On This Day Throughout the Years – February Fourteenth

February 14 2016:

Art from the Heart – Thomas and Lillian joined me yesterday. Having such a good time painting and just playing around with brushes and mixing colors.

I had been waiting until I had the right materials and the money to pay for a class. No more. This is FUN! Using the brushes we have, acrylic paint we have, and using thick recycled cardboard from food packages, boxes and rocks for the canvas. Just love, love, love.

Art from the Heart 2.14.16 #1 Art from the Heart 2.14.16 #2 Art from the Heart 2.14.16 #3 Art from the Heart 2.14.16 #4 Art from the Heart 2.14.16 #5

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Yum! Fresh coconut and raw honey. Plus, we had it dipped in melted dark chocolate last night during our movie! Yum, yum, yum!!!

Coconut and Honey 2.14.16

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I just finished reading Camilla’s book, “D Iz For Different”.  What a truly inspiring story! I loved every bit of it. The quote below seems to capture the essence of the journey from A-Z through the various chapters: each one of us is a “treasury” of many gifts. It is easy to forget this when our lives don’t seem to match the ever-elusive standard.

Yet, in each chapter, Camilla gives a reason and discusses a strategy for treasuring life in whatever form it might present itself in the moment, sharing her own experiences, particularly as a mother. This ranges from allowing ourselves to feel what we feel, to be present in the moment, and to not postpone happiness.

Life is not always easy, but brings many opportunities for laughter, light-heartedness, and celebration if we recognize that we have a choice in how we see and experience each moment, and the people we share it with. An absolutely beautiful book!!! -Michaela, Reno, Nevada

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February 14 2015:

Love shines brightly. It is always there, no matter if it can be felt or seen. It’s what we all are at our core. Happy day of LOVE! Picture from Autumn 2014 in Sparks, NV … “Love wishes to be known, completely understood and shared.

It has no secrets; nothing that it would keep apart and hide. It walks in sunlight, open-eyed and calm, in smiling welcome and in sincerity so simple and so obvious it cannot be misunderstood.” -from “Lessons in Love”

Sun in Clouds Sparks 2.14.15

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The actual day is not til the 26th but The Romano Duo will be out of town. So we had an early birthday celebration. YAY and YUM!!

Camilla's Birthday Celebration 2.14.15 #1 Camilla's Birthday Celebration 2.14.15 #2 Camilla's Birthday Celebration 2.14.15 #3 Camilla's Birthday Celebration 2.14.15 #4 Camilla's Birthday Celebration 2.14.15 #5 Camilla's Birthday Celebration 2.14.15 #6

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Team TLC movie night … Our 1st choice, Stuart Little 3, was too damaged. In about 20 minutes it had skipped over 50 minutes of the movie. So … since it feels like Spring …..

Swings Into Spring Movie 2.14.15

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February 14 2014:

Here’s to Love and spreadin the Love … ALWAYS …. Cheers from Team TLC …. Apple juice/water for Thomas and Lillian and Ruby Red Chai tea for Mamma!! YUM!

Team TLC Toast 2.14.13

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Okay, Okay. Got it! I’ve made the decision, now I’m gonna make it the right decision. Finally got to see the inside of the place we were going to move into tomorrow. Something just didn’t feel right. I spent all day yesterday trying to make the uneasy feeling go away.

Woke up this morning and decided that the feeling is there for a reason, so we will not be moving just yet. Thanks to an amazing and awesome friend I reached out to in my spiral of confusion yesterday, I’m moving forward with letting “stuff” go that does not serve me and is NOT the real me!! Thank you tons and tons B!

Now, Thomas is taking Lillian and I out to lunch with a gift he received from another amazing friend! Thank you Catherine Via Burzio!!! He’s taking us out for burger and fries at Inn n Out Burger! Happy LOVE day y’all! Show love every day, not just on this “designated” day … xoxo

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Thank you Thomas for treating Lillian and I to a burger and fries!! And thank you to my friend Catherine for giving him the means to do this! So awesome that you included a special card just for him in the Team TLC care package! Love is in the air …… Every day!

Team TLC Valentine's Lunch 2.14.14 #1 Team TLC Valentine's Lunch 2.14.14 #2

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Way cool LEGO BBQ grill Thomas made. Check out the awesome light brick creating a very realistic look!

LEGO GRill 2.14.14

WOW! A sky full of love …..

Sunset 2.14.14

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Team TLC is blessed by The Romano Duo! Thank you tons for the yummy lobster and champagne dinner tonight! All dinners with The Romano Duo are special. Spread love everywhere you go, every day …. Yum ….. for the food and love!

Valentine's Dinner 2.14.14 #1 Valentine's Dinner 2.14.14 #2

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February 14 2013:

Happy Love Day Y’all!

Be Love Heart in Sand 2.14.13

Stoppin for a little park adventure!!

Thomas and Lillian Park 2.14.13

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February 14 2012:

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” -Steve Jobs

Happy Valentine’s Day Friends . . . Remember that you are AWESOME, you make a difference and NEVER let bumps in the road cause you to turn around . . .

Heart in Tree 2.14.12

Thomas’ homework today: Count to 100. I say to him, “Count to 100 when you finish what you are doing.” He says, “I already did, in my imagination.” That’s so good I think I’m gonna let that one slide!! Hahahaha!

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Adventure with my little sweetheart!!!!

Geiger Lookout 2.14.12

Valentine’s dinner with Thomas …. Guinness in a champagne glass? Even better!!!

Valentine's Dinner 2.14.12

 

BE the Change and Know Who You Are

November 9 2016:

I wrote this message after taking these pictures. We just got back from Lillian’s OT appointment and I was drawn to these two trees. Lillian and I laughed, and smiled, and took wonderful, inspiring pictures. A message inspired by nature …

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This afternoon from 1-3:45 I get to speak on a parent panel at UNR to students in the medical field. The class is titled Serving Individuals with Disabilities and their Families.

I may falter at times, yet I will continue to do this. I will continue to live from my heart. I will continue to meet anything that is the opposite of love with love and peace. I will continue to spread love, compassion, and non-judgment as that’s the only way I know how to BE anymore.

Even when I encounter others who have everything but kindness to share with me, I will leave my ego and mind and be in my heart. I will see past that person’s ego and see who they truly are. I will not argue. I will not go there.

I have two kids who watch how I react and how I show up in the world. I know that my words are meaningless without the living of those words by myself.

In the “Peace Lesson” I gave on Monday to a group of 4th-6th grade students, the first question I asked them after we defined peace was this: “Where do you think we find peace?” … Only two students offered to answer. One said, “In a sanctuary”. I agreed with him that a sanctuary could certainly be a peaceful place. The other. The other. She knew. Her answer … “In our heart.” That wonderful girl read my heart …

Peace does not begin with “the other”. “BE the change we wish to see in this world” is not an empty meaningless quote for me. BEing the change does not start only after another person changes. We cannot force others to be peaceful.

One other suggestion I shared with the kids: When someone wraps a beautiful package and offers to give it to you as a gift, and you decline to accept that gift; who is the owner of that gift? The gift remains with the person who tried to give it to you.

What if you considered unkind comments from others as a gift they were attempting to give you? And you decided not to accept that gift? The gift would remain with that person. I have taught Thomas and Lillian to respond to unkind comments with silence, or “Is that so?”, or “Okay” and to walk away. It truly, truly does not matter if that person thinks they are right. What matters is what you know in your heart and how you live and BE.

I gave an example from my own life. A couple of years ago, I was sitting next to someone who had been an everyday part of my life for ten years, someone I trusted and loved. That person chose to say over and over many unkind comments to me.

I finally turned to the person and said, “You know what? You are right about that. And you know what else? I have nothing but love to share with others and I will not argue. And, I am so deeply sorry that you feel so unloved.”

Obviously, I didn’t and don’t agree that this person was right. I simply let him relax into the feeling that his ego so desperately needed. After that the “conversation” ended.

I do not mean to say that we ignore when we feel worry, anxiety, and fear. Absolutely NOT. FEEL those feelings, physically feel them. This does mean to dwell on the reason for the feelings. That will not have the desired affect. Focus on how it physically feels. Sit with them. No matter how painful. Cry a river of tears if that’s needed.

For when we let ourselves physically feel these emotions, we then, and only then, will release them. Go stand barefoot in the grass, dirt, sand, or rocks and let Nature help you with this. It is truly magical. Oceans of love and hugs to everyone … xoxoxo

trees-vintage-11-9-16-1 trees-vintage-11-9-16-2 trees-vintage-11-9-16-3 trees-vintage-11-9-16-4

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Wednesday, November 9, 2016, was so incredibly strange as I was going through an internal shift all day and it was simply overflowed into my presentation

In the past I would have been bothered for at least 2 weeks by the way I presented myself. I feel it’s time to retire the facade and BE who we are … vulnerable, real people whose only true want is love, joy, and kindness … And it’s only a “want” because we haven’t realized we already have all that within us … Love you! xoxo

This afternoon from 1-3:45 I spoke on a parent panel at UNR (with 6 other Moms) to students getting a degree serving individuals with disabilities in one capacity or another. The class is titled Serving Individuals with Disabilities and their Families.

It was not my best “speaking”. My voice wavered, I was on the verge of tears, and wept at times. I’ve spoken so many times over the years about this topic and not presented in the same way as today. I’m usually firm and confident. Yet, I do not judge myself thinking I have done poorly. I was authentic.

When these students graduate, get their first job, and they have a parent(s) sitting across from them, there will be days when that parent will not be their best. They may be experiencing illness in the family, a marriage that’s crumbling, had a negative experience in the grocery store before the meeting, or experienced something world shifting that has caused them to know who they truly are at a deeper level.

Today I was authentic in a huge room full of people I do not know. On the drive home I cried so hard and deep I could hardly get my breath. A strange mixture of tears of sadness and joy all at the same time. Knowing a chasm had just opened in my heart to an even deeper level to let love flow in and out. A chasm of connection with all.

May we all let ourselves know who we truly are .. not what the mind or ego would have us believe. What we truly are ….. LOVE …. xoxo

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On the drive home I had an experience unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. A true shift. A deepening of knowing. My heart was opened. Opened for more love to flow in and more love, compassion, and empathy to flow out.

I was crying hysterically and singing at the top of my lungs to this ….https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da69-pu_pqc ….. and then a Stevie Nicks song. Since then everything seems so clear and pure. When I listen to songs, I’m hearing them like I’ve never heard them before. I’m singing and dancing and the love is overflowing within me.

I realized that I have an opportunity here. A golden opportunity to confront shadows still lurking within and have this be the catalyst to walk the talk and BE LOVE, to do what I came here to do .. And that is to share love in my own unique way ….

It was beautiful and authentic. Good thing the hysterical enlightenment and awakening waited until I was in the car and didn’t happen in front of those students. They only got a little taste of it!

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