April 22, 2014, was one of the best nights of my life.

One year ago today was one of the best nights of my life.  I knew the anniversary was coming, but didn't really remember the day, but this morning my trusty Timehop app reminded me with photos and more -- what day was it?

Our CPS Picnic!

Last year, Community Partners of Dallas -- with HUGE thanks to our CPS Picnic sponsors -- hosted a picnic for all Dallas County CPS employees to attend and to bring their families.  We have a Caseworker Appreciation Program at CPD, so this event was part of that program, but because we celebrated our 25th Anniversary last year, we made this event the biggest and best ever.

Normally, our Caseworker Appreciation large events happen 4 times a year and only staff attend -- not their family members.  A normal year is 3 events (such as lunch or ice cream), plus a holiday gift for all.

Now, believe me, the CPS staff truly appreciate a normal year and we get lots of smiles and thank you notes after handing out cupcakes or a coffee mug tied with a holiday ribbon.  You see, CPS caseworkers are on the front lines EVERY DAY doing God's work -- saving innocent victims of abuse and neglect -- and they receive very little in the way of thanks.  In fact, if you are good at your job, you typically just get more cases assigned to you.

But last year we wanted to really step up the thanks and a picnic at the Dallas Arboretum seemed the perfect way to do it.  Lots of work went into the event and it was a perfect night during Dallas Blooms with hundreds of volunteers all wearing big white T-Shirts with the words "Thank You!!!" emblazoned across the front in red.

NOTE:  The inspiration for the T-Shirt was WHAM's early video -- if you want to get even happier today, click here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIgZ7gMze7A

Anyway, the night was fantastic and we all had a blast, but the thing that made it one of the best nights of my life was that the hard-working Dallas County caseworkers of CPS heard that they were heroes from the most important people in their lives:  their very own children.

Thanks to the great people at Tenet Health (and most especially to my friend Maria) each caseworker received an Olympic-style medal around their neck when they arrived.  We had volunteers lining the pathway to the amphitheater for dinner and live music and the volunteers were cheering as the caseworkers walked down the path.  Yelling Thank You and You're My Hero, etc.

Children -- even teenagers -- turned to their mom and said they were proud of them.

Isn't that what any parent wants to hear?  Thanks for walking down memory lane with me.

Hug a caseworker today if you can.

Tell your mom or dad they're your hero if you can.

I get to do both.  Today's a great day too.

P.S.  Love you, Jen!

Lindsay Lohan is better than you.

Yes, I watched the Lindsay on OWN series -- every episode.

Those of you who know me know that this is not a surprise.  I love Oprah and love reality TV, so of course I was watching.  I didn't really learn much except that movie stars with chemical additions (and without them, I suppose) have lots of staff.

On the final episode they zoomed in on a bumper sticker on a car that said

Lindsay Lohan is better than you.

First, who actually has this on their car?  Her parents may, but they may be the only people to whom the phrase applies.

My mother taught me this -- You're not better than anyone else, but there's no one better than you.

I love that phrase but after my experience last night, I know it is not true.  There are lots of people better than me (and you for that matter) -- the staff members of Dallas County Child Protective Services.

Last night we celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Community Partners of Dallas (where I am the President and CEO) by throwing a party for some of the BEST people in Dallas -- the CPS caseworkers and staff -- at the Dallas Arboretum.  It was a big appreciation event and -- thanks to our sponsors -- we provided a beautiful setting, dinner, and a band.  CPS staff members received medals saying "Hero" from Tenet Healthcare and picnic blankets as a party favor.  But the best part of all were hundreds of volunteers lined up all wearing t-shirts that said THANK YOU on the front and cheering for each and every staff member as they walked the path at the Arboretum.

NOTE:  When your mom or dad is a police officer or a firefighter, you know that your parent is a hero -- and when it's time for career day at school, all the kids line up to meet your dad in his uniform.  But when your mom or dad is a CPS caseworker you don't hear much about their job because the details of what caseworkers witness is too gruesome to talk about with kids -- and it is all confidential.

So the cheer line was a fantastic way to show the CPS staff members and their very own families just how important mom or dad is to Dallas.

They're better than me and definitely better than Lindsay.

Check out these photos:

The Check-In Table was filled with our great CPD staff members!

Great caseworkers, friends and co-workers

We had walking sandwich boards for lots of photo opps for using our #CPD25 Hashtag and highlighting our great sponsors

This little guy doesn't have any idea what a great mom he has

Check out her Hero medal

I've known this guy ever since I started working at CPD -- more than 12 years ago

The kids loved dancing and singing to Signed, Sealed and Delivered

A grand time had by all