Amy Scott's Thoughts

Hanging with Toby!

I’m not sure how many Home Alone movies they eventually ended up making – 3 or 4? But this was my home alone week. Now I was not forgotten by my family and abandoned over the Christmas holiday, but I was home alone… a lot. This week was summer camp for our kiddos at Bethel and I sent Jeremy off without me. This is the first summer camp in 7 years that I haven’t attended. It felt very strange to load the kids all up on Monday and not go with them. In fact, this is the longest stint that Jeremy and I have been a part since we’ve been married. We’ve done weekends apart but most week long trips involve both us. Why did I stay home? Well, there is the matter of camp being extremely draining. The schedule is nuts and the accommodations aren’t so great. I usually come home from camp dead tired and this year I just decided that being pregnant and all, it would be too much. Plus, it allowed me to cover for our receptionist part of this week while she prepares for her wedding this weekend.

I haven’t done much blogging this week – partially because it’s been a quiet week and partially because I have a great fear if I mentioned I was home alone some scary internet stalker would show up at my house and try to kill me in my sleep. Did I mention I have an active imagination? Especially when I’m left alone for long period of time? Yup, it’s true! I’m the type of person that prays every night before I go to sleep (when I’m on my own) that a murder or robber doesn’t try to break into my house and that I’ll be able to sleep and not worry. Anyway… back to the quiet week and enough about my crazy fears!

The week was a very productive one – at both home and work. It’s amazing when you’re by yourself how much you can get done in a day. I had no one to distracts me which was nice at times and kind of sad at others. I got a lot of projects taken care of, I went to dinner with a student, ran some errands in town, watched movies, did some baking, took the doggie on daily walks and read a lot.  After three nights of being on my own, my sister came over yesterday for the evening and spent the night. It was nice to have her company by the end of the week because at least at home – I’ve been the only human, so it was great to talk with someone other than the dog!

The doggie has been my buddy, but I can tell he misses his man. I’m kind of boring and despite all the walks and play time, I know that I’m just not cutting it for him. I really miss having a man around the house as well. In a way, it felt like I was house-sitting my own house because I did many things that I don’t normally do – like take the trash cans out to the road and back to the house on trash day. I watered Jeremy’s garden and greenhouse. I was on night duty for the dog. Normally, Jeremy is the one that goes outside in the middle of the night with the pup and it’s something I’m very grateful for. Again, it’s scary to be out in the front yard alone at 2:00am (I do live in the country – lions and tigers and bears – oh my). I really appreciate all that Jeremy does around the house and I will be glad to be doing house stuff again as a team and not just me.

Overall, I just missed my man, despite my productivity. I will often say that I am good at entertaining myself and as an introvert, I don’t mind quiet alone time. This is true, but let me tell you, one week is too much! I got a few chances throughout the day to talk with Jeremy, but he was in camp world and I was in Lewis County. It’s almost like two different plains of existence. It was good to chat with him and I am thankful for each moment I had on the phone with him. I will be thankful and not take for granted the joy of having him come home after a day of work. As much as I am little chatter box, I will be grateful for his conversation and the way he can make me laugh by being silly and goofy. I am too serious and too quiet on my own. I need this man this liven up my life.

So anyway, that is my home alone story! I am counting down the hours until my hubby and I reunited! I can’t wait! Normally Toby will glue himself to Jeremy when Jeremy has been away for a long time or has been busy and unable to focus on him. I think I might follow in Toby’s footsteps today (or paw steps). There is a good chance I’ll be glued to him as well!

Hello Precious!

Back in November the world was going mad. Hostess products were flying off the shelves in grocery stores and gas stations. What wasn’t being consumed by the buyers was being sold on websites like eBay. Yes, my husband was amongst the many who tried to sell Hostess products online as they disappeared from the stores. You can read about my farewell to the beloved snack food here on my blog post from November – Good-Bye Old, Dear Friend.

Now for many Hostess represents what has gone wrong in America. It’s the evil food that has no nutritional value and is making the next generation (and current generations) obese. Despite all the negative vibes surrounding the snack cakes, I will admit that I am lover of Hostess and a supporter! My mom would give me Twinkies as a kid because I was so entertained by their make-up. The cream filling would keep me occupied as I disassembled the snack and munched on it. As I grew up, Hostess products became road trip food or a special treat to get through a hard day. I’ve never had a steady stash in my home, but I would occasionally enjoy a fruit pie or a package of Donettes (preferably crunch). I’ve been known to keep a pack of Ding Dongs in the freezer as a summer treat.  I also really enjoyed SnoBalls and Cupcakes.

So yes, November. It was a dark time for me. What didn’t sell on eBay, Jeremy and I ate. It was sad. With each product I consumed, I knew there would be no more. No replacement. It was the end of an American classic. Of course, I rejoiced when I heard that Hostess would again be stocking it’s goodies on store shelves. I didn’t run to the store the day they came out, but I was happy.

Today my hubby came home and told me to close my eyes. This seemed a little weird and kind of ridiculous since he rarely does this. I’m not a huge fan of the “close your eyes” request. I’m not sure why. Maybe I still think all boys will put a snake in your hand when they ask you to close your eyes. When I opened my eyes, I was delighted to find a box of Twinkies. I felt like a little kid again! I immediately opened the box and had one. Yes, they are as good I remember. There is just something about cream filling that I love!

I’m excited for the return of this beloved childhood snack cake. I’m secretly hoping the whole line of products return to the stores as well. Right now I am just thankful for the box of Twinkies sitting in my pantry! It seriously doesn’t take much to make me happy!

Welcome to my 400th post on Amy Scott’s Thoughts! It’s been a fun journey to get to 400. Blogging has been such a wonderful addition to my life. I truly love it. Even if I’m not writing a nationally famous blog, I feel like I’m doing something. I’m keeping my writing skills up and I’m stretching myself to share my stories and my thoughts. I’m striving to be honest, funny and encouraging. I’m also hoping for a place where I be real and be me. I’ve enjoyed this experience so much because I’m using my voice in a way I love. I’m a writer by nature. It’s how I process my world. Writing is my preferred form of communication. I love sitting down and actually thinking about what I am going to say. So often we talk without thinking, but writing gives me pause. It gives me time to really mull over the thought. It gives me time to change my wording if I need to. I like how writing involves editing because nothing comes out perfectly the first time. Writing gives me that time and space to really solidify what I am going to say.

If you’ve followed my blog for any time, you know that I’m all over the place. There isn’t just one topic up for discussion here. My life is crazy and it’s just as scattered as the many topics on this blog. I love to talk about my relationship with Jesus and what he is walking me through at any given moment. I love writing my work with the kiddos at our church. I enjoy baking and doing domestic things. I’m always ready to share a domestic win or failure! I’ve certainly had both! My family is super important to me and they come up often, so is my mentoring. I love to share about my travels and what books I’m reading. In the last few months, I’ve even added the “baby” topic as Jeremy and I prepare for our first child to be born in October. There is just too much going on to write only about one thing. Forgive me for the bouncing, but the tagline on my page is”sharing the thoughts that bounce around in my brain.” With a tagline like I can go anywhere!

I thought I would break 400 down a bit and give a snapshot into the blogging world of Amy Scott. 400 posts in about 28 months means I blog about 3-4 times a week. However, it does come and go in spurts! You’ll notice I can a week solid of writing and then a busy season will hit and I will be quiet for a couple of days. Sometimes it all depends on inspiration and how many ideas I have in my blog hopper. When I get an idea, I add it to a list and then I slowly work through my topics without forgetting any of them.

The highest amount of views I’ve had in one day was 120. I wrote a blog about how Jeremy and I are expecting a baby and shared it on Facebook. Apparently, people were interested! I’ve had 8,330 views total which averages to about 300 views a month and about 10 views a day. Like I said, I’m not nationally famous, but I’m getting traffic and I’m happy with that. I also have about 20 followers who receive emails or notifications when I post. Shout out to my followers! Thank you for keeping up with me! I appreciate you!

Oh, 400! There is something about reaching a mark and knowing that you’ve had staying power. This isn’t a phase. This isn’t a project I will abandon. Blogging is a part of me and I’m so glad that I get to share it with you! Stay tuned. More fun is in store. That idea hopper of mine is full and I can’t wait to write each post. Also, feel free to comment and add your thoughts to this page. I welcome the conversation. This doesn’t have to be a dramatic monologue (even though I can be good at those)! I’m glad to have you along for the ride!

Seven Years Ago

Monday was Jeremy and I’s seven year anniversary! In someways seven years seems like a long time, but really it seems like a blink of an eye. We’ve done a lot in seven years and seen a lot in seven years. I’m amazed at how much I’ve changed in seven years. I got married when I was twenty, so I feel like I’ve grown up a lot in the last seven years. At times I think I’ve mellowed and at other times, I feel just as crazy as I did seven years ago. Jeremy, however, has been a constant! He is my stable rock. I have been blessed with a hubby who is laid back and go with the flow – two things I am not. He’s influence has been greatly appreciated in my life and I have no clue what I would do without him. He makes me laugh and smile and has provided a wonderful life for me.

Since this was our last anniversary without kids, we broke the trend of our normal anniversary plans. The last two years we’ve gone shopping in the Portland area. In years prior, we’ve been so busy with our VBA that we usually do church shopping and then just go to dinner. But this year was different. I wanted to make the most of the last anniversary where our family unit would be just the two of us. We decided to spend the day in Seattle. We often to go Portland because of the no sales tax, but we rarely just hang out in Seattle. The weather was beautiful. It usually is every July 8th! We hung out the waterfront and wondered around Pike’s Place Market. We decided to be touristy and try the new Great Wheel they have at the waterfront. It’s a large ferris wheel with great views of the city and the water. After our ride on the wheel, I took Jeremy to Top Pot Doughnuts where we splurged on a half dozen yummy treats. Our evening plans included dinner at Safeco Field and watching the Mariners beat the Boston Red Sox. Jeremy and I usually make it the ballpark once a year for our annual 5th Grade Graduation with the kids at Bethel. It’s an entirely different experience when just the two of us go. It was fun to take the time to eat at the ballpark. I indulged in a clam chowder bread bowl from Ivar’s! Yum! Normally I have Shishkaberries (chocolate covered strawberries) as my snack of choice, but I was so full from my doughnut earlier that I passed on them this year.  I’ll save them for the next game I’ll watch in a month with the 5th graders.

It was a great day to spend with Jeremy in Seattle. I couldn’t ask for a better day and it was fun to hang out in Seattle since we don’t go there very often. We ate a lot of good food and just enjoyed walking around and being in each others company. It was a great anniversary! I’m so blessed and very grateful to be married to such a wonderful guy! I love you, Jeremy!

Jeremy on the Great Wheel!

Us at the Ballpark!

I made a decision a while ago that this upcoming vacation was going to be different than vacations of the past.  I will admit that I’m addicted to my cell phone. I check it way too often. Thanks to easy access on my phone, I’m on Facebook way too much. It’s amazing the strong need and desire to see what the world is up to. I’ve tried to cut back my own posts on Facebook. I don’t think people need to hear what I’m up to everyday (I used to post daily). Now I try to keep it to one or two posts  a week. On most vacations, I will post what I am up to so that way family and friends can stay informed (be jealous, same thing?).  I like highlighting my adventures, especially in new and exciting places. But… not this trip! Hawaii is going to be reserved for me and my traveling companions only (at least while I am there). No Facebook for me. Not posting and not checking. I apologize if I miss something big while I’m gone, but I’ve decided to unplug for this vacation.

I should note that this doesn’t mean I won’t use my phone at all while I am gone. I will probably use it to listen to music on the airplane. I will probably use it to keep track of my calories (I know, I’m crazy, but I have an addiction to My Fitness Pal that is stronger than Facebook). I have decided to keep track of my calories, but not to let them limit me while I am away. I think we all make healthier choices when we monitor what we’ve eaten. Anyway, that is another topic for another time. The big difference in what I will use my phone for and what I won’t lies in contacting the outside world. I’m going to let emails pile up, I’m going to let posts go unposted and I’m going to ignore the outside world. It almost seems offensive, but honestly, I am so ready to disconnect! I will be an ocean away from home and I want it feel that way. So often thanks to the constant connectivity of technology, you can be gone, but still in the office.  I want this to be a true vacation!

I will update the world when I get back. I will share pictures and stories, you can be sure. As a writer, I’m sure a trip like this will give me plenty of blog post material. That’s another thing… The blog also falls into the unplugging category. So will share when I return! This trip will be like a best kept secret until I return to the mainland!

However, you haven’t gotten rid of me quite yet! I still have one more post up my sleeve before I go, so stay tuned!

They say that it’s impossible to multi-task. The human brain simply cannot do it. You can only think about one thing at a time. When you think you are multi-tasking, you are really doing one thing, pausing to do another and then moving back to your original task or train of thought. You can’t do two things at once.

In my head I believe this. It makes sense. However, in a world that values “multi-tasking”, I pretend that I am an excellent multi-tasker. I’m top notch really… if they gave out trophies for such a task, I would have a shelf full… Hmm… NOT! I’m not buying it either. I would love to say that I am multi-tasker. I would love to say that I am able to the handle the load of many things all at one time. But today, I proved myself wrong. I hate it when that happens.

I came home after a super productive day at work with a to-do list in mind for my evening. I have only one “quiet” day this week and I’m trying to disperse my weekly to-do list over many days, so my quiet day doesn’t just become a giant list of projects. This meant that even though I was tired and probably should have been resting, I had things to tackle tonight. If I tackled them now, I wouldn’t have to worry about them later. Seemed smart in a way.

I don’t know about your life, but mine can get complex sometimes. I had a lot on my mind tonight. I was in deep processing mode. I decided to verbally process with my husband while I worked on my task list. Can you see where this is going? I learned the hard way that I can’t deep think and do tasks at the same time – something suffers… I made a stupid mistake while rushing through my to-do list and verbally processing. My husband informed that it’s more than okay. But I’m supposed to be super human, right? I’m supposed to handle things. I’m supposed to get things done and get them done right. Ugh. Today I failed at that and it might not be a big deal, but I think I proved the scientists right. Multi-tasking really is impossible.

You can do one thing or you can do another. You can’t do both at the same time. Lesson learned.

I honestly don’t remember how long it has been since Jeremy started selling stuff on eBay. It’s been months now, many months. It started with Jeremy’s dream to upgrade a few of his toys. How do you afford new toys? Sell the old ones! My husband diligently sorted through our garage and our “stuff” in order to find things that might no longer have value to us, but maybe they will to someone else. It’s amazing the random things we’ve sold. I don’t know how many times I looked at Jeremy and told him that no one would what that item that I assumed is junk… And of course, it sold! It’s mind blowing really! Our home office desk has been and still is covered in items that are listed on eBay or waiting to be listed. It’s been quite the project, but in a lot of ways it has paid off. Our flooring project in February was paid for by the eBay fund. If people are looking for a way to make some extra cash, I recommend eBay! The nice thing about eBay is that all your interactions on done through a computer. There is no meeting up with people. You simple ship your items and you never have to interact in person. Well, if you have shipped as many items as us, you do interact a lot with the Post Office. Jeremy has become quite well known in our small town Post Office. I think they are just as amazed as me by the amount of stuff my hubby has sold.

I have now turned to Craig’s List to sell a few furniture pieces. We are in the process of clearing space in our house and Craig’s List seemed like the way to go for furniture. eBay is good for small items that fit in boxes, not ottomans. There is a night and day difference for me when comes to eBay and Craig’s List. I know it’s not possible, but I wish Craig’s List could be a lot more like eBay. On eBay, you can track how many people view your listing, but you usually don’t get notified on anything until someone places a bid – which means the item will sell! That is a good feeling! On Craig’s List people can contact you, ask questions, seem interested and then never get back to you. I get all excited at each inquiry and I have to remind myself that it doesn’t mean anything is going happen. I also don’t like the fact that you have to meet up with people to sell items on Craig’s List. Maybe I’ve heard too many stories about Craig’s List killers, but meeting up with a stranger to exchange goods and money feels creepy to me. Of course, I always take my tall husband (who smiles too much to be intimating…), but at least he doesn’t look easy to beat up.

This is my second week of listing items on Craig’s List. Lowering the price each week can get a little disheartening, but I’m motivated! This Saturday we sold two nightstands from our guest room. I’ve gotten inquiries about our computer desk and a set of ottomans we have listed. Here’s hoping that the inquiries lead to sales. It’s an interesting process parting with your stuff. It’s a process I usually enjoy. There is a rush when that item sells and more space is made in my home. It’s been a worthwhile process. I had no idea how far it would lead us, but I’m glad my hubby got the bright idea so many months ago. The great thing about selling stuff is that it goes against the mentality that more is better. Instead of getting new stuff and keeping the old stuff, this process has allowed us to part with items before we replace them with new items. In a world where people have to have storage units to house the items that no longer fit in their homes, I want to manage my space well. If I don’t have room then I don’t need it or I need to clear space by paring down what I do have. I think it’s healthy to give as you get. I know it’s been good for us!

Kit Kat to the rescue!

It’s been a few days since I’ve been on here posting. Honestly, I don’t have anything too exciting to share with world.  I have some posts in mind for this weekend, but for right now… all I can say is… today has been one of those days. A day were chocolate is a must. I stopped by the store and got myself a Kit-Kat bar while picking up a few supplies for a movie night tomorrow. We all have these days. It’s been hard, not all moments have been “bad” but I’ve been on a bit of a roller coaster emotionally and now I’m tired and in need of chocolate. So I guess this blog is just to say I’m human. Some days are rougher than others and sometimes the emotions ride a little closer to the surface. I’m trying extremely hard to not come across as a crazy pregnant lady, but maybe in my trying not to become that, I really am. I don’t know. Pray for me. I think the name of the game this evening will be count blessings and be chill. Right now is the time when counting my blessings really makes a difference and can turn a day and a mood around. I just have to do it. I need the discipline. Hopefully, gratitude wins. I also think comfort foods might help gratitude to win. We’ll see. Today is just one of those days. They happen.