The Check In

Hello Blogger Fam!

What a crazy month I have had! School started and I have quite the bunch of students. I love them so much! I would like to tell you a story about what has happened in my life. Over the past few days my mom has gotten sick and it reminds me of when I was 18 years old so 12 years ago almost to the day. She is sick with an infection they don't know how or where it is coming from. She spent time in the ER, same story, go see your normal Dr. Then the doctor calls the hospital and finds out why they didn't do anything they should have to help her. I swear if she dies because of the ER not doing their job they will have a lawsuit on their hands. Again we are in the same boat. She has another doctor's appointment on Thursday to see if they can figure out the problem. I just worry because last time this happened my mom had to choose if she was going to live or die. I know she is strong enough to fight it. 

Heart warming story of the day. 

I didn't go to the gym in the morning because my head was hurting, I was tired you know all the excuses. I didn't think much about it. I would tell the Bishop why I wasn't there today. Instead I got a text at 0618 this morning. What it said was so simple. Hey Jill, I missed you this morning. I hope you are doing okay. Have a good day. Did he know I needed a little extra love today? Did he know how much the simple text would mean to me today? Did he really know I wasn't doing okay? Did I tell him what was happening in my life, no I didn't. I told a neighbor at home who I knew would take care of my mom as she always does when I ask her to check on her. Without missing a beat at 1310 she said Does your dad need dinner? I said yes. I was going to drive home to make them dinner. I wasn't going to take away the opportunity for her to serve. I am so thankful for this sweet lady and her knowing that I was going to drive home after work to make dinner and she just said I will make dinner. It was something so small but it meant the world to me. 

 

Today I also had a student crying because they missed their adults and I told them that I did too and I wanted to cry too. I said, can we be strong together as I hugged this student, they responded to me. Ms. Dallon I can be strong for you today, you are strong for me everyday today I can be strong for you. 

I am so lucky to be a teacher and to have such an awesome class! I am so thankful for them. I am so thankful for the Bishop and my sweet neighbor who are willing to give me extra love and to help my family. I am so thankful and blessed for all the people in my life who are there for me when I need someone and when I need just a little extra love.

I am off to my next adventure. Until next time Peace Out Cub scout. Work hard, Play harder, RUN YOUR HEART OUT! Never lose sight of the end goal. Keep the Faith! Peace and Love! Over and Out!When life gets hard, drink a COKE! 😊 

It all Depends on you..... I will be here...

 Hello Blogger Fam! 

I wrote this Friday and I'm just posting it today. 

Today is Friday and the end of testing for my 1st graders! Glorious day! I want to tell you about an experience I had this morning at the gym. I go to the gym in the morning at 0500 so I get up at 0430 so I can read my scriptures and make lunch. Today was a hard morning not because it was Friday. I was just too tired and I didn't want to go and fight the treadmill.  

Back story, I was about 6 or 7 and my brother and I were playing on my mom's cousin's treadmill and we turned it up full blast and needless to say I flew off and burned my face, legs and feet on the belt of the treadmill. Every time I run on the treadmill, that is the image I see and it replays in my head on repeat. 

I was running today trying not to let the fear get to me. I am running just thinking about till I am done and get off this horrible machine. I can run outside for miles and miles, but treadmill max is 2 miles. I got off today and it is Friday so I go and  talk to my Bishop as I do Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays because he goes to the gym in the morning too. Monday he told me I was MIA at church last week and I was, because I was coming home from an adventure to Arizona. So, me being me I was like "Hey, I'll see you Monday. I am going to plant my parents flowers this weekend." He said, "in Brigham City?" I said, "yup." So I then said I will see you on Monday and he said something that really hit me hard today and I don't know what it was so important today that I needed to hear this but it was just what I needed to hear! He said, "It all depends on you. I'll be here." I was shocked and it stopped me in my tracks and I said, "you are right. I will be here." 

Why today that IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOU was so important I don't know but I needed to hear that today. The way he said it was so loving and genuine. He said it in a way that  helped me know he genuinely cared about me and my well being. 

That is just like life. When life is hard and you have nowhere else to turn, that is usually when people turn to the higher being they believe in! I know that my Heavenly Father is always there listening and waiting for me to come to him and today was the day that I knew my Heavenly Father loves me as he always does but today he answered a silent prayer that I didn't know that I was praying. 

That made me think about my life and all that has happened over these past few weeks and you know what it is my life and it all depends on me. I have heard those words many times but today I heard them in a different way. A way that really hit home. Everything that happens in my life depends on me. I am the driver of my life. 

After having a hard day yesterday wanting to punch someone in the face and not caring about the consequences to a whole different perspective. I am so thankful for the Bishop who goes to the gym in the morning who has the guts to talk to me after the treadmill because we all know that takes guts! 

When life gets hard, drink a COKE! 

I am off to my next adventure. Until next time Peace Out Cub scout. Work hard, Play harder, RUN YOUR HEART OUT! Never lose sight of the end goal. Keep the Faith! Peace and Love! Over and Out!

Take matters into your own hands! You control your DESTINY!

 Hello Blogger Fam! 

I know you are probably thinking Jill you are late on your post for last week! You are right! I went out of town and didn't have wifi most of the weekend. Let me tell you about my adventures! 

First it all started two weeks ago when I took matters into my own hands. I called the state and talked to them about the Praxis to see if there was a different way to get my teaching certification. GUESS WHAT! They told me that I could email them all my scores and they would average them out to see if it was passing. It was for social studies but not for English but they just put a new law in place that if you have taken these courses then you can get your Praxis score waived. I had to contact my University. Long story short, the lady at the state went above and beyond to help me get it. After 7 years of taking this test I have finally got my teaching license. 

I started this process the 2nd of May and by the 10th of May I had a teaching license. I am so thankful for the Utah State Board of Education who take the time to help teachers like me reach their goals that they have been fighting for, for years! May 10th my LEA license that I was working on got expired by the state and by 3 PM that afternoon I had my Professional license. 

Just because I didn't like the answer that I got from my school of having to pay for my license. So I called and met with the state and BAM! Professional License.

Then I went with my friend to Phoenix, Arizona to drop off her cat to a new home! What a road trip! It was so fun! It was a long road trip but so worth it. We stayed in Phoenix and then went to Vegas but along the journey we stopped in some small town for breakfast! It was a cute little place called Horseshoe Cafe! It has pancakes bigger than my head, no joke! We then made it to Vegas and of course we went to the Coke Store, M&M Store and the Hershey Store! Then we went to St. George to see a coworker who helped me when I first started my teaching career. I love her and I am so thankful for her! 

I had a great weekend and week last week! I am so blessed to be who I am and to be where I am! I am so thankful for all the challenges and the struggles that it took to get me here! That is a week in review! 

Teaching is a hard job, but it is worth every minute. I love my job! I am so thankful for it! 

When life gets hard, drink a COKE!

I am off to my next adventure. Until next time Peace Out Cub scout. Work hard, Play harder, RUN YOUR HEART OUT! Never lose sight of the end goal. Keep the Faith! Peace and Love! Over and Out!

Great News! Life is looking up!

 Hello Blogger Fam! 

As promised I am blogging once a week in May to give you updates on life. 

I first want to start off by saying how lucky I am to be a teacher. I have been working for 7 years to pass a test as you all know. I finally took matters into my own hands and talked to the Utah State Board of Education Licensing and I have found out that I can get my teaching license. Finally, after all the defeat! I am moving up in the world.

Fighting for something you want is worth it, it is always on the lord's timing not yours. I have been fighting for so long and now that it is coming it is so crazy to me. 

The state has passed me on my Social Studies praxis! WAHOO!!! 27 times finally paid off! One more test to go or just my college courses! 

I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a teacher and to watch my students learn and grow. It is so amazing to see how far they have come from the first of the year to now. 

In the first grade where I work we have a Fiesta because we teach about Mexico. The Fiesta brings so much joy to their faces. They get so excited for the piñatas and the food. They are so excited to tell others what they have learned and how they learned it. I always say when I want them to remember something. I tell them to tell it to everyone they know, even to the random stranger in the grocery store. 

Teaching is a hard job, but it is worth every minute. I love my job! I am so thankful for it! 

When life gets hard, drink a COKE! 😊

I am off to my next adventure. Until next time Peace Out Cub scout. Work hard, Play harder, RUN YOUR HEART OUT! Never lose sight of the end goal. Keep the Faith! Peace and Love! Over and Out!

Different Perspective

Hello Blogger Fam! 

I know it has been forever since I have blogged, not because I have not thought about it, I am just busy with work and then I forget. Starting in May I am going to blog once a week just about the week happenings! 

The reason for this blog post today is to just let you know how I feel about the Praxis. I know that you are like Jill. We know you hate that test.Yes, but hear me out. I have taken that test many times 29 to be exact besides the point. I took it last week but this time was different. I walked in with a new sense of confidence. The sense of peace I felt as I walked into that test and the love of the Savior that I felt was different than before. I had this sense of do you trust me? Everything is going to be okay, TRUST ME! I went in knowing that I was going to pass.  I walked out defeated not because I failed but knowing I missed it by one point. I didn't know if I should laugh or cry or be mad. So my solution was to go to Chick-Fila and drink a coke. I am only drinking one a week which we know is a real struggle haha! I called my mom and she said the same thing as she always does. I'm so sorry! What question and my response who knows! I then texted my Bishop and he responded "Oh no, I'm so sorry! Next time for sure." Little did I know that meant he would come and talk to me at church and tell me how sorry he was. His wife also told me that she would help me and that meant a lot. Because I am just one person in the world and yet they were willing to take the time to make me feel like I mattered!

I know people want to help but I don't know how to have them help me. I feel like I am a lost cause and that I have wasted my time and money and my parents money on this test. I have given it everything I have. I wonder if I have made the incorrect career choice. I love my job and I love my students! I love the love they have for me and the love I have for them. I feel the pure love of Christ through them everyday. I am truly lucky to be a teacher in this day and age. Is it hard, yes but it is worth every minute, every tear and every early morning at the gym! 

Moral of my story, the Praxis still owns me but I am not worried about it because I know that everything is going to be okay! I am doing what I need to, to be the best teacher I can be. 

I am done letting the Praxis bring me down. I can run marathons for pete sake.

The love I felt this time taking the Praxis was incredible. Just to see my fan club cheer me on and to pick up the broken pieces of devastation and no matter what I am loved! I am worth it! I am enough! 

I am so thankful for the time I had to take the Praxis this past weekend because it has given me a new sense of self confidence. The test doesn't own me I OWN IT! 1 point I got this!

When life gets hard, drink a COKE! 😊

I am off to my next adventure. Until next time Peace Out Cub scout. Work hard, Play harder, RUN YOUR HEART OUT! Never lose sight of the end goal. Keep the Faith! Peace and Love! Over and Out! 

My Sweet Friend!

 Hello Blogger Fam! 

Welcome to 2022! What a crazy year 2021 has been! I am excited for the new adventures of 2022 that are coming! I am ready for the craziness because I know that life doesn't slow down for anyone. 

First, I would like to start talking about life! Life comes at you fast! I got a call last week from my mom which is nothing new. I call my mom everyday after school on my drive home but this day was different. She talked like she normally did but she stopped and said, "Snortis's wife called and said our friend isn't doing well." I know that she has been fighting cancer for 2 years. I always knew she could beat it and win the fight! She told me that! Let me backup and tell you about this Sweet Lady. 

This sweet lady is the most positive and amazing person you will ever meet! Her favorite color is yellow and I think that is where my love of yellow came from because I wanted to be just like her, so positive and happy.  I want to share some memories that I have with Sweet Lady.

She watched us grow up, the good, the bad and the ugly. I remember when I was in a choir when I was in 1st and 2nd grade. We had a competition or some convention in Salt Lake City and she came and picked me up and took me to Wendy's and I gotta stay at her house. Another thing I remember is when I was in 5th grade my grandma died and she was at the funeral. I know that was something so small but that meant the world to me that she would come all the way from Brigham City with her parents to just be with our family! She supported me in my beauty pageants. She was one of my biggest fans in the crowd with my family!  

Even when her life got hard she never gave up and she never lost sight of the end goal! She never forgot the plan, she never forgot who she was and what she was to do. 

She called me on February 14, 2020 and said are you sitting down? I have something very important to tell you. What she didn't know is I was sitting on the floor by my suitcase thinking of what I needed to pack for a trip. She then proceeded and said I have cancer but I have the best doctors and I will beat it. It didn't phase me then but when my mom said that she was getting sicker and not better that was when it hit me! 

I love this sweet lady so much! I text her occasionally as her life is coming to a close. My heart is breaking because she is one of those people that you need in your corner not because you talk everyday but because you know that someone loves you no matter what! You are loved even when you make dumb choices she is the one who cheers you on when you can't cheer for yourself anymore. She is the one who believes in you even when you can't believe in yourself anymore. I am so grateful for her! I love this sweet lady so much! 

Cancer is taking an amazing person as it does quite often but my life has been changed for the better because of this sweet lady! When she makes it to the other side I hope she talks to BettyAnn and gives my grandma B a hug for me! 

I love you my sweet friend! Thank you for loving me and believing in me and never giving up on me! Thank you for fighting with all you have! I will never forget the Christlike love that you have for others! I hope one day to be as amazing as you are! 

The plan of salvation is real! 

When life gets hard, drink a COKE! 😊

I am off to my next adventure. Until next time Peace Out Cub scout. Work hard, Play harder, RUN YOUR HEART OUT! Never lose sight of the end goal. Keep the Faith! Peace and Love! Over and Out!

Having to share the BEST!

 Hello Blogger Fam! 

It has been a long time since I have blogged and a lot has happened since I last blogged. I moved back in with my parents for a little bit. I worked at a scout camp for a few weeks this past summer and then went fabric shopping with my mom and her best friend Janet. Then again another school year started and let me tell you what that was a joke! I love my job so I thought until someone decided to push every button I had. I did my bulletin boards back in July! JULY! We were going to be Mountain Climbers again. Let me back up a little. Our classrooms got redone with new old cabinets and counters totally awesome right?! Well, that meant we couldn't go into our classrooms so once we sorta could I went in. I did my bulletin board in July. JULY! I had my board up and then two days before school starts another teacher on my team did the same theme I did but she one upped me and we all know that I don't like that. She them came to me and said "Oh, you did that too?!" Therefore, I went home to my mom and just got so mad and cried because I was so UPSET! I shouldn't have been upset but when you have to one up me that is a problem. Friday after the meet and greet was over I tore my board down and I asked the art teacher to paint sunflowers and she said let me make you a template and she came back to me within 20 minutes with 4 sunflowers ready to be put on my bulletin board. I know the other teacher doesn't know how much she hurt my feelings but she did and then to make things worse she got the most amazing instructor in the world. She can have that instructor but if you are mean to her I will definitely be even more upset.

I loved my instructor from last year; she is a saint! She was the most amazing person I know and she even has the cutest little boy. She knew when we needed an emergency recess, she knew when I was frustrated and she knew what I was thinking before I even spoke to her. I loved her so much! I miss her so much! She took all her stuff and moved it to her new room. When she grabbed her last load she said this is my last load of stuff. When she left something left the calm and peace that she brings to the classroom. I told her she would always be welcome and wasn't quite out. She wrote me a note and it was so simple but that day was the day that I needed it the most. It said, "Have a great day!" That was the day I knew I had a friend and I didn't have to worry about being someone I wasn't and I could just be Jill. She has become  one of my best friends! I am so grateful that I was able to have her as an instructor for a year and a half. Ms. Incredible was a blessing in my life and a much needed one. I am so thankful to have her in my life and to call her my friend. She taught me so many things. She taught me to believe in myself and to not give up on my dreams! Ms. Incredible thank you for all you do and for never giving up on me and sticking around as my instructor. You are truly the BEST!!!

When life gets hard, drink a COKE! 😊

I am off to my next adventure. Until next time Peace Out Cub scout. Work hard, Play harder, RUN YOUR HEART OUT! Never lose sight of the end goal. Keep the Faith! Peace and Love! Over and Out!