Happy 2007!

Today is December 31, 2006. 2007 is almost here. This morning I read the holiday cards that came via snail mail. I must admit that I've become very bad at answering holiday cards the old fashioned way. Putting a stamp on letters, looking up addresses, and writing things out by hand seems to take so long, so please excuse this printed form of communication that I have typed on the computer.

For those of you that wonder why you may have not heard from the Schneider-Farris family much during 2005 or 2006, it's because of Dan's accident on September 15, 2005. Whenever I read about families and individuals that have experienced sadness and tragedy, I now relate. I am grateful for each day and continue to wonder what the future might bring.



2006 was a year of recovery for our little family. At first we wondered if Dan would walk or work again. After surgery in January, he returned to work in February, first part-time in a wheelchair, then full-time with a walker, and finally just walking in his own right. He now seems to walk everywhere and do many things (like mowing lawns, shoveling snow, and riding bikes), so in a way, that time of wondering seems like a dream.
















Once Dan returned to work, the children and I became very absorbed in figure skating once again. The rink we "grew up at," Chapel Hills Mall Ice Rink, closed in early June. We transferred most of our skating to the Colorado Springs World Arena in the Spring so we'd be prepared for Chapel Hills' closing. Now, the Broadmoor Skating Club and the World Arena really do feel like "home." I continue to teach the children, but they also work with some very famous coaches at the rink which include Ryan Jahnke, Tiffany Hyden-Dombeck, and Janet Champion.



The kids have worked very hard and won the Southwestern Regional Championships in Pre-Juvenile Dance in early October. Annabelle also has a partner named Sam Anderson. She skates recreationally at this time, but loves to draw, paint, dress-up, and dance. The children are still homeschooling/unschooling. Soon, Rebekah will be working on high school math. Joel has taken a deep interest in World War Two history. All the children play the piano. Also, all three are involved with homeschool scout programs.



My private lesson skating clientele was pretty much gone because I stopped teaching completely during the time of crisis that followed Dan's accident. I began teaching a bit a again in the Spring, but never have really built up enough students. I continue to enjoy teaching my own children, but haven't had the energy needed for others. So...I began looking for alternative things I could do to bring in some finances to our household.

My "big break" came in June when I landed the position as Figure Skating Guide with About.com, part of The New York Times Company! I didn't know it at the time, but I competed with many other figure skaters, ice skating fans, and writers for the position. I'm honored and thrilled to have the job with About and hope to write professionally about figure skating for many, many years. Getting paid to write about figure skating is a dream come true for me!

Read Jo Ann's Bio at Figure Skating at About.com

Dan and I celebrated our 27th anniversary in April. We both see time passing so, so quickly. All of our parents are doing okay, but my mother is not well as 2007 begins and either is Dan's dad. My best friend, Marion, lost her father this year.

There are more things to share, but I'll stop now.

May everyone who reads this have a great 2007!

JO ANN, Dan, Joel, Rebekah, and Annabelle Schneider-Farris

Merry Chanukah and Happy Christmas 2006!

A few days ago, on December 20, 2006, there was a major blizzard in Colorado. Our family was safely at home together.

Dan is doing well physically. The children and I sometimes forget that a year ago we wondered what 2006 would be like for us. 2006 ended up being a pretty good year!

• Farris Family Memories - December 2005

Merry Chanukah and Happy Christmas!

JO ANN, Joel, Rebekah, Annabelle, and Dan Farris

Thanksgiving 2006

A year ago, Thanksgiving 2005, Dan couldn't use his legs. Somehow he sat at the table and ate with his family.

A year later, Dan is working, walking, driving, being a dad, and just living a normal life.

Wow, do we have much to be thankful for!

Wonders of Wonders - Miracles of Miracles - Dan Ice Skates!

A year ago at this time, Dan was still in the hospital, but was about to be sent home. I wondered if he would ever walk again. He had no use of his legs and had trouble even leaving his bed to move into a wheelchair. I wondered if he would ever be able to take care of himself. I was uncertain if he'd be able to return to work. It did not cross my mind that he would ever ice skate again....

Well, tonight, Dan performed a miracle! He put on a pair of ice skates and stayed close to the rink's rail, and skated for about forty-five minutes! He must have gone around the ice rink about ten times.

All I can say is "Wow!"

2007 Southwestern Regional Ice Dance Champions - Joel and Rebekah Schneider-Farris!

A year ago, Dan was still in the hospital. We knew he would live, but we didn't know what was in store for our family and our future.

Wow! A bit over a year later, our "novel or movie" does have a "happy ending!"

On Tuesday, October 10, 2006, Joel and Rebekah won the Pre-Juvenile Ice Dance event at the Southwestern Regional Figure Skating Championships! They received first place scores from all five of the judges. It was a tough event with six teams competing and representing Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado. We feel that the children have accomplished a great deal.





Of course, Dan was able to come. He video-taped the children and drove us to the competition rink in Denver. Who would have thought all this could have been possible a year ago?

We are so, so happy. Two years ago, I began training the kids to become ice dancers with the goal of competing in Southwesterns and that goal did become a reality. Winning just even makes all of this more special!

September 16, 2006 - One Year Later

Exactly a year has passed since Dan's horrible accident.





And...exactly one year later my family went to the Colorado Springs Invitational Figure Skating Competition on September 16. Last year, after spending Friday, September 16th at the rink watching the competition, my children and I arrived home to find out my husband was late. Only a few hours later did we experience horror as we learned that Dan was near death.

Dan did miraculously recover!

So this year, on September 16, 2006, our family experienced joy and laughter as Dan was able to watch the children compete at the Colorado Springs Invitational!

• My Family's Colorado Springs Invitational Competition Experience - September 12--19, 2006

• Colorado Springs Invitational Action Photos
  
  
• Summary of the first part of the Farris Family's Day on September 16, 2005

Labor Day Weekend 2006

A year ago our family's life was routine. I remember watching the news about Hurricane Katrina and feeling so sorry to hear that people I didn't know were going through something devastating. I remember taking our children swimming on Labor Day and having a great time. I was thinking about ordinary things like what kind of books we'd use for homeschooling, about buying a Brownie and Girl Scout uniform, and where we'd practice our figure skating.

I had no idea that two weeks later, that my life and the lives of my children would be forever changed. I had no idea that my husband would almost die.

On this holiday weekend, almost a year later, Dan and I did routine things once again. We went shopping with the kids and went out to lunch. As I remember thinking and wondering if he'd ever walk again or even live again, it feels like in September of 2005 that I visited a different world.

The real world seems to be coming back to my family. We cherish each other and live each day knowing that we must be thankful for the miracle of Dan's life and that we can experience the ordinary.

Our Vacation to Southern California

Although Dan used up all of his sick leave after his accident, his vacation leave still grew. He returned to work full-time in mid-February and was told in the Spring that he had accumulated so much vacation leave that he had to "use it or lose it."

And so, we set aside two weeks in August for a family vacation. We could not really afford a vacation, but thought perhaps we'd just enjoy so time off as a family here in Colorado.

Well, on August 13, Joel and Rebekah passed some very difficult figure skating tests, so we didn't feel like beginning our vacation until August 14, which was a Monday. They passed their Preliminary Pairs Test and Joel passed his Pre-Juvenile Moves in the Field test. The weeks before had been ones of high stress, so a vacation was very much needed.

On that day, the children pleaded with me to "do somthing exciting and different." We packed and then I finally gave in and we rented a car and drove to California! We left at 8:00 PM on Monday night August 14, and arrived in Long Beach, California around 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 15.

We did not tell Dan's family we were coming, but did notify my sister who lives in Long Beach just a few hours before we arrived. She was able to get us a set of keys for a new condo my parents have in Long Beach near the water. It is not completely furnished yet, so Joel, Annabelle, and I stayed there, while Dan and Rebekah made plans to surprise Dan's parents and stay in their living room and extra bedroom.

After taking a shower and a nap, we walked through Belmont Shore the evening of Tuesday, 8/15, and had dinner at Steak-a-rama. Then, Dan and Rebekah left us at the condo and surprised Dan's family! And...wow were they surprised! When Dan rang the doorbell, Dan's mom looked out the window and said, "That sure looks like Dan and Rebekah." And....to her surprise, it was!

The following day, Wednesday, 8/16, was a day to rest and visit for Dan and Rebekah. I took Joel and Annabelle to 2nd Street for breakfast. When Dan and Rebekah finally made it to the condo, we took the kids to the bay at the beach. They loved playing in the water. Both Dan and I enjoyed sitting on the sand. We had dinner with Dan's parents and brother. That night, we went swimming in the pool at the condo. (That became a tradition every night of our vacation and was that a treat!)



The next day was Joel's birthday. We surprised Joel and the kids with a day at Disneyland. What a wonderful way to spend a birthday.


The next day we recovered a bit from Disneyland. I took Annabelle and Joel out to a real sit down breakfast at a restaurant we could walk to in Naples. (My parents' condo is really on Naples Island just next to a marina) and then went down to the beach in Belmont Shore and inline skated next to the water right on the beach. Dan took a wheelchair to the beach. We then returned to Dan's parents house for dinner. And, of course, we went swimming before bed in the pool at the condo. We also got to visit that afternoon with my sister, Lynnellen.

On Saturday, we decided to visit a real beach. So, we paid $10 for parking and went to Bolsa Chica State Beach. The children played for hours in the waves and built sand castles. Both Dan and I joined them in the water. Rebekah got to borrow a surfboard and tried to surf. Everyone got sunburned. Then, we drove to Huntington Beach and took a walk to the end of the pier. We waited in a long line for french fries. Again, we used a wheelchair for Dan on that long walk.



We had dinner with Dan's family once again. Dan's brother Jack came to see Dan early that morning and that evening, Dan's brother Pat came. There was a small birthday celebration for Joel.

After a quiet Sunday morning, we visited Borders to redeem a birthday gift certificate. Joel bought a DVD (Pirates of the Carribean) and Rebekah and Joel then went to Dan's parents house to watch it. Annabelle, Jo Ann, and Dan went to Straw Hat Pizza and visited with Dan's long time friends, Randall Bradford and Alan Roberts. It was a very fun time for Dan. Later, we returned to Dan's parents house and had dinner together. (And another evening swim before bed!)



On Monday morning, we took the children skating at Iceland in Paramount. That evening we went out to eat at one of our favorite restaurants: The Katella Deli. I think we had forgotten how big the portions were there! (An evening swim before bed followed.)

On Tuesday, we walked through the Naples Street canals to the house of my best friend's Marion's father-in-law. Marion and her family had come down from San Luis Obispo just to see us. We all spend a day together at Shoreline Village. We had hoped to rent bikes, but that didn't work out.

That evening, my sister's son, Drew, took us on a gondola ride through the Naples canals. It was an unbelievable experience and it was wonderful to spend time with my sister and her kids, Drew and Cody. Her daughter Cory was away at camp, so we didn't get to see her. Lynnellen treated everyone to ice cream after the gondola ride. (Of course, we went swimming again before bedtime!)

On Wednesday morning, I took Annabelle and Joel first to Belmont Shore to Starbucks and then we sat on the bay and the kids played in the water and in the sand for quite awhile. We went back to the condo and had a swim in the pool there. By that time, Dan and Rebekah arrived. We then got ready to go skating and spent the afternoon at Westminister Ice Arena. We got to visit a bit with Marion and Bruce and their kids there, and then went to Dan's parents house for dinner. We went for an evening swim back at the condo. Lynnellen came over to the condo that night to say good-bye.

On Thursday morning, it was time to pack. Dan and Rebekah got to visit with his nephew David and his wife Kirsten earlier that morning.

Around lunch time, we took a break and I took the kids to Subway in Belmont Shore for lunch. Dan's brother, Mike, and David and Kirsten also came to the condo just before we left. Our little dog, Porcher, had stayed at Dan's parents house, and they dropped by the dog's bed, that Dan had left without.

We pulled out of Long Beach at 2:20 PM. It took awhile to get through the Los Angeles traffic, but by early evening, we were well on our way. We drove through the night and arrived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in time for a breakfast at McDonalds. We just kept driving after breakfast, and arrived back in Colorado Springs at 2:45 PM on Friday.

During the night, there was an amusing scene to see in our car. The children were in the back seat watching the TV/VCR, I was in the front seat watching a DVD, and Dan was on the phone! The future certainly has come! I don't think as children Dan and I would have believed that so much technology can accompany a family on a long distance trip.

Dan went to sleep almost as soon as he showered! The rest of us unpacked, cleaned up, and rested.

Then, on Saturday, we took the kids to the movies (Pirates of the Carribean - Dead Man's Chest) and out to eat at Maggie Mae's. This was to just make the vacation last. I decided to not return the children to regular activities until Monday evening, so on Sunday, we took the kids to eat at IHOP and then on Monday we spent the day at the condo my family owns in Colorado Springs swimming.

I have recorded the memories of our wonderful vacation on Dan's blog since I no longer take such wonderful times for granted. We last went to Long Beach as a family four years ago. So much has changed since then. I cherish each day and I do know we cherish one another. I am thankful that so many miracles and so much love allowed this vacation to happen.

Joel's birthday -- August 17

Yesterday was Joel birthday. We surprised Joel and took him and the other children to Disneyland.

We had a delightful time. Dan rented a wheelchair and we got to go to the front of many of the lines. It was the best!



When Dan's accident happened last September, I truly believed we'd never travel to southern California again as a family. I didn't believe Dan would be able to celebrate birthdays with the children either. And...of course, if I had been told that on Joel's birthday, that we'd be at Disneyland, I'd have laughed at even thinking such a thought!

Again, as I reflect on this, I must say how grateful we all are that Dan is alive....AND...he's well enough to go to Disneyland!

Jo Ann Has Good News!

Jo Ann has a wonderful new job!


She's the Figure Skating Guide for About.com !!!

Now, she gets paid to write about figure skating! Hopefully, this part-time job will help us catch up financially.

Check out Jo Ann's new site at http://figureskating.about.com/

Here's some of the stories Jo Ann has included on the site:

Chapel Hills Ice Rink Closes

So You Want to Teach Skating?

How to Spin

Champions On Ice Review

Yes, things for our family do feel like they are looking up after a very difficult year.

Another Miracle -- Dan Goes Hiking!

Yesterday, we visited Joel at Boy Scout Camp, a camp in the Colorado mountains called Camp Alexander.

It is NOT a place geared for the disabled.

Dan ended up taking a very, very long hike UP to Joel's camping site. He had to walk on dirt and up very steep hills. He even did some difficult walking in the dark.

This has to count for another miracle. If Dan can go on a hike, I think we can say he is doing pretty good!

By the way, Joel's Boys Scout Camp was an overnight camp. He was there for a week and had a wonderful time. It was Joel's first real time away from home and away from his family.

July 4th, 2006

Yesterday, on July 3rd, we went to a pre-4th celebration at Fort Carson with some friends.

It began to rain and so we ended up watching the fireworks in our car.

Our family huddled together in the front seat of our car and sang patriotic songs as we waited for the fireworks to begin.

Then, we "oooed" and "ahhhed" as we watched each firework go off.




As we hugged eachother and huddled together in our car, I couldn't help but think how special it was to be together and have so much fun. Dan could have not been there last night to celebrate Independence Day with us. I'm glad he is here and I'm glad our family had fun together!

Broadmoor Open Skating Competition Makes Dan's Feet Better!

Last week, our children participated in a huge figure skating competition at the Colorado Springs World Arena called The Broadmoor Open.








Dan didn't want to rely on a wheelchair or walker to get around the competition, so he just did more walking than usual -- he went from the parking lot, to the lobby, around the arena, etc., several times in a week long period.



After the event was over, Dan noticed he could walk better! So...the conclusion...a skating competition has nearly healed Dan's feet!

June 18, 2006 -- Dan Celebrates Both Fathers Day and His Birthday!

Today is Father's Day and also Dan's birthday! Of course, our entire family is delighted that Dan is alive to celebrate this day!



It is wonderful that our children have a daddy. When Dan's accident happened, I took a look at my children and wondered if they would remember their dad if he did not make it.


Now, I'm just so grateful that what I wondered about did not become a reality.

Chapel Hills Ice Rink Closes -- an episode in our lives ends

Today (June 3, 2006) we said "Good-Bye" to the place our family "grew up" at.

The Ice Arena a Chapel Hills opened exactly eight years ago. Rebekah was only two then and that rink gave us so much hope and happiness. The day the rink opened, Jo Ann wore her hockey skates and Dan took this wonerful photo of her and Rebekah.

Jo Ann helped build the program at that rink and it is very sad to see the rink close. Our children learned to skate there and many happy weekends were spent with Dan skating with the children at the rink. The Chapel Hills rink staff was very supportive to us during the time of crisis right after Dan's accident.

As we say good-bye to a chapter in our lives, we are so grateful that Dan is alive and with us. Hopefully, one day, Dan will be able to skate with us again.