January | 2026 | Amy Scott's Thoughts

My 40th Birthday Adventure to the Carolinas! January 31, 2026

Filed under: Tasty Treats,Travels — Amy Scott @ 1:00 pm

I’ve hinted at a big trip and here is the reveal! For my 40th birthday, I joined my forever friend and birthday month buddy, Maggie, on her side of the country for a birthday celebration adventure! Maggie moved to South Carolina a few years ago and it’s been a dream of mine to see her neck of the woods in-person. Our 40th birthdays seemed like the perfect time to celebrate together!

I added three new states to my list on this trip – Texas (I figure 10+ hours at the DFW airport counts), South Carolina, and North Carolina. We even made it to the Tennessee state line, which made four states in one trip (TN wasn’t a new state, but still fun). This was a bucket list trip in so many ways. Getting to see where Maggie lives was such a gift. I love that I can now picture all her places when she tells me what she’s been up to. Winter Storm Fern did decide to crash our party. Due to the weather, we took three days of plans and condensed them into less than two. We saw a lot of country on Friday and Saturday before the storm moved in!

Thursday was my travel day. I was up at 3:30am getting ready at our hotel in Portland. We decided to stay by the airport to avoid the early morning travel. The whole family was awake and we were watching BBC America at 4:00am. It was a bird program. How could we not? Thursday was a long day with a four hour layover at DFW. Once I arrived in Greenville, SC and got my bag, it was almost 10pm. Despite the time change, I was very ready for bed after the early morning and travel day. The hardest part was saying good night to Maggie after such a short time of being together! But we had a whole weekend to catch up and an early morning the next day.

Friday, we were out the door early and off for Ashville, NC. Maggie made plans for us to visit the Biltmore Estate – including lunch at the Stable Café and staying at the Village Hotel. I loved every minute of the self-guided tour of the house. It was beautiful. The library was my favorite room (surprise?) and I couldn’t get over how elaborate the ceilings were in each room. It was quite a novelty to eat lunch in a horse stall and the whole estate was lovely! I loved our time at Biltmore!

We wrapped up our time at the house on Friday afternoon and made a quick trip to Great Smoky Mountain National Park. We were supposed to spend all of Saturday there, but the park was closing at 7:00pm on Friday and it was not reopening until after the storm. We only had a couple hours to drive around Great Smoky Mountains. We found the famous smoky blue scenic views. They were stunning! I would love to come back to the park when I have more time to explore. It was still a treat to check it off my national park bucket list.

Saturday morning, we at breakfast at the hotel before taking a walk around the Biltmore grounds. It was very chilly, but the greenhouse was open and the perfect place to warm up! After we bid Biltmore adieu, we took off for downtown Greenville, SC. We enjoyed a yummy lunch at The Cheesecake Factory before walking around downtown. The temperature was very cold for our adventures and the big conversation everywhere we went was the weather. Thankfully, the storm didn’t move in until Saturday night. We were able to enjoy most of Saturday out before being homebound.

The rest of the trip was very different than the beginning! Thanks to Winter Storm Fern, we had lots of time to “chill” at Maggie’s house. We watched A Week Away: The Series and The Day After Tomorrow. We walked and talked and just hung out in her living room. It was a nice change from the go-go-go of our adventure days. The only thing we planned that didn’t pan out was visiting Maggie’s church. The gatherings were canceled due to weather. Once the roads cleared, we went to Waffle House (a special place for Maggie’s family) and Bojangles (I wanted to try something new). Maggie told me the Bo-Berry Biscuits at Bojangles are addicting and she was right! Good thing this Carolina chain hasn’t made it’s way to the NW. I’d be in trouble!

My trip was extended (by two days) when the weather led to multiple canceled flights. Maggie was a gracious host. I was so thankful I had a warm place to stay. The extra time with Maggie helped me through the delays. Maggie’s dog, Gus, was my pal over the course of the trip and he was a great emotional support dog as I navigated the big feels of being unable to get home. Overall, the best part of the trip was getting to be alongside my forever friend – whether we were adventuring or walking around her neighborhood or chatting on her couch. Our in-person time is so rare these days. It was definitely worth the trip, despite the weather!

As I mentioned, getting home was a struggle. I finally got a flight to DFW early Wednesday morning. I was in for an eight hour layover, but then my flight got delayed making it over ten hours. I was able to talk to American Airlines and thankfully, I got on an earlier flight out. It was a 21 hour travel day and my body was practically broken by the end of it. My suitcase wasn’t rerouted to my new flight. It arrived in Portland hours after me. It was supposed to be delivered yesterday, but it didn’t arrive… It says it’s out for delivery again today. We’ll see. Until my suitcase arrives, I feel a bit like my wild adventure is still on-going!

And there you have it! My 40th birthday adventure to the Carolinas (with a lot of time at the DFW airport). It was epic and unforgettable! I’m so glad I got to kick off this new decade with my forever friend and birthday month buddy! A big thank you to Maggie for hosting me and being up for anything!!!

Walking the Village Inn grounds! Chilly, but pretty!

Walking the Biltmore House grounds! Same as above: chilly, but pretty!

We didn’t have hot water for the day, but we did have power and cake, so we were warm and well!

Another bucket list item for me on this trip: Waffle House!

One last walk around the neighborhood together!

Finding a quiet spot at DFW. It felt like the airport I couldn’t escape!

What I’ve Been Reading – January 2026

Filed under: Amy's Bookshelf — Amy Scott @ 10:00 am

Bookish Thoughts for January

This time of year is always my favorite when it comes to books! Between Christmas and my birthday, I usually have a few new additions to my home library. This year, I was also gifted some very sweet and thoughtful bookish gifts (along with actual books). I’m a very happy bookworm! I feel so loved! You’ll see my bookish gifts and new additions to my home library in the collage below. My favorite thing just might be my home library embosser! I can’t wait to label ALL my books with my personalized seal!

Highlights for January… Fairy tale retellings! I’ve read so many between December and January. They are hitting a happy spot in my heart. From contemporary rom-coms to Texas westerns, I loved seeing how authors reimagined these classic stories. I particularly enjoyed Jenessa Fayeth’s Date with Danger due to the many Psych references (the show Jeremy and I are currently watching together). Gabrielle Meyer’s retelling of My Fair Lady in To Love a Lady was well done. George Vanderbilt was a side character and I felt a special connection to him this month (more on that in my upcoming post). I had a big travel adventure in January. Valancy (The Blue Castle) and Wanda (The Host) kept me company on the journey. So many good books!

Top Picks for January… I had hoped to read The Familiar Stranger in December, but I got distracted by Christmas novels and fairy tale retellings. I’m glad I waited in hindsight. It was a great book to kick off the new year with. Our church used this book as the springboard for a special series. I was curious about the material and I love keeping tabs on what our church staff is reading and recommending. The Familiar Stranger was a wonderful resource to introduce the Holy Spirit and highlight how the Spirit is alive and active in our lives. I am living more mindful of His presence thanks to this book. For fiction, I got a copy of Denise Hunter’s newest release from the library, The Second Story Bookshop. Her bookish books hit a right note for me. Also, the small cameo of characters from her Riverbend Gap series was appreciated!

**Bookish Gifts!** A jewelry box that looks like a book – I’m using it to hold my bookmarks, instead. Jeremy got me an embosser and seals so I can label my home library! A bookish hoodie – cozy and perfect for snuggling in to read. The additions to my home library in December and January! So much book love!

**My travel books!** I read them on my Kindle so I didn’t have to pack extra weight. I love reading familiar favorites on trips! Comfort reading!

Top Picks for January

The Book List for January
1 Star = I did not like it. 2 stars = It was okay. 3 stars = I liked it. 4 stars = I really liked it. 5 stars = It was amazing.

Non-Fiction:

The Familiar Stranger: (Re)Introducing the Holy Spirit to Those in Search of an Experiential Spirituality by Tyler Staton – 4 stars

Fiction:

To Love a Beast by Karen Witemeyer – 3 stars
Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer – 3 stars
If the Boot Fits by Karen Witemeyer – 3 stars
Clocked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer – 4 stars
The Lucky One by Monique Brasher – 3 stars
Date with Danger by Jenessa Fayeth – 4 stars
Taken with Trouble by Jenessa Fayeth – 3 stars
Engaged in Espionage by Jenessa Fayeth – 3 stars
Married to Mischief by Jenessa Fayeth – 3 stars
Not How I Saw that Going by Jenessa Fayeth – 3 stars
Not on Your Life by Jenessa Fayeth – 3 stars
To Love a Lady by Gabrielle Meyer – 4 stars
The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter – 4 stars
The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery – 5 stars
The Host by Stephanie Meyer – 5 stars
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder – 4 star

Officially 40: Here’s to a New Decade!!! January 20, 2026

Filed under: Family Time,Homeschool Adventures,Simply Me,Tasty Treats — Amy Scott @ 2:35 pm

I’ve officially made to a new decade! I am now in my 40’s. Woo hoo! I have a lot of feels about entering a new decade, but the main one is gratitude! The Lord has been SO good to me. Through every high and low, He has been faithful. His faithfulness gives me hope for the future. I can look ahead optimistically knowing I am never alone and God’s in control. I can trust him with all the feels, things, details. He’s got me! I love my life and the people I get to do life with. I’m so so thankful!

I started my birthday with breakfast out with my family and parents. It was a sweet way to kick off the day. The boys and I came home to tackle our school day and then we enjoyed some down time around the house. I savored yummy food all day long. I love celebrating with food! Mac and cheese and chocolate cake are often on the menu for my birthday and this year was no exception! Jeremy and the boys took off for church in the evening and I reveled in a few quiet hours of introvert time. It was a very good day! I received some very thoughtful bookish gifts this year. I can’t wait to share them with you in my book blog at the end of the month. Stay tuned!

Our long weekend was a fun one. We visit the In-N-Out down south of us. I’m not a huge fan of fast food burgers, so I truthfully don’t get the hype. This In-N-Out as been open for months and it’s still a zoo. The crowd was crazy. I liked my burger, but I didn’t love it… Jeremy, on the other hand, thought it was awesome. After In-N-Out, we explored a new section of the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge. We took the Oaks to Wetlands trail and stretched our legs on a beautifully sunny day. January sunshine is a rare and true treasure. It was too nice not to be outside!

Friday night was my book club. It was lovely to reconnect with friends after the holidays! We spent Saturday and Sunday celebrating my birthday with family. I love celebrating over many days and keeping the party vibes alive! I’m a big believer in birthday month! The boys started a new curriculum for piano lessons. They are learning a new process of playing by ear (instead of being tied only to sheet music). It’s an adventure for them and they are tackling it with enthusiasm. To wrap up this newsy update, we had the northern lights come out to play last night. Our family was out in our 25 degree backyard at 3:40am taking pictures and admiring the sky. It was so pretty, but we’re all a bit tired today. Apparently, we missed some crucial sleep!

I’m excited for my next few posts! I have a special adventure of my own right around the corner… I also have so many bookish things to share at the end of the month. I just can’t wait. It’s gonna be good!

It was a birthday full of sweet treats and thoughtful gifts. Feeling so loved!

It’s not a birthday without chocolate cake!

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January Rearranging… January 10, 2026

Filed under: Amy's Bookshelf,Children's Ministry,Family Time,Homeschool Adventures — Amy Scott @ 2:35 pm

Last year after Christmas, we purchased another bookcase for the playroom and rearranged it to make space for our growing home library. It seems to be a new tradition, because we did the same thing this year as well. Instead of a new bookcase for the playroom, we got two new bookcases. One of each of the boys’ bedrooms. They received new LEGO sets and books for Christmas and they were out of room to display their treasures. Over the last year, the playroom bookcases had filled up and would no longer work as an overflow for the bedrooms. Jeremy told me his goal for this coming year is to NOT buy another bookcase… Where’s the fun in that?

We grabbed two more Billy bookcases from IKEA on New Year’s Eve. We spent New Year’s Day assembling them and rearranging all the treasures the boys love to display in their rooms. It felt so strange rearranging these rooms. They’ve stayed mostly the same since we moved into this home 8 years ago. As we adjusted their rooms, it’s clear we’re accommodating older kids, not the littles we moved into the house with. My mama heart has been processing all the growing and changing of my boys as as I process and rearrange these spaces. It’s been a bit mentally taxing. It was like Tetris finding the right home and spaces for their things, while leaving room for new treasures to be collected in years to come. Definitely a mental puzzle!

We moved a chair from Graham’s room into the playroom, which was the springboard for rearranging the playroom. Our old set-up didn’t leave enough walking space between the bookcases, two chairs, and the piano. Last week’s project was the bedrooms and this weekend’s project was the playroom. It feels so good to have them both tackled now. We took down some maps from the walls that the boys have outgrown. We now have some new wall space to decorate around the piano. We’re thinking music themed décor, but I have no actual idea what that is at the moment. I’ll have to keep my eyes open!

Other highlights since I last posted… We spent New Year’s Eve playing games with family in Vancouver. We enjoyed a meal with Nana and Papa. We showed them the Christmas musical and shared a few of our new Christmas games with them. We celebrated my sister’s birthday with sushi! Owen was brave and tried it for the first time. He didn’t like it, but I’m proud he gave it a shot. The Scott family wasn’t into the sushi scene, so we all found Chinese food options while my parents and sister enjoyed their special birthday treat.

We finally took down the Christmas decorations. It was fun to restyle the mantel yet again! This week, I added paper hearts to the wall to go along with our paper snowflakes. The multi-color hearts go well with the birthday banner I’ve left up from my sister’s celebration. April and I have birthdays two weeks apart, so it felt like the banner could just stay up for “birthday month.” We spent our evenings at church last week for a special spiritual emphasis to start the new year. I got dinner with a forever forever on Wednesday. We started a new weekly art class on Thursdays mornings. We wrapped our first week back to school with a outdoor adventure to the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge. Sunny January days are perfect for getting outside, going for a walk, and birding!

Happy New Year!