Device Free - Week of Aug.31st

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” ~Buddha

Whenever something new and unique can be experienced, it's always a bonus when it can be shared with others.  

Wednesday evening, Cam and his mom were invited to the Sweet Nectar Shop in Ada for a candle-making class with friends. The experience began by Cam and his buddies selecting their favorite vessel for the candle from their collection of designs. Next up was the wick being placed.

The fragrance choice was the hardest decision!  They use only 100% natural soy wax and premium fragrance oils that are free from phthalates, Proposition 65-listed ingredients, organ toxins, and acute toxins. Every candle is vegan, cruelty-free, and crafted using the highest ingredient standards for a clean, beautiful burn.

After pouring the wax and adding the chosen fragrance, the candle cures for approximately three hours before it's ready for pickup. 

Thursday was a rainy day as was evident when Cam left his Transition Center program that afternoon. That evening, Ms. Ann arrived to have some time with her buddy while Chris and Jane were off to see "The Odyssey" movie in the IMAX theater.  Celebration Cinema Grand Rapids North is one of only 40 theaters on the planet that is capable of projecting a movie on a real, full frame IMAX 70MM film.

Friday was a day off from work and school programs.  

We picked up Oma in Grand Haven and made our way to the cottage for the next three nights!  

The sunset that evening was so colorful.  It truly mimicked Cam's unique candle creation we had picked up that afternoon.

Saturday was windy on the beach and the flies bothered us a bit, but it was still mostly sunny.  Early in the evening, we gathered with cousins to share a meal.  Cousin David had flown in from Texas and Cam was eager to update him on all of the happenings.

David was able to meet our newest cousin.  Jane and her son had their turn hanging out with the latest addition as well.  

Our dinner of homemade carbonara, garlic bread and fresh fruit was so delicious.  However, the dessert was the shining star- homemade tiramisu!  

Sunday was one of our best beach days 😎

We all had some time in Lake Michigan with the water temps in the mid 70s.

The shade tent offered some relief for everyone and always leads to funny conversations.  We were so happy Oma was there with us to enjoy the sun and fun.  We even saw the coast guard helicopter go by.

The time together always seems to go by so quickly.  Labor Day weekend is our unofficial farewell to summer. Hopefully, we will have a few more outings to our Lake Michigan shoreline before the drastic change of seasons.

Camology Quotes:

Sunday morning, the sun was already shining. Cam surprised everyone when he made a special request to head out on the porch solo.  

Jane offered to attach his desk and iPad so he could entertain himself.  

His immediate response:

"No thanks. I want to go Device-Free!"

Making a Transition - Week of Aug. 24th

"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality." ~Lao Tzu 

A transition is defined as the process or period of changing from one state, form, or condition to another.  

Alan Watts is quoted as saying "The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." 

Wednesday marked the beginning of a new chapter for Cam.

He woke up at 5:45am ready to attend his first day of a new program in his continuing education.

The Forest Hills Transition Center is a supportive, student-centered program designed for young adults with developmental disabilities who are preparing for life after high school. The goal is to help students build the skills and confidence they need to move toward greater independence at home, in the community, and in the workplace once school-based services are complete. The Transition Center program serves students up to age 26.  

It was an eventful first day for Cam settling in.  

After he arrived home, we were on way northward to see cousins visiting from the east coast and have dinner together.  It was a beautiful evening.  Our grilled meal tasted like summer.  Everyone was excited to hear about Cam's first day of continuing ed.

Friday marked another first for Cameron.

We had tickets to see a concert at Fredrick Meijer Gardens outdoor amphitheater.  This was Cam's inaugural experience at the outside venue.  Chris was dropped off first to secure the location for viewing, since it is first come, first served.  Jane and her son arrived about 30 minutes later.

The artist, Myles Smith, is newer to the music scene and is best known for his 2024 hits, Stargazing and Nice to Meet You.  He's 28 years old and taught himself to play guitar and piano and started performing at the age of 12.  He holds a degree in sociology but has said that music is his passion.  In 2025, he was an opening act for Ed Sheeran.

Cam was a little hesitant about the experience, wondering if it would be too loud.  When the first singer appeared, the excitement grew and Cam's concerns were all removed.  The concert began at 7pm and didn't finish until after 9:30p.  The energy was electric and Myles Smith had a sold out show!

We remained until the very end.  The only disappointment for the concert newbie was how crazy it was trying to exit the parking lot.  Cam decided that some of the other drivers were not being nice and he called out some rude ones from his vantage point in our van.

Our trip north for the weekend was relaxing.  Once again, we shared dinner with our extended family and friends.  Our beach time was not as long as we had hoped, but even a bit of time is better than zero time! 

Camology Quotes:

On Tuesday evening, we were invited to an open house at the Transition Center.  Upon arrival, Cam was recognized by one of the teachers his mom didn't know.  It turns out, that teach was a summer session instructor many years ago.  Cam later relayed to his parents that evening:

"It always pays off knowing a teacher even if it's just for a very short time!"

Just Nineteen, You Know What I Mean - Week of Aug. 17th

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” ~Robert Brault

You only have one birthday per year.  Nowhere does it say you have to celebrate it on a single day. 

Monday was Cameron's official birthday!  His request was to celebrate with his parents, grandma and cousins.  He opened presents from Chris and Jane and Oma before heading out.

Late in the afternoon, we packed up Cam's bday dinner along with three mini ice cream cakes of his choosing from Cold Stone Creamery.  

It was a beautiful evening to share a meal, sing the traditional birthday song and sample delicious desserts!  When it was time for our crew to drive back to GR, the cousins made certain Cam's chair was locked in safely in the van.

Wednesday's mail brought a special gift from Grandma Sue.  The Amazon card allowed him to purchase a new magnetic shirt which is a personal favorite.

Cam and his dad drove Oma back to her home that day.  On their journey, they encountered the drawbridge raised going into Grand Haven.  

Although it adds a bit of time to the trip, it's always cool to see the mechanics of the process to raise and lower the enormous structure.

Another surprise arrived in the mail from Auntie Leslie.  

She always tells Cam that his laughter is one of his most special qualities.  When the two of them crack each other up, it definitely results in hilarity every time.  

The t-shirt Leslie sent says "Chicken Game- Don't Look at the Chicken...*picture of a chicken with 'Game Over' written'" 😁

One last birthday surprise awaited Cam on Friday.  He and his best bud, Brody, wanted to share a Culver's lunch before starting their extended schooling year at the Transition Center.  

Brody's mom graciously picked up a meal for them both.  

Cameron's request of cod and pretzel bites was fairly unique.  

The buddies shared some stories and laughter.  Brody wrote out a very nice birthday card for Cam and gave him a Culver's gift card!  

We drove up to the cottage both Saturday and Sunday.  On Saturday afternoon, we were preparing for cousins to stay for the following week.  

Sunday was our beach day with family.  

Even though it was incredibly windy, the sunshine found a way to warm us all.  

Cam's beach chair made it possible for some time in the lake.  

Once again, we shared an outdoor meal with our cousins before making our way back home.

The multiple trips were well worth the time spent since we only see some of our extended family one time during the year.

As summer continues to inch closer to it's ending, the memories outweigh everything else.

Cam successfully found a way to celebrate his birthday almost every day this week!

Camology Quotes:

Corny jokes (or "dad jokes") are typically attempted by Cam as well as Chris.  Cam even tries to rate his own jokes on occasion.

"When you go to the dentist to get your teeth cleaned, he gives your teeth wisdom! That's a kneeslapper, ha ha!"

Making A Tradition - Week of Aug. 10th

"Today's random idea is tomorrow's cherished family tradition." ~Anonymous 

The word tradition comes from the Latin traditio, meaning "a handing over" or "a passing down," which in turn comes from tradere meaning "to hand over, deliver, or transmit."

We have come to realize that Cameron loves tradition.  The expected is a bonus for him and the knowledge of a positive experience happening again and again is a huge plus.

The time spent in North Carolina is the beginning of a new tradition for us.  It is the only "Cam-accessible" home we have ever stayed in since we typically need to book a hotel reservation to have the space and accommodations required. Our return trip from North Carolina on Monday was met with a surprise at the end of our driveway.  During our time away, excessive rain had pushed all of our driveway rocks to the very end.  Cam and his dad were on clean-up duty Tuesday morning gathering all the small stones.  Despite the arduous task, we received amazing news late in the afternoon which cemented yet another tradition...

One of our cousins, who has always been like a sibling, was due with her fourth child during our time in N.C. We've met each of her babies within a day of their birth.  

Thankfully, we were back in Michigan for the arrival and surprise gender reveal.  

Less than 24 hours after the birth, we made our way north to meet the new addition.  Tradition secured...

We were fairly shocked to learn she had a girl.  

The bigger news, though, was that they chose to name her after Cam's mom!

Saturday morning, Chris and his son were off to pick up a lawnmower part at an authorized John Deere dealer.  While they were there, they explained how the lawnmower is converted into a snowblower in the winter to clean off the long driveway so Cam can make his journey down for his bus ride.  The guy they were chatting with decided Cam needed a John Deere hat so he'd remember their store.

Oma joined our family on Sunday afternoon to stay with us for a few days.  In the early evening, we welcomed our friends Matt and Jill for a shared dinner.  Cam's grandma was happy to be there for the occasion.  One additional guest was Jill's service dog, Tarzan.  When Tarz isn't wearing his "working vest" he is allowed to receive attention from everyone.  Matt and Jill both presented Cam with Culver's-inspired gifts- the Culver's soccer ball, the burger mascot and gift card.

We created a mini celebration for Cam's bday one day early! 

Our traditions are growing in number and the common theme is the shared experiences with our family and friends.  

We challenge you to start a new tradition too!

Camology Quotes:

As technology continues to evolve in our household, father and son recently enhanced our home assistant app so that Cam could control the opening and closing of the garage door from his iPad.

"I can control the garage now, Mom. You won't need to do anything!"

*Chris comment: "he is my new automation and is doing a much better job than my A.I."

Road Tripping - Week of Aug. 3rd

"A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles." ~Tim Cahill

We met Ms. Michelle in the summer of 2015 when she was added to our Cam Care team.  Eleven years later, we still connect with her in person at least once a year.  In Cam's graduation book, her entry reads: "The question is.. how has CAM NOT affected my life! Cam has taught me unconditional love, sacrifice, persistence, not to give up!! There is always another way to do something! Kindness is a beautiful gift! There is an invention that can solve many problems! Cam always knows what's going on! Follow his instincts! Laughing is a choice and contagious! From the beginning Cam knew his summer would be fun and I knew God sent me an angel along with Jane and Chris!! Forever blessed to be a part of your family...."  We were so happy to see Michelle on Monday in between her mission trips.  She brought Cam some graduation balloons and candy from Latvia, along with the best hugs!

Tuesday night, our van was packed up in anticipation of our early morning.  At 5:30am on Wednesday, we pulled out of the driveway.  Our destination: Mills River, North Carolina, just southwest of Asheville.  Jane's best friend from grade school, Leslie, along with her husband Wes live in a Cam-accessible home nestled in the mountains.  Our 11+hour journey was fairly smooth.  The sunrise was beautiful and we made our inaugural stop at a Buc-ee's travel center.  It was quite overwhelming and definitely lives up to its reputation for being the 
largest convenience store for travelers.  

We arrived in Mills River at dinnertime, thankful for a safe journey and comfortable beds.  During our stay, Cam and his parents have the entire lower level of the Les and Wes homestead.  The mountain views are incredible and the "swimming" hot tub made for a most relaxing Thursday for us all.  Their two cats, Earl and Sterling, are great entertainment and even joined the guys on a stroll down the road. Auntie Leslie had a great idea to use a float for Cam in the hot tub and it worked perfectly for him allowing his muscles to relax.

A big bonus for us all was the arrival of Leslie's daughters that evening.  Ali and husband Daree arrived first, followed by Erin.  

For our Friday activity, Wes had borrowed his brother's pontoon boat and jet skis so we could all enjoy a lake day.  Wes's brother, Gary, joined us to assist with transporting all of the gear.  We had to laugh because the forecast provided a few days prior called for lots of rain.  It turned out to be the perfect boating day.  The inland lake was beautiful and the water was warm and refreshing.  The biggest bonus was that Cam's power wheelchair made it on board without any issues!

A family barbeque was planned for Saturday.  Wes's daughter, Mackenzie, and her family along with Leslie's mom, her sister and family all arrived in the afternoon.  Wes smoked pork all day and we had a literal feast.  Jane transported one of their homemade apple pies from Michigan and baked it for dessert. Then, we played a most hilarious game that Erin introduced us to.  Fishbowl is a popular group communication game that only requires pieces of paper, pencils and a couple of bowls.  The moderator calls out a question and everyone writes an answer on the piece of paper provided and adds it into the fishbowl.  Then, the moderator reads all of the answers and each player has an opportunity to guess which answer was written by each individual playing the game.  The age range of 18-88 years made for a most hilarious outcome.

Sunday was our final full day in North Carolina.
Every morning, the clouds seem to hang on the mountains until the warm air lifts them away.  It is a spectacular view.

On this day, Cam's parents celebrated 23 years of marriage.  Originally, our group was going to commemorate the event by going to Sierra Nevada for dinner.  We were so relaxed, though, that ordering pizza seemed to be a much better option.  The best part of vacation is being flexible and going with the flow.  

And to make it all even more special was the fact that Cam insisted on paying with his own credit card!

Camology Quotes:

Upon arrival in North Carolina, we told Cam that he was a much better road tripper than his parents that day.  He was way more patient than his folks and at one point when his mom and dad were exasperated with technology, he rightfully asked:

"Parents, are you ok?!" (which thankfully led to laughter for everyone!)

Sports Camp for Wheelies - Week of July 27th

“The power of the group: we all want to feel a sense of belonging. This isn't a character flaw. It's fundamental to the human experience.” ~Rosalind Wiseman

Monday marked the start of Sports Camp for Cam.  It also signified the last year he could participate due to his age.

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital's Jr. Wheelchair Sports Camp is one of the longest running adaptive sports camp in the United States and has been a major part of the Grand Rapids community for more than four decades! The camp is hosted at Grand Valley State University and allows kids age 7-18 to participate.  Campers engage in activities such as wheelchair basketball, tennis, handcycling, kayaking, lacrosse, pickleball and other adaptive sports.

The Mary Free Bed (MFB) photographers are there all week to snap pictures and post them in an online gallery...we appreciate this so very much!  

Tuesday was Cam's kayaking day.  His favorite nurse, Morgan, accompanied him on the journey around the lake.

The group picture was taken on Wednesday.  Cam's parents attended their first concert at the new Acrisure Amphitheater. Chris surprised Jane with VIP seats and they both highly recommend the experience!

Thursday is one of the best days for the "wheelies" because the Allendale Fire Department arrives in the afternoon.  A water fight ensues between the firemen and firewomen as everyone gets completely drenched!  Thankfully, it was a beautiful day with sunshine in full force.

Friday marked the final day for the Sports Camp.  After morning activities, a luncheon followed by a short ceremony and award certificates closed out the successful week.  Although Cameron knows it was his final session, he was happy for the opportunity to be a part of it all.

Friday evening, our family was at the cottage together until Saturday afternoon. The weather wasn't too cooperative during our stay.  Cam's grandma and mom were able to enjoy a nice sunset together Thursday evening.

For our early Sunday dinner, we met up with our good friends, Matt and Jill.  Cam had never been to Pietro's and it is a local Italian favorite in Grand Rapids.  He especially enjoyed the warm homemade bread that was brought to the table immediately and complemented with olive oil and spices for dipping.  Any time food is presented asap, the rating rises accordingly for Cam!

Camology Quotes:

Cam will typically take note of the cost of the things. During a recent shopping trip to Costco, there was a gigantic Guess Who game.  He noticed the high price associated and commented to his dad:

"Um, that is a bit extreme!"

Beach Time - Week of July 20th

 "At the beach, time you enjoyed wasting is not wasted." ~T.S. Eliot

Cam's former teacher, Miss Kathy, once commented that "Some people collect things.  Cam collects people."  This statement has become more true with each passing year. The older Cam gets, the more people he gathers into his life through genuine friendships, meaningful connections, and a sincere interest in others. His ability to make others feel valued and welcomed has created a growing community of people who are drawn to his kindness, authenticity, and enthusiasm for life. 

We had a surprise visit from Auntie Karen on Wednesday as she was traveling back to her Illinois home.  Karen worked with Jane for many years, but truly wanted to see Cam more than his parents. 😉

Cam attended his CrossFit class on Thursday evening, happy to see his coaches and pass out thank you cards for attending the grad party.

On Saturday, Jane picked up Cameron's grandma and we all headed to the cottage.  We love spending time with Oma, especially on the big lake.

Our best beach day was Sunday.  Cousin Steff and her son, James, arrived in the afternoon to spend some time by the shoreline with us and extended family.

We've come to realize that even if it's not the sunniest day on Lake Michigan, any day to see the water, be in the sand, and be with each other makes for a great day!

For Cam, his mom and her niece Steff, the cottage is all they've known in the summertime for their entire lives. 

Auntie Karen sent this screenshot of Cam 12 years ago as a reminder!

Camology Quotes:

Cam, along with parents, have been dealing with the Michigan Dept of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) for Cam's benefits as an adult with CP. However, he has become increasingly frustrated when they don't respond and had the following commentary:

"They should extend the same common courtesy to us and send a notification like we send thank you's!"

Apple Overload! - Week of July 13th

“If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.” ~Carl Sagan

When a tradition is passed from generation to generation, it seems timeless.  It's something that has always been done by a member of your family.  Making homemade applesauce and apple pies is that tradition for us.  The apples used are special and specific: early transparent.  As we've come to realize, not too many farmers harvest these apples.  They are a bit finicky from a grower's perspective but, in our humble opinion, they make the best pies and sauce we've ever tasted.  

Miss Amanda connected us with a friend of hers who sells the green early transparents.  

This year, we picked up the largest order yet- 3 bushels!  Believe it or not, this was close to 500 apples! Six crates that were filled to the brim lived in our laundry room all week.  Slowly but surely, our containers of applesauce were deposited into the garage freezer and five apple pies were frozen and two were made and given away. By the end of the week, only a portion of two crates remained.

Between rounds of applesauce and pies, Cam began the arduous task of thanking everyone for coming to the graduation party/open house.  

He designed his cards for printing and indicated what he wanted to say to thank each person who attended.  

The cards and gifts he received nearly covered the entire dining room table!  It seemed like every day we talked about a memory from the party reminding us how special it was.  

The wildlife have been back in full force in our backyard.  The young fawns appear almost daily and are very curious.  Baby turkeys are sporadically in abundance too.

Even though they tend to munch on our flowers, it does make us smile to see the animals on a regular basis that aren't typically found in the city.

Camology Quotes:

Cam communicates with A.I. daily using his Amazon Alexa devices.  Each morning, he'll typically request the daily forecast and then verify with the local news and other sources. One day in particular, he performed a triple check of the weather data and declared:

"Alexa is spot on!"