So I recently came across the Great Interview Experiment over at Citizen of the Month and decided to participate.  My interviewee was the lovely Amber over at Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck.   I really enjoyed reading her blog to find out a little bit about her life.  Let me tell you, this is one energectic, outdoor lovin’, Mile High Denver mama.    I hope you enjoy reading about her as much as I did.  What a great way to get to know someone new.  I seriously am adding interviews as a regular feature around here.

Michelle: You've been writing for a long time, first as an adventure travel writer, now as a hip blogging mama.  Tell me what's motivates you to write now, what gets your creative juices flowing and what's different about blogging as opposed to writing articles for print or television?

 

Amber: First: "hip blogging mama?" BWAHAHAHAAHA!

 

Now that I got that out of the way, the reason I started blogging and continue to do so is to exploit my family.  Seriously.  I am a scrabooking failure and after having my daughter, I felt guilty I was not keeping a record of all the fun (and not-so fun) day-to-day occurrences.  Blogging fills that void.  My children and husband are my muses so the creative juices are always flowing (in addition to a variety of other bodily fluids). 

 

I love the creativity that blogging allows!  As opposed to print or television, there aren't any grammatical rules so anything goes.  Plus, this blog is about whatever I want it to be (and whatever my hubby does not want it to be).

Michelle:  You had a career as an Adventure Travel Writer and now your are a SAHM - that’s a pretty drastic change.   What part of your old life do you miss? And what part of your new life as a mama to two adorable kidlets would you not trade for anything in the whole world?

Amber:  I really don't miss my old life until I actually head into the backcountry.  And then a flood of memories come back to me and I miss the freedom and independence I once had.

 

I wouldn't trade being able to stay at home with my children for anything.  During those rough days, I sometimes debate going back to work full-time but I know I could never do it because I truly love being here for them.  No job opportunity could ever be more important than what I am doing in the home.  Even if that means changing six weeks worth of diarrhea diapers (heaven help me....)

Me: You met your husband Jamie online and knew he was the ONE. Tell me about that. What was different about him that made you know that this was 'it'?   How did your friends and family react to your whirlwind six months of dating/engagement/wedding?

A:  You did your homework. :-)  First, our family and friends thought we were nuts and my brother even gave Jamie "So I Married an Axe Murderer" that first Christmas! But by the same token, they did not dispute our decision. My two previous relationships lasted five years each.  I dragged them out, knowing it wasn't right but not wanting to settle down.  I always suspected when I found The One, I would just know.

 

And I did. It started from when I first saw Jamie's online profile. It sucked and had such profundities as "I like good food." But I felt strongly impressed to write him.  Our connection was immediate, open and honest.  I felt like I had always known him and through a series of very powerful confirmations for both of us, we actually got engaged BEFORE we even met.  A story for another day.....

 

We later found out we graduated from BYU at the same time in the same department, had many similar friends and even played volleyball on the same outdoor court one summer.  I know our paths must have crossed a hundred times so I really feel like we were meant for each other. And he truly is the love of my life.

M: You said in your '101' list (which, by the way, is impressive - sort of an Everything I Need To Know About Amber I Learned From "Crazy Bloggin' Canuck 101") that the only thing you would change about your husband Jamie would be his health. What has sustained you through those tough time when he has had a serious health issue? How do you stay positive?

A:  I stay positive because he is positive. After surviving cancer, he views all his other health problems as nuisances.  The only time I got really worried was when I was six months pregnant with our firstborn and he had a heart arrhythmia after a basketball game and had to be rushed to the hospital.

He has since had minor heart surgery and the ticker seems to be fully operational.  His latest ailment is palydromic rheumatism, which is extremely rare.  Because the man seems to be defying the odds with the illnesses he accrues.

Me:  On a lighter note, what's your favorite food?

A:   I am a picker eater but LOOOOOOVE what I love.  My weaknesses are definitely carbs, in particular cookies and their dough.  I love anything with grilled chicken and salads.  I am the most boring person whenever I go out to eat.  It is always about the chicken....

M: What word do you love? What word do you hate?

A:  My favorite word is chortle and I think we all need to use it more.  I always cringe at cuss words.  Unless I am the one saying them, of course. :-)

M:  How would your friends and family describe you?

A:  The Energizer Bunny Incarnate.

M: If money was no object what would you do with the

rest of your life?

A:  Pay off our house, buy a cabin in the mountains, travel the world with our children, and start two foundations: one to help young children in homeless families and the other to help cancer patients who cannot pay for treatment. 

 

When Jamie was diagnosed, he was self-employed and lost his insurance in Utah. A generous man named Tom Sawyer (whom Jamie had only met once) financially supported him through it all. If it were not for him, we would be in financial ruin so we are forever indebted to his kindness and would love to do the same for others.

M: Early riser or night owl?

A:  NOT a night owl.  Even in college when all my roommates were playing until late, it was a struggle for me to make it past midnight.  In general, I am in bed by 10 a.m. and up by 5:45 a.m. (though 7 a.m. sounds pretty good to me these days if only I could sleep that long).

M:  If you could instill one trait of yours in your

children what would it be?

A:  This is a tough one because I often focus on the negatives ones I have passed down. :-) I think I would most like for them to just be happy. I am generally able to find the silver lining and remain optimistic, even in the rough times. I think this would carry them through any of life's challenges. 

M:  One last question:  I recently wrote about discovering that I’d had a rather nasty negative bumper sticker stuck to my, uh, bumper for a long time which was clearly hindering me.   If you had a bumper sticker on you, what would it say?

A:  Oh, this one's easy.  It is actually my life's mantra:

 

When you're falling on your face, you're actually moving forward.

M:  That’s a great view of life!  Annnnd, we’re done!

A:  Thanks Michelle!

M: Thank you! It was fun getting to know you a little more.  You’re such a warm person and your energy and zest for life shines right through your words.