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.* 

 

 

 

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.* 

 

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.* 

 

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.* 

Homemade Housewife Book

Connie's Kitchen

{From the Archives of Connie's Letters. May 11, 2010.}



  I used to write my housework ideas down.  If you can make an old fashioned, housewifery book. . . it will come in handy. . . Maybe just take notebook paper and bind it with ribbon or brown string.  Make a cover for it out of maybe a brown sack.  On a Sunday night, in the evening, write ideas for the following week of housewifery.  

Make a general idea of a 7 day menu, mainly for the family meal for each day. . . Such as Monday:  goulash. Tuesday: hot dogs and beans, etc,. Just a general idea.  Then write a grocery list for your week . . Then top clean each day and do deep cleaning after naps. .  . from like 2:00 to 4:00.

 Have a special project like Monday: wash bedding. Tuesday: do extra baking, etc,.  But write down each day what the special project would be.  Just make a schedule of ideas and try to follow them or bounce off of them.  If you get distracted, at least you still have your housewifery ideas to look back on.  

  And ya know, I am just making suggestions.  If you try some of these ideas and you can't get them to work, just tweak them to fit your life.

  Basically top clean in the mornings and get the family meal started by 9:00 a.m. and the kitchen cleaned.  Then fix lunch and rest with the children.  Then, in the afternoon, do your special project, like sewing or doing extra baking, or cleaning out closets, or under your bed.  Or a special day to do extra gardening, or paint the porch.  

But by like 4:00 start supper.  Then free time after supper to do family things.  Then put the children to bed with plenty of kisses and hugs and prayers.



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.* 

An Old Fashioned Family



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




Dear Mothers,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love Connie

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

* Order Connie's book, "Dear Kitchen Saints," - 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!* 

Christmas Time

{From the Archives of Connie's Letters. December 8, 2007.}


Many years ago when I had a lil 5 year old boy, we got kicked out of our apartment just before Christmas. . A church moved us to another apartment, thank the Lord. . And when we got there, we had no food.  It was a sad time. 


I remember my lil boy telling the landlady, that threw us out, . . "It's almost my Birthday."  I sat at the window in my new apartment and looked out . . I spoke to Jim out there somewhere in that snowy world. . . "Where are you, Jim? It's almost Christmas."  


I just thought, "Why Lord ..why haven't you answered my prayers?" God knew ahead of time what my life would be like. . I was so devastated, but the Lord knew my future. . He had it in His hands. . The Lord couldn't even tell me the glorious answers to prayer that I was about to see in the years ahead. . .


Had an angel come to see me and told me my future, I wouldn't have believed it.  But I was to go on and see 26 more years of a healed marriage. . I was to spend 26 of the most glorious Christmases I could ever imagine.


I was to see my beloved husband give his heart and life to Christ. . I was to have 5 more children. . I didn't know how good God was. .  . I was to give my story of a healed marriage, not just to my state of Iowa, but around the world. . I didn't know the goodness of God or his power. . I wasn't even a writer then. . I was young, just 25 years old. . The world just looked at me and Jim as 2 accidents going some place. . 


Years later, after the Lord gave us a miracle, a lady who was a politician's wife came to me for counseling. . She paid me to counsel her. . She was a dear saint. . That was mind boggling to me. 


 Now at this Christmas time, in the natural, looks so bleak to me.  I think back to that snowy Christmas years ago when all seemed lost. . . . And I think of how God made it all up to me and gave me double blessings. . He gives us exceeding and abundantly more then we can think or ask. . 


 As you follow Christ you will see His glory.  . Decide that you will not be defeated and that you will not quit. .


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!*