June 17 2023
1480!!! Received the results from Thomas’s second SAT testing. I am so damn happy for Thomas, with an infinity of pride. 🎉❤️❤️❤️🎉
(Camilla & Thomas – July 2019 – Salt Flats in Utah)
An Infinity or Pride and Happiness for Thomas
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Tag Archives: happiness
Special Needs: Lilac’s Angel Visit
Lillian’s class participated in NaNoWriMo and she chose to write a collection of short stories. Reading her notebook brought my eyes to sweating … xoxo
Here’s one of them:
Lilac’s Angel Visit
Written: Lillian
Once upon a time, Lilac’s prince had died and Lilac was a poor queen but one night, Lilac had been visited by Lilac’s prince angel. He had said, “Respect all other angels like you do with me.” And so her father, stepmother, stepsisters, and their princes’ angels came along with Lilac’s prince angel and they had said, “Keep your confidence and hopefully you will strengthen your courage.” Then one night they stopped visiting and left Lilac alone because she had enough courage to be super-duper happy. To this day, she’ll tell you to keep confidence and you will soon build up courage to be super-duper happy.
True Happiness Is
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Do you believe HappYness comes to us from outside circumstances, events, other people or things? Do you believe it’s possible to be HappY no matter what’s happening around you? Do you believe it’s possible to be at peace no matter … Continue reading
I Like Your Boots
I sat reading a book in the coffee shop this morning while waiting on my friend to arrive.
I got up to move to a smaller table and a man sitting nearby said, “I like your boots”. He was about 5’7″, had on a cowboy hat and you could tell he was a hard working man. So we started chatting about boots and he showed me his boots. We talked about boots with leather bottoms and boots with rubber bottoms.
He’s got 5 days off and is visiting from Elko. I asked if he has family here in Reno. He answered, “Yes” and that his ancestors came to Nevada in the 1800’s. He works for one of the mining companies in Elko. I learned about this huge truck he drives that has a 12,000 gallon tank and how the tank gets filled and what happens when it’s being filled. He works 4 days on and 5 off and then 5 days on and 4 off. He’s going to an end of the world party tonight!
I learned that he likes Harley motorcycles and he likes wearing boots. People keep telling him he should get horses because he has the property for it. But, he likes the “steel” horses and he shared about the Harley he’s thinking of purchasing so he can take trips on it. He even showed me a picture of it in the magazine he was reading. This one has waterproof storage. Says he’s gonna take a trip on it this summer down to Arizona to see his brother and ride through the Grand Canyon on the way. He likes to write so he is going to journal his trip. I shared how I thought that was a GREAT idea.
He likes to write letters “the old fashioned way”, put a stamp on them and mail them. He likes to read too. So I shared how I like to write and read also and that I had just written and published a book. His name is Paul. He bought one of my books. He is going to read it and then give to his sister who is a school teacher in Winnemucca.
I did not know Paul, He did not know me. Now we know each other and you know about him too!! All this while I was waiting for my friend to show up. I could have just said “Thank You” when he complimented my boots and went back to reading my book. The old me would have. I sure hope I enriched his life. I know he enriched mine by letting me listen and learn about him …. And …. I gave Paul a hug when he left. Hugs, smiles and listening … that’s what I GIVE!
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That Moment …
That moment when your six year old son finally understands all the things you have been telling him about happiness … That moment when …. that moment when time stands still …. That moment is when you acknowledge to yourself that YOU are the one that helped him understand and to turn his thoughts around.
For the past few weeks Thomas has been struggling in school. He loves the school, loves the playground and generally liked being there. But, every morning for the past few weeks he’s been unhappy with going to school. Says he doesn’t want to go, there’s nothing to do, it’s no fun, so and so isn’t being kind to him, the teacher won’t answer his questions. After I did some investigation, listening and chatting with the teacher, I came to the conclusion that this was coming from Thomas’ thinking. He had decided to be unhappy with his lessons in school, unhappy being there … just unhappy about the whole thing. He kept saying he was unhappy and it was no fun. I have been kindly and gently discussing with him that the way he is thinking about his day before he even gets there is why he is not happy. He is putting off an unhappy energy and being grumpy. I told him it is his choice whether he has a good day or a bad day at school.
Before I dropped him off this morning he told me that yesterday, he was happy and kind with everyone in his classroom. He said, that’s how it works right? When we are happy and kind, the people around us are too. I told him “You got that right!”. It starts with YOU first. Once we decide to be happy and be kind, it spreads to those around us and …… Then …. it comes back to us! I told him how proud I was of him for figuring it out!
This morning he got out of the car happy and smiling …. That moment when …. That moment when you are filled with so much joy that your eyes begin to sweat as your drive off …. That Moment!
9.26.12
**Update 9.27.12**
Yesterday when I picked up Thomas he was happy and smiling and the teacher made a point to speak to me. She said, “Thomas has been really happy the past 2 days, he’s been participating more in class, choosing more responsibilities, and he even told me today, He likes school.” Choosing what one works on is the Montessori teaching method and he had been struggling with it a bit. I LOVE this as he is learning NOW while he is 6 yrs old how to make choices instead of when he’s 46 and the consequences for “not so good” choices can be much worse! Having said that, he did take one step back today. However, I am still proud of him. Learning that we are in control of our own happiness and getting into the habit of remembering that is hard work …. which I also told him as I tucked him in tonight. I told him I was proud of him. Told him he was so lucky to be learning this now. I explained to him I’m 42 and still working on it … that I had began working on it about 14 years. Told him he’d be a pro at it by the time he was my age!! I tucked a Happy Young Man into bed tonight …..
This article is now part of my inventory in Inspired Living.
I enjoy taking the time to share information with y’all that I think is helpful and give you ideas to live an Inspired Life. So, if you feel this helped you in any way, toss a tip into the tip bowl on the way out of Inspired Living.
If you can’t afford to donate, please feel free to pass this article along to others who might get some help from it. Thank y’all to everyone who has donated and shared in the past. I don’t always get a chance to respond, and the donations, shares and comments are my indicators that what I share is helpful. Thank YOU!
The Happy Virus
Driving to family swim night this past Friday night, Thomas says to me, “I’ve got the Happy Virus“. Then he tells me what that is .. something like you are just so happy with all the stuff that’s going on …. Well, y’all know me! I’m like, What a phrase you just coined Thomas!! That’s it! Team TLC is out to infect as many people as we can with the Happy Virus … watch out y’all. I hear you can get an immunization for it at your local pharmacy; but they are running low … we may just get to you with our Happy Virus before you can get immunized!! ♥ ♥ ♥
This article is now part of my inventory in Inspired Living.
I enjoy taking the time to share information with y’all that I think is helpful and give you ideas to live an Inspired Life. So, if you feel this helped you in any way, toss a tip into the tip bowl on the way out of Inspired Living.
If you can’t afford to donate, please feel free to pass this article along to others who might get some help from it. Thank y’all to everyone who has donated and shared in the past. I don’t always get a chance to respond, and the donations, shares and comments are my indicators that what I share is helpful. Thank YOU!
Creativity and Resourcefulness
As I was driving through my neighborhood on the way home from taking Thomas & Lillian to school this morning I saw one of my neighbors standing in the middle of the street with a bucket and shovel. I slowed down, put my window down and said, “What are you doing?” with a big ole smile. Apparently I missed our wild horse visitors earlier. She said, “I’ve got two more flowers to plant and I’m gonna use this.” I said “What a good idea and that’s so resourceful.” She said, “Well, that’s what we did during the War and after the War too.” (She’s an older gal from Germany.) We chatted for a minute. I smiled and told her to have a great day.
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As I drove home I was thinking …. “And you were letting the worry bug start invading your thoughts ….” Served as a good reminder to give worry the boot and know that we are creative and resourceful people and that anything is possible!!! Here’s to creativity and resourcefulness and to not letting worry block said creativity and resourcefulness y’all!! ♥ ♥ ♥
This article is now part of my inventory in Inspired Living.
The Magic Wand
This morning Lillian, my 10 yr old special needs daughter, was having a serious freak out melt down complete with screaming, crying, pinching and hitting because events were not unfolding as she wanted them to unfold.
After about an hour, she calmed down and told me she needed a hug. I sat with her on the bed and this is what I shared with her, “Did I ever tell you that you have a magic wand? Everyone has a magic wand. Our wands all look different, but we all carry them in the same place. We get to wave our wands and make our day a good or a bad day. We do not control other people or how things happen. However, with our magic wand we can choose whether to be sad and angry about something or we can choose to be sad or upset about it and THEN move on and enjoy our day and be happy. We only get that day one time and if we don’t make the most of it, we will Never get it back. We carry our magic wand with us everywhere we go, it’s always there. Guess where it is?
Right between our ears … Our magic wand is our mind.”After that Lillian had her bath, relaxed and is now enjoying her day. Here’s hoping YOU remember that you have a magic wand with you always too …
(I cannot take credit for the “magic wand” concept as I am reading about this concept right now in a book written for young people titled “Magic of Believing” … Perfect timing, don’t you think?)”
8.16.12
This article is now part of my inventory in Inspired Living.
I enjoy taking the time to share information with y’all that I think is helpful and give you ideas to live an Inspired Life. So, if you feel this helped you in any way, toss a tip into the tip bowl on the way out of Inspired Living.
If you can’t afford to donate, please feel free to pass this article along to others who might get some help from it. Thank y’all to everyone who has donated and shared in the past. I don’t always get a chance to respond, and the donations, shares and comments are my indicators that what I share is helpful. Thank YOU!
Happiness is . . .
Happiness for me is snuggling beside Thomas and talking with him or reading a book with him. Happiness is when he asks to give me a hug and tells me “thank you” for making it better. Happiness is experiencing his excitement and his sense of wonder and awe. Happiness is holding his hand in mine. Happiness is dancing with him. Happiness is over hearing him repeat my shared “words of wisdom” when I least expect it.
Happiness for me is Lillian’s beautiful warm sparkly smile. Happiness is when she exudes pride in her accomplishments. Happiness is touching her beautiful hair. Happiness is sitting next to her and reading. Happiness is her excitement when I pull myself away from the computer and focus on an activity with her. Happiness is her love of books and the library. Happiness is her concern and empathy for others.
Happiness for me is our traditional Team TLC Saturday movie night. Happiness is when Thomas and Lillian show their love for one another. Happiness is seeing Thomas helping Lillian. Happiness is watching the two of them play together. Happiness is a quiet moment with my kids. Happiness is the Team TLC adventures we experience. Happiness is taking pictures of my kids. Happiness is spending time with my Mama and step-father, Frank. Happiness is a warm, hardy, loving hug from a friend. Happiness is spending time with my friends.
Happiness for me is quiet alone time. Happiness is reading my favorite book. Happiness is feeling the sun drench my body in warmth. Happiness is gazing at the moon and stars. Happiness is feeling a light breeze brush across my cheeks. Happiness is nature, the landscape and the peaceful sense of awe I receive from it. Happiness is my comfy slippers. Happiness is making an anonymous kind gesture. Happiness is smiling at others. Happiness is taking pictures of nature. Happiness is the smell of bacon frying in the morning. Happiness is dark chocolate. Happiness is indulging in my favorite foods. Happiness is a good homemade Bloody Mary. Happiness is a taste bud pleasing dark lager. Happiness is a warm, crackling, cozy fire. Happiness is a balmy sandy beach. Happiness is the memory of both my Mammaws, Elnor Downs and Estelle Mann. Happiness is writing. Happiness is sharing my life with others. Happiness is inspiring others.
What is happiness for you? Why not make your own Happiness List . . . it’s good for the soul . . .
This article is now part of my inventory in Inspired Living.
I enjoy taking the time to share information with y’all that I think is helpful and give you ideas to live an Inspired Life. So, if you feel this helped you in any way, toss a tip into the tip bowl on the way out of Inspired Living.
If you can’t afford to donate, please feel free to pass this article along to others who might get some help from it. Thank y’all to everyone who has donated and shared in the past. I don’t always get a chance to respond, and the donations, shares and comments are my indicators that what I share is helpful. Thank YOU!