My APA Journey

Hello Blogger World,

What a crazy 10 months it has been. If you asked me 10 months ago where I would be today it wouldn't be where I am. I would have told you heck to the no! I hated my job and what I was doing with my life. I was angry at the world. I was angry at myself because I had gotten so low that nothing would help me get back up. Then I finally got a job and started it the next day. I had a friend tell me that the school I was going to work for was a terrible place, therefore that is where my mindset was. I counted the fast Sundays because it makes life easier to count. I will never forget the first day of school. I sobbed at my desk, holding my head saying Jill Anne you made a mistake. I didn't just start teaching that day I moved that day too. My instructor's husband came in and was like how are you and I just cried and he said I am so sorry. 

The first day I am not going to lie to you was so HARD! Did I want to quit? HECK TO THE YES! I was ready to run and I mean run on my two feet I was going to run to Rhode Island. For those of you who don't know Rhode Island is a 37 hour drive so just imagine how long it would be to run it would be 748 hours to run without stopping or WPA stops. (water, pee and air)

Looking back on the school year and to now would I change my life. No I have loved my journey, it has been hard for sure, hasn't been a cake walk! It has been an uphill marathon. I mean straight up hill. The journey got easier in January and that was when my mindset changed. Why? Because I looked at the world in a different way. I tried to find the positives everyday and not the negatives. I was finding the negatives in everything I did. I was the most negative Nancy you have ever met. I woke up one morning and said Jill you are done and no one wants to be around you because you are bringing everyone down. But once I started to find the positives life got better I made a few friends. I made some amazing friends that I hope to be friends with for a long time! LIfe is more fun with friends and easier because you can share the workload. 

When you start to find the positives in life you start to get the adventure of a lifetime. The way you see the world changes and the happier you are. Look for the positives even when life gives you lemons, there is still a positive to be found. 

Working for APA has changed my life for the better! It may have been the worst thing of my life for the longest time but now it is truly a blessing in my life. There is a quote that I think about when I think about my life in APA. Sometimes your biggest struggle is your greatest strength. Something like that. Working for APA isn't for the weak! Yes, there are things I don't like of course because everywhere you go there is. I am so blessed to be a part of the APA family, I have met some amazing people and made some amazing friends. 

I am off to my next adventure until next time! Peace Out Cub Scout! Work hard, play harder, Run your hardest! Don't lose sight of the end goal. Keep the Faith! 

I Will Protect You...

Hello Blogger World,

Today I come to you with a heart full of gratitude to one kind sir. For the last day of school we had a no missing work party for the students who didn't have any missing work from online school. Their reward for no missing work was throwing water balloons at the teachers they could bring their own or earn up to three. Ms. Mad Hatter and I filled up 840 water balloons for this. We had a blast filling them up. As teachers we lined up waiting for students to come and throw them from their cars. I walk up and down the line of people because we all know I can't be in one spot for a long time. I was standing by Ms. Mad Hatter and Mr. Kind Sir because they are my favorite people, I love them! I went and got some balloons so we could have a secret stash of water balloons to throw at admin or each other. As we were getting balloons thrown at us Mr. Kind Sir said Ms. Dallon is that Harvey (name changed)  and I didn't even register he was talking to me yet again he said the same thing, Ms. Dallon is that Harvey, all of the sudden it was Jill is the Harvey. I said where and he said right there. I was shocked it was Harvey. I gulped and was like yes yes it is. Mr. Kind Sir didn't even think twice he said I will protect you! Stand behind me I will protect you. He stood in front of me and said, I won't let them hurt you, stay behind me I will protect you. Standing behind him was the safest I have felt in a long time. He took a pounding of water balloons for me that day.I know that sounds so silly to you but no one has ever done that for me before. I saw a different side of that man that day. It was the protective side he was going to keep me safe no matter what. He wasn't going to let anything hurt me as he did many times before. He listened the day I told him that I was afraid of that parent he didn't even think twice about protecting me from this student and the parent. I told Mr. Kind Sir one day about this student and the parent and how I was afraid and I am not afraid of many people but this man I am afraid. I will always remember the kindness of Mr. Kind Sir. He is an amazing person and I am so lucky to have him as friend. I am so thankful for the love and kindness he showed me that day. There are still good people in this world. Mr. Kind Sir thank you for all you do for me and thank you for protecting me from the water balloons from Harvey and the parent. You are incredible! 

I am off to my next adventure! Peace out cub scout. Until next time, Work hard, play harder, Run the hardest. Follow your heart! Never lose sight of the end goal! Keep the Faith! 

Bryce Canyon Adventures

Hello Blogger Fam! 

I am coming today to tell you about my weekend adventures! I was able to go to Bryce Canyon with my friend and her family. It was an adventure! It was so much fun to get away and do some soul searching. Did I get any answers to my problems or questions yes and no. I want to start by telling you about the sunset. We went into the National Park and went to Sunset Point. It was beautiful there, the clouds were black and the sun shined through and it was incredible! It was so peaceful and the quietness you felt was so real. Fast forward to the next day, we wake up and go on a nice little run. Then we showered, got ready, went to breakfast and found out when we were going horseback riding. Yes I am terrified of animals. We got to the horse back ride. I get the horse Benny. I didn't have a melt down getting on the horse. I specifically told the guide I was afraid and he said you got the best horse you will be fine. I was fine until it started moving and then the tears came and the meltdown came. The guide stopped and said what is your name. I'm crying at this point and can barely get Jill out. Okay Jill it's okay let it out. Do you need some water or a treat? Everyone is nervous, the other guide comes up to me and says she is terrified of animals. Frank the guide said oh this makes sense he walks me over to the group and continues to try to distract me. Kieffer is a bull rider he won't let anything happen to you, in my head I am like what does that have to do with anything. Therefore, I was the leader of the pack right behind Kieffer, he sat sideways to keep my mind off of being scared. He asked about my life, things I like to do, and what I did for work. He was a very nice kind teenie bopper. He never laughed; he said everything would be fine and it was. My horse only got out of line one and yes I freaked out. I lived to tell about it! The little 3rd grader behind me in the group was very upset he couldn't be the leader. Horseback riding was fun. It was a blast once I got over the fear. I didn't panic until it started to move and the meltdown was one 2 minutes that is a record mark it down in the books. 

After the horseback ride we went and had lunch and ice cream. We then went hiking and in the middle of the hike it started to rain as it does in Utah it was a 10 minute storm. It made the trail so slippery and we made it back up to the top and were covered in dirt, mud and sand. We then went back to the hotel and had dinner and then got cleaned up. 

It was a great adventure! It was so great to go soul searching and to see some amazing things. It was worth the drive and amazing to see Bryce Canyon! 

I am off to my next adventure! Peace out cub scout. Until next time, Work hard, play harder, Run the hardest. Follow your heart! Never lose sight of the end goal! Keep the Faith!