This is the Schneider-Farris Family's Blog. Keep up with what we are doing by logging into this site regularly! (The reason this site is called "Tragedy and Triumph" is that when I first founded this site, my husband, Dan, had been in a horrible accident, and he recovered. His recovery was a miracle! Go back to the 2005 archives to read our story.)

Sunday, June 26, 2011

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!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

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.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

3 Kids - 3 Ice Dance Tests Passed 6-12-11!

Figure skating tests become more and more difficult. The passing standard is very high. Many skaters do not pass figure skating tests.

Since the standard for figure skating tests is so high, our family is very, very happy when the kids pass tests. Today, 6-12-11, was a good day for our family. All three kids passed one ice dance test!

Both Joel and Rebekah passed their Rocker Foxtrot and Annabelle passed her Willow Waltz, which completed her Bronze Dance test. The Rocker Foxtrot is a silver dance, so for the first time, Joel and Rebekah had to solo the dance in addition to doing the dance with a partner.

Joel skated with Rachel Tibbetts and Rebekah skated with Collin Brubaker. The kids' longtime coach, Tiffany Dombeck, was there for us.

In addition, my dad got to come and our dear friends Paul and Judy Steiner came to watch.

After the tests, Annabelle went to the circus with a birthday party and Dan took Joel and Rebekah to the circus. It was a really fun day!











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Jo Ann Schneider Farris has participated in skating for most of her life as a competitor, coach, and author.

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