the Job Market Journey.

It has already been several months since Bry went through the job market, but I want to make sure and document his journey.  This is the sort of thing that I thought was interesting to ask my Dad, "Where did you get job offers when you graduated?  Where could we have ended up?"  So hopefully the kiddos will also someday think this section of our family history is fun to flip through.

My Mom flew in the night before Bry's first fly-out.  The three of us stayed up late getting things checked off the giant to-do list.  Of course a haircut was in order, picking out his wardrobe and Mom was wonderful to do all of the ironing. It was such a blessing to have her in town.

A picture I sent Bry for him to have as his laptop background, as a reminder that the four of us were at home cheering him on!

Doesn't every job candidate need a "interactive map score card"? ;0)  I wanted a fun way for him to concisely keep track of each campus visit:

When all was said and done Bry got 7 fly-outs and we were grateful for each one.  Of those seven he was extended 5 offers.  New Mexico was his first interview and his first offer.  It was such a relief when he received that call and to know that no matter what happened we'd have a job.

(1)

New Mexico State University: 

Las Cruces, New Mexico

offer extended

(2)

Illinois State University: Bloomington Normal, Illinois

offer extended

(3)

Central Michigan University: Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

(4)

University of Toledo: Toledo, Ohio

offer extended

(5)

 Oklahoma State University: Stillwater, Oklahoma

(not every day I can use my lovely glamour shot  ;0))

(6)

University of New Hampshire: Durham, New Hampshire

(the "good luck" cards got cheesier as we went ;0))

offer extended

(7)

 Georgia Southern University: Statesboro, Georgia

offer extended

It was a VERY busy two months with frequent trips to and from the airport.  As I was driving to the airport to pick Bry up for the last time it dawned on me that the CRAZY busy job market that I had been so nervous about (mainly because it'd mean me handling the three kiddos alone) was over.  We'd made it through.  I knew that the Lord had somehow made up the difference.  AND I must add that I am so proud of Bry, not only for all the hard work, time and effort he put into each interview--It must have been an exhausting process!--but also for the amazing dedication he's had since we got married.  Finishing the MAC program at BYU, 2 years as an auditor at KPMG while taking the qualifying exams & officially becoming a CPA, studying for the GMAT, passing his COMPS...AND making it through 3 1/2 years of a relentless PhD program.  WOW.  Just wow.  His last educational hurdle now after this HUGE "marathon" is finishing his dissertation.    Go Bry, GO!!!!

In the end we decided on Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. We're of course sad that we won't be closer to family, BUT we feel like this is our next "mission call", we're grateful that the Lord is in the details, and are excited and grateful for the adventures that await us! (Now I just need to figure out how to contently live in our 2 bedroom town home for the next five months ;0))

*I borrowed the university webpage headers and logos from Google.com*

our success.

Last Friday (1 November 2013) Bry proposed his dissertation and it was accepted!!!  This was such a BIG milestone.  He surprised me twice that day, first with a SWEET email (pasted below) to the family and then with a dozen red roses when he got home from school.  He wanted me to know that his success was indeed our success and thanked me for all of my support.  Sure love that Bry :0)  That evening we went out for dinner at Maggiano's to celebrate.  I'm so glad we're on this adventure together.

By way of "job market" update, Bry has 3 campus visits done (New Mexico, Illinois, Central Michigan) and 4 to go (University of Toledo, Oklahoma State University, Georgia Southern University and University of New Hampshire).

Dear Family,

I wanted to send you an email to let you know that I successfully passed my dissertation proposal today! This is one of the biggest hurdles in the program. It consisted of a 1 1/2 hour presentation with my 3-member dissertation committee presenting a paper I am working on and outlining the analysis for a third paper I will put together between now and the dissertation defense. The dissertation defense will be scheduled sometime in mid-April and will be the final hurdle for completing all the degree requirements to receive the Ph.D. I felt very blessed today and in the days this week leading up to the proposal--I know I am in good hands! AND I have to put a shout out to the most wonderful companion, confidante, and cheerleader ever...SARAH!! I keep telling Sarah that all these events are just as much her achievements as mine because she is the one holding everything together!

Thanks for all the prayers and support!

Love, Bry :)

Big Steps!

Bry sent me this email yesterday to announce that he'll officially be proposing his dissertation in a few weeks...  

You are invited to attend the proposal examination of

Mr. Bryan Graden

As he presents topic proposal

"Lease Accounting Rule Changes and Debt Covenants Characteristics"

Friday, November 1, 2013

10:00 am

Simon Hall Room 110

Examination Committee:

Richard Frankel (Dissertation Chair)

Beverly & James Hance Professor of Accounting

Gauri Bhat

Assistant Professor of Accounting

Jared Jennings

Assistant Professor of Accounting

Big Steps!  It amazes me how well he has handled this whole whirlwind of a process.

Halfway through.

Before I blog about anything else I need to mention that, as of a few weeks ago, Bry is officially halfway through his program!!  I am so proud of his hard work and diligent effort.  Crazy that we've been here in St. Louis for 2 1/2 years.  I'm glad we're here at least another 2 1/2...it's been such a wonderful season of life, surrounded with such wonderful people.

The moment we've all been waiting for.

Yesterday Bry heard back about his comprehensive exams and.....

Ted Drewe's = Bry's favorite way to celebrate :0)

We were so, SO excited to get the news!  You worked so hard, long and diligently and I'm so proud of you :0)  It's the last big hurdle of this monster marathon (aka COMPS).  CONGRATS, Bry! 

go to sleep tired...

...and wake up exhausted :0)  For months Bry has been wanting to go camping.  We were seriously thinking of going this last weekend, but plans changed a bit and I felt bad that we wouldn't be able to go.  So, I schemed a camp out in the Southwicks' livingroom ;0) (Microsoft is paying for the remaining two months of their lease so they said we could use it whenever we wanted.)  Thursday evening, after Bry had completely finished his COMPS (YAY!!), the kids and I picked him up from the metro and drove to the Rocketship Park for a picnic.  We dined on tinfoil dinners and homemade strawberry lemonade.  We headed over to Ted Drewe's for some frozen custard (that was Bry's requested way to celebrating being done) then came home to reveal our secret.  We came up to the porch and he wondered what the sign was about.  I handed him the key, he opened the door and there was our tent all set up with a pair of jammies for each of us neatly folded on the ground.  He was totally surprised, grateful and excited :0)  Although we'd already had dessert I pulled out the s'mores brownies that Brie and I had made.  (Ok, and I made a s'more for each of us because as good as the brownies were they didn't compete with the originals.)  After filling our stomachs with sugar we climbed in the tent, sang some songs, let the kids play around and then laid down for the night.  Our air mattress AND Brie AND Alex's peapod wouldn't fit in the tent so we spent the night on the floor.  After a LONG night I joked with Bry that no wonder you go to bed early when camping...you have to make up for all the hours you toss and turn.  At least that was true this time.  I apologized to Bry that this had been my idea of celebrating, but he was a good sport.  In any case, we all woke up with smiles and had enjoyed our first family "camp out" :0)

Have any of you heard Jim Gaffigan's skit on camping?  Too funny :0)

WASH-U, we love you!

(29 July 2010)

We visited WASH-U (Washington University) for the first time back in late July. I thought the grounds were beautiful! I loved the architecture as well....I'm excited that Bry gets to attend school here.

(Looking out the window from the first year Business PhD students' computer lounge)



Statue of George Washington.

(There wasn't fog....it was just my lens
recovering from the humidity that day)




(A view out from the front steps)


** Bry's been in school for several weeks now and things are going well. He stays pretty busy, but I'm so grateful we get to see him in the morning and in the evening for dinner. I really can't complain! How grateful I am for a hard-working and diligent husband. I'm pretty sure there is no way I'd be handling his work load as graciously as he does. **