December 13, 2018:
Lillian and Camilla December 2018 Date Day …
First, French fries for Lillian! Followed by a vegan dark chocolate cupcake for me and a fancy blue shortbread cookie for her. 💞💞💞
Next, window shopping … Essential oils, beautiful soaps, and gorgeous flowers!
Last, picture fun with a huge Christmas tree along with a huge matching fire pit!!!
November 26 2018:
Lillian and Camilla November 2018 Date Day …. First stop – Fries and a huge shortbread cookie for Lillian. Vegan cupcake for me. 🧡
Second stop: Window shopping to see how many sparkly beauties we could find.
Last stop: A Beautiful sunset walk where Lillian reminded me how years ago I used to make hearts and write messages in the sand. Thanks for the reminder Lillian!
October 12 2018:
Lillian Darnell and Camilla October 2018 Date Day
First stop: Picking up my lunch to go from Great Full Gardens South Meadows Reno and then to get fries for Lillian and dessert for both of us.
Half a Veghead sandwich with a side of slaw and fresh brewed Kombucha for me. First time having the Veghead sandwich. Incredibly delicious!! And first time for the Kombucha. Yum!!!!
Dessert of vegan chocolate raspberry muffin for me and pumpkin shortbread cookie for Lillian. 🎃🧡🧡🧡🎃
Second stop: Lillian has been wanting a couple of craft pumpkins. So, she spent some of her birthday money on just that!
Last stop: A walk at one of our favorite places. Incredibly beautiful!! And we took more shadow photos than nature photos this time!!
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!
July 26 2018:
Lillian and Camilla July 2018 Date Day
First stop: Fries for Lillian and a beautiful purple flower shortbread cookie for Lillian and a vegan oatmeal and date cookie for me. That was one darn good cookie!!
Second stop: Lillian absolutely LOVES decorative throw pillows. So we spent about 30 minutes ooh’ing and aah’ing over the shiny, sparkly, and oh so soft pillows.
Third stop: A special feature of one of Lillian’s most favorite movies: “Barbie and the Diamond Castle” in the lodge theater. We’ve been watching this ever since Lillian was about 5 years old so I’m sure we’ve seen it at least 109 times!
We would have loved to have a walk at one of our favorite places; yet, just too hot!! Perhaps later tonight! xoxo
Ended the date with a sunset walk. Just beautiful!
June 18 2018:
Lillian and Camilla June 2018 Date Day ….. First stop. Fries for Lillian followed by a beautiful butterfly cookie. Vegan apple carrot muffin for me followed by dark chocolate covered pretzel. Yum!!!!!
Second stop. Geiger Way Lookout to watch the sun set. 💛💛💛
Last stop. A moonlight swim and soak in the hot tub. Ahhhhhhh ….. 💦💙💦💙💦💙
Just what this banged up body needed! Between this and the amazing homemade salve Carolyn R Smith brought me today; I’m feeling so much better.
May 22 2018:
Lillian and Camilla May 2018 Date Day
First stop – French fries for Lillian and dessert cookies for both of us. Lillian is such a Star! A lady waiting to order commented she had seen us on TV. She was incredibly kind with so many wonderful comments. Then for a walk at one of our favorite parks. Beautiful bird song too!!!!
March 29 2018:
Lillian Darnell and Camilla March 2018 Date Day – 1st stop:
Lunch and dessert – Parmesan fries for Lillian followed by a yummy iced shortbread bunny cookie!
Roasted potato and garlic pasta for me followed by a vegan gingerbread cookie! That potato was delicious!! And the gingerbread cookie was the perfect sweet and spicy treat to follow the garlic pasta. Sigh!! Yum!!
Next: Smelling yummy soaps. Lavender mint and coconut milk. Smelled incredibly delicious!!
Last stop: One of our favorite parks. Reading first with this amazing view and then going for a beautiful walk.
What beautiful sounds …
December 14 2017:
Lillian and Camilla December 2017 Date Day –
Lunch of mushroom pizza slice for me and Parmesan fries for Lillian. Dessert was an amazing pistachio mochi for me and a gingerbread bar for Lillian.
Then … one of my least favorite things to do – window shopping. Yet, for her and with her, yes, please. Had fun looking at calendars and ornaments.
Ended our date with a short twilight walk around the lake. Loved ending with this as we looked at the stars and enjoyed Christmas lights. Yes, please. I’ll have more. Thank you!!
