Happy Birthday, Mama!

While my Mom would probably be very embarrassed to have a blog post dedicated solely to her, I decided after all to write one.... And as she has not yet succumbed to the lures of the internet, she may never know! Hehehe

Yesterday my Mama turned 60 years old! I started writing this on her birthday, but after a series of interruptions I hesitated to post it. I am extremely blessed to have such an amazing mother. She has been a wonderful example in selflessness and perseverance and unfailing faith. I couldn't have asked for a better guide through life. She taught me how to cook, bake, and clean, how to run a wringer washer, hang up laundry and fold it, how to iron (complete with stories of Grandma ironing their underwear and bed sheets), how to plant and weed a garden, how to cross stitch, and my first hand-sewing lessons. It was her zeal for hand-made and craft projects that inspired a love for them in me. She taught me a plethora of songs and games and spent hours at night making up stories to tell us, or reading to us. I contracted my bibliophilism from her.

My Mom, Susan Jane, was the second to last daughter (of six girls, one boy) born to a hard working farming family. Their's was the generation that survived the depression, and they passed much of their necessary frugality and resourcefulness on to their children. After high school she went to computer school and got a job in a local factory's computer lab. She met my Dad at a volleyball game; they were engaged in about six months and married less than a year later. Mom loves telling the story of their engagement.... Dad had bought an old rundown farmhouse on an acreage, and was in the midst of remodeling it. (Mom refers to it as "the old house".) Dad told Mom if she could find the engagement ring he had hid in the house she could have it. According to Mom, she went into a frenzy tearing the house apart to find the ring, but to no avail. Dad had to modify the search to include "hot and cold" clues so that Mom could eventually find the ring, tucked above some exposed pipes in the old bathroom ceiling.

Starting out as a young couple, my parents "didn't have two dimes to rub back to back", but they worked hard. Very hard. I was a honeymoon baby, and Mom worked up until I was born. She then quit to stay home with me. My parents went without a lot to make ends meet. I remember clipping coupons, taking a calculator to the grocery store, and scouring newspapers for used things they needed. Growing up, most of my clothes were hand-me-downs from neighbors or cousins, or from thrift stores. They impressed upon me the value of a dollar, and the wastefulness of buying everything new. Mom worked hard canning and freezing food from their garden to save money on the winter grocery bills. If it wasn't on sale we generally didn't have it.

Mom, Dad, and me

Jim, Dad, Joe, Mom, and me

In the early 1990's Dad decided they needed to start homeschooling us kids. Mom, though hesitant at first, made the best of it and dove in head first. She puts her heart and soul into everything she does, and it shows.

In my late teens/early 20's I went through the rebellious/belligerent stage. I butted heads with Mom a lot during that time. I remember hiding the fact that I smoked from her. She came home early one day, and I tried hiding behind a tomato plant with my cigarette. What an idiot I was...as Mom walked into the house she called out in the general direction of the garden: "Smoke is bad for tomatoes!!!"

I'm so thankful we got past those days. I know there was a time when I went weeks without talking to Mom, but I can't imagine now how I survived. There are now very few days that go by without talking with her. She has become my closest friend and best confidante. One of my biggest regrets about my wedding is that  the photographer never got a photo of Mom and me. There's one of Dad and me and even our priest, Eli, and me...but Mom was not included in the special shots. I kick myself for not realizing this the day of. I hope to finally get a photo of just Mom and me at Joe's wedding this week.

Mom, trying on the dress for Joe's wedding to make sure the sleeves I altered fit. She's uncomfortable having her picture taken (another thing I inherited from her). Mom, if you ever happen across this, I love you and you're beautiful! Don't hurt me too bad! :D