The things kids say

So on Sunday mornings I teach a Kindergarten class of about 10 kids. I have for the past 5 years and I absolutley love it! These kids are so amazing. The things that they say I think would have to be the best part though... Here are just a few things:

I had this one girl Alexandra in my class and she says to me " Teacher I'm almost the star of the day." I ask her "What does that mean?" "well, that means it's almost my birthday." "when is your birthday?" " it's right after thankspatricks day" what do you do on thankspatricks day?" "you wear red silly."

The next one was a little boy by the name of Garett. We had learned about jehosaphat the week before and I always try to kinda re-cap what we had learned the previous week because it is generally a theme for the whole month. Well, when I asked the kids if they remembered who we learned about the week before. Garett proudly raised his hand and said "Jubba Jubba Phat." Tell me that doesn't bring a smile to your face?

This one happened this week. We had these two boys in our class Corey and Ethan. They are cousins and so they know eachother pretty good. They both seriously look like little men. Anyways, They are both just standing there doing something and out of no where Ethan looks at Corey, becomes silent and simply says "Hey Corey do you think I'm handsome?" Corey then looks at Ethan and says "your not allowed to ask me that."

The last one is a boy by the name of Blake. We are sitting there coloring and all of a sudden he sticks his hand in his armpit and starts making loevely noises. So me and Shannon (the girl that I teach with) are asking him where he learned how to do that. He sits silently, we say did your brother show you? "no." did your dad show you? "no" well then who showed you? "My brother and dad don't even know how to do this, It was my mom who showed me."

All that to say there is never a dull moment when you hang out with 5 year olds. They bring such a different element to life in general...

Camping (Part 2)

Here are my pics from camping. We had a blast!

Camping

This past weekend I went camping up at Hurkey Creek with the Kaleo group. There were about 40 of us and it was an amazing time of just seeking God in a beautiful place with people who are truly seeking to let God take every aspect of their lives. There was GREAT teachings and we were able to hang out around the camp fire and laugh and have a good time. We played ( well should I say I watched while others played) Big Booty, Mafia and also some team games. We went on a 4 mile hike. It was really an enjoyable time. Here are just a few of the pics from other people's flickr photos because mine aren't developed yet. There will be more coming though!

Oh Brother.

So the reason I started this blog was mainly due to my brother Ryan. He has a blog and I would always read his. Although his is much more entertaining to read than mine I thought I would give it a try. Anyways, pretty much all I knew how to do on this thing was post. So post away I did. But then I wanted to add links to other peoples blogs on here, and I didn't have any idea how to get the html code or where to add it in that mess of letters symbols and numbers. So I did what every little sister would do. I asked the big brother who knew how to do to just do it for me. So seeing as he is in England I just gave him my user name and password so he could just get in there and change it. So He does, which was a big help but funny thing is. He linked his "blog" to some website that is about Israel or something. If you click on the link on the sidebar entitled "basically, the coolest person i know. he's older than me, but still cool. he's a nerd, but still cool. and did i mention, he's just cool. cool huh? " so yeah go ahead and click on it and you will see this is clearly NOT my brothers blog.

Flickr Photos

Hey Everybody! just wanted to let you know that I have a flickr account that has all of my pics on there. They are in the process of being posted so there are just a few on there right now. I still have a 35mm camera so I have to wait to develop my film and get in on a disc and then upload the pics onto flickr. So be patient with me. Here is the site check it out http://www.flickr.com/photos/54042289@N00

Times they are a changin'

So life is kinda wierd nowadays. About two weeks ago or so my brother (Ryan) Left for Oxford. And although I'm way impressed and proud that he is there, It's strange knowing that I can't just get in a car and go visit him. Or pick up the phone and just call him because you have to figure out the time difference. It's just an unusual feeling knowing that the best way to communicate with your brother is over the e-mail. Love the guy and miss him tons. Miss him making fun of me and miss laughing so hard and so much that my stomach hurts.
Then this past week my other brother (Tony) decided that he is going to be moving out. Yes Tony is now moving out of the Schaffner household. For the next 10 days he is house sitting for a family from church and then he is going to be moving out as soon as he gets done with that. This also is a strange feeling knowing that your brother isn't going to be living in the same house with us. It's kinda a wierd thing to have someone there for my whole life and then to be moving out and living one city down.
All this to say that I am now the only Schaffner child living at home. And although I'm not there all that much between School, church and 2 jobs. It's wierd to go home and know that there are only going to be 3 of us eating dinner. I don't even think me or my mom are able to cook for 3 people because we are so used to cooking for a 6-7 person family. Or the fact of how light the laundry load is going to be now. It's going to be a strange thing but I guess this is just what happens when everyone starts growing up. It's funny though because I still feel like we should all be in Jr. High and Highschool. My encouragment to everyone out there with brothers and sisters still living at home. Enjoy the time that they are there because one day your gonna wake up and they will be moving out getting married or leaving the country. LOVE YOUR FAMILY, THEY WILL BE YOUR LIFETIME FRIENDS!

So after 5 years I finally did it!

So after 5 years of wanting to peirce my nose I finally did it on Monday! I went back and forth on weather or not to do it but I decided that since I had wanted to since I was 15 I was determined to do it. I went to three different places, the first one was a 2 hour wait the second one was closed on Mondays and the last one was called 1st ammendment tattoo( which is where I ended up going). I went in they made me sign something then stuck me in the chair and stuck these plier things up my nose and shoved a needle through it. OUCH! It did hurt a little bit not as much as I thought it would. But it's kinda funny because it just automaticlly makes your eye on whichever side your nose was pierced on start to pour down tears. It was fun, painful and the guys that worked there were very interesting. They told me that I was only allowed to clean it with hot water and soap and that there was to be no alcohol on my nose but that I could put as much as I wanted on my lips ( obviously I will not be taking the last part of that advice.) anyways, all that to say that I do not regret doing it. You do get some interesting responses to it though. I think my favorite was "hey I think you have a shiny booger on your nose." I think it's really funny when people are rude about it though like this comment " i don't know why anyone would want to put a hole in their face like that." It's kind of fun hearing how people react to it though.

Moral of this story...drive with your headlights on at night.

So yesterday I was supposed to work at Gap from 3-9:30. But I didn't know that so they called me and said "where are you." So I was out in Temecula with my mom and so she just dropped me off at work, thus leaving me with no car to get home. So my brother was gonna pick me up. So anyways, we just got a new car (2006 dodge durango) so he drove that to pick me up. Well were turning onto Winchester from the mall and all of a sudden we see those lovely red and blue lights flashing in the window. So my brother pulls over and Mr policeman gets out of his cruiser and shines that oh so wonderful flashlight in your face and very sternly asks for your license, registration and insurance. So me and Tony are franticlly searching for all this paperwork in this brand new car and we don't know where anything is. So we finally find it and Mr. Policeman is back at his car writing down all the info and me and Tony are left in the car trying to figure out exactly why he got pulled over. I mean Tony is Mr.rule follower. So then Mr. policman walks over to the window and says "Well, Anthony I just want you to know that you are getting a ticket because it is against the law to drive without your headlights on at night." We both just kinda gave out a lil chuckle because what kind of person drives at 9:30 at night without their headlights on? I've decided it could only be a stupid person that would be able to pull that one off. So I want this to go down on the record that the first time that Tony Schaffner was pulled over and his very first ticket was due to the fact that he was driving without his headlights on when it was dark.

Disneyland

This weekend I went to Disneyland with my 2 brothers. Ryan is getting ready to leave for Oxford tonight so he wanted to go one last time before he left. It was a blast and no too crowded for a Saturday! The longest line that we waited in was under an hour. I have decided however that the prices of food there is outrageous! But definitly worth the time that I got to spend with my brothers. Here's a picture of me and Ryan in the buzz lightyear ride. Obviously as you can see, he whooped my butt in this one! There will be more pictures to come.

The changing of seasons.

Although I live in sunny southern California, I myself would like to think that we have season changes. However I have also come to the realization that we really usually only have 2 seasons. Stinkin' hot and then we have kinda cold with some rain. Don't get me wrong, I love the hot weather and swimming and spending time at the beach and I also love the cold weather, and rain. Having to use umbrella's and dodging puddles. But, leave it to me to absolutely love the only season that we don't really get here in southern California: Fall. I love the feel of the air, that crisp, clean, fresh air. And I absolutley love wearing sweaters! I remember living in Washington for a few months in Jr High and we would go into Spokane and into the border if Idaho and all the trees that lined the streets would be changing colors. It was amazing to see God's creation and how it changes from month to month. God is an amazing God! All that to say, that today when I woke up I looked outside and it was cloudy and overcast. And it reminded me of fall weather. Who knows maybe today will be the only day that we get that is remotely close to fall! But I will surely enjoy it while I can.

Trivia Impossible??

Q :According to glamour magazine what is one gift that men secretly want?
A: A leather jacket

That was the trivia impossible question for the morning that I answered correctly ( thanks to the pure goodness of google) to win tickets to see Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo and George Thorogood. That was my excitment for the day!

I do not like being sick.

I do not like being sick that's right it's true
I do not like being sick and laying bed
I do not like being sick because then I feel like I could be dead
I do not like being sick when it's hot
I do not like being sick because I just would rather not.

So I had three days off this past week not because I was doing something fun or even adventerous but because I could hold nothing down. Not even water. It wasn't fun at all, at those moments I feel like I would rather shoot myself in the head then throw up one more time. Needless to say, I'm better now and hope that the next time I get to take time off from work it's because I'm doing something fun, not being sick!

oh the joys of the fair.

So yesterday I had the joy of going to the fair in LA with Bryan Thrane and his family. I had never been to the fair before so there was oh so much to see and do. When we first got there it was a wee bit warm so we decided to head for the indoor shopping area. Which was perfect because it was nice and cool in there. In one of the buildings there was a ice skating rink! It was so cool. Then we headed over to the baby animal barn. Seeing the little piglets and baby lambs was so much fun, they were so tiny and cute.

Then Bryan told me that you cannot go to the fair and not try a deep fried snickers or deep fried twinkie. For those of you have never seen or tried this amazing creation it looks like a corn dog with powdered sugar on it, but way better tasting then a corndog. It's crazy sweet though. But I would reccomend to anyone that ever goes to the fair to try one because the truth is, you can't say that you have been to the fair and had a true fair experiance unless you have tried one of these. Don't you ever wonder who it was that thought of deep frying a twinkie or snickers?

We also went on a few rides, which was fun but kinda scary all at the same time. Not scary because they were too fast or went up to high. But more because it's never a good feeling when your about 3 stories in the air hanging upside down to hear the ride that you're on creaking and making noises. Just not real re-assuring. But as you can tell I made it off alive!

Then at night we went to a Montgomery Gentry concert. Which was also fun and very entertaining. I don't really know how to put it any other way besides very entertaining!

So that was my first fair experiance. I would have to say, it was a lot of fun. And would definitly go to the fair again. Just remember about that deep fried snickers!

Good News from friends

I love hearing about different stuff that goes on in my friends lives. Especially when it's potentialy really really good news. I got an e-mail from one of my friends last night and it had some good news in it! I just have the biggest smile on my face right now that my face is starting to hurt. It brings me such joy when you see something unfold that someone has waited a long time for! I was blessed to hear of the news and can't wait to see all that God does in her life!

Earnestly Seek Him.

As I was reading this morning God led me to this verse.

"O God you are my God; Earnestly I seek you; My soul thists for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So have I looked upon you in the sanctuary. Beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; In your name I will lift up my hands."

Psalm 63:1-4

When I read this verse God just really spoke to me, to really think about if this was true and evident in my life. I mean do I really earnestly seek Him. I looked up earnestly and this is what I found:
1.
serious in intention, purpose, or effort; sincerely zealous: an earnest worker.
2.
showing depth and sincerity of feeling: earnest words; an earnest entreaty.
3.
seriously important; demanding or receiving serious attention.

Is that really and truly how I view my relationship with Him? It was just an eye opener and a encouragment to pursue to have that and to take my relationship with my Savior as a serious thing.

my past three days...

So these past three days I was up at camp for CCCS. I was helping out with the Jr Highers. That age is very interesting, although they can be loud and abnoxious at times, they generally are pretty cool. All I can say is that the boys needed to shower more and the girls needed to quit putting layers upon layers of makeup without ever washing any of it off of their faces. But I really did have a blast with them! I mean besides of course the time that we lost one girl from my cabin and another girl from Jaqueline's cabin for a couple of hours. But they were found that's all that matters... Right??? Anyways , It is definitly something I would love to do again!
There was also a huge fire pretty close to where the camp was so they weren't letting anyone up or down the mountain. So we ended up having to have a police escort down the hill. How exciting is that?

But then when I finally get down the mountain I have this message from my brother and he tells me that he went out and bought a new mac laptop so I get his old one (which in reality isn't really all that old.) and not only that but I got a free ipod nano! Yeah that's right. I kept telling myself I would never buy one of those because it was so expensive, but I ended up getting it for free! So I now have obtained a mac laptop and an ipod all in the same day and didn't have to pay for any of it! That's the kind of shopping I like.

God's timing is perfect (Psalm 143:8)

So I usually take my Bible to wrok with me everyday but today when I went to go get my Bible I couldn't find it anywhere. The wierd part was that I had it the night before for Kaleo. But it was just nowehere to be found. So I found my old Bible off of my book shelf and took that one. Well when I got to work I started going through all of the stuff that I had in my Bible. Notes that had been written from studies in High School, notes written between me Ashley and Mical during church (not that we weren't paying attention in church) And then pictures of me with friends. (friends that I still have and friends that are no longer around) Anyways, I noticed this little hot pink sticky note with a heart and my name written on it sticking out of the top of my Bible so I opened up to that page and wanted to know what was on the note. As I opened the pages it was stuck on Psalm 143:8. and that was the verse that was written on the sticky note. upon looking at the note I realized it had been written by kelly when I was in the Ukraine on my mission trip. When she had first given me that verse, I found it encouraging and was blessed that she had given that verse to me. But at that time in my life I felt like everything was going smoothly and just the way I had wanted. I was walking strong with the Lord, I had great friends, and I was on a mission trip that God had blessed me with and provided the funds for me to go. And everything was going just the way that I WANTED. Little did I know that things would change big time over the next year. And change to the way that GOD WANTED. Although there have been times over this past year that I questioned why God was allowing things I knew that he had a plan through all of it. And I think more now then ever I have needed to trust and rely on Christ for my future. When I opened my Bible to this verse I knew it was exactly the right time for me to hear it. The verse reads.
" Cause me to hear your lovingkindness in the morning, for in you do I trust. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my sould to you." Psalm 143:8

So I pray that I would be lead by God in the way that I should walk because in Him do I trust!

All this to say that God knew I wouldn't find my Bible this morning and He knew that I needed to read that verse again. He knew that I would leave that sticky note in my other bible so that 2 years after that trip he would speak to me thorugh it. God's timing is perfect.

Dream Like New York

Dream Like New York
by Tyrone Wells
album: Hold On (2006)
So many dreams come and go
We blink our eyes
Time flies by we don’t know
What ever happened to those childhood years?
When we thought we could fly
We got to keep those dreams alive
And dream like New York
As high as the skyline
Aim for the stars above those city lights
I want to dream like New York
I’m running down Broadway
I got to catch the next train
I’m making my way
Race to work again today
From nine to five
I only strive to stay awake
But the child inside me
Dares to believe I still can fly
Can’t let those dreams just die
I got to dream like New York
As high as the skyline
Aim for the stars above those city lights
I want to dream like New York
I’m running down Broadway
I got to catch the next train
I’m making my way
How many times have u tried and failed?
Have you watched your dreams slip away?
Well every hero falls and every soldier crawls.
And every dreamer dreams again
Got to dream again
Go on and dream like New York
As high as the skylines
Aim for the stars above those city lights
Go on and dream like New York
Run on down Broadway
Catch the next train
Go make your way
Go on and dream like NY
As high as the skylines
Aim for the stars above those city lights
You got to dream like NY
Run on down Broadway
Catch the next train
Go make your way
Go make your way
Go make your way

I love this song. And the artist is an amzing musician!

dirt, dirt and some more dirt.

So as most of you know I live down a dirt road. And I had come to the conclusion many months ago that it is absolutley pointless to wash my car when I know for a fact that the moment I pull out of the driveway it is going to be dirty again. Although my family has decided that there is clean dirt (which is just dust on your car) and dirty dirt( which is when you leave in the morning and your car is wet and the dirt sticks to it) But recently I saw on the news this guy who does something amazing with dirty car windows! check this site out and you will no longer want to wash your car either.... www.dirtycarart.com enjoy!

Just starting

So I just started school this past week. Well, I don't know if you can really consider it school. What I started was Old Testament Survey 1, which for those of you who don't know what that is, it is listening to the man pictured teach through the Old Testament but it's on a MP3 which makes it nice due to the fact that I don't have to "go to class" I listen any time I want and fill in 1 work page and then write 1 page of notes on it. Quite easy, I know. But anyways, the other day I was listening to it and thought "gee, this sounds kinda funny, maybe something is wrong with my speakers why does it sound so much like a chipmunk?" But then upon further examination I read on the back of the MP3 case that it is the "acclerated version~65% faster then normal speed." I don't know why I found that so entertaning but I did. So I thought I would share.