The Fruition of a Desire

January 6 2017:

Top 10 Countdown Continues! The Number FOUR 2016 CamillaDowns.com blog post with the most views: “Photo a Day for 365 Days – Thomas’ One Year Anniversary” ……. xoxoxoxoxo ……

Photo a Day for 365 Days – Thomas’ One Year Anniversary

This book represents the fruition of a desire. Yet, within that is the message that the steps along the journey of ones desire are what comprises life itself.

It’s sure to inspire with great quotes; almost all of which were chosen by Thomas ….. for ages eight to eighty and beyond!”

…. excerpt from the blog post …. “From Thomas’ last post on instagram … “LEGO MANS FACE!!!!! I can’t believe I’ve made it to this point. Last year I ordered some LEGO pieces including a camera. Then @CamillaDowns showed me an article about somebody who did a photo a day for a year. I said “Can I do that?”

That was a year ago, and I’ve took photos EVERY SINGLE DAY! There was a lot of times I wanted to quit, but my intuition said not to! Thanks for all of you who have followed me from there to here! I will still post often, so don’t worry!! P.S. I purposely never showed is face to make it somewhat a mystery.”

How a Family of Three Lives in a Tiny Home

January 5 2017:

Top 10 Countdown Continues! The Number THREE 2016 CamillaDowns.com blog post with the most views: “Living in a Tiny Home Adventures – Four Months” … Hoping to write an update post on this! It’s been a while!

“One night after dinner and dishes, I cleared the table. Thomas and I then played a “homemade” version of ping pong using what we had. Brought so much deep belly laughter … From Lillian too as she watched us. I think the ball had fun too …..

Living in Tiny Home Adventures – Four Months

 

 

Biggest Little Photographer Enters Reno Stores

January 4 2017:

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Top 10 Countdown Continues! The Number TWO 2016 blog post on CamillaDowns.com with the most views: “Biggest Little Photographer Arrives – We Did It!”

“This book represents the fruition of a desire. Yet, within that is the message that the steps along the journey of ones desire are what comprises life itself.

It’s sure to inspire with great quotes; almost all of which were chosen by Thomas ….. for ages eight to eighty and beyond!”

Biggest Little Photographer Arrives – We Did It

Thomas and Camilla December 2016 Date Day

January 2 2017:

Thomas and Camilla December 2016 Date Day … a wee bit late. Drove up to Galena Creek so he could sled. I went down a few times too!!!! So fun!!!! Then we shared a yummy gingerbread loaf cake. My legs are still unthawing!! Brrrrr!!!!

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Snug and Cozy New Years Eve Celebration 2016

January 1 2017

Team TLC snug n cozy celebration with ….

Pomegranate Italian Soda for Thomas and I and pressed apple juice for Lillian, cheese and cracker tray, root vegetable chips, and vegetarian chili scooped over avocado. Part 1

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Team TLC snug n cozy celebration …. Part 2

Ended the night with a Letting Go and Calling In Burning Ceremony. xoxo

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Little Sleeping Buds and Freezing

December 29 2016:

I love the little sleeping buds on trees. Finally got to take a walk yesterday morning and briefly played around with the macro lens I received as a gift. Thanks Momma! Can’t wait to play with it more. “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

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December 29 2016:
Fun walk with Thomas this afternoon! Love watching the changes with the water slowly freezing.
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How to Have a Homemade Christmas

December 25 2016:

The most cherished and beloved gifts. Part 1

Lillian created a Nature Book for me that caused my eyes to sweat.

“Grass is healthy food and beautiful.
Sky is a beautiful ocean in the sky.
Flower is a pretty thing in nature.
Trees are old wise spirits in nature.
Ocean is a reflection of the sky.
Night is a beautiful time.
Animals are people and nature like us.”

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I wrote a poem for each of them and made it into a wall hanger.

Thomas: “Knowledge beyond grasp, Gentle and tender heart, Deep knowing of the soul.”

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Lillian: “Beauty shining within and without, Depth and strength I know not, A light shining brightly for the World.”

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The most cherished and beloved gifts. Part 2

A handmade card from Lillian and a poster size drawing from both Thomas and Lillian.

The card is full of original Lillian nature quotes … Plus one from Thomas!

“A sunset is nature’s art.
Rainbows are nature’s fancy artwork.
Night is art to the human’s eye.
Seasons are nature’s beauty.
Wind is nature’s music.
Space is a beautiful art.
Snow and ice are nature’s quiet time.” -Lillian

“Nature is full of awesome animals.” -Thomas

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The most cherished and beloved gifts. Part 3

Lillian made Thomas a Nature Book also.

“A cat can make several sounds including purr and meow.
A dog likes a lot of outdoor exercise.
Fish are living in almost any body of water.
Mouse like a lot of food scraps including cheese.
Ducks are social.
Cows help humans by making milk and eating grass.
Humans can dress up as animals and wear animal headbands. We are animals.” xoxo

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The most cherished and beloved gifts. Last Set of Pictures

Lillian made a Christmas card for Thomas and a noisemaker for me!

Many of you know that Lillian has been working on having flexibility. Something that is extremely difficult for her. At about 9:00 pm Christmas Eve she was still working on handmade gifts. She was determined to stay up until she was done!

She decided at 11:00 that she would go to bed and finish in the morning. YAY for flexibility entering a wee bit!! I simply knew the next morning that it would be best to not even suggest waiting until after opening gifts for her to finish.

So … our Christmas Day did not begin until about 11:00 as we waited for her to be finished …… And, we were all okay with that …. xoxoxo

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There were a few non homemade gifts too!! Thomas and I can play tennis now!! And as soon as it snows he can go sledding. Plus a calendar and a sweater he just loves.

Here’s a great gift idea for someone with sensory issues ……. a soft fuzzy sweater. He asked me if he could wear it all week. Great job Romano Duo on that gift!!! Thanks to Super Owen for the great book too!

Lillian got a box of one of her favorite cookies, a great new LEGO set, some books, and a calendar. Thanks to Super Owen for the great book.

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Gifts beyond the handmade …. I received some great books, a new sheet pan, oh so comfy socks, and since I’m not able to have a real camera right now, a few awesome accessories for what I do have!

Can’t wait to read the books! Thank you Frank for this amazing pan!!! Baked rosemary fries in it last night and they were amazing.

Thank you Olivia for these yummy socks!! And thank you Momma for the lenses. I finally got to go for a walk this morning and tested the macro. Love, love, love it!!!!

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Movie Night: Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn

December 31 2016:

Team TLC movie night …. Lillian’s choice: Holiday Inn –

Lillian says, “Good, musical, Christmasy, great for all Holidays, romantic, and awesome.”

I say, “What a fun movie. We had some great laughs and I enjoyed watching this with Thomas and Lillian.”

Thomas says, “I liked it and it was good and funny in parts.”

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*Holiday Inn Movie Review

To Peace and Love and Compassion and Solutions for 2017

December 31 2016:

Team TLC observes the occasion on New York time!

Now …. time for our last Letting Go Burning Ceremony of 2016. There’s no problems, only solutions.

A couple of quotes with which Thomas chose to end his book and with which I’d like to end this years post.

“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us. And the world will live as one.” -John Lennon

“Everything you can imagine is real.” -Pablo Picasso

It all begins within. One cannot have peace and love without, if not first having it within. Here’s to peace, compassion, self-love, and solutions for all.

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I Love You and Hugging

**THROWBACK POST**

May 2 2014:

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“I just wanna walk up to people, tell them I love them and give them a hug” –Thomas Darnell …

Told him that is so awesome and beautiful. He asked if it was okay to do that. I told him absolutely … but be prepared for some possible strange looks from people as they are not used to this.

Then we talked about the song “What a Wonderful World” and the line “When people say How do you do? they’re really saying “I Love You” … I suggested he could do this and the meaning is the same as long as that’s what’s in his heart.

I LOVE LOVE … My heart is so full of love ….. LOVE!! xoxo

Thomas’ favorite version of “What a Wonderful World” …