Ramah of the Rockies 2011

The Schneider-Farris family will remember the summer of 2011 as the summer when all three kids went to Ramah Outdoor Adventure, but at different times.

Joel went to Session #1: June 21 -- July 4, 2011

Rebekah went to Session #2: July 6 -- August 1, 2011

Annabelle will go to Session #3: August 3 -- August 15, 2011

Some people are asking why the kids all went to the same camp at different times. Here's the answer:

Rebekah and Annabelle went last year. Rebekah pleaded with me for a month long camp experience, so this year, she went for a month. Annabelle made friends last year with campers that attended in August, so she wanted to return in August to link up again with those friends.

Joel didn't care when he went, so June seemed like a good time to go. He made friends, tried new foods, and got to do all sorts of fun things like kayaking, white-water rafting, hiking, mountain biking, and climbing.

Below are some photos of the great experience Joel had. I've also included some photos the camp has sent us of Rebekah's experience so far. I see she took part in mud-wrestling...

There's also a photo of Annabelle with some of the kids that was taken at a pre-camp family gathering in Denver.

A Book Called "The Janitor's Girl" Inspired My Life

When I was a little girl, growing up in the 1960s, thanks to my parents, I learned to love books. I read constantly. We ddin't have good things to watch on TV, so books were the way to go. Schools gave us a chance to buy inexpensive paperback books from Scholastic Books.

One book I read when I was about ten or eleven years old changed my life. The book is called The Janitor's Girl. The author of the book is Frieda Friedman.

The story is about a girl named Sue who moves to New York City into a huge high rise apartment building. Her father is the Building Superindent ...the janitor.

Sue's sister warns Sue that others will look down on her because of their father's job. Sue doesn't believe that could be possible.

At first, things go okay for the story's heroine Then, a snobby rich family moves into the building. The snobby family has a daughter named Rosalie who looks down on Sue because of her father's job. Rosalie's family are mean people and Rosalie is mean.

Soon Sue is shut out of an exclusive club Rosalie starts and girls she thought were faithful friends won't associate with her.

As first Sue is really upset, but then she does something that changes her life. She befriends some immigrant kids that are not accepted by many Americans. The "outcasts" form their own club and do some really fun and inexpensive things together in New York City.

Some of the girls in Rosalie's exclusive club realize that Sue really has a good thing going. Eventually, they decide that Sue and her friends are really true and faithful friends. They realize that being exclusive or hurting others is not the way to behave.

The Janitor's Girl teaches a lesson. The lesson is that following a prestigious or exclusive group is not always the right way. Following or associating with "outcasts" or those who aren't in the "in-crowd" may be the way to go!

I have followed what I learned from that book for my entire life. I try to never be unfriendly or snobbly. I include, rather than exclude, anyone who wants to be included in my circle of friends. When I have been shut out, I form something new that includes. I've passed on this outlook to my children. I hope they will use that attitude throughout their lives.

I do hope that those who read this can also use this lesson in your own life!

Rebekah Is a US Figure Skating Gold Medalist! 7-2-2011

On April 24, 2005, Rebekah passed her Pre-Preliminary Moves in the Field figure skating test. A little over six years later, on July 2, 2011, Rebekah passed her Senior Moves in the Field test and became a US Figure Skating Gold Medalist.

In April of 2005, passing the Pre-Preliminary moves test seemed like a great accomplishment. Little did we know then what it would take for Rebekah to achieve what she accomplished on July 2, 2011.

Rebekah has become a very accomplished figure skater! We are so very proud of her!

Annabelle's Girl Scout Camp-Out At Rocky Mountain National Park

Annabelle's girl scout troop went on a great camp-out to Rocky Mountain National Park from Tuesday, June 28 to Thursday, June 30! These photos show how much fun she had!

Annabelle Wins Silver At the Broadmoor Open 2011

Joel is at camp, so there's no ice dancing or pair skating going on for the Schneider-Farris kids at this particular Broadmoor Open, but Annabelle competed in singles.

She skated great and we are so proud of her!



It was fun too because her event was right before a practice session for Dalilah's pair teams. All of Dalilah's skaters were cheering loud for Annabelle! That was so fun!

Our Rabbi Is Leaving - I'm So Sad

I shed some tears last night.

You see, finally, after so much time of not feeling like our family belonged anywhere, the rabbi at our temple, Temple Beit Torah, gave us a sense of belonging. He also became part of my family's life. Not only did he officiate at my mother's Colorado funeral, but he is the one that made Rebekah's Bat Mitzvah possible.





Now, Rabbi Levy is leaving. Last night, the congregation said good-bye to him and his wife Clara.

He truly cared about his congregation. He gave me a feeling he truly cared about me. He liked teaching Rebekah. He liked Annabelle. He cared about my father when my mother died. He loves Judaism. He passed that love on to everyone he met in Colorado Springs.

He said he does not know where his family will be in a year. He also said that sometimes we have to leave a place where we feel comfortable and secure and loved to go to to whatever God has in store for us next. He explained that the temple is not about him, but about the people that are there. His great love and knowledge and joy of God shows in all he does. I know in advance I will miss him greatly.

This year has been one of change for our family. There have been very painful changes. My mother died. Our ice dance coaches were taken away from my kids. Now, our rabbi is leaving.

I know God's love does not change. I am convinced of that, but still, losing this rabbi at this time, is hard for me. I wonder what the future will bring.

Photos of Tanith Belbin and the Schneider-Farris Kids 6-14-11

Tanith Belbin visited the World Arena during the week of 6-13 to 6-17-11. She was so sweet!