Exploring

As I type, I'm headed to Nashville for the night. Early tomorrow morning, I fly to South Dakota for a 6-day vacation exploring what I hear is some of God's most beautiful handiwork. My trip will take me through South Dakota, Wyoming and part of Montana. I'm soooo excited! I've looked forward to this trip for quite a while, and I can hardly wait to see all the glorious mountain ranges, wildlife, and endless skies for myself! Who knows, maybe I'll get inspired while I'm here and come home with some new songs!! :) I'll keep you posted...

My Mid-year Resolution

Ok, thanks to some of my dear friends, I've finally come to grips with the reality of how terrible I am at blogging. :) I hereby promise to try to do better in the coming months... I thought I'd start with a little storytime about my latest musical experience. Hope it doesn't bore you! (See "Talk about a S T R E T C H....")

Talk about a S T R E T C H........

Well, I can hardly believe I'm saying this, but I finally caved in and auditioned for a singing contest. haha Thanks to my good friend, Jason McKay, I found out in May about a contest called Gospel Dream, presented by the Gospel Music Channel. Normally, I dismiss this type of thing, but for some reason, I just couldn't get it out of my head. Hmmm....


So long story short, on Saturday, May 2, Mom and I drove to Atlanta and I auditioned. I knew it was going to stretch me just to audition and allow myself to be critiqued by people in the music business. God is so good and allowed me to enjoy the entire experience without being nervous or overwhelmed. The first part of the audition was in front of two judges, and once I passed that, they sent me to the next round in another room.


I auditioned there for Mitchell Solarick, the music exec who discovered Natalie Grant. This audition was taped for TV which made things a little nerve-wracking, but I survived. I sang one of the songs off my CD, and as soon as I finished, he said, "Heather, let's be honest. What do you listen to?" I told him country and he said, "Duh! Why aren't you singing that then?" :) So I sang "Anyway" by Martina McBride and then he had me sing "Jesus, Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood. I was blown away by how positive and encouraging Mitchell was!


One week later I got a phone call that I had been chosen for the top 36! (What in the world?!) Long story short, I had 2 weeks to prepare to head to Nashville for the taping of the show. One week out they sent us a song list to choose from. I won't bore you with the details, but choosing and learning those songs was not an easy task - mentally or physically. haha (Thank you to my friends who kept me sane through all that!)


I went to Nashville on May 24 and auditioned again on Memorial Day - this time for three judges (can't name them right now b/c the show hasn't aired...contracts...). Anyway, Monday was called Super Auditions and it was pretty intense. They narrowed the group down to the top 10 on the first day. And.......that was the end of the road for me. :) haha


I know it sounds so cliche to say that it was a good experience and I'm happy with the results, but I can't stress to you how true those words are. For those who know me well, you know this entire experience was a major time of spiritual and musical stretching and growth. God really made me face some fears head-on and make some decisions about whether I was truly surrendered to HIS will for my life. For me, the entire journey and purpose was complete before I ever left Chattanooga to go to Nashville. The Nashville experience was just the fulfillment of my "yes" to God. I'm so thankful that He loves me so much - so much that He won't allow me to hold myself back from the things He may have in store for me; so much that He teaches/molds me gently; so much that He blesses me beyond what I deserve.


I met some great people with a lot of talent, got a taste of the world of television, and stretched waaaay out of my comfort zone. :) I can't wait to watch the show when it airs later this month! And I can't wait to see what other surprises God may have in store for me!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!!!

I LOVE Christmas Time!!! It's hard to believe it's already that time of year again...but if my schedule is any indication, the holidays have definitely arrived! :)

Christmas can officially begin now that Silverdale Baptist's Christmas Tea has taken place. I had the privilege of being part of the program this year. (Do I look like Mary?!?) I portrayed the moment when God invited Mary to be part of his unbelievable plan for humanity, an invitation she never expected and never could have dreamed up on her own. As usual in circumstances like these, God had lessons for me to learn through the experience and I ended up feeling like I took away more than I contributed. God is sweet like that.

This year the tea was five nights and over 2400 women were able to attend. It's always so incredible to see how God orchestrates EVERY tiny detail of the tea - from the songs and script of the program to the people who attend - nothing is by chance. I was blessed to have some old friends and some new friends sit with me on Friday night at my table. Aren't they lovely?!!

A big thank you to Eddie Damron for once again coming through with some awesome pictures for everyone at the tea! He makes us look good!

Keep an eye on my schedule (www.heatherbateman.com) for upcoming dates. This Friday, I'll be at Lookout Valley Baptist's Christmas Tea and Sunday morning, I'll be at New Bethel Baptist Church. I'd love to see you there!

Fun in the Fall

Hey everyone! Sorry it's been so long between updates...life gets crazy! :)

The Square Dance Convention was a blast...wish I could move like some of those sweet couples!! :) I so enjoyed the opportunity to sing for them and watch the dances. Meeting Mayor Ron Littlefield was also quite an honor. :)

In September, I was able to sing at the grand opening of Silverdale Academy's new football field. Go Seahawks! :)

October brought the opportunity to sing at Lookout Valley Baptist where my former youth pastor is now the senior pastor. Everyone at Lookout Valley was so kind and welcoming, and worshiping with them was really encouraging to me. Hopefully I was able to encourage them as well!

I can't believe it's November already! The incredible colors of Fall all around me are breathtaking and remind me of what an incredible Artist designed this beautiful place for us to live in and enjoy. I was finally able to take a long leisurely drive toward Nickajack Lake and then up Lookout Mountain to soak in the gorgeous colors last weekend. What an undeniable testimony to the existence of our Creator!

Well, it's almost Thanksgiving! Next Saturday I will be singing at South Summerville Baptist for their Ladies' Tea. Before we know it, Christmas will be here! I'll be headed back to Lookout Valley Baptist on December 12 for their Ladies' Christmas Tea...and keep your eyes open...I may surprise you with another appearance in between those dates! :) It's too soon to say! :)

Precious in the sight of the Lord...

Today I had the honor of singing at a very special event - my great-grandmother's funeral. I didn't want to sing b/c I didn't want to acknowledge that she was gone. :( But it was an honor for me to be able to sing "for her" one last time. I sang one of her favorite songs, "In the Garden," and then we played "What A Day (Our First Day in Heaven)" from my CD. I was pretty sure I wouldn't make it through that one and since I have it recorded anyway, we opted for that.



I can't believe she's really gone. It feels unreal. She was 90 years old and SO ready to go home to Heaven. She's been praying for it for a long time, but none of us were ready for her to go. She wasn't sick and her mind was perfect, but she longed to be with her Savior and with her husband who passed away last May. She went to sleep Monday night and went Home peacefully and painlessly sometime early Tuesday morning. Tuesday would have been her 70th wedding anniversary had they both lived. What a sweet gift from God that she got to go home on such a special day! She didn't have to suffer through another lonely anniversary without Pop, and she got to go Home - to finally rest and feel complete healing.





I'm going to miss her terribly. I already do. :( She was an incredible lady. I think the biggest loss our family will suffer from her passing away is the loss of her prayer covering. She was a dedicated prayer warrior and went to battle for each and every family member on a consistent, daily basis. Nannie was strong in her faith and was always ready to share it. She challenged each of us with her boldness. Many years ago, she confessed her sins, called out to God, and asked Him to save her. And He did. And for the next several decades, they walked closely together. She was an incredible example. Nannie was also full of life. She loved to laugh, loved to dance, loved to host family get-togethers, and loved to talk about old times. She had a mind that was sharp and clear - her memory was MUCH better than mine! I wasn't ready to let her go. But I'm thankful to KNOW for certain that she is now with the Lord and that there is no safer, happier place for her to be. Psalm 116:15 says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." It's comforting to know how precious she is to God and that He understands both our sorrow and our gratitude during this time.

1-2-3 Smile!

My FABULOUS friend, Eddie Damron, did a little photo shoot with me last weekend. SO much fun! :) He's a wonderful photographer and made me feel like a celebrity! ha ;) We had a blast and got some good shots...maybe future CD covers??!?! :) We're going to use some of these pictures for both his portfolio and some print pieces for me. Here are some samples...



What do you think??? CD cover material?


This one is, of course, my mom's favorite...she loves close-ups. :)

Thanks, Eddie!

See you guys soon...next up, I'm singing at Silverdale Baptist on August 6 @ 6:30PM and then it's time for the National Square Dance Convention! I'd love to see you there!