Like a Sweet Dream, but Reality. A story about faith, family and love
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© Резван Кастоев, 2026
ISBN 978-5-0069-5246-1
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
LIKE A SWEET DREAM,
BUT REALITY.
A Story About Faith, Love, and Family.
Rezvan Kastoev
Kokshetau
2025
Author’s Page / About the Author
Author: Rezvan Kastoev
This book was created using the capabilities of artificial intelligence.
I thank God for inspiration, life, and the opportunity to share bright stories.
Special thanks to my family, relatives, and loved ones for their wise life advice and support.
All characters in this book are fictional. Any resemblance to real people is purely coincidental.
Acknowledgments
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to God for inspiration, life, and the opportunity to create stories about family, faith, and love.
I extend special appreciation and gratitude to my parents, our entire family, as well as relatives and loved ones, for their support, kind advice, and the warmth that helps me continue on the creative path.
All characters in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people is purely coincidental.
Preface
Life is an amazing journey, full of joy, trials, and miracles.
In this book, I want to share a story that is like a sweet dream, yet reflects the reality of love, family, and faith.
Each chapter is a separate moment, a small story filled with warmth, care, and gratitude to God for every day lived.
May this story inspire good deeds, strengthen faith, and give a sense of harmony, warmth, and happiness.
Table of Contents
Foreword – Gratitude to God for Life and Inspiration
Chapter 1. Girl in the Rain (her childhood, dreams, faith)
Chapter 2. Family Home of Her Parents (warmth, love, coziness)
Chapter 3. First Prayer for Her Future
Chapter 4. Teenage Joy and Faith
Chapter 5. First Meeting with Him (future husband)
Chapter 6. Awkward Conversations, Joy of New Feelings
Chapter 7. Their Walks and Warm Rain
Chapter 8. Declaration of Love
Chapter 9. Wedding Preparations
Chapter 10. Wedding Day – Like a Sunrise
Chapter 11. Parents at the Wedding (healthy, happy)
Chapter 12. Blessing from Elders
Chapter 13. First Home Together
Chapter 14. Prayers for the Future
Chapter 15. First Trip Together
Chapter 16. Evenings with Tea and Conversations
Chapter 17. Birth of the First Child
Chapter 18. Gratitude to God for the Baby’s Life
Chapter 19. Parents Come to Help
Chapter 20. Family Walks in the Park
Chapter 21. Baby’s First Laughter
Chapter 22. How the Baby Takes First Steps
Chapter 23. Second Child – Joy Again
Chapter 24. Grandparents Close By
Chapter 25. First Family New Year
Chapter 26. Spring in Parents’ Village
Chapter 27. Trip to the Sea with the Whole Family
Chapter 28. Summer Berries and Garden
Chapter 29. Child’s First Birthday
Chapter 30. Parental Pride
Chapter 31. Evening Prayers with Children
Chapter 32. First Day of School
Chapter 33. Joy from Children’s Achievements
Chapter 34. Family Celebration with Relatives
Chapter 35. Gifts Made by Children’s Hands
Chapter 36. Autumn Walks in the Forest
Chapter 37. Gratitude for Health
Chapter 38. Trip to the Mountains with the Family
Chapter 39. Husband’s New Job (joy and success)
Chapter 40. Prayers for Every Relative
Chapter 41. Helping Parents in Old Age
Chapter 42. Fun Winter Games with Children
Chapter 43. Warm Christmas
Chapter 44. Cozy Evenings at Home
Chapter 45. Dreams for Children’s Future
Chapter 46. Child’s First School Performance
Chapter 47. Family Creativity
Chapter 48. Joy from Every Day
Chapter 49. Summer Fishing and Campfire
Chapter 50. Gathering Forest Berries
Chapter 51. Parents Healthy and Happy
Chapter 52. Children’s Success at School
Chapter 53. Charity and Helping Others
Chapter 54. Family Trip Abroad
Chapter 55. Meeting Childhood Friends
Chapter 56. New House, More Space
Chapter 57. Thanksgiving Celebration
Chapter 58. Realization of Happiness
Chapter 59. Gratitude to God for Everything
Chapter 60. Husband’s Warm Words
Chapter 61. Children’s First Love (teenage)
Chapter 62. Conversations about Life and Faith
Chapter 63. Family Traditions
Chapter 64. Summer Rains and Happiness
Chapter 65. Morning Prayers Together
Chapter 66. New Pet in the House
Chapter 67. Joy from Nature
Chapter 68. Children Grow Up and Remain Kind
Chapter 69. Moments When Everyone Laughs
Chapter 70. Trip to the Holy Land
Chapter 71. Gratitude for Every Day
Chapter 72. Holidays with Parents
Chapter 73. Husband’s Birthday
Chapter 74. Wife’s Birthday
Chapter 75. Family Photo Album
Chapter 76. Nighttime Prayers in Silence
Chapter 77. Children’s Success in Adult Life
Chapter 78. Children Get Married (love continues)
Chapter 79. Grandchildren Come Home
Chapter 80. Gratitude for Grandchildren
Chapter 81. Elderly Parents Alive and Healthy
Chapter 82. Trips with Grandchildren
Chapter 83. Autumn Gold of Life
Chapter 84. New Stage of Love with Husband
Chapter 85. Shared Memories
Chapter 86. Gratitude to God for the Journey
Chapter 87. Children Always Nearby
Chapter 88. Grandchildren Grow Up in Love
Chapter 89. Respect and Care from Children
Chapter 90. Strong Faith of the Whole Family
Chapter 91. Prayers for Peace
Chapter 92. Gratitude for Everything That Happened
Chapter 93. New Dreams, Even in Maturity
Chapter 94. Peace and Happiness in the Soul
Chapter 95. Warm Evenings with Husband
Chapter 96. Smiles of Loved Ones Every Day
Chapter 97. Loyalty, Love, and Light
Chapter 98. A Quiet Morning of Gratitude
Chapter 99. A Home Filled with Voices
Chapter 100. The Light That Remains
Chapter 101. The Wisdom of Quiet Days
Chapter 102. When the Heart Is at Peace
Chapter 103. Simple Joys of a Long Journey
Chapter 104. The Quiet Happiness of a Shared Morning
Chapter 105. Conversations That Bring Us Closer
Chapter 106. When Children Choose Their Own Path
Chapter 107. The Home You Always Want to Return To
Chapter 108. The Joy of Seeing Life Go On
Chapter 109. In Anticipation of a New Miracle
Chapter 110. The First Days with a Grandchild
Epilogue – Like a Sweet Dream, but Reality. Thank You, Lord, for Everything.
Chapter 1. The Girl in the Rain
Through the gray clouds, heavy and low, raindrops fell onto the narrow streets of the city. The girl walked along the wet sidewalk, holding onto the edge of a bright blue umbrella that barely protected her from soaked hair and a wet back. She loved the rain – there was something mysterious and at the same time calming about it. Each drop seemed like a small story, a tiny miracle that could be caught with hands and felt with the heart.
Her name was Anastasia, and she was only ten years old. She was wearing her mother’s slightly stretched sweater, which smelled of fresh laundry and a hint of vanilla, like home comfort. Under her feet splashed an old boot, rusty in places. Her hair, dark like wet earth, stuck to her cheeks, and her eyes shone with curiosity and an inner joy that did not depend on the weather.
She walked past the old park, where the trees stood like silent guardians. Branches covered with droplets trembled softly, and the leaves struggled to hold the streams of rain, as if collecting precious pearls. Nastya stopped on a small bridge over a little stream. The water bubbled and murmured, reflecting the gray sky and rare flashes of sunlight breaking through the clouds. The girl leaned down and touched the cold water with her hand. She marveled at how simple everything around could be alive: the stream was alive, the leaves were alive, the rain was alive. And in this feeling, her small faith was born – faith that the world is full of miracles, even if they are not immediately visible.
As a child, Nastya often dreamed. She imagined that one day she would become someone important – not for fame, but to help people and be needed by those around her. She imagined having a big house with south-facing windows where the sun always shone, and on the table there would be fresh tea and fragrant buns. These dreams warmed her even on rainy days, when wet boots felt heavy and her hands were cold.
That day, standing on the bridge and watching the stream, Nastya felt for the first time a quiet desire to speak to someone who could not be seen but was always nearby. She closed her eyes, and a simple prayer was born in her heart:
“Let my future be bright. Let me be able to do good. Let there be true friends and love beside me…”
Her voice was barely audible, but it did not matter – the words fell straight into her heart, to the place where the most sincere hopes are hidden.
The girl returned home soaked to the skin, but with a smile on her face. When her mother saw Nastya, she shook her head with mild disapproval, then laughed and hugged her.
“You’re soaked to the bone again,” she said, wiping her daughter’s hair with a towel.
And Nastya quietly replied, “Yes… but today the rain was somehow special.”
That night, Nastya sat by the window of her room for a long time, watching the drops sliding down the glass, and thought about how huge, amazing, and full of miracles the world was. Her little soul filled with gratitude for being alive, for being able to breathe, dream, love, and believe. Even in the simplest moments – like a walk in the rain – she found happiness and confidence that everything she loved and everything she expected from life would surely come true.
Thus began her story – the story of a girl with great faith, small dreams, and an open heart that knew how to see miracles in the most ordinary things.
Chapter 2. Her Parents’ Family Home
The house in which Nastya grew up stood at the edge of a small street, surrounded by a garden where apple and cherry trees seemed to reach toward the sun. The street itself was quiet: sometimes cars passed by, sometimes the laughter of neighborhood children could be heard, but overall, an удивительная тишина – an extraordinary calm – reigned there. The house was low, with yellow plaster, slightly cracked in places, but with windows that radiated warmth and coziness.
Nastya especially loved entering this house after the rain. When she opened the door, the aroma of freshly baked bread mixed with the scent of soapy water that her mother had just used to wash the floor. Sometimes, when the air outside smelled of rain, the air inside became even warmer, as if the house itself cared that no one felt cold or tired.
Nastya’s family was small, but very warm. Her mother, with a gentle voice and bright eyes, always found time to smile at her daughter, cook something delicious, or simply talk about the day. Her father, tall and slightly strict but with kind hands, knew how to amaze Nastya with stories about his childhood adventures, about how he dreamed, and what it meant to live honestly. Nastya loved sitting by the fireplace, listening to his stories, and imagining that one day her own childhood stories would become just as valuable to someone else.
In the kitchen there was always a large table with a carved tablecloth that smelled of bay leaf and freshness. Family breakfasts, lunches, and dinners took place here. Photographs hung on the wall: Mom and Dad when they were young, Nastya with her grandmother, the first steps of a younger brother – if he had existed – because for now it was only her, yet the house always felt full of love. Each photograph held a moment that would never repeat, but would always warm the soul.
Nastya especially loved the evening hours, when the sun set behind the windows and the soft light of the lamp shimmered on the walls. At such moments, her mother often sat beside her, and they would sit in silence together, watching the rain fall outside or listening to the crackling of logs in the fireplace.
“Everything is fine,” her mother would say quietly. “We are together, and that is enough.”
Nastya remembered these words like a prayer, because they carried the feeling of safety and love that gave her strength to believe in the future.
The garden around the house was her secret corner. In summer, roses and lilacs bloomed there; in autumn, maple leaves turned red; and in winter, snow covered everything with a soft white blanket. Nastya loved stepping onto the porch with a mug of warm cocoa, wrapping her hands around it, and watching the wind play with the leaves while clouds slowly drifted across the sky. Every sound and every scent was like music: the rustle of leaves, raindrops, the smell of wet earth – all of it formed the symphony of her childhood.
Evenings in this house were never lonely. Her mother cooked dinner, her father checked Nastya’s notebooks, sometimes they laughed together, read books aloud, or discussed the events of the day. And even when Nastya was tired, it seemed to her that the house itself was breathing with her – cozy, calm, reliable. Here, in this small corner of the world, she learned to feel love, care, and the joy of simple things.
And it was in this house that Nastya first began to believe that life could be a true miracle. Not a miracle that suddenly comes and changes everything at once, but a quiet, gradual one – like rain that fills the earth with moisture and life. Here she first understood that dreams do not have to be big and loud – it is important to believe that they can come true if the heart is pure and the hands are ready to work.
Her parents’ house was more than just walls and a roof. It was the place where faith began, where first hopes were born, where every corner was filled with stories and care. And Nastya knew: wherever life might take her, this house would always remain a part of her soul, her safety, and her inspiration.
Chapter 3. The First Prayer for Her Future
Nastya sat on the windowsill of her room. Evening was slowly descending on the city, and the soft orange light of streetlamps filtered through the curtains, painting the room in warm shades. In her hands was a small notebook with a colorful cover, where she sometimes wrote down her thoughts, dreams, and questions she did not dare to say out loud. Today, Nastya felt that the time had come to speak with someone who could not be seen with the eyes, but who was always nearby – with God.
She folded her hands on her knees, closed her eyes, and let her thoughts flow freely. Her heart beat faster than usual – from excitement, from hope, from the feeling that something important was happening.
“I want… I want to be kind, I want to help people, I want those who love me to be close,” she whispered to herself, and then quietly, almost aloud, she spoke the first words of her prayer:
“Lord, help me find my path. Teach me to love, to be honest and faithful. Let my heart always know what is right.”
Nastya did not understand how deep the power of these words was. For her, it was just a quiet request, but in her soul she felt a strange warmth, as if someone was truly listening to her and nodding in response. For the first time, she realized that one could not only dream, but also ask for help in fulfilling those dreams.
After the prayer, Nastya opened her eyes and looked around the room. Books with bright illustrations stood on the shelves, soft toys occupied their place on the chair, and outside the window the lights of neighboring houses were slowly turning on. Everything around seemed ordinary, but something had changed in the girl’s heart: for the first time, she felt that her dreams and prayers could be connected, that there was a force helping her move through life without losing hope and joy.
In the evening, her mother peeked into the room, smiled, and sat down beside her.
“You seem especially thoughtful today,” she said.
Nastya nodded without revealing the secret of her inner conversation, but she felt that her mother understood her without words. Sometimes true closeness requires no explanations – a glance, a smile, a touch of a hand is enough.
The next morning, Nastya woke up with a feeling of lightness. She knew the day would be filled with discoveries, that every moment was a small opportunity to see a miracle. At school, she did her usual lessons, played with friends during recess, but from time to time her gaze involuntarily turned to the sky, to the clouds, as if checking whether someone could hear her again.
In the evening, before going to bed, Nastya sat on the windowsill once more. She looked at the city lights, at the dark silhouettes of houses and trees, and quietly repeated her prayer. But now the words were more confident, calmer, as if her heart already understood: the world is full of kindness, and her own life was just beginning. She whispered,
“Let everything be well… let everything be as You have planned, Lord.”
And in this silence, in this soft light, Nastya felt for the first time that her small faith was the beginning of something great.
That evening became special. Nastya realized for the first time that prayer is not just words, but a bridge between her heart and the whole world. That one can ask, dream, and hope – and that all these small steps are like seeds that one day will turn into strong trees.
From that moment on, Nastya knew: wherever life might take her, she would always be able to return to these quiet conversations, to these moments when the heart is open and the soul is filled with gratitude and hope.
Chapter 4. Teenage Joy and Faith
Time flew by quickly, and Nastya was already a teenager. Her childlike spontaneity gradually gave way to a deeper understanding of the world, but in her soul lived the same joy she had felt under the rain as a child. Now her steps were more confident, and her gaze more observant: she knew how to notice details that once seemed unimportant – sunbeams on the wall, a friend’s laughter, the faint scent of lilac after the rain.
Teenage life brought new emotions. At school, Nastya studied well, but her joy did not depend on grades. She loved moments when she could laugh with friends until tears came, discuss books and films, argue about what was right and what was not. Each day was a small adventure, filled with discovering herself and the world around her.
During this time, her faith became more conscious. Nastya no longer just whispered her requests before sleep – she learned to see God’s presence in every day. When it rained, she understood that it was not just water from the sky, but a reminder that the world is alive and kind. When she saw the sun breaking through the clouds after a storm, Nastya felt gratitude for every new day, for the opportunity to exist and to create.
Especially meaningful were the morning prayers before school. She would wake up a little earlier, light a small candle on the windowsill, and quietly say,
“Help me be kind, help me understand others, teach me to value friends and family.”
Sometimes her mother joined her, and these shared moments became a real ritual that gave strength for the entire day.
Teenage joys were not without first worries and dreams of the future. Nastya often walked through the garden, talking to herself, or wrote down her thoughts in a notebook. She dreamed of friends she could call true, of having loved ones nearby, of her faith becoming not just a habit, but a real inner strength. And sometimes, in the silence, she felt that someone heard her, someone cared and guided her, even if it could not be seen with the eyes.
One of the brightest moments of that time was her first conscious successes. Nastya felt for the first time that her efforts were bearing fruit: a well-read role at a school celebration, a beautifully completed art project, helping a friend who needed advice. And every time joy flared up in her heart, she quietly thanked God, understanding that happiness is not an accident, but the result of kind thoughts and actions.
At times, Nastya simply sat on the swing in the garden, watched the slowly disappearing sun, and thought about how much beauty still lay ahead. Teenage life taught her attentiveness, patience, and the ability to rejoice in simple moments. She already knew: faith and joy do not always come with bright events – sometimes they reveal themselves in small, almost unnoticed things: in a friend’s laughter, in the aroma of bread from the kitchen, in a quiet conversation with her mother at sunset.
And it was then that Nastya first felt that her faith was becoming a part of herself, like breathing or the rhythm of her heart. She knew that new trials, new meetings, and discoveries lay ahead, but her heart was already ready to meet life with joy – to love and believe, to value and dream. Teenage Nastya learned to find light even in ordinary days, and that light gradually became her inner strength – quiet, steady, and reliable.
Chapter 5. The First Meeting with Him
It was an ordinary spring day: the city was filled with the scent of fresh grass and newly blossomed flowers. Nastya walked along the park alley, holding a book she had recently finished reading. A light breeze stirred her hair, and the sun played with reflections on the pages. She felt a rare harmony – the world seemed calm and ready for small miracles.
And suddenly she noticed him.
He was sitting on a bench under an old linden tree, drawing something in a notebook with a pencil. His movements were confident and focused, and his gaze was surprisingly gentle. Nastya felt her heart beat a little faster, although she did not even know why. There was something in his calmness, in the way he was immersed in his work, that drew her attention.
She walked past, but could not resist glancing over his shoulder. On the pages were sketches of trees, flowers, perhaps the very alley she had just walked along. Every line seemed alive, filled with attention to detail.
“How beautiful…” Nastya thought and smiled quietly.
He raised his eyes, noticed her glance, and nodded slightly, a bit shyly. In that moment, Nastya realized that for the first time she felt the presence of someone who could change her life, even though they had not exchanged a single word. He smiled too – a light smile that could warm even a cold day. Nastya hurried on, but the feeling of gentle excitement did not leave her.
In the evening, returning home, she thought about him. Nastya caught every tiny memory – his look, the way he drew, the light smile that accidentally touched her soul. She did not understand that this was the beginning of something important, but her heart already knew: the world had become a little wider, a bit warmer, and brighter.
The next day, Nastya came to the park again. He was sitting there, on the same bench, drawing once more. Gathering her courage, Nastya decided to speak.
“You draw very well,” she said quietly.
He looked at her, surprised, but smiled.
“Thank you… Do you like drawing?”
Nastya nodded.
Thus began their first conversation – short, a little awkward, but filled with sincere interest.
In the following days, they began to notice each other more often. Sometimes their eyes met at school, sometimes they ran into each other by chance in the park. Every moment was a small discovery: laughter, a случайное прикосновение руки – an accidental touch of the hand – shared discussions of books or films. Everything felt light and natural, as if the Universe itself was quietly whispering that these paths were meant to cross.
Nastya felt an удивительная радость – an amazing joy – that came not from loud events, but from simple moments: from exchanged glances, from softly spoken words, from watching clouds together, the sun, the world that had suddenly become brighter. She realized that love can begin with the quiet presence of another person, with attention to details, with small moments that gradually form into something greater.