"You are out of control!"

This winter while I was off track I substitute taught at several of the schools in the Cassia County school district. For the most part it was pretty fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I love being with children! They always say the cutest things and are so honest! They definitely kept me busy, entertained and thankfully they made time fly by quickly...which is always good! Anyway this week is the first week that I've worked everyday...usually it's 3 or 4 days a week, but I was lucky enough to get 5 this week. Monday was the Kindergarten in Raft River, Tuesday was Jr. High math in Declo, and Wednesday through Friday I taught Kindergarten at Dworshak Elementary in Burley. Monday and Tuesday were both pretty good, but I was super nervous about the rest of the week, and after Wednesday I wasn't quite sure what in the world I'd gotten myself into. The kids were awesome and cute, but the other adults that were in the room with me all day were about to drive me CRAZY! I was really dreading going back the next day, but I did anyway. It turned out to be a lot better than the day before, and Friday was so much fun that I'm almost wishing I could go back on Monday! There were some of the cutest kids I'd ever seen in my life in that class! There was one in particular that definitely was my favorite. It was a little boy named Ty Asher Gibbons...that's how he introduced himself and after he would write his name on his paper he would show me his paper and say, "Do you know what that says? That says 'Ty Asher Gibbons' cuz that's my name." It was so cute! Then a while later I was handing a group of kids another worksheet (one of like 1000 worksheets they did everyday! Craziness!) and I accidentally handed the kid 2 papers instead of one and I said, "Ooops! I gave you 2! That was silly of me wasn't it?!" and Ty Asher Gibbons shook his head, looked up at me and said, "Miss Jones you are OUT OF CONTROL!!" Oh my goodness it was the funniest thing ever! He was simply adorable! These are just two of the countless things he did everyday that just made me wish I could take him home with me. Ty Asher Gibbons is not only adorable, but he has a story. He's literally his big sister's hero. She is alive today because of Ty. Ty's big sister was diagnosed with luekemia and was in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant, otherwise she was going to die. Ty was the only one who had a match to hers, and he willingly and wholeheartedly gave her his bone marrow to save her life. I don't know how old he was when this took place, but he's only 5 years old right now! Can you imagine?! He, being so young, delicate, and fragile, loved his sister enough to go through such pain and agony so that she could live. That is one strong, amazing little boy! Though he doesn't realize it and I'll probably never see him again, Ty Asher Gibbons deeply touched and had a great impact on Miss Jones. He taught me more than I could ever have hoped to teach him! Ty Asher Gibbons is one little boy I will never forget!! Ty Asher Gibbons is my hero!

Saying goodbye to Kathy Selden...

Well the play is officially over. SAD DAY!!! I never thought I would be that sad when it ended, but my goodness that was rough! That was seriously one of the funnest things I've ever been involved in, and all the people I met and got to know really well were absolutely incredible and will be lifelong friends! They are just amazing! I had to laugh because I had a few different people ask me on a few of the nights if Dan was my husband in real life...umm NO! He's only 20 years older than me and has a wife and two children...ya no he is definitely NOT my husband! haha! They obviously did not read the program at all. We got a pretty good laugh out of it though. With the end of the play I thought that'd be the end of Singin in the Rain for me for a while, but boy was I wrong! My niece, Reagan, (my little mini me) has watched the movie twice in the last 24 hours! She had the hardest time understanding that in the movie I'm not the girl who plays Kathy. She kept arguing with me and saying, "Janelle that's gotta be you! It looks just like you!" haha! Kids say the darndest things! haha! When we woke up this morning the first thing Reagan said was, "Janelle, I need you to do my hair and make up like Kathy Selden!" Lucky for her I am now a master at the finger wave! She then insisted that I turn on the movie and she acted out the whole thing! It was the cutest thing! Well it was sad to see it end, but life must go on. It's time to move on to the next adventure that lies ahead of me. I'm not a huge fan of change, but with change comes learning and experience and growth, so I guess I'll just have to get used to it! haha! Singin in the Rain will be an experience and a memory that I will cherish forever! It truly was a dream come true for this little lady! So thank you Kent Severe for having a vision I thought to be impossible and believing in me enough to give me the opportunity to make my dream come true! :)

Off and runnin...

Well I guess it's my turn to start a blog...that's something I never thought I'd do! There's a first for everything though right?! However I am slightly retarded when it comes to technology, so it's probably going to take me forever just to get it all figured out...I'm already frustrated because I can't figure out how to make it cute! haha! Oh well I guess. Well as many of you know I have been enjoying the role as Kathy Seldon in Oakley Valley Arts production of "Sinigin' in the Rain" for the last few months! I know...I'm a nerd! haha! It has seriously been just a blast, and really a blessing. I've learned so much about myself while pretending to be someone else...crazy I know! It's been great to be back on stage and in front of an audience. I was so nervous and sure that they'd made a mistake when they asked me to be Kathy...I've never had a lead role before and OVAC is known for having a killer good cast for their productions and I'm no where near as talented as the rest of the highly experienced cast! I definitely had my work cut out for me, and with the Lord's help I've somehow made it through! I've met several wonderful people and made lots of new and amazing friends while being in the play, which for me says a lot!! I absolutely HATE meeting new people! It scares the crap out of me, and if it's at all possible to avoid it, by all means I do just that! Actually I try to avoid people in general...unless of course I'm on stage. and then I'm right at home and just fine! In fact the more people the better! :) I know that's pretty contradictory, but it's true...what can I say? I'm practically a living, breathing oxymoron! So anyway the play has kept me well entertained and soaked up most of my time since the middle of January. I really appreciate all the support that I've had from some family members and close friends while I've been in the play. They believed in me when I didn't believe in myself and I couldn't have done it without them! I also really appreciate all those who have come to watch the show so far! It really means a lot to see a familiar face there! It just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! :) And if you haven't seen it yet it's not too late! We still have 4 more performances...one today, then Thursday (March 17), Friday (March 18), and Saturday (March 19)! I would love to see you there! Now I realize some of you can't make it becuase you live so far away, but I understand and I know if you lived closer you would have come just cuz ya love me so darn much! haha! But you're there in spirit and I appreciate your support all the same! Don't worry, I'll still love you! :)