Fun Find – The Manning Family Renunion

**THROWBACK POST**

September 29 2013:

Another cool find in the GREAT EMAIL PURGE of 2013!! This one’s from a year or two ago.

A newspaper clipping from the 1974 Manning Family Reunion! These people didn’t mess around. They ran these family reunions like a business. I was at this one but was only 4 years old so don’t remember it. My Mammaw is the 3rd one from the left in the back with glasses on: Estelle Mann. She is cousins with Archie Manning.

Here We Come Netherlands

February 26 2024

Not only is it my birthday 🎉🎉🎉, but Thomas received the acceptance email from Breda University this morning (50-60% acceptance rate). 🎉🎉🎉 I turned in my passport application last Thursday. Let’s go! I am over the moon excited for and proud of Thomas! ❤️❤️❤️

Merry Christmas from a Young Thomas, Lillian, and Camilla

February 25 2024

Thanks to my wonderful (ex) mother-in-law for sharing this yesterday. What a beautiful memory (2007 or 08) Team TLC: The Beginning ❤️❤️❤️ I got to keep the ex’s birth mom (he’s adopted) in the divorce. 🤣🤣🤣 She’s the best! 💗💗💗

 

What is Poetry – Monday Night Poetry

February 21 2024

Monday Night Poetry was an absolute blast! Everyone’s poetry was fire! 🔥🔥🔥 I shared two new poems. Here’s one:

What is poetry?

Poetry is the feel of the breeze
as it brushes against your skin,
through your hair

It’s the soft touch of another
as they hold your hand,
press their lips against yours

It’s the sounds of the birdsong,
the song of the crickets,
the purrs of a beloved cat

Poetry is the words of another
Felt in the depths of your soul

Poetry is
The words that move you
Words that take you by the hand and heart
Words that bring a smile or a laugh
Words that take your breath away
Words that enter your heart and
exit your body through the liquid love of your eyes

Poetry is the the language of the broken hearted
It’s the language of activism
It’s the language of nature, soaked into our souls,
mixed with our experiences,
and released from our body through words.

Poetry is art
Poetry is pain
Poetry is love
Poetry is a path to feeling and healing

Poetry is a golden thread of sunshine
That connects us, binds us
And let’s us know we’re not alone

Poetry is home
Poetry is fast
Poetry is slow
Poetry is a living thing
The heartbeat of the human race
Poetry is magic
Poetry is witchy

Poetry extracts the pain, the love,
the advocacy, the activism
From the mind, the heart, the mouth
Pouring and releasing it into the winds of time
To work it’s witchy magic
On all who read or hear it.

Poetry make my heart beat faster
Poetry makes my lower stomach tingle
Poetry makes everything else melt away
Poetry is the absolute fucking best!
Camilla Downs – 2024

I Feel Like Dancing – They Are the Fire

February 18 2024

💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

Is this why I feel like dancing every time I hear music? Hmmmm. Yes, yes it is. Along with being healthy and out of the hell of financially struggling to survive. 🎉🖤🖤💋🖤🖤🎉

Dinner Date with Thomas – Sushi and Conversation

February 17 2024

Dinner date with Thomas tonight. Pisces Sushi with deep, rich conversation. Those conversations where you realize you made many good choices, with just a few not so good, during the past 17+ years.

Raising Thomas and Lillian alone, with no other parental involvement has been one of the most important, the toughest, and most rewarding things I have ever done.

I mean, how did I do so many things right, when I wasn’t even sure what the hell I was doing? Thomas has so much empathy and compassion for others, with a deep, true understanding of the nature of life and local and global issues. Blows my mind! 💗💗💗

I’m happy, grateful, and a bit relieved to be at this stage of the parenting journey.
I cherish these soul nourishing, conversation-filled dates, as the time approaches when I fully hand the wheel to Thomas for the next chapter of their life. 🖤🖤🖤

Live Music at Pinon Bottle – Johnny Harpo and Greg Grenade

February 17 2024

First time visiting Piñon last night. I had such a great time! 💋 This awesome local band was playing great tunes! They were taking requests, even more fun. I requested Mississippi Queen by Mountain, and they say they’ll do that one when they’ve got the full band there.

Hey South Reno, go check this place out! It was nice to have only a 5 minute drive there and back home. And if you get the chance, go see this band! 🖤🎶🖤 @pinonbottle @johnnyharpo

She Did It! Another One Off the List – Go Lillian

February 15 2024

Finally getting the endoscopy done! The nurses here are amazing. They used an ultrasound to find a good vein so Lillian Darnell didn’t get poked multiple times. Yay Lillian!!! And thank you clonazepam for helping Lillian not be anxious!! 🤣🤣🤣

**And if you’re that lady who sent me an email the last time I posted about Lillian conquering her fears, please Go Fuck Yourself! You don’t know me, or my kids. If you did, you would not have sent me a message that I use my kid for clicks and to get attention. Plus, Lillian is a woman. She is 22 years old! Unsubscribe from my blog and go away.**

Displaying the Love – Finally

February 10 2024

Finally got these hung. I think I need another row across the top.

February 11 2024

More photos hung and some rearranging of others. I’m loving the way it feels in here. The Team TLC 2023 photo is made with diamond art by my mom.

The movie wall and a hallway wall remaining.