Halloween

There is one holiday that truly reigns supreme in the workplace. Christmas? Valentines Day?
No!
It's Halloween!! It is the one day at DCFS that our office really gets into things, and just decides to have fun. It takes a little bit of planning (all client contact should really be limited to phone calls and emails) - and definitely no court. But if you can get your schedule right - who doesn't like to go to work as a rotting corpse from Alabama (yes - a joke referencing the loss of my career "life" as I head to Alabama)

I owe a big thanks to Kirk for coming to work and doing my makeup. Man, I'm hot!

My love for Halloween has grown as I've been a supervisor. Its such a great excuse for team bonding. And let's face it, in my line of work - my workers need to take a little break from the stress and heartache of daily crisis. Here is a dessert my worker, Beth (a new addition to my team), made for our potluck! Read the headstones... they are hilarious!

Each year we have a contest to see who has the best team office space decorations. This year we made our little annex into a graveyard! I really do need a before an after shot. It's hard to tell how truly amazing this transformation was. It's hard to see from this picture, but the orange lights are actually a tree. There are gravestones and leaves all over the room.

This is a coffin that Jaren and my father helped me make. It was super creepy. A little weird to transport around I might add. You should see the looks you get on the road when you have a coffin in your car.

Ruben (right) was our undertaker. The rest of the girls were dead cowgirls (like me). Unfortunately my camera died right before the team photo. Boo Hiss!

Benefits Package

I have a deal to propose. A contract, if you will. I understand that it may be difficult for most of you to want to keep in close contact while we live in the glorious state of Alabama. Visiting Alabama??!!! I understand.

But this is what I want you to consider. I want you to think about the return investment... it may just sway you to think twice about saying "so long" to good ol' Jaren and Brenna.

Here's what I'm prepared to offer: After Alabama, there is a good chance that we could go somewhere wonderful. Say - Italy? Germany? Japan? Hawaii? These are all of our top choices. If you don't completely botch our friendship in the next two years when it is easy want to forget that you even know someone in Alabama - you may come and stay with us in our "fun place!"

What a great idea!

Now lets get down to business. Jaren has his orders. He is to report to Alabama on December 29th, 2008. He is reporting to Warrant Officer Training (they call it WAFT) - and then he has SERE's school (POW training). I will be remaining here in Utah for at least another month - trying my best to secure all decent friendships before heading off into my own personal combat zone.

Military Wife

Ladies and Gentleman, I have an announcement to make! Jaren was officially accepted yesterday into the Warrant Officer Program. Tomorrow he will be sworn into the Army (again), and we will be awaiting orders.

Translation= We now are for sure moving to Alabama. We just don't know when, until he gets his orders. Orders can say we are moving anywhere from in two weeks to 6 months... so who knows. We are hoping to get orders on Wednesday. That may optimistic - hopefully not. If I'm honest - I'm growing a little weary of waiting.

It's a little strange that my life is taking this turn. I mean, technically I've been a military wife for the past four years now - but... in reality - I haven't felt like a "Military Wife." Now that we'll be moving on base, and living there for the next 6 years - I will have to get used to that title. Hooaa! ??

There is a sense of pride in my husband and in serving our country - but let's be honest - I'm also terrified of the idea. Waiting to get into the military has been so much "out of controlness" that I am a nervous for 6 years of "YOUR SOUL IS MINE."

I pray for adventures overseas - after our two year stint in good ol' Alabama. That seems fair. Do two years in hell - and you'll get something kinda nice.

Who knows, maybe in two years you won't be able to get the cowboy boots off me, the accent will be so thick you'll think I was born there, and my anthem will be "Sweet Home Alabama."

Only time will tell.

Maybe I should make this official by adding a logo. Yes that feels cheesy - perfect!

Proud Wife

I want the world to know that I am a proud wife today. Jaren had his local board for the warrant officer program yesterday. We have been anxiously waiting since (forever?) he got out of flight school for this day. This is the first board (of two) that will review Jaren's file and determine whether or not they feel he is qualified to be a helicopter for the United States Army.

I keep telling you he's perfect, and yesterday he proved it! 100%. He "maxed" his board! In other words they think he's as good as it gets.

Now what? Oh... well I'm getting good at this = we wait. We wait for them to send his paperwork off to the national board, and then for those people to determine (what we already know) that he is MORE than qualified to be a warrant officer and gain entrance into the helicopter program. This process could take as short as 11 days (12 if you count yesterday), and could go until the end of the month - resulting in us finding out at the beginning of November.

What does this mean? It means that as soon as November Jaren could be journeying into his dream.

And as early as November - we could FINALLY be moving to Alabama. Now lest you think that the above mentioned "FINALLY" is excitement - you should know that it's just been a very long, long, (dare I say long), long process. I am ready to move forward, even if it is to that "special" place called Alabama. I am; however, very excited for Jaren to be able to be flying again, living out his dreams, and to see the sadness of waiting (and not flying) leave his countenance. There is nothing in this world that makes me more happy than to see my husband happy.

I'm so proud of you Jaren!

Brenna version 3.0

I LOVE my job! Each and every day I get to work with some of the most amazing people I've ever known. People that come in to work each day and give their all. People that do work that most people can't even talk about - think about - or even acknowledge exits. People that will NEVER be paid what they are worth and never be truly valued by society. When I became a supervisor at DCFS, I wondered if I would be able to come close to being like some of the amazing supervisors that I've had. I wondered if I could help them cope in a job that demands so much. I wondered if I could inspire excellence, or even just make them feel cared for. I still hope and pray for all of these things...

What I do know - is that they have helped ME cope. They have inspired excellence in my life, and they definitely make me feel cared for. My office knew that I would be at a conference all day on my birthday - and so the day before my birthday - they gave me this!

Left to right: Debbie, Rachel, Ruben, (me), Ben, and Beth = My amazing team! It's hard to see, but they covered my office in black balloons, gave me a sash and tiara to wear - declaring to all the world that I was 30! (note the over the hill banner in the background. 30 is the new 40? They even brought in two cakes!
They made me feel like I truly was "Brenna: Queen of the 30's!" (that's what my sash says)
On a side note: Debbie was even able to take out some of her rage on my husband. She's not exactly "pleased" with the fact that Jaren will be taking me away to Alabama some time soon - and she'll be losing me as her supervisor. Please note that she's about to kill him with a plastic butter knife! Love it!

On top of all of this - they even got me a $50.00 gift certificate to REI (they know me well) and took me out to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.

I have to admit that I was so touched (and humbled) that they would do all of this for me. It gave me hope that I just might be helping them after all. And yes... of course I cried.

It's good to be Brenna, and 30!