Today’s new distraction lead me to www.goodreads.com where I set up a profile. I’ve heard about the site, but never really spent any time there. After looking around, I jumped right on in. Now I am challenging to my brain to remember every book I’ve ever read. Good Reads allows you to keep track and share books you have read, are currently and plan on reading. You can share your lists and information with others. You can write reviews and share favorite quotes and authors. It’s like Facebook for real books! The fun thing about joining this site is I’ve been remembering all the books that I’ve read. I know that I haven’t remembered them all, but it’s been a good mental exercise to see what I took away from them and which ones have remained in my brain. Some of the series I added just as one entry, so my total is really more then the site says. I did the math and I’ve pretty much read at least 7 books for every year of my life. I’d say that’s decent. The biggest challenge I’m laying before myself now is see what I can remember from all the books I had to read in high school advanced English. Most of those books traumatized me and went over my head. Needless to say, the memory of them as not only faded, but has somewhat been blocked out. Once I started making a list of the books I’ve read, it’s hard to not want to list every single one. I realize that would be ridiculous and not possible. For now the challenge is thrilling and exciting. I love books. I love lists. I love keeping track of things. I like sharing what I’ve read and what I’m reading. Good Reads was a good find! Check out my page at www.goodreads.com/revamyscott.
Sister Time! August 19, 2012
Dinner in the Park!
It seems like my sister and I have had opposite schedules this summer. We haven’t had a chance to hang out too much in July and August was starting to shape up the same way. Back in June, April and I made plans to go down to Saturday Market in Portland, OR while our hubby’s climbed Mt. St. Helen’s. The only thing that might have kept us from going was if April had to work this weekend, which thankfully she didn’t! We had a great time catching up while the our boys went fishing, camping, and hiking a mountain. I like camping, but the fishing and hiking part, I was glad to do without!
April’s project!
Friday night, April, Toby Dog, and I enjoyed Taco Ball in a local park. We sat a log and munch on our cheap Mexican food. April got to tell me a bit about her family reunion the weekend before with her husband’s family. Toby wanted to eat a taco and was generally a hot dog since temps had been in the mid 90’s on Friday! We took off for my house and planned a night of crafting. April had text messaged me earlier that week saying that she had the itch to craft. I jumped on the bandwagon and we prepared for a night of art projects! April’s project turned out great! She’s got really creative and the result was what she calls “The Leviathan”. My project turned out great and I was super happy with it. However, it is a birthday present for a student and on the off chance that she reads this blog, I don’t want to describe it or post pictures until after I give it to her.
With all our creative juices spent, we moved over the couch to watch Lifetime movies about troubled teens. It was great to just veg and be chill. This is probably one of the best things that April and I do together. We’re good at being active together, but we can always just kick back and relax. No need to be impressive or entertaining. It’s nice to just sit and be myself.
Saturday Market on the Portland Waterfront!
Saturday morning we were up early to head down to Portland for a wonderful time hanging out in downtown. April and I both have a special fondness for Portland and it’s been our favorite spot for years! Since we grew up in the area, there is a bit of childhood magic still associated with the land of no sales tax! We wandered around Saturday Market and walked to Pioneer Place. It was a lot of fun to look through the shops and get excited for fall shopping! Back to school shopping and sales were in full swing.
By mid-afternoon, we needed to head home to let my crazy dog out of the crate. It wasn’t a full, long day in the city, but it was perfect! This was the first time that April and I had gone to downtown Portland just the two of us. Usually we have parents or hubbys with us. It was nice to prove to myself that I could drive around downtown and not kill us! We made it everywhere we hopped to go with getting attacked or getting lost. The day was full of Starbucks, good food, window shopping, and lots of walking!
It was nice to spend some one on one with my sister and catch-up at the end of a busy summer. The boys had a great time hiking Mt. St. Helen’s. Both survived and Jeremy had many tales to tell me when he got home last night. The next adventure of the summer will be next weekend when Jeremy, April, Toby Dog, and I go camping! We still haven’t decided on a location, but camping is always a blast and I was super excited to find out that April’s work schedule allows her to come. The only downside is April’s husband, Andrew, has to work so we’ll be short a family member. I guess that means April get an air mattress all to herself! Unless Toby wants to share it with her!
Ice Cream Cones, Play Toys and Big Kids! August 16, 2012
7 reasons why Wednesday nights are so important!
Last night, I took my class of 5th/6th grade girls over to McDonald’s. It was their request for our end of the summer party. The next two weeks we will go into our youth ministry to give them a sneak peek of what they can expect if they move up. Our church offers a chance for the 5th graders going into 6th grade to stay in Children’s Ministry for another year if they don’t feel ready to move up. Most of my girls will be staying in the class next year, but I believe in them making educated decisions. I don’t want them to stay in my classroom because of a fear of the unknown. Going into Fusion (our youth ministry) gives them a taste of what to expect in the future as well as I chance to make a decision based on experience. It’s fun for me to spend two weeks enjoying the worship and not having to prep a lesson, make a snack, and prepare a craft and game. It’s a little bit of a rest bit before another class moves up. Beginning in September, the 4th graders will become my 5th graders.
Our trip to McDonald’s was a hit! I got so many “thank yous” from the class. It was crazy! I had no idea that going to McDonald’s would unlock their hearts and speak so much love to them! After ordering 8 ice cream cones, we took our seats to chat, munch and generally enjoy each others company. Once all the ice cream cones had been consumed, we headed outside so they could play on the play toy. It wasn’t until we were leaving that I noticed the sign saying they were too tall to be in there. Oops! There were shrieks of delight as they climbed, slid, and spun. It was so much fun to listen to them being big kids. They just let go and were 5 years old all over again! These almost teenagers are still little girls at heart. It was sweet. At one point I needed to quiet their screams for fear of being kicked of the establishment. Can you imagine a church group getting kicked out for being too rowdy? I had to remind them who we were representing and how our actions needed to be respectful. They toned it down after that and we weren’t escorted off the property. Sounds like a “win” to me!
Each class is so special and I bond with each every year. It’s hard teaching the oldest age range because they will all soon be too old to stay in children’s ministry. They will all soon be youth students and moving on. It’s a hard cycle that I live in. I’m blessed by the long term relationships I share with many students even after they leave my classroom. I want to be a teacher of God’s Word first of all and a friend and confidant next. I want these girls to know that they can come to me whenever with whatever. I’m here for them. That is one of the main reasons I have a sleepover at my house every spring. I want them to see that I like hanging out with them beyond church. I want them to feel invited and welcomed in my life outside of the classroom. I don’t do this because I have. I do this because I want to. I do this because they are worth it. I do this because Jesus loved the children and I think there is nothing better I can with my life then love them, just like he did. I pray that I can be a leader worth following so as I follow Christ with my actions they see him in me and want to come along for the journey as well.
Logged On and Tuned Out August 15, 2012
I just finished reading Logged On and Tuned Out by Vicki Courtney. This last year I’ve been reading more books in regards to parenting. Not because of my own need to parent (however, doing research for the future never hurts), but so that I can be a resource to the many parents that I come in contact with. I find it hard to recommend a book I haven’t read, so I’ve been trying to read more about parenting so I can be accurate in my recommendations. Children’s ministry really is like parenting on a minor scale. I get the privilege to love on and encourage the kids of Bethel Church in their faith. I find that I get a lot out of these books as it relates to my ministry and how to lead children well.
I really felt compelled to read Logged On and Tuned Out because I know just how deeply technology is effecting the next generation. Even Monday night at the Mariner’s game, I overheard that one of the boys was text messaging his girlfriend who lives on the other side of the country. I’m not sure how her parents felt about her getting text messages at midnight (her time). Things like cell phones and social network sites are a hot topic among kids and parents. It seems that the kids are begging for them and parents are either cautious or caving.
The one downside to this book is that it was written in 2007. These were the days of MySpace and Facebook was only starting to come on strong. I didn’t even have a Facebook in 2007. I had a MySpace page at that time and I transferred to Facebook in 2008. Not everything from the book is still the same today with how quickly technology adapts and changes. However, the book does have some good ground rules for cell phone use, instant messaging and social networks.
Even today, Facebook finally made me update to the new timeline. I’ve been successfully holding out until the end. Change is inevitable. I knew it was coming and still I resisted until the end. Parents have to careful not be like me and hold out until the last possible second to embrace these changes. The truth of the matter is that kids are going to have access to these things regardless and it’s better that responsible adults are riding the wave of change with them.
Only recently (within the last year) have I started thinking about social networking and what I’ll do when my students want to add me as their friends. I made a decision which I should have made from the start – I will not “friend” anyone who isn’t old enough to be the site. Personally, I don’t think that parents should let their students lie to join a social network. If lying about their age is a part of the process, I cannot condone the behavior. Parents shouldn’t assume that their kid won’t get on Facebook without permission. It’s important to keep an eye on their online activity. Vicki Courtney mentions in the book some great online monitoring software that she uses to stay up to date on what her kids are doing. It’s not about stalking the kids, it’s about making sure that they are safe and using good judgment. Trust is built over time and can be easily lost. When students know they will be checked in on, it’s helps keep them from making poor choices.
Cell phones are next big thing we talk a lot about in children’s ministry. It seems like every kid has one and wants to have it with them at all times. This hard on a field trip (like to the zoo or a Mariner’s game) where the point to be spending time with the other students and leaders while be actively engaged in an activity. Students tune out with that screen in front of them. Suddenly they are doing something that can be done at the couch at home and they are no longer in the moment with the rest of the group. While cell phones and texting allows them to connect with friends, it causes them to disengaged where they are at that time. We have a no cell phone policy on our trips and at our events. It’s becoming harder for both kids and parents to understand this as we become a cell phone dependent culture. It’s hard to believe that I got a cell phone at age 16 and I had to share it with my sister. I got my own phone at 18 and I didn’t have a text messaging plan until I was 20. Now I’m an unlimited text messager and I can’t imagine my life without my smart phone.
I’m not sure where the line is for students. I’m not fit to make that call for families. The biggest thing I want to see is that families are having conversations about this. I want to see parents monitoring their kids technology usage and setting firm boundaries. It’s so easy to give into the “everyone has one” plea of a child. I understand that tension. In a day and age where common sense doesn’t seem to be common anymore, I’m praying that parents will help guide and shape this kids to be responsible with what they’ve got. Kids will not automatically know how much is too much or how far is too far. We must be a gentle but firm voice guiding them to make the right choices.
5th Grade Graduation! August 14, 2012
5th Grade Graduation!
Every year we take our current class of 5th graders to the Mariner’s Safeco Field for a baseball game. I wasn’t able to make it last year due to the flu, so I was super excited to be a part of this year’s trip. I hadn’t been to a Mariner’s game in 2 years, so I was majorly overdue! The great thing about this year’s trek up north was we only had 5 kids with us. The more the merrier is always true in ministry, but as a leader, this was a very manageable group. I wasn’t as worried about losing a kid which meant I could relax a bit and enjoy the game myself.
We started the adventure by stopping at Wendy’s for dinner. The kids all got Frostys…. so did I! Yum! We enjoyed our early dinner so we could make it to the field in time for batting practice. It seemed like hanging out for batting practice was going to be for nothing, but at the very end the two girls of the group were tossed baseballs. I think the boys weren’t thrilled, but they handled it well. The girls on the other hand were beaming! It was the highlight of their night!
The lucky ladies!
After batting practice, we made our way over the team store so we could spend an absurd amount of time shopping. The kids went crazy looking and touching everything. It seemed like a lifetime in that crowded store. However, all the kids left happy, so I guess it’s worth it. Even Jeremy and I got something! This was my first time ever buying something at the game besides food! Ichiro was one of the Mariner’s star players until they traded him to the Yankees, so everything with his name on it was at least 50%. Jeremy and I were talking earlier that day about how we both don’t own any Mariner’s garb. After our stop at the team store, we can no longer say that.
My favorite part!
We still had some time until the game started, so we went on the search for game food. For me, there is nothing like a skewer of Shishkaberries! They are chocolate cover strawberries and they are heavenly! Seriously, I would pay the ticket price to get the berries and just head home! I don’t the kids would have agreed with me. With my berries happily in hand, we headed to our seats.
Due to the large amounts of soda and the need to buy more food, the kids were up and out their seats from time to time. Part of being a leader is taking many bathroom trips and waiting in line while they buy more candy. The only time the Mariner’s scored a run was while I was out shopping with some of the kids. Oh well. I’m not the kind of person who really cares that much, so I’m glad I was on that run instead of Jeremy.
Toward the end of the game, Jeremy decided to work off some of the sugar the kids has consumed. Everyone, but me and one other student, headed up to the top of the ballpark to dance and scream. They got on the big screen twice! Oh, the fame and glory! I think it was a memory for all of them. Even though the Mariner’s lost, it was still a great day at the ballpark. Batting practice, shopping, and eating are all a part of the experience and these kids experienced it all! Apart from the loss, it was the perfect night! I couldn’t ask for a better trip! I love these kids and it was great to spend some time with them before they officially become middle schoolers! It’s hard to believe I remember when some of them were 3! So crazy!
Photo Book Fun! August 13, 2012
My Photo Books!
About a year ago, I discovered the website Shutterfly. I had heard of it before, but had never visited it. When I got my new camera last fall, I was given a free photo book to make on Shutterfly. Right from the start, I was hooked! It’s a great tool and resource. I’ve become a fan of making photo books (or digital scrapbooking as some call it). Since the first book was free, I used it to document my family trip to Chicago. Once I made a book, I started to get emails on their savings. I will admit that they send more emails than I like, but they always have a sale or discounts! I don’t think I’ve ever paid full price for anything on the website. Because of all the deals they offer, I decided to use them for Christmas cards and I plan on doing it again this year! They have more layouts for cards than Walmart (which had been my standard for Christmas cards in the past). Since that first book, I have made a book of Jeremy and I’s honeymoon. This was really the realization of a well-intended project. When I first got married, I was super diligent and put together a wedding scrapbook in no time. I had intended that same scrapbook to include our honeymoon and first year of marriage. The honeymoon portion was half finished and the first year of marriage portion only went through September (we were married in July – so not far)! Using Shutterfly, I was able to document both of these phases. The honeymoon book was free thanks to a promo and the first year of marriage book was $10 off. As I was planning for our road trip this summer, I already knew I was going to come home and make another book! This one was 40% off and covers the many highlights of our trip to California! Now that I’ve started, I plan on waiting for sales and going back through a lot of our major travels and making books for those as well. The great thing is that they have a photo book template for every occasion – not just travels! It’s a great way to document life! Shutterfly also has awesome deals on prints. At the beginning of the summer I got 100 prints for free and then my sister-in-law sent me a coupon for another 100 free prints. I know the day of the printed photo might seem over, but I remember how much fun it was as a kid to flip through my baby pictures or my parent’s old photos. I want my future kids to have the same experience. All these free prints also help me keep my picture frames up to date with new photos! The hardest part about Shutterfly is not wanting to buy everything they offer – which is a lot! It’s like a candy store for me and pictures!
The Gardener August 11, 2012
Home Sweet Home!
At the beginning of our marriage, Jeremy and I came to an understanding. I would take the indoor chores, if he would take the outdoor ones. I’m not a fan of the great outdoors. I like looking at them through a window or the occasional camping trip. However, my first thoughts don’t go to what can I do outside. My husband, on the other hand, loves nature and loves being outside. This can be seen through his love for hunting and hiking. This next weekend, he’ll be climbing Mt. St. Helens. Climbing a mountain sounds like torture to me. For it’s a fun opportunity.
I am blessed though to have a hubby who has such a green thumb. When I gave him free reign of the outside of our home, I had no idea that it would entail a garden, an small orchard and many flowers. Jeremy is good about planting seasonal flowers and making our yard look so inviting and welcoming. I assume most men don’t care about flowers, but Jeremy is always experimenting and growing new things. Today he was outside mowing the lawn and watering his many plants.
I in no way find fun in taking care of the yard, but I can tell from Jeremy’s face as he wanders about outside that he loves it! As I was pulling into our garage after church today, I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful the yard was looking! It’s amazingly colorful! Thanks to Jeremy’s hard work, I can sit back and admire how great our outdoor spaces are. He is such a talented gardener! We make a good pair. I would never able to do what he does for our home and for that, I am truly grateful!
Right When I Need It! August 10, 2012
Yesterday, I was driving home from a leadership conference in Tacoma and I was verbally wrestling with some things. Jeremy was very patient as I talked this out for the millionth time! He also put up with my snuffed-nose sounding conversation… He’s very kind! Anyway, I was talking things out and knowing what God has called me to do and who he has called me to be. I struggle with acceptance and so my biggest fear is that people will be upset by my choices. I know that I can’t make everyone happy and make God happy at the same time, but it would sure be nice!
On our way home we stopped by the office to check our boxes so we could order tickets for our upcoming 5th grade graduation activity. In my box out front, my dear friend, who happens to be the church receptionist, had slipped some fun post-it notes in my box. Christa and I share a love for fun office supplies, so it was such a sweet gesture. On them was a note that said “Just because!” In my next box in the back offices, I had to notes written on name tags from some of my past students who are now high schoolers. They each wrote about how they loved me, missed me and thought we should all hang out soon. If that wasn’t enough I had forgotten to grab my craft from last night. I had the girls make memory books, like yearbooks, to pass around – signing everyone’s as a way to remember the class and offer encouragement to each other. As I read the notes from my girls, I saw things like “I love all the snacks you make”, “You are a great pastor”, “Thanks for teaching this class”, “I’ll miss you next year”. The best one was from my high school helper who told me I’ve stayed with her through thick and thin and she’s glad we’ve reconnected. Other girls mentioned I was a good friend and they knew I was always there for them. I had done this exercise so I could speak into their life and the let other girls encourage them. I was equally as blessed by this activity. When I got home, I found a bathmat sitting on my entry way bench. After reading my past blog on stains, my mom called to say that she had a neutral colored bathmat just sitting in a closet and she wondered if I wanted it to replace the stained one. She brought over the new mat today when she came to let our dog out so we could be gone the whole day. Plus, I got to see my good friend who moved back into the area after being in Nashville for 6 years and I got meet her baby boy for the first time!
Can you feel the love? I’m basking in it’s glow! Even though I wrestle and struggle for acceptance, I could feel God speaking to me through these experiences. He was encouraging me to keep going and to keep doing what I do. As I read these notes, I know I’m making a difference and I have influence. I never want to take that for granted. I want to keep using my influence to passionately point people towards Jesus! I have people that care about me and show it me in tangible ways. It melted my heart! God sees right where I am at and sends in reinforcements when I need them most! I sit here – thankful! I am blessed by the relationships I have in my life and how they keep me going. So thank you to everyone who shows me love in the little ways. It’s because of you that I take heart and continue on this journey laid out before me.
Summery Cupcakes! August 9, 2012
I only have a couple weeks left to make a snack for my class of Wednesday night girls. I know that a new class will move up in September and I’ll still have weekly reasons to bake, but once August hits I start to get a little sad. I’m not a huge fan of change, so even the change of a new class makes me a little blue. I love these girls dearly! I’ve been building a relationship with them for the last year and for some of them, it’s been two years. Being a teacher means being invested and learning to let go. I’m still friends with a lot of past students, but it will never be exactly the same. They won’t return those seats and sit ready to learn, looking up at me. It’s been a great year. This current class has been a delight to teach. So for the next few weeks, I’ll do my best to keep spoiling them with goodies. For some of the girls, growing up means moving into Fusion and that means no snack! I hope they enjoy it while they can! I know I’m making the most of the moments I have with them!
Lemon Cupcakes!
Summer Colors!
Matching baking cups and sprinkles!
Contentment: Living with stains August 8, 2012
I’ve been battling myself and my need for things to always look nice and new. I have a few items in my house that have been stained. They are clean and still in good working condition. They just don’t look fresh out of the package. It started a while ago when I really wanted new bedding for our guest room. After 3+ years, the pillowcases have been stained by make-up and the sun has slightly faded the comforter. The floor mat for the shower in our guest bathroom now has a stain on it. I don’t have a spare set of sheets for my king bed. Things like this bug me. My OCD has a really hard time because stained equals dirty in my mind. These items are not dirty. I have washed them. They are just not in their original condition. I thought back to when I read the book Seven by Jen Hatmaker and my experiences with the 5/7 Fasts in early spring. I remember how my excess and consumerism really hit like a brick in the face. I don’t want to go back to the way I once was. So I have decided I will not replace these items. At least not now… I understand that I will need to in the future, but right now I will not give them priority. Why? Because it’s vanity! I just want nice, new things. I don’t need them. I have reversed the order I place my pillows on the guest bed. Now the stained pillows can’t be seen. The bathroom floor mat is used twice a week by Jeremy and randomly by house guests. It lives tucked behind the shower curtain – not in plain sight. Why replace something that isn’t often seen or used? My natural reaction to automatically replace things I don’t like… but really everything will get old and get stains. New bedding and new floor mats will only be new for so long. Today I am making up my mind to be content with what I have. Stains and all.
Amy Scott's Thoughts 