Homemade Chocolate Chips Cookies?

Today’s picture is of my friend Jil.  She works in the same office as I do.   She is the one I bought my first “real” camera from, and who inspired me to start scrapbooking, and quilt making, and card making and ……the list goes on as life does.  Our one constant thread that connects us has been cross stitch.  We always have to show each other our latest investment to our stash.  And often, because Jil is a starter and seldom a finisher when it comes to cross stitch, I get her rejects!  I tease her that she needs my approval before making any cross stitch purchases because it may end up being mine in the near future. 

Jil loves to quilt.  I tried.  I really did.  I started with a quilt of the month.  I worked on January’s block using my sewing machine.  I ripped out all the stitching on January’s block and tried again doing it by hand.  I ripped it out again.   I went back to the store and got more materials for January’s block and tried a third time.  That’s as far as I got on the quilt.  Donna, a mutual friend of ours, took pity and offered to put it together for me.  I couldn’t believe she would want to do that – but our friend Donna also loves quilting, has a passion for it.  I think she was more appalled that I would quit without even finishing the first month, but my motto is “If at first you don’t succeed, don’t take up bungee jumping.”  And I’m adding quilting to that statement!  Because the third time is not a charm, it’s just pure frustration.

Jil and I have known each other many years.  I remember her sons when they were in grade school/middle school.  I stayed with the boys when Jil and her husband were out of town for the weekend.  My fondest memory (and SO Jil) is when her youngest asked if I would make them homemade chocolate chips cookies.  I said, “Well sure!  Where is the flour, chips and Crisco?”  He looked at me strangely and informed me homemade chocolate chip cookies came in a tube from the refrigerated case at the store.  Not to disappoint him, we went to the grocery store and got the cookies in a tube, went home and made them.  They probably turned out much better than if I had attempted making them from scratch!   Jil has something there…..

As with long-time friends, we have seen each other through many good times and many bad times.  She can make me laugh (and isn’t that what friends are for?), and I have cried for her when her heart was broken.   She has seen her family through sicknesses and accidents, weddings, births and hauling her deceased grandmother in the back of a station wagon (that’s another story all its own).  She’s a storyteller, and she doesn’t even have to make up anything!!!  She is one friend I know I can talk to that will give a listening ear.  Our solution to most of life’s problems end with chocolate, another love we share.  And I can always, ALWAYS, depend on Jil to have tasted all the desserts at any restaurant within a 60 mile radius, tried out the latest Quick Trip or new grocery store that opened in town, and will know what flavor Sheridan’s Custard is promoting this month.  If you talk football, it had better be the Arkansas Razorbacks or Kansas City Chiefs, and her grandchildren are the loves of her life.  She thinks her husband is pretty special, too.  And her kids…..well, she just loves her whole family!!  She is one friend I have that God has blessed me with, over and over again.