December 31 2022
It was a fun afternoon yesterday. My friend Jessica and her husband Martin are visiting from The Netherlands.
We had a lovely chat while sharing coffee, hot chocolate, speculoos cookies, and chocolate. An afternoon overflowing with treats!
Jessica hand delivered the portrait she made of Team TLC along with a few delicious goodies. ❤️❤️❤️
**THROWBACK POST**
January 24 2018:
Coincidences? Do you see them as signs or messages? Or just something random that happened?
(Camilla and Lillian at Washoe Lake – 2014)
On the Lillian and Camilla date day yesterday, I was only going to buy one order of parmesan, sea salt fries and share them with Lillian.
Not because I wasn’t hungry. It’s just what finances dictate at the moment. When we picked up our fries, we were told they made double the order of fries and so sorry, but the box would not close. No worries! We’ll fix that!
We ended our date with a stop at Kohl’s to get Lillian some new undies. That girl is growing! She grows slow, but it happens!
She has sensory difficulties and when one finds clothing that does not irritate, one must stick with that brand and style! Well, they aren’t cheap either! $25 for 3 pairs. She needed two packages of 3 pairs.
I had a coupon for 15% off that had just expired by about two days. The cashier let me use it anyway and I had a $5 off coupon on my phone, but my phone decided to go dead while in the store.
The lady behind us said she had the same coupon on her phone and we could use it as she wasn’t going to need it. We had returned Christmas gifts that didn’t work out and had money from that. So, for $12 we got $50 worth of undies! Wahoooo!!!
I choose to believe that coincidences are not random happenings. With choosing to believe this, I notice them happening more often, and they inspire and encourage me, and add fuel to the core of my being. I make something my intent .. And the coincidences line up so that what I intend comes to fruition. And, so it is. Bring me more please … xoxo
**December 2022 Update** – About 7 years of economic anxiety. That’s how long this lasted. It ended in the beginning of 2020, but it definitely took a toll on my mental health. I completed crashed in 2020, finally not having to worry and struggle nearly every single day.
Honestly, we still live below poverty level. But when you go from no income to some income, it’s like you’ve won the lottery! I’m grateful I had taken the time to put myself in a place of being able to gracefully move through all of those years.
Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!
“Words of Alchemy”, published December 2019, is a free-verse poetry memoir covering the last 6 years of my life. The poetry of nature, the poetry of healing, the poetry of appreciation, the poetry of love, in one beautiful book.
Amazing news! My 21 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” was published January 2018. Learn more and order here.
Wonderfully exciting news! My 17 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.
**THROWBACK POST**
January 19 2016:
Yesterday I let go of “The Desk” (the new term we’ve coined for my desk that’s been in storage limbo since June 2015). The Desk was handmade for me some time around 1999. I spent countless hours at that desk. The Desk witnessed many moves, life happenings, and events.
One day last week I had a strong knowing that I was to let it go. Not only that, but I knew the exact person who was to receive The Desk. I related this to a quote that had crossed my path last week.
“Make like a tree and let the dead leaves drop.” – Rumi
The Desk had become a “dead leaf” for me. I chose to let it go so as to create new fertile ground for creativity and imagination. What had become a dead leaf for me has now created new grounds for the creativity and imagination of a friend; for she had to let go of her own “dead leaves” to make way for the new.
Before I had the strong knowing that I was to let go of The Desk, I was struggling with doing just that. One moment I had confusion, the next moment I knew that since there was such confusion about it, I must let it go.
Thomas and I delivered it to her on Monday and it was let go with no regrets. We had fun doing it too! Laughing and giggling while getting the desk on a handtruck, pushing it to the car, and getting it into our little Rosey.
Sharing this with love and encouragement that you let go of thoughts, stories, or material items so as to make way for the new.
Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!
“Words of Alchemy”, published December 2019, is a free-verse poetry memoir covering the last 6 years of my life. The poetry of nature, the poetry of healing, the poetry of appreciation, the poetry of love, in one beautiful book.
Amazing news! My 21 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” was published January 2018. Learn more and order here.
Wonderfully exciting news! My 17 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.
December 12 2022
This shadow caught me eye. Gave a couple of others a chance to show their shadow, too. Cool!
Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!
“Words of Alchemy”, published December 2019, is a free-verse poetry memoir covering the last 6 years of my life. The poetry of nature, the poetry of healing, the poetry of appreciation, the poetry of love, in one beautiful book.
Amazing news! My 21 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” was published January 2018. Learn more and order here.
Wonderfully exciting news! My 17 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.
December 10 2022
You know those times when you impulsively do something kind and then afterward you question yourself. Thinking that what you did was stupid, and may be received as creepy. Please try to allow the doubt to move on through. It’s just a lie. Do the kind things. Gotta go. My eyes are leaking liquid love. ❤️❤️❤️
Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!
“Words of Alchemy”, published December 2019, is a free-verse poetry memoir covering the last 6 years of my life. The poetry of nature, the poetry of healing, the poetry of appreciation, the poetry of love, in one beautiful book.
Amazing news! My 21 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” was published January 2018. Learn more and order here.
Wonderfully exciting news! My 17 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.
November 17 2022
The Nevada Caregivers Coalition hosted a webinar last month on Independent Living Options which I missed due to an appointment for Lillian. I listened to it today, and had myself some long overdue sobbing.
Don’t get me wrong. It was an informative and great session. I encourage anyone who is interested to have a listen.
This caregiving role can feel so overwhelming at times. Especially when you are the sole person in charge of deciding what to do, how to proceed, and then doing it. I’m emotionally and mentally exhausted at this point. I’m still recovering from the Great Burnout of 2019 and 2020. 🤪🙃🤪
I’m not sharing for sympathy. I’m sharing for those who may need to hear this message (myself included). It’s okay to not be strong, to have sad days, to sob ’til there are no tears left, to let yourself feel the absolute utter shit show that life can be. Feel that shit, let it out, let it move through your body. I’m with you. 😍🥰😍
Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!
“Words of Alchemy”, published December 2019, is a free-verse poetry memoir covering the last 6 years of my life. The poetry of nature, the poetry of healing, the poetry of appreciation, the poetry of love, in one beautiful book.
Amazing news! My 21 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” was published January 2018. Learn more and order here.
Wonderfully exciting news! My 17 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.
October 3 2022
It was soaking and swimming today. Felt so great!
October 8 2022
Colorful walk last week. 💞
I’m a member of an author/book reader facebook group, and the admins ask great questions. I decided to turn some of the questions into a “get to know me” series. I would also love to hear your answers to the questions posed in the series. Thanks Helen for asking such fun questions!
Do family and friends, spouse read your books?
My kids have read my first book (memoir), many times when they were younger. I think they liked reading about themselves!
I was divorced when I wrote it, so I don’t know if my ex read it, but my ex mother-in-law did (we are still friends). He did tell me that he should get half of any money I make from it, as for some reason he thought he had contributed money to its publication. Actually, everyone donated their time and talents to making the book happen, the cover, editing, book layout, proof-reading, etc.
I’ve had many friends and acquaintances read all four of our books, which has been incredibly encouraging.
To learn more about our books, go here:
What about you?
Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!
“Words of Alchemy”, published December 2019, is a free-verse poetry memoir covering the last 6 years of my life. The poetry of nature, the poetry of healing, the poetry of appreciation, the poetry of love, in one beautiful book.
Amazing news! My 21 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” was published January 2018. Learn more and order here.
Wonderfully exciting news! My 16 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.
August 27 2022
I cannot believe what I had accepted as my new normal over the past few years. I didn’t feel like I had the time, the energy, or the brain capacity to figure out what my issue was. My personality type is just keep going, no matter what.
To say I feel much better is an understatement. Two weeks ago I received a B12 injection every day for a week, plus a 3 hour long iron infusion (as I also had iron deficiency anemia). I had one shot last week (yesterday) and will have one a week through mid-October, then switching to once a month.
Pre-diagnosis it had gotten to the point that I could barely do anything. I forced myself to do the bare minimum, especially the last 6 months. My hand strength had gotten very weak, my feet hurt, my hands hurt, everything hurt, severe brain fog, I was having difficulty with word recall (couldn’t remember the word for things in conversation), I was out of breath after doing the slightest task, light headed.
Last week I had a 20 minute dance session every day, went for a 30 minute swim every day, took Thomas back and forth to TMCC 18 times, went to back to school night at TMCC, volunteered at the library with Lillian, ran many errands, and did not get light headed or out of breath one time. My hand strength has returned, almost everything that was hurting or bothering me has stopped. I may stil have a GI issue and a neck issue, but those are feeling better, too. I will give that some time.
It’s hard to describe what if feels like to feel like yourself again, after many years of not feeling like yourself. I’m extremely excited, happy, motivated, and I wanted to share this with all of you. xoxo
Here’s a great 3 minute video about pernicious anemia:
More information: This from the Pernicious Anaemia Society
Pernicious Anaemia
People who have been diagnosed as having Pernicious Anaemia will be unable to absorb Vitamin B12 from food.4 Until the 1920’s when it was discovered that feeding patients raw, or very lightly cooked liver could keep them alive patients died from the disease. Injectable ‘artificial’ B12 became available after the Second World War and now, as long as the diagnosis is made, people seldom die of the disease. Once the Vitamin B12 Deficiency is corrected patients can live a more or less normal life. However, a great many people still have problems with symptoms after the deficiency has been corrected though doctors don’t know why this is so. When a patient has been treated with replacement therapy B12 then he or she should have their anaemia corrected and therefore will not have any anaemia that will prove ‘pernicious’ (fatal). So therefore they will not have Pernicious Anaemia any more. But the fact is that they will need replacement therapy B12, preferably in a form that by-passes their stomach, for life. They will always need B12 and their treatment should never be stopped. Here’s what the latest Guidelines from the British Committee for Standards in Haematology state:
(testing positive for Intrinsic Factor Antibodies)…
identifies those with a need for lifelong cobalamin replacement therapy.
Cobalamin is the scientific name for B12. Whilst B12 will correct a patient’s anaemia and therefore save his or her life, the patient will still have Autoimmune Metaplastic Atrophic Gastritis (AMAG) and so perhaps it is time to replace the diagnosis of Pernicious Anaemia with this more accurate description of their condition. Note whilst AMAG (or Pernicious Anaemia) can be treated, there is no cure for the condition yet.
Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!
“Words of Alchemy”, published December 2019, is a free-verse poetry memoir covering the last 6 years of my life. The poetry of nature, the poetry of healing, the poetry of appreciation, the poetry of love, in one beautiful book.
Amazing news! My 21 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” was published January 2018. Learn more and order here.
Wonderfully exciting news! My 16 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.
I’m a member of an author/book reader facebook group, and the admins ask great questions. I decided to turn some of the questions into a “get to know me” series. I would also love to hear your answers to the questions posed in the series. Thanks Helen for asking such fun questions!
What is your best memory from school?
Mine would be 7th-9th grade. I have such fond memories of my group of friends (many of us are still connected). We were so silly, and had such fun. I was sad when we moved at the end of 9th grade, having to start high school at a completely new school, in a different state. Four of us got together in 2009 for a mini-reunion. Such fun!
What about you?
Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!
“Words of Alchemy”, published December 2019, is a free-verse poetry memoir covering the last 6 years of my life. The poetry of nature, the poetry of healing, the poetry of appreciation, the poetry of love, in one beautiful book.
Amazing news! My 20 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” was published January 2018. Learn more and order here.
Wonderfully exciting news! My 16 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.