Lillian and Camilla November 2016 Date Day

November 16 2016:

Lillian and Camilla November 2016 Date Day – First ….. Dessert! Pink lemonade bar for her and chocolate covered almonds and pretzels for me.

Then home for lunch. Next, a walk at Virginia Foothills park. It snowed on us!!!! Fun!!

Finishing with window shopping and goofing off at Learning Express!

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Pumpkins and Blessings and Adventurous Eater and Sibshop

October 30 2016:

Playing with pumpkins time 🎃 ….. xoxo

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October 31 2016:

What a beautiful night! The hills and mountain in the distance were magical with a dusting of snow. Plus, there was a huge bat shaped cloud over the mountain. So incredible!!! These two blessings had a great night. 🎃

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November 1 2016:

Thomas made a vegan coleslaw to go with dinner to night. So yum!!! I enjoyed it with sweet potato noodles and he enjoyed his with wild shrimp. So happy he’s an adventurous eater.

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November 5 2016:

Sibshop day for Thomas!!! He really enjoys these and especially today as Don Meyers was facilitating! Thanks Down Syndrome Network of Northern Nevada (DSNNN) and JUSTin HOPE Foundation for hosting!!

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May Your Heart Overflow with Love and Gratitude

October 26 2016:

Every move we make, every simple task we do for ourself is a miracle … if we choose to see it that way.

Clipping one’s nails. Simple enough. Yet, at 15 years old not something Lillian has been able to do at all. Due to fine motor issues and a slight tremor when focusing on fine motor issues she has not been able to do it. (One of my favorite pictures of Lillian from this past September. Doing something else she had not been able to do before … getting air for a great picture!)

A few months ago she said she was ready to try doing this simple task and asked how we should begin. I suggested she practice holding the clippers to her finger and toes and simply practice different positions, bending to her toes, and squeezing the clippers in that position.

She’s been doing that and yesterday she was ready to try it. I instantly felt patience fill my heart as I said, “Let’s do it.” Seriously, this was practically a half day task as she wanted to try and paint her own toenails also.

Although, she was not able to cut any nails this time, she was able to get the clipper underneath the nail as I guided (I didn’t want to chance accidentally nipping the skin). However, she did paint some of her toenails. It was incredibly hard and stressful work for her. Seriously.

May you rejoice today and let yourself feel the blessings of miracles that happen every single minute. And, may your heart overflow with gratitude and love …. for yourself and your fellow humans …. xoxo

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Sibshop and Smores and Halfway Point

August 21 2016:

Thomas got to enjoy a Sibshop yesterday!! Something different this time … Hiking! Thomas has hiked this area for about two years now and they enjoyed that he was so familiar with it! Thanks Down Syndrome Network of Northern Nevada (DSNNN) and JUSTin HOPE Foundation for hosting!

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August 22 2016:

It was a s’mores kinda night. YUM!!

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August 23 2016:

Today I reached the halfway point before getting this to the publisher! Should go much faster now. By this Friday or next Friday at the latest, Biggest Little Photographer is leaving my “hands”!! I’m so happy that we back-tracked and decided to group the photos into themes. Looks awesome!

There won’t be a ton of content in the book. It will mostly be the photos Thomas took, with a tad bit of imagination thrown in, a couple of bloopers that happened during the process and some quotes.

Here’s a sneak peak (unedited): “Hey friends! I’m Mr. Minifigure Photographer, also known as The Biggest Little Photographer. One day in March 2014, 8 year old Thomas Darnell, was inspired by an article his mom shared with him. He bought me a minifigure size camera and I travelled with him everywhere he went for 365 days straight …..”

Our continued gratitude for those who continue to pre-purchase, share, comment, like, and watch the book trailer. xoxo

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Wise Tortoise by Lillian

8.12.16:

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Another great story from Lillian …  Carry on wise tortoise … xoxo

“Hey, everyone! Welcome back to this week’s bonus edition of Emotions With Animals. The bonus is in honor of water. This week’s edition includes tortoises and freshwater turtles. Let’s begin!

Wise tortoises live longer than average humans. So it makes them seem wise.

Wise people have many experiences. They also meditate.

How To Be Wise:

Know that you are wise from the heart …. ” Go here to read further … https://lilliandarnell.com/2016/08/12/emotions-with-animals-wise-tortoise-shy-turtles/

 

 

Wonders Of Nature by Lillian

Hey there, everyone! This post is about wonders nature can give you if you look closely. Hope this helps nature lovers and other people who want to be nature lovers or likers. Enjoy these wonders I listed below.

At Washoe Lake, Thomas, Camilla, and Lillian (which is me) found gypsum rocks. I picked a big gypsum rock to keep. Camilla had found a hand sized gypsum rock that had shimmered to catch Camilla’s attention. Camilla had said that the gypsum rock told her, “I’m yours!” and that is one wondrous thing especially if you’re a rock lover.

Also at Washoe Lake, Thomas found a piece of slate and a different mineral or rock. When we got home, he washed both and cleaned both. That is a miraculous thing to find by a lake.

At home, I found petrified wood and I was amazed by the wood turned into stone. It’s a very cool thing to have. I found out that blue goldstone and goldstone were pretty and can have healing powers.

Amethyst can look pretty and have healing powers too. Quartz is always pretty and if you look closely you can see a rainbow and it has some healing powers as well. Sandstone is our state stone and it’s amazing how sand turns into stone.

I was surprised to find out that we had hematite in our home. It’s also very pretty but it’s a natural wonder. Malachite is very pretty and almost the same as hematite.

When we were walking at Rancho San Rafael Park, we saw a hummingbird and I had never seen one before. I think hummingbirds represent nature in different ways. I also saw a blue jay that same day. I think blue jays resemble the mountains. When walking here at home, I saw a Little Egret and Egret. I think egrets represent snow and lake.

In one of our previous homes, we saw California quails. I think it was a great experience! I also think that quails represent land and sky together. Coots are amazing. I think Coots represent the night sky.

I saw a woodpecker last autumn pecking a dead tree and that was amazing. I think that woodpeckers represent dirt. I saw a hawk eating something and it attracted a crowd. I thought that was very awesome! A hawk represents fertilizer to me.

I had never seen a dove up close until 2014 to last year. I think a dove represents an angel from “heaven”. I also hadn’t seen Canadian geese up close until last summer. I think a Canadian goose represents earth.

Camilla, Thomas, and I saw two pelicans not too long ago and I think pelicans represent floppy paper. All these natural wonders remind us that natural wonders are around us all the time. Look around you and you’ll see natural natural wonders no matter where you look. I hope you visit my blog, Thomas’s blog, and Camilla’s blog.

Gorgeous Sandstone!

Nature Chatted About the Party – Lillian

October 12 2016:

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Make a wish and read Lillian’s latest blog post in the Nature Party Series … “The nature team prepared for the party. Meanwhile, Nature chatted about the party made just for them. They were all excited. “I’m so excited.” said the … ” …. xoxoxo ….

Go here to read more …. https://lilliandarnell.com/…/amazing-nature-party-the-big-d…/

History of Art – The Play by Lillian Darnell

October 4 2016:

Lillian wrote a play this time! Go Lillian!! Check it out! xoxo

“Hey, everyone! This play will help you learn about the history of art. For those who like art will probably be interested in the history of art. You can use this play for school and other educational uses if you want to.

Narrator: Welcome to History of Art! Let the play begin.

(Princess enters from Stage A). …..” Go here to read the rest ….

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(Artwork by Camilla Downs)

 

Spreading the Great Nature – Lillian

October 1 2016:

She’s still at it!! (Her book is next!!) Part 2 of Lillian’s new series about Nature …

….. As the leader wrote special invitations, the leader of the nature group suggested,”I got an awesome idea. How about we spread the great nature? Would you spread the news to our good nature-loving friends with the invitations?” and the group responded,”That’s an great idea. Let’s make it happen! Sure, we would love to spread the news.” …. Go here to read the rest

Go Lillian Go!! xoxo

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