Seasons & Celebrations

Dear Mothers at Home,

This is a sad time for me over this Holiday time. I wish I could write about Christmas Cookies and Sweet Dough Christmas Breads. But you probably won't get that outta me this year. But I know there are plenty of good sites to go to that will encourage you in your homemaking. Last night, as Annie and I talked on the phone, I said, "Annie, I think the party is over. I may never write again." Of course, Annie laughed! I always laugh when she tells me anything devastating. But, seriously, can you all send in some writings for the group? If I did quit writing now, at least I have left the world with a few thousand writings. I have written many books of stories.

Dear Mothers,

I had a lot of interruptions yesterday so didn't get to write all that was in my heart. One thing I want to say here is this. Ya know it took me 12 years of prayin' to see my family come into order. But it won't take you all that long. See, Jill and Dixie and I, and some of the others, found our truth as we went along. But we were trailblazers. And so are many of you! But with my knowledge of the Word and some others -- and with what God does for you personally that I don't know about -- you will get a healed family in a lot less time.

When our first son Jimmy got married to Aleksondra, he was nearly shot. Aleks would spend all afternoon making a wonderful meat sauce for Jimmy's meat. And Jimmy would sit down to eat it and say, "Where's the ketchup?" He didn't know that anyone lived without ketchup. Aleks would just have a million fits over that. Jimmy then tried to never ask for it again. Aleks now doesn't allow ketchup in her house. Jimmy, being a Hultquist, tries to keep the cook happy.

Dear Mothers,

This evening, Jimmy (age 39) our oldest son and his wife Alecksondra and their little baby will be here. We will all gather at my folks for supper. The kids around here and their families will be there, too. My Mom is making Tacos and I will bring my macaroni salad. Then for the 4th we will all go to my brothers who lives on an acerage. And John will shoot off firecrackers for all of us to see.

Dear Kitchen Saints,

Oh, wow, it's summertime and the livin' is easy.

I am up in the night thinking of Christmas Dinner at noon today. My brother Scott gave our family a nice ham for Christmas. I had two chickens out thawing for dinner today. And Papa says maybe we could have the ham, too. I said, "Honey, my oven is not that big." So we put the ham away for another day. Oh, men. At Christmas, they love to watch the little woman cook.

Dear Christmas Mothers,

Last evening Lynetta came by for a Christmas visit. We laughed and had fun and drank a sip of the Cordial. And, of course, Lynetta took pictures and put them on the group. Peggy Sue had a merry time, too, although she was not allowed to drink the Cordial.

Dear Christmas Sisters,

Oh! Yesterday afternoon my friend Jill, who I often write about, and her husband Jerry came to our home to wish us a Merry Christmas! Oh, we had a jolly time. Jill and Jerry brought many presents and we had so much fun. Jill had made candy. On a lovely Christmas plate, she laid the dark fudge with walnuts Jerry had cracked. As a couple, they go out to the woods and find walnuts in the fall. Also, Jill brought a delicious pumpkin bread with the walnuts in it. They also brought 4 different kinds of Christmas candy. The dark fudge, peanut butter fudge, toffee, and caramel peanut clusters.

Dear Families,

A few mornings ago, Jim and I sat at the breakfast table and visited over coffee and talked about Christmas. Jim wrote down some thoughts to share with the husbands and fathers on the group. So I will relay them.

He writes, "Always remember that Jesus is the reason for the season and that Christ was born on Christmas Day."

Dear Christmas Sisters,

Oh! Our family had such a lovely Christmas Time last evening. We went to our Johnny's home for supper. We had looked forward to it all week. Saturday John was to get their Christmas tree and then, Sunday, we were to go in the evening to see the tree and have supper. Well, as it worked out, the kids didn't get their tree. And yesterday John called and told us but John said to come ahead for supper. I heard Papa on the phone, "Sorry you didn't get a tree, John." And then I heard Jim say, "What kinda tree do ya want?" and then I knew Wild Man was gonna buy the kids a tree.