Dan mows the lawn and Annabelle rides a 2-wheeler!

On this Mothers Day, we have two memorable photos to share!

It might be nice to buy a better lawnmower though...

Who would have thought this could be possible? Children riding two wheeled bikes, do make that step, but people who almost died -- mowing lawns -- is quite a feat!

Wow, what a day of celebration!

Dan can ride a bike -- By Himself!

"Wow!!!!" is the only thing that can be said about seeing Dan riding a bike BY HIMSELF! Who would have thought this could be possible 7 months ago?

Passover 2006 -- A time of hope, a time of new beginnings

Earlier this week, our family sat down together for a Passover Seder. We had the best seder we've ever had together as a family. We laughed and sang as we rejoiced in knowing that Dan is alive and with us.

Like the Hebrews rejoiced when they were freed from slavery, we rejoiced. We remembered how Miriam and other women sang and danced after the Hebrews made it safely across the Red Sea.

We remembered how God delivered the Jewish people and how wonderful God truly is. We remembered that miracles do happen.

Yes, our family is very grateful to the miracle God brought to us by bringing Dan from near death back to life.

April 7, 2006 -- 27 years of marriage

Today, Dan and I celebrate 27 years of marriage. Nearly 7 months ago, Dan almost died. I rejoice that we get to celebrate an anniversary today.



Below is a reflection I wrote about our marriage on our 23rd Anniversary. Now, I would end this reflection with ".....I'm grateful that Dan is alive and that we have a loving and supportive family. We have so much to be thankful for!"

Anyway...enjoy the reflection I wrote on our 23rd Anniversary! When I wrote it, we'd spent over two decades together -- now, we are getting close to three!

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'We met on a camping trip to Catalina. It was Labor Day weekend 1978.

I was attracted to Dan since he was the only college grad on that
camping trip. I had just finished Colorado College, and Dan's older
brother had gone to Colorado College, so we had something to talk
about.

Our dating only went on for 3 months! We spent most of the time taking walks in the
Belmont Shore area of Long Beach talking about our families.

At the end of November we were engaged!

One day, we told eachother we were in love
over melted ice cream cones from Dairy Queen as we too a walk.

A month or two later, we were sitting in Dan's old Ford Falcon in
front of my Grandma Fannie's house, and we were talking about
marriage and committment. Now (don't laugh!), I blurted
out, "Dan, I think I'd like to marry you someday!" Dan was kind of
shocked at my statement, and said, "Is that a deal?" We shook hands!

Then we went inside of Grandma's house and told her, and she said
Mazel Tov!

That evening we took Grandma and her sister Molly out to the Katella
Deli and celebrated. Dan had his first kosher dill pickle that night!

When I look back now, it amazes me that I married someone I barely
knew, but we've somehow had 23 years, and
still like eachother!

We had a very quick engagement, and had an informal wedding. I wore
a borrowed dress and platform shoes from Goodwill since the dress was
too long. Dan wore a sportsjacket.

(Sidenote: I cried at weddings for years after that. That is why 10 years later, Dan and I had a 10 year wedding renewal. Anyway, I still cry
at weddings, but not because I didn't get a formal one. I wore a
beautiful dress at the 10 year renewal in 1989 and Dan wore a tux. I
smiled and felt loved that day. )








Well back to 1979. We were married on April 7, 1979 and spent our
honeymoon at my family's condo in Colorado Springs. Our honeymoon
consisted of us visiting the places in Colorado Springs that I had
told Dan about and also visiting the friends I had that
were still in Colorado and at Colorado College.

We returned home to southern California. Eventually, we moved into The Atherton House, and became part of a Commune for 3 years.

I started teaching skating in 1983 which took over our lives.

In 1988 we moved to San Francisco, and in late 1991 (it was almost 1992),
we returned to Colorado Springs, the place where our marriage really
began, the place where we honeymooned, and began a new life in
Colorado.

The past 10 plus years in Colorado Springs have been ones that have
been different in our marriage. Wow, a lot has happened! We had 3
children! In San Francisco, I had seen an infertility specialist
just before we left; our years of infertility seem like a vague
memory now. We bought a home here in 1995. I became a published author and
the book HOW TO JUMP AND SPIN ON IN-LINE SKATES is selling all over
the world. Dan quietly works in the background, but has become
admired and respected at the Veterans Affairs office he works at here
in the Springs.

Sometimes, I admit, I wonder what keeps us in love.
Things are not always easy. I do know that Dan loves me and we have
wonderful memories that cover more than 2 decades now.

Well, these are my reflections on 23 years of marriage this Sunday
morning. I am grateful for Sundays with Dan. They are the one day
we don't rush to work; I don't teach skating, and we just have a
chance to enjoy our family and our life.'

We've"come a long way" in 6 months

Here is a picture of Dan and Rebekah one week and two days (September 25, 2005) after the accident. Rebekah is smiling because on that day, I took the children to see Dan for the first time and she was so happy to see her father. I had been advised to not allow the children to see him, but...

I took the children to see their father that day because I believed Dan was not going to live and I wanted the children to see their father just in case that happened.

Take a look at Dan now! Dan can ride a scooter!

Wow, it is incredible to see how far we've come in only SIX MONTHS!

Dan's brother Mike left tonight

It is exactly 6 months and 1 week since Dan's horrible accident.



(Dan has made so much progress and was even able to ride on the back of our tandem bike with Mike just a couple of weeks ago!)


The night of the accident, Dan's parents and Dan's brother Mike, flew out to Colorado Springs and saw Dan in the hospital ICU at 3 AM.

Mike stayed. Mike stayed to help. Mike stayed at Dan's side. Mike loved us. Mike loved Dan. Mike linked the rest of Dan's family to what was happening with Dan.

Mike has lived with our family and helped our family and been on Dan's side for over six months.

Today we said good-bye to Mike and today, Dan walked more than ever! Today, our family became five again. Today, we remember that our life changed 6 months ago.




Thank you, dear Uncle Mike, for loving us, being there for us, being at Dan's side at the hospital and at home for so long. We begin a life without you tonight, but we will never ever forget how you sacrificed so much of yourself for Dan!

How is Jo Ann? How are the children?

To the friend who logs checks for updates here every once in awhile:

Our "Novel or Movie" is coming to a conclusion it seems. Music should be playing in the background and there should be a scene where there are lots of hugs and smiles.

Yes, that is happening.....each day our family does cherish the fact that Daddy is alive.

However, things are not "the same."

The children have done well. They are back doing many of the activities that they did before the accident and they are back skating everyday. They are slightly behind on their homeschool goals, but will catch up.






Jo Ann's small private lesson skating clientele is gone though. To build it up again is quite difficult and Jo Ann is seeking other ways to bring some income into our home. She does hope to give a few lessons again too. Yes, we do have financial worries at this time, but hope that somehow something will turn up so Jo Ann can bring some much needed extra income into our household.

The problem is that Jo Ann can't take on much more. The children and Dan take up so much of her energy, and she has put all her efforts into the care and well-being of Dan and the children. She has trouble sleeping at night because so much is on her mind these days. Yes, Jo Ann is overwhelmed.

Jo Ann has taken on more and more responsibilities, but the children have begun to help out around the house much more than before. We have all realized that Dan's main goal is to continue to get well, so we all try to help him do that daily.



We've gone swimming, roller skating, skiing, and out to eat as a family again. Although Dan can't roller skate or ski, he can accompany us to these activities. How neat is that?



Dan takes Joel to hockey games and practice again and drives Joel to Boy Scouts. Dan is working full-time from a wheelchair and is driving! Wow! We do rejoice that Daddy is with us and "so well" and wonder now what the rest of 2006 will bring.

Will we ever find out what really happened? Probably not -- Dan doesn't remember....but....does that matter....no...our life together now, for 2006 and beyond is what needs to be focused on.

If you pray, please continue to keep the Farris Family in your prayers. Pray that Jo Ann can continue to be strong. Pray for our financial needs. Pray that our children live their lives without remembering much of the negative things that happened to their family in 2005. Pray that our children continue to grow and learn as we continue to homeschool. Pray that Dan completely recovers and walks really well again.

Things will never be the same again; we know that.

Hugs to all who read this.

President's Day 2006 -- Dan goes swimming

We went swimming as a family on President's Day and Dan joined us in the pool. In the pool, he doesn't have to put weight on his feet, so he was able to "mix-in" and play with the children and swim too. He did do a lap or two!

The last time we all went swimming together, was on Labor Day, 2005. This was really nice for the entire family and we can't wait to do it again.

Months in Review -- a poem

Months

September
Daddy almost died in September

October
Daddy woke up from a coma in October and miraculously lived

November
Daddy was home from the hospital but still very sick

December
Daddy celebrated the holidays with his children and began to get better

January
Daddy "sort of walked" again

February
Daddy went back to work in a wheelchair

Months

Working full-time worked out fine

Dan is tired, but adjusted to working full-time with no problems

Things do feel like they are returning to "normal."

Dan will return to work full-time on February 13!

Dan will return to work full-time on February 13.

Pretty amazing!

Dan climbs up and down 20 steps!

Dan took Joel to Boy Scouts last night.

Boy Scouts meets on the top floor of a two story building and the only way up is up stairs.

Dan climbed up 20 stairs before the meeting and went down 20 stairs when the meeting ended.

Wow!

Dan attends Cub Scout event with his new walker

On Saturday, February 4, Joel became a Boy Scout.

Dan and the rest of the family accompanied Joel to a special banquet and ceremony at a hotel in Colorado Springs.

Dan left his wheelchair home for the event, drove the car, and used his walker to enter and leave the banquet room.

Hopefully, more ventures with Dan walking more and more will occur.

February 1, 2006 -- Dan returns to work part-time

Dan returned to work on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 (in a wheelchair).

All went smoothly. Dan returned to the same office and the same job.

He will work part-time (3 days a week, M-W-F, 8 am to 2:30 PM) for about 2 weeks and then return to full-time status.

Having Dan back at work is such a time of triumph and excitement for our family and shows us things will soon feel normal.

We do have a time of adjustment ahead. We have only one car at this time and physically getting Dan to work and getting the children to where they need to be, is a challenge and we anticipate some exhausting days until a 2nd vehicle can be obtained. Before Dan's accicdent, we were able to function with one car since Dan took the bus to work, but that is no longer an option.

Dan continues to have physical therapy and doctor visits that need to now be squeezed into a busy schedule.

When will Dan walk?

Although Dan is now able to put weight on both legs and balance a bit, it is going to take a long time to walk without assistance or more than a few feet again.

Dan will continue in physical therapy and also be able to return to work, but will have to work from his wheelchair.

A new walker, that includes a seat, is expected to arrive at our home sometime this week. We are hoping that using the walker will help Dan walk or be more mobile.

He has come a long way and we are grateful.

Saturday 1-28-06 -- Dan takes Jo Ann out to dinner

Dan was able to get his wheelchair in and out of the car on his own and was able to take Jo Ann out to dinner the night of 1-28-06. Wow, what an accomplishment when once we wondered if such a moment would ever happen again.

Dan talks about his trip (1/18--1/24/06) to see his family

To listen to Dan talk about his trip to California, click below.

Dan will return to work part-time after February 1st!

Dan is excited about returning to work (at the same office he worked at prior to the accident) part-time after February 1st. He will begin by working six hours and day, M-W-F, then eventually return to full-time status as his energy returns.

Dan can drive again! 1-22-06

Dan reports that he did 1/2 of the driving to Long Beach and also did all the driving across the Los Angeles freeways when he visited his brother Pat and his sister-in-law Monica!

He is still in Long Beach at his parents house, but will return to Colorado by mid-week.

Jo Ann and the kids had a nice week enjoying playing in the snow, shopping, eating out, and being together, but the children do miss Daddy and have called him every day.

Dan goes to visit his parents in California

Dan (and his brother Mike) rented a car and left for Long Beach, California today. Last time Dan's parents saw Dan he was in traction and in a coma and in critical condition. This visit should be quite different.