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.* 

 

 

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.* 

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.* 

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!* 

World Events - and Keeping Your Home



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


Part 1 - World Events

Dear Daughters of a New Revolution,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Part 2 - The Wise Woman

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love Connie

 

 

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

Walking by Faith - Remembering son David

{From the Archives of Connie's Letters. June 2015.}


Ya know in my testimony "Bring Him Home"... I explain that when Jim came home and had given his heart to the Lord, he had asked me to have another child. . We had 3 children already ...Well I didn't want to have anymore children at the time. . Jim never stayed home over 3 months.  . and when he asked me to have another child he was due to leave me again. . He had been home about 2 and a half months. . I was trying to keep a cap on my fears. .

Yes I believed he was truly a Christian now. . But even Christians make mistakes. . I was wanting him to prove himself and be home maybe a year? at least? before we took on another baby..? 

But the Lord spoke to my heart that I needed to continue to walk  by faith. . . So I said "Yes" to Jim's desire to have another child. .  I wanted another child too. . .but I was just wanting to wait a while. .

Anyway our dear David was due on Jim's birthday, Oct 27th. . Jim got to see him being born. . Jim  hadn't been with me for the first 3 children. . Jim had been healed and was to be home with us until he died, 27 years later...

Our David was always so quiet .. A  peace maker.....He was deeply spiritual. . When I homeschooled the children, we started every day with devotions. .The children had to answer questions about the Bible. . David always knew the answers. . And when most of the kids moved away after Jim died, and they were grown. . . David never moved away. . His wife, the other day, told me that David stayed close to watch over his mother. . me. . He refused to leave.

David is our son who died a year ago on June 16th .  . He died at age 33 . . His wife had their children pick out bushes and plant them in their yard as a remembrance of  the first year after David's death. . The plants were called David. . . and they were white. . I had often written about the pure white rose with the crimson stain. . .

About a month ago, David's wife brot a pic over that she framed. . David was an artist. . Anyway, it was a pic of a Locked heart with a ribbon flowing through it that says Mom and Dad on it. . Now Jim and David are in Heaven together.

 

And I don't mean to say David was perfect. . But there seems to be a reason for his birth. . probably more than what I know. . And a reason for his death. .

 

After we had his memorial and we were all out visiting on my front  porch, carloads of  kids rolled in and came up on the porch. . I heard over and over . . . as they shook hands with me and introduced themselves. . "David was our best friend"... I fought back the tears then as I do now. . I trust in God to heal my broken heart. . . .Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him. . Love Connie

 

 

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

Menus for the Week

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


Dear Home Keepers,

On our response group Canaan suggested that we all make out menus for the week.  . I think it is a good idea. . . I used to do this when the family was home. . Anyway hopefully we can all get some good ideas from each other for meals. .

This is how I used to do it . . . On one piece of paper I would write out my menus.. Then on the other paper I would write down the grocery items I would need to make the family meals. .

If Jim was working and got off work in the evening, then I would have the family meal around 5:00. . And if he was working a 2nd shift, I would have a family meal before he went to work in the afternoon. . .

Then we just had simple breakfasts, they varied.  I made barrels of pancakes. . and fried eggs. . Sometimes we had oatmeal or just toast and a glass of milk . . The meals we had when Jim was at work were just leftovers or sandwiches. . . Or just popcorn with a vegetable salad. 

I make the regular popcorn in a skillet on the stove. . Not microwave. To make real popcorn, just put about a fourth cup of oil in a skillet on the stove. . Then pour in about a half cup of popcorn. . Put a lid on it and shake it up a little bit to redistribute the popcorn so it won't burn. . Turn the heat on high ...then turn it down a bit when it starts to pop good  . . . it only takes about 10 minutes to make fresh popcorn.  And oh it is so good .  .We liked to eat apples with our popcorn. . and Kool-Aid to drink. I would eat my popcorn with cheese and dill pickles. . Well it is fun to have popcorn for supper. . I usually drank ice tea with my popcorn. 

The popcorn is done when it stops popping in the skillet . . Be sure to have a big bowl handy to put your popcorn in when it is done popping.  . After it is all done just melt some butter and put it on the popcorn and stir it up with salt sprinkled on it. . Sometimes we would put Parmesan cheese on it..  plus the butter. 

You can even buy bulk popcorn at the Dollar Store now. . And to some of you older ladies - Many younger ladies in this generation don't really even know about cooking popcorn on the stove. That's why I am explaining it. . I am not trying to insult anyone's intelligence.


Love Connie

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