Sunday, October 6, 2019

He Supplies Our Needs - Mother's Prayers

Connie's Kitchen


{From the Archives of Connie's Letters. July 28, 2011.}



Part 1   "He Supplies Our Needs"



 Dear Mothers,

As I write to you all this morning, I am writing to so many
different ones with worries of different things. . . As a young mom, with a houseful of children of all ages, I had many worries too. . I remember one time when our car was giving us fits, we ended up with no money at all. . We spent it all on the car so Jim could get to work. We spent all of our grocery money. . . 


Well Jim was working at the airport as a shuttle driver. He made
tips so we would have some lil bit of money to use for groceries.  My cupboards were bare as I hadn't had any money for groceries for 2 weeks. I was sitting thinking of all of this at the License plates place as Jim stood in line.  


We were buying an old car to keep us going for a while. . It was summer and I was so hot.  I had 50 cents in my purse and spent it on a can of pop.  Chrissy was taking care of the children at home. I had needed some quiet time to pray so I had gone with Jim.

As I sat there in the coolness of the air conditioner, I could pray and think. It just came to me to trust in the Lord to take care of
us. When we got home to the children, I sat down in the chair in the
living room. . I thought, "What will I fix for supper?" Sis handed me an envelope. "Here Mom, Mrs. Trecek stopped by to give you this literature for The Good News Club." 


Well I had a little Bible Club for the children in our neighborhood. . Anyway I decided to sit and look through the literature in the
envelope. . So I was looking at the papers and noticed a check. . I thought, at first glance, that it was a check for the supplies for the Bible Club. .



Part 2   "Mother's Prayers"



Well I looked again at the check and it was made out to me for $650. I thought I was seeing  things. . I couldn't believe it. . 

Well Wildman was out in the driveway putting the license plates on the car. . I was jumpin up and down in the house praising the Lord.  One of the kids ran out and told Jim the news. . OMG. . . did that money ever come at the right time.  I mean we were up a crick without a paddle to say the least, and we still had 5 children at home.  

I called Mrs. Trecek and thanked her.  I hadn't even talked to her for weeks, but God told her we needed help. . She did this many times when we were just sunk. The kids called her "Our Fairy God Mother." She loved our family and we loved her. 

 I talked to John recently about this.  I said, "John we lived from one Miracle to the next one." Johnny said, "Mom it was a way of life for us."

My prayers, dear Sisters, were a way of trade instead of money.  I would pray for hours if we ran out of money.  I would put the kids to bed at 8:00 and pray until Jim got off work at about 12 midnight.  I just told my kids that they had to go to bed and read as I had to pray.  I would say, "Ya wanna eat? Then I gotta pray." I would pray for tips for Jim at work. . 

But you can make it, dear Sisters of a New Revolution. . God can give you the money you need through prayer.  I mean, do your homemaking and cook and bake and be productive.  But make sure you pray and believe God. . Yes we should all have our gardens, if we can, but God can supply your needs through many avenues. .

 He has a plan for you to make it. . Reach Him through prayer.  We need to spend hours in prayer and seeking Him.  If you could fast too this will give you more power. . Yes do your house work and care for the baby.  Stay in an attitude of prayer, is what I guess I mean.  I used to rock my babies and sing songs to Jesus. 

 Keep your eyes on Jesus, and His provisions, instead of on the problems.

Love Connie








* Order Connie's book, "Dear Kitchen Saints," available on Amazon. It is autobiographical and tells the beautiful story of her marriage testimony! You will be encouraged in old time homemaking.* 





















Saturday, October 5, 2019

An Old Fashioned Family







{From the Archives of Connie's Letters. February 16, 2012.}




Dear Mothers,

I was the first-born in my family, and then I had 2 younger brothers. . . Dad fought in W.W.2.. .. and I was a Baby Boomer. 

But then Jim was born into an old fashioned family. . . He was the 12th child out of 13 children. My Mother was a modern Millie. Dad was an up- to- date guy.  But as a child I loved the old fashioned ways.

Jim was born into a well established old timey family. He loved just plain, black coffee ...and drank it with his meals sometimes. He would take my homemade bread, after it got hard, and he would then crumble it up in a bowl...put sugar on it, and milk, and eat it like cereal. . . He loved radish sandwiches. . The Old timers would make anything into a sandwich.  Jim would eat cucumber sandwiches too.  

As a boy he would work for some of the farmers in their town. . . He would spend all day topping onions. . . So he hated onions..  When we first married, Jim asked me to make bread pudding. . . I had no idea how to do that. . . I had never heard of such a thing. But I learned how and made many pans of  bread pudding.

Jim also loved hamburger gravy.   He loved anything with gravy.  Creamed Eggs was another meal he asked me to make. . . As a young wife I had sure never heard of that. . . All you do is hard-boil some eggs and chop up the eggs in a white gravy. .We would eat this on biscuits or just plain buttered toast. . . Our Mary loves creamed eggs too. . . Sometimes, if I had cheese, I would add some cheese to the white  gravy. . . Sometimes if I ran out of meat we would have fried potatoes and fried eggs for a late supper.

The old timers didn't eat a lot of snacks between meals either. . . Jim loved homemade cakes and pies and peanut butter cookies. . . But he didn't really want a lot of  store bought desserts. . 

In the summer, we loved our garden. We ate fresh tomatoes along with every meal, even for breakfast.  Jim loved plain tomato sandwiches too. . 

Love Connie

 PS Another thing Jim's mom made for her family, that I have never made, was fried bananas. . I think you just fry them in a skillet in butter. . and then put powdered sugar on them when they are done cooking.








* Order Connie's book, "Dear Kitchen Saints," available on Amazon. It is autobiographical and tells the beautiful story of her marriage testimony! You will be encouraged in old time homemaking.* 





















Saturday, April 20, 2019

Easter Preparations







{From the Archives of Connie's Letters. April, 2014.}


Part 1  (Easter Preparations) (April 12, 2014)

Dear Mothers, 

I am up in the night writing. . . Aunt Tootsie came early afternoon yesterday to help me with some Easter preparations....We had a good time..Then we had a pizza delivered for supper. . 

I had made a Pumpkin Cake too. .This is how I made it. . I used a yellow cake mix, 2 eggs and a can of pumpkin, and a cup of raisins. . I just put the canned pumpkin in a bowl and added the 2 eggs and I beat this up with a spoon. .Then I added the dry cake mix to the eggs and pumpkin and I stirred this good.  . last of all I added the cup of raisins. . Also for spices, I added Pumpkin Spice and extra cinnamon. . . Just stir this up really good ..Then pour this cake mixture into a big oiled baking pan...and bake at 350 degrees until it is done.. about a half hour...To see if the cake is done, I just stick a paring knife in it..or a tooth pick ...if the knife comes out clean, then it is done..

Anyway Mary's family is coming for Easter and David's family. . Then some family friends too. .We will have a ham and mashed potatoes. . My 2 brothers will come with their families. . Everyone brings food to go along with the ham dinner. . 

We always have a good time. . Hopefully we will have a sunny warm day. What are you all having for Easter

Mothers, just walk by faith. . No one's family is perfect . . Just cook up a nice dinner for Easter. . If your husband is gone, just make your dinner as if he will come in the door any minute.  . Don't be sad. . its Easter. . Jesus was raised from the dead. . Nothing is impossible with God !!! Love Connie

 Praise God. . Jesus is Alive !!!


Part 2  (Psalm 91: Under the Shadow of His Wings.) (April 17, 2014)

Dear Mothers, 

Yesterday I was going into the store and something strange happened.  . . First I have to say I was soooooo tired ...I had gone to the Dollar Store and now needed to get some groceries for Easter. . 

But on the way into Aldies, I thought I saw a big eagle or something fly over. . I could see the shadow of his wings on the pavement. . But I couldn't see any bird anywhere. . 

Aunt Toot, after hearing my story, said "Connie maybe it was an angel.." Jill said, after I told her,"You were under the shadow of His wings.." The scripture that I thought of was, They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. . They shall mount up on wings as the eagle. . They shall run and not be weary and walk and not faint.


Part 3  (A Lovely Easter) (April 21, 2014)

This morning I am sitting here wondering how on earth I did what I did yesterday with Easter dinner. . When everyone got here I had most things done.  Usually I need a lot of HELP !!

"Tiffany" my sweet girl.  . David's wife said, "Well Connie, last year when we came you didn't even have the ham in the oven yet". . I had forgotten that.  . I have come a long ways since last Easter. . And the Easter before that, my brother had Easter at his house. . 

For you who don't know, I was diagnosed with Parkinsons. . But I am fighting it and believing God for a HEALING in Jesus name. . 

Tiff brought the mashed potatoes and the green bean casserole. . . and dinner rolls. . I bought an apple pie and I made Easter cupcakes for dessert. . My brothers brought deviled eggs and a relish plate. . . and I baked the ham. . When the ham was done, I had my brother Kirk slice the ham up and I made ham gravy. . . it was too salty. . Next time I will use less broth and more milk to make the gravy. 

But I am super grateful to the Lord for helping me and giving me a supernatural strength. . Jesus is our healer. . . He sure healed my marriage and he can heal all of us ..No matter what it is. . .

Love Connie


* Order Connie's book, "Dear Kitchen Saints," available on Amazon. It is autobiographical and tells the beautiful story of her marriage testimony!* 


Saturday, March 9, 2019

World Events - and Keeping Your Home






{From the Archives of Connie's Letters. August 9, 2011.}


Part 1 - World Events

Dear Daughters of a New Revolution,

Wow the times we live in, Hu? No time to be Lily-Livered right ? Ya have to hang on to something just to watch the World News. . Well, a set of problems are set before us. . .But our country has been sooo evil and wicked for so many years now. . . Didn't we know that something had to give..?

If this time of trouble will turn things around. . . turn people around. . .  isn't it worth it ? The authority in our country, and it seems in other countries too, is so evil. . Those who make the laws put pressure on the pure in heart to turn away from God. . The Bible says that even the Elect would be deceived in times like these. . . I am up for a new plan aren't you ? I am just going to trust in God for His new way of doing things. . .

The so- called experts on tv say not to take your money out of the stock market. . I would say,{but who am I? } to take the money out and pay off your credit cards and loans against the house. . . or pay for the house. . . That way you are still investing, but it's in your own family. . I would say to take the money and do repairs on your house or buy a new furnace or whatever the house has to have to make it livable. . .

I know the housing market is down. . . But You can do a lot if you have your own home. . . Like even start a business from home. . .

 If you lose your house. . . You are out of luck...This is what we girls always told each other in the old days, "Keep a roof over your head."

And it is a good time to buy a house right now, if one has the money... I bought this house a year before the house prices went up. . I bought it in 1973 for 12,000 bucks. . . That included taxes and insurance. . And in, I think, October of 1974 it was worth 24,000 dollars. . Yeah it was a wreck when we bought it, but we have remodeled more each year. . . And I thank God for it now as it is paid off. . That was my investment into my own family...

But I mean, don't get your mind on paying off things that don't matter- then be out a roof over your head. . . The bill collectors aint gonna care if you have a house or not. . . they want their money. . . But if someone has to lose { as plenty of companies will} don't let it be your children or family. . . Put your family first. . . Because if ya have a house to live in, you can start again and maybe get another job and pay the bills . . . But don't pay the bills and lose the house.  . and have no place for your family.


Part 2 - The Wise Woman

When Wildman was getting ready for his last rodeo . . his last ride. . .  to Glory {Heaven}, he worried about having money saved for me to live on. . I told him, "Honey, just pay off the house."  He did and thank the Lord for that. . .

Jim did pay off a car loan too. . I had some hospital bills to pay. . . But I would never pay a hospital bill over losing the house. . I guess what I am saying is, put your own family first and do what you can honestly do with the other bills. . Because ya know it isn't just the poor who are on the streets in big cities. . .

And ya know, we women have so much more than the Depression -Era Mothers had to keep their families afloat. . . We have more kitchen inventions, etc. to keep house with. . If we are wise, we can make it through the coming hard times. . IF we don't panic . . Panic will cause you to make a lot of mistakes. . .

But if you remain quiet and keep your eyes on Jesus, you will make it just as your Grandma and Great- grandparents did. . They made it, or you wouldn't be here right now..!!!

The Wise woman builds her home and the foolish tear it down with their hands. . . The Wise woman sees the hard times ahead and she makes plans to survive these times. . But the foolish woman will panic and lose what she has . .

We are virtuous women and are not confused and helpless. . We are Sarah's daughters and are not afraid with any amazement. . The Lord is on our side and we will have courage. . . We have a plan. . We are not left in the dark. . The wisdom of God is our light.

Love Connie


 
 
* Order Connie's book, "Dear Kitchen Saints," available on Amazon. It is autobiographical and tells the beautiful story of her marriage testimony!*