The End

Here I am, sitting in my big red chair at the end of my last week of classes, of my last year of university, listening to country music and having my cup of coffee for the morning, and I find myself completely in LOVE with where I have been for the past three years. There is so much about my life here, and how it has progressed that I am in awe of the way God has worked and molded my heart and mind. The photo above is my view every morning out my window. I pick up my head and look towards the east, and God is smiling at me. It's those mornings that I wake up for sunrise, without meaning to, that I know I am completely at the will of His hands.

If I had not come to Waynesburg, I don't know where I would be in my life, spiritually, mentally, or physically. I would not have met the love of my life, Ryan, and would not have gotten to know my Godparents (my Aunt Tami and Uncle Tom) as well as I do now, and I am so thankful for all of this.

Last weekend was Film Fest, exactly a year since Ryan and I got engaged. He and I presented our film, 300 vs Bring it On, and before we walked up, Kevin Vinay almost made me cry with his introduction:
"Last year, Film Fest history was made when one adult leader proposed to another. She said yes, and here they are one year later to present our next film. Please welcome Ryan Shumway and Emily 'soon-to-be-Shumway' Dooley."

As I realized the progression of this past year, and the family that we have made both at the University and at First Pres, I could not have asked for anything more. I saw the rest of my life in Ryan while he was playing with Caelie Jones last weekend...the happiness we will have, and the love too.






THANK YOU WAYNESBURG

The Ridiculousness of the Last Few Weeks of School...

I have to say that, as a senior, with several senior friends, it is hard to accomplish anything worthwhile. This is especially the case when talking about sheep. Let me preface this story.

As a youth group leader at the Presbyterian church in town, I have the privilege to go to my students' houses, and wake them up at all hours of the morning, just for fun with Kevin Vinay. This past week, five of us took a trip out to the Martin family's home. They just happen to own a sheep farm, and we woke the sheep up as well that morning. The best part of it was that I had never been that close to a sheep! Go figure...no, there are not sheep where I live in California. So when we rolled up and got out of the car, I heard this deep noise that sounded like a big man trying to impersonate a sheep. Oh no, that was actually the sheep!!! I started cracking up! I had no idea that is what they really sounded like...I just figured it was the nice little bah bah bah noise that everyone thinks they sound like.

So after this experience, I had to share it with my roommate and friends in my building. That night, I randomly thought about it, and started laughing...Kathy didn't know what was going on. When I filled her in on the story, she joined me in my giggle fit. This is us being silly, and making sheep noises at 11 o'clock at night.




To make the night progress even more, our good friend Chelsea was in our room working on her 'box.' As an education major, she is in several fun/ridiculous classes where she has to make things like a 'story box.' In a 'story box,' you have to read a book, then recreate the book in a box, almost like looking into a window to the story. Well, Chelsea did her box for 'Twilight,' by Stephanie Meyer (phenomenal! yes, we are both college students who LOVE Twilight). She had miniature EVERYTHING from the book it seemed like...mini mirrors, mini cast, mini baseball glove and ball...




Needless to say, we can occupy ourselves with no trouble at all...or money...or anything but each other:)

Breaks are Good

With just three weeks of school left at the end of last week, I was itching for some down time, some time when I don't have to worry about anything. Oh, how good the Lord is, because He found it for me. For the Easter weekend, we were given both Friday of last week, and Monday of this week off. Natalie and I decided the most relaxing thing to do would be to STAY PUT! That is just what we did. Ryan went home to Canton for the weekend, and I didn't pack, or drive, or sleep in a different bed. It was wonderful!
Better yet, I cleaned, shopped, and colored Easter eggs! That literally sums up my weekend...aside from eating.

That may be funny, but in all honesty, eating was one highlight from the weekend. Being so close to Pittsburgh, we are able to go up there for an evening and have a good meal, enjoy some salsa dancing, or get in some good shopping. On Friday though, Natalie, her roommate Alisha, and I experienced two of the three. We left relatively early in the day to get up to Oakland by noon. We happened to know a great little Indian food restaurant, called India Garden, so we stopped in to have their lunch buffet. OH GLORIOUS TASTES IN MY MOUTH!!! Natalie introduced me to Indian food early this school year, and it is probably my favorite ethnic food. After our bellies were full, we headed to the Southside Works, and along East Carson street for some shopping. I was able to purchase some unique beads for the jewelry that I am giving to my bridesmaids at a place called the Bead Mine. They had a ton of beads, but zero customer service...at least it is taken care of. Natalie and I shopped and loved it all! There are some really great stores at Southside Works, including White House Black Market, Urban Outfitters, Puma, and many more. Nat was able to find some really great clothes for her interview that is coming up next week, and I found a graduation dress (most of which was on sale). To finish off the day right, we went food shopping at a small Korean grocery in Squirrel Hill (gotta love the Garlic Chili Sauce) and ate dinner back in Oakland at Korea Garden...It was a day of gardens. In the photo above, Alisha is serving us from the seafood dish that cooked right on our table. Oh the joys of ethnic food!

The rest of the weekend was fun...time spent with family...dying Easter eggs as a 21-year-old...

My Aunt and Uncle shared their home with four college students on Saturday evening for dinner, dessert, and egg coloring. I have to say, it was a blast! We had both hard boiled and blown eggs to color. The one I have in my hand is a blown egg, which I turned into a 'chick,' only it looked like a kindergartner did it because I gave it a big U-shaped mouth below its beak...anyone over the age of 10 knows that the beak IS its mouth...I thought of that right after I drew on the extra mouth. With the egg-ception of my mutant chickie, Easter was wonderful. We were able to break bread with several friends and family from Waynesburg, and I didn't think of work all weekend long.

One paper to go and I am in the clear!
Godspeed...

Good Life Decisions...

As a Senior, I feel obligated to help out my fellow students who are younger, more impressionable, and completely confused. A good friend of mine, who is a sophomore, was trying to figure out what to do about her possible TWO majors and TWO minors. Natalie and I calmly sat with her as she spewed all of her confusion for about a half hour. The conclusion we came to? Don't fret.

I know that as a freshman coming in, I had so many plans about having a double major, or going into medical school...researcher...wow, I am worn out from even thinking about it! But I think the best thing I did was over-commit myself early, and slowly weed out the things that were of less significance for my future. This is the advice that Natalie and I gave to her. That is what we, as seniors, are here for! Natalie and I both had seniors who were a great influence on us during our freshman and sophomore years. Now it is our turn to be the helpful seniors, and we are happy to do so.

One of my favorite things that I have chosen to continue to be a part of is the Waynesburg University Beauty Shop Quartet. I know that I have mentioned it before, but it is one of the most relaxing parts of my week. This past weekend, we sang for multiple events. We were invited to sing at the Lions Club Senior Citizens Prom. It is an event that the WU Lions Club started this past fall, and is attempting to continue on each semester. We were a part of the entertainment for the evening, along with the WU Vocal Jazz Ensemble and 88.7 the Buzz. Throughout the evening we sang songs such as "Over the Rainbow," "I Double Dare You," and "Goodnight Ladies."
Below we are singing "I Double Dare You" to this group of men who participated in the prom...





My main reason for sharing this is that I ENJOY every part of my week. I get stressed with everything that I have to do, but it is the moments shared with good friends that I will remember from Waynesburg. My experiences with friends have been wonderful here, and I have to remind myself often that it's not about what I do or don't do, what I have or haven't done, but about the relationships that I have built, and continuing to do so after I leave Waynesburg. That is my encouragement to everyone who still has time to de-stress, and enjoy the experience.

Show Week

After about two months of rehearsal, our show is finally coming together. We have four days until our first audience, and I am SUPER EXCITED! Lil' Abner is one of the most ridiculous shows...and I love it! Based on Al Capp's cartoon, it is, in short, about a backwoods hick town. It takes place during the atom bomb era, and is apparently 'unnecessary.' Because of this, the government plans to evacuate the town in order to use the space to bomb instead of out in the desert (it was ruining the image of Las Vegas.) So, in order to stop the town from being bombed, the citizens of 'Dogpatch USA' have to scour the town for something necessary. It is a comedy slash musical, with lots of bright colors and wild characters. The seats are full for Friday and Saturday, but we still have some available for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Tickets are free! Contact Eddie Powers at (724) 852-3226 for reservations.



One of the most rewarding things for me is working (continuously) on costumes. It was slightly rough in the beginning, but now it is all coming together! Everything looks so good together on stage, and I am very proud of myself. I looked up to my good friend Jen May my sophomore year, and she did most of the costuming before she left. She and I still talk, though she is teaching in North Carolina. She is a math teacher, and is a big supporter of my new job! She has always encouraged me, and I am very thankful for her friendship! Unfortunately, she can't make it to the show next week, but is coming up for a visit the following weekend. Jen and her boyfriend of about three years FINALLY got engaged last weekend.


Congrats Jenny!








With five weeks of school left (AHHHHHH! FIVE WEEKS!) I am both happy and sad to be done. It seems like just yesterday that I got here as a silly sophomore, and now I'm graduating? I picked up my cap and gown yesterday, and it brought the reality of everything very close to me. For now, I am just going day to day. I will be ready when the time comes, but for now, I will take it one day at a time.

See you next week!

What A Break

Spring Break could not have come at a better time. It was so much fun, extremely relaxing, and I got to see my niece!!! She is so freaking adorable!

Natalie and I flew out to California, and arrived late in the night. My mom picked us up from the airport, and we finally got home around midnight, or later. I gave my dad a great big hug when I walked in the door, pulled my suitcase towards the stairs, and stopped. Out from the family room popped my cousin Molly, who lives in Utah and goes to school in Salt Lake City. AHHHHH! Scream, scream, giggle, giggle...that was all I could do. I was so excited!

So between Molly, Myself, and Natalie, the house was filled with chaos and noise. Granted, I am a loud young woman...but Molly is ten-fold my noise level and excitement! That is why I love to have her around:) My mom had sent Molly an invitation to my bridal shower that was on Sunday, and she decided to fly out from Utah on a whim, just to surprise me. It was wonderful!















For the first time in a long time, I was able to see some good friends from high school...My friend Darrell who is now in the Navy, my friend Mike, who is a surf bum, and my best friend Breesa who is graduating with a degree in film and media...or something like that;)







It was really a great week at home. More than anything else, I love being with my family, and it was good to be back for a short while. My mom and dad said to me, "Oh my, this is the last time you will be home as our 'single' little girl!" And it is true.


Now Natalie and I are back, and we have six weeks...SIX WEEKS left in our college career. That is only slightly unnerving! The good news is I have a job lined up! I was offered a position with Teach for America in Connecticut! Yay! But even still, how is it that fours years has flown by so quickly???

If I can give one piece of advice to those coming into college, it would be LIVE IN THE NOW. Don't keep waiting for the future to get here, because it will be here before you know it! Enjoy every day, and spend your days with the people you love.

SPRING BREAK!!!

I can't even believe that it is Spring Break already!!! But, at the same time I am so excited!!! I am flying home in about four hours, and I cannot wait to see my niece, Lila Peach, and the rest of my family!

My Maid of Honor, Natalie Allen, is flying home with me to California for the week. We are going to get to simply RELAX for the majority of the week. Saturday I get to try on my wedding dress, and do the first set of alterations - very exciting! Then Sunday, a family friend of my mom and me is throwing me my first bridal shower!!! I try not to be overly excited about having a wedding (three months from today) while I am in school, but I can't help it at this point! We are coming down to the last days before the wedding, and the time is flying by! My friends here have been so supportive, and helpful when it comes to anything that I might need help with.

I am super excited for Monday because I get to play with Lila all day! My mom watches her every Monday, so I am thrilled! Last I saw Lila, she was only about four months old. Babies grow a TON in two months, and she has for sure. My mom keeps telling me how much she is moving and making noise...ARG! I"M SO EXCITED!



The biggest downfall of the break is that Ryan will be in Ohio, and not with me in CA. He's having his wisdom teeth pulled, and is not too excited about it. Now I know that i am going to have a ton of fun with my mom and Natalie (there has been talk about Sex and the City marathons) but I am still going to miss him.

Regardless of that I am SO happy that we are going to have a week of relaxation and family.

God Bless! Hope you all have a wonderful week! Until next time...