It seems as of late that everywhere I go, I smell apple blossoms.

We used to have apple trees in our yard and when they bloomed, it was awesome. Mom didn’t like it so much because of her allergies, but I remember picking some of the blossoms and taking them to her as a bouquet. She never said anything and always put them in a jar of water on the windowsill. I know now that they bothered her, but she never said a word about it.

Moms have the toughest job in the world. They put their lives on hold for their children. And then you have children who do not see this sacrifice. They don’t respect their own mother, so how can they respect themselves. Drugs are a big part of everyday lives and I see kids flushing their lives down the toilet and ripping their parent’s hearts out. And for what, a high they will never achieve, chasing the tiger and never catching it.

I never understood the appeal of drugs in the first place. You use them once and spiral down into the abyss. People steal, lie and even kill for them. Everyday the news is full of drug fueled rage and meaningless violence. We never had that to worry about growing up. I know mom went to great lengths to keep the bad things from us. She went through a lot for us that I look back on now and it breaks my heart.

She was a very strong individual and I am proud to have called her my mother. She still gives me the strength to get through every day and I wish every kid out there could have a woman as strong and loving for a mother as I had. Momma Said, “Love like there is no tomorrow, because it could all be gone in an instant.”

RED VELVET OREO BARS

Ingredients:
· 1 stick butter, softened
· 1 egg
· 1 box red velvet cake mix, 15.25 oz
· 1 standard package oreos, 14.3 oz
· 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
· 1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350º F. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer until smooth, 1 minute. Beat in the egg. Gradually beat in the red velvet cake mix.
Spray a 9×13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray. Use your hands to press the batter into the pan. It will be thick. Add about 20 oreos to the batter, pressing them in. Bake the bars for 14-16 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the bars to cool completely.
Place the chocolate chips in a mixing bowl. Heat the heavy cream in a small pot over low heat on the stove until it begins to boil. Once it starts boiling, pour the heavy cream over the chocolate chips, letting the mixture sit for 2-3 minutes, then stir well to combine.
Pour the chocolate over the bars and top with crushed oreos. Allow the bars to set before cutting. Store in an airtight container