.  Aleah being so little we try to see as much of he as we can.  She's too cute!

Even on a rainy day in Norway you can see beauty all around you.
Captured on one of our last days after the rain.  Look carefully and you also see the rainbow.

When coming from the US it's difficult (at least for me) to get used to
things Norwegian.  Super expensive for starters, but that I am used to.  Still can't get
used to how little everything is.  Showers, coffe cups, grocery store is definitely limited in
my book.  I now totally understand how Norwegians feel when travelling to the USA.
 It is another world.  Where the sky is the limit and where everything is possible.  So different.

Different is NOT bad.  Just takes getting used to.  There are certainly some things
 in Norway that I think are better.  Definitely the sauces you can buy in packages is one of them.

To all a good day.  We will soon be home.
Remember, to be happy, and even if life isn't perfect it has perfect moments....

We all do better when we work together. Our differences do matter,
 but our common humanity matters more...

~Nadiya~

Thursday...

Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. 

We have only today. Let us begin...

Our final week in Norway.  Monday was a little trip to Sweden.  

Tuesday we had most of the morning and some of the afternoon to ourselves.  

Nice. Tuesday dinner was with Molly, Michelle, Emil and Aleah.  Also very nice.  

Missing was Victoria and Michael.  They just got back from vacation and were busy at work.

Wednesday we had some time alone again, then it was a visit to a customer for Arvid

while I enjoyed a little time alone at the mall.  Something about malls me relaxed and cheerful.

Especially here where there is really not that much to do in Arvid's hometown.  Very small,

but on the other hand it is safe and everyone knows everyone so difficult to get into trouble here.

Arvid was so tired of not doing much he fell asleep a little during the day.  We are
used to being busy and truthfully when on vacation one just relaxes and the mind slowly
goes to sleep.  Time for us to go and get busy again.  We are both looking forward to going home.

Even so, we are having good times with everyone.  yesterday we had dinner at his
brother and girlfriend's home.  There were also two of Arvid's cousins and their
wife/girlfriend present. I was really happy because I met a very interesting
 woman  and I think if I lived in Norway we could be good friends.
We also had good food a great start of a good evening.

Later today we go to Victoria and Michael's for a visit.  Little father
daughter chat and Arvid has a few things to show to them.
Looking forward to that very much.

Tomorrow our last day here we all get together at Michelle and Emil's home.
Will  be another good evening with good food and good company.
As usual the last evening is always sad.  Though we are
happy to be going home it is also sad to be leaving.
Life...not always the way we want, but....

The day has started out beautiful with the glimpse of the rainbow.
Good things are definitely in store for us...

To all a good day.  For us it is just 2 more days until we are home.
Going to make the most of them..

There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want.
Time spent with family is time well spent. 
Family is the one constant element in life...

~Nadiya~

Going Home...

Summer will end soon enough, but not the memories made...

It has been good seeing everyone.  There is something very special going on when in 

the company of family.  Stronger bonds are built and friendships renewed,

 but there is something even more special at the thought of going home.

Home to your own bed, surroundings and in our case home to Brutus.

It has been 20 + days now since we have been away from home.  For me 

the longest time ever.  This has been a good summer.  Started out incredibly hot,

but it got better by the end.  We have had some very good times with friends and family. 

 

But, yes there is always a but.  Home is where we belong and home is where we want to be.

Home is where we will be in a few days.  Home where Brutus is and where

is the best place on earth.  Norway's summer is over for us; it was great, but

like all good things it has come to an end.

Until we meet again.

Every summer has it's own story,
and ours was no exception.  To good times.  It will be repeated....

~Nadiya~

Making Memories....

The happiest memories are of moments that ended when they should have... 

Arvid and I came back from Poland on Sunday.  It was definitely one of 

the best times we have ever had. My best time ever in Europe.

The city is gorgeous and the food is the best I have ever had.

USA not included but very close.

Behind me is the Grand Hotel and we were told that whenever Hitler was in Gdansk

this was where he called home.  Of course it has the best ocean view.

End of a wonderful time, but back in Norway it was also a very good day.

Sunday was spent with Michelle, Emil, Aleah and Molly.  Just have to say,

when Aleah saw me she ran to me with open arms.  Of course I dropped

 everything and held her close.  Still can feel her little arms

 around me and I know I am already starting to miss her.

We took them all out to dinner and spent a few hours at Molly's. 

 Arvid's mother.  All together it was one very special day.

Yesterday, Monday we took a little day trip to Sweden.

To get there we start out on a half hour trip on the ferry.

I like it because I can get on to their free WIFI.  When you are in a foreign 

country any connection to your part of the world is greatly valued.  Chatted a while

 with  my mom and had a coffee and a little something on the boat.  Oh...the coffee cost $5.00

Like most of the Europe I have seen, the drive was picturesque as seen

by the pictures below.  The fact that it rained a bit did not take away from the beauty.

All together it was a perfect day rain and all.  We were together

and we had some alone time.  Very good as Arvid said.  This is our last 

week  here in Norway and we hope to get as much time as we can with family.

To all a good day and never forget,
we do not remember days we remember moments.

Things end but memories last forever....

~Nadiya~

Tick Tock Tick Tock...

There comes a time when the world gets quiet

 and the only thing left is your own heart.

 So you'd better learn the sound of it.

 Otherwise you'll never understand what it's saying...

Here we are spending time with family.  Enjoying what is

our summer vacation.  Everything is going great yet something is missing.

Yes, I'm missing that little ball of fur that is Brutus. Missing our

 mornings when we would wake up together and watch the sunrise.

Strange how one gets used to certain things.  Brutus is never far from my heart.

No matter where we are or who I am with.  I am counting the days until back 

home and can  make sure he is all right.  Make sure he has not re-injured

 his paw, which by the way was looking so very much better when we left.  

The thing is anytime we travel, Brutus has this bad

habit of biting his paw until bloody.  

Refuses to eat much and just lays in his bed moping all the time.

As you can imagine, I am always worried about him.  Sometimes,

more than I should, but I just can't help it.  I worry that he is not taking his medicines.

I worry that he is just so sad that he does not want to eat, drink his water or do anything. 

I know Arid says that everything is going to be OK, but I know he also worries but does not say 

it as often as I do.  The good thing is that he is in good hands.  At least that I don't worry about.

Hope you are all having a good summer so far.

Remember, don't worry be happy.

I need to listen to myself!

When I close my eyes I see you.

When I open my eyes I miss you...

~Nadiya~

Victoria...

Happy birthday to an amazing Victoria.
 Work hard, be kind, and Amazing things will happen. 
The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be....

Victoria, may you never stray from your true path,

as you continue your amazing journey in life.

~Happy Birthday~

When we met she was a teenager.  Yes with all the "issues" a teenager has. She was

beautiful then and if I may say so even more beautiful today.  In many ways she was still

a child, but trapped in a woman's body.  At the time I did not understand how difficult it 

may have been for this little girl, yes like me she is also a daddy's girl to go from

being daddy's girl to having to share her dad with another woman..that being me.

I could have been more understanding, but maybe I was also standing on shaky grounds.

She and I both had and still have strong personalities.  At the time we met they clashed.

I being the grown up of the two should have handled it better.  But now this is the past.

The Victoria I know today is a woman of determination and convictions.  I have seen her 

blossom from an insecure teenager to a woman with confidence and strength.  She and I have

been through some rough times.  It was maybe a good thing because today I want to say

that the relationship we have is better than ever.  She is my friend and someone I admire 

very much.  She is relentless, she is a hard worker and she does not give up.  Qualities I 

admire because I also am the same.  Like her dad she is a go getter.  The girl NEVER quits.

She has qualities I see in myself.  She is kindhearted, she is generous and she loves kitties.

She also loves her Michael. They have been together now for over 13 and a half years.

That to me is a testament of her maturity and of her commitment to happiness.

As you can see she is gorgeous.  She has her dad's eyes.  Blue as the sky.

Every picture she takes the most standout features are the eyes. 

 Of course she NEVER takes a bad picture either.

Yes, Victoria is gorgeous.  Stunning is really how I would describe her, but

her best qualities are not only on the outside.  Her even better qualities lie in

the person that she is.  Her heart is sometimes too big.  Makes for people wanting to 

take advantage of her, but being her she never lets that stop her from random acts of kindness.

Relationships are not always easy to build, but I believe we are on our way to having
a very strong one.  We have both grown from the time we met.  We have matured and
we are both working hard, at least I am to have the relationship we have.

For a young woman Victoria has achieved quite a lot in her life.
She was only in her 20's when together with her better half Micheal, they purchased
a million dollar home in Norway.  When she was just 10 years old she travelled ALONE
from Norway to the United States where her dad, Arvid was living.  Not many can claim this.

As if that was not enough, Victoria was the first student in Norway to complete
an online bachelors degree.  She was interviewed as you can see in the above picture.
Amazing is just a word, but when you put everything into action and you get results you
are looking at a truly one of a kind person.  She is of the type I can and I will.
There is never a can't in her vocabulary.  A girl/woman of grace, beauty,
intelligence and kind heart.   Proud to be her step-mom.

I have gotten to know Victoria very well through the years.  She was after all only
16 years old when we met.  Through the good and through some rough patches,
I believe I can sum up her essence in just a few words, I can hear her saying:

I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it.
I want to have lived the width of it as well.  For her the journey is only getting better.

Happy birthday Victoria.  I look forward to years and years of friendship with you.
Our future holds laughter, fun, love and good times.  All I can say to
 you is that when you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun.
 When you have fun you can do amazing things.  This to me is you!

Victoria, you may not control all the events that happen to you, 
but you can decide not to be reduced by them, and that
you do in spades!

A beautiful person, has a beautiful life.
 And, so shall you. May you sail through all the obstacles 
and challenges that come in your way to success. I wish you a very happy Birthday.

~Nadiya~

Little Tour Gdańsk...

Certainly travel is more than just the seeing of sights; 
it is the change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living....

Little tour through Gdańsk, Poland.

There are also beautiful beaches.

At the beach in Sopot.

The bread loaves are HUGE! and they smell really good.

A popular "snack" is a slice of this huge bread with pickles on top.

A very popular tourist attraction is a tour on the Pirate Ship.  We did it.

As you walk the streets everyone is buying this twirly ice-cream.

  If only to get the picture.  Why not

The other day I read this and I am leaving it with you;  It says:

Please be a traveler, not a tourist.  Try new things.  Meet new people, and look 

beyond what's right in front of you.  Those are the keys to understanding this amazing world we live in.

Take your camera wherever you go. Use it as your visual diary. 

 Capture photos of objects, people and places....

~Nadiya~