September Summer - Week of Sept. 25th

“September days have the warmth of summer in their briefer hours, but in their lengthening evenings a prophetic breath of autumn.” ~Rowland E. Robinson

It's always a gift when we experience warmer weather in a time span when it is typically cooler.  

At the tail-end of the school week, Cameron's group experienced an outing to the Action Wake Park. It was a cloudier, partly rainy day but the kids had a good time.

Friday afternoon, upon departure from the bus, Cam assisted his dad finishing up yard work.

The WMML baseball game on Saturday provided a sunny welcome to the weekend. The helpers were the SIB (Sigma Iota Beta) sorority from Hope College.  Abby and Rachel were Cam's volunteers, and they were eager to see the kids play.  The awesome batting box that Cameron and other ball players use truly makes all of the difference when it comes to feeling included.

In the batting picture, Cam's photo is shown on the scoreboard behind him.  Everything always looks so professional!  Brody's mom, Jenny, requested a pic with Brody's buddy too.

Following the warm game, we were on way to the cottage.  With the pleasant temps, we remained outside for the entire duration.  The sunshine and water just made us all feel relaxed.  Cousin David paid us a visit since he had flown in from Texas to winterize his cottage.  Hanging out with the cousins is truly a favorite weekend activity.  Our outdoor dinner of chicken pot pie, veggies and fruit were a great combination.  Fortunately for us all, Calla picked out a delicious cookie dessert with frosting designs.  It's easy to see why Cam gets along with his cousins so well- the "sweet tooth" is strong with this group!

Camology Quotes:

Cousin Katie M. recommended a book for Cameron called "All the Way to the Top" which is a true story about Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, a girl born with cerebral palsy.  She is a lifelong activist for disability rights.  Jane and Cam read it together and this was his review:

"That was a really good book, Mom.  I don't know if I would've liked it as much if I didn't have a disability."

Coming Home - Week of Sept. 18th

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." ~Theodore Roosevelt

It was a challenging week in the Weatherford household.  Cam contracted a cold and retained a nasty cough for 4 entire days and nights.  He didn't attend school until Friday.  We weren't certain if his weekend activities would be a possibility, but we were hopeful.

After successfully making it through three scheduled appointments at Mary Free Bed on Wednesday, he felt much better as the week progressed.  Thankfully, he was able to purchase his ticket for the Homecoming Dance during his school day on Friday.

Saturday morning, we all slept in a bit since we didn't need to leave for the ball park until 10:15a.  Once again, there were Cam Fan surprises awaiting us.  

Brand new to the WMML experience was Morgan.  Cam met Morgan, a RN in training, at MFB Wheelchair Sports Camp.  The two of them spent quite a bit of time together during camp and we've remained in touch.  When she found an open Saturday, she let us know she'd attend the game, but we kept it a surprise from Cam.  Not only did she arrive early, but she also made a sign for her buddy to cheer him on.  

Another bonus was that Cam's buddy, April, was playing on the opposing team for his game.  At the wheelchair sports camp, April also met Morgan so she was very happy to reunite with her as well.

Coleen, the Executive Director for Renew Mobility, loves baseball and has been in attendance every season since Jane joined the Board of Directors and Cam was appointed a Youth Ambassador for the non-profit organization. 

Cam and Brody's first elementary school teacher was Ms. Barbara.  She taught both boys from kindergarten through second grade and remained a part of their community activities.  We've seen her most every season at the WMML games and she brought one of her daughters to Saturday's game. It's so hard to believe Barbara has known the boys for more than 10 years.

As sophomores in high school, the guys and their friends had the opportunity to attend the Homecoming Dance at the high school with a pre-purchased ticket.  Thanks to parent email communication, a location for pictures and dinner was scheduled for Saturday early evening.

The weather turned out to be the best case scenario.  It was warm, but not hot and the sun was shining. As the friends all gathered on a grassy hill, proud parents captured the moment.  There was quite a bit of laughter and joking around.  They were also a bit surprised by seeing each other all dressed up!

Chris stayed home, attempting to rid himself of a cold he picked up.  

After the photo shoot, many of the parents and all of the friend group dined at a nearby restaurant.  The dance was scheduled from 8-10p.  By the time the group wrapped up dinner and made their way to the high school, it was after 8p.  The line to enter the school was quite long and the friends didn't make it onto the dance floor until close to 8:30p.  For the duration of time, Cam declared it was fun, but really hot in the area where everyone was dancing.

Although the dance experience for Cameron is different from his friend group, his parents didn't hear a single complaint.  He even practiced his dance moves while waiting for pictures.

Our tenth grader was simply excited to be hanging out with his friends in perhaps one of the largest social settings they'll be a part of in high school.

Camology Quotes:

With the multiple of MFB appointments on Wednesday, Jane decided she would visit one of his specialist's office in person to discuss a billing issue instead of calling on the phone.  Cam has heard (numerous times) his mom contacting organizations to review such things.  When Jane told her son she'd catch up with he and Chris after the billing chat, his immediate response was:

"You'll ask for the manager, right?" 

What Makes You Happy - Week of Sept. 11

"For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things." ~Henry Ward Beecher

We often hear people tell us that Cam always looks so happy.  The simple response: he typically is.  

This week, Chris traveled to Cincinnati for a few days to check in with other work offices and employees.  During some downtime, Jane and her son explored new programs to watch.  As a rule-abiding kid, Cameron has always enjoyed tv shows dealing with law enforcement.  We stumbled upon Louisiana Law which follows the men and women of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.  It is a documentary showing the officers on patrol and what they encounter.  Most interesting to Cam are the behaviors of the individuals being questioned as well as their subsequent consequences.  Another request was a show he'd only watched a few times with his mom- Hoarders.  The different programs provided opportunity for lots of conversation.

Friday evening, Cam and Ms. Amanda made dinner and watched a movie at home while Chris and Jane attended a non-profit event for Lori's Voice.

Saturday morning, we welcomed Oma and Opa at our house.  From there, we all traveled to the ball park for the second game of the season.  We were greeted by so many Cam Fans, we couldn't believe it! Ms. Kathy, her husband, Kevin and their two granddaughters were the first ones we ran into.  Ms. Kathy was an elementary school teacher for Cam and Brody.  She has never missed a West Miracle League season!

Mary Jo used to hang out with Cam and Brody when they were younger and a memorable outing for them all was to the Lowell Fair.  She and her mom, Ms. Cris, along with one of her brothers were all spotted in the bleachers.  Ms. Cris was a classroom aide for Cam and Brody in elementary school.  

Patti and Steve, our close friends and even closer neighbors also made the trek to Rockford.  When their daughters were younger, we tried to be in attendance for many of their soccer games.  They have, in turn, made it one of Cam's games most every single season. The connections seem endless sometimes.
Oma and Opa love cheering on their grandson.  We know Cameron is so fortunate to have them at a game and he is always so proud. 

We were happy they could spend the night with us.  Our flank steak dinner with veggies and potatoes tasted extra yummy from our backyard grill.  

Sunday was relaxing, hanging out with Cam's grandparents and catching up on some football.  The weekend went by much too quickly, as most do.  

And although Cameron does appear to be in a great mood most of the time, he does and will request that his mom stop taking pictures😉

Camology Quotes:

Jane was wondering what made Cam wanted to watch the show, "Hoarders." Some people find it depressing to see a documentary-style program depicting a real situation of someone's compulsive need to fill space with an excessive amount of things.  She asked him why he chose it?

"Because Mom, it always ends up happy."

Broncos Baseball - Week of Sept. 4th

"None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things with great love, and together we can do something wonderful." ~Mother Teresa

TEAM: Together, Everyone Achieves More

It was that time of year once again- West Michigan Miracle League baseball!  This fall season, Cameron and Brody were assigned to the West Michigan Broncos team with their favorite coach, Mr. Mark.  The Hope College Women's Softball team arrived as the designated helpers. The sun shone brightly for the WMML Opening Day of the fall season.  

Auntie Jo was our Cam Fan in attendance and loudly cheered for her godson.  When Cameron's name is announced, we always hear "Cam the Man Weatherford!" which consistently brings that awesome Cam grin into the forefront.

The League has honored our request to keep Cam and his best bud, Brody on the same team, season after season.  Once again, this September was no exception.  These two definitely cheer the loudest for each other.

After finishing the early game by 11am, we headed northwest, taking a different way to the cottage since we were traveling from Rockford.  We made a quick stop at Jimmy John's to pick up two loaves of bread for our BLT dinner with the cousins.  

Although it wasn't a hot, sizzling beach day, we still had time by Lake Michigan.  None of us went swimming but it is always good to hang out by the water.  It was discovered in the late afternoon that one of the dogs confiscated a loaf of the bread we had picked up earlier, so we improvised and used sliced bread in addition to the remaining Jimmy John's for our BLT meal.  

Jane and Coco had been eager to try a s'mores recipe all summer and they determined it was time.  In a greased cast iron skillet, a layer of hershey's chocolate was placed followed by spaced out marshmallows.  In a preheated 400 degree oven, the mixture baked for 5 minutes.  The gooey marshmallows spread out and turned a golden brown.  After depositing the delectable dessert in a bowl with graham crackers, we made our way to the lower deck.  We all agreed that the s'mores dip was truly divine, easy to eat, and the perfect treat to pass around.  With an earlier sunset, we all watched sun disappear into the water.

As is now the tradition, Cam's younger cousin insists on helping him into the van and makes certain he is safe and buckled in for the trip home. It is always bittersweet to leave, but devouring a sweet dessert before departure definitely makes the trip more bearable!

Camology Quotes:

At dinner one night, we were all talking about communication and how you keep you in touch with each other.  Cam was telling Chris that he may not be the best at letting his family if he's going to be late...

"I seem to recall that you did not text Mom about when you were going to be home."  

"You think I should text your mom every day when I leave the office, Cam?

"No...not every day, just when you are picking up dinner for me!"

Pontoon Cruising - Week of Aug. 28th

“Shells sink, dreams float, life’s good on the boat.” ~Jimmy Buffet

“Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit.” ~Brooks Atkinson

It was a short school week for Cameron due to the Labor Day holiday weekend.  He thoroughly enjoyed sleeping in Friday morning.  Ms. Amanda joined her buddy for the day since her kindergarten students had the day off too.  
At the beginning of the summer, Cam had asked Amanda what shows she watched as a kid.  "Full House" was one of her favorites so during their down time, they began watching the old series from the beginning. Since Amanda didn't see Cam on his birthday, she brought him a present.  The dvd of the first season of the sequel to the original show is Fuller House and Cam is now the proud owner.  That day he also wore his "Rocky Raccoon" shirt which was a gift from his Uncle Jon and Aunt Betsy.  The Beatles song is one of his uncle's favorites. 

We were excited for the weekend and Saturday morning, we packed up the van to travel to Whitehall.  

For Cam's 16th birthday experience, we had reserved a pontoon boat for two hours.  Chris and Jane talked extensively to the owners about the possibility of their son being able to drive his powerchair onto the boat.  Cam's chair is 450lbs and there is a weight limit for any lake vessel.  After gaining concurrence from the owners, we were anticipating this first-time experience for our son. 

KAC Boat Rentals was our destination.  Oma and Opa met us there to enjoy the cruise as well. After a minor snafu with our reservation, we were on the water and cruising around White Lake!  Even though it wasn't very sunny, the ride on the pontoon boat was so much fun.  Chris was our captain and expertly navigated us from one side to the other, slowing down to take in the view.  The time went by quickly and upon our return, one of the owners had balloons, a card and candy for Cam to commemorate his birthday and first pontoon ride in his powerchair. 

On Sunday, we headed north once again since the forecast called for a perfect beach day.  The wind and waves felt refreshing and the sunshine was in full force.  Oma and Opa stayed at the cottage and enjoyed the sand in the afternoon too.  Cam's beach chair kept him comfortable at the shoreline.  Our youngest cousin decided to nap close to the sand.  Our outdoor dinner that evening was most delicious as we devoured grilled burgers and hot dogs with all the fixings.  Since Monday was a holiday, we stayed later.  The Haroldson family gave Cam an Old Channel Inn sweatshirt for a bday and end of summer present.  We had to say goodbye to JJ and Jeff since they would be headed east in a few days.  

Somehow, when Labor Day weekend arrives it feels like summer just started.  Seeing the Lake Michigan sunset on Sunday evening was the perfect farewell gift to our favorite Michigan season!

Camology Quotes:

Cam was telling Jane about his classmates at school and decided to give his own philosophical viewpoint.

"I am nice to my friends. What comes around goes around."

School Again, Welcome to Grade 10 - Week of Aug. 21st

"A well-educated mind will always have more questions than answers." ~Helen Keller

5:30am seemed extra early on Monday, August 21.  It also marked the earliest date for the first day of learning in all of Cam's past schooling.  Our son was ready to begin his sophomore year.

Change is inevitable... new students, new bus driver, new schedule.  For Cameron, questions arise.  With each different factor, though, his acceptance seems to come more readily.

As the week progressed, the nerves subsided and we all started to become accustomed to our new routine.  High school students were able to enter through the enormous Huskies mascot tunnel.  Cam's former bus driver, Ms. Christy was able to capture the moment.

Thursday evening, a heavy thunderstorm came through our area.  Chris and Jane couldn't recall if they'd ever received a tornado text alert, so this one was a bit surprising.  The power flickered but we remained intact.  The damage in our surrounding neighborhood included downed trees and loss of electricity on other streets.  The tornado destruction was roughly 30 minutes away.  We were very fortunate.

Friday evening and most of the day Saturday, we were without internet service.  We quickly figured out how to improvise.  After connecting to a wifi hotspot, we accessed our streaming services from the laptop and projected it to the tv.  Cam was instrumental making certain all of the steps were followed.

Sunday was our beach day!  It was windy and wavy and the sunshine was abundant.  We had a picnic lunch on the deck and remained by the shoreline for the afternoon.

The water was warm enough to venture in.  Cam is more accustomed to his new beach mobile and is much more comfortable.

With our beach days winding down, these lakeside moments seem that much more precious.

Camology Quotes:

Cameron is used to dealing with change, but at times, he is frustrated by it. Cam was relaying to his mom that there was a new student who was quite loud.  Unexpected noise is typically jarring for Cam.  Jane was pleasantly surprised by his follow-up comment:

"I will give him grace, Mom. I'm sure he's probably nervous about being in a new place."

Sweet! I'm 16! - Week of Aug. 14th

16 years= 192 months, 5844 days, 140.256 hours, 8,415,360 minutes, 504,921,600 seconds of being awesome.

This was the last week before the start of the new school year.  Cameron was patient with his parents while they attended to their jobs.  

However, Thursday was the BIG day...  August 17th was Cam's 16th birthday!

We asked him to request a special breakfast so his day started with a Starbuck's bacon, egg and gouda sandwich.  Chris and Jane finished up work a little early for their son to open his birthday presents.  Cam's dad found him the coolest drink cup for the back of his powerchair with the longest flexible straw.  Cam's mom reserved a pontoon boat for the family for Labor Day weekend and gave him an accessible lifejacket to use on the future trip. 

We were scheduled to meet Oma and Opa in Muskegon for dinner at Cam's chosen birthday restaurant, Red Lobster.  Cameron is a huge fan of their delicious cheddar biscuits and we all love fish.  Cam's grandparents gave him a new personalized backpack and Maruska shirts.  After ordering and finishing our meals, a manager came over and shared a big surprise.  Jane's work buddy, Ms. Cyndi in New Jersey called ahead and pre-paid for our entire meal!  She had asked Jane earlier that day where they were going, etc. and we were all completely blown away.  Cam and his mom were especially touched.  Ms. Cyndi made certain that they even put a candle on Cameron's birthday brownie overload dessert- we were excited there were five spoons since we all had multiple bites.

Friday evening, we headed up north for a double birthday celebration for cousin James and Cameron.  A scrumptious meal of smoked fish, chicken and pork accompanied by lots of sides was the perfect meal! Dessert included a tasting contest between a homemade chocolate peanut butter pie created by Coco and the Costco chocolate peanut butter pie.  We all agreed Coco's crust and toppings were best and the Costco filling was delicious.  Afterward, we were all pretty stuffed so a dance party was in order!  We said goodbye to James and Ally since they were leaving the next morning. It was a later night and by the time Cam made it into bed, it was almost 11pm.

Saturday afternoon, we decided to do it all over again.  Oma and Opa arrived later in the day to stay for dinner too.  We spent most of our time on the lower deck, now accessible via the coolest ramp, visiting with family and chatting with everyone.

The new table that Max and Jeffrey built fit everyone, which was pretty incredible.

We watched the sun fade as we left that night to make our way back home.

Sunday was just as beautiful and we decided it would be a great beach day!  Once again, we loaded up the van to make our trek.  We were all very happy we chose to be lake side.  The water was refreshing, the sand very warm and it was the perfect way to close out our week.  We had to say goodbye to Katie, Tyler, Avery and Olivia since they would be heading back east while Cam was in school the next week.  Jane told her son how difficult it always was to say goodbye to our cousins. We left before dinner since Cameron (and his parents) would be waking up a little after 5:30 the next morning.

One of our favorite memories from the week was watching the younger cousins run to help Cam.  The van ramp is very unique to them.  They all wanted to assist with every aspect of buckling Cameron into the vehicle and making certain he was absolutely safe!

These family members are so sweet with their older cousin and do not have any fear concerning his mobility.  

In some ways, they teach those who are much older about inclusion and acceptance. 😉

Camology Quotes:

Jane and son made a Costco run this week and happened on quite a few samples.  Cam tried a new beef stick and liked it so much, he requested they purchase it.  Next up were sea salt caramels and freshly baked brownies.  This was his response to the "sampler" people:

"No thank you.  We have that at home."

Winding Down - Week of Aug. 7th

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but a memory is priceless. 

The beginning of the week was spent talking about all of the stories behind the planning of the B.S.E. "biggest surprise ever" as we're now referring to it.  All of the collaboration between Cam, Ms. Ann, Oma and Auntie Karen was unbelievable to hear about.

It was Ms. Amanda's last full week with us and none of could believe the school start date of Aug. 21 that we received at the beginning of the week!  Cam concentrated on helping Amanda with setting up her kindergarten class.  Monday evening, Cam's parents went out to dinner with Auntie Leslie and Wes while Amanda and her buddy hung out together at the house.

Tuesday was a work day for Cam at the Cafe and we all headed over during the lunch hour to see him in action.  He's much more comfortable now, a bit more assertive and has greater confidence due to his summer job.  With fresh fish and sweet corn from the market that day, Wes and Cam took on the task of husking the corn.  Our dinner of the market fish and fresh veggies hit the spot.

Wednesday morning, Cam and Ms. Amanda arrived at Brody's Be Cafe to provide special delivery service to nearby businesses.  The complimentary smoothies were a hit!

Wednesday afternoon, we had to say "see you later" to Auntie Leslie and Wes as they headed back to North Carolina.  We were so thankful for their company, their help and most importantly, their laughter and love.  Since it was the actual day of Chris and Jane's wedding anniversary, they had planned to go out that evening while Ms. Ann stayed with Cam.  But it was Cam's parents turn to be sneaky.  When Ms. Ann arrived, we announced to her and Cam that we were taking them out to dinner!

Our weekend plans included family time.  Saturday afternoon, Cam and Jane dropped off Chris in Coopersville at a non-profit event for Lori's Voice.  Then, Mom and son headed to Grand Haven to visit Oma and Opa. 
We had some technology issues to address which Cam and Jane completed.  It was a windy day, but nice outside so we decided to take a stroll around the grounds.  After a couple of hours, we headed back to pick up Chris in Coopersville.  Cousin Libby had given Cam a U of M football jersey which he wore that day.  It was a big hit and quite a few people commented.

Sunday afternoon we made our way northward again to see our cousins and have some beach time.  The new Cammobile+ had some water time.  With the new ramp at the Haroldsons, Cam can easily drive all the way to the lower deck.  His younger cousins really love the ramp too.

We all dined together on the beach deck. It was so awesome to see Cameron comfortable in his own chair so close to the shoreline.  There is so much we take for granted.  We are beyond thankful for our family!

Camology Quotes:

Cam loves school.  Since he didn't attend summer school this year, we tried to include some extra activities.  Every August, he has always noted that he can't wait to return.  At the end of this week, though, his thoughts were a bit different and definitely in line with how his parents felt 'back in the day' the closer it was to Labor Day.

"I'm going to miss this summer.  I'm not ready to go back to school."