The Fennels: September 2013

I have officially completed one full work week at American Family Headquarters.

My first day.

I was so nervous Monday morning, and I honestly don't know what I would have done it if Matt wasn't there to show me the ropes. The building itself is huge. Massive. Monstrous. And incredibly intimidating.

Once I parked in the visitor's lot, I franticly called Matt because I couldn't find the visitor's entrance. He laughed then explained to me where to walk. Once I found my way, I walked into the visitor's entrance and checked in at the security desk to get my visitor's badge. All of the new hires were told to wait in the visitor's lobby until the hiring managers met us at the door.

I waited in the bathroom and snap chatted my friends.

After they met us and we all got acquainted, they gave us a tour. We walked to building A, building B, and back to building C (where our department is). Then, we took pictures for our security badges that we'll need to swipe THREE times (if walking from the parking garage) before getting into our specific department.

They showed us our cubicles and one of our managers joked that they made sure I was a full 50 feet away from Matt. After showing us where we'd be sitting, they handed us a huge binder titled Wisconsin Property and Casualty along with a "smaller" workbook and practice tests.

Starting that Monday and going through Friday, our only priority was to study. So for 38.33 hours, I read, highlighted, and focused as much as I could on insurance, deductibles, policies, and binders.

I also watched around twenty computer modules, signed up for my health, dental, and vision insurance, and enrolled in 401K (target retirement: 2040!) Only 27 more years! Woop Woop!

Studying at work with espressos.

Studying at home with wine.

I will not lie -- the change is drastic. AmFam is definitely not as colorful and "happy" as The Little Gym. Instead of giggling children all day, I'm surrounded by grey cubicles, computers, and men in suits. Walking the halls, I'm fascinated with how many managers, directors, and executives I see. Its incredibly intimidating -- not only being the "new girl" but also the 26 year old who looks (at max) eighteen. Luckily, there are so many people working at headquarters that I easily blend in with the several others. Only the people in our specific department know that I'm new to the company and even at that, I have it easy because they all know I'm Matt's wife (several of whom I have met before).

I think the weirdest thing of this week was sitting at a desk all day long. My legs were sore at the end of the day and I was incredibly tired (not from doing physical work like I'm used to but from sitting and reading all day long). I told Matt that I cannot wait to actually work, to talk to customers, and to be confident enough to walk around the building without getting lost.

^ This is what I'm going to look like in six months.

Best thing ever: I get to carpool with my favorite person in the whole wide world.

During the day, Matt and I constantly talk to each other through AmFam's instant messager. During our breaks, we can hang out in the cafeteria (which is like a mall food court), in the break room, or walk the path outside near the pond. Its so nice seeing him throughout the day and having him close by. Whenever I don't know how to work the computer, dial an extension, or if I can't find my way around, he is literally two rows down from me (around 50 ft.) and can come over to help.

The best thing about my first week at AmFam was on Monday during lunch. Our managers took us to the Mall food court cafeteria and bought us lunch. That was cool, but not the coolest part. While eating lunch and getting to know the other new hires, a man came over and introduced himself. Looking at our manager and saying something like, "Is this a new group?" "Nice to meet you." "Welcome to American Family."

We had met so many people that day. We had met our managers, our co workers, our manager's manager, the director, a random person walking down the hall, etc. But because I was at the edge of the table (and my outgoing personality), I put out my hand to shake his and casually introduced myself. As I did this, I looked at his security badge and noticed that it said:

Jack Salzwedel: Chief Executive Officer.

I quickly looked to my right and noticed my manager standing up to show respect. He talked with us for a few minutes before wishing us luck, welcoming us, and walking away. We sat there incredibly surprised at what just happened......

A fortune 500 company's CEO took time out of his lunch break to meet eight new entry-level service reps...... Amazing.

It spoke magnitudes of the company I now work for.

After my day, I came home, checked the mail, and was delighted to receive new gifts from AmFam!

A card that sings "Ameeeericaaan Fammiilllyy Innsurraannccee" when you open it.

You know, the jingle.

A picture frame for my new cubicle

A book all about AmFam and a waterbottle!

Starting tomorrow, I will be driving downtown everyday to start my classes on Property and Casualty Insurance. Then the super scary, super intimidating, and super nerve racking Wisconsin Property and Casualty licensing test on Saturday. Yikes!!

I can't wait for things to be normal again. I can't wait to not be the new girl. And I can't wait for these things that seem so scary, so confusing, and so difficult to be a normal habit.

Anything new, any changes, and all transitions are tough.

Five years from now, I will look back at this post and laugh at how grey cubicles, men in suits, sitting at a desk all day, and a Property and Casualty licensing test was intimidating. Who am I kidding? Six months from now, this will be the norm.

But, right now, I'm counting my blessings. I'm thankful that I even had the chance to be this overwhelmed. The card Amfam sent me (and the simple name of this post) says "Protect Dreams. Pursue Yours." Its posted all over the HR office at American Family and all over their career website. Its a catchy phrase because AmFam's advertising slogan is: "Your dreams are out there. Go get it. We'll Protect it."

As corny as this sounds, I truly believe in my soul that taking ~~this job~~ this career is going to be so great for us. For our bank accounts. For my education. For our relationship. For our family......

For our dreams.......

Working for this company has opened so many doors for Matthew and I and we are so, so blessed.

Grey cubicles and all.....

The night I got my offer -- celebrating with my jug o' wine and box of pizza holding the ginormous "Congrats" card Matt bought me.

(Pizza and Wine: that's how we get down in the Fennel household)

For my darling, Matt:

Today was a good day.

This morning, we woke up with a very cool crisp in the air and the sound of the rain from outside.

FALL IS HERE!

I don't think there's a better way to wake up on a Sunday morning. After getting ready, Matt and I went to church----- Yes, church!

You see, we both grew up going to church every Sunday and ever since we moved to Madison (which was two years ago!), we talked about becoming members of First Presbyterian Church. When getting my bridesmaids dress for Courtney's wedding altered, the little old lady who owned a shop went on and on about how wonderful the church was. She tried her best to encourage me to come to "just one service" and tried her best to make plans for my husband and I to come soon. That was three months ago....

Well, I finally went to my first service last Sunday...... alone! In Matt's defense, he was out of town and didn't even know I was planning on going. My experience was needless to say-------- heavenly.

I haven't been to church in a long, long time. I have always kept my faith, but stopped going on a regular basis around the age of fifteen because I had just "gotten too busy". As I sat in my car (in the church's parking lot), I had so many thoughts going through my head. Part of me wanted to turn around. Part of me did not want to walk in alone. I had almost convinced myself to wait and just come back with Matt, but another part of me, kept myself from restarting the car. I had gone through a lot lately. Things that made my emotions like a roller coaster. I had been so tense, so stressed, and so uptight that close family and friends were "concerned". And every time I talked to my mother, she would gently remind me to pray and keep my faith. I knew in a deep down in my heart that it was time to go back.

So I sat in the car with all of these opposing thoughts. Fear to walk in alone and my mother's voice telling me that "I better not turn around". So I walked in.....

Don't get me wrong. I was still tense. I will still uptight and I was still very, very emotional. Matt and I were going through a little tiff, I was stressed about the normal things in life, and here I was walking into a HUGE church where I knew no one and it felt as though I had "NEW GIRL" written on my forehead. I grabbed a cup of coffee and a little muffin and walked into the sanctuary to find a seat. Not too far back that I couldn't see, but not close enough that the Pastor could see me (Don't judge me, people)! Just my luck, the only open spot was in the second pew. So I sat down and immediately regretted my decision of walking in. I was in the second pew. I was alone. I didn't know a single person and it felt like everyone was looking in my direction.

The music started to play--- which relieved me because now I could just "hide" in my seat and not be forced to talk to anyone--- when suddenly, a little old lady sat down next to me. I looked out of the corner of my eye and it was my alterations lady! She didn't recognize me at first, but once she did, I could immediately see the happiness in her eyes. "What are the chances that I sit down right next to you?" "Are you alone?" "Is this your first time?" We whispered back and forth during the singing and laughed that out of all the places we could have sat and out of the three different service times we could have attended, we ended up sitting right next to each other on my first day.

"Its Godly" she said.

And I agreed whole heartedly. I wasn't alone anymore....

Throughout the service, there were several times the Pastor said what I felt related exactly to what I was struggling with lately and there were even a couple of times (yes, I'm a softy) that I had to fight back tears. It was such a great experience and it was the happiest I had felt in a very long time. I was immediately hooked and there was no way I would stop coming.

So this week, Matt agreed to come with me. Yes, agreed! I didn't have to drag, beg, or plead. We got up this morning, got ready, and walked into church hand in hand. We sat in the pews, listened to the choir, and sang with the congregation. It was a new experience for us and an experience that made me fall in love with him even more.

(This is Matt..... just kidding!)

Following church, we ran errands then came home. I made chili. Matt watched football. I napped. Matt watched football. And now I'm blogging, and Matt is watching football. It was a good day.

Yummy Chili!

Matt and Ernie watching football

Yummy! Chili and Fall Beer!!

TOUCHDOWN!

If you didn't notice already, I have officially decorated the house for Fall and Halloween. My hopes are to get more decorations for the Thanksgiving season, but as of now its all ghosts, ghouls, and pumpkins at the Fennel Household. Complete with orange and black outside lights.

The Halloween scented candle Matt and I made in Galena.

The below picture is of us.... (although you can't really see us!)

It is undoubtedly clear, that Fall is well on its way. While our favorite holiday and season is Christmas and Winter-- Halloween and Fall are very, very close seconds. We cannot wait to go to the Apple Orchard, Pumpkin Patch, and the Cornmaze!! Watching Scary movies, carving pumpkins, and eating lots of candy, cider donuts, and caramel apples is in our near future!

The cornmaze we're doing on October 19th! Yikes!

Proof Fall is (almost) here:

Pumpkin Spice Lattes!!!!! Yay!! Except-- I like salted caramel lattes better!

DONT HATE ME!

Our friend who has taken residency outside on our back patio. Needless to say, I will not be going in the back anytime soon. Matt says he keeps lots of bugs away. I say he needs to go.

Update: This morning, we could not find him. Matt thinks the rain made him move. And as long as it wasn't inside, I'm fine with that.

Also, please don't message me and tell me that its a brown recluse or some deadly spider that will kill me, Matt, Ernie, or Lulu. I have an anxiety disorder and sometimes the less I know the better.

Leaves on the ground!

I cannot wait to take a "joy ride" on Sunday so Matt and I can go look at all the pretty, colorful trees.

Pretty, night sky.

Clearly, I'm not a trained photographer. I took this on a whim while taking pictures of our colorful light bulbs. I didn't add any "special effects" to this picture and just got extremely lucky that it came out this cool.

In other news.....

Yesterday was an extremely tough day for me. While I don't want to go into much detail, I made the decision the resign as Gym Director at The Little Gym of Middleton. I will always miss working at TLG and I will forever be impacted by the fabulous families I met working there. Lots of whom, I will choose to keep in touch with for many years to come.

I always felt as though Rockford was my "hometown" (Gansta Girl! kidding....) but I never felt like I had a community in Rockford. I can honestly say that it wasn't until Matt and I moved to Madison and I met all of the families at Little Gym that I truly felt like I was apart of a community. Of course these families deserved an explanation and below are pieces of my very long and very emotional letter to the close families at Little Gym. I'm choosing to show you, so everyone can understand how much I really loved the people I worked with.

"........I have been an employee at The Little Gym of Middleton for over two years and I have been trained and have known The Little Gym way for over eight years. Ever since I was eighteen years old, I knew The Little Gym was something wonderful, extraordinary, and a rare gem. It was a place that children could go to get applauded for every effort, every giggle, and every story they had to share. It was a place that families could walk in and be known by name (just as though they were walking into a friend’s house). It was a place where friendships were made, bonds were formed, and confidence soared.

Over my two years of employment at Middleton, I have met hundreds of children and families. I have witnessed several “We’re expecting” announcements, gender reveals, birth announcements, first birthdays, first days of Kindergarten, and everything in-between. I have witnessed first words, first steps, and several times that a three year could leave their parents’ side and walk courageously into the gym on their own for the first time. I have been touched by thousands of people inside the four walls of 1920 Cayuga Court and for that I am forever grateful.

I sat in every class and cheered on your children throughout every milestone they reached. Your little ones trusted me and let me participate in some of the most exciting moments in their “fun, play-based” life. They reminded me how to see the world in its true beauty, how to appreciate the small things, and how to let loose and have fun…… You see, The Little Gym is so much more than a weekly class. The Little Gym is a community. A family. A safe place. Somewhere that your children (and myself as well) could go to cheer up. To have fun. And to be surrounded by people who only loved them and meant the absolute best. I hope you know that. I hope you know that myself and all of the other Little Gym staff members truly love your children. We want nothing but the best for them and will try, hope, and work hard so that they can feel that accomplishment. So that we can see the big smile on their face after they master that skill. So that we can hold the door for them as they leave, give them a high five for all their hard work, and know that we really made a difference in that little person’s life. After all, that’s why we do it…. We do it for them……Always remember how truly special The Little Gym is. Always know that your child has a number one fan in me and every other staff member at TLG. And please tell them that no matter where I am, I’m always cheering them on......"

The responses that I received from everyone was overwhelming and I cried reading every single one. They were all supporting, kind, and encouraging. Thank you to all of you. And you know who you are.

I will always be an advocate for Little Gym. Whether you live in Belgium, India, or the United States. Whether you choose to attend the gym in Middleton, Chicago, or Bellevue, Washington. Every Little Gym is special and I'm certain that whenever Matt and I have our own children, they will be at The Little Gym every-single-week. Thank you to the Joers, Adrienne Testa, Ryann Marlar, all of my staff, and the hundred of members who impacted my life. I love you all.

With that being said, tomorrow morning I will walking into the Corporate Palace, the national headquarters, and the monstrous building of American Family as a new Policy Service Representative. I have joined my husband at his company and in his department and while I am incredibly nervous, I am also very excited for this wonderful opportunity for myself and our family.

The building is about the size of five hospitals put together. I will be training in classes and on the job, studying, and taking tests to become an AmFam agent within the next several months and I will go from a BIG FISH in a little pond to a tiny wee one in a huge ocean. Exciting. Nerve-racking. Lots of feelings.