September 20 2019:
Extra movie night for me: “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”
I watched “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” a few weeks ago so just had to watch this one too!!! I absolutely love and adore the cast in both these movies. Brilliant!!! 💞💞💞
September 20 2019:
Thank you Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities for hosting a Sibshop this afternoon at Renown! Thomas really enjoys getting to take part in these and getting to hang out with other siblings. Deeply meaningful!! Thank you Diana Beeghly Rovetti for all you do to make these happen!
September 14 2019:
Fries and dessert for Lillian. Then a bit of window shopping before heading home.
**THROWBACK POST**
May 21 2012:
Pet store adventures for Thomas. Special adventure for earning his green card today in school!!
Special adventure for Lillian for braving the pet store adventure!!
Praise plate time!! Tooth fairy is coming to visit Lillian tonight for the next to LAST time!!!! And Thomas has had 2 full weeks of good days at school ! YAY!
September 15 2019:
Squirrel and John Muir
Not a strictly true story, but was meant to share the spirit of what might have happened between John Muir and Floy Hutchings when they met in Yosemite in 1868. Muir arrived in Yosemite from San Francisco almost by accident. I love everything I’ve read about John Muir and this was no exception. Thomas and Lillian loved it too!
(Throwback to 2016 when I read aloud to Thomas and Lillian every night before bed)
September 14 2019:
We had another busy day as the 18th Birthday celebrations came to a conclusion. ♥️🌸🌸🌸🎉🎉🎉♥️
Eating cake and donuts and opening gifts. Followed by a quick September 2019 Date Day trip for fries and dessert.
Then back home for the live Facebook celebration. Which was hilarious as we had a lousy connection and had to keep restarting …. Five times!!! Hence, the 5 live videos on my timeline! Ha!
During the video Lillian shared 18 wishes for her 18th Birthday. Here they are ….
1. I wish Macy, Lauren, Kaitlin Baker, and Rebecca could come to Reno, NV.
2. I wish to be able to drink out of a cup/glass without a straw.
3. I wish to be fearless.
4. I wish for infinity art and crafts supplies.
5. I wish for infinity clothing.
6. I wish to be able to travel around the world with my friends and/or by myself.
7. I wish for the Earth to be healthy again.
8. I wish for the Earth not to die.
9. I wish to be less picky.
10. I wish to live with my friends.
11. I wish to be less vulnerable to spicy hot stuff.
12. I wish to have a dream home.
13. I wish to have a dream vehicle.
14. I wish to see Hawaii.
15. I wish to go to Florida.
16. I wish to have infinity photography supplies.
17. I wish to have more friends.
18. I wish to have two beds.
September 14 2019:
Lillian’s 18th Birthday Celebration …. We had a lousy connection so had to keep starting again as our recording ended!! HA! Each one is pretty short!
September 9 2019:
Today’s 18th Birthday Week Adventures … When one turns 18, one needs new fairy wings …. Rose Gold Fairy Wings. One also needs a new sparkling silver star wand.
We also shopped for a store bought cake to take with us to The Romano Duo’s on Wednesday for the birthday celebration there. As we were leaving, the lovely floral person gave Lillian a bright, beautiful, pink carnation. ♥️🌸🌸🌸♥️
September 10 2019:
Today’s 18th Birthday Week Adventure ….
An afternoon walk in her favorite place on her favorite walking trail. 💚🌺🌺🌺💚
September 11 2019:
Today’s 18th Birthday Week Adventure ….
After the usual Wednesday library volunteering, a quick stop in the library garden.
Followed by a birthday dinner at The Romano Duo Casa! Delicious food and birthday goodies! A vanilla confetti cake and a chocolate “cheesecake”.
September 12 2019:
Today’s 18th Birthday Week Adventures ….
A trip to Wilbur May Arboretum followed by a quick stop at Audrey Harris Park and then home for a swim. 🌺💚🌺 It was incredibly beautiful and peaceful.
If I look completely exhausted by the time we have Lillian’s live Facebook party on Saturday, you’ll know why! All for a good cause … You only turn 18 once!
Audrey Harris Park and then Swimming:
September 13 2019:
Today’s 18th Birthday Week Adventures ….
A beautiful and relaxing swim. Tomorrow’s the big day!! Last day as a 17 year old! 💚💦💦💦💚
Now. I must make the chocolate cake for tomorrow!!
September 14 2019:
Lillian’s 18th Birthday Celebration …. We had a lousy connection so had to keep starting again as our recording ended!! HA! Each one is pretty short!
September 14 2019:
We had another busy day as the 18th Birthday celebrations came to a conclusion. ♥️🌸🌸🌸🎉🎉🎉♥️
Eating cake and donuts and opening gifts. Followed by a quick September 2019 Date Day trip for fries and dessert.
Then back home for the live Facebook celebration. Which was hilarious as we had a lousy connection and had to keep restarting …. Five times!!! Hence, the 5 live videos on my timeline! Ha!
During the video Lillian shared 18 wishes for her 18th Birthday. Here they are ….
1. I wish Macy, Lauren, Kaitlin Baker, and Rebecca could come to Reno, NV.
2. I wish to be able to drink out of a cup/glass without a straw.
3. I wish to be fearless.
4. I wish for infinity art and crafts supplies.
5. I wish for infinity clothing.
6. I wish to be able to travel around the world with my friends and/or by myself.
7. I wish for the Earth to be healthy again.
8. I wish for the Earth not to die.
9. I wish to be less picky.
10. I wish to live with my friends.
11. I wish to be less vulnerable to spicy hot stuff.
12. I wish to have a dream home.
13. I wish to have a dream vehicle.
14. I wish to see Hawaii.
15. I wish to go to Florida.
16. I wish to have infinity photography supplies.
17. I wish to have more friends.
18. I wish to have two beds.
September 14 2019:
Team TLC Movie Night: Lillian’s choice – “Frozen” – She has seen it before, but I haven’t. Watching with her for her birthday. 😃
Lillian says, “Good, musical, my favorite character is Elsa, favorite song is “Let it Go”, funny in some parts, liked the story line, and recommend 100%.”
I say, “Better than I thought it would be. I had put it off for years. Ha! Glad I watched it with Lillian.”
Thomas had already seen it years ago with Lillian, so he skipped this time.
September 14 2019:
The Number 18
Today is your 18th Birthday.
Lillian Paige Darnell is 18 years old today.
I can still see you in my mind’s eye
as a wee lil 4 pound sweetheart
as I wondered and dreamed
about your journey to adulthood.
Wow! Did we take giant
twist and turns,
paths less traveled.
Little did I know as I snuggled
you close, sang to you (sorry about that),
and read, read, read to you;
that the number 18 would come
to be a powerful number for you,
for us, in more ways than we could imagine.
When you were 3 years old,
As we sat eating dinner,
As the phone rang,
As the pediatrician delivered
news – 18p- she said,
missing the short arm of
chromosome 18, she said –
that rendered me speechless,
with tears sliding down my face
into a dinner I could no longer eat.
Little did I know at the time
that this was not the horrible
news I assumed it to be.
Oh yes. Life changing, for sure.
Yet, not in the way my mind
led me to believe in those first few weeks.
There is no way on this Earth
I could have foreseen how
life changing this would be for me.
Life changing for me so as to
let you be who you came here to be.
For that to happen unconditionally
and organically, I had much learning to do.
Not just learning about genetics,
chromosomes, DNA,
and the effects of deletions of genes.
That was the small stuff compared to
the enormity of the path that lie ahead.
As you step into adulthood on this day
It is my deepest hope that
I have made more decisions for
the highest good, than not.
It is my deepest hope that the times when I have
remembered to share and be unconditional love
stand out and far outweigh the times when
I have not been at my best.
May the wishes you wish come true.
May the dreams you dream become reality.
May the sunshine light your way ever more.
May the moon teach you it’s secrets.
May the birdsong always sing sweet melodies to your heart.
May you step into adulthood
with iridescent rose gold fairy
wings of the highest and brightest
as you take flight on the next
greatest adventure of your life.
I love you
I honor you
I respect you
I am grateful for all that you
have taught and continue to teach me.
You are You
And You Are Perfect!
Happy Happy Happiest of Birthdays to YOU, Lillian Darnell!
Love,
Camilla
Mom
**THROWBACK POST**
May 13 2015
Thomas’ entry for the Spanish Springs bookmark contest … Simply love, love simply … xoxo
