He carefully and thoroughly unwrapped the faded Stars and Stripes…

“…walk, even as he walked.”
1 John 2:6

I met the over-qualified truck driver at his unloading location.

I had a sack lunch complete with warm chocolate chips waiting for him. 

Dad had taken a job driving truck twenty years prior after his east coast place of employment burned to the ground and our family’s savings had run dry. It was supposed to be a temporary position given his Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics.  The pay was good and the work was steady. What was expected as a job for a few months, turned into years of employment.

Decades later, Following several zip code changes for both of us, I felt blessed to get to have lunch with him each week as his route brought him to my town. 

One week as I climbed up into the cab and sat chatting about the week’s inconsequential news, Dad looked beyond me out the window and said “Hold on a minute…”

He climbed out of the cab, walked slowly and intently toward an old building on site of where he would soon unload. It didn’t take me long to identify his purpose. There was an American flag tangled around its pole.He carefully and thoroughly unwrapped the faded Stars and Stripes until they literally hung free of twists and knots. He slowly walked back to the truck. I could tell he was tired- but never too tired to do the right thing. 

No one else may have ever noticed the untangled flag, but it has left a lasting impression on me reminding me to live a life filled with integrity. He simply did the right thing even if no one else would ever know. 

I often ponder this thought as it pertains to my choice in living the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sometimes it feels easy to become lazy when I know no one is watching.  But that’s where I fall into check. My Father in Heaven is ALWAYS watching and my Savior is ALWAYS ready and willing to offer His grace and remind me of His life’s course and sacrifice.

I occasionally come across the poorly focused photo I took that day of Dad. The picture tells me a story of a man who didn’t wait for life to play out according to and as he worked for and expected it to – for him to praise God and live accordingly. Rather, it tells a story and refreshes my motivation to live a life of unwavering integrity.

-JC

Boston Cream Pie Cookies

1 cup soft butter
½  cup vegetable oil
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
3 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt

Cream butter, oil  and sugars with an electric mixer on medium-high for 1 minute or until well blended. Hand stir in eggs and vanilla extract; don’t over-mix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add 2-3 Tablespoons more flour for high elevation. Scoop out approximately 24 – 2” balls of dough. Gently roll and flatten slightly.
(For a richer flavor and smoother texture refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake.) 
Place on parchment paper lined aluminum cookie sheets.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10+ minutes. Let cool completely.
Pipe chilled Vanilla Cream straight from a Ziploc bag with a 1 inch corner trimmed off.  Top with a generous drizzle of Chocolate Ganache. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Share!

Vanilla Cream
2 – 5.1 oz. packages of vanilla instant pudding mix
2 ¼ cups cold milk
Dash of salt
12 oz. thawed Cool Whip
Beat pudding mix, milk and salt with an electric mixer until smooth, approximately 3 minutes. Fold in Cool Whip. Spoon into two different gallon sized Ziploc bags. (This will make it easier to handle.) Refrigerate until ready to use.

Chocolate Ganache
1 cup whipping cream
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Heat on low whisking constantly. Cool to room temperature.