The Best Part of Me - Week of Sept. 13th

"Before you speak ask yourself if what you are going to say is true, is kind, is necessary, is helpful. If the answer is no, maybe what you are about to say should be left unsaid."  ~Bernard Meltzer

There was a time when we didn't know if Cam would ever be able to fully express himself with a large vocabulary.  When he entered kindergarten he was comprehending everything, but unable to find his voice with multiple words and sentences.  It seemed to Chris and Jane that Cam went from saying 3 words at a time to full and complete sentences.  Perhaps that is the reason, when fulfilling a school assignment this week, that Cam pegged the best part of him as his mouth.  His class studied and reviewed a book entitled "The Best Part of Me" and in a discussion group they had to write out/type and share thoughts.  Cam's output of his best part, his mouth, produced the following: "I can say nice things. I like to smile. I like to laugh. I can talk to my friends. I love talking to my peer helpers."

Ever since Cam was little, his parents have always thought he has an infectious smile.  Of course, they are a bit biased.  On Friday, Cam experienced his first field trip in almost 2 years.  His small class went to Frederick Meijer Gardens where they toured the indoor and outdoor exhibits and ate a sack lunch.  Upon leaving the gardens, they stopped for a delicious treat at The Pumphouse Frozen Yogurt Bar.  Cam declared it "best field trip ever!" upon his return home from school.

Saturday's schedule included a 12:20p game at the West Michigan Miracle League.  The sun was shining and the breeze was light which enabled Chris to fly the drone high above the ball field.

Ms. Amanda drove to our house to ride with us to the game.  Our good friend, Coleen, the Executive Director for Alternatives in Motion met us at the bleachers for her first-ever WMML experience.  The red batter box set up two successful hits for Cam.  Since our game was the last of the day, we stayed and chatted with Brody and his mom, Jenny, for a few minutes.  The remainder of our Saturday was filled with home-based projects.

Our family was northward bound on Sunday to visit Cam's grandparents and cousins.  We couldn't believe our good fortune for another beautiful day.  Once again, the winds were light and the drone flew high to capture some amazing Lake Michigan shots.  Surprisingly, the water was relatively warm and the first sandbar was right up to the shoreline.  Cam was so surprised how clear the water was too.

After a delicious flank steak dinner with cousins and friends at the Haroldson cottage, as well as Oma and Opa, we made our way back to Grand Rapids.  It turns out another member of the family is a bit obsessed with H2O.  Although our cat Stella doesn't swim in Lake Michigan, she is certainly intrigued with water.

Camology Quotes:

Coco and Max's daughter, Calla, is awaiting her passport in the mail.  Cam and Oma were chatting about this and Oma told her grandson that Calla was waiting for her visa.  Cam didn't quite hear his grandma correctly...  "What?!  Cousin Calla cannot have pizza!  She is too little!"

Back to the Ballpark - Week of Sept. 6th

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." ~Helen Keller

In each person's lifetime, there are certain events that take place when everyone remembers exactly what they were doing on that day.  For Cam, it will most likely be the Covid-19 virus and the schools abruptly closing on March 13, 2020 for the remainder of the year.  For Cam's parents, it is September 11, 2001.  

At school this week, our eighth grader discussed Patriot Day with his class.  They talked about how President George W. Bush proclaimed Patriot Day to be held each year on September 11 as a day to remember the people lost during the tragedy and the patriots who fought to rescue and defend our freedom.  The class discussed the 9/11 memorial that was constructed by Michael Arad.  It includes three symbols: a waterfall representing tears while it masks the noise of a busy city, a void which represents the enormous loss and the reflective pool symbolizing remembrance.  All 2,977 names of those deceased are etched around the waterfall.

Saturday, September 11 marked the opening day for the fall season of the West Michigan Miracle League.  Cam has played for WMML for more than 7 years.  This season is a double bonus since our son knows his Coach, Mr. Mark.  Mark's son, Carson, is a longtime Miracle League player and he and Cam have known each other since preschool.  The assistant coach is Zach, Carson's younger brother.  As always, our request to have Brody and Cam as teammates was honored!  The buddies are the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and this weekend marked the first of five games.

For the September 11 game, the flags flew at half staff and a moment of silence was recognized for the 9/11 tragedy.  Chris brought the drone and captured some great shots on a calm day with very little breeze.

In the "Cam Fan" section was Cameron's 3rd and 4th grade teacher, Ms Kathy and her husband Kevin.  Kathy hasn't missed seeing at least one game every season since she taught Cam.  

Also present was Cam's current teacher, Mrs. Wells, along with his current para-pro Mrs. Festian.  Jane has known Mrs. Festian since Cam was in grade school and it's such fun to have people cheering him on. When our ball player hears the cheers, his smile grows even bigger.

The president, Tony Comden announces every game and introduces each player via microphone.  Each player bats twice and is in the outfield two times.  Tony has bestowed our son with the nickname "Cam the Man!" and intros him with that phrase each and every time.  The batter box is an apparatus Cam has used for a few years now and it allows him to independently swing the bat with the assistance of the homemade box donated to the WMML.

The volunteers were back again this season for the first time since the pandemic began.  The women's Hope College softball team were in full force assisting the players at the 3 separate games that day.

Perhaps the best bonus of Saturday was having Cam's best buddy, Brody, with us for the entire day.  The boys watched a movie together ("Ratatouille"), played games and requested lunch from their favorite eatery, Culver's!  These two are always looking out for each other.  Having been friends since kindergarten, they are definitely aware of one another's habits, likes and dislikes.  In the movie they saw, this is a favorite quote, "If you are what you eat, then I only want to eat the good stuff!"

Camology Quotes:

Cam is a rule-follower through and through.  When Brody wanted to play music on our Amazon Alexa, Cam made certain it was the "clean" version.  Before lunchtime, Brody said he would like "2 cheeseburgers please" and his buddy Cam knew he was only supposed to have 1.  After Brody's announcement and out of care and concern, he said to his best friend: "Um, Brody, we are going to have to text your parents about that request!"

Community Outreach - Week of Aug. 30th

"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth." ~Muhammad Ali

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

When Cameron was born, his parents weren't active volunteers in the community.  Because of Cam, Chris and Jane are now board members and helpers for different events and organizations.  One of the many we support as a family is Lori's Voice.  In their quarterly newsletter, Chris, their newest member of the Board of Directors, is featured on the front page with Cam.  The following is the article (along with pictures) that was posted:

 Life's a Beach: A Michigan beach is a gift enjoyed by many. The above photo says it all, our very own Board member Chris is having a blast with his son in their version of a beach wheelchair. As you may know Lori’s Voice has provided beach wheelchairs at many Lake Michigan parks and continues to add more as people and park management requests. Unfortunately they are not always available, so Chris and Cam, through trial and error, developed their very own – dubbed the “Cam-mobile”. Since not everyone is as creative as these two we continue to provide them for many to enjoy. In addition to the sand and surf some of our kids want to explore the forest or modest hiking trails. Well, we have begun to fill that need as well. Enter the all-terrain power chair. Pictured here, these chairs run on tracks rather than wheels so they are capable of handling a wide variety of surfaces, opening up a whole new world of adventure. Beach wheelchairs and all-terrain chairs give freedom and independence to our kids – a freedom made possible by our Lori’s Voice donors and dedicated volunteers.

It is always difficult to "say goodbye" to summer.  Labor Day weekend hints at the unofficial farewell.  Lake Michigan also seemed to sense the wind down with cooler water and bigger waves.  

It didn't deter us from having a nice time on the beach hanging out and watching the seagulls.  

The water flow appeared to be directly from the west, which is unusual.  

The waves arose to meet each other as the whitecaps greeted the inbound and outbound swells.

We are reminded how invaluable the Cam-mobile is for our son to experience Lake Michigan and the beach.  Now, as a fourteen year old, he is content with sitting and conversing versus the need to be constantly entertained.   A friendly seagull kept us all captivated as it edged closer and backed away over and over again.

On the cottage deck, the winds were strong and cool, but at the water's edge, the sunshine warmed the sand and all of us.  We dined on grilled kabobs, veggies and homemade applesauce as we watched the sun fade slowly towards the horizon.  We are always thankful for the time with family and that Oma and Opa can be on the beach with us too.

Back in Grand Rapids, Cam had a bike ride around the driveway to test out the repairs he and his dad had completed.  The adaptive bike is headed to Cam's school next week where he can ride it outside as well as inside the school gym during the colder months.

Ghandi said "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."  

If you're a fan of Cam, then you're definitely a fan of helping and giving back.  We hope this coming week leads you down both paths.

Camology Quotes:

On Friday, we decided our dinner would be chicken parmesan and pasta. Cam requested his chicken parm and pasta to be placed in a tortilla.  Jane told him she really didn't think this would be a great combination.  Her son replied: "It is good in my book!"

Hey Hey 8th Grade - Week of Aug. 23rd

"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." ~John Dewey  

"The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice." ~Brian Herbert

In the blink of an eye, summer is fading away. And just like that, it was the first day of school for Cam on Monday, August 23rd!  

He attends Forest Hills Northern Middle School which is a part of the Forest Hills School District. The Forest Hills Public School District was founded in 1956 when residents in 13 neighboring one-room schoolhouses consolidated into one district. Their goal was to build a high school for their children and provide a quality education to help children be successful. Today, the Forest Hills district has grown to serve over 9,500 students and includes 18 school buildings, a fine arts center, an aquatic building and senior center, and many more buildings to service residents, families, students, and staff. The Forest Hills district is one of the largest geographic districts in Michigan, as it encompasses approximately 68 square miles. 

It was a week of reconnecting for Cam, with teachers and friends.  Since 7th and 8th grade are in the same building, the familiarity was a welcome sight for our 8th grader.

We also had a surprise visit from Ms. Michelle, one of Cam's former caregivers.  These two chatted away like no time had passed even though it's been almost two years since we last saw Michelle.

During the week, we drove up to the cottage to have a family dinner with our Haroldson cousins to see Katie, Tyler and daughter Avery who had flown in from Philadelphia for a few days.  We had a great time, although a short visit since it was a school night for Cam.

The weekend took us northward once again on a picture perfect Saturday.  The waves were 3-5 feet high but the water was very warm.  Cam bounced around in the Cam-mobile in the choppy waters.  Chris and Jane had some quality time swimming too and declared it was the best lake day of the summer.

On Saturday evening, we gathered at the Haroldson cottage to say goodbye to Libby who is headed to nursing school next week.
The scrumptious flank steak dinner was enjoyed by all, especially Cam.  Typically, we always drive back right after eating, but we were thankful for our son's flexibility to stay later.  It is a rarity for us to remain to watch the sunset and it really capped off such a great day.

Sunday was spent catching up on things at home and playing a game we like to call "Where's Stella?"  She blends in so well with her surroundings and unless we hear a meow, it's not so easy to spot her.

It seems Cam handles the transition to waking up early again much better than his parents.  Perhaps the older we are, the more we long for daily naps again.

Camology Quotes:

On Friday, Cam had the opportunity to sleep in since it was a full day off of school  When he slept an hour past his school morning wake-up time, his parents told him it was pretty cool to be able to sleep in.  Cam's response: 

"It is nice to sleep in but I would rather be going to school.  It is awesome!"

Fantastic @ 14 - Week of Aug. 16th

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." ~Albert Einstein

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Cam appreciates tradition.  Perhaps because he enjoys routine, an annual event is something he not only looks forward to, but eagerly anticipates.  

On Monday morning, we began the arduous task of packing the van and truck to embark on our week long family vacation to Dorr, Michigan.  Just 30 minutes from our home, the Hungry Horse Campground sits on 90 acres and has 96 sites.  For the sixth consecutive year, we reserved a cabin.  There are only 4 cabins at the campground and the Sedona cabin has a removable metal ramp that the Hungry Horse owners had made just for Cam.  We're certain others have taken advantage of it since its arrival, but the gesture will always hold a very special place in our hearts.

We arrived at 2p on Monday to take advantage of an early check-in.  Auntie Karen was already settled into her Scottsdale cabin since she had unpacked a day before.  The cabins include many home comforts including a refrigerator, sink, bathroom, beds and working a.c.  With the unusually warm weather, the air conditioning was most welcome.

Tuesday was Cam's 14th birthday and our first full day at the campground!  Cam took part in a morning stroll with Auntie Karen and we all headed to the pool right when it opened at 10am.  The definite advantage to being there early is the sparse crowd in the water.  Swimming daily at the campground is one of the highlights for Cam.  He feels weightless in the water and loves to walk with assistance, sit on the raft or hang onto the pool noodle.  

Our evening dinner for Cam's bday was outside cooked on the fire.  He requested "pizza pies" created in pie irons and placed directly on the campfire.  Homemade bread on the outside with your choice of toppings on the inside created a grilled, tasty pizza.  Fresh sweet corn and fruit rounded out our meal with birthday cupcakes sent from Oma for dessert!  Cam opened presents from his parents and Auntie Karen and declared his birthday was awesome!!

The Wednesday evening activity schedule included a hayride on the wagon which takes passengers along the outskirts of the campground.  The tractor speeds up down the hills and it is pretty exciting.

Most afternoons, we would all enjoy some down time, settled in the cooler air of the cabin.  With the new iPad stand Cam received as a bday present from Auntie Leslie, he can sit up better and look straight ahead versus always looking in a downward position.

On a morning field trip, Cam and Auntie Karen embarked on an adventure to find the nearest Starbucks.  What they assumed was a drive-thru ended up being Starbucks in the grocery store.  They had a good laugh over that one.

Each year at Hungry Horse Campground, we've welcomed the opportunity to relax as a family and hang out with Auntie Karen during our stay.  With the two separate cabins, Cam loves his independence of traveling between the vacation homes. Evening campfire dinners followed by tasty s'mores is all part of the experience too. Another bonus is meeting new campers as well.  A couple of years ago, we met Rachel and her dog, Moose.  Now, we look forward to checking back in with them to hear about the year's happenings.  Sitting outside in the evening is a social activity in itself as we regularly chatted with walkers and kids and petting dogs when invited.  Once again, the familiarity and new experiences made for a great week!

Saturday's trek to Oma and Opa's found us at the beach for the afternoon.  The waves were strong and the warm water felt refreshing.  Dinner on the deck overlooking Lake Michigan is always a welcome treat.

We stayed in Grand Rapids on Sunday to attend a work outing with the company Chris works for, Fishbeck.  They had reserved the rooftop deck to watch our minor league baseball team, the West Michigan Whitecaps.  Although it was a steamy day, Cam was a trooper.  Complimentary food and refreshments kept us all hydrated.  

This week kept us smiling, reconnecting with others and each other.  Dr. Brene Brown once said: "I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard and valued; when they give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship."  

Perhaps the best part of vacation is appreciating the time together without the noise of everything else.

Camology Quotes:

Even at the age of 14, Cam still appreciates hugs. He will even request them.  Father and son love to joke around with each other and as Chris was carrying Cam one morning, he asked for a hug to which his dad told him he had already received his quota.  Cam quickly responded: "Hey, I just snuck a backwards hug!  I got one past you."

Somewhat Surprised - Week of Aug. 9th

During the week, Michigan dealt with very high winds and loud thunderstorms over two consecutive nights.  Although we didn't experience a power outage, neighboring streets did.  Around the corner from us, major damage was found in the form of toppled trees and twisted power lines.   The noisy nights didn't seem to bother Cam as it related to sleeping.  We have noticed over the years, though, that Cam seems to have super sonic hearing at times.  His parents will be talking very quietly in the other room and suddenly he will comment about something they are discussing.  

As August is approaching its mid-month point, we feel the pull of Lake Michigan as we try to soak up every last bit of summer while it's still here.  For both Saturday and Sunday, we made all-day trips to the cottage to see Oma and Opa and our cousins.  The weather continues to be picture-perfect on the weekends allowing us plenty of sunshine and swimming activities.  One sad casualty of the storms during the week was our Haroldson cousin's awesome raft.  The winds gusted to over 60mph and ripped it from its cinder block rope and left a gaping hole.  After multiple attempts at patching over the weekend, it seemed a lost cause.  As Libby commented, "the lake took a good one."  Thanks to the Cam-mobile, our son still had his share of water fun.

As an early birthday treat, the Haroldson family planned a bday luncheon for Cam on Sunday.  We thought it might be fun to surprise him but his keen ear caught on when we were chatting about the upcoming lunch during Saturday's beach day.  Instead of being surprised just on Sunday, he kept guessing about what was to come.  A delicious spread of burgers and hot dogs, homemade pasta salad, fresh fruit, pickles and all sorts of chips and dips were served consisting of Cam's favorites.  And for birthday dessert, an array of chocolate cupcakes topped with Reese's peanut butter cups made for a very tasty treat.  The Haroldson fam gave their cousin a very cool Grand Rapids Officer 2021 sweatshirt with "Cam" emblazoned on the back.  And family friends Molly and Jude presented the almost 14-year- old with a Himalaya salt lamp.  

Oma and Opa rounded out the birthday giving with a new swimsuit, shirt, an astronomy book and the game of Qwirkle. It seems Cam has always been surrounded by love and as each year passes, he continues to physically grow, but also mentally.  Thoughtfulness and empathy seem to remain at the forefront of his characteristics and for this, his parents are very thankful!

Camology Quotes:

When we are together as a family with Oma and Opa, Cam likes to say the blessing before eating dinner.  On Saturday, he announced this unique one. "I pray that everyone will have a good time with my surprise tomorrow and that it will be fun for everybody!"