Long Awaited Second Story
Mood:  happy
Topic: Writing
I am so pumped to announce the upcoming publication of my second short story "The Garden Swing" in Second Time Around from Highland Press.  The new anthology should be out in the next few months.

Twins Update
Mood:  don't ask
Topic: Life
I am still alive -- barely. I feel like I've hit a brick wall energy-wise. It's been really hard to let go of all the things I feel like I should be doing. It's extremely hard to write -- it's as if there's this fog coating my brain at all times. I know it will eventually get better, but man, am I tired! And I miss being inspired.

Miracles
Mood:  happy
Topic: Life
For those of you who don't believe in miracles ---

We are expecting our third child. Kind of a common place thing, I know. But consider the fact that we weren't supposed to be able to have children at all. Then consider that I've been really sick with this pregnancy, and had decided that even though we wanted four children, I could only stomach having three. It was a difficult decision, and one I wrestled with, but after a lot of thought and prayer, I gave that fourth child to God. Well, He decided to give it back. We went for our first ultrasound, and lo and behold, it's twins. So we get our four children where once we feared we wouldn't have any. Our house is full of blessings and miracles -- no one will ever tell me that miracles don't happen!

Topic: Life
Well, I've not been around for a while for a very good reason. Bleuch. Morning sickness. Or rather, all day sickness. Thank goodness for Diclectin. So, yes, I'm having a third. Call me a glutton for punishment if you wish, but I love my children!

Writing has been a little slow, but I've generated quite a number of stories that I hope to share with you in the near future.

The Furnace
Topic: Life
I've been learning a lot lately about trials -- two bible studies, my great-great-great-great grandfather's journal and my great-great-great aunt's bible notes that I've been reading -- it all seems to point to this: pain is something to learn from, not to run from. If life was supposed to be hunky-dory, maybe it would be. And if I had chosen to run away from pain and trials in my life, I would have missed out on some important lessons. So I stick to it, every day, and thank God for the things He's teaching me. And I'll be a better person for it -- maybe not "happy" in this life, but content.

Inspiration
Mood:  chillin'
Topic: Poetry
Wow. I never thought when I put some of my poetry on a free site that it would start circulating the web. I googled myself just for fun last night and found my poetry on people's blogs and stuff. Who knew something that I wrote just because I HAD to would speak to someone else. That's God for you -- He always has something really awesome in store for even the smallest things we do in obedience to Him. That's where my writing comes from -- divine inspiration. There's no other way to describe it. If you want to see my other poetry, it's on poetry.com -- search for Erin E M Hatton. Talk about being transparent. That's my soul on there! Glad that I can serve others with my work.

My Head's Spinning!
Mood:  rushed
Topic: Writing
New to the whole blog thing here, but I seem to be getting along fine. I am so psyched about my story getting published, and it's just a matter of time before I've got a book out there too. It's all kind of anticlimactic, though, with all the crazy stuff going on around me -- orchestrating a move while publishing a short story and working on publishing a book too, caring for two young children and a (wonderful!) husband -- it's all pretty overwhelming.