So...how about those Lakers?

The past two years have been an amazing and formative time for Emily and I as we have navigated graduate school and career development. Southern California has truly been good to us both.

The past four weeks have been packed with milestones and celebrations. With graduation, job interviews, bachelor/bachelorette parties, a phenomenal wedding, and honeymoon...we have definitely kept busy. Did I mention we drove across the nation from Claremont, CA to west Michigan...and back... toting apothecary jars and succulent plants, wedding gifts and suitcases packed to the brim...all within 3 weeks? It's a good thing that Emily and I both enjoy road trips. We had a wonderful time spending hour upon hour driving together.

Now that we are officially Mr. and Mrs. Fredericks, M.S., the time has come to make the next step in our careers. Beginning in March, I had been interviewing with a handful of universities looking for the right fit. After all the phone interviews, on campus interviews, discussions, and prayer, Emily and I have decided that the best place for us, and best fit of position, is at Grand Valley State University in Michigan...our alma mater. GVSU has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade, and we could not be more excited to join a stellar staff committed to student development and success!

So it looks like in a few short weeks, we will be driving across the nation, AGAIN. I will officially begin my new position as the Living Center Director of Secchia and Winter Halls downtown Grand Rapids, MI at the GVSU Pew Campus on July 5, 2011. We are pretty stoked to return home to our friends and family (and we think our friends and family will be pretty stoked too). Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we prepare for this big move as well as Emily's job search.

Much Love,
The Fredericks'

Here we go...again

It is hard to believe that my life as a graduate student is almost over. Soon, I will enter "the real world" again, as a productive citizen - giving back to the community in which I work. I feel completely ready and prepared for this next step in my developing journey towards true vocation. This preparedness is mostly attributed to my time at Azusa Pacific University as a student and employee. How I arrived here is somewhat of a blur though. Week after week of reading, writing, researching, programming, mentoring, supervising, eating, sleeping...like a small snowball tumbling down the mountain, increasing its speed, increasing its size, until finally it reaches the base of the mountain, transformed into a mammoth boulder of snow. I am a mammoth boulder of knowledge and experience, ready to take the next step. Here we go again! I certainly haven't forgotten the lessons learned, yet my "shipwreck" accident seems like a faint dream, or nightmare, from the past...and I'm alright with that. I'm excited to simply let this memory fade away under the layers of compacted "snow". Let go...

25 days until Placement Exchange, 30 days until my first research presentation at a national conference, 84 days until graduation, 99 days until my wedding day...but who's REALLY counting anyhow? Who am I kidding...I'M COUNTING, that's for sure! There is a faint glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, buried under more reading, writing, researching, programming, mentoring, supervising, eating, and sleeping. I can see it shimmering like a dime at the bottom of the wishing well...just a few more lengths of rope, and my bucket will reach the bottom. Another weekend, another to-do list, another impossible looking feat. You know what though? I have definitely done this before, I CAN DEFINITELY do it again...SO - Here we go...again!

Musing...

In musing over the past months, all I see is a blur. A blur of reading, writing, presenting, planning, etc...and here I am. Another month closer to graduation, another month closer to marriage, another month closer to re-entering the real world. Should I be scared? Should I be nervous? There are no clear answers to these questions. It seems that my self-authorship has really kicked into gear since moving to California. Inside and outside of the classroom, I have learned what my passions are, where my talents lie, who I am, and who I want to become. Through all the flux, the only constant in my life has been my best friend, my ally, my challenger, my supporter, my love, Emily. It hasn't been easy being a graduate student, a graduate assistant, a groom. Emily has been endlessly patient and graceful. It hasn't been easy for her either, as she has changed jobs and endured unnecessary hardships along the way.

Emily is the only reason why I am not nervous, why I am not scared. Because of Emily, I have been able to focus on developing true vocation. I've been able to build a solid foundation for my career as a student affairs professional. The question I ask is no longer if I will find a job, but rather where I will find a job. No matter what, Emily and I will be together, living life, growing with each other! Thank you Emily for being my best friend and challenging me to do better and press on even when I have felt as though I couldn't anymore. I love you more and more each day and cannot wait to pronounce that love in front of God, all of our family, and friends! I love to muse on you Emily, and our future together, wherever that journey may lead.

...and we're back...

Inspired by other bloggers, and after a long summer hiatus, I thought it was due time to get back to blogging. This summer has been filled with so many events and changes, that I doubt I will be able to touch on them all...and unfortunately summer is nearly finished. From visiting Michigan to Michigan friends visiting in California, I couldn't have asked for a better summer. Now the focus must shift as I gear up for the coming school year. Watch out...this year will be like none other before...full of work, studying, planning, listening, marrying, writing, presenting, travelling...on and on the list will go.

I have officially finished my work with the Center for Global Learning & Engagement (CGLE) and will begin with a new department, Ministry and Service (MAS), Monday morning. My post - Los Angeles Program Advisor. This week we begin training and orientation, followed by training and orientation for a new group of undergraduate student workers! I am so pumped and excited to be working with an amazing team of leaders. Over the past few months, I have had the privilege of getting to know my to be supervisor(s). The CGLE office shares a building with MAS, so during the work week, I often found myself wandering from one side to the other. I expect this year to be life changing in many ways, not only for the students I will work with, but for myself. I know I will learn and grow exponentially as I engage with different communities in Los Angeles County.

Emily and I continue our search for the perfect venue for our wedding. The month will most likely be May...the newest location is called the Blue Dress Barn and is located near Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, MI. We have a really good feeling about the prospect of getting married and celebrating at this location! I am REALLY REALLY REALLY hoping we can have a decision by the time school starts on Sept. 7.

Yesterday we went whale watching at Dana Point with some friends from the college days in Grand Rapids (Amy lives in San Juan Capistrano and Ben still lives in GR but is out visiting Amy). This was our second time out, and much more fun with friends AND dolphins...plus a quick sighting of a particularly elusive blue whale.
It was an amazing sight...although not what I expected. I really want to see a whale jump out of the water :)

Honestly, I don't feel like writing anymore...it is Sunday, and my last day of summer. Time for some relaxing. Better blogs in the future - PROMISE!

How I LOVE sunny, blue skied, Sunday afternoons. They always seem to be full of rest, relaxation, and quiet...especially these days as my time is spent looking for odd jobs to supplement my temp. job at APU along with relishing the thought of a 10-day-Michigan-Summer-Vacation. I can smell the cool lake breezes. I can feel the hot-hot solar heated sand between my toes. I can taste the iron rich well-water. I can hear the buzzing hum of heat stroked cicadas. Ah, what else is like a summer day on the Lake Huron beaches of Port Austin? With all the responsibility and busyness of life's day-to-day activities...isn't it simply a treat toclose your eyes and imagine the gravel beneath your feet as you stand on Bay Dr. glancing at the lake through the open cottage doors and windows? I know I live in Southern California, and those Michiganders have earned their Michigan summer so much more than I have...but oh... Michigan in the summer?!?! I SIMPLY CANNOT WAIT!

Emily's collection of bridal/wedding magazines continues to grow. We are so excited to be planning our special day, but it isn't without difficulty. Living 2,000+ miles away from where this is to go down, well, it's quite a curve to deal with. We are currently attempting to identify what is most important to us so we can find the perfect place. Suggestions? Keep in mind, we need to be VERY wise and creative with our wedding funds ;) Other than the anxiety of making

these initial decisions, we are definitely enjoying the "engagement bliss".

It won't be long now and I will no longer live in Azusa, CA. The wonderful village of Claremont is calling! I will join my love Emily as well as some great roommates (Julia, Natasha, and an additional - yet to be identified roommate) in a modern home (circa 1955) with an open floor-plan and TONS of natural light, clerestory windows throughout, 5 sliding doors, 25 fruit trees, etc. etc. Needless to say, we are quite excited about moving into this quaint home!

Aside from attempting to clean the apartment, work out, and feed ourselves...not much more is going on here. The mercury is slowly rising, reminding us that this a big ole desert. Michigan,

we hear your beckon...we promise to respond...just give us a few more weeks!

Heja Sverige! ;)

We are officially fianceed!

This blog seems to be better told through pictures. Emily and I went to Joshua Tree National Park (a desert park...but this time of year beautiful). We went on a few beautiful trails, and ultimately ended up at a place called Key Views where you can see the valley from above. It is amazing! Here are some pictures from our wonderful Sunday trip! And the pictures are kinda in backwards order...no time to fix. Going camping for the weekend!

Foreigner (not 70's British-American rock band)

Something I find very ironic, is how foreign I STILL feel here in southern California. I'm familiar with many of the important prerequisites to "feeling at home". I have a wonderful apartment, I know how to get to the most important places (without GPS), Emily and I have found a great church (Mosaic in Pasadena), I have identified my favorite grocery stores, I know where the nearest Starbucks is (as well as the nearest drive-thru location), I have found some great hiking and biking trails, I have explored both independent and chain restaurants unique to this part of the country, etc.. I have found many comforts, yet, I still feel like a transient guest. I can't seem to shake that "vacation feeling"... knowing that inevitably this time will come to an end. At this point only God knows where Emily and I will be heading once graduation arrives in less than a year! Let me quickly emphasize that this past year has NOT been a vacation. It has been one of the most challenging, busy, & formative times in my life thus far.

Emily and I have discussed our thoughts and feelings at length regarding Los Angeles county. We share the same views of this new home of ours: It is impersonal and grossly anonymous. A huge factor is our lack of engagement with our local communities...the primary struggle being lack of time and energy. Another barrier, I believe, is the very real assumption that we will be leaving next year. If we are leaving so soon, what is the point in creating new bonds and friendships? It is hard to reconcile the differences between what is ideal and what is realistic.

Last night Emily brought up something that made so much sense. We have "friends" here, but what kind of friends? I hate to discount the genuine friendships we have formed (there are a handful). Overall, the relationships we've formed are surface level, superficial. Do these people really care for us, care about us? I could go on and on about the inadequacies we've found. This is sad, and I would also like to acknowledge that I recognize that southern California IS filled with many great people and opportunities, simply put, it isn't the place Emily and I think of when we dream of our future.

Description of the ideal: forests, mountains, seasons, quaint, friendly, slower/simpler pace, less populated, NO Walmart, land for farming, peaceful, star filled evening skies, no smog, sidewalks, trails, arts, good schools (K-12 and post-secondary). It could happen, I won't lose hope in that.

* The pictures have little if anything to do with this post. Only 54 days til Michigan!