Mornings with Friends

So this semester has been a great blessing...I know that I have said that several times in my blog, but it is true! One of my favorite parts of it (aside from the fact that I have 12 credits) is my Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.

My roommate, my cousin Lexi, and my Maid of Honor Natalie all come up to our room for tea and coffee. Not only that, but Natalie, Kathy and I attempt to go to the gym before that (it doesn't always work - we like to sleep). It is one of the best times for the fact that it is a solid time to get together with my favorite people! When it comes to the schedules of college girls, things can get a bit tight. Between each of us working on campus, me with the musical, and wedding plans we are pretty busy.

Both Lexi and Natalie are pretty amazing (not that Kathy isn't) because they are two of my bridesmaids. They are planning a wedding shower for me right now, and actually they are being really understanding about my moodiness/whining. All I wanted was a big shower in Waynesburg to celebrate with all of my friends, including the ones that I can't invite to the wedding. Well it turns out that they are having multiple to accommodate my wants. So, I love them.

The funniest part about our mornings is that it is nine am, and we are ridiculously loud. We chat like girls do, with giggling and too much noise. A lot of the noise comes from Lexi, she is my tiny cousin who is highly affected by caffeine. A few weeks ago I gave her a LARGE cup of coffee, full on caffeine, and she had issues the whole day! She had the shakes, and giggles, even more than usual!


These are the girls that I like to spend most of my time with, Kathy I'm stuck with, but I'm okay with that, and I love them all! We have too much fun together, and I will definitely miss this next year!

Until next time!

Jubilee!

This was the view from the 24th story room that I shared with three other girls on Valentine's Day weekend while at the Jubilee Conference in Pittsburgh. This is the third consecutive year that I have taken a weekend to go to Jubilee, put on by the Coalition for Christian Outreach. Jubilee is always packed to the brim with college students who are yearning to learn about incorporating their faith into their learning as well as into their life as a whole.

The most influential part about Jubilee this year was seeing Teach for America there. If you haven't read my past blogs, I just interviewed with Teach for America, a secular organization committed to eliminating educational iniquity in America. Though it is a secular organization, the ability and openess for them to come to a christian conference blew me away. Not only were they there, holding breakout sessions, but they were also one of the largest sponsors this year!

There seemed to be an overlying theme of reducing the gap of iniquity between suburban upper-class America, and our lower-income areas. I was extremely encouraged in seeing this for the fact that the direction my life path seems to be taking at this point is continually reassured by events like this. Through my experience here at Waynesburg, I have been shown what it means to incorporate my faith in every aspect of my life. It seems as though the Lord is guiding me every step of the way, and I am seeing the ways that He want me to work, and where. I have watched my faith grow so much as a result of coming to Waynesburg, and I cannot imagine the path I would have taken had I gone elsewhere.

I seriously believe that God has a specific path for each and every one of us, though it may take us a while to figure out where He wants us. I think about how different my life could have been...I would never have met Ryan, my fiancee, I would have never formed the deep relationship with my aunt, uncle, and cousins who live in town, and I might not have come back to the Lord had I not come to Waynesburg. It is for all of these reasons and so many more that I am thankful to no end for.

Waynesburg or the Tip of Florida During a Hurricane?

I have never seen such odd weather in Waynesburg until this week. Who knew that we could go from five degrees to SIXTY EIGHT in one week. I guess the weather, or God really, is unpredictable like that. Last week I was under the impression that we were going to get about five feet of snow, not that I actually believed it, and now this week I am hoping that Spring will come soon. It's not fair for the weather to tease us like this with beautiful days of warm weather and sunshine - in FEBRUARY.

Maybe it was on account of the temperature changing so drastically, but Wednesday night was a night to remember. There I was, sitting in Stover after just recently walking the 30 stairs from the library when it was warm-ish and beautiful outside. I was chatting with a few of my girlfriends, and it was 7:22, time to get up to walk down to the GPAC for musical rehearsal. As I stood up from the table and took two steps towards the hall, the lights went out. This was no 'lights flickered out for just a second and it's okay,' but it was what seemed like an extended momentary blackout, and it was PITCH BLACK in the Bee Hive. I stood there, frozen in my lack of sight, and waited for the lights to come back up. 1...2...3...Phew! They came back on. So I continued on my way down the stairs and towards the front doors, and I hear this loud noise, which at this point I had no idea what it was. Keep in mind that just minutes earlier the weather was beautiful and clear. As I got closer to the door, I realized that the noise was wind and water POUNDING against the double doors! It was blowing so hard that the water was coming through the crack between the door in a frenzied sort of way. Unfortunately, I was getting closer and closer to being late for rehearsal. So what else could I do but take off at full speed into the rain? I walked closer to the door, paused to prepare myself...I hid my script inside of my vest, pulled it tighter around me, and now I was ready. I put my hand on the door and pushed...and pushed...and pushed! It took me probably thirty seconds to get the door opened because the wind was blowing so hard! I got out the door and was immediately drenched. This was no light rainfall, this was buckets of water coming down and being poured directly on top of my head. I took off sprinting towards the GPAC, across the street where I stepped in a river...I hit the stairs in Johnson Commons and by this point I was having such a hard time seeing because my contacts were being smashed about my the water (there was no squinting to protect your eyes, it was all or nothing!) I ended up stumbling, barely making it down the stairs without falling and I heard a crash to my left, and the lights in the commons went out...by this point I was so focused on getting inside that I didn't realize that no matter how fast I got there, I was already soaked to the bone, so it really didn't matter. I finally made it down the elongated concrete steps, and took off sprinting down the last leg of my journey. I was hoping that I was running straight, because I closed my eyes (afraid I was going to lose a contact) and just followed the voices yelling, "RUN! RUN! YOU CAN MAKE IT!" And I did. As I entered the foyer of the GPAC, streams of water were flowing down my legs, my hair was dripping wet, and I had puddles in my shoes. The important thing though is that my script was safe inside my vest, it did not get wet.

It wasn't minutes later that the rain let up to a light sprinkle, and the next people to come in were just a little bit wet - that's okay, my story was more fun than theirs. Following that front was elevated wind that lasted through yesterday as well. If I were a fisherman or a sailor, I might say it was 'so many knots.' But I am not, so I will just say that it wanted to blow me around...I tell you, it was saying to itself, "I am going to throw Emily off of the path she is walking," and it did succeed. Though it was entertaining for a few days, I am happy to report that I am watching the sun rise right now, and the trees are still. The worst part is that it is supposed to get cold again this weekend...bummer. Guess it's six more weeks of winter...too bad.

God Bless!

Music to My Ears

I have always had a great love for music...and second semester last year a good friend of mine, Erin Crawshaw, invited me to be a part of a student-run Beauty Shop Quartet. There are four of us, hence quartet...



Meet Erin Crawshaw...she is our fearless leader:) She and I met my first year at Waynesburg during the fall production of Macbeth...we were both witches...no truth holds in that casting! Erin is a very talented musician, and I am extremely blessed to have her in my life. She has been an inspiration to me in many ways, and I am looking forward to June 6th when she will sing in my wedding. Erin is a senior communications major, and is therefore overextended, and has meetings like you wouldn't imagine! My mom didn't believe me when I told her Erin has more meetings in any given week than I do. Erin's voice is B-E-A-UTIFUL. If you have a high note you want her to hit, she can do it.


Meet Katie Simpson...She is the newest member of the quartet. Katie sings the lead (which is typically the melody in our songs) and stepped up last year after Sabrina Ainsley graduated. Katie is a blooming woman, and is always very cheerful. She is a sophomore marine biology major, and apparently loves it. All I know is I am glad that I began as a chemistry major, and switched out! Katie was our 'Waynesburg Idol' winner this year, and no, that is not why we chose her. Katie has an amazing heart, and I am very excited to see her progress in life as she takes on new challenges, continues her ministry with the Chapel Worship band, and becomes as involved/busy as Erin and I are:)



Meet Sarah Hulyk...She is our 'tenor'...I love how we label our voice parts, but they don't exactly apply. Sarah is phenomenal! She is currently a part of the WU Lamplighter's Choir, the WU Band, and a part of Alpha Psi Omega (our honorary theater fraternity). When I first met Sarah, I thought she was very shy and quiet. I wasn't quite sure how to act with her. Now that I have gotten to know her, though she has a quiet demeanor, Sarah's personality is wonderful! She makes me smile all the time with her subtle jokes...I know that she is going to flourish as our only surviving original member of the Beauty Shop Quartet next year.



Then of course there is me...I sing bass in our quartet...it's amazing! I love to be the token low-voice, which is typical because I can sing along with most of the note the boys can, and more sometimes.

We have assistance from Micheal Bruno, an adjunct music teacher here at the university. He does a wonderful job at bringing out the best of our musical abilities. In many ways, Micheal reminds me of Robert Page, who has been in music for over six decades, and is entering his 22nd year as the director of The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.

During the last few weeks at Waynesburg this past Christmas season, we sang Christmas grams as a fundraiser for our efforts. If you'd like a small preview of our performance, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lnT6sWnnsc

I mention the Beauty Shop in my blog this week because it has been an AMAZING experience for me...for the first time, I have truly enjoyed an organized vocal group. Being that it is run by the four of us, there is next to no pressure on us to do things we don't want to, and if we need to skip a practice, it's OK. I love the girls I sing with so much...we sang the National Anthem this week for the two basketball games, and it was so beautiful! I was very touched, and I really want my ladies to know how much I appreciate their efforts, their knowledge that they have shared with me, and their hearts. I am really going to miss this after I graduate.

God Bless!