Giving to others through Christmas cookies

This December 2, marks the 21st year that Connie Killian of Scott City, Missouri will open her home to friends, relatives, neighbors, friends of friends, nursing home friends, and everyone near and far. Connie's story early in November when she begins organizing cookie recipes, cleaning cookie containers, gathering baking ingredients, and decorating her home for Christmas--a favorite time of the year to love and to share. She and her husband Arnold Killian, who works at KFVS, will open their doors on the first Friday of December to everyone who comes to her home. She and Arnold will share stories, happiness, cookies, coffee, and a warm loving atmosphere of the real meaning of giving at Christmas. Connie, along with her son and daughter, will begin their marathon baking of cookies the day after Thanksgiving. The news will quickly spread through the churches, the senior citizens' center, the local people, and even friends and loved afar. After mixing, baking, storing, and decorating for Christmas, the fun begins. Connie and Arnold welcomes everyone to come. I stopped by last year--the 20th year. I did not know what to expect. I was overwhelmed with friendship, singing of songs, stories, walking through the beautifully decorated Christmas-themed rooms of their home, and sitting down and drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies like Cookie Monster from Sesame Street. DELIGHTFUL. At the end of the day, when all have come and gone, the remaining cookies are bagged, boxed, loaded up and taken to the nursing homes and the Teen Challenge Center. Every cookie is delicious.