Friday, March 20, 2009

about me

Welcome to my blog!

(cracks fingers to warm up for the flood of inspiration that will ultimately follow)

And?





*crickets*


Nothing?? Nothing.

(sigh) People are TOTALLY going to want to read this blog.

Why is it that I have such a hard time with these? Maybe I'm just too much of a perfectionist that I know I'll never be happy with it even after the 100th edit. Maybe I'm suffering from flashbacks of all the testimonies we were forced to write in Youth Group growing up ("I grew up in a Christian home..."). Maybe it's the pressure that people may make their decision about whether or not to come back based on how clever I manage to come across in this post (HA. Is this thing even on?). Maybe I'm afraid that any effort I make to try to make my mommy life sound exciting will come off as trying too hard.

Or maybe sitting down to describe myself will confirm what I already suspect... that my life really ISN'T all that exciting...

But isn't it? I guess it depends on your definition of exciting.

Last May, with two days notice, my husband and I packed up our (then) two boys and moved 4000 miles KILOMETERS away (this is a Canadian blog, yo). From oil-rich, ranch-heavy Calgary, Alberta, to the capital region of Ottawa, Ontario. Since Peter's job with the Canadian Foreign Service requires him to be fluent in both of Canada's official languages, he started right away into an intensive French language course. Because we wanted to immerse ourselves in the language (read: couldn't afford a house in Ottawa), we settled across the river in Gatineau, Quebec.

(For those of you not familiar with the region, there's kind of a St Paul-Minneapolis thing going on here. Except that St Paul and Minneapolis would be in different states AND HAVE DIFFERENT OFFICIAL LANGUAGES.)

Even though we're only about 10 minutes from Parliament Hill, we're technically in a parallel universe different city and province entirely. It's been quite the culture shock adventure at times.

I have to admit that I'm not entirely sure what I want this blog to be. It started out as a private family blog, but is beginning to grow into something more.

I enjoy writing. I enjoy connecting with others online. I enjoy sharing the crazy, sometimes destructive, often funny (at least in retrospect) antics of my boys, who I think are pretty great.

I also enjoy -and NEED- this blog as an outlet. Not only as a place to record the life of myself and my family, but also a place to put my thoughts "to paper".

I suppose you could describe this as yet another mommy blog. Other areas I have or hope to post about would/will include:

- spirituality, God, grief, musings on eternity and the after-life (I can FEEL my subscription numbers soaring)
- crafting (mainly my sewing attempts... I'm great at STARTING projects)
- cooking (whole foods and issues relating to Simon's many allergies)
- photography (and my half-a$$ attempts to master my camera -a Nikon D40, if you're wondering)
- life in "the Nation of Quebec" (Seriously. That's what they call it.)
- frugal living (which will be my excuse to hit up garage sales every weekend come summer! SO. EXCITED.)

Are ya hooked??

So yeah, maybe not the most super exciting line up, but I'll try to make it a fun ride. And for those who stick with me, you'll be able to follow my family when we get posted overseas... hopefully somewhere in Africa.

The name of my blog, "muddy boots", came for the lyrics of a song I listened to as a child off the album, Bullfrogs and Butterflies. The premise of the song is that there's always sunshine after a rain and that, as followers of Christ, we have a "different kind of sunshine". One of my favorite lines says,

Rain's spreading blessings here and there.
My boots may be muddy but I'm going somewhere.

Living, loving, learning -blogging?? It's all a journey. Hopefully at the end of it all we'll be able to look back and say that we were better off for it.

~ Amy


23 comments:

  1. Thanks for stopping by my blog! It must be quite an adventure to learn a new language! In the US, we all speak English (more or less) - but depending on where you are in the US, it SEEMS like they are speaking a different language. But, it would be really hard to actually have to learn a whole new language. :D

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  2. Nice to meet you, Amy. To answer your question you left at one of my blogs, yes, I did get my permalink up at 5MFM but it was a slow process.

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  3. What a cool story!! I love Gatineau, we are over there often and have a lot of friends with homes on that side of the river - it's so beautiful. What a crazy year for you guys moving so far so quickly! Looking forward to learning more about you and reading more from your blog!

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  4. Hi! I'm just stopping by from the UBP! I had a hard time getting inspired too. Not sure why, some days I can just ramble and ramble. Anyway, it's nice to meet you! I love your header!

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  5. i'm here for the only party that busy moms like us can enjoy!have fun!
    My Party Post

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  6. What a fantastic blog!

    Looking forward to reading more from you. Rambling or not! :)

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  7. I love the title and header of our blog! Very cute.

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  8. Great Blog! I am also amazingly great at starting projects!! Happy Blog Partying!

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  9. Great to meet you! I love your sense of humor. Happy UBP!

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  10. Oh I managed to find a Canadian (Me - Manitoba)!! Woohoo!! Sounds like quite a life change your going through! I look forward to visiting your site again!

    Stop by my site when you get the chance, eh?!

    Sheila.

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  11. Isn't it interesting how your blog can evolve? Hope your enjoying your party!

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  12. Amy

    You are so popular now!!! All your readers and all... I love your layout, how do I do it, and get Blog savy???? Just like you!!! I need your advice!!! I miss you!

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  13. Ok, I don't even know where to start.
    First of all that was a fantastic post.
    You are hilarious!
    I'm super excited to meet another Canadian- to answer your question I'm from Calgary :)
    Too bad you just moved!

    I thought I was the only crazy person who looked forward to report card day!

    I love your blog name, and where it came from. I run the children's ministry at our church and I'm teaching them all the Bullfrogs and Butterflies songs. (I didn't grow up with them, but my husband did, and now our kids LOVE listening to them!)

    Oh, and just to let you know, I AM hooked to your blog now :)

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  14. Party hopping and I found your super cute blog! Come visit us when you get a chance.

    http://thesnailstrail.blogspot.com/

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  15. Hi, I think most of us feel we really do not live the most exciting lives-but enjoyed reading your post and thought I would say Hi while I "work" the room. Have a great time at the party.

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  16. I love your writing style! And FOUR BOYS?! Wow girl :) That must be soooo cute seeing them all together.
    I’m not a mom yet (hence the name) but I’m hoping to be one soon! By the way I’m stopping by from UBP 09! I’m loving your blog party! I’m having one at mind too if you get a chance to stop by! I’ll be back!

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  17. Hi! Sounds wonderful to me! Having muddy boots just means you are participating in life! Good thing too! Party hopping and participating too so stop in for a visit.

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  18. Great post :) It's been nice "meeting" you!

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  19. What a delight you are! I felt all peppy reading your post, and I needed that. So nice to meet you.

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  20. oh Amy I am COMPLETELY hooked! I'm thrilled to find your blog. I grew up out west and the first few times I visited my husband's family in Ottawa he would take me over the river and I would end up fuming mad... usually over the fact that all the signs were ONLY in French while all of OUR signs had to be in BOTH languages :) Ya, my western upbringing definitely had an effect on me! Over the years I have tried valiantly to understand but it still feels like going to another country crossing that bridge!

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  21. Ok... hooked!
    I found your blog through the UBP! By the way, love the title!

    I love taking pics with my Canon Powershot... although it is getting old. I also have a hard time finishing projects... starting is great... finishing... not so much. Which is why I have to make sure I do the entire project in as short amount of time as I can, or I'll get sidetracked. And perfectionism definetly gets in the way of finishing... after all, it's not PERFECT yet... sigh.

    Isn't mommy-hood great! :)

    From a fellow Canadian... can't wait till garage sale season starts either (because then it is OFFICIALLY spring and summer, right?)

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  22. Hello! Poppin’ in from The Ultimate Blog Party…all the way from Queensland, Australia! G’Day! I hope you have time to visit my party soon.

    I'm giving away Pink Champagne Shower Syrup from Jaqua Beauty...stop on over and enter! Ends April 8. Open to USA.

    Ta!

    I want to invite you to the Mommie Daze Virtual Baby Shower that I am hosting May 15 to June 8. This is an international even and there are prizes! Stop by my blog for all the details.

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  23. Bullfrogs and Butterflies was my favorite album as a kid. We have so much in common!! :)

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