Update!

It's been a while since I've written a blog so I thought I'd update my fellow bloggers with what has been going on in our lives. I am officially teaching again in a first grade classroom and will start my first day back in January as classes resume. I am ecstatic to be back in the classroom and have been working diligently to get my room the way I want it. Noah, Gracie, and Jaden have been helping me clean, organize, and get things set up in the class and they will transfer from St. Marys to Waynesville in January as well so that we are all at the same school. Eve started daycare close to the school and she loves going and spending time with her little peeps. She's perpetually surrounded by "big" kids so this is a nice change for her to "talk" with other toddlers and play.

Jon just had surgery to repair some bothersome problems he has been having and Eve is still struggling with her chronic sinus infection. She has been to the allergist twice and goes to the ENT to see if she needs sinus surgery to get her back to normal. My oldest and youngest "Hattenites" have seen better days, physically speaking.

Our Christmas was wonderful as all of the kids were in our home on Christmas morning to see all that Santa had brought. Jon's parents, Sally and Richard, were with us and they enjoyed watching the kids open their presents and play with all of their goodies. Santa brought me a new Suburban (well, that was a present to myself to haul the critters around) and Jon surprised me with exactly what I wanted--a Kitchen Aid mixer so that I can make my homemade pizza crust without kneading by hand. Yea!

I am halfway through my Master's program and have a 4.0 GPA thus far. I will graduate in October of 2009 and can't wait to get that pay increase (to help pay for that Suburban, no doubt!) As always, we have been really busy and have had another wonderful year together. All of us have grown, learned, and have gained a new found appreciation for each other. We are looking forward to a fabulous 2009 and can't wait to see what God has in store for us.

Have a wonderful New Year!

Happy Birthday, Jaden!

Jaden's 6th birthday was yesterday and we celebrated by roller skating, eating Jaden's favorite meal (chicken tenders), and having a party. Here are a few pics of the family enjoying the day!

Have You Ever...

Have you ever went somewhere and you knew that was the place where you were meant to be? I've had this experience occur a few times, mostly on a spiritual basis in regards to finding a church home. More recently, this happened to me when I went to a job interview a couple of weeks ago. I have been searching for a teaching job for a few months now and since the school year is in full swing, teaching jobs are scarce. I have been substituting in two schools locally and although I've been thankful for the work, things just haven't "clicked." You know what I'm talking about, that special feeling that makes you know that you were destined to be at that particular location at that particular time for some specific purpose. Well, I just haven't felt that. I was getting discouraged and I applied for several jobs in my county and surrounding counties but had not heard back from anyone. A couple of weeks ago, I got a call for an interview for a position I applied for in Brantley County, which is about 45 minutes away from my home. I went to the interview with the attitude that I was going to just go to the interview for the sake of going, but when I got there I KNEW without a shadow of a doubt that God was leading me to this school. I have NEVER, EVER interviewed with a panel of educators in which I felt so comfortable and that my views, style, and outlook on education meshed so well with the principal. She is a dynamic educator and I felt that she sees in me the value, desire, and passion that I have for teaching. When I left that interview, I was hoping that the interview team felt the same about me. About an hour after I got home, the principal called me and wanted me to come in the next morning for a second interview. After arranging daycare for all four of the kids (they were out of school that day), I accepted the interview and was asked many of the same questions. Feeling quite disheartened, I went home and mulled over the whole situation. An hour later, the principal called me to tell me that she was submitting my name to the board of education as her applicant for the position! Pending the results of the board meeting, I'll know on December 8th if I "officially" have the job! Pray that it all works out!

Happy Halloween!

A Letter to Me

The older I get the more and more I find myself listening to country music. It could be that handsome country man I live with, but whatever the influence is, I like it. Brad Paisley has a song out entitled, “Letter to Me” which I have heard a hundred times before, but today when I was driving I began thinking what I advice would I give myself if I could go back in time to when I was seventeen. Although I know this is cliché to say, I would not change anything in my life because I would not be where I am today. With that being said, if I could write a letter offering advice to myself, this is what I would say:


Dear Heather,

This is your senior year in high school and although you think that you know what you want in this life, you don’t. Take your time and enjoy your youth. You are so responsible…live a little on the wild side! Return a library book a day late or better yet, skip school on senior skip day like the rest of the class. Go away to college, meet new people, build strong friendships, become confident in yourself, and realize what a jewel you are going to be for that lucky man one day. Give yourself time to find out who you are before you try to decide what you want. You are a strong woman and have so much to offer—never forget that!

You are going to deal with a lot of heartache in your life, but God will get you through it all. There will be times when you will be fortunate enough to see the big picture, but many more times you will ask yourself, “Why?” Try not to focus on the “why,” but rather the “what now?” You will be a voice for the voiceless and there are times when you are going to feel like you have lost your mind. Don’t worry—your faculties will remain intact and through it all you will grow, love, weep, break, and rebuild.

Love your family with reckless abandon and don’t be ashamed to cry in front of your mother—she bore you and she knows you are human. Let your daddy call you “Gookie Baby” because when you get older there are going to be many, many, many times that you wish you could hear his voice calling out those words. Build a relationship with your brother even if he pushes you away. Remember to say, “I’m sorry” and realize that you, too, aren’t the easiest person to live with.

Cherish those shopping trips with your granny and mom and don’t make fun of them when they say, “Ah, look at the pretty trees,” when driving down Beulah Lane in the autumn. You are going to wish you could hear the rustling of the leaves, smell the aroma of the freshly cooked apple butter, and taste your dad’s pinto beans and cornbread every fall for the rest of your life.

Finally, let God work in your life and always listen for His voice. There are going to be many times when your own voice will drown out His, but it is always there. Learn when to be quiet, when to listen, and when you need to just “be.” If you do this, everything else will be okay.

I love you, even though you missed being in the National Honor Society because you got a D+ in geometry.


Sincerely,


Yourself at 33

Head and Shoulders?

The other night I was tucking the kids in bed and after saying prayers with Noah I kissed him on the forehead like I always do. His hair smelled particularly nice and I said, "Noah, your hair smells really good. What shampoo did you use?" His response was, "I used Mr. Jon's Head and Shoulders shampoo. I like to wash my hair with it, but I never put it on my shoulders." I couldn't help but chuckle...

Always Low Prices...

Lately, I have been talking to my children about saving money and being responsible when spending money. Each week the children get an allowance for doing "extra" jobs above and beyond their usual chores. When they get this money, they usually like to spend it when we go to Wal*Mart. On our trip to Wal*Mart this week, Gracie said that she had $5.00 not counting her usual allowance. She had not spent $2.00 from the previous week and had $3.00 from the tooth fairy. I knew my talks were doing some good because Gracie told Jaden that she was going to save her money so that she could buy something big that she really wanted instead of wasting the money on a couple of small items that, in reality, she really didn't want. After hearing that, I thought that what I had said had really begun to set in and I felt quite proud of my parenting accomplishments...that is, until she said, "I want to do just like Wal*Mart--'Save money. Live better.' " Oh well, all least she gets it!

Teacher's Workshop?

On the way home from school the other day, I overheard the kids talking in the backseat about their day. The teachers at their school had attended an in- service meeting in order to become trained on some recently purchased equipment. As a result of the training, all of the teachers had a substitute for a couple of hours that day while they were attending. Noah and Gracie were particularly curious about these teacher meetings and where these teachers attend "workshops" as Noah referred to them. Gracie piped up and said, "I know where they go, Noah. They're in that little room in the media center where all the toys are...that's where the 'teacher's workshop' is!"

A Day at the Beach

This past weekend Jon and I took the kids to the beach. We hadn't been since earlier in the summer since little Miss Eve ate sand and got a terrible bacterial infection...that will tend to steer parents in the direction away from the source of what is causing your child to stink up the house with unusually foul diapers. Anyway, we thought we'd try it again and we had a fabulous time. The surf was up due to the recent activity in the tropics so the kids couldn't get out too far into the ocean. Instead, we had a nice little lagoon of our own that was formed each time the tide came in from a high swells. Jon and I sat in our beach chairs and watched the kids dance in the waves as Eve stood by our sides uncontrollably laughing as the waves jolted her body. No sand was eaten, no one got stung by a jellyfish, and no one was sunburned. It was a day of pure relaxation. I'm hoping for many more of these beach days next summer!

Wanted: Teaching Job!

Well, my time off with Eve has come to an end and I am looking for a teaching job. Unfortunately, the school year has already begun and all of the positions have been filled. Hopefully, there will be an influx of special education students and a new class will need to be formed. Until then, I am on the substitute list and I'm praying that will keep me busy. I'm actually looking forward to getting back into the classroom and am eager to try out some of the new strategies I have learned while working on my Master's. It's a bittersweet moment for me...leaving Eve with a babysitter, getting back to the daily grind, less time with my family. *Sigh* Oh well...at least I had Eve's first year at home with her. Not many mothers have that opportunity and I am grateful to have had it. On the flip side, I know three "big" kids who are going to be thrilled to see me in the hallways at school!

Surviving Fay

Well, we weathered Tropical Storm Fay quite well and only had to battle the rain and wind as a result. Fortunately, we did not lose power and our only real issues were dealing with cabin fever! Hopefully, the rest of the hurricane season will be just as favorable. Hanna is still brewing in the tropics, however, and we'll see what happens. Keep us in your prayers!

The Complexities of Being Female

Photo credit: Patty Crosby

As I type this blog, the rain is bouncing off the the window pane and the wind is beginning to howl as the outer bands of Tropical Storm Fay move back on shore. This photograph was taken a mile from our home and is characteristic of what the skies have looked like for days. This storm has been lingering where it has traveled and it seems that when she arrives, she is an unwanted guest who is intent on wearing out her welcome. This storm has been unpredictable and atypical of other tropical storms as she has moved slowly and has traveled in an unlikely path. As a result, heavy rain and flooding are inevitable as this fickle lady spins along the coast.

School is cancelled today and I have planned a day of baking cupcakes, making bead necklaces, and playing board games with my children. We're going to hang around the house and enjoy the reprieve from school, but hope and pray that we don't lose power and the water level in the wetlands remain at a reasonable level. The waiting is what makes it so trying....this woman just can't take a hint....go away, Fay!

Thought of the Day

I cannot believe that the purpose of life is to be happy. I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.

-Leo Rosten

A Strange Compulsion

Yesterday I was at the checkout counter at the grocery store and was engaged in a conversation with the cashier. Eve was sitting in the cart, smiling at the clerk, and attempting to "talk" as well. The cashier was telling me what a sweet baby Eve was and commented on how cute her shoes were. I immediately said, "Thank you. They were only $12.99 at Bealls Outlet...can you believe it?" Whenever someone compliments me or one of my family members on an article of clothing that we are wearing, I always share where I purchased it from and how much it cost. Why do I feel compelled to do this? Is it because I am so "proud" of my good deal that I want everyone to know it or is is some other strange reason? Although I am a bargain shopper by nature and I do like to find items that are on sale, I do buy non-sale items. I learned a long time ago that it is better to purchase exactly what you want than to compromise by buying something similar to what you want but you'll never use. I used to have a closet full of clothes that were almost what I wanted that I never wore because I didn't want to spend the money on the real thing. Nowadays, if I can't afford what I want, I wait to buy until I can afford it. For now, I'll just keep on sharing my good finds with anyone who admires something I buy...and then they can be inspired to find the same bargain!

Fear: How to Turn a Watch Dog into a Scaredy Cat

What is fear? According to Wikipedia,

* Fear is an emotional response to threats and danger.

* Fear is often connected to pain.

* Fear is related to the specific behaviors of escape and avoidance.

* Fear is one of several basic, innate emotions.

* Fear is a survival mechanism, and usually occurs in response to a specific negative stimulus.

After reading this definition, can't help but ponder what life would be like without fear. If there was no fear, then there wouldn't be any reason to be fearful, right? So that means no "threats and danger," no "pain," and no "negative stimulus." If people did not experience any of these situations, then nothing would go wrong. Children would not fall off of their bikes and get abrasions, no one would be heartbroken due to relationships breaking up, no one would die, etc. We would be living in a perfect world saturated with perpetual bliss. I do believe this place exists--it's called heaven--until I get there, I'm going to have to deal with fear.

I think that it is important to have a healthy level of fear regarding certain situations because it forces a person to be mindful of ramifications that will ensue as a result of an action. For example, walking through a parking lot at night to get to one's vehicle. Being mindful of the potential dangers of a situation of this nature prompts a person to take precautions such as having the ignition keys in hand, being aware of the surroundings, starting the vehicle and locking the doors once inside, not tarrying in the parking lot, etc. A person who does this respects the fear of being attacked and takes action to avoid being vulnerable. This is having a healthy level of fear.

On the other hand, fear can escalate into unhealthy levels in which a person's fear can be intense, persistent, and irrational. When this happens, the fear can overtake the person and alter the way the person lives. A person can become so paranoid of the situation, activity, thing, or person that is evoking the fear that there is a change in lifestyle as a result. The fear turns into anxiety and starts to take control of the person's moods, actions, and overall functioning in daily life. This is having a very unhealthy level of fear.

Like most people, I have experienced my fair share of pain in my life. Death has been a frequenter in my family for the past several years and the loss of loved ones has carved a sorrowful etching in my heart that will never be repaired. I have felt the pain that results from of not being loved, betrayal, and rejection. I have felt pain...and it hurts. Being at this stage in life reminds me of this isolation that is felt from hurt and loss. This is explained in a poem from Ella Wheeler Wilcox entitled, "Solitude." It reads:

LAUGH, and the world laughs with you;

Weep, and you weep alone.

For the sad old earth must borrow it's mirth,

But has trouble enough of it's own.

Sing, and the hills will answer;

Sigh, it is lost on the air.

The echoes bound to a joyful sound,

But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you;

Grieve, and they turn and go.

They want full measure of all your pleasure,

But they do not need your woe.

Be glad, and your friends are many;

Be sad, and you lose them all.

There are none to decline your nectared wine,

But alone you must drink life's gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded;

Fast, and the world goes by.

Succeed and give, and it helps you live,

But no man can help you die.

There is room in the halls of pleasure

For a long and lordly train,

But one by one we must all file on

Through the narrow aisles of pain.

When experiencing feelings of devastation, it is common for a person to feel alone and isolated. It is also normal for a person to become fearful of the triggers that brought on the pain in the first place and to try to protect oneself from being hurt again. But living in fear and allowing that fear to take control of a person's life can put the person in a more turmoil than the initial stimulus.

I don't want live in constant fear. I don't want to allow fear to take control of me and dictate my mood, actions, and reactions. I want to be aware of the fear, accept it, and move on with my life. I want to know that if something negative happens, I will be able to get through it all and I will be okay. I want to prevail...and I will. James Thurber once said, "Let us not look back in anger or forward in fear, but around in awareness." I am aware of my anger. I am aware of my fears. I am choosing to leave them where they are and move on with my life. For better or for worse, I am here and fear will not control me anymore.

A Pillar of Strength

Do you see that lady? She's my mother. Isn't she attractive? Look at that smile--that is the smile of a woman who is geniuinely happy. What is underneath that outer shell, however, is even more beautiful than what most people have the opportunity to see. When I mother was just a teenager, she met my father. She fell in love and ran away to marry him. By the age of 18, my mother had a family of her own--a husband, my brother, and I. Life for my mother was difficult for many of the obvious reasons that one might think when a couple is faced with these circumstances. But through it all, my mother persevered and fought for her family...and she won. Even though my dad was a presence and supported his family financially, it was my mother who raised us, instilled values in us, and formed who my brother and I are today. She was the epitomy of motherhood.

After my brother and I married and started families of our own, my parents finally had some time to do what they wanted. However, this was all cut short when my father had a stroke and was later diagnosed with lung cancer. My mother again had to take on the role of caregiver as she met the needs of my father who passed away at the young age of 53.

A young woman herself, my mother found love again and is married to a wonderful man, John (pictured here as well), who is giving my mother the life she truly deserves. There isn't enough time for me to take to share all of the sacrifices my mother has made for me, my brother, my father, and many, many more people in her life. Her needs and wants have always been secondary so that everyone else around her could have what they needed. She has lived a selfless life and has given herself to her family so that they could live a more enriching life.

My mother has experienced the pain that results from the death of a spouse, a mother, and brothers...and she still keeps on going. My mother is a pillar of strength...she goes on when she doesn't feel like it and keeps striving to do more. She is my hero...look at her...do you see that in her? I do. That's my mother. I love you, mom.

Balanced Life

I love days like today. I started this Monday morning like I always do--woke up at 4:30 with Jon, ironed his clothes and saw him off to work, then I hopped in the shower, got ready for the day, got the kids up for school, etc. But today was one of my rare days in which I felt like all was balanced. I had my hands in everything--cleaning, laundry, schoolwork, spending one-on-one time with the kids, working in the yard, cooking, cleaning again, spending time with Jon. I accomplished so much today and felt like everyone got what they needed. There aren't many days like this as I generally have to focus on one "big" task along with my daily routine. Today, I had a lot of projects going on, completed them all, and met every one's needs. That makes me very, very happy...and when Mama's happy, everybody's happy. :-)

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

Our youngest, Eve, just celebrated her first birthday. Here are some snapshots of our sweet baby girl on her special day.

Ooooh....presents!

Lookie!

She got a bit startled when we started cheering after singing, "Happy Birthday."

This is what I'm talking about!

Now this is what I call a party!

Still happy after the scrub down.

Showing her new baby some love.

Thought for the Day

Men are governed by lines of intellect - women: by curves of emotion.

~James Joyce

The First Day of School

Can you hear that....listen closely...it is the sound of sneakers scuffling along freshly polished floors as students file down the hallway to their classrooms. The day is here and it has come too quickly--the first day of school. Noah, Gracie, and Jaden woke up eagerly this morning to put on their new clothes, eat breakfast, and load up in the van for the new year.


Last night before the kids went to bed, I read them the story, The Kissing Hand. Noah and Gracie have heard this story before, but it was new to Jaden and most closely fit her age since this was her first day of kindergarten. Anyway, as I was reading, I was reassuring Jaden that everything would be okay, just as the mother in the story reassured her little one. At the end of the story, who do you think broke down in tears--it was me! I started balling, Gracie started crying, and Noah and Jaden started being silly as a reaction to my tears (neither of them like to see me cry.) I told them all that I was going to miss them when they went to school but everything was going to be okay. So much for me setting a good example of being strong...

Well, the good news is that no one cried this morning! We dropped Gracie off at her class first. She is going into the second grade and Mrs. Mosley is her teacher.



Next was Noah's turn and he is going into third grade with Mrs. Brazell as his teacher. She was his teacher last year as well and has looped up to the third grade.


Jaden was last to be dropped off to her kindergarten class with Mrs. Vanzant as her teacher.

The house is quiet as Eve is sitting beside me playing with her toys. It's going to take some time for me to get back into the routine of having the kids gone during the day...but if I remember The Kissing Hand I think I'll be okay.

Summer of '08

Believe it or not, the summer (for us, anyway) is nearly over as the kids go back to school this Friday, August 1. I am making a gross understatement when I say that the summer flew by way too quickly as we are on the eve-eve of the first day of school. Here are some pictures and descriptions of what our family has done over this summer--we have had a blast!

End of the Season T-Ball and Baseball Parties

Mimi and Papa Visiting

Visit with Dana and Hannah

Wild Adventures

Fourth of July

Hanging Out at the Beach

Visit with Nana, Emily, and Zoe

Gracie's Birthday Party

Eve Learning to Walk

The Hatten Girls

Jaden--First Lost Tooth!

In two short months, we have celebrated a birthday, learned to walk, lost a first tooth, overcame fears of riding rollercoasters, learned to swim, finalized where "home" is, matured, grew, and loved. Two short months...it went by so quickly. I'm glad I was there to experience it.