My sister and I weren’t always best friends, but the older we got and had families of our own, we have become very close. We are best friends. Just recently, we decided to do some things that would further that bond and have fun while we do them.

Each week, one of us picks a recipe (from a really popular cookbook we both purchased recently) and fix it over the weekend. Then, we share whether it’s “a keeper” and if we tweaked the recipe in any way. (Of course, we each write personal comments by the recipe in our cookbooks to remind us how it turned out for the next time we make it.) Then, the next weekend, the other one chooses a recipe.

Also, both of us wanted to start making creative homemade cards. So, we started with Father’s Day and had so much fun coming up with very imaginative, thoughtful cards. We’ll both be making a card for our mom’s birthday and hope to make many more for holidays, birthdays, and for just every day occasions.

This may sound easy enough, but we live over 900 miles away from each other. She lives in Arizona, and I live in Colorado. How do we do it? For just around $35 each, we both bought identical video/audio cams for our computers. Then, when we finish a card, we can visually share the final result. And, every time one of us has a grandbaby over, we “dial” each other up and share that special time together, too.

Whether you live near or far from your sister or your closest friends, it’s important to share life in creative ways. Do you both enjoy baking? Share recipes when you bake up a new creation. How about scrapbooking? It’s always fun to reminisce. Crafts, sewing, poetry, decorating, flower arranging, reading the same book, favorite magazine… the possibilities are endless. Discover each other’s interests and focus on those you have in common, or try something brand new for both of you. Try several things. But, whatever you do, HAVE FUN!

P.S. My husband’s smiling ’cause I’m trying new recipes and I’m happier because I’m doing something I enjoy - with someone I love. By the way, the picture above is not of my sister and me. I have pictures of the two of us together but one or the other had a bad hair day. So, for the sake of relationship…