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!

Riverbend 2008

Riverbend 2008 was a blast!!! Thank you so much to everyone who came out to support me - it was overwhelming! The hot summer sun made its presence known as I sang, but it was still fabulous to perform outside during Faith and Family Night. Hopefully next year I'll have a better time slot - start praying for that opportunity (and some shade) now! :)

One of my sweet friends, Eddie Damron, took some great pictures (see below) and did a little graphic design work for me afterwards. Eddie has a great ministry called Damron Photography, LLC. Check out some of his other work at http://www.eddiedamronphotography.com/. Thanks again, Eddie!!

Wedding Season has officially begun!

May 23 & 24, I spent a very relaxing weekend in Murfreesboro, TN at my cousin Justin's wedding. They had a gorgeous outdoor ceremony, and I had a great time getting to see some of my out of town family. It was an honor to sing at the wedding too! Justin's new bride, Lacee, did sign language to "Inside Your Heaven" as a surprise gift to Justin while I sang. So sweet! :)

Spending a lazy afternoon around Cedarvine Manor was fabulous! I even found time to wander down by a small pond on my own and spend a little time writing. There's nothing more relaxing and inspiring than enjoying the nature God created with no time constraints. It was an added blessing during the weekend.

Hi everyone! Welcome to my website!!! I'm sooo excited to finally have this up and running! Thank you so much to Dale McNelly for his fabulous work and kindness! Keep visiting the site for updates on what's coming up.

The countdown is on...4 days to Riverbend! I would love to see you there! (Busch Gardens stage @ 4:30pm, Tuesday, June 10) Check out www.riverbendfestival.com for info about the event. Hope to see you there!