March 27 2020
Today is your day, Macy Miller. It’s a milestone for you, the wonderful 18th birthday!!
We are incredibly blessed by you and your family. Deeply grateful for your friendship with Lillian.
May all that you dream for yourself take hold and blossom on this beautiful day of your birth.
May you enjoy crossing the bridge into adulthood.
May your heart be warm, sparkling of rainbows.
I’m so happy the Giggling Trio was able to have a three way chat to celebrate!!! We love you!!
March 26 2020
Lillian and Camilla March 2020 Date Day
Ordered soup from Great Full Gardens for me, along with a giant snickerdoodle cookie for Lillian. After picking that up, we grabbed fries for Lillian and headed to have a car picnic, with a lovely view.
**THROWBACK POST**
May 31 2014:
“If everything is possible, isn’t it possible that some things are impossible?” -Thomas ….
This one made me stop … and ponder … Hmmmmmm …. Blessed, blessed, blessed by this young man! xoxo
April 9 2012:
Backyard camping at the Team TLC Casa …. YAY for warm days ….
Later on …. Moved the camping inside … too windy!!
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 …
**THROWBACK POST**
May 29 2013:
Sweet Dreams Spell from the book “A Little Fairy Princess Magic” … Read to Lillian just about every night for about the past 2 years …
“Faires, as I rest in bed, bring sweet dreams into my head, keep me safe and guard the door, bring tales of happiness forever more. As I close my eyes and fall asleep, bring magical memories for me to keep. Fairies, as I rest in bed bring sweet dreams into my head.”
Sweet dreams to all y’all tonight. Gonna review my talk for tomorrow to a group of UNR undergrad med students from a parent’s perspective (of being parent to a child with special needs) and then I’m off to dream land!
May 28 2013:
“Mom, can I clean the stove?” -Thomas …. Sure Thomas! I love it when he asks me this!!
**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!!!
February 16 2020:
Quick drive to Washoe Lake. Thank you Mother Nature for the soothing medicine. My entire body and soul relaxed deeply in your loving embrace.
It was a struggle to get Lillian to leave the house. It was a struggle to get her out of the car. I pray nature helped her, at least a little bit. Deeply grateful this beautiful lake is only about a 15 minute drive away. 🙏♥️♥️♥️🙏
February 20 2020:
Lillian left yesterday afternoon to spend a couple of days with The Romano Duo. A much needed break for both of us. Hope you’re having fun, Lillian!! 🎉🎉🎉
Thomas and I are just back from an hour long walk. Incredibly beautiful and peaceful …. Well, except for the million questions from Thomas.
From the moment he could talk he’s asked one question after another after another. He’s still at it. The questions have gotten harder to answer though!
When he was about 4 or 5 years old, my mom asked me how on Earth I answered all of his questions. I told her I just answered the most recent one. He literally used to ask a string of questions all at once! What a heart warming memory to have popped up! 💜💜💜
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.
February 13 2020
Lillian and Camilla February 2020 Date Day
First stop was for fries to share, a butterfly cookie for Lillian, and giant vegan ginger cookie for me.
Second stop was a beautiful walk, with a final stop for a bit of window shopping. xoxo
I deeply appreciate all the love being sent Lillian’s (our) way. It may look like all is well in these photos. Yet, the struggle continues. Tomorrow will be one week out from me ruining her life (as she sees it), one week out from me making a decision in the best interest of her mental and physical safety. Things are definitely better than last Friday. Yet, it’s slow going.
Deeply proud of Thomas throughout this entire ordeal. A younger sibling who stepped into the role of an older sibling this past week. As much as I tried not to have the maddening aspect of this, along with the sadness of this situation leak out of my eyes and heart to him, it happened. And he comforted me. Thank you Thomas. I love you.
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! 😜😂