22 minute read
Whitney Kay Scott: Mental health advocate
WHITNEY Kay Scott Pageant winner, mental health advocate
Whitney Kay Scott served as Mrs. Idaho America starting in 2020 up until June 19, 2021, when she handed her title to another woman. Whitney has known success and has a beautiful family, but she struggles with anxiety and has taken on the responsibility of being an advocate for mental health. (Courtesy photo) By Gaye Bunderson
Whitney Kay Scott has a message for anyone who has ever experienced anxiety, and it’s a message of support and encouragement.
“I want to break the stigma of mental health issues,” said the former Mrs. Idaho America. She has officially NOT been Miss Idaho America for just a brief time. She gave her crown to a new Mrs. Idaho America on June 19.
Does the 30-year-old pretty blonde with a handsome husband and two great kids actually have a mental health issue herself? Yes and she’s not afraid to talk about it. It all started five years ago when she began experiencing anxiety. Knowing what she knows now, she said she would have navigated it all differently. But, back then, she was caught completely off guard.
At the time, her husband Brian was a professional race car driver with NASCAR and was set to retire. The couple has two children and always planned to return to Idaho when Brian left NASCAR. “The NASCAR lifestyle is not good for kids,” said Whitney. “Their dad was always busy and there’s lots of traveling.”
Whitney said she felt positive about the move back to Idaho and was excited about it. “I was being driven by our bus driver at the racetrack in a golf cart, headed to buy the last of my husband’s fan gear during his race practice, since it was his last race.”
While sitting in the passenger seat of the cart, she suddenly felt she couldn’t breathe. Since she and the driver were at a NASCAR stadium, she was taken to the infield care center, where injured drivers are taken, and was examined by medical staff. A nurse told Whitney she was just having an anxiety attack.
For her part, Whitney was certain she was having a heart attack. “It was so real; it hurt so bad,” she said, explaining that when her feelings were dismissed as ‘just’ a panic attack, she felt anger. “I thought they were missing something.”
But she was nonetheless sent away. “They did nothing, and I left with no information, education, or hope.”
She had the driver take her to a hospital. She was given tests but was told her heart was fine. Hospital staff also told her it was ‘only’ anxiety. She continued to struggle, and her struggles continued way beyond that single day. She was given medication for anxiety but found it ineffective.
“I couldn’t calm down,” she said. She ultimately admitted to herself that she did indeed have an anxiety disorder.
“It was a rough time in my marriage,” Whitney said. “People around me didn’t understand what I was going through. I wanted to be taken away – I didn’t want to feel like a burden to my family. I felt alone. So I learned to lean on God. In that way, I came to see it as not a negative but a blessing, as I learned to lean on Him and trust Him.”
With His help, she said: “I found a way out of my tunnel.”
She explained that, in her situation, anxiety tends to run in her family, so her mother suggested a Christian counselor that she had gone to and who had helped her. Whitney made an appointment, and her visits with the counselor continued for about 7 to 8 months, first once a week and then once every other week as Whitney progressed.
Whitney Kay Scott served as Mrs. Idaho America up until June 19. Here, she’s shown with her horse Sam. She said she finds riding horses therapeutic. (Courtesy photo)
Family is why we do it all.
We all feel the same commitment to care for our families. Helping you meet your insurance needs is part of my commitment to you. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® CONTACT AN AGENT TODAY.
Whitney said the counselor would help her read relevant Scripture and would tell her about things Jesus did during His ministry; Whitney found strength and healing in that.
Now, teaching others about mental health issues – and working to erase the stigma – is one of her biggest missions, she said. “People have to realize they’re not crazy. I would tell people, ‘I’m Mrs. Idaho America, and I’m not crazy’. … I didn’t think I would ever share about my anxiety with anyone, but I felt a push from God that He wanted me to speak out and this is how He was going to use me.”
What did the pageant organizers think? “The pageant folks were awesome,” Whitney said, “and if you’d talk to the judges about it, you found out there were others just like you.”
Whitney realizes that anxiety doesn’t just go away, and that even if it’s overcome for a time, it sometimes comes back – that, and it’s sibling emotion, depression. Last November, she experienced a health issue and did not know what the outcome was going to be; with that, she started to sink into depression and anxiety. But she’s better once again.
“I realize it’s always going to be a part of me. There’s always a fear that it can happen again – it’s scary and dark. But now I have tools I can use – tools of knowledge and knowing ‘what works’ – and I bounce back quicker,” she said.
She feels her first major anxiety experience was prompted by the move she and her husband were planning – big life changes and unknowns can do that. Whitney also said anxiety feels different for each person.
Due to COVID-19, she wasn’t able to speak a lot in person during her reign as Mrs. Idaho America, so she got on Instagram, where she shares tips with others and talks about normalcy. “I’m using my Instagram platform to reach out.”
She’s at @whitneykayscott, and as of early April, she had 12,400 followers.
Her husband now works in his family’s business. Her children include her daughter Brielle, 10, and son Jojo, 6. Whitney loves to ride horses and does so frequently, often with her daughter. She finds being on horseback highly therapeutic.
She said she was excited when she passed on the crown to a new woman. That part of her life is over. But, she said, she won’t stop speaking up about mental health. That’s a mission she’ll continue as long as the Lord leads her to do so. n
Fellowship of Christian Businessmen
JOIN US
Tuesdays at 7:00 am Wild West Bakery and Espresso 83 E. State St., Eagle Thursdays at Noon Original Pancake House 5900 W Fairview Ave., Boise
Questions call: (208) 841-7899 Questions call: (208) 859-6038
Miyauchi Insurance Agency, Inc
Garrett Miyauchi, President 2024 Blaine St Caldwell, ID 83605 Bus: 208-455-9717 Chelsea Stutzman, MBA Owner-Agent
600 S. Rivershore Lane Ste. 140 Eagle, Idaho 83616 Bus: 208-908-6500 Lic. ID 693162
chelsea@chelsinsures.com
statefarm.com®
1001390.1 State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL
More than a tour.
A movement. Compelled by faith, hope and love Idaho Tour Dates
Nampa: Mon - Wed • July 19 - 21 Middleton: Thur - Fri • July 22 & 23 Homedale: Sat - Sun • July 24 & 25 Boise: Mon - Wed • July 26 - 28 Emmett: Thur - Fri • July 29 & 30 Buhl: Sat - Sun • July 31 - Aug 1 Pocatello: Mon - Wed • Aug 2 - 4 Idaho Falls: Sat - Sun • Aug 7 & 8 Caldwell: Mon - Wed • Aug 23 - 25
*Dates and cities are subject to change. Venues will be posted two weeks in advance. For more info go to www.theextremetour.com
MAXIMUM Health Healthy sun exposure leads to healthy skin
Image by chezbeate from Pixabay By Rosie Main
For years we have been told to avoid the sun due to the “damaging” effects of UV radiation to healthy skin. The newest research has shown that the sun’s rays do much more good than harm. The sun’s ability to charge our bodies with vitamin D makes it extremely powerful at minimizing free radical damage and maintaining moisture in the skin. Aging well is absolutely dependent upon healthy sun exposure.
Many experts believe that vitamin D is incorrectly named. Vitamins are substances that are crucial to normal everyday life function but cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by the body. However, your skin has the ability to manufacture as much as 10,000 IU of vitamin D after 20-30 minutes of summer sun exposure.
Vitamin D3 is a Pro-Hormone: Vitamin D more resembles a hormone than vitamin by function. Hormones are chemical messengers that interact with cell receptors to produce specific biological responses. Calcitriol, the active form of Vitamin D, is arguably the most powerful hormone in the body. It has the ability to activate over 1,000 genes (roughly 5% of the human genome).
Too much sun exposure causes free radical damage, leading to wrinkles and cancer cell growth. However, an appropriate amount of sun exposure every day is one of the healthiest things you can do for your skin.
What is on Your Skin Gets in Your Blood: Your skin is an extremely absorbent organ. What we apply on our skin enters directly into the bloodstream. The majority of sunscreens
Your Fellow Realtor in Christ Araminta Self
“She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.“ ~Proverbs 31:16 Whether you are buying or selling your first home, forever home, even an investment property, call me today!
208-982-2764
aramintameara@gmail.com
mintameara Aramintamountainrealty
and sun lotions contain toxic chemicals that are harmful for the body. The most damaging ingredients include sodium lauryl sulfates, parabens, oxybenzones, and padimate O. Many of these are known xenoestrogens that interfere with healthy hormonal function. All are linked to higher rates of cancer.
Natural skin moisturizers include coconut oil and olive oil which harmonize the sun and allow for a natural tan development. It is also critical to get lots of antioxidants applied topically to enhance our skin’s health and ability to synthesize vitamin D. Great lotions include green-tea extract, aloe vera, and clove oil which provide antioxidant protection for the skin.
3. Natural sunscreen: If you are going to have long exposure, wear layers or use a natural sunscreen with no man-made ingredients for healthy skin. I like the Goddess Garden Organics brand. All-Natural Sunscreen Ingredients: 1 c raw unrefined shea butter 2/3 c coconut oil Rosie Main 20 drops myrrh essential oil 30 drops carrot seed essential oil 20 drops lavender essential oil Optional: 2 tbsp zinc oxide powder (a couple of tablespoons per cup of oil/moisturizer – be sure not to inhale)
Tips For Healthy Sun Exposure:
1. Skin color – Your skin color dictates your sun needs:
Light skin = 15-20 minutes daily
Medium skin = 25-30 minutes daily
Dark skin = 40-45 minutes daily 2. Healthy moisturizers: Use coconut oil, aloe vera, clove oil, and/or green tea extract as a moisturizer before and after sun exposure for added anti-oxidant protection. This is an important and often forgotten principle for healthy skin.
Natural Sunscreen Directions:
Mix raw unrefined shea butter with coconut oil with a mixer on medium speed until it looks whipped and creamy. (Add in optional zinc oxide powder and mix well.) Add in essential oils. Blend together on low speed. Place sunscreen in a glass jar with a lid. n
If you have any questions or want to see how we can help you, please don’t hesitate to call me at 208-859-6170, email rjmaindc@yahoo.com, or visit me at DoctorMain.com.
5090 N. Sawyer • Garden City, ID
Furnace & A/C Service - Maintenance - Replacement
Maintenance Plans Includes Furnace And AC Maintenance $13.50 /Month 100% Money Back Guarantee 24/7 Service
Celebrating 20 Ye s in Business!
Scott Riggan A new maturity births a new recording
Scott Riggan started playing the piano at age 5 – and singing at an early age as well. He scored a No. 1 Billboard hit in 2003 and is now releasing a new album. He lives on a farm in Emmett with his family and serves as worship arts pastor at Eagle Christian Church. (Photo by Michael Sean H.)
When local Christian recording artist Scott Riggan was 3 years old, he slipped away from his mother while at church and ran to the front of the congregation to belt out a song. Naturally, the adults laughed at his impromptu performance. His reaction? The grown-ups’ chuckles made him mad. “I didn’t think I was cute, I wanted to be taken seriously,” Scott said. Music has always been fundamental to Scott’s existence; and in more ways than one, it all started in church.
“We were a church-going family, and me, my dad, and brother would perform,” Scott said. Obviously, he’s been more than a toddler soloist, but he had a deep love for all things musical from a very early age.
“I sang all the time,” he said.
Around the age of 5, he started piano lessons. He picked it up quickly and preferred unrestricted creativity over following precise musical notes on a page. He’d fetch himself a bit of trouble from his teacher when he’d play one song while seemingly reading another. “I was creating my little melodies – I’ve always been fascinated by music,” he said.
He honed his singing skills in a similar fashion. When the eldest Riggan, who plays guitar, would go into a room and shut the door for some privacy, Scott admits he really wanted to be in the room to share musical moments with his father. Thankfully, he was allowed in and not only bonded with his dad but also got some informal singing lessons. “I would try to imitate Dad. I was noticing the vibrato in his voice, and I would try to do that,” he said. He was only 4 years old. Scott came to Idaho from Redding, Calif. to attend Boise Bible College, where he majored in general Bible studies. He said he never felt called to be a pastor and that music has always been his passion. In his 20s, he lived in Nashville and wrote hundreds of songs for a Christian publishing company and traveled extensively with a Christian rock band. He and his band paid to record an album with a Christian recording company. Later, after recording the album, the company cast off its Christian label and took all the references to Jesus out of the lyrics before the songs were aired. Money and musical credibility as a faith-based band were compromised. “At the end of it all, we asked ourselves, ‘How did we find ourselves in this place? Was it just a waste?’” Scott said. They felt it had all amounted to a total loss until a bandmate spoke up and pointed out that for two entire years, they’d met and talked to people who’d never known a Christian before and got the opportunity to share the Gospel with them. At the end of their time as a band, they realized they may not know in this lifetime just how many people they influenced, said Scott.
“My professional background is profoundly strange,” said the now 53-year-old. He worked in Christian radio in
Nashville and locally. At one point, he worked in nonprofit fund development for Second Harvest Food Bank in
Nashville. “It was an ideal job,” he said.
In development, there was no traveling and he was married with one child by then, so constantly being on the road was not an ideal situation. His family also had time to go to church every Sunday. For those things, he has high praise for the employment. But inwardly, something nagged at him: a constant thought that he was called to be a musician, not a development director.
“It was a great job, but I think God put me there to make it clear that I was supposed to be in music,” he said. Otherwise, he explained, he’d have felt contentment instead of a gnawing restlessness; and if he’d had a job he hated, he wouldn’t have thought twice about feeling a sense of something out of sync.
He recorded another album in Nashville, then came home to Idaho in 2002.
“I was glad to be back. I saw how happy my wife was, and how happy she was to be around animals again. It was her turn. She never liked traveling, and I wanted my kids to know their Idaho family.”
His wife grew up on a farm in Emmett, unlike her husband, who grew up in a Redding suburb. Now, the family of four resides on a plot of Emmett farmland. At the same time, Scott is worship arts pastor at Eagle Christian Church, a job he’s held since 2007.
The album he recorded before returning to Idaho was ultimately going to keep him linked to a musician’s life. “I had been advised that one of the songs on my album could go high on the charts,” he said.
The song was “I Love You, Lord,” written by Laurie Klein in the ‘70s. All the other songs were written by Scott, who explained he’d been writing songs that “wrestled with trusting God, wrestled with questions,” such as why does He let bad things happen? Some heavy topics, to be sure.
“I put ‘I Love You, Lord’ as a palette-cleansing song at the end of the album,” he said.
It turned out to be a very fortuitous decision, as the song soared. It ended up being one of those songs with staggering statistics. It became a Christian radio hit that rocketed to No. 1 on the Billboard charts and stayed there for an unprecedented nine months. Scott rode that wave from 2003-2004.
“When I came back to Idaho, I believed my career was over, but then I have a No. 1 song! I feel that God honored my putting my family as a priority,” Scott said.
He was playing on huge festival stages, averaging 125 shows per year and traveling throughout the world, including to China, Africa, Italy, and Mexico. “That song opened a lot of doors,” he said.
Two years ago, he took a break from so much traveling and slowed down. But he revived his musical aspirations, with plenty of touring plans for 2020 – until COVID-19 waylaid all that. Now he’s released a new album titled, “Beautiful and Terrible.”
“In many ways, I’m a ‘new artist’ again, after a long period of laying low. I hope to begin booking shows later this year,” he said.
In an Album Companion to the recording, the title is explained this way: “Heartache, joy, loss, gratitude, sorrow...it’s a volatile mix, but these things all coexist in my life right now. The sweet and the bitter are both part of the human experience.”
He stated, “There’s been a deepening of my songwriting. I had thought I was done as a songwriter, but one day as I was playing the piano, a lyric came to me: ‘I know so much less than I used to.’ I used to be an arrogant Christian, certain about everything. A lot of my opinions have been shaken up.” Continued on page 23 Christian Living | July / August 2021 21
YOUR Daily Bread Looking at ‘for richer, for poorer’ vow
By Terry Frisk
When my wife, Barb, and I were married, we pledged the traditional Christian vows to each other. While there may be some variations of these vows based on faith traditions, the pledge we made was:
“To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part. According to God’s holy ordinance and thereto I pledge you my faithfulness.”
Like every marriage, we have certainly experienced each of these conditions throughout our marriage. Quite often, they are in a combination with each other. The better times occur when we are at our strongest physically and mentally and able to work to provide financial stability. The worse times are often brought on by illness that can limit our ability to earn income and incurring medical expanse that strains our finances. How we approach the ups and downs of our marriage is an expression of our faith in God and our love for each other. In Matthew 9:5 Jesus said:
“For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
Becoming one in flesh relates to all aspects of marriage, including finances. Through the years, we learned the wisdom of combining our finances. There were years where I earned more than Barb and years where she earned more than I did. Because we pooled our incomes into a joint account, we viewed our income as equally contributed by both. Then, we decide together on how to allocate our combined finances. This can be challenging at times. One spouse may be into outdoor recreation (hunting, fishing, etc.) while the other may prefer different activities. Quite often, there is a significant difference in the cost to participate in these activities. How do you deal with this? Just like viewing income as contributed
equally by each spouse, couples must recognize and agree on how they will spend or save their money may not be equal. Here are some tips to help you and your spouse achieve financial harmony in your marriage: 1. Remember that everything you have is a gift from God. God intends for you to be generous with your financial resources. Practice that generosity with each other. 2. Work together to develop a budget. Recognize that achieving each other’s goals may not necessarily mean individual spending is equal. This may require compromising. Terry Frisk 3. When creating a budget, make giving and saving some of your income a priority. Recognize God’s gifts to you by giving back a portion. In addition, set aside some of your income during richer times so you have funds available to support the poorer times. 4. Give each other latitude to spend the budgeted finances as each see fit. But, consult one another on major purchases. 5. Be transparent with each other to build the trust necessary for a successful marriage. Hiding income and spending is a recipe for disaster. During our 43 years together, Barb and I have worked through many financial issues together. We probably disagree on issues as much as we agree. But, through prayer and open communication, we have worked through our financial struggles together. Those conversations are not always easy, but well worth it in the end. n Terry Frisk is a partner in the firm B2B CFO, providing financial advisory services to small businesses. He also counsels individuals on personal financial matters through the Cathedral of the Rockies Budget Counseling ministry. He may be contacted through e-mail at terry_frisk@msn.com.
He said he’s gone through a difficult time during the past year or so – taken a gut punch – and that God has used all his troubles to refine him. “I’ve gone through a process of evaluating. I’m more compassionate. The nature of a blind spot is that you don’t know you have it. Now I know with a lot more clarity. It all rests on Jesus and it all rests on Scripture.”
He said the lyric “I know so much less than I used to” is almost a ‘thesis statement’ for the new album.
He’s lived, learned, and loved, and the trip has amounted to more than 53 consecutive birthdays – or, 50 years since that first church solo. He’s experienced a maturing that has flowered, a faith that has grown, and a Savior who has remained steadfast. Now, there will be more of his music on the radio; more traveling and performing; and when he’s home, more worship at ECC.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been bored in my life,” Scott said. “I would never have put myself into a life where I was constantly idle.”
Clearly, idleness will not be a problem for him. n
Scan this QR code to get a free CD, downloads, and other fun stuff by joining Scott’s mailing list.
AGENCY In busine since 1936
•Franklin Village Subdivision
Franklin Blvd. and Cherry Ln. in Nampa Phase Seven – Three Lots Left Phase Eight – Available Soon For Purchase •See us also for:
•Acreages •Farm Properties
•Commercial Properties •Development Land Mission Statement:
To honor God and serve our community by treating our clients with respect, honesty and integrity; using the resources with which God has blessed us in pursuit of their best interests.
203 11th Ave. S. • Nampa, ID • 208-466-7821 www.BrandtAgency.com
Scott Riggan sits at a monument designating Freezeout Hill in Emmett. Scott is a musician who, at 53, brings a more mature perspective to his lyrics and who feels his newly released recording reflects what he’s gained from his life experiences. (Photo by Michael Sean H.)
• Amish Made Furniture, “Built as unto God!” • All Solid American Hard Woods. • Heirloom Quality at a Remarkable Price!
Make the Most of Summer
Bring in this ad for 15% OFF* Your Next Purchase! Shop At
3175 E. Copper Point Dr. Meridian, ID 83642 (208) 855-9885
*Expires 8/31/21 See store for details. 10-5 Mon-Sat or by appt. www.heritagereflections.com
