April 2003

Hi to everyone who has touched our lives! 2002 was so busy! We never had the chance to really spend time on holiday cards in December. Now that it is April, let us catch everyone up on the activities of the Farris Family!

The most exciting thing in our lives in 2002-03 is our participation in Branson School OnLine!, an online public school in Colorado! Joel and Rebekah are students in the school and Jo Ann is a teacher! We do almost all of our school work on the computer and our days are spent doing reading, writing, math, science, social studies, foreign language, arts and crafts, music, spelling -- at home!
 

Jo Ann's job with Branson School OnLine! is also a blast! There are 9 students

in her online class, all K--2 graders, and 2 of those 9 students are Joel and Rebekah. Weekly, Jo Ann calls the parents of her students and checks in on students' progress. She is constantly emailing students with ideas and helping with their education all she can.

Another major happening of 2002, was Jo Ann's new book, Sentenced for Life, an autobiography. The book is on sale all over the world, on Amazon.com and other internet bookstores. The positive reviews on this project have been very exciting for us.

Jo Ann's other book, How to Jump and Spin on In-Line Skates, has sold over 1000 copies and continues to sell all over the world!  Jo Ann is in the midst of completing a third book, a children's book, illustrated by our children which we hope is available in 2003.

Dan has finally changed jobs! After doing the same job at the Veterans Affairs office in Colorado Springs since 1991, he thought it was time for a change. He is still with the VA, but now working at a specialty clinic. Dan is very excited about the change.

As a family, we continue to have fun! We swim, ice skate, bike ride, and roller skate every week! We are trying to go skiing every weekend! Even little Annabelle skis! The kids fly down the mountain in their new "Sled Dogs", a skate type ski! We also all sing, dance, and play the piano!

We also have a new dog, Porcher! She is named after an invisible dog Joel had for years!

Jo Ann continues to teach skating, and the children are taking some skating classes.

Life is good. Best to you in 2003! Warm Fuzzies!

Dan, Jo Ann, Joel, Rebekah, Annabelle, and Porcher Farris

email us at: joann@blading.com