Happy 2008 Everyone!

We hope everyone has a wonderful New Year...so much to be thankful for...I don't even know where to begin.

I looked back at last years post and remembered that Chad and I went to the Steelers vs. Bengals game in Cinci last New Year's Eve. What a fun day!

Well, as I sit here and try to ponder 2007, I am reminded of all the wonderful memories from this year. I also can't believe how fast it flew by. It seems like the years keep going by so fast...does that mean we are getting old? This year I will turn 35--YIKES!! It doesn't seem possible. My baby sister will turn 29 this year...DOUBLE YIKES! Not to mention her beautiful daughter, Savannah, will be 2. It is hard to believe she will be 2...where does the time go?

As wonderful as 2007 was, I can say that The Hoene's are ready for 2008. We are ready to be parents! And as I sit here and wonder what the future will hold, I know for certain that God is in control. As one of my friends reminded me--God had a plan all along. 2007 has been a year where we have had no choice but to rely on our Faith in God.

I have never been one to make resolutions, so for 2008, The Hoene's will continue to rely on God and His wonderful blessings...stay tuned and as always...I Hope You Dance!!

Staci and Chad

Still Waiting...

Logan has yet to make his grand entrance into the world. As soon as we get the call, we will let everyone know.

Keep us in your prayers...as always!!

Staci and Chad

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Very cool site called Photobucket!

Enjoy!
S~

Holiday Haze...

The ladies from the Passion Pitt--C-Ville Class of 1995--We still look HOT!!

Cool Red Truck!! Savannah has already tried it out and she approved it for Logan!

The SAA Group! You guys are so wonderful!!

Parents-to-Be

Comfy Crib

Musical Mobile

Logan's Sailboat Rug

is here. It seems as though Santa has come early for the Hoene's. Most of you know that we are adopting a baby--Logan William Hoene--due (officially) on January 5, 2008. The truth is, he could come any time. Chad and I have been so very busy getting the nursery ready, finishing all of our paper work, meeting Logan's birthmom, and feeling very blessed by all of our wonderful friends and family.

Last week my school hosted an "after school" shower for us...so many wonderful presents. I will post some of the pictures when I get them. Then, last Sat. December 7, my best friend and sister hosted another baby shower for us. Lainey Kemp and Tricia Judy assisted in the party and just so you know, I have NO words for all of the wonderful gifts and sentiments from that day. I don't have the pictures yet, but when I do, I will post them. Needless to say, Logan has to be the most loved little boy. It was so great to see all of our friends...the girls from the Passion Pit (aka. C-Ville), the ladies from North (former and present), the SistOr's--Jennifer and Trish (Where was Bobbi??), and everyone else. Thank you so much for caring so much about us and especially our little miracle, Logan.

The wonderful group of women (and J-Z) I call colleagues hosted a baby shower/holiday gathering last night in honor of Logan. I have posted some of those pictures. Maggie...you really out did yourself. I don't have words. Unfortunately, we had to call it a night early due to some severe kidney stone pain (who says adoption doesn't come without labor pains!!). Thank you so much for everything. We are so blessed.

Chad's family will host our final shower this coming Saturaday. Aunt Alicia and NaNa are throwing a wonderful party and we are so excited. I will try to get all of the pictures up next week. In the mean time, I have posted some of Logan's nursery. For those of you who know me well, you won't be suprised by the choice of theme--Cape Cod (lighthouses and sailboats). I am an avid collector and fell in love with this set from Babys R Us.

Chad and I were able to meet Logan's birthmother this past weekend. We drove to South Bend on Sunday where we were welcomed into a warm and festive home by Annie and her parents. We shared pictures and stories over lunch at the local Pizza Hut. It was a great visit and we are so thankful God gave us the opportunity to meet Annie before Logan is born. We are counting the days now...it won't be long.

Thank you all again...for reading this blog, for praying for our family, for being our friends. Chad and I are so blessed...

Until next time...I hope you dance...

S~

Ahoy! It's a Boy!!

Hello everyone! I am sorry it has been a while since my last post. We have been very busy getting ready for Logan! Thanks to everyone who shared in Logan's first baby shower this past weekend. Thank you to my Aunt Anita and Bonnie for being such wonderful hostesses! Logan is going to love all of his gifts. He is so lucky to have some many people who love him already. Thanks again! Enjoy the pictures...

What a GREAT cake!! I love it and it was YUMMY!!

S~

Logan William Hoene...

Here he is! We recieved this picture in the mail on Friday. Thanks to Sandy and Mike and of course, Annie. We are so in love with him already.

S~

Welcome Home, Ana!!

Brady looks like his mommy!

Happy Birthday Nate!

So sweet! Two peas in a pod!

Look at me! I can do tricks!!

Momma's boys...

Nate and Jalyn

Nate loves his hat!

Ana Maryn came home on Wednesday, October 31. She is beautiful, as you can tell from these pictures. The whole family celebrated Nate's second birthday and the arrival of his baby sister this past weekend at Hoene Heaven. We are so blessed! Babies every where!!

Baby-Boy-Hoene Update:

We have news that our child's birthmother visited her doctor today and they are both doing fine. Good news! According to Pregnancy.com, our little one weighs 3.75 lbs or 1702 grams. He is 16.19 inches or 42.4 cm long. His taste buds are developing and he may begin to hiccup!! Also, eye lashes, eye brows and hair are growing on our baby...I wonder if it is RED?? Isn't the wiget cool??? It automatically counts down the days to his arrival.

Hopefully we will have some ultrasound pictures very soon--before Thanksgiving. For those of you who have been emailing and calling, thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement. Please continue to pray for the birthmother and our little one. It won't be long now...

Until next time...I hope you dance!

S~

Truck or Treat 2007

Hi friends! Last weekend we participated in Trunk or Treat at our church. It was so much fun and a great way to reach the community. Below are some pictures...yes, Savannah was Raggady Ann and I must say, she was the cutest kid in the whole bunch. I am sure you will agree. We love our church and this is one of the many ways NECC impacts the surrounding community. We hope you all are doing well and can't wait until we meet again...

S~

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God...

He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep his Commands.
Deuteronomy 7:9

I never really knew this verse until my friend Lainey gave me a Faith journal to begin writing in. This verse speaks to me because we have been walking in Faith and believing that God will answer our prayers for a really long time. My husband and I are so proud and thankful to announce (officially) that we will be adopting a baby boy when he is born in January of 2008 (yes, you read right, January). Through the grace of God and wonderful friends we have endured a long journey the last few years. It has been tough and for a long time I couldn't wait until 2007 just came to an end. Our prayer has always been for us to become parents in God's time and if it were God's will. We now believe everything is just beginning for us as we plan and prepare to bring home our baby.

We have told most of our family and felt it was time to "shout it from the roof tops" and make it public. For those of you that know us and even those who don't, please keep us ( and the birthmother and our little one) in your thoughts and prayers. We are thrilled and find ourselves smiling for no reason at all except for what the future holds.

I will do my best to keep the blog updated with information about our coming arrival. He is due to make his entrance into the world in early January.

Thank you and...I hope you dance!

S~

Fall Fun at the Farm!

Olivia loved her first visit to the farm for the hayride!!

Chad, Claudia (Nana) and baby Brady

Staci and baby Benjamin (aka The Giraffe)

What a great looking family! Welcome Benjamin!

Dacia and Kelley--all smiles for the Hayride!

Shocking...my niece with food in her mouth. Such a cutie!

Another sharp looking family! Wow!

Nana, Granddaddy, and Brady. So sweet!

Scott and Olivia looking at the cows...MOOOOOO

Brady sitting up! So cute!

All smiles for the camera. Ready for the hayride!

It has been a week since we hosted our second annual Pumpkin Carving Party. It was a BLAST and here are the pictures to prove it!

Enjoy!

S~

Fall Fun!

The Choo-Choo train was rolling it's way through downtown LaGrange

She loved her pumpkin pillow
Savannah and Ginger--wanting to go next door and play with the Big Kids!

Mimi--look what I found! A leaf!

Is the Choo-Choo gone?

What an angel!

Say...Cheese!

So cute...what can I say...she takes after her aunt! HA!

Well, finally the 90+ degree weather has broken and it actually feels like fall in Kentucky. The evenings and mornings are cool, the days are sunny, and the colors are beginning to come out everywhere. I was worried about the colors this year because of the significant lack of rainfall we have had around here. But once again, God did not dissapoint those of us who can't wait for the fall colors to paint the skyline. Breath-taking, for sure. I will try to take some pictures of the colors and post them here for those of you who live where the seasons don't really change much (Gail, my Hawiian friend). Soon, I promise.

As for the Hoene's, we have been very busy. My fall break was last week and so I was able to spend some time with my niece (shocked, I am sure). We even got to take some pictures...I posted a few. She is at the age now (19 months...where does the time go?) where everything is such a discovery to her. She is learning new words and connecting those words to meaning! It is truly amazing!

Last evening we hosted our 2nd annual pumpkin carving party at Hoene Heaven. It was great fun--chilli and all the fixin's, a hay ride across the farm, and yes, 3-overtimes for UK and LSU. GO CATS!! Unfortunately, due to the length of the game, our pumpkins remain faceless. Yep--you read it right...the pumpkin carving party was really a UK game party (aside from the hayride). But that is okay...we had a blast and thank everyone who was able to join. For those of you who couldn't come, we missed you! Maybe next year? Once I have the pictures downloaded, I will post some of those here as well.

So, it is back to work for both of the Hoene's tomorrow and before we know it, the holidays will be on us and another year will be gone. Wow...it is so hard to believe. It is with a heavy sigh that I go for now...off to ready myself for the week, read a bit, probably cry while watching Extreme Home Makeover, and then to rest.

Have a wonderful fall week everyone and don't forget to notice the colors all around you...even if they are still green :-)

I hope you dance...

S~