A New Toy - Week of Mar. 23rd

"The greatest achievement of technology is not how it changes life, but how it improves it.”  ~Satya Nadella 

With spring's official arrival, the neighborhood deer have been visiting frequently, appearing in the front yard as well.

Arriving at our doorstep this week was a new 3D printer, aka "a new toy."

A 3D printer is an additive manufacturing machine that creates three-dimensional, solid objects from digital designs by laying down, or printing, successive thin layers of material (like plastic, metal, or resin). Often operating like a precision, robot-controlled hot glue gun, it builds items from the bottom up, allowing for complex, customized, and lightweight parts.

Creating items with a 3D printer helps fill the gaps where mass-produced products fall short. When replacement parts, custom tools, or niche accessories aren’t readily available—or no longer manufactured—3D printing makes it possible to design and produce exactly what’s needed, right when it’s needed. 

The first project for father and son looked like three pieces of a curved train track.  It wasn't until the pieces were locked together that the curvature card holder took shape.  Cam was so excited when he saw the finished product on the dining room table.

On Sunday, we made our way to the Downtown Market for lunch.  The Market features 20 different indoor artisan food vendors, restaurants and a bustling market hall full of unique gifts and offerings.

As we made our way around the area, we had a surprise for Cameron.  His cousins were headed to the same location and we had not told him.  He was super happy to see everyone!  

We had fun exploring and catching up for a bit before heading out later in the afternoon.

It's always fun to surprise Cam because his pure joy reactions cannot be duplicated and are always genuine!

Camology Quotes:

PSA: When watching TV shows or movies with Cam, be prepared to pause. Not only does he ask appropriate questions, but sometimes he even stumps his parents, especially during cooking shows.

"Mom, what is tamari?"  (Google lookup: Japanese sauce made primarily from fermented soybeans, water, and salt, often produced as a byproduct of miso paste. It is less salty and thicker than soy sauce.)

Memorable Meals - Week of Mar. 16th

"Dining with one’s friends and beloved family is certainly one of life’s primal and most innocent delights, one that is both soul‑satisfying and eternal."  ~Julia Child

It has been said that food tastes better when shared with friends.

Friday was the final Unified basketball game for Cam and his buddies. 

Fortunately for him, one of his all-time favorite people joined in the fun day!  The players were bussed to Kenowa Hills school for the game and stopped at Chick-fil-A for lunch afterwards...see cow hat picture above.  Ms. Festian, our dear friend and an exemplary aide, met up with the group and had some quality time with her long-time buddy.

Sharing meals with people who have known you for a long time carries a rare and quiet kind of magic. These are the people who recognize your pauses, remember your stories before you finish them, and understand the layers beneath your words without needing explanation. 

Such was the case when we met up with Ms. Ann and her daughter Katherine along with her husband and sweet kiddos at JT's Friday evening.  

We were excited to have a delicious cod dinner since JT's only has it on their menu during Lent.  The Weatherfords also exchanged long-awaited Christmas gifts with Ms. Ann, which had several unsuccessful attempts prior to this date.  Katherine was one of Cam's first real full-time nanny and has truly become extended family (along with her husband and kiddos).  Cam's tutor, Ms. Ann, is Katherine's mom and met Cameron during Katherine's time with our family.  Our families have been connected ever since.

Saturday afternoon was spent making homemade chili in preparation for that evening's meal.

For Cam, spending time with people who truly understand his abilities—like navigating the world in a wheelchair—can be profoundly grounding and affirming. In those moments, you don’t have to explain why a doorway matters, why table height affects comfort, or why energy can ebb faster than expected; that understanding is already there. 

When our friends Matt and Jill arrived, there were three powerchair users in our home.  As a bonus, Jill was accompanied by her service dog, Tarzan.  Because Tarz wasn't wearing his vest, he knew he wasn't "working" and we could all take part in petting him.

Cam loves being able to ask Matt and Jill questions that only the two of them can truly comprehend. 

With good friends, meals become less about logistics and more about connection, laughter, and presence. Being with people who “get it” creates a space where dignity is assumed, accommodations feel natural rather than burdensome, and your full self is welcomed. 

That shared understanding is a powerful reminder that belonging isn’t about being the same—it’s about being seen and supported as you are. 

Camology Quotes:

The night before St. Patrick's Day, Chris jokingly told his son that he would be bringing in some green beer to school to commemorate it.  Cam texted Brody's mom and shared the joke with her and apparently, she also shared it with Brody.  At school the next day, Brody told Cam how funny that story was and Cam's immediate response was:

"Brody, why don't you keep that to yourself please!"

Volunteering Information - Week of Mar. 9th

"Volunteers don't get paid, not because they're worthless, but because they're priceless." ~Sherry Anderson 

Seeing something personalized touches something deeply human in us. It feels like being noticed in a world that often rushes past. When something is made just for us, it quietly says, “I see you. You matter.” 

That recognition can soften walls, spark trust, and create a sense of belonging that generic gestures never quite reach. Personalization carries emotion because it requires care. It means someone paused long enough to think about who we are, not just what we need. 

In that moment, we’re no longer invisible or interchangeable—we’re understood. And that feeling can be powerful. It can comfort, encourage, and remind us that we are not alone. In a world full of mass messages and one‑size‑fits‑all experiences, personalized moments stand out like a hand reaching for yours. They linger. They stay with us. Because long after the details fade, we remember how it felt to be truly seen.

On Saturday, Cam and his dad made their way downtown for the 3rd Annual Disability Resource Symposium event. 

The event is designed to connect families and caregivers impacted by disabilities with West Michigan resources, workshops, and expert guidance. It is co-hosted by City Hope GR and King's Table in collaboration with several partners, including Kent ISD and Coonen Law.

While Jane was celebrating Ms. Amanda at her baby shower, Chris and his son were happily educating others about Lori's Voice.  Many families in the area still haven't heard about all of the non-profits in our community seeking to help others.

It was quite the surprise when we checked out the website later and discovered that we easily recognized the duo on the main page!

Disability Symposium

We were very happy to see see our dear friend Patti over the weekend when she stopped over.  She's known Cam since he was born, being our closest neighbor.  Since she's an RN, Cameron will also ask her random medical questions.  And because she has the training and certification, her responses carry far more than weight than his parents!

Camology Quotes:

Our schedule-oriented son is typically more in tune to deadlines than his parents.  As noted by his daily questions to his mom and dad:

"Have you done your taxes yet?!"

Testing Patience - Week of Mar. 2nd

"If patience wasn't so easily tested, then it would hardly be a virtue." ~Amor Towles

As a Senior, there are many events that trigger a "this is last time I will..." type of moment.

On Wednesday, the Unified Basketball Seniors were being honored with their parents.  Jane was able to attend briefly to accept a beautiful bouquet of flowers from her son.  The coach also read comments from each of the participants.

Oma spent Sunday afternoon and evening with us.  She and Jane were headed to a Dancing With The Stars performance downtown that night. 

Fortunately, there was enough time for Cameron and his grandma to enjoy a nice stroll in the neighborhood in the afternoon.

It was a sunny day and even with the blustery wind, the duo enjoyed themselves outside. 

There are many things beyond our control.  In Cam's world, it means every electronic piece of equipment he uses.  The majority of the weekend was spent trying to fix a cable on Cameron's power wheelchair.  Much to our dismay, no matter what was attempted, the fix was not available.  However, Cam kept his cool about the situation citing that we could try calling people first thing Monday morning. To quote Joyce Meyer, "Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it's how we behave while we're waiting."

Camology Quotes:

Our Alexa devices were acting up this week.  Cam uses the Alexa device to announce to his parents. Over the weekend, he was frustrated that the technology was not working correctly.  He relayed to his parents:

"Oh, I am two steps ahead of you like always and I already reported it to Amazon!"

The Big Arena - Week of Feb. 23rd

"The things that make me different are the things that make me." ~Piglet (A.A. Milne)

Monday was the most exciting day of the week.  Cam was invited, along with the FHN Unified Basketball Team, to play at the same setting as the NBA Detroit Pistons.  Since it was a school event, he was excused from being in the high school building. Chris and Jane took the day off of work to bring their son to the big event.  Our destination was the Little Caesars Arena.

Little Caesars Arena (LCA) in Detroit, opened in September 2017 for $862.9 million and is the home of the NHL's Red Wings and NBA's Pistons, anchoring the 50-block "The District Detroit" entertainment area. Designed by HOK and Barton Malow, it replaced Joe Louis Arena and The Palace of Auburn Hills, featuring a unique, deconstructed design with an underground practice rink.
The 816,000-square-foot venue features a "deconstructed" layout, placing the concourse, restaurants, and retail shops in separate buildings connected by a roof. It includes a 5,100-square-foot scoreboard and a below-ground practice ice rink. It was designed to anchor a new downtown district, connecting Midtown with the central business district.

We arrived at the exact same time as the other players.  We learned that the professional basketball games usually see about 18,000 fans while the pro hockey team, the Red Wings typically host 20,000.  Chris talked to one of the security guards and he told him that the Detroit Piston courtside seats go for $2800 per chair!

Our Grand Rapids Team played against a Detroit-based team.  It was exciting for us all to be in the arena where our state's professional basketball team plays!  We were super proud of Cam for participating and being a part of it all.  The final score was 38-33 with our team victorious.

We ate a late lunch with Brody and his family in the District Market, a food court inside that offered 4 different restaurants in one area. Late that afternoon, we drove back to Grand Rapids, arriving home by dinnertime.  We were all in agreement that the day away was a unique experience we were excited to be a part of!

Camology Quotes:

The AI agents continue to provide an endless array of jokes between father and son.  As we were getting ready to leave for Detroit, Chris said to Cam, "There's only one problem...how can I leave my agents alone for an entire day?!" To which Cam smartly replied:

"Ha! Are you married to them Dad?!"