Eight Days and Counting...

It's a very strange feeling to know that in about one week I will be less than six months away from graduating - moving on to the real world, what's that? For the majority of my life, I have been conditioned to go to school, have the summer off, and then go back. So what about when I DON’T GO BACK? Wow, that just doesn't seem right. Don't get me wrong, it's exciting, but it just doesn't sound right. So what then? Where do I go? What do I do? Well, I began that thinking process in the beginning of the year, and just yesterday had the first solid action towards my future: my first job interview.

I interviewed with the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO), and it was a good experience for the first of many to come. It was relaxed, but not unofficial. The CCO is an organization that is dedicated to 'transforming college students to transform the world' (www.ccojubilee.org). The organization works on several different college and university campuses in the north-east area of the country to help mentor and guide students to maturity in Christ. What an opportunity! But at the same time, I keep thinking, what is the plan for Emily? Where is it that I am truly meant to be? That is the million-dollar question of the century!

It seems that most college students don't really know what they want, even if someone if an education major, half the time he or she doesn't want to teach. So how is it that we, as college students, make it so far in our college careers and have NO IDEA where we are supposed to be? In addition to that, how can we get from 'NO IDEA' to 'SOME IDEA' or maybe even 'OUR CALLING'? To anyone who asks, I can inform them of my ideas to teach, work for the CCO, or possibly go right into a masters program, but then I have to follow that up with the fact that I need to be where God wants me to be. I need to follow His will first and foremost, and then I can consider the thoughts that I have and that others have for me. There is never any time frame that I can put on 'my plans,' and that goes for everyone else who has ideas to share. That is all they can be, is ideas, that can be shared, but it is all God's doing that one door opens when another does not. In that case, all I can do is pray, love, and work my hardest to continually have my eyes OPENED to the possibilities that will come up.

With all of this serious talk and consideration going on, there is no way that I could survive without a bit of light-hearted fun and family time...here are a few pictures that show those spirits...




This is me being attacked by tape...we were doing our Christmas decorating!


My family is the most important thing to me, and all of these photos really show the uniqueness of us when we are all together. I hope you all can be with your families in times of stress, and enjoy the holidays together!
God Bless!

It's That Time of Year!

SNOW! SNOW! SNOW!

I am so thrilled to have white flurries EVERYWHERE this week! It has been so beautiful on campus...I think it is actually one of my most favorite times on campus because it it so pretty.

To make the season even brighter (not that it can get much better with break beginning at one o'clock tomorrow) we had Thanksgiving dinner last night! It is an annual tradition that we have a HUGE Thanksgiving dinner in the Caf, and several of the University's faculty and staff stay late in the evening to serve us. It is probably the only time of the year that there is a line clear into the commons from the doors of the Caf to get in, AND that the Caf is JAM-PACKED with almost every soul on campus! We enjoyed turkey, stuffing, PIE...all the usual Turkey-Day foods. It is one last chance to get together with all for your friends before Thanksgiving break.

I am so excited for the winter to finally be here. It seems like the weather can't make up it's mind - it's cold, it's hot, rain, sleet, snow - AHHH! Pick one! Either way, the Holidays are coming, and the one thing that I love so much about Waynesburg University is how it has taught me to serve others, especially during the Holidays. One of the greatest ideas that I have had for a Christmas gift is donating money on behalf of my mom. World Vision, a non-profit organization that creates relationships between people here in America and children around the world who are under the age of 18 and poverty stricken, offers a gift catalog to people who would like to give a gift to those children in honor of a loved one (Please visit: http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwvibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=10024 to view the catalog).


We have SO MUCH here in America, and honestly, there is no material thing that I need at this point in my life. The entire Holiday season, we spend so much on people who HAVE and it seems as though we forget about the people
who HAVE NOT. We lose the reason for the season in the hustle and bustle of the shopping malls and the Christmas tree lots. Giving a gift, such as a goat, or two chickens, in the name of your Mom, Dad, Sister, or Brother, is a lasting gift that provides for a family across the world. Some of these gifts cost less than a video-game...and they are saving lives. The World Vision Website says about this young boy and others like him, "The early-morning bleating of a dairy goat is a happy sound for children in countries like Haiti and Kenya — they know it’s ready to be milked. A goat nourishes a family with protein-rich milk, cheese, and yogurt, and can offer a much-needed income boost by providing offspring and extra dairy products for sale at the market. It even provides fertilizer that can dramatically increase crop yields!" (http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwvibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=10024)

Please remember ALL of God's children this Holiday Season, not just your own. Waynesburg has really taught me to reach out to those in need, across the world, and around the corner, and we are all called to spread that awareness and love.

Live and Love in His name and glory!

Until Next Time...

Phew!

Finally, I feel like I can breath! This entire week I have had time to relax, get my work done, and keep my feet underneath me. Thank Goodness! We had a cold weekend at the football game, but it was well worth it. The boys ended up getting the highest score of the year with a 50-34 victory! Now this Saturday we have the last, and biggest game of the year - W&J...the enemy...the team that Waynesburg has only beat about 5 times out of the near 50 times that the two schools have met on the field. We need all the support we can get, so come out if you are near!




It is surreal that this is the last game of the season. Every weekend for the past two months I've been there cheering - my friend Kyley says I'll be a great soccer mom, and my mother says I have quite the pair of pipes on me - needless to say, I AM LOUD! And I love to be loud! It will be sad to see this last game...not only is it the last game of the season, but it is Ryan's last game EVER. After nine seasons of playing, he doesn't know what it is like to not be getting ready for the next year. He's excited for the next stage in his life, but at the same time slightly anxious about where to go from here. Today is his last practice, and I pray that all goes well. More importantly, I pray that the team gets their heads together to BEAT W&J!!! This is possibly the most important game of all, and it would be A-mazing to end on a good note.

The weather doesn't know what it wants to do yet either. I keep saying, it's NOVEMBER! GET IT RIGHT! But it seems that the air is not quite ready to stay cold. Waynesburg is the greatest area to be outside running, or biking, but when it gets cold, I get stuck in the fitness center. Lucky for me, I was able to go on an hour long bike ride with good friend, and fellow actor, Matt London. Do make a note though, our campus seems to be at the top of a hill, especially my dorm. So the ride out is great, but the way back is torture!

Fortunately, I was able to go back to my room, and take a load off. That has been the theme of the week - breath in, breath out - lay down, relax!!! One more week of classes, and I can continue to relax over Thanksgiving break! YAY! Family, friends, my little niece who I get to see for the first time, and great food - you can't go wrong with Thanksgiving. PLUS, my birthday is the last day of break, so it just ends on a fan-TAS-tic note.

Busy, Busy, Busy

What a great, crazy week it has been! Last weekend was the end to the show, and it was fan-TAS-tic! My parents were both able to come out, and also Ryan's parents were here too!
The five of us had a blast at the football game, Mom and Susie got to chat, my father being the amazing, nerdy papa he has always been, and Evan (Ryan's dad) with his peanuts and questions. Even though the boys didn't get the victory, it was a great day for Ryan. I can't imagine the joy he felt when he looked up and saw his Grandfather in the stands, along with his uncle and cousin. They came all the way from New York to catch his game - what a blessing!


Ever since my first show at Waynesburg University, and my role as a witch, I didn't know if I would ever have another part that would live up to the FUN that I had with that one. But alas, I was proven wrong as 'Tituba' in the Crucible. I was able to branch out, use a Barbadian accent, be really, really dirty as a slave, and also be slightly insane.
I guess I would say that I love those unique roles that challenge me, whether they are small or large, they are always the best! I also love to see Ryan's expressions with each show that he sees me in, or that we go to together. That is one thing that I have grown to love more, and more is going to see shows in the theater. Waynesburg is unique in that it offers SO MANY opportunities to see the arts for an inexpensive price. We are blessed here with a great activities program, and honestly no one can say that there is nothing to do on any given night.
It is great to have things to do on campus, but it seems like this past week, even though the show is over, I still don't have time to do them! It is soooo close to Thanksgiving, and I know that everyone is feeling the anticipation, and stress, of being done. I wrote a list on Monday of everything I have to do, and it seems like I keep crossing things off, but at the same time adding to it - let's say 2 things to do for every 1 thing I get done. Needless to say, I am slightly overwhelmed, and keep praying that I get caught up some day soon.
My job as a resident assistant usually doesn't help with my stress level, more likely than not it adds to it. But, last night we had an all staff meeting - it is a more casual event than you might think. Adam Jones, Resident Director and friend, lead the meeting. His topic was finding time to relax. So many of us get caught up in saying we are 'sooo busy' that often times it ends up being the main thought of our days. This mindset will keep taking away from our positive, God-loving attitude, and might end up driving us insane! So, my goal for today, and the rest of this semester, is to make sure my focus and my drive is in the right place. God is really, truly the only way to make it through our 'hectic' lives, and finding time to spend with Him is key.

It's Show Time!

Hello All! It's a beautiful, crisp fall morning, and opening night of the play was last night! My, how the months have flown by! It seems like just yesterday that I was onstage trying out for the show.

At the beginning of last week, we were still preparing, and not everyone was in costume. We were tripping, stumbling over words, and missing costumes. I was amazed at how we pulled together this week, but oh how we did! Not only is this show a great production, but the talent that we have in the theater is phenomenal!


Erin Crawshaw does a great job as the twisted woman who causes most of the drama (not that Eddie type casts - at all!) The combination of Crawshaw, Matt London, and Sarah Hulyk has blown me away every night.
As a student who just got into theater when I got to Waynesburg, I have honestly been blessed with the friendships and experiences I have to take away from this place.

Last night was a great start to production week. We were on the ball with lines, our energy was up, and we finally had an audience!!! Grief! I cannot tell you how monotonous it gets to be on stage the week before production and not have an audience!

My character is slightly wild, and at the end of the show I get to have a blast with make-up and hair. I play quite the dirty slave, and have to make it appear so! I accomplish that with a ton of make-up, charcoal powder, and by teasing my hair. I have had multiple people ask me if it is my real hair or not, it gets so big! The answer is, YES.

Though I love the theater, it will be nice to have a break at this point. Three weeks until Thanksgiving break, and Ryan and I are both thrilled. That is when I will finally be able to see my niece for the first time!

It will be really good to be home in Ohio and have both of our families all together. It is just that time of the year that I am antsy for family and break and Christmas!!! All of that is not to say that I don't LOVE Waynesburg, because I do, but it is time for the semester to be moving on.

So long for now! Stay tuned until next week...

Roommate Separation Anxiety

In my fourth year of college, I am finally blessed with a roommate, and an outlook that has kept the year positive and fun. My first year, I had three different roommates, and whether it was my fault or the others, I will not and cannot say. My second year of college, I started off in my Aunt and Uncle's house. They live only half a mile away from Waynesburg, so it worked out well. Midway through the year, I thought it was time to man-up, and I moved on campus. I had felt very separated from the student life, and found myself spending less time with friends than I could. I moved into Burns Hall after Christmas break, and was happy to be there. My roommate and I had an okay relationship, but there were still things that I did that bugged her, and vice versa. Even so, we stayed together for an entire year.

Now here I am, in my fourth year, and I love! love! love! my roommate! We honestly have been very blessed in our relationship. Our personalities simply do not clash. I have not been frustrated with her one single time (and let me tell you, that is amazing in the dorm atmosphere). Before we moved in together, we had several conversations about our concerns, our habits, and our experiences. (Here is Kathy's empty bed) Though there were things that I was afraid of, she and I have had a great time together!



This past weekend, she was able to go home and spend time with her family. Kathy left on Friday, and came back on Tuesday. I thought, "Okay, I can handle this. It'll be nice to have the room to myself." WRONG! I can't say how much I missed having her around, just the presence of another person in the big, lonely room. So many times I wanted to turn to her and refer to an ongoing joke that we have, and she wasn't there. I had to find something to do with myself in all those times of stale silence in East, and had no Kathy to laugh with. I called her on Sunday afternoon to see if she was on her way back, and she said, "I am coming back on Tuesday." AHHHH! I couldn't take it!

Lucky for me, I did have a great night-time football game to keep me busy on Saturday. The boys played well against Geneva, with a final score of Jackets 34, Geneva 26. It was all we could do to keep warm, but I loved it! Fall is officially here, it seems, and the count-down until my birthday has begun! 38 days to go!

Blessings...

This past week, my mom was in town from California. She spent time in Ohio with my grandparents, and then with my soon-to-be mother-in-law (Sue). Over the past few weeks I had been stressing about the wedding, how to get things done, WHAT to get done, who to use for this and that…and when Mom got here, it all seemed okay. She and Sue got so much done for the wedding, that I feel ten times less stress than I did last week.


My mom and dad have been my foundation from as far back as I can remember. I freely tell people that I speak to my mom about ten times a day, given we each have the time. But the simple fact is, family is possibly the most important thing in my life. Sure, I want a career, and my own life, but all those things can only come when you have a support group – mine is my family. I have been so blessed with the parents that God gave to me, with their support and love. Through my entire college experience, they never fail to tell me how proud they are of me, and how excited they are to see new, great things happening in my life! I can only encourage all of the students getting ready for college to not look forward to getting away from mom and dad, but embrace the time you have, and love them dearly. As for the parents who are watching their children get ready to fly the coop, cherish them, love them, and always, always, always tell them how proud you are of them. They may not want your kisses and your comments now, but they’ll appreciate it in the long run.

I had to leave mom at the airport on Sunday after a fantastic weekend. Lucky for both of us, she will be back in town for the fall show in two weeks! I am so happy that she was here this past weekend for homecoming – I was homecoming queen!!! Go figure, I don’t ever see myself as that type. I see myself as the goober, RA who likes math. But as I said last week, I can be myself here! And people like me for who I am! What a concept – it seems as though that is how the world should be; people should be able to just be themselves, and be loved and accepted for that. But instead, we are often times criticized for our true personalities. I thank God for Waynesburg, and how it has shown me that it is okay to be me.

With two weeks from today until we open the show, I think we are almost ready. We are working on the fine-tuning in each of the acts, and I am so impressed with our actors. There is some impressive intensity in almost all of the scenes. So if you are anywhere in the area, please contact Eddie Powers (epowers@waynesburg.edu) for tickets! Again, it’s Arthur Miller’s, “The Crucible”, playing October 30th thru November 1st.

Boo! It's October

Yes, it is... October!...ALREADY?! WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN??? HOW IS IT ALREADY MIDTERMS???
This year is flying by like you wouldn't imagine. At least Kathy and I had time to decorate our door:) Midterms are here, and stressing everyone out...Homecoming is this week - Ryan and I are up for King and Queen, and it's my secret desire that we win - guess it's not a secret anymore. Football season is halfway over, I am a quarter of the way through my senior year!!! Oh, how life flies!




I won't lie, I was a bit Ohio-sick this week. My friend Kyley and I were talking about missing home/our parents/our dogs, and she asked if I ever get home-sick. I told her, "I miss my parents, and I miss my big bed, but I don't miss California...I miss Ohio though." Ohio is where I call 'home' - anytime I tell people I am going home for the weekend, I have to clarify by saying, "and by home, I mean Ohio." Some of my fondest memories are from my time spent in Ohio, and now with Ryan's parents living there too, there is even more reason to go 'home.'



This past weekend, Ry and I headed home to Canton where his family is. His Uncle Jon has a big party every year called Rocktober Fest. It's in the backyard at Granny Lu's, which is the most amazing backyard ever - and involves good food, good people, and hay-rides! Fortunately, my mama flew in this past weekend, and got to visit with us as well.

My poor little mommy - I'm about three inches taller than her, so I can say that! She had surgery on her foot a few weeks ago, and has a walking boot on right now. The problem is, it was made for a 6'9", 250 pound man! The thing comes past her knee almost! So she travelled from California, with the clunker of a boot, to come see her beloved daughter. Not to mention, to come get stuff done for the wedding. I had my first experience of being stressed about wedding plans this past weekend, and the ridiculous part is it was over how to wrap the bridesmaid's bouquets! Something so silly can be such a big issue...needless to say, with the help of mom and Sue (Ryan's mom) we figured it out, kinda:)




After such a great weekend, it is hard to come back to school, classes, and the hectic life of a busy schedule. This is the point that Kyley and I were talking about being homesick. She and I have bonded this year. We came on staff on the South-West-East-Pollock staff and didn't know each other at all. But I have found that we compliment each others personalities, and it's good when we're super-stressed!

I know, the key idea of today seems to be 'stress.' Well it's true. I won't lie and say that college life is easy, because it's not. There are so many demands from classes, and extra-curriculars, but in the end it's all worth it. So while I am here, at this point in time, I'll just continue to make coffee, slurp it down like it's pop, and pretend that I don't really have as much to do as my planner says.

As for right now, I am just thankful that it is Thursday. Tomorrow begins the fun and games, until after youth group on Sunday night...then back to reality! We have a pep-rally tomorrow evening - first one ever that is under the new lights at Wiley Stadium! Then the game on Saturday - Go Jackets! - not to mention my Mama (who's been in Ohio since I left her there) will be here! There's nothing like a crisp fall day, and a football game with family and friends to make you forget about the pile of homework and studying that is to be had. Hope your weekend is as good as mine will be! God Bless!

I Like Chocolate Milk!

What a weekend! It started off with traveling to South Hills Village to pick up my computer, then attempting to go from there to St. Vincent for the football game. My computer had been at the Apple Store since Tuesday, not a good thing for a college student. So finally having it back is wonderful! I knew how to get from Waynesburg to St. Vincent, but then I realized that I needed to go there from South Hills...even better, I was driving my fiance's car, which I like, but it does not have a GPS like mine does. For some stupid reason I had forgotten this factor until I got into the car to head out...great job Emily! Lets just say it was an adventure getting to St. Vincent.

Fortunately, I made it there just in time for the kick-off. Can I just say that this game had me jumping up and down and screeeeeaming! Over the past few years I have finally begun to actually understand the game of football, and let me tell you, it's so much more fun to watch!


So, for Kathy (my roommate) and I, the theme of the week has been, "I like chocolate milk!" Anyone who was a fan of Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends should know where that comes from! For those of you who don't, meet 'Cheese.' He's the one in the middle...being annoying...when Kathy and I are tired, this is the FUNNIEST THING IN THE WORLD!


If you'd like to join in our ridiculous fun, here is the youtube link for your viewing pleasure... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KywvdyDlhKg

On a slightly more grown-up, college kid note, I love my theater friends. In Alpha Psi Omega, we have too much fun. We began the pledging process, and our theme is X-Men. Some of the members are super-hero characters, while others of us are villainous characters. Go figure, they type-casted me as a villain. I get the pleasure of being Phoenix!


This is Erin and I at an event last week having far too much fun...we have no need for Halloween to dress up, we can do it on a daily basis!

As for classes go, I don't want you to think that I am a lazy student. The simple truth, though, is that I am a senior...it's hard to stay motivated! I have my first test for World Poverty and Development in about 40 minutes, and I hope I am ready for it :/ It does seem that the trend for this year in my room is Kathy studying, and me not...this doesn't mean I'm a bad student, but I simply have other things on my mind! Yesterday, I think for the first time this year, we switched roles. I was so proud of her for NOT studying (she works too hard sometimes) and she was so proud of me FOR studying! The thing is, school sometimes comes too easily for me, so the appeal to study doesn't outweigh the appeal of a nap. Hey, I've worked hard the past three years, I deserve an easy senior year, right?

Mom comes in on Saturday! I am lucky that my parents are able to come to see me a few times a year. She will be here for a week; part of the time she'll be in Ohio, and part of the time she'll be here in the Burg. The most important part is that she'll be here for HOMECOMING! Ryan and I are both up for Homecoming Court. What do you think? Should the soon-to-be Shumway's be Homecoming King and Queen? (The correct answer would be, "Yes")

I have found that college life is so different than high school, in that by being my goofy self, people like me for who I am! I always wanted to be the 'cool kid' in high school, but as my best friend Natalie put is, "We're just not cool kid material." SO TRUE! If being cool meant not being goofy, I am glad I wasn't cool!

The point behind that story is that in high school, I never would have come CLOSE to being Homecoming Queen...but here at Waynesburg University, people accept me for who I am, what I love, and like me with make-up, or with-out.

Enjoy your weekend, and I'll catch up with you next week!

Week Five, and I Am Still Alive

Hello everyone! I hope this beautiful fall weather has been keeping you all in as great spirits as I have been in! The crisp air this morning has me ready for pumpkin pie, Halloween, and thanksgiving - yes, I had thoughts about turkey dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Ribar's the other day!

Speaking of the Ribar's, that is really the reason I am here. After a first hard year in Charleston, South Carolina, I had no idea where to go. I knew I did not want to go back to California, where I went to high school. My mom suggest I call up Uncle Tom, who happens to be the Chaplain here at Waynesburg University.


Yep, there he is; my godfather, uncle, and inspiration. He has truly helped to shape my life as a Christian, as well as a student. Right now I am taking Introduction to New Testament with Tom. I have always loved to listen to him speak, and I don't know why it took me so long to get into his class - oh wait, it's at eight o'clock in the morning. Now I remember. In all honesty though, several people say how hard his class is, but I don't agree. Yes, it is challenging, and maybe that is why it seems hard. I have a hard time keeping up with the reading (though I shouldn't since it is the word of God). I can't even begin to express how much I am learning in it though! Up until this semester, I didn't think that I knew much about the Bible, or the New Testament specifically. I now feel confident in conversation that I do know what I am taking about! It is a great feeling.

The weeks seem to be flying by so far. It's true, what everyone says, that time keeps going faster and faster - graduation will be here before I know it! Until then, I am trying to stay in the NOW. Theater is picking up, with more rehearsals, and more work on costuming, and the show is just five weeks away! I can't even believe it!



That's Eddie. He is the director of all of the drama presentations on campus. He takes pride in his work, and definitely does a good job. Things in the theater can be stressful at times, but overall I think we keep our cool and get everything done. Not only am I a part of the Waynesburg University Players, but I am also a member of Alpha Psi Omega - the theater fraternity on campus. We try to take the experience of theater beyond the stage. Right now we are preparing some small one-act productions for what we call Lunchbox Theater. I am directing one, and though I still need to recruit my two actors for the scene, I am very excited about it!

It was another early morning for me today. I start the day at 7am with a campus ministries meeting. Even though it is early, it is a good refresher for me. It helps me stay on top of what I am here for. As a Resident Assistant in East dormitory, I am there each day to be a resource to my ladies, to minister to them through my love and my time. It has been a blessing to be a part of their lives, and I know my life would be much different had I not been hired as an RA. For one thing, I don't know if I would have met my roommate - Kathy West.

I won't lie, Kathy is the best roommate I have ever had! Granted we do waste a good amount of time laughing about NOTHING and being ridiculous. But I love it! Sometimes I feel like we are married, we live together so well. Last night, we were talking to her boyfriend, together, via Skype. Kathy and Phillip met our sophomore year while he was here as an exchange student from Ireland. They have maintained a long-distance relationship since he left! I say good for them, but I would hate it! Last night was the first time I spoke with Phillip, and it was great - he has an Irish accent, what more could you ask for! He says he doesn't understand the hype about the accent, but Kathy and I just say, "Don't worry about it, it works for ya."

Well, enough for now. I'll fill you in on the weekend festivities next week. I will be travelling to St. Vincent for the football game - GO JACKETS! Pray for safe travel and a winning game!

Farewell!

A long weekend followed by a new week

Friday was the start to a long, yet great, weekend. I left Waynesburg at about 12:20 in the afternoon and headed for Canton, Ohio. The plan was to leave at noon, drive to Canton to the home of Evan and Sue Shumway (the in-laws to-be), and then ride with them the rest of the way to Hanover, Indiana for the second football game of the season.

After getting gas, I called up my mama on the phone, and headed south...looking for the 79/70 junction. I don't know if my thoughts were mearly in the phone conversation, or if I was simply thinking, "Oh, I have to go through West Virginia to get to Canton," but either way, south was not the correct way. The entire time I had been chatting on the phone with mom, until I got to the junction of Highway 79 and the 68..."Wait a minute! This is supposed to be the 70!!!" **Brief pause in conversation** **Frustration of the weekend** "Mom, I have to call you back."

After driving a half hour the wrong way, I had to turn around and go north, simply to end up driving right passed Waynesburg, the place I had left from an hour earlier. Just call me Magellan! Sometimes, I just get turned around. Talk about a great start to the weekend!

Upon arrival to the Shumway home in Canton, the rain was coming down. I parked on the street, got out, and walked around to the passenger side door to unload my bags, where the rain was running down the side of my car about five inches deep! Thank goodness for Adidas sport sandals!

The drive to Hanover was about five and a half hours, and it was probably the most productive time I have had in a while. I typed notes from my Intro to New Testament class (probably my favorite class of the semester) and daydreamed until we arrived at the Comfort Inn in Madison, just 10 minutes from the College. Many people would think it would be uncomfortable to stay with your fiancee's parents, in a hotel, without your fiancee. Not me, I enjoyed almost every minute of it! Lucky for me, they changed the room from ONE king sized bed to TWO queen sized beds.



I honestly love hanging out with Ryan's mother, Sue. She is fantastic! We sat together at the game, sweat our butt's off together at the game, and cheered on our favorite player together at the game.


Although the boys didn't play their best, they still ended up winning the game, Waynesburg 36, Hanover 34.
After our less-than-24-hour stay, Evan, Sue, and I turned around to head home. We repeated the five and a half hour drive back to Canton, with multiple Starbucks stops along the way to keep us going. The next day, I got up and had breakfast with the family, then left to head home to Waynesburg. Talk about TOO MUCH DRIVING!!!

Though my family is living in California right now, I was born in Ohio. That makes me a Browns fan, and living in Steeler Country is not the most enthusiastic thing for a Browns fan. Of course, upon my return, the Browns vs Steelers game was on Sunday evening. Ry and I watched it with our good friends Eric and Erika - where Erika was the only Steeler Fan - and much to our dissmay, the Brownies lost...the most frustrating thing is that most of the time, it's not a pummeling, but we just can't seem to get that last touchdown needed to beat them out...oh well, maybe next year.



Getting back to my dorm, I heard noises down the hall from my residents. I went down to check it out, only to find Miranda standing on her couch posing for a photo in her Steelers jersey. Long-story short, we ended up wrestling, Steeler Fan vs Browns Fan, and it was a blast. Oh, and I won, of course.

With the start of the new week came plenty of new things to think about - and I am not just talking about school! Rehearsal for the fall play got started for me, and along with that comes costuming. I have taken the lead for costuming this year for Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible,' and there is a lot to be done. The Waynesburg University Players put a ton of effort into our sets and costuming, in addition to our lines. We put on productions with our hearts, souls, and sweat! It's so far, so good as we get into the swing of the year.

If the combination of classes, theater, being a resident assistant, and planning a wedding doesn't seem like enough - it isn't! As president of Waynesburg University's Colleges Against Cancer, I work with Kelley Hardie to improve the knowledge and awareness on campus about different types of cancer. We got started last spring, and are now officially a CAC chapter. It is only one of the many exciting things to get involved with on campus, but it is one of my personal favorites.

More to come on CAC next week...stay tuned!

Helllloooooo Waynesburg!

Hey everyone! My name is Emily Dooley (soon to be Shumway). I am a senior at Waynesburg University. It is crazy to think that my college years have flown by so fast, so freshmen - get ready for the ride of your life! I can honestly say that coming to Waynesburg is the best decision I have ever made. Not only have I grown spiritually, and mentally, but I met the love of my life and soon to be husband here.

Ryan and I were on Homecoming Court last year as juniors together, and that is when everything just clicked! We got engaged on April 27th last spring, and it has been a dream come true (I know, I know it sounds cheesy, but it's true!). Over the summer we drove out to California - where my parents live - and spent the summer with my mom, dad, brother and sister-in-law (as well as my niece who was born a week and a half AFTER we left).

As a business finance major, Ryan had the privelage to work as a marketing intern at a company called Coffin World Water Systems. Oh, and did I mention my dad is the VP of sales and marketing there? Well, they got to ride to work together everyday this summer - talk about father - soon-to-be-son-in-law bonding time!

As for me, I am a math major. Everyone asks, "What can you do with that?" To be honest, the posibilities are endless. For this summer though, I was proud to work at the American Cancer Society as a Special Events Recruiter. I LOVED my job, the people I worked with, and the cause I was fighting for. My event was Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. You can visit my page at

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCFY09California?company=ACS+Recruitment&pg=company&fr_id=11602&et=As3jpku6IVBE32VR1YTLnA..&s_tafId=193558.

The start of this year has been a crazy blur of work and fun. I arrived on campus early for RA training (yes, I am one of the Resident Assistants on campus - no, I am not "The Enforcer," but simply a resource for my lovely ladies in East). It has been a great group of students to join, and the friendships I have made are unique and unsuspecting - but I wouldn't trade anything for the relationships I have built!

After three weeks of classes, the Waynesburg University Players have finally got our start to The Crucible. We are a group of students who are mildly odd, and love to act! I first got involved with the Players my sophomore year, and was cast as a witch for my first role - and NO, Eddie Powers (Waynesburg professor and director) does not Type-cast! We put on a production of Macbeth, and it was soooo much fun! If I hadn't gotten involved with the theater here at Waynesburg, I would be a completely different person. Since that fall of 2006, I have done four shows, and I'm just starting the fifth one.

Now, here I am at the end of the third week, and I am looking forward to traveling to Hanover, Indiana for the varsity football game this weekend. Ryan is the starting center and long-snapper for the Yellow Jackets. I'll be gone for the weekend, but eager to get back to friends on campus. So until next time, God Bless!