A Dozen Feasters - Week of Nov. 20th

"Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude." ~A.A. Milne, "Winnie-the-Pooh"

Cameron has always liked the idea of traditions.  It seems that almost every time we have encountered something new or different, he has asked if this is now a tradition. 

For the last few years, Cam and his mom have driven to a local turkey farm to acquire their Thanksgiving bird. 

Otto's Turkey Farm, located in Middleville, has a rich history.  Scottish Immigrant, Charles McQueen, purchased this farm in May 1846. In his later years, he parceled the farm off to his three daughters, Kittie, Isabella, and Alice in gifts of 160 acres each. Kittie, who received the  existing 160 acres, married John Otto in 1892 and they continued farming this land. John and Kittie had one son, Harold, who purchased the land from his parents and in turn sold it to his son, David, who sold it to his son Tom in January 1984, with an additional 40 acres of woods that David had added to the original farm. Today, Tom Jeri Nick and Nate operate the farm with Nathan and his wife Jillian in line to purchase the farm and represent the sixth generation to farm this land, while endeavoring to be good stewards. They set about making turkey a healthy meat to eat everyday, all year long.

When you enter the parking lot, two individuals guide you in and indicate where to park.  Upon entrance to the building, you're asked what size turkey you're looking for and less than 2 minutes later, your fresh bird is presented to you for purchase.

Jane picked up Oma and Opa Wednesday afternoon and we were excited to have them with us for the next two nights.  We all enjoyed watching a funny movie that evening and it was difficult to determine who enjoyed it more!

On Thursday morning, we began preparations for the upcoming feast.  The stuffed turkey entered the oven at 10am.  For the first time, we prepared the mashed potatoes afterwards and readied the sweet potato casserole.

By mid-afternoon, we welcomed our cousins Mike and Eric, Coco, Max and their kiddos and Ms. Ann.  The house was full of activity as we munched on appetizers and visited with everyone.  

As we moved items from the oven to the table, it filled up quickly.  The silver penguin bun warmer is a special centerpiece that was used by Jane's grandmother and is now the Weatherford holder of crescent rolls.  Coco's homemade carrot soup is a delicious first course that is one of her family traditions.  Oma always makes her fresh cranberry relish, adding a beautiful color to the meal.  After a few rounds of dishes being passed and lively conversation, everyone slowed down.  

We waited a bit prior to the move to dessert and had quite an array...homemade apple pie, homemade pumpkin cheesecake truffles, peppermint chocolate bark, ice cream and whipped cream.  The kiddos had fun trying out the whipped cream and Cam declared himself officially stuffed!

After a restful night, we were ready to tackle holiday decorations Friday morning.  It has been a tradition for Cam, his mom and grandma to add the ornaments.  Chris is always the one to handle the top of the tree decorations, including the angel.
We discovered a family treasure of Oma's that now adorns our mantle- a handmade wooden creche that she purchased in Austria in the 1950s.  It is in mint condition and she is happy it is now displayed again.

We know we are fortunate to have our extended family with us during a holiday and having a house full of laughter and liveliness is one of the best feelings.

Robert Brault is quoted as saying "What greater blessing to give thanks for at a family gathering than the family and the gathering."  We couldn't agree more!

Camology Quotes:

Cameron is acutely aware of directions and locations.  His geographical instinct is much like his father's- spot on.  When traveling to the turkey farm, though, he seemed a bit misdirected.

"Mom, this is not the way we usually go."

Yes it is, Cam.  There is actually only one way to get here.

"Nope. The GPS must be off today." 

Hmm, I guess it contracted a virus! 😉

On Overdrive - Week of Nov. 13th

"I have always had this energy, which I think of as overdrive." ~Terence Stamp

Clearly, the birds roaming in our backyard have no idea that turkey day is only a week away.

Cameron headed into the doctor's office Monday a.m. still unable to shake the crazy cough.  They ordered a chest x-ray and prescribed Z-pak to help settle the illness.  He remained at home three days this week.  We were a bit uncertain if he would be well enough to attend the first power soccer tournament in Michigan right in Grand Rapids.

Cam rallied, as he typically does, and wanted to attend with his teammates.  The tournament was scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Special Olympics of Michigan (SOMI) building, just 25 minutes from our home.  The Mary Free Bed team is named Overdrive.

SOMI was hosting the first ever Power Soccer Tournament in Michigan on November 18-19, 2023. This tournament was open to all United States Power Soccer Association (USPSA) teams. 

Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI) is making major construction milestones transforming the once South Christian High School into the world’s largest inclusive sports facility - the Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports & Inclusion Center. With state-of-the-art renovations nearing fifty percent complete inside the building, work is now set to begin on the campus’ 17-acre outdoor sports complex. The exterior complex includes an eight-lane collegiate-level track, five natural grass soccer fields, three pickleball courts, a putting/chipping green, 10 bocce ball courts, an athlete promenade, and an outdoor plaza.

3 games were played on Saturday and 1 game on Sunday.  The team gathered in a room where they were each fitted with a foam board attached to the back with their name and number.  Light and dark jerseys depict the "home" or "away" team for each match.  Chris adds the front "plate" to Cam's power chair, while other kids are transferred into a lower chair designed for power soccer.  Cam's dad also set up a table for Lori's Voice, one of the sponsors for the tournament.

Cam was sent into play for one of the games on Saturday.  During the timeframe he was with his teammates, they scored their one and only goal!  He was a part of the assist and could not stop smiling afterwards.  

The experience with the Overdrive team promotes friendships and inclusion.  Each member has some type of physical challenge.  They are all excited to be a part of a sport with kids ranging in age from first grade through adulthood.  We knew Cam was having a good time since he opted to have lunch with his teammates instead of going out to dine somewhere.  It definitely was a bonus that the food was from Chick-Fil-A!

Chris and Jane weren't certain how the weekend would progress since Cameron had been fighting a virus.  They knew they scored big Sunday afternoon when Cam announced that he wanted to create a short movie about the Overdrive Power Soccer Tourney!

See Cam's one-minute video here: https://youtu.be/-_3NE5HVFhs

Camology Quotes:

Cameron definitely comes up with some crazy phrases.  Every week or so, he requests assistance from his mom to trim his nails.  He has a reference for when they are ready to be cut.

"Mom, these nails are crispy!"

What does that mean, Cam?

"It means they are overdone!"

Crazy Cough - Week of Nov. 6th

Sick by Shel Silverstein

"I cannot go to school today," Said little Peggy Ann McKay. "I have the measles and the mumps, A gash, a rash and purple bumps. My mouth is wet, my throat is dry, I'm going blind in my right eye. My tonsils are as big as rocks, I've counted sixteen chicken pox And there's one more—that's seventeen, And don't you think my face looks green? My leg is cut—my eyes are blue— It might be instamatic flu. I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke, I'm sure that my left leg is broke— My hip hurts when I move my chin, My belly button's caving in, My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained, My 'pendix pains each time it rains. My nose is cold, my toes are numb. I have a sliver in my thumb. My neck is stiff, my voice is weak, I hardly whisper when I speak. My tongue is filling up my mouth, I think my hair is falling out. My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight, My temperature is one-o-eight. My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear, There is a hole inside my ear. I have a hangnail, and my heart is—what? What's that? What's that you say? You say today is. . .Saturday? G'bye, I'm going out to play!"

It was a challenging week for Cam.  Unlike Peggy Ann McKay, he didn't pretend to be sick but truly had an annoying cough which sidelined him for the first three school days. He rode the bus on Thursday and had a decent day.  That evening, he agreed to keep his scheduled haircut and we all enjoyed dinner at a Mexican restaurant right next to the barbershop. 
On Friday, Cameron was very proud to be able to honor his dad at the high school Veteran's Day assembly.

Friday evening, Ms. Amanda stayed with Cam while Chris and Jane attended a fundraiser for the Adaptive Ski Association of West Michigan at the Downtown Market.  Although they didn't win anything from the auction, they were excited to see the new ski sleds and snapped a picture of one for their son.  As a family, we will return to the slopes in January with the Adaptive Ski group.

Saturday was a relaxing day at home for Cam.  On Sunday, we met Oma and Opa for brunch in Spring Lake.  The Village Baker serves breakfast and lunch and offers an array of homemade breads and pastries.  Cameron chose a BLT sandwich while the rest of us settled on breakfast items.  

It was good to see the sunshine and after our leisurely meal, we headed to Grand Haven and noticed that the village of Spring Lake was already decorated for Christmas.  

Our destination was Oma and Opa's place which is one of Cam's favorite locales.

Even though we haven't celebrated Thanksgiving yet, we helped Oma arrange the holiday items around their abode.  It was fun to see everything so festive. 

Cam is a big fan of Alexa.  Oma uses it to set timers and play music.  We asked Alexa to play one of Opa's favorite bands, The Glenn Miller Orchestra.  While he was resting in his recliner, he began quietly snapping his fingers and smiling.  It was a highlight for Cameron as he noted how truly happy the songs made his grandpa feel.

Our time with Oma and Opa always goes by so quickly.  As we said goodbye, we noted that it wouldn't be too long until we were together again.  Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks away!

Camology Quotes:

When Cam is dealing with any illness during the school year, he has a difficult time determining when his body is well enough to return to activities. Thursday morning, he announced a new plan. 

"I am making a confident cheat sheet to know all of the things that make me confident that I can return to school."

A Treat for Cam's Parents - Week of Oct. 30th

Everyone can usually name their favorite Halloween treat.  Cameron has always had an affinity towards chocolate.  The Weatherford household did not see any trick-or-treaters Tuesday evening.  Even though we didn't see a substantial amount of snow, it definitely deterred the kiddos.  Fortunately, or unfortunately, an ample amount of full-size candy bars remained at our home.Cam's top pick is Reese's peanut butter cups.  We were curious how they came to be... The H.B. Reese Candy Company was established in 1923 by H. B. Reese in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The official product name was "Penny Cups" because they could be purchased for one cent.  Reese had originally worked at a Hershey dairy farm, and from the start, he used Hershey chocolate in his confections. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups were his most popular candy, leading Reese to eventually discontinue his other lines. On July 2, 1963, the Reese brothers merged the H. B. Reese Candy Company with the Hershey Chocolate Corporation in a tax-free stock-for-stock merger. In 1969, only six years after the Reese/Hershey merger, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups became The Hershey Company's top seller.Reese died in 1956, passing the company to his six sons, Robert, John, Ed, Ralph, Harry, and Charles Richard Reese.

Wednesday evening, Cam was back at power soccer practice.  Now that he is getting into the groove of things, it is an activity he looks forward to every week.

On Friday, a very long-awaited treat was in store for Cam's parents.

Our dear friends, Steve and Patti, had offered to spend the night with Cameron. They considered it their anniversary gift to Chris and Jane!  It also marked the first time in 8 years that Cam's parents had spent the night away solo. 

The amazing gift was only possible because of Cameron's willingness to take part in the plan.  

Chris and Jane took the afternoon off of work and made their way downtown.  They enjoyed a leisurely lunch, afternoon coffee, nice dinner and many rounds of ping pong.

Ms. Ann arrived after school to tutor and offered any assistance she could provide.

Steve and Patti appeared before dinner time.  An extra treat for Cam was a pizza and breadstick dinner- his favorite!  They played Uno together and watched a classic movie, "The Apple Dumpling Gang."

The evening was a success for everyone! An important reminder for us all: friends and family who give the present of themselves with their time and energy provide the most priceless gift of all!  

Camology Quotes:

There were many questions and inquiries from our overly prepared son leading up to Friday. He
knows his routine and all of the technology surrounding it.  Even though we knew he was a little nervous, his sweetness was still evident as Cam and Jane ventured down the driveway to meet the school bus Friday morning.

"Mom, I really hope you and Dad have a wonderful time at your hotel tonight!"

Trunks with Treats - Week of Oct. 23rd

"We can't help everyone... but everyone can help someone." ~Dr. Loretta Scott

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." ~Margaret Mead

It was a non-profit week in the Weatherford household.  With 4 events on the horizon, Cameron was a bit relieved to only have four full days of school. 

Wednesday evening was the "Fowling to Keep 'Em Rolling" fundraiser at the Fowling Warehouse just a few minutes from our house.  Cam saw quite a few friends there including Onji, Gibson and Liam, the newest Youth Ambassador.  JT's pizza was served, many items were raffled off and costume winners were crowned.  It was a successful event and a great turnout.  As a board member, Jane was so happy to see everyone rally around the cause to provide necessary equipment to those in need.

Friday afternoon, Jane arrived at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital to help set up for the Trunk or Treat activity.  The Guild, which Jane is a member of, created personalized treat bags for inpatients and outpatients.  Cameron helped created the bags and also agreed to dress up as part of The Wizard of Oz theme.  One of the attendees even let Jane "borrow" a real puppy to have in her basket for a few minutes.  The ten-week old poodle named Lloyd (not Toto) truly looked like a stuffed animal.  Cam rocked his lion costume and had fun exploring the Therapy Garden, which was turned into the Scare-apy Garden for the evening.  

At 7pm, Jane and her son headed off to the next Trunk or Treat at Clock Mobility.  Chris was there supporting Lori's Voice, for which he is a board member.  It was a mild temperature evening and the rain held off.  All of the organizations at Clock indicated that busloads of people had been dropped off earlier and it had been quite busy.  Cameron had collected lots of candy at MFB and declared upon entry to this one that he did not want any more treats. One of the creative decorations was a Barbie photo booth.  Our entire family departed the Clock Mobility location at the same time in different vehicles.  We all slept in the next morning.

Saturday brought some sunshine with cooler temps in the 50s.  Chris and his son decided it was time to move the deck furniture under the house in preparation for the forecasted frost in the near future.  During the fall season, the leaves seem to fly off the trees as quickly as they are cleaned up.

Saturday evening, Ms. Ann arrived to hang out with Cam while his parents attended the Mary Free Bed Gala downtown.  A photo booth was set up for the event.  The Center for Autism was the focus for fundraising and we heard some incredible stories, enjoyed a delicious dinner and danced to a live band.

Sunday afternoon, it was Cam's turn to be out and about.  We all met up with Brody and his mom at Culver's for lunch.  From there, we headed to the movie theater where the boys and their moms had tickets for the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert movie.  

Brody loves music and asked if his best buddy, Cam could see the flick too.  It marked the very first time that the foursome had watched a concert on the big screen.  At times, it truly seemed like you were right there in the audience.  For Cam, the pure enjoyment of hearing the songs was relaxing.  None of us thought we would make it through the entire 2 hours and 43 minutes of run time.  

To our collective surprise, we stayed until the end!  Upon arrival home, Cam and his mom declared it was definitely worth it and much more affordable than the actual concert ticket price!

Camology Quotes:

Cam pays attention to details.  His questions can surprise us, not only because they are insightful, but also since we may not have thought of them.  At the end of the movie, he asked his mom.

"Do you think the people they showed in the concert all had to sign a disclaimer to be in the movie?" 

The YA Club - Week of Oct. 16th

"I will continue to lift as I climb." ~Blessing Adogame, Youth Ambassador of Theirworld, UX Product Manager for Microsoft

A youth ambassador is a young agent, representative and/or steward for the charity for which they work. Youth ambassadors have been introduced in order to promote participation, or spread goodwill or knowledge.

Cameron was asked to be the first youth ambassador for Renew Mobility in 2020.  This was in part, due to his idea to donate our used handicap van to the non-profit for their use of transporting equipment.  He is always ready to tell people about the organization and we have learned that the youth ambassadorship does not expire any time soon.

Now, in 2023, his buddy Liam was honored as the latest esteemed youth ambassador for Renew Mobility.  The executive director of Renew, Coleen, set up a surprise luncheon on Friday at Culver's. Since both Cam and Liam attend the same high school, they were both on fall break.  The best part was that Liam had no idea why we were all there!  Both families were in full force with all members in attendance.  Everyone 
enjoyed a delicious lunch after the latest Renew Mobility Youth Ambassador was inducted.

Since Cam and his mom had the day off together, we decided we should celebrate.  Chris met us for an early dinner in Ada at a place Cam had never been before: Garage Bar and Grill.  Cameron's dad had raved about their chicken tenders and cheese curds.  Cam laughed when his mom showed him in the menu that the cheesy appetizer was called squeaky wheels.  We all enjoyed a great meal and Cam declared the chicken and cheese his all-time favorite!

The weekend was filled with various projects and a Halloween movie- Hocus Pocus.  Cam helped his mom figure out decorations for treat bags that we were customizing for kid patients at Mary Free Bed as part of a project for the MFB Guild.  

Since Monday was still part of Cam's fall break, we decided to include it in this week's blog.  Mom and son met Brody and his family at Deep Roots Produce located in Caledonia, just 15 minutes away.  Their pumpkin patch is enormous.  The location also has a petting zoo, free of charge, with alpacas, goats, chickens, roosters, sheep, donkeys and pigs.  A feed cup is purchasable to feed the hungry animals.  

Our crew can absolutely confirm that alpacas do spit without any warning whatsoever.  The goats were Cam and Jane's favorite along with the sweet sheep.  We all picked out pumpkins, purchased some farm fresh produce and enjoyed the sunshine.  The boys even thought that Jane and Jenny could almost be mistaken for sisters.

Our area of western Michigan is approaching its peak leaf color for the fall season. As Jane and Cam were headed back home, they passed countless trees that almost looked painted.  Jane stopped to snap a pic, which made her son a bit nervous that far too many laws were being impacted by this action.

Camology Quotes:

Every Monday, Cam has his swimming therapy and PT appointment back to back.  Depending on his parents' work commitments, some days we're arriving just in time.  Cameron always shares his honest opinion... 

"Mom, you parked horribly!"

"Ok, thanks for your support, Cam." (laughing)

"Well, it's the truth, Mom." (both chuckling)

Soccer Power - Week of Oct. 9th

"There’s not a word yet for old friends who’ve just met." ~Jim Henson

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, for in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed." ~Khalil Gibran

As we begin to slip into our fall routine, the sunshine can be a bit elusive.  Catching the sunrise and seeing the glimmer of vibrant rays gives us a hint of incoming sun.

Power Soccer practice started this week for Cam. Power soccer is played by people who use power chairs for daily mobility; it’s one of the fastest growing sports in the nation on four wheels. It’s also the fastest growing sport offered in Mary Free Bed’s Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports program.  

Every Wednesday, kids who signed up for the program meet at the Mary Free Bed YMCA for 2 hours.

Cameron attended a few practices at the end of the last season and decided he was all in for this fall.  The benefits go beyond being involved in a team sport.  Chris noted that Cam was chatting away with a newcomer during a break.  The social aspect definitely increases confidence and the ability to meet new friends.

Most weekends, if there are not other activities scheduled, Cam can be found helping each of his parents independently.  During a computer session with Chris, his son expertly navigated an app, indicating which areas to access to modify the content needed.  One of Cam's best qualities is his ability to encourage others, especially when you're doubting yourself.

Sunday afternoon, Jane and her son decided to drive to Grand Haven to check in on Oma and Opa.  Since it had rained all day Saturday, it was nice to see a break in the weather.  The fall colors on the tree-lined highway provided a beautiful backdrop for the commute.

We busied ourselves with organizing and checking in on a few technical questions.  After our time together, we were happy to be heading out with some bags of donation items.

Cam and his mom were able to say hi to some of Oma and Opa's friends in the building.  Our two-hour visit went by much too quickly.

Back in Grand Rapids, the wildlife continue to visit, inching closer.  The turkeys, though, should be a bit more wary with Thanksgiving right around the corner!

Camology Quotes:

Cameron, as most teens, has become a little more argumentative with his parents.  Normally, though, it is in a joking way.  Cam was questioning the order in which Chris was carrying out a task.

"I'm not sure what you're doing, Dad, but you do you!"

We All Benefit - Week of Oct. 2nd

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." ~Winston Churchill

“It's easier to take than to give. It's nobler to give than to take. The thrill of taking lasts a day. The thrill of giving lasts a lifetime.” ~Joan Marques

One of our anticipated fall events finally arrived this week: the Brody's Be Cafe Benefit!  It is the only annual fundraiser for the cafe where Cam held his first job this past summer.  Many items were ready for the live and silent auction.  A recap of the listings can be viewed here: https://bebenefit.cbo.io

Cameron was very proud to have a basket created in his honor.  Each "Berista" had a silent auction created for them based upon their favorite things.  Cam's signage read: 

Hi my name is Cam!

I started working at Brody's this summer and love working the hot dog cart and greeting lots of people. I'm told I have a smile no one can match.

Some of my favorite things are my nonprofit work at Lori's Voice, Brody's, & Renew Mobility. 

I love to hang out with my friends, play baseball and eating at Culvers.

Did you know I play on a Miracle League Baseball Team?

Oma and Opa braved the rain to make their way to Grand Rapids Thursday afternoon for the big event.  Cam was so happy they could attend.  Jane is a board member and was busy printing materials over the past few weeks and assisting with setup.  Chris was assigned to help out with audio and visual.  Cameron had the honor of greeting people as they made their way into the live auction setting at the community church adjacent to the cafe.  Food and drink were catered by local establishments and thankfully, the rain subsided for our event.  

There were over 300 attendees and 94 items to bid on. The entire evening was a big success and our family was a part of the memorable experience. Cam's basket had a winning bid of $210!  Oma tried take it home, but she was outbid. Since it was a late evening, we all slept in the next morning and drove Cam to school so he wouldn't have to wake up too early.

It felt like fall on Friday with the temperatures taking a dive.  Oma and Opa stayed with us for two nights and we enjoyed white chicken chili and cornbread for our Friday night supper.  Cam's last baseball game was scheduled for Saturday a.m. but it was canceled due to rainy, windy conditions.  In the early afternoon, Oma and Opa headed back to Grand Haven and we were so thankful for the extra time with them.  Chris, Jane and their son were on their way northward to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving with our cousins and family friends.

Many of us tried our first bite of a Canadian staple, poutine.  French fries, cheese curds and hot gravy make up this popular dish. They even serve it at McDonald's and Burger King in Canada.

Our 26lb turkey with all of the fixings left us all feeling a bit stuffed!

The weather didn't cooperate for any outdoor time.

Cam's younger cousins found plenty of things to stay occupied inside. Cameron also thoroughly enjoys being the older cousin and playing the self-appointed role of oversight manager.

Camology Quotes:

Cam's parents have told him a few times (or a hundred) that he is somewhat of an expert eavesdropper. Seemingly private conversations are overheard by Cameron's targeted listening skills.  As we teased him about his uncanny ability to hear things that potentially were not intended for his ears, he provided a straightforward response.

"Well, I think eavesdropping is just the nature of who you are."