Natalie Spiess Edwards, 42

Q.) Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

A.) I am married to Jamie Edwards. We have six kids, four at home. I am a full time nursing student where I am going to school with my daughter Emma.

Q.) Where did you grow up?

A.) I grew up right here in Hohenwald.

Q.) What is one of your fondest childhood memories?

A.) Playing outside with my twin brother and our big sister, we had a wonderful childhood.

Q.) What did you want to be as a kid? What did you actually become?

A.) I wanted to go into pediatric dentistry or to be an accountant. When I got older I wanted to become a nurse because I worked as a Cna for a long time. I was so intimidated because I had heard it was hard, but Emma talked me into it, I’m so glad I did because I get to do this experience with my daughter.

Q.) Who was/is your biggest role model?

A.) My Granny Spiess. She was an absolute angel.

Q.) What are some of your favorite hobbies/ how do you like to spend your free time?

A.) Right now I don’t have a lot of free time because I have to study a lot. When I do have the time, I love to spend time with my babies. I love when all our kids are with us and all together. I also love to keep my grandbabies. I would keep them every night if I could. I did start learning how to sew before I started nursing school. I had gotten to the point I was making some clothes for my littles.

Q.) If you could go anywhere, in or out of the states, where would it be? Why?

A.) I would love to visit Germany, My grandparents came here from Germany, speaking no English. I just think it would be neat to learn where my grandparents came from.

Q.) What is your favorite type of music?

A.) All I listen to now is Christian music. I used to listen to country all the time but there is just something about these good Christian songs to start your day off right.

Q.) What is one of your favorite things about living in Hohenwald?

A.) The small town community for sure, because when we got the babies we had nothing and our little community come together and got us everything we needed and so much more. Also I love knowing who is teaching our kids. I say that because when Emma was little I lived in Fairview and not knowing who was teaching her was hard on me as a parent. Not knowing anybody when you move to a different town is one thing but when your kids start school, its very important to know who is teaching your kids.

Q.) What is your favorite time of year? Why?

A.) I love summer because I love being outdoors with my littles. They love fishing and swimming. I also like fall because I love the cool days and nights.

Q.) Let’s say you’re a new addition to the crayon box, what color would you be? Why?

A.) I would have to say black because you know the saying black goes with everything and I can match any energy.

Q.) What do you enjoy most about your job?

A.) My job right now is nursing school and I love getting to spend every day with my Emma. I became a mom at a young age and since the day I had her, I’ve always been so proud of her and being her mom, but now I get to be proud of me. When you have so many depending on you, you lose sight of how to be proud of yourself.

Q.) Do you have a nickname?

A.) Not really, but I am called suggie now that I’m a grandparent. And my granny called me Natalie Jean.

Q.) Is there any life advice you could give to our readers?

A.) Don’t ever forget yourself. You are important. If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do, do it. Make yourself proud of you and love yourself and then you can love other people better.

Q.) Is there anything you would like to add that my questions may not have touched on?

A.) Yes, we have our three together and the three littles we have been raising for five years. I am super passionate about family and what you make it and teaching our kids that you don’t have to be blood to be family. I feel that if God put it on me to raise these kids as my own and love and protect them, that’s what I have to do because He chose me. We were raised that if someone needs help, you help them, no matter what that looks like - taking care of someone else’s kids or just feeding someone you should do it.

I am so very thankful for Jamie because our kids were bigger when we took in the littles and we love them as if they were our own. He has been a true God sent. I didn’t know how it would go at first because we were taking on three babies, but without him our ship would not float.