September 1 2018:
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
The story of William Kamkwamba. The people in the village called him crazy, but he knew he could succeed at bringing electricity and running water to his desperately poor village in Malawi Africa. Incredible story of determination and following one’s heart!
August 27 2018:
Sunset walk with The Romano Duo. So beautiful and with a light breeze. Ahhhhhh … Good stuff!
August 28 2018:
Solo sunset walk for me. Bright, beautiful, and, oh so peaceful.
August 30 2018:
Sunset walk with Thomas tonight. Such an incredibly beautiful and amazing Nature show. Deeply grateful for Mother Nature. 🙏💙💚💦🌏🌏💦💚💙🙏
We volunteered at The Humane Society this afternoon. It’s been a while since we’ve been able to go and Thomas was excited to go for a visit!
August 26 2018:
Not normally my style of music. yet, Lillian shared this with me as she finds it deeply inspiring. Once I listened to the words; I, too, find it deeply inspiring. Dream, See, Write, Live Your Story … These are the etchings of my heart and listening to this song has awakened those etchings even more … May you enjoy …. xoxo
August 29 2018:
Lillian got to spend the night with The Romano Duo last at GSR!! What a Diva!!! She loved the pool!! Now she’s off shopping for a birthday gift.
August 19 2018:
Thomas and I had a sunset session of hitting tennis balls at one of our favorite parks. Just gorgeous. We had fun!!!
Grateful to and for Nature!! Blessed, blessed, blessed. I love Thomas and Thomas is awesome!!
August 20 2018:
Great White Egret on this mornings walk. Thank you for your wisdom and beauty.
August 21 2018:
Just passed sunset walk with Lillian last night. Beautiful, vibrant, and peaceful.
August 22 2018:
Drive by visit with The Romano Duo. Had to have a walk with them as it is such a beautiful night. They head for Medford, Oregon in the morning. Then back through Reno next week.
September 13 2018:
A powdered donut celebration to end Lillian’s last day as a 16 year old. Complete with a heart shape donut middle!
We each took turns sharing a wee bit about Lillian’s 16th year and then had a donut toast!!
One gluten free chocolate cake with coconut sugar cream cheese frosting ready for tomorrow! Yum!
Lillian says she can already feel her 17 year old self coming through! 🎉💞💞💞🎉
September 14 2018:
My Dearest Lillian,
I wish for you the happiest of birthdays.
I wish for you a joyful and peaceful 17th trip around the sun.
I wish for you all the experiences
That your heart desires.
Walks with you, I truly treasure.
Creating art with you, I truly Treasure.
Laughing and being silly with You, I truly treasure.
May strength, courage, peace and kindness be with you Always and forever ….
As will my Love.
I Love You!! Camilla
Mom
xoxo
(Message in Lillian’s birthday card)
My Dearest Lillian Darnell,
I am incredibly happy for you with how far you’ve come in your life. From those wee itty bitty 4 pounds and 5 ounces to the mighty powerful creator you have grown into …. Grown into physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Your Knowing of what you want to experience in your life and letting that be Known are incredibly inspiring to me. You Know that you want to continue to write and create more stories and books. You Know that you want to travel and write about that also.
I am deeply sorry that I’m not able to facilitate the traveling portion of your Knowing. I know that both you and Thomas wish to travel more than our once a year trip to the annual Chromosome 18 conference. I, too, vision us traveling to the beautiful places we’ve all taken the time to list. We shall have this as our Team TLC goal. We shall get to this place eventually. I Know we will.
You have come great lengths in recognizing when your emotions have flared and I’m grateful that you tell me afterwards that something I did or said or a conversation we had caused you to get emotional. Noticing this is THE most important aspect of learning how to process emotions! What a GREAT accomplishment!!
I cannot wait to be a part of your 17th trip around the Sun. I look forward to this exciting time and am ever grateful that you and I chose one another for this grand adventure!!
Love you forever and always and throughout all times and dimensions,
Camilla
Mom
xoxo
September 14 2018:
The celebrations began this morning with The gifts and The Cake!
Happy 17th Birthday to Lillian!!
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For Lillian’s birthday this year, she asked for donations equaling $204 as she will be 204 months old (17 years), to The Chromosome 18 Registry & Research Society. She chose this nonprofit because their mission means a lot to her, and she hopes you’ll consider contributing as a way to celebrate with me. Every little bit will help me reach my goal.
(Group photo from the 2018 Chromosome 18 Conference in Baltimore, Maryland)
Lillian raised $265!! Go Lillian!!
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September 15 2018:
Yesterday was the Lillian and Camilla September 2018 Date Day and Celebrating Lillian’s 17th Birthday.
After presents and cake we visited Rancho San Rafael and the Wilbur May Arboretum!!
The sky, trees, flowers, and grounds were simply breathtaking!! I love you trees! Where do I begin and the tree end? Tree! Oh, how I love thee?
September 14 2018:
Following the park beauty it was time for fries and dessert! Vegan ginger cookie for me and lemon shortbread sandwich cookie for Lillian!
Last two stops! Shopping after dinner for a new pair of sunglasses for Lillian. And then soaking our feet in the pool and hot tub!! Ahhhhh …. That felt amazing!
August 21 2018:
Water balloons at the park!! Beautiful and fun night!
August 25 2018:
Team TLC Movie Night: Lillian’s choice – Second time around for this one as Lillian wanted to see it again. “Bedtime Stories”
Lillian says, “Good, musical, suspenseful, like a few of the songs, like the moral and theme, my favorite character is Diane, and I recommend the book.”
I say, “Don’t stop believing!”
Thomas says, “I like it a lot. It’s a good movie.”
August 25 2018:
Beyond Magenta
About 3 months ago I discovered that I was deeply ignorant concerning a segment of the human population, the ones with whom I walk this Earth. This is but one of the many books I have been reading.
Somewhere along the way as a child I learned to fear and judge that which I did not understand or that which is different than I or those close to me.
As a middle aged adult I have finally unlearned that lesson and now seek to understand and learn about that which I do not understand. Understand and learn from the Heart and not the brain.
Not to say that knowledge of the brain is not useful. This knowledge has served me well so that I may serve others. Yet, there is also “knowledge” gained by way of lessons and observations in childhood that have served to my True Self’s detriment.
I am not always able to take the time to “educate” myself about people or situations that I do not understand or that I fear. Yet, there are times that the urge is so incredibly compelling that I must “educate” myself from the Heart. This was one of those times.
August 24 2018:
Gorgeous afternoon spent at Nevada Beach.
First, a picnic, then a swim for me and playing in the sand for Thomas. I Love Lake Tahoe deeply and am so at peace when I get the chance to immerse in her! Just WOW!!!
Then for some floating fun in the tubes we borrowed yesterday. Too windy for kayaking as this would have been our first time. Need not quite so much wind. Floating and paddling in the tubes was perfect!!
Plus!!! Chipmunk wisdom!!! This sweet lil critter stayed with us the entire time we were deflating the tubes and loading the car. Thank you chipmunk!!!
Last stop on the date – SouthCreek Pizza for an appetizer for me of fire roasted green beans ….. Oh my gosh, YUM!!! … and dessert for Thomas of 3 scoops of rocky road gelato. Accompanied by a taste of the oh so yummy Ceci.
August 24 2018:
Thomas and I had a date day today at Nevada Beach. We ate our lunch underneath this tree and as we were packing up to leave I said, “I LOVE this tree!”
Thomas: “That was kind of fast. You just met.”
Me: “It was Love at first sight!”