Happy New Year and Thank You.

Jan 01, 2026

As we head into a new 2026 my family and I have so much to be thankful for. Please allow me to say thank you and give you a little update. We want to thank all of you perosonally but it's impossible right now. Glory to God in the highest I don't even know how to thank God enough. Thank you to all of you for prayers, love and support during a crazy illness that is not text book. Well I guess no brain disorder or injury is text book right? Jovan has had a rough 30 years of being sick, but the last two years have been the toughest since he stopped standing and walking and is unable to speak normally and believe me when I tell you we didn't know if we were coming or going. I know in my heart all of your prayers were heard for Jovan, and for myself and our sons. How do I thank you all for that properly?

It's amazing to me that a person can run on adrenaline, in survival mode and just get things done; that's because of your prayers. God gave me/us strength to get done what we have to do, both my jobs, taking care of Jovan, the house, groceries, cooking, seems so trivial but when someone is as sick as he is, it can be a big challenge trying to accomplish it all, yet we get it done with the help of our family and caregivers. We are extremely blessed with Erica and Melissa who care for him as if he is their own family. Doesn't get better than that. When I say we love them, we love them with our entire souls. Thank you for the extra prayers you have sent our way in every way, shape and form. Someone asked me how do you do it? I don't know exactly how I guess I am determined to make sure my kids have a good life, or as best as can be. I do know all I ever wanted was to give my sons a normal life, happy life. That was and is my motivation always and to show them life is not easy, and how to deal with anything that comes your way without being angry or violent, without taking drugs to numb away the pain (we all know that doesn't work), or running away from family issues. That doesn't solve anything. Nothing is normal about our lives, absolutley nothing. The boys sure did learn compassion, empathy, kindness and respect so I know in my heart someday they will be wonderful husbands and fathers. I am blessed with how they grew up and who they became. Thank you for praying for my kids, the normal beings in my life yet the most incredible humans God could have blessed me with. They have watched us struggle with different things but you can struggle if you are healthy, if you aren't healthy you cannot even struggle.

Jovan is on the mend from this last crisis, but very weak. He is so compromised that these things are going to come up from time to time with him, we were just in the hospital for a week for fuild overload/swelling and blood clots but thank God he came home yesterday to bring in the new year with us even though he went to bed at 7pm. We have been truly blessed with our physicians who are outstanding, the healthcare teams who have taken care of him in the hospital all have been a true blessing to him and us. I am sure being an RN 38 years I drive the doctors and nurses nuts with my questions and suggestions lol but that's ok everyone needs a smart agressive health care advocate. Heatlhcare workers work so hard and never get the recognition they deseve, they don't want that but sure do deserve it. I will not complain or feel sorry for us. Every family has a heatlh crisis, everyone has someone they love sick or they cared for we are no different. The only thing different is the challenge we face and who that person is -our spouse, parent, sibling, God forbid or child. So please know I am not complaining.

"Life is short" my friends and I mean SHORT the years fly by. Nothing matters but your health and your family. Everything else comes and goes. Doesn't matter where you live how many cars you drive, how much money you have, what job you have -who the hell cares? None of those things are going in the grave with us. Do your thing, live your life and stop worrying what others think. Be a good person, a faithful servant of the Lord, be kind. Stop fixating on one person or situation, why? You only make yourself miserable and show the world you were or are deprived of something in your life. Everyone has issues, if they tell you their life is perfect they are lying. Also don't run away from your problems, hit them head on and take care of them, otherwise you will live in misery for years. Not worth your precious time here on earth to live a life that is a lie. Time is a precious thing, live and be happy. When illness hits there is no discrimiation. Mental or physical illness or both. Your health is your wealth. And when your loved ones are healthy and safe you have the entire world in your hands. Enjoy that. Nothing else matters. So embrace the chaos with your families, live, travel, have fun spend your money that's what it is for. There comes a time when you cannot do any of that so do it while you can. Know your own heart. Know you who truly love and don't waste your time or someone else's playing with someone's emotions, or being confused, know your heart- a lesson I have preached to my kids for years. Love is never ending and never goes away once you feel it (sorry that is the way it is) so protect those you love, stand by them and fight for them with all you have in you.

In 2026 I am living one day at a time. That's it. No more worrying about next week or next month, just one day at time. My problems I lay at God's feet and ask him to take them and show me the way. I ask God for guidance to help me always do the right thing no matter what the issue is. You know why? Because we cannot control a damn thing in life. Nope only God can control what will happen. Try to soak in your family, your "people" and their moments because those times that will never return, subsequently end up being your favorite memories, it's now, right now today -take the photo, eat the cake and go on that vacation - because the chance may not come up ever again. Enjoy today. You will find great peace in that and smile and be happy even if it's for one moment, take that happiness: grab it and hold on to it and cherish it. The only regret I have is that I can't give my kids MORE of everything, just as every parent thinks or feels. But with God's help they have all they need to survive this life one day when I am gone. Truly that's all that matters to me that my kids have a great life and continue to love the Lord, and be good Christians long after my physical pressence leaves the earth. My goal was to always make sure my kids get into heaven one day. That is a profound statement but so meaningful, I would ask myself, ok what did I teach them today that will help them get into heaven? Did I take them to church and explain the lesson or just take them hoping they learned something? So you put in a lot of time teaching them about God, life, love, respect and family in hopes that would all shape them into being a great individual with a kind heart. Education is important but GOD by far, most important. (don't worry we gave them their college education too but stressed God was always first not money).

And being grateful in life makes you a better person as well. When I lay down at night I thank GOD for each individual in my life and how they shaped my life. If you are reading this, that means you. That includes people who have hurt me the deepest in the past and the ones who do so now, crazy I know but I am grateful for the lessons I have learned. Those lessons taught me to forgive everyone who broke my heart. If you have a broken heart just know, don't be prideful, it heals but not in the same way. Pride destroys all love, do not be proud. You heal with scars and lessons but those lessons make you a better person if you allow it. My friends, forgive everyone who has hurt you, lied to you or broke your heart. Even if you don't tell them you forgive them, just do it with prayer and God will give you great peace. If you can give yourself peace then do it. When you forgive the individual or individuals who have hurt you won't turn into a nasty, mean hateful person. You won't be a gossip and do stupid things. You will have peace. That person needs your forgivenss they are only human too. Everyone makes mistakes even really bad ones, no one is perfect. Remember forgiveness unlocks your mind where you held yourself in an emotional prison, release all of that. Your heart never forgets but that's because there was love there for the person who hurt you or betrayed you. Many times it's even a family member who did this to you, forgive them. That's what I taught my kids, just forgive them.

Being grateful also means I thank God for the house and roof over my head even though it's not mine yet (few more years and she's paid off haha), I thank him for my vehicles that get me to and from work, for the jobs I have that allow me to keep this roof over our heads and pay our bills, I thank him for making me capable of putting that food on the table, and I thank him for keeping Jovan alive for the sake of my sons, so they have their dad and then it hits me! I need to thank God I can walk, talk, use my mind because Jovan cannot. I thank God I can feed myself and use the restroom alone. Jovan cannot. I thank God I can scratch my head if I need to because Jovan cannot. Simple things we do not even think about nor have, I thank GOD for now. I thank God for the people I work with, who are the most compassionate undersatnding people, who make my life easier. I thank GOD for all of you friends with hearts as big as the universe. I can go on and on and I am sure you are sick of me by now. So be grateful and forgive, that's my thought on that.

Enjoy your new year. May God bless you with all wonderful moments with the people you love. Thank you for loving us, praying for us and supporting us. I will reciprocate every chance I have to do so.

Wishing you and your families a beautiful, calm, peaceful and very happy new year! I love you all. Mileva

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