Amy’s Bookshelf | Amy Scott's Thoughts

What I’ve Been Reading – July 2026 July 31, 2026

Filed under: Amy's Bookshelf — Amy Scott @ 3:25 pm

Bookish Thoughts for July

What a July I’ve had! True to my promise, I am still working through the Harry Potter series. I’m currently over halfway through book five. Two more to go! Because we’ve been on the road a lot in July, our family has been listening to the audiobooks as we travel. However, we have gone from listening to parts of six to most of seven then back to six and then back to one and a bit of two! We’ve been jumping all over the timeline depending on what listener wants their current book to be played. We’ve also introduced the boys to movies four-six (with a few skipped scenes). While the boys were with Nana and Papa at the beach, Jeremy and I re-watched movies four-seven as a refresher before we decided to let the kids move forward. We are now paused in our movie viewing for the time being. When you add all the time spent reading the books, listening to the books, and watching the movies… July has been dedicated to Harry Potter. I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite series ever, but it’s been fun to experience this all as a family. Jeremy even joined in and started listening to the audiobooks in his free time. We’ve all been camped out in the wizarding world together. It’s been a bonding experience this summer.

When I haven’t been reading Harry Potter, I’ve been doing my best to keep up on library books. I own the Harry Potters books and I have access to them on Kindle Unlimited, so there is no rush or deadline with them. Library books take top priority since I only have them for three weeks. I enjoyed Robin Jones Gunn’s new release, Shortbread in the Highlands. It took place in autumn (my favorite season) and definitely had me pining for the fall. I mentioned Seeking Persephone last month. I was able to complete the series about her siblings this month. I very much enjoyed my time with the Lancasters. Every time a new library hold became available, I would abandon Harry (sorry, Harry). I’ve had a ping-pong feeling with my reading vibes this month. Also, you’ll see my book list is shorter than usual. Summer travels and summer hosting have claimed a majority of my time, but I’ve found pockets of time to read here and there. My favorite place to read in the summer is poolside. I’ve gotten quite a bit of my reading done with kids happily splashing in the background this month. Good times!

July was spent with Harry Potter and the Lancaster siblings!

The Book List for July
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.

Fiction:

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling – 3 stars
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling – 3 stars
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling – 3 stars
Only in Your Dreams by Madison Wright – 3 stars
Shortbread in the Highlands by Robin Jones Gunn – 4 stars
Romancing Daphne by Sarah M. Eden – 4 stars
Loving Lieutenant Lancaster by Sarah M. Eden- 4 stars
Charming Artemis by Sarah M. Eden- 4 stars

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Sunriver Surprise! July 28, 2026

Filed under: Amy's Bookshelf,Family Time,Homeschool Adventures,Travels — Amy Scott @ 2:22 pm

Our traveling summer continues! The boys got a surprise extra weekend at the beach with Nana and Papa. What a treat! They have been gone a total of 14 days this month. Crazy! 11 days away for Jeremy and I. Our suitcases are getting good use! We had a week at home between our anniversary trip and what was supposed to be a family camping trip. During that time, we hosted many pool swims and hang outs with friends. It seems we are either traveling or hosting in our backyard. It’s been a very fun, but very busy summer. You gotta enjoy the nice days in the PNW while they are here!

Back to the “supposed” family camping trip… Burn bans meant camping without a fire this summer. Boo! We talked with Jeremy’s family and we decided that camping without a fire just wasn’t the same. Not only is it way less enjoyable, it also makes it harder to cook. Most of our camping meals are best cooked over the fire. We tossed out some ideas of how to pivot and, surprisingly, Sunriver was suggested. If you’ve followed my blog for a while you know that Sunriver is a very happy place for our family. We love it! We were last there in October for Owen’s birthday and our boys were disappointed that we didn’t have 2026 plans to return. This surprise opportunity to go to one of our favorite places was just too good to pass up! It was certainly an upgrade from camping!

We stayed in a new part of Sunriver Resort called Caldera Springs. The house was lovely and this new neighborhood came with new amenities. The boys loved exploring two new pools and running amok with their cousins. We took a family bike ride and went on many walks. I love all the paved trails throughout Sunriver. They are always a highlight for me! It’s such a beautiful area to be outside. We played lot of family games – board games, card games, dice games, pool, ping pong… So many games! We also tried duck pin bowling for the first time. It was neat to learn a new style of bowling. Bonus, there was plenty of time to read – either poolside or at the house. Overall, it was a delightful trip! It was completely unexpected and that made it an even bigger blessing.

After Sunriver, we came back home to more backyard hosting. The boys had a friend from church over to swim on Friday and we hosted a Scott family BBQ on Saturday. The pool is always a highlight (no matter the weather), but we also had plenty of yard games. We had croquet, bocce ball, soccer, trackball, and badminton all ready to go! We enjoyed a very tasty BBQ dinner and smores for dessert. We just had friends over again yesterday for more swimming, playing, and my go-to hangout treat this summer – popsicles! I love summertime hosting!

We took a break from our cooking class due to travels. We were able to sneak a lesson in on Sunday and I’m hoping we can get another one in this coming weekend before things pick up again. Our cooking lesson this week was hummus. Our family isn’t a big fan of hummus, but it was interesting to make it from scratch. The boys loved using the blender and Owen discovered he loves pita bread. So funny that Owen fell in love with the side, not the dish. That’s life! Next up in cooking class is a baked snack mix and stovetop popcorn. Owen loves microwave popcorn. He is looking forward to doing a taste test.

There is the update on the latest round of travels! Many more adventures yet to be had as August inches closer!

We are in our final unit of summer school – math! Owen is enjoying his new curriculum so much he pulls it out and does extra problems in his free time. I’m completely shocked!

Welcome to Sunriver! Definitely an upgrade from camping!

Exploring a new pool at the Forest House

My favorite summer vibes – a book by the pool!

Using my time at home this week to plan for September. It will be here in a blink!

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What I’ve Been Reading – June 2026 June 30, 2026

Filed under: Amy's Bookshelf — Amy Scott @ 2:02 pm

Bookish Thoughts for June

I didn’t intend to focus so much on regency and historical fiction in June. It just happened… I go through seasons where I like one genre of reading and campout there. June had those moments. I will say that I’ve currently had my fill of historical fiction and I’m dabbling in contemporary waters again. June was also a good month for non-fiction. I usually try to read one non-fiction a month and I tackled three in June. I love being above average (even if it’s my own average). Wildflowers of the West is a combination of field guild meets artist guide. I thoroughly enjoyed reading a book with pictures! Digital Minimalism was a great reaffirmation of choices I feel like I’m already making in my life. Not new information, but a good reminder. Because Digital Minimalism was published in 2019, I found the stats a bit dated, but it was still worth reading. Joyful, Anyway by Kate Bowler was a long awaited hold from the library. I’ve appreciated Bowler’s others works and this one had me pondering what it means to be joyful (anyway) long after I finished it!

Part of my June reading was inspired by others. My boys are in a major Harry Potter phase right now. Graham is reading through the series for the first time and Owen has been re-reading them as well. They keep asking to discuss the details with me and I can’t seem to remember the smaller moments. I read the series 4 years ago and, apparently, only the major plot points stuck (okay, some of those are fuzzy, too). I told the boys I would re-read the series so I could add to the conversation. Unfortunately, I’m reading much too slow for their taste. I’m reading Harry AND my usual TBR at the same time. I’ll get through the series this summer, but I have a feeling it will not be fast enough.

I had a friend mention watching the Seeking Persephone mini-series on Angel and she commented on how it was based on a book. The plot is Beauty and the Beast meets Pride and Prejudice. I did enjoy the book more, but I like doing book to movie comparisons every now and again. It’s a fun way to connect with books. Seeking Persephone is a part of a five sibling series. I’ve read the first two and now I’m waiting on holds at the library for the rest. It’s probably good that I don’t have access to all of them now. I would never make my way through Harry Potter!

Notable New Releases… Brighter than Before by Courtney Walsh was a top pick this month. To Dance with a Duke by Gabrielle Meyer was a play on Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Part of Your World was Karen Witemeyer’s Texas take on The Little Mermaid. I love to see how authors can reimagine well-known stories. New releases in Kindle Unlimited keep calling to me and pulling me away from Harry Potter. Hopefully, you’ll see more of Harry on book list next month!

The Book List for June
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:

Joyful, Anyway by Kate Bowler – 4 stars
Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport – 4 stars
Wildflowers of the West: An Artist’s Guide by Molly Hashimoto – 4 stars

Fiction:

A Most Enticing Enigma by Rebecca Connolly – 3 stars
A Most Deceptive Courtship by Ashtyn Newbold – 3 stars
A Most Unfortunate Happenstance by Esther Hatch – 3 stars
The Ladies Rewrite the Rules by Suzanne Allain – 4 stars
Seeking Persephone by Sarah M. Eden – 4 stars
Courting Miss Lancaster by Sarah M. Eden – 4 stars
To Dance with a Duke by Gabrielle Meyer – 3 stars
Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland by Roseanna M. White – 5 stars
Part of Your World by Karen Witemeyer – 3 stars
The Friendsgiving Fake-Out by Savannah Scott – 3 stars
Never Say Maybe by Savannah Scott – 3 stars
No Match Found by Martha Keyes – 3 stars
Brighter than Before by Courtney Walsh – 4 stars
On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder – 4 stars
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling – 3 stars

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What I’ve Been Reading – May 2026 May 31, 2026

Filed under: Amy's Bookshelf — Amy Scott @ 1:00 pm

Bookish Thoughts for May

My mission for May was to read Beth Brower’s complete works. After falling in love with The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, I wanted to see if I would enjoy her other books just as much. It turns out that Emma is still my favorite, but I did enjoy reading the whole collection. Brower’s fantasy trilogy, The Books of Imirillia, was my favorite of the bunch (yes, I realize by choosing a series, I picked three favorites). I thought about the characters often after completing the series, which to me is a mark of good writing. The Beast of Ten was a new take on Beauty and the Beast. I did like it, but the feel of the novel was a touch darker than I prefer. The Q was set in a similar time period as Emma M. Lion, but in a fictional European country. I liked the familiar societal structure and the plot, but I kept comparing Quincy to Emma. No surprise; Emma wins. It’s not a competition, I know… But alas, here I am… in my third month of talking about Emma M. Lion on my book blog. The obsession is real. Thanks to Teacher Appreciation Day and Mother’s Day, I now own the entire Emma series! I also had multiple friends complete reading the series. Now I have people to talk with about all my hopes and dreams for Emma.

Other highlights of the month… Into a Golden Era by Gabrielle Meyer. I adore the Timeless series so much! I look forward to each new release. They are always a special treat. I appreciate how Meyer adds a new layer or twist to each book. They each have their own unique flavor while staying in the confines of the time-crossing world. Runners up this month would be More Than Friends by Denise Hunter and The Island Bakeshop by Roseanna M. White. Both authors are among my favorites and both books took place in small coastal towns. They gave me summer’s-coming, beachy vibes.

For non-fiction, I really enjoyed Capable: How to Teach Your Kids the Strengths, Skills, and Strategies to Build Resilience by Sissy Goff and David Thomas. They are two of my favorite authors when it comes to parenting resources. This book met me right where I was at and gave me very practical skills and encouragement. I’d been looking forward to this new release for months and it did not disappoint! I try to read some non-fiction every month to keep myself in a growth mindset. There is always more to learn on this journey of life. I’m not sure yet what my June non-fiction read will be. I hope it finds me soon! Honestly, I’m not too worried. Books have a way of popping up just when I need them!

The Book List for May
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:

Capable: How to Teach Your Kids the Strengths, Skills, and Strategies to Build Resilience by Sissy Goff and David Thomas – 4 stars
Sacred Prayer: 90 Days of Deeper Intimacy with God by Ann Voskamp – 4 stars

Fiction:

Love You Later by Julie Christianson – 3 stars
All Booked Up by Melody Carlson – 3 stars
More Than Friends by Denise Hunter – 4 stars
The Queen’s Gambit by Beth Brower – 3 stars
The Ruby Prince by Beth Brower – 4 stars
The Wanderer’s Mark by Beth Brower – 4 stars
The Beast of Ten by Beth Brower – 3 stars
The Q by Beth Brower – 4 stars
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi – 4 stars
Into a Golden Era by Gabrielle Meyer – 4 stars
The Island Bakeshop by Roseann M. White – 4 stars
Rival Season by Leah Brunner and Katie Bailey – 2.5 stars
A Most Faithful Companion by Kasey Stockton – 3 stars
Just Frankie, Actually by Brittany Larsen – 3 stars
Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer – 3 stars
Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer – 3 stars

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What I’ve Been Reading – April 2026 April 30, 2026

Filed under: Amy's Bookshelf,Homeschool Adventures,Travels — Amy Scott @ 8:00 pm

Bookish Thoughts for April 2026

You’ll notice that April was a very 3 star month for me. Lingering illness and a lack of stamina meant I had extra time for reading this month. It also meant that I focused more on fluffy reading. Some seasons call for fluff! Huzzah! It just dawned on me that after my 5 star Emma M. Lion month in March, maybe everything else feels like a 3 star book now. Nothing compares to Emma. I already dedicated my March post to Emma M. Lion. I promise I won’t start up again and give you a round two! (But it would be very easy for me to do so!)

A couple books did stand out to me this month. I very much enjoyed Gifts from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. A few months ago, a friend at book club was sharing her experience with the book. She had been gifted it when she was young and she didn’t connect with the content at the time. Reading it a couple decades later gave the book greater meaning to her. I shared that I had owned the book in my twenties and didn’t relate to it either. I gave my copy away at some point and I was disappointed in that decision after hearing her review. This dear friend gifted me a copy of the book for my birthday after paying attention to what I said at book club. It was so sweet and kind of her! I reread the book (while at the beach, seemed fitting) and I immensely enjoyed it. It’s a book that resonates in midlife and my younger self couldn’t appreciate the wisdom. It’s an encouraging take a woman’s role as a person, wife, mother, and community member in comparison to different shells found on the seashore. Even though the book was published decades ago, I found it speaking to my soul and my situations even in modern times. I’m so grateful for a second chance with this book!

My top fiction read this month was The Wrong Lady Meets the Right Lord by Suzanne Allain. I’ve enjoyed her other works and this one was no exception. I’m a big fan of Victorian London during The Season. This book features a case of mistaken identity and two cousins trying to find their way in the world and finding love along the way. It was the perfect weekend read. Relaxing, sweet, and a happily ever after. Set in a similar time and setting was A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin. I enjoyed the determination of the characters in that book along with the delightful side characters that brought so much color to the story.

In closing, I wanted to highlight that it is curriculum time again! It’s always fun (and a little stressful) to order the textbooks for the coming school year. We are close to wrapping up this school year in May. New books are necessary to start our summer school program. It’s always a treat to move to our lighter summer schedule and new books add to the joyful transition. It appears the highlight this coming year will be Cooking 1. I plan to offer a weekly elective were the kids (and parents) team up to learn kitchen and cooking skills. Owen has been pouring over the book whenever he has down time. He is going to have the whole book memorized by the time we open it for school and start cooking together!

Doesn’t everyone pack a small library when they travel?

So excited to see a stack of new curriculum! Ordering in April allowed me to save some money with early bird sales. Next month I’ll order our math curriculum and I have “hand-me-down” books ready and waiting for Graham. I love that some books I used with Owen can be reused with Graham!

The Book List for April
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:

Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh – 4 stars
The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History by Sharon McMahon – 4 stars

Fiction:

The Cinderella Plot by Pepper Basham – 3 stars
Tides of Secrets by A.R. Conwell – 3 stars
Miss Magnolia’s in a Mash by Carina Taylor – 3 stars
Could’ve Fooled Me by Jenny Proctor – 3 stars
Bookishly Ever After by Sarah Monzon – 3 stars
Book Nerds and Boyfriends by Sarah Monzon – 3 stars
The Cowboy’s Touch by Denise Hunter – 3 stars
The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter – 3 stars
The Trouble with Cowboys by Denise Hunter – 3 stars
The Goodbye Bride by Denise Hunter – 3 stars
How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days by Sophie Irwin – 3 stars
A Ladies Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin – 4 stars
The Wrong Lady Meets the Right Lord by Suzanne Allain – 4 stars
Ruling Out Robin by Deborah M. Hathaway – 3 stars
The Set-Up Man by Kate Watson – 3 stars
Mischief, Mayhem, and Marriage by Rebecca Connolly – 3 stars

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What I’ve Been Reading – March 2026 March 31, 2026

Filed under: Amy's Bookshelf,Simply Me — Amy Scott @ 2:18 pm

Bookish Thoughts
An Ode to The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion

Since I am still under the weather, I will keep my bookish thoughts brief this month. Essentially, my entire month was consumed by Emma M. Lion. I’d heard of the Emma books through my book club and my Kindle kept recommending them. I’ll admit that the cover art didn’t inspire me, but I finally decide to give them a go. And my life was changed! I am deeply, madly in love with these journals of the fictional Emma M. Lion. She is a kindred spirit and my new literary best friend. I devoured the whole series (the books are short, so it’s easy to do) and then decided to reread them when the world came to a halt due to sickness. I’ve been savoring the second read through. I’ve been keeping my eyes open for details I may have missed the first time around. The series is currently at 8 books and I thought it was complete. I figured I would know the conclusion of the plot by the end of my reading… But, no! It turns out that Beth Brower has 21-24 books planned. We have only begun our journey with Emma. How lovely and terrible at the same time. I have so many thoughts, so many feelings, so many theories! I’m dying to know what direction this series will go. I will apparently be anguishing over these questions for years to come. I am so, so sad. None of my friends are as far in the series as me which means I have no one to talk to about the current state of things. I’m desperate for someone to conclude book 8 so I can release the floodgates. I need to converse about these books with someone. I might burst! Okay… As you can see, I feel quite strongly about The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion. They were a delightful surprise and truly the highlight of my March. I am forced to slowly wait for this story to unfold and see if my theories play out. Please write quickly, Beth Brower. Waiting is torture!

I purchased the first two books as a bright spot when sickness took over our house. I hope to slowly add to my collection and eventually own them all.

Emma is such a kindred spirit! Her idea of the right routine and mine are quite the same!

The Scott Bros March Picks: They are each determined to own their own individual set of the Investigators books. As of March they have achieved this dream.

The Book List for March
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 Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation’s Largest Home by Denise Kiernan – 4 stars
Growing With: Every Parent’s Guide to Helping Teenagers and Young Adults Thrive in Their Faith, Family, and Future by Kara Powell and Steven Argue – 4 stars

Fiction:

To All the Guys I’ve Loathed Before by Gracie Ruth Mitchell – 3 stars
Aflame by Roseanna M. White – 4 stars
A Bewildered Bachelor by Holli Jo Monroe – 3 stars
An Honorable Love by Audra Wells – 3 stars
Falling in Somerset by Jenny B. Jones – 3 stars
All That Glitters by Annah Conwell – 3 stars
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald – 2 stars
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Volumes 1-8 by Beth Brower – 5 stars

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What I’ve Been Reading – February 2026 February 28, 2026

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

Bookish Thoughts for February

February might be a short month, but it’s been an excellent bookish month! I’ve enjoyed acquiring a few more books for my home library. I ordered two parenting books after recommendations from a parenting conference at our church. I really enjoyed Parenting by Paul David Tripp and I look forward to diving into Growing With soon. My book club had a field trip this month – we went book shopping at Goodwill! I Heard the Owl Call My Name was my exciting find that day! I got By the Shores of Silver Lake at Powell’s. I love that store! The boys not only got their monthly books, but also a book from Powell’s. I love treating them to something special when we’re there. To keep the thrifting theme going, I’m expecting a small order from Thrift Books. It won’t arrive until next week, so I’ll have to highlight that in my March post. Yay for new books!

I’ve been doing a bit of a deep dive on the Vanderbilt family after visiting Biltmore last month. I picked up a copy of Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty. While the book was fascinating, George Vanderbilt and Biltmore weren’t mentioned. Apparently, other family members were more notorious. Building the biggest house and living a bookish life didn’t grant George or Biltmore any space in the book. It was an interesting look into the Vanderbilts as a clan, though. These Tangle Threads was a historical fiction that took place in the decade after George Vanderbilt died. It gave insight into how the estate operated without him and the flood of 1916. I ended up researching many tangents online as I read it. I’m currently reading The Last Castle and it’s all about George’s life, legacy, and the Biltmore estate. It was exactly the deep dive I was looking for when I started this binge!

Other highlights of the month, I was excited to read Melissa Ferguson’s long-awaited new release, Without a Clue. I don’t read a lot of cozy murder mysteries, so it added some nice diversity to my month. I read quite a few fairy tale retellings at the beginning of the month. I’ve been filling in the gaps with The Gentlemen’s Gamble series – a historical fiction series revolving around a marriage bet place amongst seven friends. There has been quite a bit of variety in my reading this month. It’s been delightful to hop between so many different genres.

The Book List for February
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:

Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty by Anderson Cooper – 3 stars
Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul David Tripp – 4 stars
Gifts and Gratitudes: A Year of One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp – 5 stars

Fiction:

Once Upon a Winter Beast by Monique Brasher – 3 stars
Once Upon a Rose by Monique Brasher – 3 stars
Lily of the Tower by Maire Soleil – 3 stars
An Accidental Marriage by Deborah M. Hathaway – 3 stars
A Foolish Proposal by Kasey Stockton – 3 stars
A Fortunate Miscalculation by Karen Thornell – 3 stars
A Novel Engagement by Anneka Walker – 3 stars
The Cowboy’s Game by Cindy Steel – 3 stars
The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin – 2 stars
Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson – 4 stars
These Tangled Threads by Sarah Loudin Thomas – 4 stars

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The Ordinary Adventures of February February 23, 2026

Filed under: Amy's Bookshelf,Children's Ministry,Family Time,Homeschool Adventures,Tasty Treats,Travels — Amy Scott @ 1:22 pm

February has a unique vibe. It seems to be a mellow month for our family. After the hype of the holidays and then celebrating my birthday in January, February can feel quiet in comparison. Don’t get me wrong, I love quiet. It has it’s place in everyday life. Even in these ordinary days, we are still enjoying smaller-scale adventures as a family and with friends. Let’s take a look!

The boys took turns sharing sniffles this month. Thankfully, they were minor! I was able to have dinner with my forever friend, Christa. She’s on the cusp of a big move, so my time with her feels extra precious right now. We had a parents’ night at church. The boys hung out with Nana and Papa while Jeremy and I attended the event. The next day (Valentine’s Day), we went to the beach to help Grandpa and Grandma with some house projects. The beach house is being renovated, but it was neat to see the progress in-person. Jeremy hosted the Bethel Kids Winter Olympics. This competition was a big hit! Owen came away with a silver medal in curling (or something resembling curling) and Graham got a silver medal in the penguin waddle race (totally an Olympic sport, right?)

We enjoyed a down day on President’s Day and went out to Chinese food on Lunar New Year. We caught up with friends at their house. The moms chatted about life while the kids played laser tag and board games. The boys are loving piano lessons right now and look forward to their new video session each week. It’s fun to see them tackle a new way of playing the piano. I got my haircut. My book club did a field trip to Goodwill to browse for books! We had a family shopping day in Portland to look at books for me, a video game for Owen, and Pokémon cards for Graham. Jeremy was hoping to find a new puzzle, but nothing sparked his fancy. We’ll keep looking!

As you can see, nothing much to report. Just all the ordinary adventures! The boys have found a renewed loved for scootering and their marble run set. It’s sweet to see them making adventures out of the small moments. Life doesn’t have to be big, flashy, or impressive to be good. I’m a fan of ordinary days. I’ll remember these ordinary days just as fondly as the extraordinary ones.

My contribution to the parenting event – book recommendations! This is my scaled-back assortment!

The sweetest bread bowl there ever was! Such a fun treat for Valentine’s Day!

The Bethel Kids Olympics! My IG story from Sunday the 15th.

Family shopping adventures call for a moment of rest in Fred Meyer…

Fresh haircut! It had been 11 months, so it was long overdue.

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What I’ve Been Reading – January 2026 January 31, 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

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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!