a Red Letter Day indeed.

12 February 2015

"Today, my committee at Washington University in St. Louis signed off on my dissertation defense!

I am grateful to God for paving the way for this to happen with numerous miracles along the way, to my biggest fans, Sar, Brie, Alex, and Elijah, to my family for praying and fasting for me on many occasions throughout the process, to my dissertation committee for supporting me through three different reschedules of the defense date, and to my friends at the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis and fellow Ph.D. students and cohorts for having faith in me that I could complete the dissertation. I am humbled, and I am grateful for the privilege I had to gain such a quality education that will help me sustain my family. God is good. Life is good."

We had schemed up a big weekend trip to St. Louis for Dad's dissertation defense and valentine's weekend and then the day before we were supposed to leave Brie was throwing up all day :0(  So Dad & I decided that it'd be best for him to take the train and go by himself.  I decked out his car, made a little poster for him to take, wished him well, prayed a lot that day and then waited to hear from him.  Then a text came through, "Dr. Graden" with a picture of the signed and official document and then "!!!!!!"  I responded, "Yay!!! Said with a GIANT smile and teary eyes!....CONGRATS :0) :0)  You've officially Phinished!  We're all smiles! :0)"  All smiles indeed.  That was one most anticipated and happy moments EVER.  You kids and I got some notes and hearts put together, headed over to ISU and decorated Dad's office door.  Then Brie picked out green roses at Aldi and we made a big poster (our favorite is the little boy making a fist with the caption, "Dissertation Done!") to have setup in the kitchen when he got home from the train.

This isn't just the official end of his PhD program, but of his time as a student.  (I told Brie this meant that he no longer is a student and can just be a teacher now.)  7 years ago we were celebrating his masters' degree from BYU (and announcing Baby #1 on the way) and now we are closing this schooling chapter as we get ready to welcome Baby #4 into our home.  It's been a long and hard yet rewarding and God has blessed us SO much along the way!  I couldn't be prouder of Dad, even after many unanticipated hurdles and turns, for seeing it through to the end!

N.E.R.D.S.

When scheming a party to celebrate Bry's PhD program, I thought a NERD theme would be perfect for an accounting professor.  (The only thing was that I didn't want it to seem derogatory at all, so I came up with Never Ending Researchers and Diligent Scholars.) 

Here are the party attendees :0)

I know I already mentioned it, but it was SO great to have so much of Bry's family in town to celebrate!!  The first student that Bry tutored, Carla, also came to add her congratulations.

We did a STL sampler and finger foods for dinner:

IMO'S Pizza

Toasted Raviolis

Fitz's Soda

a veggie tray

and Gooey Butter Cake cupcakes for dessert

  This is the bunting Brie made, she cut it out, sewed and strung and all!

The decorations were so much fun to come up with.  Most of the frames (and paper trays) came from the Outlet.  I designed the paper then the buntings and had them printed at the office (my friend Hannah cut out almost EVERYTHING for me.  Bless her!)

 I had "My Name" tags on the cups and easily transformed red napkins into bow ties.

 We had a little activity where each guest guessed what Professor Graden would say for the various facial expressions and filled in the blanks. (Did you know that you can write on black poster board with chalk?!)

 I mainly decorated the dining room, but also decorated the living room book shelf to look like it was in his office.

On our art wall I hung up some of Bry's research papers and readings along with these two print outs...

Little did I know that he was also scheming some surprises for me.  He posted up a certificate for supporting him through the PhD program and a stat sheet for me ;0), then presented me and the kids with very thoughtful gifts to show his appreciation for us.  

I presented him with a pair of new running shoes to help him finish the last hurdle (dissertation) of the marathon.  So grateful for this man of mine.

 Favors: Nerd family bookmarks (see picture in first collage) and a little cookie wrapped and sealed with this label.

Hooding Dr. Graden

Graduation day we got dressed up and rode the metro (Bry's primary mode of transportation during his studies) into Wash-U's beautiful campus.  It was surreal seeing Bry up on the stand with the other PhD candidates.  Alan was so great to watch the (very restless) kids out in the lobby so I could be present for the ceremony.  Bry was hooded by the dean of the Business School, Mahendra Gupta.  (Bry TAed a few of his courses and his normal advisor was out of town during the ceremony.)  Bry will finish and defend his dissertation this Fall and officially receive his degree then, but it was such a momentous occasion and reason to celebrate all of the hard work he has put in the last several years!!  Congrats Dr. Graden :0)

Afterwards we got a bunch of pictures, dropped in to a very nice reception at the Knight Center and met some of Bry's colleagues and associates.

undeserving.

This weekend the kids all got bad coughs and snotty noses, and Bry & I were really tired and had upset stomachs for a few days.  For whatever reason, feeling under the weather totally throws me off of my groove (well not to mention the increased stress of Bry's deadlines, jumping into house hunting and working to get more stuff packed).  I feel like things were going a lot better with Alex, but the last few days have been rough.  Lots of yelling, little patience :0(  But the real reason I wanted to record is to mention Brie.  On St. Patrick's Day I was feeling extra grumpy. I got the kids lunch and was getting mine warmed up in the microwave.  I turn around to find Brie opening the microwave door so I could get my food out then.  Then she pulled out my chair so I could sit down.  I melted into tears, gave her a big hug and thanked her for being so sweet to me even when I was being so grumpy.  This afternoon I was having another moment with Alex...around lunch time (hmm, maybe there is a pattern here).  I was done and had NO patience left for Alex.  Brie quietly and sweetly talked him into going up stairs for his nap and helped him into his peapod.  That sweet girl!  There have been several moments like that lately when I have felt totally undeserving and she has sweetly served me.  Thank you dear, Brie!  Thank you for helping me get through this weird, stressful, transitional time.

Alex was throwing a tantrum earlier and I was ready to haul him to his room AGAIN when Lij toddled over to Alex, gently rested his head on his, gave him a little snuggle and Alex stopped screaming.  It was such a tender mercy.  It made me think that maybe one of the reasons God sent Lij to us now is to help us with Alex...he seems to connect with him like no one else.  In any case, I was grateful for his little demonstration of love for a seemingly undeserving older brother.

People always say that you learn so much from your kids!  Well, this week my kids have definitely been teaching me a lot about loving others even when they don't seem to deserve it.