**THROWBACK POST**
February 26 2013:
Little ole birthday message from me … I’m on the right track y’all, I was born this way!! I had just buried it under a whole bunch of mental clutter! Oops! đ I choose to BE! My birthday wish is that each and every one of you align with what you feel your purpose is and to live a happY and meaningful life. What does that inner voice urge you to do? That thing that you haven’t done yet … Do it! Love and HUGS Y’all!
**THROWBACK POST**
February 11 2015:
Just came across this quote in my desk. Thomas found it in a book in the classroom back in March 2014. He wrote it down and brought it home to me.
March 2014 was near the beginning of a big change for us. It was perfect then … and perfect now!
“All things change, nothing is extinguished. There is nothing in the whole world which is permanent. Everything flows onward, all things are brought into being with a changing nature. The ages themselves glide by in constant movement.” -Ovid
February 6 2017:
Wisdom from the tea this morning …. xoxo …..
January 29 2017:
Tonight was a vegan broccoli “cheese” soup …. Thomas approved! He had two bowls. A hearty, creamy, filling soup! Yum!!
I’m pretty sure I added some ground ginger into this one and didn’t use as much broccoli and I added more garlic! I made macaroni and cheese a few weeks ago with a cashew cheese sauce and it was so awesome! Thomas approved that one also! xoxo
Broccoli âCheeseâ Soup
This hearty soup can definitely stand on its own as a meal, thanks to carbohydrate-rich potatoes, fiber-filled broccoli, and protein-packed cashews. If the soup is purĂ©ed, the broccoli canât be detected at all, making this a great choice for people (especially those little ones) who may not adore the taste of this nutrient-dense veggie.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup cashews
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups vegetable broth
2 medium potatoes, cubed
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1 1/2 cups broccoli, chopped
2 teaspoons nutritional yeast*
Sea salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh lemon juice, to taste
Optional: vegan cheese
Directions:
In a large pot, sauté onion in oil over medium heat for five minutes.
While onions are cooking, blend cashews with one cup of broth in a blender until smooth. Set aside.
Add garlic and sauté an additional three minutes.
Add remaining vegetable broth, potatoes, and thyme. Bring to a boil, cover pot, reduce heat, and simmer about 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Add broccoli and simmer an additional five minutes.
Add cashew mixture and stir well.
Add nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, and lemon juice to taste.
Soup can be enjoyed chunky, or you can purée the mixture in a blender.
*Nutritional yeast provides a nutty, cheesy-like flavor, but you can also add your favorite vegan cheese.
February 1 2017:
Had fun with dinner last night …. Made myself a flower! HA!!!
Vegan “cheesy” rice surrounded by petals of potato medallions topped with scallions and kalamata olives. Drizzled the potatoes with a yummy balsamic vinegar. Yum! xoxo
February 2 2017:
Doesn’t have a name. Just made it up this afternoon as I wanted more soup! Red potato, sweet potato, onions, jalapeño, garlic, sea salt, ground pepper, and ground ginger. Topped off with a swizzle of balsamic vinegar. Creamy and hearty with a hint of spicy! Yum!
February 1 2017:
Great news this afternoon!! The Nevada Museum of Art will soon be selling Biggest Little Photographer too! YAY!! For some reason, I have an image of Snoopy dancing around in my mind … HA!
February 3 2017:
What a great day for a trip to the post office. Two “D iz for Different” books – One to Idaho and one to Washington. Plus, one Biggest Little Photographer to New Orleans …. just in time for Mardi Gras!
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.
***************************
Yum! Fresh coconut and raw honey. Plus, we had it dipped in melted dark chocolate last night during our movie! Yum, yum, yum!!!
*****************
I just finished reading Camillaâs book, “D Iz For Different”. Â 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 âtreasuryâ of many gifts. It is easy to forget this when our lives donât 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
***********************
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”
********************************
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!!
**************************************
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 …..
________________________________
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!
*******************************
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
***********************
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!
********************************
Way cool LEGO BBQ grill Thomas made. Check out the awesome light brick creating a very realistic look!
WOW! A sky full of love …..
************************************
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!
_________________________
February 14 2013:
Happy Love Day Y’all!
Stoppin for a little park adventure!!
**************
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 . . .
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!
*************************
Adventure with my little sweetheart!!!!
Valentine’s dinner with Thomas …. Guinness in a champagne glass? Even better!!!
January 26 2017:
“Biggest Little Photographer” and “D in for Different” left for Silver Springs Nevada yesterday afternoon. That’s a whole lotta love in that package!! May everyone who touches it on the way, feel the love!! xoxo
WOW!!! What a great SibShop this afternoon! Thomas got to tour the lab, the roof (where the helicopter lands), the children’s ER, and the main ER at Renown. He also got to see a brain!
He says the energy there is very sad. Yet, the energy of his group was joyful and he had a good time.
Thank you Diana Beeghly Rovetti, Down Syndrome Network of Northern Nevada (DSNNN), and JUSTin HOPE Foundation for facilitating and hosting these amazing Sibshops!!
**THROWBACK POST**
February 3 2016:
Dear Thomas,
I know how sometimes you long to have a “typical” sibling and “typical” sibling relationship …
https://themighty.com/2014/07/letter-to-the-siblings-of-a-brother-or-sister-with-a-disability/
After a huge Lillian meltdown this morning which caused him to be a wee bit late for school.
I am trying to help him notice when it’s not a good idea to push Lillian. He does try so hard, but just wants to not have to try sometimes. Lillian is making huge progress, yet, we still have those moments. Thomas’ teacher shares often with me how she enjoys his presence in the classroom as he’s so empathetic and compassionate.
I have recently pulled back from intervening when they decide to be unkind with one another. I’ve explained that I have taught them methods to use and I model those methods. It is up to them whether they use them or not.
This morning it escalated, I remained calm and not involved. It escalated and escalated and escalated. There was screaming and door slamming. I remained calm and not involved. I got scratched and pinched, I remained calm. I kept emphasizing that I’d be happy to help her get calm and to let me know when she was ready.
And. Finally, Lillian asked for help in calming down. I walked her through a meditative breathing exercise and we moved on …. I don’t always remain calm. I did this morning and it makes such a huge, huge, huge difference when I do. Mindfulness is an amazing way to live …
Yes, this. I am blessed and grateful that we are a team. I am having the time of my life on this journey with them. The joy, suffering, happiness, peace, love, and all … xoxo
**THROWBACK POST**
January 29 2013:
Just remember that your happYness must be built on a solid foundation of knowing and embracing your worth. Without this foundation your life will be filled with emotional up and downs.
Your happYness will hinge on others approval. It will blow away just as easily as leaves blow from the trees in Autumn. Your worth will be other-worth rather than self-worth. You must detach yourself from what others say or don’t say and what they do or don’t do.
You are worthy. It does not matter how many times you have failed or all the things you have done wrong. YOU ARE WORTHY because you exist and you have a unique purpose that only you can fulfill!
January 15 2017:
This morning Thomas asked if he could show me what he’s been creating.
Minutes later I sat cuddled next to him looking at a replica of the UN building and grounds ….. in Minecraft. He says he did a few searches to find out what it looked like. xoxo
********************************
January 18 2017:
Message received today from Ranger Marie with Washoe County Parks – Ranch San Rafael Park … “We’d love to help share Thomas’ book with the community and discuss an exhibit. I am so happy! I talked to all the Rangers about it and we are so thrilled!!!! …. you can call me on my personal cell anytime …. ”
PLUS an email from one of the BIG casino’s here in town about the book for their gift shop … We shall see what happens with this one …
It is when we are in the depths of our own darkness, we can rest assured the light and solutions are simply awaiting our embrace of said darkness ….. for the light will shine, shine, shine once we patiently dance with the darkness … xoxo
