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.* 

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.* 

Little Housewife Booklets

Connie's Kitchen

{From the Archives of Connie's Letters. April 29, 2011.. 6:22 a.m.}

 

Dear Sisters at Home...

 

This morning I was thinking of the lil magazines I got at our Antique Shops here in our town. . It was when I was a young wife and Mother. . 

They were from the United States Government.  It was during WW2 when they used food coupons to ration out the food. . There wasn't enough food to go around as they needed it for the soldiers in the war. . So anyway, about once a month the Gov. sent out these lil magazines telling the housewife how to use less sugar and other staples. . Because for example .  . the store would get just a certain amount of sugar, So the housewife could only buy maybe 3 pounds of sugar for the month.  So these lil mags would tell the lady of the house how to substitute honey and not use so much sugar. 

These women used to cook with a lot of raisins. . . And the raisins would be the sweetness in her cookies or muffins. . . Of course the folks who lived on a farm fared so much better than the city people, as they could hunt for game and have bigger gardens etc. . 

The little magazines were 2 bucks, back then, when I bought them at the Antique Shop.  So I could only afford one here and there.  But oh how I loved those lil mags. And I would say to the Lord, as I would read them, "Lord I so wish, now days, the Gov. would still send out these magazines to encourage the mothers."

 

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.* 

Faith and Homemaking

Connie's Kitchen

{From the Archives of Connie's Letters. May 23, 2012.}


 Ya know Mary L., my mentor, was so spiritual. .  . She spent
a lot of time laying face down before Jesus' feet praying. . . She was a great woman of prayer. . . And through her I met a lot of women of prayer.  I do feel a great urgency to talk to you about spiritual things, along with the homemaking spirit. 

 I think we need to know our way around the spiritual realm too. . . Things seem to get worse by the day for our country.  We need to
be strong in the Lord and in His power.  I remember when Jim was first saved and we were trying to make it as a family.  I felt so absolutely lost. I know some of you feel that way too. . I hear ya. 

Well anyway, Mary L. started these classes called, "The Philosophy of Womanhood." We ladies would get together at Mary's house every week and listen to a tape. Then we had worksheets to do each class too. . . Every week I felt washed in the Word of God.  I wouldn't be here today, I don't think, had I not had those tapes. 

Well then later on a friend copied these tapes for me and I listened to them every day here at home.  I wore the tapes out.  I would have 2 tape recorders going: one in the kitchen on homemaking, and one in the living room on faith.  So I could hear the recordings all over the house at different times.  And that's what it is all about. . . Faith and homemaking. . . It isn't all homemaking and it isn't all Faith.  They have to go together.  And Mary L. loved her homemaking and her family.  She loved her dishes and enjoyed having folks over for a meal. She would make wonderful recipes.

She was sick for just a short while before she died at, I think, 78 years old.  But right up to the end she was cooking and cleaning, ironing and sewing.

 Russ, her husband,  still goes to work every day. . . He is 84, I think.  But when she was alive, they lived like they did in their 40's or 50's.  Every day they got up at 4:30.  Mary fixed Russ's lunch for work and a big breakfast.  While Russ was at work, Mary was at home doing her homemaking. Mary said when she would get mad at Russ, she would tell Jesus about it. . And she said the Lord would say to her, "Mary, do you have all of Russ's laundry done? Do you have all of the buttons sewn on his work shirts? And are they ironed?"  Mary was so sweet.   I sure do miss 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.* 

Weak Women

Connie's Kitchen

{From the Archives of Connie's Letters. July 15, 2009.}



 Weak women will have many masters, and none will treat them right.  They refuse to submit to their husbands - as Priest of the home. . . And in so doing, they will submit to many masters. . .The world will guide them. They will listen to every preacher on the radio and try to make their husbands obey the latest TV preacher .  . .the one they thought was "right on". . .Well everyone said he was the best Bible teacher alive today, so wife thinks husband should obey him, hands down. . Never mind that Husband hasn't even heard the latest TV preacher. Heck, he just got home from work. . . He ain't thinkin' of anything except, "Hey Honey, what's for supper??"

 Of course Honey don't have supper on, as she is reading her Bible being spiritual. . . And she wonders why her husband isn't saved yet.  If a wife will put her husband first, then its okay to listen to TV and radio preachers.   But these men are not your authority in your home. . . Your husband is the head of the home. . . We are to reverence and praise our husbands. . . not our preachers. . .We wives are to glorify our husbands. We are their glory and they are to be God's glory. . . Our glory is our long hair, or our covering, before our husbands. . . As we, on purpose, veil ourselves or grow our hair long for our covering, then this speaks of our meek and quiet spirit. . .This is our beauty, our submissive, meek spirits. We need to run our homes to please our husbands, to make them happy.

You ask, "okay, when do I get waited on? When is it my turn to rest and have time to myself?" . . . I don't know. . . seriously, until the last few years I never even heard a woman ask that question. . . 

Most women, since the beginning of time, pretty much knew that her work as wife and mother was NEVER done. . . "Man was to work from sun to sun but a woman's work was never done." . . . We had 6 children. . . Often a lil' one would keep me up all night. . . But then, when the alarm went off, and I had barely had any sleep, I got up with my husband to make his coffee and send him off to work with a smile. I most always walked him out to the car and threw kisses to him as he drove away. . Sometimes I pretended to race him to the corner as I ran down the street, just to make him laugh. Yeah it was a lot of work, but I was married for almost 40 years, so it was worth it. 

I never lost any of my kids.  I kept the family fed and cared for on very little income.  I worked at it, believe me. . . And my husband did praise and bless me in the end. . . and my children also. . . So yes, it was worth it.

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.* 

Women of Faith and Courage

Connie's Kitchen

{From the Archives of Connie's Letters. October 2, 2010.}



Ladies this is, I think the winter we have all been preparing for. . don't you? Could we all send
in ideas about things to stock up on and ideas of how to stay warm if the electricity goes out?

Well every Fall I would stock up on as much flour and baking supplies as I could drag home, or had the money for. . And as many canned items as I could afford. Canned items will keep a long time.

I would say no matter what don't abandon the house if the electricity and heat goes off. . If you are out of the wind at home you can make it.  Just put on coats and blankets . . But if you leave the house you wont know if the pipes freeze. . If you let your faucets run a bit, they wont freeze. We have a kerosene burner for back up.  And I have kerosene stored.  Kerosene is expensive, but better than leaving to go to a shelter.  So what are you all doing to get ready for winter? 

Proverbs 31:25 speaks of the virtuous woman. . . Strength and honor are her clothing. . and she will REJOICE in the time to come. . . The virtuous woman holds her dignity intact. . .She stays confident in God.

Verse 21 says she is not afraid of the snow for her household . .for her household are clothed in scarlet.  In other words she is prepared for whatever.

 I think it's interesting that verse says her family is clothed in scarlet.  To me that means the blood of Jesus.  So the virtuous mother is strong and prayed up against the coming winter storms.

Well our country is in an economic storm now. . . but we are not afraid, right? Because we are tough.  We aren't lil fraidy cats . . We are gonna put on our big girl aprons and sit at the table with the Proverbs 31 woman of strength and dignity.  No weapons formed against us will prosper.

The virtuous woman Fears the Lord. . and not the world.. When things get tough, she stands alone on the Word of God.. In confidence and quietness she makes a home of peace for her family. .

I think to prepare spiritually is the most important thing.  . And make sure you have NO FEAR in your heart.  Trust in God with all your heart and don't lean to your own understanding. . 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.* 

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," - It is autobiographical and tells the beautiful story of her marriage testimony! You will be encouraged in old time homemaking.* 

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," - It is autobiographical and tells the beautiful story of her marriage testimony!* 

The Message of the Hour for the Family

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

I never learned one spiritual thing from folks feelin' sorry for me, or on a bed of ease.  I think I learned most of what I know from the hard times.

When I would go up for a prison visit, I would ask Jim how he was doing? He would say "Just doin' time. . . Hard time.." And it was hard...but in those times we learned how to follow Jesus. . . I did go through the fire. . and it was hot with many trials . . But I feel that the Lord rewarded me and gave me more peace then what a lot of folks have.

I am very peaceful here at home. . . I just feel the angels around me. I feel God's love surrounding me. . . If I do get down or depressed, I just read my Bible until I feel better.

But it is the truth that will set us free and nothing else. . . And if a true believer tells us something to help us, we should listen. . . I have been praying so hard lately.  I can see that I have gotten so generic lately.

Ya know I like Benny Hinn, the TV evangelist? I don't get him on my TV lately as I don't have cable. . . But I used to have cable and I would watch him here and there . . . And as I was watching him one day I said out loud, "Ya know if the preacher would ask the audience, 'How many here need healing of the body?' I bet it would be about a fourth, maybe, of the people need healing of the body. . . But then if Pastor Hinn asked, 'How many folks need a healing for their broken families?' I would imagine about the whole audience would need a healing for the family. . . Because the TRUTH is not told."

Christians are running around marrying and divorcing like crazy. And then after a divorce, Mother has to go work and the children's lives are turned upside down. . . And ya know Benny and his wife separated . . . then in 2010 they divorced. .  . But just lately they went back together.  I think the Lord allowed this to happen to the Hinn family because it won't be long and he and his family will be preaching about the restoration of the family.  Now we will get somewhere in the body of believers.

This is why I feel so thankful that Mrs. Nancy Campbell put my testimony on her Facebook again and I was able to update it.  Because, to me, the message on the healing of the marriage has got to be the message of the hour. . .

Love Connie

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

Religious Feminism

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


Part 1


Dear Stay at Home Mothers,

What a privilege it is for me to write to you...What a privilege it is to have inspiration ... I felt for a while I was losing the anointing to write...And when Nancy Campbell who writes the magazine Above Rubies ask me to update my testimony "Bring Him Home"I felt I had nothing to say.. I felt like a little girl on stage with nothing but a feeling of being totally blank.. I felt completely empty.. But lately the Lord is encouraging me.. And He is letting me feel the rain drops of blessings. . but for the Showers I plead. .I sit in a place this morning to be able to influence a lot of Mothers in their Homes.. and I am gonna do it if it kills me.. And it is surely easier with an anointing. .But I am gonna write with or without an anointing.. And it is my privilege ..it is my blessing. . and I thank God for it. .And I will write until you all say you don't need me anymore...

I stayed in my marriage when it was hard..and you can too.. We don't have to give up..Yes the economy in our country is bad...Yes the morals in our country make me heart sick too.. Everywhere we look it seems there is no hope.. But I didn't give up on my marriage and I wont give up on my country either. .The Word says IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY THEN I WILL HEAL THEIR LAND. . .

France once said .."To change a country we need good mothers.." Feminism and especially religious feminism is one of the worst curses on our country today.  .Mother is encouraged to leave home and get a job .. Feminism is an unholy blazing fire that seems to have left a lot of women amazed in their tracks. .  They are paralyzed with FEAR..They have forgotten to do what is right...

This Fire of fear has an unholy smoke that seems to be able to go where it desires to go. .And it leaves abandoned crying children in her paths.. Crying neglected children ... Starving neglected children ..even in our country..

Part 2

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
- 2 Chronicles 7:14

This scripture promises us that our land of America can be healed..If we as Mothers seek His face and turn from our wicked ways..We need to pray for our husbands and our children..We need to rise when it is yet dark and pray and prepare spiritual meat for our households. .  We need to live in a quiet submission to our husbands..and let our works of righteousness be our testimonies..We need to let our husbands take spiritual authority in our homes..And yet we need to seek the Lord ourselves not just use our husbands for yes and no answers...We need to speak to our husbands out of a meek and quiet heart..when God tells us its the right time to speak ....Yes the Feminist will tell you that you are an idiot to not make your own rules..

Well I will say to the feminist.."So how is that workin' out for ya"? The feminists have nearly destroyed our country..the religious ones especially...How has this plan of the religious women in authority helped our children..? our families ? No it has been our destruction. . And it seems so many men have just given up on themselves as heads of the home..its easier to let their wives take over..It may be easier but there will be a Hell and a destruction to pay in the end..

Part 3

 We Mothers need to fight our battles in our aprons..What if we could each be a Suzanna Wesley in our homes ..Suzanna's husband was a lot of the time in debtors prison. .She lost what ? i think 8 of her 19 children in death. . And yet she managed to cause revival in her country of England through her 2 sons she raised for the Lord. . John Wesley was an evangelist and Charles was the song writer..

Love Connie

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