We All Benefit - Week of Sept. 21st

"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away." ~Pablo Picasso 

Maya Angelou is quoted as saying "When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed." Thursday, we had the privilege of attending the 5th Be Benefit that brought together people from all over the Grand Rapids area around a shared purpose: making a difference. 

The fundraiser was organized by Miss Jenny, Brody's mom.  Brody and Cam have been best buds since kindergarten.  Cam loves volunteering for the Brody's Be Cafe in Ada.  Oma was with us to attend and Jane and her son served as greeters.

While the event raised critical support for an important cause, it also served as a reminder that generosity creates a ripple effect. When we invest our time, resources, and compassion in helping others, the impact reaches far beyond those receiving assistance. In many ways, we all benefit through stronger communities, deeper connections, and the shared belief that positive change is possible when we come together.

Cameron rallied and made it to his Transition Center program the next morning.  We enjoyed an early takeout dinner with Oma and then made our way downtown to check out ArtPrize. 

ArtPrize 2026 is Grand Rapids' annual international public art competition and festival. 

The 2026 event runs September 18 through October 3, 2026.  Some highlights: Art is displayed throughout downtown Grand Rapids in parks, museums, businesses, restaurants, and public spaces, creating a citywide gallery. The event is free to attend and typically attracts around 900,000 visitors. Artists from around the world participate, and visitors can vote for their favorite entries using the ArtPrize app/web platform. Both public vote and juried awards are given, including major grand prizes. More than 150 venues across downtown Grand Rapids host artwork during the festival.  

Our family, including Oma, began our art journey at the Gerald R. Ford Public Museum.  From there, we took a pedestrian bridge to The Amway Grand Plaza and saw more art along the way.  Cam's favorite was the robot outside of the museum.  Jane loved the woman and cat with bubbles, Chris liked the wooden dragon and Oma loved the Mackinac Bridge replica built with over 21,000 pieces of plastic.

Saturday morning, we were off again, headed to Cam's WMML baseball game on a beautiful sunshine day.  And we were welcomed by the warmth of so many Cam Fans!

Our longtime neighbors, Patti and Steve, along with Cam's former teachers, Ms. Kathy (and husband, Kevin) and Ms. Barbara were in full force.  Ms. Cris (former aide) and her daughter Mary Jo (former Cam Care) both arrived as well!  

Having Oma with us capped off a perfect game ⚾

Afterwards, we headed to the nearby Culver's to share lunch with Patti and Steve.  Oma treated us to our meal and we all agreed that we really packed in the activities during her visit with us.  Simply put, We All Benefit from our time with each other!

Camology Quotes:

There are many things that Cam has to wait for...assistance with an activity, insurance approvals, opening a door without accessibility...and the list goes on.  He has realized something about himself as he announced to his parents this week:

"Patience is a virtue I am good at!"

Program Perks - Week of Sept. 14th

“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” ~C.S. Lewis 

Starting something new often feels like standing at the edge of the unknown, equal parts excitement and uncertainty. 

The first week is rarely perfect, but as the days unfold and routines begin to take shape, what once felt unfamiliar gradually becomes comfortable. 

Along the way, small victories, new connections, and unexpected lessons reveal the brighter side of the journey, reminding us that growth often begins just outside our comfort zone.  

For Cam, it can be a challenge to settle in but he has tackled the Transition Center program just like most things with an open mind and patience.

In addition to a new schedule, Cam is adjusting to grocery shopping on Mondays, helping preparing his lunch daily, working at job sites and getting to know other young adults and helpers.

Cameron has also noted that the Transition Center also brings some major advantages...

On Friday, the crew took a bus out to Miss Jenna's farm!  The weather cooperated and everyone enjoyed a fun day with the animals and learning more about typical farming activities.

The rain was in full force on Saturday and Cam's WMML morning baseball game was canceled due to strong winds and occasional lightning.  We did
have a nice visit with Miss Kaylee in the afternoon.

Kaylee has been a part of our Cam care team for more than ten years.  

She is relocating to Traverse City for work but she'll be back to visit over school breaks and holidays.

We will miss her smiling face and her fun stories.

The remainder of our weekend was spent around the house, working on a few home projects and catching up on personal paperwork, thanks to Cam and his ability to keep both of his parents on task.

We spotted these turkeys in our backyard on Sunday.  Somehow, they seem a bit oblivious to the fact that Thanksgiving isn't too far away!

Camology Quotes:

As a family, we were talking about a situation where people don't like to be surprised by unexpected news if it was known by someone else.  Cam summed it up this way.

"If you don't tell someone something ahead of time and then they find out, it is opening a 50,000 can of worms!"

It's A Victory - Week of Sept. 7th

"Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization." ~Mahatma Gandhi 

Inclusion is more than a goal. It is a commitment to ensuring that everyone has the chance to participate and contribute. Programs offering inclusive activities empower individuals to explore new interests, build friendships, and experience the joy of being part of a community that welcomes and supports everyone.

Through the Transition Center Program, Cam was invited to attend Victory Day at Forest Hills Eastern High School. With participation capped at 20 people, he registered and was selected to attend.

At Forest Hills Public Schools, Victory Day touchdowns are part of a unified, district-wide community tradition rather than an exclusive Forest Hills Eastern High School standalone milestone.

Friday evening, we arrived about the same time as Brody and his mom.  Once the guys had their jerseys on, pizza was distributed to the participants much to their relief, since they didn't have to wait until afterwards for their dinner.  Chris hilariously folded up paper plates and put them under Cam's jersey to create shoulder pads.  He did remove them before they all took the field.  Each Victory Day "player" catches a passed football and then proceeds fifty yards down the field to score a touchdown!

The district had a pro photographer snapping pics and these two photos were posted to the Forest Hills Public Schools social media pages... (A big thanks to Miss Stephanie and Miss Cris for alerting us to the upload). We couldn't have asked for better weather or a better community to cheer on these individuals!

Saturday kicked off the first game of the 2026 Fall West Michigan Miracle League (WMML) season.  Cameron's team was Ole Miss with our famous Coach Mark and his son Zach.  Once again, the weather cooperated and we were treated to a sunny baseball game.  The batting box that Cam uses was back in action.  The GVSU women's softball team were on deck to volunteer and assist our players.

For the remainder of the weekend, we checked on things at the cottage and enjoyed some outdoor time on the deck.  The sunsets never disappoint on Lake Michigan.  We were able to spend a bit of time with extended family and enjoyed our visit with cousin David.

With summer on its way out, the beach shares its quiet solitude with us, preparing for what we hope, is not a long winter.

Camology Quotes:

Every Thursday evening, Cam is a participant in the Ability Athletes exercise class that takes place at Ada Valley Cross Fit.  Sometimes, when he arrives, his friends are talking very loudly and shouting.  Upon arrival, he indicated:

"This is Ada Valley LOUD Fit!"

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!"