I am Supposed to Write 25 Things About Me...

OK! So I was just tagged by my one of my oldest friends (Purely Winging It ) and I am supposed to write 25 things about me! Here were the rules:

Once tagged, write 25 random things about yourself

Tag the person who tagged you and 5 new people (let them know you!)

Then click post!

So here I go!



1. My husband and kids are my everything

2. It takes a lot to get me to laugh

3. I cry a lot alone, but put on a strong face for everyone

4. After 40 years I am finally comfortable in my own skin

5. I have a few close friends that really know me

6. I am the “man “of the house, fixing things, yard work, and cars

7. Learning to let go of control of things

8. Finally comfortable with my faith

9. Miss working at BHS with the students

10. I know people are “friendly” with me because of Kurt

11. Going over the Cape Cod bridge to Chatham brings a rush peace and feeling like I am home

12. Finally learned to live on a budget

13. Coupons for everything

14. Do my own hair

15. I love country music, not too twangy

16. Listen to Christian music, but not crazy gospel

17. Enjoy driving & I drive too fast

18. Spontaneous, not just because of the A.D.D.

19. If I could I would pimp out my car

20. Don’t want a bigger house, can’t handle the one we own

21. Closet “geek”, I love technology

22. Still like Tom Cruise

23. My Michael Kors watch is my favorite piece of jewelry next to my wedding rings (thanks JD)

24. You mess with me or my kids, I become irrational…

25. I am a FaceBook whore

Check out SHUTTERFLY for your Holiday cards!!!

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

It is that time again for pictures to be taken and sent out for the holiday's all ovewr the world.   I do this every year, not only to let people know we are thinking of them but to also archive each year in holiday cards. 
Life is flying by and so much is happening around us that sometimes pictures is all I can handle. 
Check out some of the great deals and great gifts SHUTTERFLY has to offer!

http://www.shutterfly.com/

TEN FREE CARDS WITH THIS CODE TILL NOV 9th!

8PYH-6HKN-D77J-VGZF16



Challeges That Make You Grow...

The past few months have been filled with challenges and growth. At times I didn’t think I was going to make it through and other times I knew it was a blessing in disguise.

On January 7th 2011 I was hit with a career changing issue which caused my "forced" resignation from Bedford High School on January 14th. I loved my interaction with students, parents and some of the staff. I was hired at BHS before it opened in 2007. I had started a lot of the programs, events, and website at the high school. In my 3.5 years there I had 4 different bosses/principals that in itself is challenging because they were all so different in how things were done. I adapted very well, I was the information hub for the school. If something was going on I knew about it, staff or even administration had questions they came to me. I bonded with a lot of the parents and students there. Many of the students I was drawn to were very much like me in high school and needed some guidance or just to know that someone cared about them. Because the school was so new, the district didn’t realize they needed some extra help in the main office for 1300 students, each day was a challenge to keep up and remain on my "A" game. I gave so much time to the district and understood why I could not be paid what others in my position were getting paid. In my years there we were never told what our jobs/responsibilities were. If something needed to be done or if someone refused to do something I would take care of it and then that job would stick. Many times I would take care of something and ask administration for help and they would say yes to my face and then drop the ball so my time was wasted. It was hard to see many situations of double standards depending on who you were not only as staff but students as well. Don’t get me started on that...

So on the 7th of January I found out who was in my corner and who was going to stab me in the back. That meeting was very eye opening. Here I was "friends" with these colleagues and they threw me under the bus and even back over me. To this day I still don't know why, and I won’t because they have been told not to have contact with me. WTF did I do? I even went to the Superintendent and he told me nothing but that I resigned and that was that... I was backed into a corner with my union rep not helping or saying a word, and she gave her notes to the SAU and the principal, total conflict of interest. Oh, and to find out she got a job a week later in the human resourse at the SAU, no wonder she didn't say anything, it may of costed her a possible job with them. Glad I paid into the union... NOT!

January 14th I was forced to resign from BHS... I was floored! Never in all my years had I been through anything like this. As I packed up my desk the principal watched me which was so humiliating. I was handed a bill for $185.00 for what they had paid me already for the week, ya I dont think so... When I turned to leave I did say, “you have no clue about the unethical behavior going on not only with staff but with your own administrators, you will look back at this situation and realize it was a huge mistake you make and karma is a bitch". Off I went with my paper box that just happened to be beside my desk. I couldn't believe what was happening. Not knowing why, then hearing rumors from so many was brutal.

For 2.5 months I applied for over 65 jobs and had too much time on my hands to get more angry and upset. Someday I couldn't even get out of bed. I cried more during that time then I had in the past 20 years. I applied for unemployment, and got $325 total, but now have to pay back because the SAU said I resigned. I even spoke to the states lawyers and they were not impressed on how Bedford handled the situation. The kicker in all of this is that Kurt works for the same district and coaches at the high school, we were known as the "power couple" of BHS. I called lawyers, my union rep for the state, and others to help me with possibly suing the district for depravation of character and wrongful termination. Hard to do when Kurt works in Bedford. I decided to walk away. Not an easy thing to do.

Going to school activities is tough; because I don't know what rumors the people are hearing and believing. Also I still to this day don’t know why and no one will return my emails/calls to tell me.

Many others at this high school have been treated this way and it is so disheartening. You just never know what tomorrow will bring. I still have good and bad days. People who I thought were my friends weren't. So that sucks, and not knowing why is the worst. If I did that would have me move on and learn from it, but how do you learn from something you don’t know about.

The up side of this is I did get a sweet job at SNHU for more money and better working conditions. It is totally different from what I was doing at BHS. With all the craziness I hear about what is going on up on the hill in Bedford it is a blessing I am out of there. I just hope that the administration realizes the problems they have and take care of them quickly so they do not have to put anyone else through what they did to me and others I watched them do it to.

20 Years Old... The "I am Not Old Enough Age. Yet, I am Old Enough Age..."



Jill, KK, Ellen, Missy, and Halee in OGT



20 years old is that age when it is that year of not being able to rent a car, rent a hotel room, drink or go to Vegas or Mohegan Sun, yet you are old enough to vote, smoke, buy lottery tickets, and get put in adult prison.  This is the time one must find a path in life and try to stay on it. 

Halee is turning 20 on Sunday November 21st.  Like my friend Kerri said " Amazing how fast time passes us by.  When our parents said that we thought they were exaggerating..... boy... were they right!"

It really feels like yesterday that I was on my way to Newton Wellesley Hospital where I was born and I wanted to have my first born (and 2nd born). 

After a few hours of labor Halee was born and I was in shock...

My best friend KK came to be with me. 

KK: " Jill, where is Halee?" 

Me: " Um, under a tanning lamp down the hall."

KK: " Lets go get her"

Me:  " Really..."

Off we went to get Halee out of the nursery.  I think the nurses knew that this new baby had a teen mom and a best friend who would be Halee's surrogate father for a few years.  They gave us the squeakiest cart and put me the furthest away from the nursery.  We went down the hall squeaking,  passing every room that had "families" in them, and they would look out at us with a disapproving scowl.  KK and I just picked up speed and cruised back to my room giggling like "teens" doing something wrong do.

KK:  " I think she pooped"

Me: " What do I do?"

I was not fond of kids growing up, I did not like babysitting. ( I am not fond of kids now...)

I opened up Halee's diaper, "what the freak is that?"  Seriously, the scariest stuff had come out of my perfect little girl.  I didn't know the hospital fed my baby black tar.  This was just the beginning of our adventure.

We spent countless hours poking, and testing food out on Halee.  KK and I had a live doll.  I can't believe some of the things we went through and we all survived.

KK and Halee played a huge roll in me having the family that I do today. KK introduced me to Kurt at Waterville Valley.  I stayed for a week with college friends,  during the day I would put Halee in the day care so I could ski.  Kurt worked in the daycare with KK, very manly I know, but kinda hot at the same time... After a few days Kurt and I talked, and from there The Hines Crew developed.

Halee lived at Lasell College with me, had a huge part in creating our family, and is more than a daughter, she is a blessing to so many!

Our family motto:

There are but two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots, the other, wings.

Halee,  take hold of this life, live it, and learn from it.  Set your goals, walk the walk and know you have so many in your corner cheering you on and will be there to pick you up when you fall. 

Enjoy this year of  "BLAH 20"!

Oh ya, and slow down...

LIFE...

Just about a month ago my best friend had a baby girl.  I can't even begin to tell the stories that we have been through together and the many challenges we both faced to get us to our places in life. 

New Years Eve 2009-2010 we bought KK a pregnancy test, no big deal seeing she has been married for a few years and really wanted to have a baby.  This is probably the 6 test we bought between the two of us, but mind you she only used one of those... Yup, the rest were for me. Sometimes when you have a positive result you are not satisfied till you pee on 3 or four more sticks,  also shock can cause you to have disbelief too.  Moving on...

We knew KK was pregnant on New Years.  No one but the four of us knew, KK, me, and our husbands.  I was so excited for her.  KK would call though out her expansion and we would laugh and cry about situations she was dealing with and things I had dealt with.  After nine months the time was upon her and her awesome husband.  I got a picture text from KK while I was at work... Now you have to know many people think I have no visible emotions, um wrong.  I had to excuse myself from the high school main office and go ball my eyes out in the bathroom.

I could not wait to head to the Cape and see this new baby that I had look forward to for years.  KK was there for the birth of  Halee and was like her 2nd mother and still is.  I was so not ready to have a baby at age 19 and KK and I went through so many things with bringing up Halee.  I longed for KK to have a baby so that she could experience all the fun, and hardship that having kids puts upon you.

I headed to the Cape a few weeks after Baby R arrived.  I got off exit 11 and started to get teary, by the time I hit the Chatham line I was a basket case.  I had to drive around Chatham trying to pull myself together.  Finally when I thought I was ok, I pulled into her driveway and saw KK holding a baby, her baby.  Jeepers,  what is wrong with me, I started sobbing.  Yes, me, snotty and hivey... I can't even express the happiness I had for KK and her new family. 

This picture is my favorite.
KK's sister Sue took this and it has so may
different emoutions for me,
 LOVE IT!

Another one of KK's closest and oldest friends came down from Maine, it was such a great weekend just sitting listening to stories of family, kids, post postpartum issues, and lots of snuggles w Baby R. 

I guess I realized how lucky I am to have a family, 4 great kids, and friends that you can tell anything to and don’t judge you for taking meds to make it through the day:).   I went home from that weekend realizing life is challenging and tough at times but it is also spiritually uplifting and exciting as well.  I felt so happy for life that I have and all the challenges that have been set out before me, so that others can learn from me or I can help others because I have been there.

Closing out our Summer...

Summer has come to a close for the Hines Crew.  I returned back to work last week and I am not sure Kurt even had a summer vacation.  He does football all year round.  Morning work outs 3 times a week, 7 on & on Wednesday nights, coaches meetings, two football camps, trips to Boston College to check out his players at that camp, and then the start of Aug double sessions.  Today is his first scrimmage at BHS vs Merrimack.    I am looking forward to a great year at BHS, a new principal has been hired and I am excited to work for and with him. It will be nice to have discipline, consistency, and someone who does what he says he will! I think the staff feels the same way.  I will keep you posted on this journey...

Our kids start school on Sept 2nd, so that leaves them home for a week without us. If they don't kill each other it will be an act of God!

I might have to let them know for each phone call that they make to me at work and they are not bleeding to death will cost them money or chores. 

Halee will be working 2 jobs while she is home till May, Abby is going into her sophomore year, Brock will be in 8th grade, and Soph will be in 7th.  Time is flying by! Before I know it all three younger kids will be in high school together. Either they make a pact not to throw each other under the bus or their HS life might send me over the edge.  I could not image what HS would of been like if I had two other siblings in the same school. I might have actually done well and stayed in school during the day. 

As summer comes to a close I think back on what we accomplished.

• Painted the interior of the house
• Planted a garden and it is reaping edible food
• Finished the hardwood stairs so they fit now
• Cut down trees and cleared out by the driveway (thanks to Abby being grounded:)
• Cleaned out the house of "stuff" and Freecycled it.
• Halee and I drove 3200 miles in 3.5 days ( next time we are taking our time!)
• Few trips to the beach (not as many as I would of liked)
• RI to paint Kurt's parents house
• Kids to camps

So now the crisp morning air starts to roll in and we all begin to live on a schedule again I look forward to many great memories with my family and friends.  All of the challenges that we will face this year will just make us stronger and an example to those around us.

FACEBOOK STATUS across the US.

FACEBOOK STAUTS UPDATES ACROSS THE USA

Jillian Peterson Hines Checked in to Southwest, getting my playlist and movies downloaded, and finally packing. What does one pack for driving for 5 days?

Jillian Peterson Hines just landed in chicago. leaving for cali in a half hour.

Jillian Peterson Hines somewhere in California heading to Colorado tonight or as far as we can.

Jillian Peterson Hines Vegas, an ADHD nighmare... Are we almost home?

Jillian Peterson Hines Utah.. sure looks like it would be pretty but it is 1am and really dark down here in southern Utah.

Jillian Peterson Hines nothing like driving through the canyon lands of southern Utah at night. 3AM Friday morning...

Jillian Peterson Hines where the eff are we? Sun is just coming up. Um, that was an elk we just passed. I am so tired.

Jillian Peterson Hines Halee has driven twelve hours and refuses to stop till we hit Denver. We are now looking for a Dennys or Ihop:)

Jillian Peterson Hines quote of the day- it is so beautiful here it makes me want to hike... Said by Halee.

Jillian Peterson Hines Cant say We're not in Kansas anymore, cause we are.

Jillian Peterson Hines Crazy mother truckers!

Jillian Peterson Hines still driving, almost to TN:)!

Jillian Peterson Hines Damn deer! Why must you jump out of the woods at dawn and freak me out. And you make a big mess when you get smooched...

Jillian Peterson Hines made it to TN sleep then head north tomorrow. can one bruise their tailbone from sitting too much?

Jillian Peterson Hines Oh, sleep how I have missed you! I feel like a new woman... Six hours to WV, then nine hours to NH!!!

Jillian Peterson Hines On the road again... hoping to find a Dunkin Donuts. America does not run on Dunkins, only the north east has them.

Jillian Peterson Hines East coast! We are half way through Virginia. Also way more traffic.

Jillian Peterson Hines I have listened to way too much Justin Bieber I think my head might explode! Oh and the ghetto rap is crazy. just heading to NYC.

Jillian Peterson Hines Holy traffic this is killing our time!

Jillian Peterson Hines lost in Newark. Omg

Jillian Peterson Hines I think my kidneys are going to fall out. 42 Hours in the car. hoping to be home by 3am.

Jillian Peterson Hines just hit the Mass boarder. so looking forward to see the fam and my own bed! it will take a lot for me to get back in Halees car any time soon:)

Jillian Peterson Hines HOME! 3AM