A Lovely and Magical Book – Curled Up With a Good Book – Where Would You Fly

Posted on April 10, 2020 by Camilla

March 6 2020

Thank you to Michelle of Curled Up With a Good Book for the lovely review of Lillian’s book … We are deeply grateful!! xoxo

“This is a lovely and magical book, full of wonderful short stories where you can let your imagination drift and enter the unique world of Lillian. A collection of stories and poems written by Lillian throughout her life, will transport you to new enchanted and magical worlds, full of colour, rainbows and happy endings. The photos and drawings of Lillian are an added beautiful touch.

Personally my favourite bit about this book was the section on Emotions and Feelings. Camilla (Lillian’s Mum) explains at the beginning of the book that this section was born from them working together to understand and process emotions and from that, Lillian produced “Emotions with Animals”. There is a lot both children and adults alike can learn from this section and it really resonated with me, and how I try to live my life. Each mini story talks about a different animal and emotion, for example ‘Calm Monarch Butterflies’ and then there is Lillian’s summary of ‘How To’ (e.g How To Be Calm). There is some fantastic advice in this, and every single one of us could learn something!

Throughout the book there is a mix of short stories (fairies & princesses, legends, tales & adventures), poems and songs – each with their own unique tale to tell. This book is adorable and inspirational, and if nothing else will make you smile. We all love a wonderful and happy story, and Lillian certainly delivers this along with plenty of inspiration and a touch of magic ….”

https://curledupwithagoodbook.co.uk/book-review-where-would-you-fly-lillian-darnell/?fbclid=IwAR1gqkB45uE90GIZta2m-DYCbY618hMhq41w4o831dGeKE_O_8oP_Y3mUag

Book Readings – Words of Alchemy or Where Would You Fly or Biggest Little Photographer

Posted on April 9, 2020 by Camilla

March 15 2020

Book Lovers …. Anyone self isolating or in quarantine …. You can schedule a free reading from any of our books, with the latest being, Words of Alchemy. I get on the phone or other modality with you for 15 minutes or so, I read a few passages, and then we can chat about it if you like.

Sending much love out to all … xoxo … Follow this link to book your reading .. https://camilladowns.youcanbook.me/ …. And this link to see if any of the books interest you … https://camilladowns.com/books/ … Feel free to share this with all your connections …

New Tires With Micro Green Love and a Well Loved Bookmark

Posted on April 9, 2020 by Camilla

March 3 2020:

Isn’t it pretty? Four brand new tires. Thank goodness! Rosey has needed them since November. Yay!!! 🥳🥳🥳

March 4 2020

This little micro green jumped out of the pile to show me some love. 💚💚

March 4 2020

Lillian says she’s finished with this bookmark. 😜She uses a bookmark for years, having me tape it with packing tape several times. This one finally reached the point of no return. 🤣

Thanks for Noticing

Posted on April 6, 2020 by Camilla

February 29 2020

When Thomas and Lillian were younger, this was a much discussed topic in our house. They still tell me I’m weird and crazy. I tell them, “Thanks for noticing.” 😜🤣

“My kids are starting to notice I’m a little different from the other dads. ‘Why don’t you have a straight job like everyone else?’ they asked me the other day.

I told them this story:

In the forest, there was a crooked tree and a straight tree. Every day, the straight tree would say to the crooked tree, ‘Look at me…I’m tall, and I’m straight, and I’m handsome. Look at you…you’re all crooked and bent over. No one wants to look at you.’ And they grew up in that forest together. And then one day the loggers came, and they saw the crooked tree and the straight tree, and they said, ‘Just cut the straight trees and leave the rest.’So the loggers turned all the straight trees into lumber and toothpicks and paper. And the crooked tree is still there, growing stronger and stranger every day.” Tom Waits

For Emarie Peters – We Are Family

Posted on April 5, 2020 by Camilla

February 29 2020

For Emarie … Wearing purple, red, and blue … blowing bubbles ….We love our Chromosome 18 family, we love you Emarie, we love you Peters family. I was lucky enough to catch a heart shaped bubble!! Perfect!! Strong winds made it a short celebration for you. Yet, that is perfect. As you were one strong human. Much power was packed within your tiny body. 💜💜💜💙💙💙 #WeAreFamily 💙💙💙💜💜💜

Photos of Emarie and her mom and dad from the Different iz Good archives …

Celebration Time – I’m Still Standing

Posted on April 4, 2020 by Camilla

February 28 2020

Tonight we celebrate (with sparkling pink lemonade)! After 8 years, a chapter of our lives full of struggle and worry has come to an end.

That’s one long da** chapter! Hallelujah, Wahooooo, YES!!, WooooHoooo …. And, I’m Still Standing … I pray to never relive that chapter …

(And, check out that cloud from a couple of hours ago. Will share more photos of that beauty later.)

Throwback Post: Good to Hear from You and Dinner With The Romano Duo

Posted on April 3, 2020 by Camilla

**THROWBACK POST**

May 28 2015

I’ve mentioned in the past that Lillian likes to email the authors of books she reads to let them know she liked the book. She’s also writing book recommendation posts on her blog and listing every book she reads!

She almost always gets a response, and I was moved by this latest response .. “Hi, Lillian,
So good to hear from you! Your website and posts are amazing! Good for you to read and write and to share your messages with the world.

I have a new book that just came out. It’s called BAYOU MAGIC. Before SUGAR I wrote NINTH WARD.

I love fairies and I love Salt Lake, too. I’ve been to Salt Lake twice.

Happy reading and thank you for contacting me.

Sincerely,
Jewell

Dr. Jewell Parker Rhodes
Founding Artistic Director, Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing
Piper Endowed Chair
Professor of Creative Writing & American Literature
Affiliate, Center for Film, Media and Popular Culture”

May 28 2012:

We eat sooooooooo GOOD when those Romano peeps are here!!!! Yuuuuuuummmmmmmyyyyyyy!!!

Nearly Done with the Lillian Turned 18 Buried in Paperwork Palooza

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Camilla

February 19 2020:

Another one down, one more to go for the Lillian-turned-18-buried-in-paperwork-palooza. Power of Attorney for financial matters signed and notarized this afternoon. Last one is the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions and End of Life Decisions. I need to discuss this one with Lillian more to make sure she understands it all. And, just a fun photo from happier times for us … Book signing for Lillian in June 2019 at Barnes & Noble.

Feelings of Relief and Winning at Life

Posted on March 26, 2020 by Camilla

February 12 2020

Paperwork (loads of it) turned in for Lillian’s Age 18 Redetermination for SSI … Another one done! Only had to wait about 2 hours just to turn in paperwork (I wanted a date stamp on it as I’ve had things get “lost” before.) Wahooo!!! A beautiful photo to match the feeling of relief … Ahhhhh ….

Winning at life! Just took a really long, hot shower, turned the water off, and thought, “Um, I don’t think you actually used any soap, girl! You just stood there under the running water!” Winning = I realized it BEFORE I dried off and got out! Wahooo! 😜😂

Throwback Post: Smiling Bread and Glad to Still Be A Kid

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Camilla

**THROWBACK POST**

May 27 2014:

I was making Lillian’s lunch for tomorrow and her beautiful bread gave me a wink and a little crooked smile ….. I love being open to kindness, happiness and love coming at me from any one or any thing! HA! ♡