Tag Archives: different iz good

Throwback Post: Goodbye Turning Views Foundation

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**THROWBACK POST**

November 1 2013:

Little update regarding The Turning Views Foundation and Different iz Good.

“As of September 2013 we are no longer a 501(c)3. This endeavor needed and deserved more time, love and funds than I was able to give to it. However, we had a GREAT response during our 3 years and gifted either an iPad, iTouch or iPhone to about 20 recipients who were in need! This website and blog will stay live and we will continue to spread the Different iz Good message. In fact, I foresee a Different iz Good book in the not so distant future. I will be asking for your stories.”

Love, Love, Love to all y’all! xoxo

 

Throwback Post: Library Days With Gratitude While Caregiving and Being Different

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**THROWBACK POST**

November 15 2014:

Right on! It was library day!! Always a fun day of anticipation of another library visit! Thank you to the beautiful angel who slipped a little something in our car door! I adore running into you at the library. We are blessed to know you and I love you!! Thanks K.M.!

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November 15 2012:

Lillian’s gratitude for today:

I am thankful for books.

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Beautiful people … Attending the Nevada Caregivers’ Coalition Luncheon .. With the Romano duo as my guest!!! Thank you to my fabulous step-father for nominating me!!

I’m grateful to all who are caregivers … To quote from the Agenda for The 7th Annual Caregiver Recognition Celebration luncheon which was held today ….

“Caregivers, by what they do, enhance the quality of life for older adults and individuals of any age with disabilities.”

Each caregiver nominated received a certificate of recognition from United States Senator Dean Heller, Office of the Governor for the State of Nevada, Brian Sandoval, United States Senator Harry Reid, a Shining Star Certificate for the Linda Carr Caregiver Award, Congressional Recognition from the United States Congress, a fabulous lunch, door prizes, a movie themed basket and just an all around inspiring two hours.

Blessings and thanks to all who are caregivers for anyone in our society who needs extra help and assistance …

Thomas’ gratitude for today:

I’m thankful and grateful for joke books.

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November 15 2011:

Today I am thankful for this beautiful city and state in which I live and the peaceful sense of awe I receive from it . . . Reno, Nevada . . . I love every curve and bend in the landscape of the hills and Mt. Rose, the sunrise, the sunset, the moon and stars, the amazing Lake Tahoe, the magical clouds, the skyline, the people, the friends I have made . . . Thankful . . .

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November 15 2010:

Lillian and I just got done being interviewed by Reno News & Review in regards to Different iz Good . . . Spread the Word! Story will appear in the Thanksgiving week issue! WooHoo!!

Throwback Post: Purging With Quinoa and Sparrows While Having a Different Voice

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**THROWBACK POST**

December 23 2015:

One step closer to having the storage unit empty and having everything condensed into this beautiful, comfy, cozy 810 square foot love shack! Everything is out except for a couch that the Salvation Army is scheduled to pick up, and a desk, chair and filing cabinet; which will come here as soon as I get rid of the hide-a-bed couch. Plus, a few boxes in Mom n Frank’s storage unit which I’ll soon go through and purge. YAY, YAY, YAY!!!!

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December 23 2014:

Quinoa meatloaf tonight!! Chopped some fresh spinach into tiny pieces and snuck in it too! Shhhhh!! Don’t tell Lillian! They both loved it! YAY!!

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December 23 2013:

A welcome and cherished reminder from the girls at Urban Sparrow.

Live in the moment and Different iz Good nestled snuggly with a perfect heart. Many months ago I connected with the Urban Sparrow gals with the intention of having them make Different iz Good necklaces as a fundraiser for the DIG 501(c) 3 …. I wasn’t able to pay for the initial proof and the idea didn’t move forward.

Monica McDivitt must have shared with them about my situation …. as I just got this in the mail sent with their love! Y’all all bless me so much I’m overflowing with love! I shall wear this EVERY day until TEAM TLC is in our new home … as a reminder of love, believing in dreams and that doing it different is absolutely, positively OKAY! If you get any spending money for Christmas, please visit the Urban Sparrow gals as a percentage of sales from select jewelry goes to nonprofits.


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December 23 2010:

Hey that’s me! If you are out and about today in Reno, could you pick me up an extra copy? Thank You!!

Here’s the Different iz Good Christmas card for anyone who may have missed it yesterday! Feel free to share with your friends, family and connections! Hope y’all enjoy it!

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December 23 2008:

Lillian’s latest post!

https://pinkelephantbooks.com/2008/12/23/butter-has-to-be-eaten-real-fast/

Thanks for Noticing

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February 29 2020

When Thomas and Lillian were younger, this was a much discussed topic in our house. They still tell me I’m weird and crazy. I tell them, “Thanks for noticing.” 😜🤣

“My kids are starting to notice I’m a little different from the other dads. ‘Why don’t you have a straight job like everyone else?’ they asked me the other day.

I told them this story:

In the forest, there was a crooked tree and a straight tree. Every day, the straight tree would say to the crooked tree, ‘Look at me…I’m tall, and I’m straight, and I’m handsome. Look at you…you’re all crooked and bent over. No one wants to look at you.’ And they grew up in that forest together. And then one day the loggers came, and they saw the crooked tree and the straight tree, and they said, ‘Just cut the straight trees and leave the rest.’So the loggers turned all the straight trees into lumber and toothpicks and paper. And the crooked tree is still there, growing stronger and stranger every day.” Tom Waits

Saying Goodbye to Different iz Good Website

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April 28 2019:

On May 4th, I’m going to let go of the last remnants of something I worked very hard at creating. In 2010, I created and set up a 501(c)3 Nevada nonprofit corporation by the name of Turning Views Foundation. With a slogan of “Different iz Good” … (slogan inspired by the amazing and very missed Susan Moran).

The nonprofit was inspired by Lillian when iPods and iPhones were first beginning to be used as Assistive Technology. Insurance did not cover these devices at that time (for using to communicate) and I saw a great need to help others have access to this technology.

During our 3 years we gifted either an iPad, iTouch or iPhone to about 20 recipients who were in need! After 3 years, insurance companies finally began to cover these for people in need and the Foundation was more than I could handle alone; along with my other responsibilities. I chose not continue with it at that time.

I have continued to pay to renew the domain every year for the past 6 years. It’s time to let it go … If you were a part of all we did, you may want to head over and see if there’s anything you want to save from the website. And if you’re interested to know what it was all about go check it out! (website on the attached logo image)

This post is not calling for sadness. It calls for rejoicing in what can be accomplished when we come together! It calls for making way for the new and beautiful things to come! It’s about purging the old to welcome the new … And, so it is! Much and deep love for everyone that was involved in the Foundation for those 3 years! ❤️❤️❤️

 

I Have a Dream

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In honor of Martin King Luther Jr Day . . . a post I wrote a while back over on Different iz Good.

I have a dream of  a world where amazing people like my daughter Lillian Darnell, people who have intellectual disabilities, genetic differences, chromosome abnormalities, and the like are NOT pigeonholed into jobs performing mundane tasks that don’t reveal and let shine their uniqueness.  Jobs that do not give them the opportunity to share their unique and different view of the world. Read more . . .