Bring on 2026! Week of Dec. 29th

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." ~ Maria Robinson

C.S. Lewis said, "There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind."

Cameron was feeling good for his last week of winter break.  A scheduled haircut on Monday had Cam styling once again.

On Tuesday, a sweet surprise awaited us...in the late afternoon.  Our friends from upstate New York appeared at our door.  Not only did they show up bearing Christmas gifts, but they also brought all of the ingredients for an amazing dinner.  Gifts included handmade ornaments, kitchen scrubbers and smoked jerky made by Drew. A historical book about World War II and the Japanese soldiers was given to Cam by Drew and Jack. Vyanna, along with her mom known as Nana taught us how to assemble the wontons and eggrolls.  Nana made the pinwheels with her expert folding technique.

We taught the family how to play our new favorite game, Uno Flip.  This led to a great deal of laughter and a few marathon rounds.  On a subsequent evening, we embarked on a lesson in handmade spring rolls.  All of the ingredients are lined up on a tray for assembling and the rice paper is dipped in lukewarm water prior to adding the pre-cooked chicken and vegetables.  A light sauce is used to complement the filling and there is no baking.  We all deemed this one of the 'cleanest' meals we'd ever tasted.

The backyard deer made an appearance as well during the snowy day.  We were so happy we were able to spend quality time with our friends over the course of a few days.

Cam rang in the new year with his parents at home.  Chris surprised us by revealing that he had created a Family Trivia game based on Cameron's blog!  He casted it to the tv and we played for quite some time.

Cam was successful in winning a few rounds, although his dad did have the upper hand since he was the creator.

On Saturday evening, we were excited to meet up with our friends, Matt and Jill, for dinner at a local restaurant, Vitale's.  It was a very cold night. Jill brought her service dog, Tarzan, a golden retriever who is so well-behaved.

We shared tasty appetizers and Chris and his son shared a delicious pizza for their dinner.  We had such a good time.  

All of us agreed, though, that our next planned outing will take place at Cam's house where everyone can hear each other more easily.

Camology Quotes:

Cam's parents enjoyed multiple days off during the week.  Perhaps that is why his parents slacked off a bit. When Cam announced on Alexa for assistance, Jane appeared, but Chris did not.  When Cam's dad finally came in the room later, Cam informed him:

"You're oblivious, Dad. You are hearing only what you want to hear!"

Merry & Bright - Week of Dec. 22nd

“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” ~Gustav Mahler

It was hard to believe Christmas was almost here!  

With the beginning of Cam's winter break, he started coughing and was fighting a runny nose.  Jane had picked up Oma on Sunday and we were hopeful Cameron would feel better.  We opted for watching the church's Christmas Eve service online.  Our dear friend Patti, surprised us by dropping off her most delicious homemade chicken soup and freshly baked bread accompanied by Steve's scrumptious homemade caramel corn.

By the next morning, we were all ready to celebrate Christmas🎄Following our tradition of opening stockings, we took turns unveiling gifts we had chosen for each other.  Oma always finds treasures from the Maruska store for each of us to wear.  Cam expertly chose gifts that he wrapped at school.  It seemed one of the themes we all inadvertently picked up on were new games: Uno No Mercy, Uno Flip, Impossible Puzzle, Grand Rapids Monopoly and Hot Streak. 

Our afternoon was spent testing out the new Uno games which led to lots of laughing! There are some key differences between Flip and Classic Uno games.

With Uno Flip, players start on the Light Side of the deck, matching cards by color, number, or symbol. When someone plays a Flip card, the game switches to the Dark Side, which has more challenging action cards (like Draw Five and Skip Everyone). The game continues flipping between sides until a player plays their last card. After each round, points are scored based on the cards remaining in opponents’ hands. The first player to reach 500 points wins the game.  We played multiple rounds and finally started preparing dinner.  That evening, we ventured out for our Christmas lights tour in the surrounding area.

On Friday, Dec. 26th, we welcomed a small subset of our extended family for a holiday gathering at our place.  Prior to 2020, we hosted the annual party for more than five years.  Cam had been asking if we would ever be able to have it again.  It seemed this was the time to resurrect that tradition.  Even though we had less than twenty people (compared to almost 50 when everyone was in attendance) it was fun to reconnect and re-visit memories together.

Saturday afternoon, we brought Oma back to her home, very thankful for the extra time we had with each other.  As Cam noted, we even started a new tradition- playing games on Christmas Day!

Camology Quotes:

When Cam wasn't feeling well, he reported his wellness percentage each morning when he woke up:

"Today, my coughing is 80%, my runny nose is 70% my stomach is 95% and overall, I am about 80%."

The Christmas Card - Week of Dec. 15th

“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, with every Christmas card I write. May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases be white.”  ~Irving Berlin 

Did you know the Christmas card tradition began in 1843? Overwhelmed by holiday correspondence, Sir Henry Cole commissioned the first printed card—a simple design wishing “A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year.” From that single idea, a global tradition was born, evolving from hand-painted greetings to today’s colorful, personalized cards. More than just paper, Christmas cards remain a heartfelt way to share joy and connection during the season. 

• The first commercial Christmas card cost one shilling in 1843—quite pricey for the time! 
• Early cards often featured spring flowers, not snow scenes, because they symbolized renewal. Americans send over 1.6 billion holiday cards every year, even in the digital age. 
• The largest Christmas card ever made was over 16 feet tall!
  

Our family Christmas card is a labor of love.  It is a tradition, like this blog, that seems so tedious, yet very rewarding. 

*fully magnified wording*

2025 has sped past like a winter breeze, Moments turned to memories with total ease. Winter began with Cannonsburg snow, Cam’s adaptive skiing—confidence on show. March brought respite at Indian Trails, A weekend of peace where happiness prevails. Springtime arrived with WMML swings, Baseball, friends and all that it brings. Jane’s May escape to N.C.’s mountains and more, Time with Leslie, a surprise spa and memories to store. June was special with Grandma Sue and Layna here, Family visits fill hearts with laughter and cheer. Summer unfolded with sunshine bright, Indian Trails camp—a week of delight. Miss Amanda’s fun and Ann’s tutoring with care, Fishing for Chris in warm summer air. Outdoor concerts for Chris and Jane under starry skies, Music and laughter where summer joy lies. Beach days at Oma’s, Lake Michigan’s glow, Cam’s mobile chair rolling where soft waves flow. An accessible boardwalk at the cottage too, Making dreams come true for our entire crew. And at home, a door that automatically opens wide, Cam’s new independence fills us with pride. July brought sports camp—wheelchair strong, Power soccer kicks kept Cam moving along. August called us to Mills River’s view, A family road trip with mountains in hue. Ali and Daree’s wedding, a joyful scene, So much love in the air, our vacation serene. Celebrating Cam turning eighteen in style, At Sierra Nevada—smiles all the while. Autumn returned with applesauce sweet, A family tradition that can’t be beat. Halloween at MFB, giving hearts their best, Supporting the Guild with community zest. Thanksgiving blessings with Oma and Miss Ann, Grateful for health and our loving clan. Through it all, our cousins—our laughter, our glue, Every moment with them feels warm and true. Supporting Lori’s Voice, Renew Mobility too, And Be Café’s mission that started with Brody true. From our family to yours, stay strong and bright, May Christmas bring peace and pure delight. With health, with love, with laughter near, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

It was a busy week of working, mailing packages and cards.  Our weekend was spent catching up on home projects and shopping trips.  Of course, Chris took time out to make his son laugh, which is a daily occurrence.  When Jane made a request to her husband to make rice, he immediately went outside to grab some icicles.  He put them in a pot and brought them to Cam, announcing "Mom told me to make ice!"

Camology Quotes:

Cam's sarcastic side shines through at times.  When engaging in his evening routine one night, Chris reminded him about something he had to do to which he responded:

"Okay Captain Obvious!"

The Weather Outside is Frightful - Week of Dec. 8th

"To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, it is necessary to stand out in the cold." ~Aristotle

Cam's mom spent most of her school years in Michigan.  Jane has told Cam stories from her younger years about waiting to hear if her school was closed by listening to the radio or watching the tv.  

With the arrival of modern technology- text messages, automated phone calls and emails dominate the communication field of school cancellations.  There is even a School Snow Day Calculator website to determine the viability.

Even with these portals, we were all still surprised by the closure on Wednesday when we received the automated 'school is closed' text and email messages at 5:30am.  Thankfully, Cam was able to go back to sleep and didn't awaken until 8am.

The weekend brought a visit from our cousins who came to Grand Rapids for some birthday celebrations.  We dined at one of our favorite sushi spots, Ju Sushi and Lounge.  It was Cam's first time there and for some of his cousins as well.

Chris and Jane recommended the playboy sushi roll.  It contains spicy tuna, tempura shrimp, cream cheese and asparagus topped with shrimp, eel sauce, Japanese mayo, sriracha and furikake. It is delivered to the table...on fire.  It was quite the sight to see!

With the treacherous weather this week, Chris put himself on snowplow duty.  Unfortunately, the heavy packed snow thwarted his plans.  The belt on the converted tractor broke and it was time for some serious mechanical endeavors in the garage.  Fortunately for Cam's dad, his son was all about trying to help work with him through the challenge.  The dynamic duo fixed the snowplow and had fun with making a photo with A.I.!  The picture on the left is the original photo and then the one with the snowman is digitized- artificial intelligence created the snowman shown in front of the plow!!

Camology Quotes:

It's that time of year when we start watching holiday movies again. Cam and his mom decided on "Deck the Halls" - a show about a neighbor who becomes obsessed with decorating his house so it can be seen from space. The neighbor rivalry escalates into an over-the-top competition, creating chaos for their families and the entire neighborhood. Cam wisely found the life lesson when they realized family mattered most.

"Mom, they were both wrong. I'm glad they figured it out."

Cheerful Singing - Week of Dec. 1st

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”  ~Buddy the Elf (from the movie Elf, written by David Berenbaum)

A young buck awaited Cam's arrival as his bus pulled to a stop in front of his home after school in the afternoon.  With the snow sticking around, the wildlife appear to be foraging more.

Monday evening, Cam was anticipating his choir concert.  He talks about the music director, Mr. Wheaton, quite a bit.  Chris and Jane sat with Brody's family. The program was a short 45 minutes and divided into three groups as well as the entire ensemble.

Cam was a part of the Vocality section with his best bud, Brody.

The director, Mr. Wheaton, began the program saying that the kids determined what they would be singing based on choice.

The Vocality singers chose Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Ad Astra and All I Want for Christmas is You.  Cameron even had his own microphone!

The Northern Singers were next up with a trio of musical numbers, followed by the Elite group titled Chorale.  The last number included all sections and was a personal favorite of Jane's: Carol of the Bells.

The weekend marked holiday events for Fishbeck, the longtime employer of Cam's dad.  

Friday evening was the department outing for the IT staff and Saturday was the fancy holiday party held at JW Marriott.  

Amanda stayed with Cam for the first eve and Ms. Ann arrived for the Saturday's festivities.  

Cam and Ann watched the movie "The Best Christmas Present Ever" and thoroughly enjoyed it.  

Chris and Jane stayed out much later than usual and were grateful for their son's tardy wake up time of 8:30am.

Cam is still participating in his Ability Athletes class on Saturday mornings.  Each time, he tries something new and the coaches learn more about his strengths.  And his parents are reminded that their son continues to surprise them, in the subtlest of ways.

Camology Quotes:

Once again, Chris and his son were having fun with A.I. and created this picture.

They uploaded a photo of our Christmas tree and asked the A.I. engine to add presents for Cam around it. 

Even his son was surprised by the results.

"Dad, I would never have THAT many presents!"

The Holiday Prep - Week of Nov. 24th

"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others." ~Cicero

Turkeys were on the run in our backyard this week as we prepared for the big feast.

Before Thursday, Cam was busy.  His physical therapy and swimming sessions each Monday evening are activities he looks forward to.  His PT, Mr. Patrick has been working with Cameron for 10+ years.  They typically finish his appointment with some extended sitting practice.  

At school, Cam helped chop potatoes for homemade soup which he indicated was delicious.

On Wednesday, both Jane and her son had the day off.  After picking up Oma, a stop was made to claim our reserved fresh local turkey.  That afternoon, Cam and his mom made their way to Mary Free Bed for an orthotics appointment.  The casting was completed for replacement AFOs (ankle foot orthotics) just as snow started falling.

Our family loves turkey.  On Thursday, Chris readied our 20lb bird for baking. Cam's grandma, he and his mom worked to peel potatoes, add the ingredients for the homemade stuffing and ready the vegetables, sweet potatoes and biscuits.

Thanksgiving originates from a 1621 harvest feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts, shared between the English colonists (Pilgrims) and the Wampanoag people. While this is the event most famously associated with the holiday's beginnings, Thanksgiving celebrations were not an annual event at the time. The modern holiday traces its roots to a national proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, which established Thanksgiving as a national holiday celebrated on the last Thursday of November.  In 1941, Congress set the fourth Thursday of the November as the federal holiday in celebration of Thanksgiving. 

Ms. Ann arrived with the coveted homemade cranberry relish to accompany our feast.  We all stated what we were most thankful for before enjoying our meal.  Topping that list was each other, our family, our health, our friends and the delicious assortment of food on our table.  Dessert was a surprise Jane had planned.  She pre-ordered mini Crumbl pies.  Six were delivered on Wednesday and everyone had at least one bite from each.  The french silk pie came in first followed by the Reese's chocolate peanut butter, then a collective tie for raspberry, pumpkin, oreo and brookie.

After dinner, Chris and Cam had a bit of fun with AI by embellishing some photos involving a turkey and a rocket, respectively! 🤣

Friday afternoon was spent decorating the Christmas tree and the surrounding area.  It always feels like such a big accomplishment to have it all done.

We collectively took a break that afternoon, relaxing and watching a movie.  Each of us ended up using a separate blanket to make things feel extra cozy.

Friday evening, we treated Oma to an early birthday dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants, Cascade Roadhouse.  Cam and his grandma split the perch dinner.  We felt fortunate to be able to sit in the outdoor enclosure next to the fireplace.  We even met another family who was on the other side of the fire and had a nice time getting acquainted.

A winter storm warning was in place for Saturday evening and Sunday, so Jane drove Oma back to her home in the afternoon.

We took our customary family pic in front of the tree.

Although we had planned to have Oma until Sunday, we all agreed it would be easiest to have her return a little early with the incoming weather.

Jane and her mom worked to trim the tree at Oma's place prior to heading back to GR.  Cam was happy to know that his grandma's place was decorated too!

By Sunday morning, the white stuff blanketed everything. 

We knew we had made the right decision based on the amount of snow that covered our neighborhood!

Camology Quotes:

Cam brought home a school assignment that was labeled 'I'm Thankful For' in honor of Thanksgiving.  

He chose the word "Family" with a further description using this format:

• Funny
• Awesome
• Mellow
• Inclusive
• Loving
• Yappy
  

I Belong - Week of Nov. 17th

“Fairness does not mean everyone gets the same.  Fairness means everyone gets what they need.”  ~Rick Riordan

It's tough to feel left out.  At one point or another, each of us has felt that pang of not being included.  

Cam doesn't complain about missing activities but he is aware and it's always noticeable to his parents.

When Brody's mom reached out about the Cross Fit opportunity in Ada, we had high hopes but low expectations.

We were all pleasantly surprised.  Cam attended his second session on Saturday morning with his mom.  Coach Dan and Coach Rick led the exercises.  They are eager to learn about Cam and what regimens they will create for him.

The program is officially called "Ability Athletes" and Cameron is learning about all of the different routines he is capable of.

Every Saturday morning, he is planning to attend this new, inclusive class.

Saturday evening, we had a special dinner planned at El Centenario.  Our friends, Matt and Jill, planned to meet us there for a delicious Mexican meal.

Jane first met them both at Renew Mobility where they are all on the Board of Directors together.

Matt and Jill both drive power wheelchairs similar to Cam's.  Although their stories are all unique, they are bonded by their common daily experience.  Cam looks up to these two adults especially since they live independently and drive their own modified wheelchair minivans.  It is empowering to see.

As we all discussed various topics during our evening meal, we collectively shared lots of laughs about places that 'claim' to be accessible, but in reality, are not.  For Cam, it is the true sense of belonging, specifically because the power wheelchairs outnumbered our group!

Camology Quotes:

Cam was reflecting on the Saturday evening dinner and how accommodating El Centenario was.  He shared this insight that he hopes is widely known:

"You don't have to be walking around to have a group party at your restaurant.  It shows restaurants that they have to accept wheelchair groups!"

Ready for Travel - Week of Nov. 10th

“You are the one that possesses the keys to your being. You carry the passport to your own happiness.” ~Diane von Furstenberg

It is still odd to see Cam's Class of 2026 sign in our yard.  Even our senior has the sense of time speeding up the older you are.

A Veteran's Day assembly was held at the high school.  Since Chris is a former Marine, Cam had the honor of his dad being recognized in front of his peers.

This week, there was a light dusting of snow on the ground as Jane and her son ventured out for the bus one morning.  The 19 degrees felt unbelievably chilly (as Cam's look depicts) and luckily we make our trek to show up exactly as the bus arrives.

We are fortunate to be able to use an app called 'Here Comes the Bus' which shows the location tracking of Cam's daily ride to school.

When the weekend arrived, Cameron was headed to Indian Trails to spend the night with fellow friends.  

He met a new counselor named Caleb and was happy to see a former friend, nurse Jessie.  The group got to know each other and Cam had a positive experience.  He is waitlisted for some other upcoming sessions.

Chris and Jane put away things at the cottage before the real snow season arrives.  We all agreed that it was good to get away from the city and soak up the surrounding nature.

AI generated image
created from a pic of the 
Weatherford Fam!

The most exciting arrival of the week was Cam's passport card. We recently renewed his passport and also requested the small travel card.  He was careful to point out that the picture could not show any of the card details- that's our savvy tech son!

Camology Quotes:

Each evening, Cam enjoys solo time.  With the Alexa devices throughout our home, he simply announces when he's ready for the next task.  Chris took longer than normal to meet up with us, which led his son to interject the following:

"Are you not hearing Alexa announcements because your listening ears weren't on, Dad?!"