“There is no greater joy than making someone smile.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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“A purposeful act or extension of kindness to another is never wasted, for it always resides in the hearts of all involved in a chain of love.” ― Molly Friedenfeld
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Yesterday, I started my cookie baking marathon. I started out at the store buying last minute supplies. The cashier, Miss Sherrie is a landmark at Albertson’s. I always say, “How are you today?” She replies, “Onery as ever.” She saw all my flour, sugar, butter, etc. and said,”Looks like you’re gonna do a lot of baking.” I told her I always bake tons of cookies for Christmas and she said she wouldn’t mind having a few. We laughed, but it gave me an idea.
This morning I finished up dipping the peanut butter cookies in dark chocolate and making the lemon cake balls and dipping them in white chocolate. I made all my containers to share with neighbors and the two for the fire stations. But, I made a little container to take over to Miss Sherrie. I remembered that she said she was working Christmas Eve.
I got in line at her register with just the container on the belt. It had a little note that just said Merry Christmas, Toni. She tried to scan the bottom several times then said, “Honey, there’s no bar code on this.” I laughed and said, “That’s because those are the cookies I made for you, Miss Sherrie.” She was really overwhelmed and delighted. She came around the counter and gave me a big hug. We exchanged Christmas well wishes, and when I left, she had the biggest smile. (I love random acts of kindness!)
This expression says it all.
My next stop was Fire Station #5. I’ve made an ornament for them every year since I moved to Texas in ’04 and always have a batch of cookies. I asked them if they put up a tree this year, and they said just a tiny little thing. But they said they’d hang this special one up on their tiny tree. They remembered me as the ornament lady and thanked me. I shook their hands and thanked them right back.
Next stop, Fire Station #2. I started dropping off goodies there a few years ago when a bunch of the guys from #5 got transferred to station #2. Double duty.
I didn’t even have to knock on the door. They saw me coming. Gotta love our guys in blue!
When I got home,mother sun was still shining and it was a gloriously warm and lovely day, so I took a walk and dropped off cookies at Bernadine’s house. She’s the lady that made banana nut bread for me the other day. Sweet lady. She invited me to have a cup of tea, but I wanted to walk and enjoy the sun before dark.
Isn’t she precious.
More cookies went across the street to Miss Kathy, some to Mr. Mike, and some to the family next door. I still have a lot of cookies, but tomorrow is Christmas, and I’m sure they will find their way to a good home. Not to mention, my son Matt arrives tonight, and he loves my cookies. And…I’ve sampled quite a few…just to make sure they were good.
Toni Andrukaitis 
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