Pause

Have you ever come to a point in your life when you just don't know where you are to go? It almost feels like your life is paused? Well I guess you could say that's where I feel like I am currently at. My life is paused and I don't know which direction to take it. I almost feel stuck, going in a straight line with no progress. I don't know what I am to do. Lately, I have thought a lot about what I am expected to do. I feel that I need to work in Sugar City for another year but then after that I feel empty. Part of it is me just wanting to get out of Rexburg. I love it there but I also feel confined.  But I feel nothing about anything and it scares me. Usually I feel what I should do, but right now it's empty. I've thought of Grad School, of moving to Texas, or even moving to Utah. The nice thing is I have time. For me I really want to be a mom and I feel that's what my life calling is but at the same time I don't feel like I am ready to do so. And maybe that's why the opportunity to get married has presented itself is because I haven't developed the necessary skills to do so. I'm simply just not ready. For me I need to develop a plan and set goals to create what it would look like.

   Life is great though. My parents and I had the opportunity to travel Europe for 3 weeks and that was such an unforgettable experience. From a week cruise through Baltic, to a then 2 week road trip through other parts of Europe, it was a remarkable experience. For me what I learned is just how ignorant we can be by not knowing about others. When we are confined to our own ways then we don't expand our horizons of what others see and experience. That's probably why it's so crucial that we get to know those around us and understand them and their pasts. Personally, that is a goal that I have, to get to know those around me and to not be ignorant to life.

 In a separate post I will have to talk about my adventures to Europe. But overall life is great, just learning to love the journey and learning to figure out the journey. But despite it all we must learn to simply be happy and just love life to it's absolute fullest.

A Rerouting

With it being 11:30 at night there is a lot more I should be doing than starting a blog. But I felt that I needed to start this blog and so I guess that is why I am still up, laying in bed, with my church dress on and makeup still sitting on my face. Haha gotta love this wonderful Sunday night. It's currently, Memorial Day weekend which means 3 day vacation!

My name is Jennifer Skaggs and this is my journey. I live in Rexburg, Idaho working full time as a Special Education teacher in a Life Skills classroom. I am single, just living my best life, enjoying all of the wonderful opportunities that life extends to me. Don't get me wrong life has had it's challenges at times but there is always moments where we can find joy.

On September 19th, 2018 my world changed for the better. Due to changes in my life I was planning on moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in December to do my student teaching. That morning I got to campus early to sign up for student teaching and ticked off everyone in line because I was asked to go to the front since I was signing up for the Nevada and Arizona locations. I was excited and looking forward to my interview. A dear friend of mine was having medical issues and had asked me to accompany them to their doctors appointment because their husband couldn't be there. Which was totally fine with me. The appointment was going to take about 2 hours, well at the tail end of the appointment, now mind you we are only on day 3 of the semester, I get a missed call from my profressors on campus. Confused as to why my professors are calling me I quickly call them back, its about 11 am. Answering the call they inform that a local school district had contacted them and were in need of a paraprofessional for one of the special education classes, Brother Pulsipher said, "you would be following 5 students around..." and that it would count as my Senior Practicum. Since it was in a Jr. High setting it would count for the needed requirements I needed to graduate from BYU-I. I informed my professors that, that sounds awesome and I would love to. I quickly said, "but I still will be able to student teach in Vegas in Dec right?" Haha oh boy did I not know that in just a quick 4 hours my life would drastically change. He replied by saying that yes I would still student teach in Vegas as planned. We ended the call by him telling me that they were looking for someone who was close to finishing their student teaching and that since I was quite what they were looking for but was the closest BYUI had if they were interested the Special Ed Director would call me.

In my mind, I'm like wow this is cool I could be an aide, get paid for doing what I love, and go to Vegas in December. Life couldn't get better :D. Well, we are sitting in Panda Express shortly after, I'm looking out the window on this warm sunny morning with Lauren, when the 208 area code number pops up on my phone. Now I NEVER answer a number if it's not in my phone well I knew this was probably the Sped Director so I take the call and quickly head outside. We make small talk and then he asks if I could come in for an interview that day. I told him I had class at 3 and was free anytime before then. He says that's great well will 1pm work for you. You can imagine the panic attack I have considering it's 11:30, I was in the middle of lunch and was not dressed for an interview. We bolted out of Panda Express, I am half freaking out not knowing what to do. I race back, get changed into interview attire and then sprint to campus to get my resume printed. And then am racing it to Sugar City, ID for my interview.

Well, here in this moment I have no clue my life is going to drastically change. I mean you think you are going in for a typical interview to be a paraeducator well that's not what the lord has in store. As I get in there, the Special Ed Director says give us a couple of minutes. So I wait outside patiently, this older man comes in looking ticked. I'm like I wonder who that is... yah it's my future principal (hahahah FANTASTIC GUY!! Someone I look up to!). The next thing I know the Special Ed Director, Jr. High Principal and District Superintendentt are all walking into the conference room and have me follow in. The Superintendent says, "This is going to seem like an interview but it's not." I'm like okay that is good to know. They then just start asking me lots of questions. Questions of which I have no idea how I answered them but I guess I did. Half way through the Superintendent says, "Do you know why you are here?" "I'm like yah my professors said it was to be a paraeducator." At that point and when I saw who was going to be in the interview I knew it was something more than just that. But I wasn't going to dwell on it. He explains that they need a brand new Special Ed Teacher to work in the severe classroom and the proceed to explain the situation to me and the need for a new a teacher. He says I will be developing their Life Skills program as well as a peer tutoring program. Trying to not internally freak out in this moment. They ask what my plans are so I explain them to them and then they ask some more questions. I have no idea what I said to them, I basically just let the spirit take it's course. After about 35 mins they look at me and and unanimously say, we like you and think you will be a great fit for what we are looking for. Would you be interested in being our new Special Ed Teacher.

It's kind of one of those moments where you can't say no. So I say yes and they said well there are some things we want to talk about but why don't you go with the Principal and he can show you around. Not nervous or anything. At this point I am in just shock, what just happened to me and nobody knows. I'm late to class, I'm now staying in Rexburg for another year, and nobody knows what just happened. As I leave I try calling my parents and finally my dad answers. I tell him I have some crazy news to tell him. I start off by saying I was just emergency hired and am staying in Rexburg for another year to work as a Special Ed Teacher. He basically thinks I am lying and says stop messing with me Jen, knock it off you've got to be kididng me. I tell him no dad I am serious, he is like there is no way. I'm like its the truth and proceed to share with him what happened. He is just floored that this happened and is estatic telling everyone he is with what happened.

I get to class late and well as you can imagine can't even focus cause I am in state of shock trying to comprehend what just happened with my life. It's amazing how your life can change in a matter of moments. It's a blessing that's for sure. Post this experience I have seen how the lord has truly blessed my life in so many ways. It has definitely been an experience but an experience that I couldn't be more grateful for.

Until next time, much love,
Jen

"Life is a journey worth loving, cherishing and remembering."