Tag Archives: thomas a darnell

The 2016 Chromosome 18 Journey Begins

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July 6 2016:

Rosey got a bath today to get ready for our trip!! Going through the car wash is so fun!

If it feels right we would appreciate love, good juju, prayers for our car, Rosey, and our journey. Rosey is 15 years old and we need her to take care of us and get us there and back safely and smoothly. Oceans of gratitude!! xoxo

Rosey Getting Car Wash July 6 2016

July 8 2016:

Whew!!! We made it somewhere!!! Team TLC is in Surprise, Arizona! We left Reno at 7:00 this morning and at 9:00 tonight we came upon Surprise. We said, “yes, we’ll take it!”

Sorry for our silence. I do not pay for data so we are not online again until we have wifi. Onward to Texas tomorrow. Does anyone know a good stopping overnight point between Tucson and San Antonio via I-10?

July 8 2016:

Surprise, Arizona to El Paso, Texas … We made it to Texas! We’ll be in San Antonio tomorrow late afternoon. Amazing rock formations in Arizona and New Mexico. We will come back when it’s not so hot!!

Lillian and I don’t do well in this high heat! Rosey was even getting too hot! This is a ton of responsibilities for one adult and I am learning so much! Yet, I have so much fun traveling with them. They are such wonderful teachers of living in the moment. My heart swells to overflowing with love …. xoxo

I am writing like the wind before I get this tired mind and body into bed and be ready for one more day of driving tomorrow. I am compelled. I have just got to document some of what we are experiencing and talking about.

Thomas had such amazing thoughts to share yesterday and Lillian also yesterday morning before she got a tummy ache. Although we are having a ball and laughing tons and enjoying this beautiful land as we drive by it; this has not all been fun and easy, and it was my goal to have this trip be a learning experience for me of not knowing, not planning, and just going. That’s certainly not for everyone.

Yet, I felt this was important for me. It’s a huge step out of my comfort zone. One step closer to trusting myself, trusting internal messages, and letting go of how it’s supposed to be done. I’ve never driven this far alone … Much less alone with Thomas and Lillian. Plus driving this far in a 15 year old car. Skating through this trip on less than a shoe string budget and letting go of worry that the string will hold tight …

I’m having moments when I’m so tired I’m shaking and wondering what in the hell I’m doing ….. Yet, I know. I may not know on the surface right now; but deep down, I know why I do what I do. And then we share these amazing moments together with wonderful comments from Thomas and Lillian and moments full of so much love that further each one of us. Moments where I’m so hot and exhausted, I have visions of taking an ice bath! Definitely some amazing growth for all of us happening! WOW! xoxoxo

July 9 2016:

El Paso to San Antonio! We made it about 5:30 this afternoon! Been a whirlwind since.

There is so much unexpected loving-kindness flowing my and our way … WOW!!

I just drove Team TLC 1700 miles … I did it! Now. Where’s my bed?

 (Go here for part two of the 2016 Chromosome 18 Conference Journey.)

Romano Duo Visit June 2016

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June 26 2016:

We went over to The Romano Duo’s temporary home for the next 4 days. Had some fun at the pool. They get to have a sleepover Monday night!! First night of respite for me since last August. xoxo

We had company for tonight’s walk! They got to see the ducklings, goslings, comorants, a huge frog, and the beaver! YAY!

June 27 2016:

They just left for their sleepover with the Romano Duo! First, we all went for a swim and had lunch poolside. Now, they’re ready for some Duo lovin’! And I get the first time alone at home since last August. I love hanging out with Team TLC all together, yet I am going to cherish every moment of this alone time. xoxo

Romano Visit June 27 2016

We went out to eat for dinner, came home and had a dance party, Frank changed Rosey’s air filter and checked her fluids so we’re ready for the huge road trip we are undertaking next week … and we said our goodbyes …. Until next time Romano Duo ….. xoxoxo …

 

 

Angels and Monarch Butterflies and Adventures and Traveling

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June 27 2016:

With my respite time tonight, I made myself a grand dinner … a lovely, big bowl of popcorn. This is how I get all wild n crazy when I have a night to myself … and then I proceeded to have the most beautiful experience.

I’ve written a blog post about it that felt like I’d been writing for about 30 minutes and it had been an hour and a half. It’s still in raw form, yet I felt moved to share a snippet ..

This morning a bayou Angel and her Mom came to my assistance. One who feels I am a gift to her in how I show up and live my life. As I sat eating my dinner of a lovely, big bowl of popcorn, I simply stared into the bowl at each kernel before eating it. As I scooped up and popped the last bit of popcorn into my mouth, the bayou Angel and I exchanged our last email for the day agreeing that our having re-connected was divinely arranged.

William Blake’s “To See A World … ” came to mind and it was as if the flood gates opened. Not only to let flow tears of knowing, tears of joy, and tears of love …. It was the flood gates of my entire life flowing out around me and wrapping me in the knowing that there have been no accidents in this life of mine.

“To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.” ~William Blake

It has been divinely laid out. Every encounter, every relationship, every friendship. I saw the synchronicity of having lived 3 years of my life in Houma Louisiana in the mid 80’s, the deep unhappiness of my family life at that time and how the friendships I formed were my saving grace. Not only a saving grace back in the mid 80’s, a saving grace in the year 2013 and 2016. Unbeknownst to me a mutual, symbiotic relationship of one inspiring the other and one becoming a messenger angel for the other.

Everything that I have experienced ….. ” More after I clean it up a bit. It was poring out of me so fast … That was some bowl of popcorn!! xoxoxo

Popcorn June 27 2016

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June 28 2016:

She’s still at it …. and she’s good! Another from Lillian … xoxo

“When you or someone else is calm, you will feel a lot better. You will be more confident and relaxed. You will be happy, mindful, grateful, thankful and joyful.

Take a moment to read this quote. If you want to, share it with family, friends, and relatives.

“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” – Buddha … “ https://lilliandarnell.com/2016/06/21/emotions-with-animals-calm-monarch-butterflies/

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June 30 2016:

My words from this time last year (below) …. May the words inspire and encourage those whom it is meant for … xoxoxo

Still so meaningful to me as we are about to embark on our longest road trip so far in Team TLC history, still not knowing with certainty how we will pay for it all, and when we get back, we’ll be deciding by the end of July on the course of a new adventure …

The need to know when, how, where, and what next; can at times, be the very block that keeps us from fully experiencing life and experiencing it as our true selves … minus the ideas and beliefs of others.

words from June 2015: “Team TLC has come to the end of a chapter in our adventures and we embark on a new chapter. This chapter will be a living-in-the-moment adventure, with intentions of it being FUN and memorable.

I don’t have plans, I don’t know where we’ll live after the summer with the Romano Duo, I don’t know exactly what will happen. I am not always okay with this, but mostly I am. I feel the desire to know exactly how things will happen and the worry that accompanies this are just fears.

In the past I’ve spent a great deal of time confronting and connecting with these and other fears and they no longer have power within me. I know these fears are not the true me and as long as I live from the heart with love as the foundation of all actions, I, and the rest of Team TLC, will be blessed and affluent.

I DO know where I want to live and have much clarity about the role I am to play in being of service. That is all I need to know for now. Connecting with emotions, specifically fear, has been one of the most empowering “non-actions” I have ever taken …. May you choose to connect with any emotion that holds you back.

I know everything will be okay and worry has no hold on me. That’s not to say that worry is no longer present in my life. I am now able to recognize worries, fears, anger, complaining, the desire to be right and have someone else be wrong, as simply the ego throwing a tantrum because I am stepping into my power.

The world is a beautiful love-filled place and none of us were meant to suffer. Our suffering is self imposed with the thoughts that we consciously and unconsciously choose to think. I have chosen to go deep, clear out all the crud and live at a deeper level. xoxo”

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July 2 2016:

Team TLC will be traveling the blue route, in the attached screen shot, from Reno to San Antonio. We’ll be leaving either this coming Thursday or Friday.

Do we have any friends along this route who would be interested in letting us borrow a bed or couch for a night’s sleep? We’ll be driving anywhere from 6-9 hours each day for 3 days … depending on where we stop for the day. Oceans of love and gratitude .. xoxo

ishot-68

Twilight Zone and Angels and Butterflies and Songbirds

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June 19 2016:

Today felt like an episode of Twilight Zone …. All day …

And then we went for an after dinner sunset walk. Incredibly cool that we spotted a different type of duck that we will look up, 5 blue-billed ducks, and a beaver, I think. Don’t know what else would have dragged a branch for a bit and then disappeared under water with it. And then an amazing sunset. xoxo

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June 20 2016:

After dinner solo walk last night since I missed the morning walk. A joyful walk with magical clouds decorating the sky.

Plus, I got to share some love with Gus, an extremely happy dog. I like that fellow. He always comes over to say “hi” to me.

Solo Walk June 21 2016

This walk inspired a blog post on Camilla’s blog …

A little story sparked by a 5 minute stop at the Farmer’s Market this morning …. An Angel at the Farmer’s Market … Hope you enjoy it and the may the words land in front of the one for which they are meant. The pictures are paired with the story on my blog. xoxo

She had been dealing with a headache for 3 days now. She felt as if her body, inside and out, was covered in a thick and sticky sludge. A sludge full of all the reasons why she is wrong, inadequate, a loser, and a downright horrible person.

She thought back to the dream she had two weeks ago. She could not get away from a giant sink hole. Everywhere she went, this sink hole followed! One minute she’d be free of it and then she would purposely re-enter the force of it’s pull. She knew this was not just a random dream. The sink hole was a metaphor for how she’d been feeling about her life these past few weeks.

Then she was brought back to the present when she received a message from a friend that landed on a heart that she’d been slapping around and wringing like a sponge. It was exactly what her heart needed to hear and was the perfect message for her to receive in that moment. The divine message: “I love your positiveness and your love of life and love. You are a true inspiration to me.”

After dinner she went for a solo walk as she had missed her morning walk. It was an incredibly …. Go here to read more.

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June 22 2016:

Walk with Thomas last night …. We sat on this rock for quite a while. Round after round of ducks and geese came over to see if we had food. They make the most wonderful sound when asking for food. It’s really soft and quiet.

Then we saw a swallowtail butterfly. We watched him go from bud to bud. So cool!!!

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June 23 2016:

Lillian and I had the most amazing walk last night. A slight breeze was blowing, the shadows were amazing, and we listened to the song birds.

When we got home I saw what Lillian had posted a bit earlier and it made my eyes sweat … “Hey, everyone! Have you heard the news? I started June 15 walking up the stairs. (I only did 2 the first time). 2 days, I stepped up to the 4th step. I use positive affirmations like “Do this for Camilla” or “Do this for myself”. I didn’t realize I was using them until I told Camilla yesterday. Now, I’m actually finding them useful. I hope you find this post inspiring.” xoxo

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June 24 2016:

Early morning walk …. Two fresh water turtles, a nutria, bunches of blue billed ducks, cormorants, one white goose, loads of musk thistle, and so many song birds in this tree. It’s a wonderful world … And I’m grateful and blessed I get to experience it … xoxo

Soft Sounds and Clarity and Pinecones

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June 13 2016:

This morning’s walk … I heard soft sounds from the ducks, song birds, and the egret that I’d not heard before. I heard with deeper clarity. Interesting. xoxo

June 14 2016:

Tell me what you like most about today’s walk. He says, “The geese, ducks, and pinecones.” He collected pinecones during our walk last night so he could make a city.

Had my hands full of pinecones … With the imprints still lingering after I put them down when we got home. Magical clouds too! There’s a heart in one of the sky pictures. I’ll let you find it. Such a peaceful and invigorating walk. xoxo

Magic and Stairs and Cookies and Rainbows

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June 12 2016:

I have been working on this post for two days now! Done! It’s a throwback to 2010 and 2011 with updated content. I came across an article the other day that moved me to the core and just knew in my heart I must write this.https://camilladowns.com/…/the-power-and-magic-of-connected…/

Now we can go on a little adventure and then back to create a special poem to accompany a very special painted rock for a beautiful soul way down in the bayou.

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June 15 2016:

She set a goal of going up 2 stairs, without holding onto me, before her physical therapy appointment today. She did it yesterday afternoon! By next Wednesday it will be 4 or 5 steps! Wahoo!!!

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We’re working on the book trailer for Thomas’ upcoming book … “Grand Adventures of the Biggest Little Photographer” … Here’s a fun picture I took of him taking a picture of the mini figure taking a picture.

The book will contain many of the photos he took during the 365 day photo project he decided to do on his own when he was 8 years old. It will also include an introduction of how it began, quotes, and a bit of the story along the way. Coming Fall 2016 – You can pre-order if this sounds like something that interest you or if you know a LEGO enthusiast!!  … xoxo

Thomas Taking Picture of Minifigure Taking a Photo 2014

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June 16 2016:

And just because. We made chocolate almond flour cookies last night at 8:30. Toasted to Team TLC and read our read-aloud-book!!! So YUM!!!

Chocolate Almond Flour Cookies June 16 2016

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Looks like a grand adventure awaits us next month! The Chromosome 18 conference is in San Antonio this year, July 10-13th and we are going to drive. We found out today that an organization that has helped us get there the past two years is not able to help this year. xoxo

Google Maps suggests three different routes. Has anyone out there driven any of these routes, know the road conditions, etc … Need to decide which is the best route. What about campgrounds on any of these routes? Know about any?

Every year Thomas and Lillian both want to contribute to getting us to the conference. They come up with their own ideas and offer their creations through each of their websites. Here are the different ways to support our trip if it feels right to you (and a link to a blog post with more information …https://camilladowns.com/…/2016-chromosome-18-conference-sa…/):

Route suggestions per above
Painted Rocks by Thomas
Leaf at Sunset by Thomas
Nature Adventure Set by Thomas
Mini-figure photo a day prints by Thomas
Pre-order “Grand Adventure of the Biggest Little Photographer” by Thomas
Random Act of Love Cards
Services by Thomas (errands and poop scooping – in Reno area) (email me regarding this one)
Egyptian Eye by Lillian
Rainbow of Emotions by Lillian
Custom Abstract Art by Lillian
Mystique Boutique
Walk With Me
“D iz for Different” book
Custom Poem by Camilla

Google Maps June 2016

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This. Just when this message was needed. I was drinking my water earlier today and this is what I saw.

Received some news today that is not what I expected and kinda leaves me feeling really tired. Yet, I know there is a different way to see this … And this was a reminder. Sharing for anyone else who needs it …. xoxo

Heart Bottom of Glass June 2016

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June 17 2016:

Lillian’s latest blog post and her latest abstract art creation, Rainbow of Emotions. Let her know if you’re interested in having an 8 X 10 print of it. This is just a picture of it. The scanned version will have crisp clarity. May you enjoy her story about Rainbows and Love! xoxo

“Hey, everyone! This story is about rainbows and love. I hope you enjoy!

Once there lived 2 rainbows who didn’t want to separate for the love of nature. Their names were Candy Rainbow and Princess Rainbow. One day, Candy Rainbow was accidentally separated from Princess. What they didn’t know was the Nature fairy had split them in half.

Candy desperately looked for Princess but there was no sign of her. Meanwhile, Princess was where Candy wasn’t. She was anxious to find him but the Nature fairy wouldn’t let her. Candy got up to ask the Nature Fairy. What the fairy said, “No, I haven’t seen her. I didn’t separate you.”

Candy thought the fairy was being suspicious. Princess started suspecting the fairy. After a year past, they accidentally ran into each other. When the fairy found out, she was furious.

The fairy decided to put Princess invisible so she couldn’t be seen when they bumped into each other. Candy tried to explain to the Nature fairy that rainbow magic was more powerful than fairy magic. Since the nature fairy wouldn’t listen, Candy decided to show her what he tried to explain.

So his plan was to use his magic and power to get Princess out of the invisible world. So when Princess saw he was stretching out to use his power, she decided to reach over and touch his stretched arc. Candy felt lighter somehow but he didn’t know how.

Suddenly the invisible spell broke. The fairy was shocked at what happened but the fairy had to vanish. “It was me who helped you, Candy”, said Princess softly. “Thank you, Princess!” and the rainbows’ love was returned.

Princess thought if people saw them, it would be easier to have 1 rainbow be invisible. Princess decided to go invisible but Candy was able to see her. Every once in awhile, Princess appeared behind Candy. That is why some people see double or triple rainbows.”

Lillian's New Abstract Art May 2016

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June 17 2016:

Setting family intentions, making a plan, creating a “happy songs” play list, listening now, deciding on new rituals, and discussing the importance of gratitude.

That’s what Team TLC did this morning. Next up, framing our intentions and rituals and hanging on our wall. We are family and It’s a wonderful world with Three Little Birds singing “Every little thing’s gonna be alright” …. Hakuna Matata xoxo

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This one’s headed to live in Houma, Louisiana!! Have fun down in da bayou!! Rock is hand painted rock with acrylic paint and sealed. Poem created by me and handwritten on recycled materials ready to hang.

Walk With Me

I walk this path with legs
that have walked many miles.
I walk this path with arms
free of heavy burdens from the past.
I walk this path with a mind
that supports and encourages the heart.
I walk this path with a heart
that is pure and ripe with love.
I walk this path with eyes
fresh with new perspectives.
I walk this path with ears
awakened to natures sounds.
I walk this path with a nose
that inhales the sweetness.
I walk this path with mouth and lips
parted to breathe the benevolent essence.
I walk this eternal path home
with all beings as one. ~Camilla Downs 2016

 

June 2016 Date Day with Thomas

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June 17 2016:

No matter what, we still have our planned date day!! 😉 Thomas and Camilla June 2016 Date Day …. He wanted sushi …. And a scoop of peanut butter ice cream for dessert.

Thomas and Camilla June 2016 Date Day … Thomas’ choice -Geiger Way Lookout …. So beautiful and the wind was blowing like crazy! It was a windy, peaceful, cicada filled, and wonderful end to our date!

 

The Grand Adventure of the Biggest Little Photographer

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June 5 2016:

Just came across this video Thomas made in June 2014 to showcase the first 90 days of his 365 photo a day project. He presented to his classmates about it before summer vacation in 2014.

It’s long at 5 minutes yet it was a fun trip down memory lane! We’ll be making a shorter version as a book trailer in the next few weeks. Hopefully he’ll have books in hand in about 2 months! YAY!! You can now pre-order the book! … xoxo ….

 

 

The Biggest Little Photographer – A Thomas Photography Book new

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May 31 2016:

Thomas and I had a conference call about his book this afternoon. After comparing the three different ways (Createspace, Blurb, and Local Publisher) to publish his 365 day photography project, we decided to go with the local publisher here in Reno.

We’ve got some work ahead of us to give them an idea of the layout, the introduction, captions and quotes. They have created a “Thomas Student Discount” to make the set-up do able for us.

When I committed to him that I’d create a book out of this project if he stuck with it, I had NO idea how I’d pay for it. For some reason, I have this ability not to let that stop me from pursuing projects (D iz for Different would never have been published if I let that be a project crusher).

I am still amazed and just plain giddy when things line up for projects to come to life. The “Thomas Student Discount” and some other “just for us” accommodations to make this happen is simply magical. We will still need a wee bit of funds to get it going, yet the remainder can be paid with royalties. YAY Thomas!!! xoxo

Sand Dunes and Spiders and Beetles and Bones

Gallery

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This gallery contains 23 photos.

Washoe Lake adventures Sunday, April 24 2016. Car picnic followed by a walk through the sand dunes and collecting rocks. Crazy wind too! We saw spiders, beetles, bones, horses, dogs, rain, and a few people. Lillian liked hunting for rocks, … Continue reading →