My Mother's Home

Connie's Kitchen

 

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

Dear Mothers, 

Good Morning!!! I am feeling much better. . This whole thing with me is hard to put down in words. I think I somehow gave up on life and just quit eating and drinking. . I really somehow lost the homemaking spirit. . Jill and I used to say that the homemaking spirit was hard to hang onto. . To me it was like trying to hang onto a greased pig. In this day and age, it's easy to forget the lil duties of home. . 

My mother was a widow for about 6 years before she died. . But Mother's house was always clean even though she was sick. . And Mom fixed a meal every day. . For lunch a sandwich and maybe a salad. . But for supper she always fixed meat, potatoes, a vegetable etc..

 If I had come over to vacuum and change the sheets on the bed, Mom would fix a nice afternoon meal. And she never, ever ate anything in the livingroom. . She always ate her meals up to the table. . And she rarely left dishes in the sink. . After lunch Mom would  bring her glass of iced tea into the livingroom to drink it and watch tv. . Well even the day she left for Hospice . . she made her bed before she left. .This was about 3 weeks before she died. . . 

It wasn't hard to clean through Mom's house after she died. . She was so orderly. . She also knew she was dying so she got rid of a lot of stuff. . But of course Mom could never understand me and my kids who are all free spirits. . But as I think of her right now and how much dignity she had I wish in some ways I was like her. 

 Love Connie

{Note from the administrator: This writing has been gleaned from the archives of Connie's letters. Find out more about the posts on this blog by reading this introduction. }

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

Preserving Food

Connie's Kitchen

 {From the Archives of Connie's Letters, July 2007.}

Part One:

Dear Housewives,

Ya know, when Wild man got saved and we had 3 more children my life was so changed. . I had to figure out how to feed a houseful of 6 children and a husband. . 

One of the first things I did was to pray for a freezer and the Lord got me one at a garage sale. . It was one of those big beasts from the 60's and I loved it. . When it died and couldn't be fixed . . . oh getting rid of it was like getting rid of an old friend. . 

When we first got the freezer in the mid 80's Danny would do acrobats on the handle of the freezer and we would yell at him to stop it. Finally, the handle broke off. . Oh man I about croaked. . So we got one of those elastic car carrier straps and hooked it to the door and to the back of the freezer. . And that is how it stayed for many years. . But it worked well. . and we forgave Danny for being part monkey. . 

Anyway, I had a huge garden and froze many vegetables. . And then I would buy vegetables on the fly from the back of the store for cheap as they were outdated. . so I might get a box of broccoli for a buck or cauliflower or whatever. . I would can some things like pickles but I froze more things as it was easier if I was dealing with odds and ends of vegetables. . 

Now some veggies you have to bring to a boil first and then take them out and put them in bags to freeze. . Here are some of the veggies you have to bring to a boil first or it's called blanching. . Things like green beans. . Just clean the beans and take the ends off and cut them up and bring to a boil. Then turn the fire off and drain them and then sack them up for the freezer. . You would also blanch cauliflower and broccoli. . Stuff like carrots, and beets and other root vegetables I never canned or froze as they will last almost forever in the fridge it seems. . Sweet potatoes I would blanch. . . ok some vegetables you don't have to blanch and are so easy to freeze. . 

For tomatoes just wash them and cut them up and put them in a bag and freeze them. . you don't have to blanch them. Also peppers of any kind are great frozen. . Of course you would use these in cooking and for making winter soups and stews. . Grated zucchini can be easily frozen in bags to make breads during the fall and winter, or it could be used to put in soups and casseroles. . If I ran low on cucumbers when making pickles, I would use zucchini instead and pickle it right in with the cucumbers. . No one knew the difference. Zucchini is wonderful for many things. . I used it to make an apple pie once and it was great. . You just cut it up to look like apples and season it like apple pie and bake it and no one knows the difference . . 

If during the summer I have the family over and say all of the veggies aren't eaten on the vegetable plate, I just throw it all in a bag and put them in the freezer for winter soups. . If you want your hot peppers to stay really hot, then you would want to dry them instead of freezing them. . I would take my whole hot pepper plant out by the roots and hang it up in the house. . The peppers can dry on the bush that way and you don't have to string them up to dry.

Part Two:

When we used to sell baked goods at the Farmers Market, we met Barbara who had 11 children. . She gave me some good tips on freezing food for the winter. . She said she always made her jams and jellies in the fall. . She would freeze her grapes and berries, rhubarb and other fruits. . Then in the Fall when all the rest of her canning was done, she would thaw out the berries etc. and make jam. . 

Things like green beans and corn you have to can up or freeze right away or they will spoil. . and that can take up the whole summer. . Making pickles is something ya gotta do pretty quick or the produce will spoil. . But jams and jellies you can have fun with in the fall if you have the fruit right in the freezer. . And it's fun to make jams and put them in cute jars to give away during the holidays. . When I bought fruit on the fly, I sometimes got whole boxes of different varieties of grapes. . I would freeze these to make jelly and also grape juice in the Fall. . 

You can slice up apples and all kinds of fruits to store in the freezer for winter use. . I have a wild plum tree, and I just freeze these plums whole as they are small and have a pit in them. . I make plum butter in the Fall. . I just put the plums in a pan and cover them with water. . bring them to a boil and boil until they are just soft. . Then just mash them with a potato masher and then strain them of the seeds and skin. . And if you end up with 5 cups of pulp then put in equal amounts of sugar. . 5 cups. . or 2 cups or whatever equal amount. . Then just boil this and stir it until it is thick and you will have made plum butter. . Then just jar it up for your winter pantry. . You can make peach butters like this too. . If I got grapes from the store that had no seeds, I would often make grape pies. . Just slice each grape in half . . you don't have to take the skin off. . I think this has to be my favorite pie of all. . Usually the grapes are very sweet, so you don't have to use a lot of sugar. . 

Love Connie

{Note from the administrator: This writing has been gleaned from the archives of Connie's letters. Find out more about the posts on this blog by reading this introduction. }

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

The Home Coming

Connie's Kitchen

 

{From the Archives of Connie's Letters. November 21, 2007.}

 

Dear Mothers, 

This subject sounds like the Waltons Home Coming. . My children will be coming in today from NYC . . Missouri and Illinois. 

 My children remind me of the Waltons in some ways. . Each of them trying to find themselves and their places in the scheme of things. . Each strong and vibrant...and full of creativity. . They are writers . . singers and artists . .

 I wish I was more like Olivia though. . strong and sure of herself and her children. . She and her husband John said that each of their children were thoroughbreds. . Johnny tells me "Mom ..Mary will be alright . . she's a Hultquist". . and I think to myself. ."yeah she comes from a long line of Come Back Kids." Tonight everyone will meet here for a Chilli Supper. . cornbread and Apple cider. I may get Brownies made if I have time. . 

This morning I have some last minute shopping to do. . Gotta get gas for the car too . . But I can't wait to get back home and do last minute things to add to the comfort of my dear ones' childhood home. . Papa's home. . where our children were raised by faith. . 

Papa's heart is with us . . as a part of the cloud of witnesses. He cheers me on from the heavenlies. ."Connie be strong and full of courage, Jesus is with you. . don't be afraid. ."

 I used to, in the old days, worry in a chair. . Papa would come to me and stoop down by my chair and look up at me. ."We have made it through worse than this." And he would take my face and turn it towards his. . and look into my eyes .  ."Connie it will be ok." I see him so often saying that to me as I am a widow now. . "All is well Connie . . Jesus won't let you down." My heart is glad to see the children come home..."Yes Papa, all is well."

Love Connie

 

{Note from the administrator: This writing has been gleaned from the archives of Connie's letters. Find out more about the posts on this blog by reading this introduction. }

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

 

 

 

Housekeeping

Connie's Kitchen

 {From the Archives of Connie's Letters, October 2007.}

Dear Mothers,

 When Jim and I first married we lived in this cute apartment. . . It even had a bed that came out of the wall in the living room. . . Anyway, the 2 landladies were sisters and lived together. When Jim was at work I invited them over for desserts. They would tell me about their childhood homes.."Sister made all the pies as she was good at it and I made all the bread," they would tell me. . And at the time, as a young wife, I could tell that in the old time families each one had different gifts in the home. That the Lord sorta planned it like that.

Back then all of the food was made at home. . everything was done at home. My own Mom says about her home.."I wasn't allowed to milk the cows as I wasn't good at it.". . Each family member had certain gifts. . Now days the gifts in a family don't often show up as they aren't needed. But we as home-wives do have gifts in our callings as homemakers.

I know my gift is cooking. I love to hand sew too but I am not good with a sewing machine. . I make everything by hand. . Christiane Joy sews everything by hand too. . Her stitches look just like I sewed them myself. . Always a double thread and double stitching a certain way. I am very peaceful when I sit and sew. 

 But anyway if you get sorta out of the mood for your homemaking, it's nice to start out with your gift and then go from there. . My gift is cooking and baking. . So if I need to clean out a drawer or something I will get something good in the oven baking first..Your gift will inspire you and organize you so that you can think of what else you need to do.

When the children were little and I would get sorta uninspired, I would take an hour or so after lunch and before naps to read to the children the old time stories. . In these stories the mother was always happy and content..Those old time stories inspired me..This old literature is good to read to the children as it teaches them that good writing has a certain rhythm. . Some of the newer children's books don't have the rhythm the old time rhymes had . It's good to teach the children to stand up and recite good literature.

But there are many gifts in a household and in our places as keepers at home. .Try to find out what you are good at and let your gift inspire you.

Love Connie

 

{Note from the administrator: This writing has been gleaned from the archives of Connie's letters. Find out more about the posts on this blog by reading this introduction. }

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

 

 

 

Papa's Car

Connie's Kitchen

 {From the Archives of Connie's Letters, September 2007.}

Dear Mothers,

 Oh man yesterday I had to take my Mom to the hospital for tests. . Nothing to do with anything but..well she has a lot of good insurance and they give her tests on tests and don't even know what they do with the tests..they lose them..But I have to drive Papa's car over to her house to take her car and her to the hospital.."I don't ride in any car that doesn't have air conditioning," she tells me ..So I have to drive this nice car with all the windows up, barefoot as the dang thing actually has good breaks..and runs like a top.. And God knows as soon as my tour of duty is over I can't wait to get out to Papa's car and escape through the woods home..barefoot as I drive.."That's against the law," the queen yells..

In Papa's car I have to drive with the widows down as the muffler has a whole in it and my brother told me I would get asphyxiated if I drove with the windows up..I will get it all fixed before winter. Anyway Papa always drove with the window down anyway..even in the winter.. Always smokin and blowin the smoke out the window..When ya drive that car ya work at it as if you had pedals to push under the car.. But that's how Jim and I lived all the time anyway.. And I am just used to workin at drivin the car..

Well I didn't have a license for 38 years so I was never exactly at peace when I drove anyway..But now that I must chauffeur the queen, I must be legal.. 

My neighbor Chuck who mows my lawn with a tractor accidentally backed into Papa's car a few months ago . .But we deserved it as we had at least 3 or 4 trees fall into Chuck's yard when storms came..So I told him we were now even..He said he was ok with that..Well Jim would always go over and clean Chuck's yard after the trees fell in it...But ya know I never feel Jim's presence quite so keen as I feel it in his car.. "Oh Papa I could never get rid of that car." 

Love Connie

 

{Note from the administrator: This writing has been gleaned from the archives of Connie's letters. Find out more about the posts on this blog by reading this introduction. }

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

 

 

Homemaking

Connie's Kitchen

 

{From the Archives of Connie's Letters. September 19, 2007.}

 

Dear Mothers, 

 The Fall it seems is the time the Lord always calls so many of us back to the usual comfort foods that we have a lot of the year..Whenever I think of my family I think of how I started many comfort meals with a pound of hamburger. . Even if we were having company the meat portion remained the same..a pound of hamburger. . . I could be generous with the potatoes and beans or corn etc but the meat was a small amount. . I would make a lot of biscuits and gravy and vegetable soup with hamburger . . One favorite meal I made with wieners was this. . I would get out my big cast iron skillet and fry a pound of hot dogs. . You could fry onions and peppers in too. . the wieners, whole not cut up, and the onions in rounds. . Then when the meat was brown I would pour about 3 cans of pork and beans over this, drained. Then stir in about a fourth cup of brown sugar and a fourth cup of ketchup and a squirt of mustard. And lots of Black Pepper for Papa. . and salt. . Then bake this in the oven for about a half hour at medium heat. . 

Ya know, left over baked beans is good in sandwiches. . Back in the Depression Era? Meat was sometimes hard to come by unless your husband was a hunter. . So since beans had protein like meat the housewives used a lot of beans for meals. . I once read of a Depression era sandwich that I tried and love it to this day. . I eat it often. . You take some bread and spread some mayo on it and the left over baked beans. . You put a slice of onion on it and some lettuce and a slice of tomato. . This is my favorite sandwich. . But during the summers on the farm many families had all the vegetables and fruits they could eat. . So this was a wonderful Depression era summer lunch..

Wild man used to eat radish sandwiches with butter on them or salad dressing.  . He didn't like mayonnaise. . I liked it but never got any until after the kids were raised and left home. . For years I never got to drink instant tea unless we went some place as I couldn't afford it when the kids were home. .To belt out 3 bucks or so then for a jar of instant tea was out of the question.. I mean once in a while if we had extra money I got some instant tea but that wasn't often. . I made a lot of sun tea in those days..

I made sure, as the Depression era mothers did, to always splurge on Papa's coffee.  He didn't ask for a lot but I wanted to always run ahead of him and get him a name brand coffee to please him.. He deserved it and it took a lot out of him to work for all of us..So I tried to always have hot brewed coffee for him each morning before he went to work. Or on cold evenings if he was home late he knew Mama and the coffee would be warm at home waiting for him. . .

Most of my life I am waiting for Papa. . And now I am waiting to see him in heaven.  "I love you Papa if you are reading this. . . I am tryin to honor your memory and be an example to the kids." 

Love Connie

 

{Note from the administrator: This writing has been gleaned from the archives of Connie's letters. Find out more about the posts on this blog by reading this introduction. }

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

 

 

Old Time Country Mothers

Connie's Kitchen

 {From the Archives of Connie's Letters, September 2008.}

Dear Mothers,

Good Morning. I have been thinking lately about my Aunt Eileen's farm. . I remember when the beans from her garden were coming on in the summertime. . The farm women were always up early in the morning for chores. But in the afternoon they would all sit around the TV. . .  watching Soap Operas and snapping green beans to can when the soaps were over.

Gram lived in a little house on the farm property. . So she would help with the canning too. . Mom used to say, "Your Grandma would roll over in her grave if she saw how bad the soap operas of today have gotten." And oh yeah she would have.  I remember when I was about 7 and the Honey Mooners were first on TV. . Gram Canaday would stay in the kitchen but would say, loud enough for the family to hear it. ."He doesn't need to talk to her like that." Meaning how Jackie Gleason spoke to his wife. . . Gram thought the Honey Mooners was a dirty show. . Gram probably never tasted any kind of fermented beverage in her life. . Soda pop was a stretch for her. . She never drank that either. . Never wore lipstick. .When my mom and her sisters came home with fingernail polish on, their dad tried to wash it off with soap and water.

The housewives back when I was growing up wouldn't even wear shorts hardly at all, no matter how hot the summer was. . If they did have shorts on and someone talked them into going to town for something, they would say, "Well let me change clothes. . I wont wear shorts to town."

My mother wouldn't wear any colors that were bright when I was growing up. . She did later on as the styles changed. . But she would say. ."I wont wear orange, it is too loud". . Loud colors were colors that brought attention to the woman. .Women were to be quiet and lady-like and always under control.

Love Connie

{Note from the administrator: This writing has been gleaned from the archives of Connie's letters. Find out more about the posts on this blog by reading this introduction. }

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

 

Hardworking Husband and Head of the House

Connie's Kitchen

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

 Part 1

 Our Spiritual Journey in our marriage seemed to go from the deepest part of the ocean to the gates of Heaven.We were doing really well or we were giving up. .

In the 1970's we lived in this cute lil house. . It was just Jim and I and our son Jimmy who was about 4 yrs old. . Jim took a job that was about 7 miles away. . . We had no car.. I think Jim sold our car for some reason I forget now. . Anyway this husband of mine would have to start his walk to work about 2 hrs before he had to be there. . . He had to be to work in Marion at 11:00 in the evening. . He worked nights at a bakery a town away. . So anyway he would get off work the next morning at about 7:00. . or 8:00 when all the bakery produce was made. . So it was winter and if he couldn't find a way to work he would walk to work. And most of the time he did walk to work. . No buses around here ran this late. . 

My parents were always mad at Jim for leaving the family etc. . But my dad said when He found out that Jim walked to work mostly every day in the snow. . Dad said "Well the guy has some good in him to walk to work every day in this freezing cold weather." My Dad always provided for our family. . so Dad appreciated Jim's spirit knowing what it was like to be tired after work after being on your feet for 8 or more hrs. . ."Then to have to walk home?" This was before Jim was saved. . . My Dad's words sure were an encouragement to Jim and I . . We were young at the time. . . I was only about 23 yrs old and Jim was about 29. . . 

I remember I would fix us a snack before he left for work in the evening. . . Usually we had popcorn and Kool-aid and we would watch it snow out the kitchen window. . . I would worry about him walking so far to work in the snow. But he would always say. ."Connie I will be ok.". . . He always told me, no matter what kind of mess we were in. . "Connie we will be ok."

 

Part 2 (A message taken from the archives of Connie's writings, October 2013)

 

 I think it is my forever burden about the heads of house holds and the burden I have for them in our country. . I cry out for the women  of our country to encourage our men to listen to God without a Word spoken to our husbands.......We need to pray for our country...for our children and for our husbands..love connie

 

{Note from the administrator: This writing has been gleaned from the archives of Connie's letters. Find out more about the posts on this blog by reading this introduction. }

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

 

Mother is Keeper of Christmas

Connie's Kitchen

 

{From the Archives of Connie's Letters. December 22, 2009.}

 

Mother is keeper at home, and keeper of Christmas. . . The guardian angel of home.

  I have heard families say, after the old fashioned mother died,"Why doesn't anyone want to get together for Christmas anymore?" Well in the old days, Mother always brought everyone together. She would invite everyone home for the holidays. When she died, then an older sister would carry on the family tradition.. But someone always took on the role as guardian of the home and family. Someone would take the role of Mother and gather the family up and love them and call them home. 

 I remember back as a child. . I mean on Christmas? You had Christmas with the family. . . And Mom invited family and anyone around us who needed a place to come for Christmas.  If I asked to bring someone no one knew, Mom would say, "Well sure, tell 'em to come on ahead.  Everyone is welcome."

Oh the women cooked and cooked.  The aunts brought pies galore. We children couldn't wait for Christmas. The families back then were so fenced into family and traditions. . Mother made sure that each year the traditions were followed to the letter. . Mother was the keeper of family traditions. And we children knew what to expect and that made us feel content and happy and loved.

On Christmas eve, we children got to open one present. Then on Christmas morning we opened our other gifts. . About a week before Christmas, one of the aunts or my mother would have the Christmas dinner and Christmas gift exchange for the relatives. But the eve of Christmas and Christmas day was private, Just my Dad and Mom and we kids. It was a sacred day for just us. Mom and Dad weren't religious. But in our home, family was very important.

And ya know family traditions wont just show up and hit ya over the head.They have to be planned and decided on by the mother in the home. Almost like making a covenant with God to be faithful to love your family. . . To show Christian love and care. . And some families don't have a strong mother to take this role. And so we as wives need to take up this place.. and be the keepers of Christmas Homes.

Can we pretend to adore Baby Jesus in the manger at Christmas and not love our brothers and sisters who are right in front of us? Dear Keepers at home, let's somehow, this year, put our Aprons on and make a Christmas for our loved ones. . Let's build some landmarks of traditions like walls of protection for our children.  Isn't this how we would truly worship the living Christ and remember His birthday? By loving one another and serving those who He died for?

 Let's celebrate His life with love and a heart warming home. . A home where Mother is keeper of Christmas.

 

Love Connie

 

 

{Note from the administrator: This writing has been gleaned from the archives of Connie's letters. Find out more about the posts on this blog by reading this introduction. }

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

 

 

Our Marriage

Connie's Kitchen

 

{From the Archives of Connie's Letters. June 1, 2007.}

Part one:

Dear Mothers,

Well yesterday in the mail I received a copy of my marriage license. . I needed it to apply for Social Security. . There it was in my hands . . Jim was 25 when we married and I was 19. Our original certificate had been torn up and thrown away as it said we had been married in prison. . The one I got in the mail didn't say that, thank the Lord...

Oh that marriage certificate said so much to me..And lately as I have read the emails on the response group, and all the troubled marriages represented, the devil has said to me, "All you are doing is leading these wives off a cliff into a firey pit." My heart has been so heavy ..so troubled . . As I write I hold onto Papa's wedding ring as I read over what I have written. . The wedding ring that Papa didn't throw away. . He threw away many wedding rings in the ditch on the highway as he hitch-hiked out of town leaving me over 30 times..
 

Always my heart pined after him .. I loved him and then hated him and wanted to kill him how many times? I would beg the Lord to tell me, "Why can't we have a normal life?" or "Why do I have to go through all of this. . Don't you love me Lord?" And I couldn't figure out why the Lord would allow my kids to go through all of that.

And my mind rushes forward almost 40 years to the day Papa died in the hospital after 26 years of joy and blessing . . . I hung onto Papa's lifeless body and told him, "Papa I will miss you every day.". . And the children, I worried so much about, gave their Daddy a wonderful memorial. . I gave Jesus my life and He didn't let me down. . The chaplain at the hospital told me again and again as I stood with my 6 precious children.."I have never seen such a beautiful family or so much love shown." There were no outbursts of temper or, "Why God why?" There was only peace as we each consoled each other with hugs and words of encouragement. . I whispered into each of the children's ears. ."Always love each other and the Lord. . This is how you will forever honor your Dad."

Jim's passing was so peaceful..And I have never felt out of control concerning it..I have missed my old Darling but always felt it was the Lord's will that he died when he did..Jim told me many times he was dying and he prepared me and then he died..And I have no regrets..I fought him at first over it..it was a time when I was very out of submission..But then Jim tried to tell me a week later.  As I look back now, I can see in my spirit that I had accepted it as Papa told me it had to be...I had learned to submit to him ..He was my lord on earth, and Jesus was my Lord of all..

And now as I get Jim's Social Security and live in the family home he paid off, I remain as God called me at 19 years old.. a wife to Jim..Papa's helper..I will always be Jim's glory.

 

Part 2

 And later on after Jim died I had a vision...I was at the back of a church and was dressed up. . Jim kept pointing me to the front of the church...Jim always introduced me to everyone he knew if we were at the grocery store or whatever. . I didn't want to be introduced and so I would pretend to be doing something else..So in my dream it was common that Jim would want to introduce me to Jesus..So in my dream Papa was trying to escort me down the aisle to Jesus. . Jim said, "This is your new husband." I love the Lord but I didn't want to hear that He was my husband on earth. . I am still not doing very well with that one as I feel Jim about me all the time. . . My heart still clings to Jim as my husband.

But dear suffering wives who read my writings.  . Oh my heart suffers with you. . And maybe you won't get a miracle as I had. . But I have to hang onto the fact that God didn't let me down..He just didn't let me down..He gave me a miracle and I enjoyed it to the hilt..I got to have 3 more children after Jim was saved and I homeschooled for I think about 18 years...I had the family I had dreamed of ..and prayed for. . I come out of 12 years of a horrid marriage without so much as the smell of smoke upon me. . As the Lord had told me, "Connie don't worry.. all is gonna be alright," and it was. . .

Older believers used to tell me, "Connie you can't out give God." And I never understood that. . . I do now. . .Wives you can't out give the Lord. . . All that you give to Him in faith and trust He will give you back a double blessing.

My suffering for that 12 years was nothing compared to the Joy I had later for many years. . And all that I teach on here is the truth and will line up with the Word of God..It's true and cannot be denied. . And you can never argue with a person who has a testimony. . I lived the truth of His Word and God gave me exceeding and abundantly more than I could ask or think.

Love Connie

 

 

{Note from the administrator: This writing has been gleaned from the archives of Connie's letters. Find out more about the posts on this blog by reading this introduction. }

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

 

Spiritual Rest - in Remembrance of Connie Hultquist

 

Connie Hultquist (1947 - 2021)

 

 Connie passed into Heaven on November 18, 2021, at the age of 74.  She was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother who was loved by many.  

Her incredible marriage testimony was first published in "Above Rubies Magazine" in the year 2000.  Her daily writings about faith, family, motherhood, and the home inspired and encouraged hundreds of readers over many years.  Her book, "Dear Kitchen Saints" is a compilation of many of those writings and includes a copy of her marriage testimony.  

She wrote from the heart, out of a lifetime of experience.  She also corresponded with many and counseled them, cheering them along to better days.  When someone came to her, weeping, sharing their troubles, she would help brighten their day with encouragement and advice and then say, with great faith, "That ain't nothing."  She knew without a single doubt that God was in control and could handle anything.  This calmed and soothed many tired mothers and got them through the hard days.  

Her life made a tremendous impact on a multitude of people.  She was a mentor and spiritual Mother to many. She will be remembered with gratefulness. Her life was a gift and a blessing to all who knew her, whether in person, or through her writings.  She will be greatly missed.

I came across one of her old letters, from the year 2013.  (I have gently edited it, to fix some spelling, but left it mostly in its original condition. To find out more about how her letters were written, using a small email machine, please see our About page.)  In this brief three- part message, she talks about her daily writings and how inadequate she felt to do this ministry that God called her to do.  The title is, "Spiritual Rest" and really helps to sum up her wonderful sense of humor and wisdom as she humbly shares about her struggles to write. 

- Mrs. White, site administrator

 {From the Archives of Connie's Letters. April 17, 2013.}

 Part 1 "He is Strong in Us."

Ya know? Every time the ladies get me a new group or the ministry is promoted. . I get scared and can't write. . So the ladies tell everyone how much they will like my writings and I don't write at all. . Well . I can't help it. . I am just the type of woman that would be happy totally isolated in a cabin in Alaska.  

The audience I mostly speak to are the ages of my own grown children. And you all have a lot of energy. . I feel like I am in a race car and the ladies who are driving are going 140 miles an hour.  I am in the back seat trying not to faint, and to walk by faith ya know.  I see you alls point and I agree with ya. . But its like, "What am I doing here?" 

Well I know you're thinking, I am just a bit slower on the draw then you all are. . In my heart of hearts I am thrilled . . this is such a faith adventure. . I love it. . but its as though I am wearing a pair of shoes that are way too big for me. .  Or its like I have to grow spiritually into this position. . Its like I cry unto the Lord..."Lord I don't know how to do this,". . And yet I wouldn't miss it for the WORLD...!!!

So I go before the Lord as a hunk of clay that is all goofed up. . And I say to the Lord, "Lord please make something out of me."  I know I can't write in the flesh . . . I guess when we are weak He can be strong in us. . He does choose the foolish things of the earth to confound the wise. . I guess if I had a lot of confidence in my education or my degrees, maybe He couldn't use me. . But I guess I am just silly enough to make enough blunders and mistakes in front of God and everyone that it speaks to my readers, that if Connie can be used of God to write. . . then anyone can. . . My human weakness I think is my greatest value to the Lord. . Yet I hate it of course. . I would love to be perfect. . But that aint gonna happen. . . 

 

Part 2 "Oh Sweet Jesus"

 

 Well it helped for me to write that first part. . I can see I was looking at myself to see if I was good enough to be a writer. . But what the Lord uses me for is to show my weakness. And in my weakness He is made strong.

When Jimmy my oldest son was here we talked about my writing. .This son of mine loves getting new college degrees. . He has a good job as a light designer. . I ask him if he read any of my writings and he said no. . Then he turns around to me and says, "How do you spell 'WOULD'?"  He is full of dry humor.  . I said, "Well Jimmy I started out writing on an email machine. . They are small and you can't write much. . So that's why I spell would as 'wud'. . I said sometimes I spell would 'wd' "..... I forgot to tell him that Andrew Jackson said that he didn't think very much of a person that couldn't think of more than one way to spell a word. . Jimmy has always said about me that I write for the common person on the street. . I took this as a complement. . But Jimmy is so funny. . he makes me laugh. . He helped me with my computer when he was here. . I appreciated that. . He took Computer Science in college. . But anyway he lives in Australia. . so I don't get to see him and his family that much. . Then here I spell like a hillbilly and Jimmy's wife is an English professor. . Oh GLORIOUS JESUS come down sweet chariots and please take us to Heaven with You....

 

Part 3 "Spiritual Rest"

 

 Well I have been up most of the night . . But I am glad I got some things figured out . . Hopefully I will be peaceful now. . I can see I just have to obey the Lord. . I don't have to be perfect to write. . I just have to obey the Lord and write . . There is no rest like spiritual rest. I pray I will be like little Samuel, when he was a child.  He heard the Lord speak to him and he said, "Speak Lord for thy servant heareth."

 Love Connie

 

 {Note from the administrator: This writing has been gleaned from the archives of Connie's letters. Find out more about the posts on this blog by reading this introduction. }

 

You are invited on a HOME TOUR - a view of the inside of Connie's house. 

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

Peace in the Home

Connie's Kitchen

{From the Archives of Connie's Letters. October 6, 2009.}

  Ya know Jim and I went through Hell and high water, but the end of our married lives was peace.  No we didn't have perfect lives around here but we were happy.  

Oh my gosh we were poor. . . We ate lots of cornbread and biscuits and gravy, Gobs of mashed potatoes and every meal began with one pound of hamburger.  Mary still says I make hamburgers like no one else.  Well I always used the hamburger with all the fat in it, it was cheaper. . The kids now - days buy more lean meat.  Man we lived on fat.  All of my kids were thin and Jim too.  I got fatter as the kids got older.  But I was always really thin when the kids were babies.

But we as wives need to learn to be wives again and old-fashioned mothers. We are called to be home and to pray for our families.  We are to be raising priests and prophets and handmaidens for God.

We live in a rotten society.  But that doesn't mean that the Bible has changed, Or that God changed His mind on a wife's call to domestication and holiness.  

And it don't matter if the adult kids are livin' like Hell.  Who cares, we are to pray for them until they get it right.  We gotta get in the dirt with 'em and help them out.  Fear screams at us that we cant do that.  But yeah we were sinners once so we can get down in the dirt with the kids.  Well God can't.  He is holy.  But He expects us to have mercy on our own flesh and blood.  It don't matter how old they are.

Oh I want to say so much to you wives and moms as a Titus 2 mother.  I want to teach you to be equipped for every good work.  I just wanna say, "Don't look at the world and what it is doing in this age. Just do what the Word says even though it may seem out of date, it isn't. The teachings in the Word for women are true.  It says we are to be chaste, discreet keepers at home. 

Be pure in all things.  Do what is right dear moms. Give your lives to the Lord and serve Him.  Be missionaries in your homes.  Raise your children for the Lord with whatever you have.  Be Marys and Elisabeths. . . Sarahs and Ruths.  Let these Bible prophetess' be your examples. Draw and woo your husbands through prayer to be men of God.  Be their sword bearers and helpers.  Pray for them until you see His glory."

Love Connie

{Note from the administrator: This writing has been gleaned from the archives of Connie's letters. Find out more about the posts on this blog by reading this introduction. }

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

All of My Children are Taught of the Lord (Difficulty of Motherhood)

Connie's Kitchen

{From the Archives of Connie's Letters. February 7, 2010.}

 

 

Part 1 -  "Dear Mothers"

 

 Dear Mothers,

Well a storm is coming again.  We missed the last one. . . I have to go to the store. . I need to make sure I have the wash done in case the power goes out.

This winter has been, um, snowy?  Yesterday Mary called on her way to work. She lives about 15 miles from town. So she usually calls me on her way into town.  I told her the news about Sissy.  And I said, "Your Sister still does her shopping at the Salvation Army.". . Mary said sadly. . . "Mom, we don't even have a Salvation Army in our town."  I said, "You're a Hultquist and you have no Salvation Army near you? That's almost a crime."

I have told the story about the wheel chair at the S.A...But I need a good laugh.  One time when Mary was about 10 we were all at the S.A. And Mary got tired of looking . . . So she went to the back of the store and sat in this old wheel chair to wait for us. . Well this Christian man was back there and he began to talk to Mary. . He told her that he knew it must be hard to be sick and in a wheel chair. . . Mary was so shy she didn't say anything.  Pretty soon it was time to go and Jim yelled for the kids to go. . . .Mary, of course, jumped out of the wheel chair and ran for the door. . . That poor astonished man probably thought she got healed or something.  Mary told all of us the story later on.  I told Mary she should have just said she was resting in the wheel chair waiting for her family. . . But Mary just stayed quiet. . . What a girl.

Another funny story was this:  Jim would pull into the Salvation Army parking lot and give the kids a lecture before he allowed them out of the car. . . He had given them each a couple bucks to spend. . . He would say to the kids,"Now when I say you can go?  Don't you all start running like crazy people for the door.". . But when he said they could go. . . "GO" they would!!! You could hear the pounding of running shoes on the pavement. . Like a fast herd of buffalo they would stampede for the S.A. 

Sis always told me,"Mom some day I want to work for the Salvation Army so I can get all the good stuff when it first comes in."  When Sis first came to NYC she would go to the S.A. and buy clothes and she would then sell the clothes at the Vintage Stores. . If you have an eye for what people like you can make some pretty good money doing that.  The first dresses she created were from old prom dresses she got from the S.A. . Jimmy lived in NY at the time too.  He said he would see women walk by down-town in prom dresses Sis had made over from the Salvation Army.  They were women who normally wore the most expensive designer dresses. Jimmy said he laughed his head off when he saw these women walk by.

Mary has a real eye too for style.  But she is much more country . . She loves the long flowing skirts and dresses.  She loves to decorate at home.  Mary's look is more Wild West. . Well sometimes, and other times not. 

Both girls could make it no matter where they were.  Sis said she would have died in NYC had she not known how to make corn bread.  And she said she lived on beans and rice too, and lentils. When she first went to NY she said she was so amazed at the pan-handlers. . She felt bad for them until she saw their expensive tennis shoes and red and green hair. . She said she thought, "Dad worked at anything and supported all of us kids. . These kids can find a job too." Sis told everyone about her Dad working and taking care of all of us on a very small wage. .

 

 
Part 2 -  "All of My Children are Taught of the Lord and Great is Their Peace"

 

And no, I didn't want Sis to run off to NYC. . . My Christian friends comforted me with a serious tone,"Don't worry Connie, she will be back. A lot of kids run to NYC after high school . .but very few ever make it in NY.  Its expensive and she won't be able to keep up with the big guns there. She will be glad to get back home." 

But as time has gone on Sis has stayed. . I had cried and prayed she would come home but she didn't. Somehow I raised her to dream and to see beyond the natural . . And at this point this is how it has played out in her life.  Now Dan is with her in NY.  He lives up the street. I wonder what he will do. Dan makes his own way too.  He works at whatever he can to pay rent. But his dream is his music. .  . I am happy to say that my kids work for what they need. Mary is pregnant ya know? And she will stay home once she has her baby. Mary is so happy.  What a miracle she is. My dream come true. There is such JOY when she phones me. How happy I am for her.  If she has a girl she is naming her middle name after me, Elizabella Constance {Connie}. . . If its a boy he will be named after Jim,"James Russel." Russel after Brads middle name.  Mary is so full of joy.  I tell her, "Mary I am so happy for you to have such a joyful thing happen to you.  God is so good.". . She and Brad are such miracles.

But boy has it been wild raising these 6 kids. .  . Its like a wild circus ride that you can't get off of. . . You yell at the guy running the ride every time you ride by him. . . "Stop this thing I want off." But he smiles and acts like he can't hear you. . And you yell, "Stop the world I want to get off." But you keep going round and round and round and round. . .

 

 Part 3 -  "Through the Valley of the Shadows"

 

 And ya know Mary Lehman my mentor taught me so much about loving my children. The older Titus mother was to teach the younger mothers to love their children.  Mary L. would tell me so often,"Connie just love those kids. . . They will do ok.". . Well I think in the old days if a kid acted up you threw 'em out as soon as they could work, and be on their own.  A rebellious son could throw the whole family off, or a daughter too. . But now a days its pretty dangerous to do that.

Jim's and my way was to walk with the kids through the Valley of the Shadows of Death.  In other words, you stay in touch with your prodigal. . . Even though you don't want to. . . Its hard when you have a kid that is hell bent to go nuts and drive everyone else nuts too.  For a Mother, its like running into a burning building to talk with a person who is calling you names. Been there and done that.  But ya know I was never willing to let the devil have one of my kids, not one.  

And no.. me and my happy band of Pinocchios are not very good examples of Christian living. . . My face is red as a beet.  Jim is tucked away in Heavenly Glory so I can't blame him for why all the kids do what they do.

But like Mary L. always told me,"Connie love is the answer," I never really got that as a young mom. But I get it better now. . . Its hard but I get it.  I read one other comment when I Googled my name the other day. . . one Lady said, "Well you can't help but love those Hultquists." I think of that often.  As my face is red and I am scared to death, I think of my life as a widow. . . How imperfect we Hultquists are.  But you-alls love, I think, has been a real healing to me.  Hopefully in our imperfections you can't help but love us. . .

 

Love Connie

 

{Note from the administrator: This writing has been gleaned from the archives of Connie's letters. Find out more about the posts on this blog by reading this introduction. }

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