She was resourceful!

Tonight I started working out to get ready for my 'someday' wedding. I decided I want to look as good as I can and that has to start NOW.  I was laying in bed thinking about how much my legs were killing me and I thought back to the days of watching mom and her workout routine. I giggled a little thinking back on it.

My childhood was primarily lived out in a 2 1/2 bedroom bungalow in rural western Illinois.  Did I mention that eight people lived there too? Yeah, you could say it was a little tight.  Did I mention 1 bathroom? Yeah, my mom was a saint to live with that for as many years as she did.

Needless to say, bathroom time was limited to showering and other activities. Ahem.  Because bathroom time was limited and a household of 8 still needed to ready for work, school, and church, Mom became quite resourceful.

I can still remember her laying on the floor propped up on one arm on her side.  She would lay with her head over the floor heating vent and she would do leg lifts while she dried her hair. Ever the multi-tasker. When I would ask her why she did it she said she was working off her baby weight.

I cannot begin to imagine all the sacrifices she made for us, but I love that she taught me to make the best of every circumstance.  To use what was available to me and to just be happy with that.  You were quite a woman, Martha Ann Vance Wiseman!

Coffee Talk

When I moved home one of my favorite treasures was waking up early and having coffee with Mom.  I would smell the coffee brewing and I couldn't resist its pull to the kitchen.  

Mom took her coffee with just half and half.  She preferred a full bodied blend, but not too bitter. I have so many memories of watching her sip on her coffee. I can still see how she would hold her coffee mug.  She often sipped in those early hours with the Bible on her lap while she sat in her rocking recliner in the Family Room.  I remember just sitting near her and thinking, "I want to be like that when I grow up..."

After our quiet time was over, or our coffee had finally kicked in, we would talk. It was forced or necessary, but it was something I looked forward to every morning.  I would love to tell her everything that is happening in my life right now. I would love to tell her about Erik and I reuniting in between our sips of coffee.  I would love to hear her advice, whether I like it or not.

Noodles

Mom loved to be in the kitchen. It seemed so natural for her to just put a few or a lot of ingredients together and presto-chango- she had created something so delicious.  I used to be intimidated by her and my sisters because they never let me have the space to be creative in the kitchen. That is until I moved back home again.  Mom & I spent many hours looking through recipes and executing them.  

One of my favorite times was learning to make noodles with her.  This made us laugh because I have a phobia of flour. (The texture totally overwhelms me and takes my breath away). And yes, Mom thought I was nuts, but she humored me.  

She had a pasta machine that made perfect noodle creations. After it was all said and done it was a lot of hard work, but the noodles were lovely. And we had a lot of good laughs to compliment our creations!

Everybody Loves Raymond

Nothing could make my mom giggle like the show Everybody Loves Raymond. Today is Valentine's Day and I am reminded of my Mom & Dad's relationship while watching an episode.  Mom always said that the show is so funny to her because of its similarity to real life.

For most of my life we had to have the TV turned off during dinner time. When I moved home at 25, I found out that my parents had a new dinner ritual. They would sit on the far end of the kitchen table so they could watch Everybody Loves Raymond.  I guess sometimes rules are allowed to be broken, if for a good reason.

I love you, Mom, and if you were here you would have a big vase of flowers from me!

Ice Cream

One thing was true about my mom. She loved ice cream. I was eating Cookies and Cream tonight and something that simple made me recall memories from almost the past three decades!  She had her favorites:  Strawberry, Butter Pecan, and Cookies and Cream.

I can remember sitting on the old gold colored couch at our house in Hull, IL, and mom would be propped up on the arm of the sofa. I loved sitting in the bend of her legs. I had to put a pillow or Grandma Faxon's blanket between the bowl and her leg, of course.  I could look up and see her slowly savoring every last bit of her ritual bowl of ice cream.

I can now say thank you to Mom for my innate need to have ice cream around the same time every night.  Oh well, it's better than needing a cigarette or something!

Getting started

This blog was started to chronicle events and memories I shared with my mom.  There are so many times during the day where I want to ask her a question or I think, "What would Mom do?"  Her life is still very much alive inside of me.  Each story is so important because she was important. She was my Mom!  


So, who was this woman?  
I want to explore this question over and over throughout this blog. I want to dig into her life and research all of the details.  For now this will do:


Name: Martha Ann (Vance) Wiseman
Born:  August 29, 1949-Near Philadelphia, MO
Marriage:  Howard Miller
Children: Travis & Tina Miller
Marriage: Dale Wiseman
Children: Chad, Colin, Sarah, & April Wiseman
Occupation: Master Hair Stylist
Hobbies: Sewing, gardening, cooking, baking, and volunteering
Favorite Movie: Pretty Woman (Makes me laugh that this was her favorite!)

Memory #1
This photo was from my first Christmas of living with Mom & Dad again.  Moving back in my mid-twenties seemed like an odd thing to do since I moved out at 18. But it ended up being the best decision I ever made. I realized that not only did I love my parents, but I actually liked them too! Mom made it especially great.

One of our favorite things to do was to watch the Food Network for hours on end.  Of all of the shows, we particularly enjoyed, none other than, Paula Deen!  We loved all that butter she used and the way she would giggle always mom & I giggle, too.

This photo was taken by me and I remember saying, "Pretend like you are Paula Deen!"  She had worked all day and her feet were sore and legs throbbing, but she still managed to whip up a batch of cookies for Kiersten & I.

I love you, Mom. Miss you tons!