Throwback Post: One Gift is Always Free

**THROWBACK POST**

August 3 2013:

“One gift is always free …. LOVE” -Thomas Darnell

I was in Thomas’ bedroom this morning opening his blinds and windows and stopped to take a look at his 2013 vision/dream board. As many times as I’ve looked at it, I’ve never noticed this quote that he hand wrote. I am a believer that we allow messages and people into our lives at just the right moment. It was my moment to receive this message.

At times I choose to mentally bash myself for not giving more by way of money/material items. I needed the reminder that I lavishly share what I have an abundance of ….. LOVE. All ya need is love …. My wish is that this message is received by exactly who needs it this morning!! Thomas continues to show me why we chose each other as parent/child. Overflowing with love and gratitude this Saturday morning …


(Thomas – August 2013)

Throwback Post: I Do Things Differently

**THROWBACK POST**

August 10 2013:

Lillian just got done asking me why I do things differently than other Moms. Her questions were about how I make coffee … using a French Press and that I hand wash the dishes instead of use the dishwasher.

Thomas then adds, “I like that you are different. You’re not ordinary. You are extraordinary.” These two so bless me and can snap me back out of a funk instantly. They have a knack for sharing my own advice with me when I need it most!


(Team TLC 2013)

**March 2022 Update** Looking back, this post seems kind of arrogant on my part. *Note to self* … Ha! When my French press broke, I switched to pour over coffee (December 2019), and have been using since then. Luckily, I haven’t broken it yet! 

As for the dishes, I switched to hand washing as I was adding mindfulness to my daily tasks. Hand washing dishes is a wonderful mindfulness practice.

Throwback Post: No Horses

**THROWBACK POST**

August 16 2011:

Bringing Thomas home from school today we passed a sign near a walking trail that reads “No horses”. Thomas asked why, and I said I suppose they don’t want horses on the trail.

He says, “Horses can’t read”! Someone please tell Washoe County that please!!

Love that kid!


(Photo of Thomas and Lillian 2011)

Throwback Post: Best and Bestest – Sayings from a Young Thomas and Lillian

**THROWBACK POST**

April 24 2013:


(A drawing Thomas made for me in 2013)

“I like using my imagination. It makes games more fun.” -Thomas (11.17.11)

“Can I help you cook dinner?” -Thomas. …. to which I replied, “You can put the dishes in the dishwasher for me”  …. to which Thomas replied,  “I’d be happy to. Let me take my shirt off.” (11.8.11) (Sensory issues!! He still will take off his shirt if it gets water on it!)

“I like you even when you are getting on to me.” -Thomas Darnell (11.8.11)

“I wish to be you when I grow up.” -Lillian Darnell

“These are the best grits you have ever made!” -Thomas Darnell (10.23.11)

‎”I like you and your the bestest Mama I’ve ever had!” -Thomas (10.21.11)

“I used the potty on the wall for the first time today.” -Thomas (10.13.11)

“These are the bestest grits you have ever made” -Thomas (10.2.11)

Throwback Post: Everything Is Possible With Backyard and Indoor Camping

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May 31 2014:

“If everything is possible, isn’t it possible that some things are impossible?” -Thomas ….

This one made me stop … and ponder … Hmmmmmm …. Blessed, blessed, blessed by this young man! xoxo

April 9 2012:

Backyard camping at the Team TLC Casa …. YAY for warm days ….

Backyard Camping April 9 2012

Later on …. Moved the camping inside … too windy!!

Backyard Camping #2 April 9 2012

Thanks for Noticing

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