Together Herron

Oreo Trifle!! All you need is one tub cool whip, one batch of pudding (or in my case my Nana's home made boiled custard) crushed oreos, cream cheese block, four tbs butter, and about twenty people to help you eat it. YUM Now, it's time for Mom's red velvet. 1 stick butter, softened 1 1/2 cups sugar 2 eggs 2 ounces red food coloring 2 Tablespoons cocoa (heaping) 1 cup buttermilk 2 1/4 cups cake flour 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon baking soda Cream together butter and sugar, a dd eggs, i n another bowl mix red food coloring and cocoa until cocoa is completely dissolved then add to the creamed mixture.  Mixing on low, add buttermilk and flour. Mix but do not over-beat!  Add vanilla, b lend the baking soda into the batter and you can either make cupcakes or use  two floured and greased 9 inch round cake pans.  Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Cool and pour on the frosting  A few tips:  1. You need at least two or three oz of red food coloring or you red...

Can you think of anything more magical at Christmas time than Opryland Hotel...poor Blake had never been before! I love going to see the lights, the large manger scene, and feeling small in such a palace. I was anxious to see it especially after the flood and remodeling. Everything was still beautiful but there wasn't as much of a canopy since a lot of the larger plants were ruined.  The evening started at our Christmas party at the Hillwood Country Club for work and ended up at the lovely hotel with our dear friends Kelsey and Dwayne. Can you believe our boss got us diamond earrings for Christmas? The filet mignon, cheesecake, and comedian was quite enough, but hey... diamonds are a girl's best friend right?  After getting lost, briskly walking through a million parking spots, and saying "it's freezing" about twenty times, we made it to the grand entrance! In case you didn't know already; Dwayne is the youth pastor at our church who happened to fall in love...

Gift: something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; present. something bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without being earned. It's hard to imagine what life would be like without gifts. Sometimes when I'm wrapping presents I think about all the little things that I've had, kept, or thrown away. One of the first gifts that i remember was a pearl bracelet with a locet attached that my dad gave to me as a little girl. I specifically remember the day that I lost it as well; on the playground in those little pebbles as i slid off the slide! There are so many people in my life that are gifts! Sometimes gifts come in the form of events, gatherings, or ideas. I'm just overwhelmed with the reminder of grace when I think about how God provides and takes away; all in His plan for us. Sometimes I can't wrap my mind around why He chose to give H...

So, in case you missed the last post... our church did a cookie swap! I've always heard of these kind of swaps but I've actually never been to one believe it or not. Not only was it a swap of cookies between us gals, we put together cookie bags for some special elder members of our church that may not have the merriest of Christmases. Maybe you could do this for someone this year? Even if you don't have a group to do it for, maybe bring some cookies or a special gift to someone that you know may be lonely or not the most social. One thing that I definitley miss from my old church in Knoxville are the older people!! It may sound funny but gosh, I really loved the older church members! They were always walking up to me giving me kisses on the cheek, they made me special gifts like a hand-sewn laundry hamper, and they would always grab my hand when I talked to them...and wouldn't let go until the conversation eneded! They're just so precious!! Maybe I've missed my ...