No time for hobbies...

Can you believe this was taken in Shelby County on my way to school...I call it Simple Sunrise...


San Diego, California has so many beautiful places to photographs...or as one of my friends says..."make pictures".

but recently I have found myself loving photography more and more...Here are some pictures I have taken over the last few months. I feel a bit more comfortable photographing scenes and nature...people, not so much. That will be a goal for me. Anyhow, enjoy the photos...feel free to comment! All budding artists need constructive criticisms!

I love the first snow of the season...

This picture has been altered by Photoshop. I love Photoshop! It is great fun for budding photographers! Thanks to my cousin, Carrington, for being such a great subject!

Until next time...I hope you dance!

S~

Oh...I am going to try to start an online photo-album. I will let you know when it's up!

My grandmother...my friend...

It has been a while since my last post. A lot has been happening in our lives...back to work and school, getting into a routine again (no more sleeping late for me), starting to plan for our vacations, etc. and then something that I had hoped and prayed would never happen did...we lost my grandmother...my nan nan...my friend.

Human beings are so selfish, aren't we. My heart hurts because she isn't here...for me. My heart hurts for my niece who will only know her Nan Nan through pictures and stories. My heart hurts for my father who spoke so eloqently about his mother and how if society loved people like my grandmother did, the world would be a much better place. My heart hurts...

But then I think of her smiling face because she is no longer struggling for breath. I see her face and know that she is safe in the arms of her Savior where she can run through the golden streets of Heaven with my grandfather. I hear her voice saying to me..."Honey, don't be sad. You will always have me and I will always love you. You will never know how much I love you until you have your own children and grandchildren." My heart still hurts...

They say with time, a broken heart will heal...maybe so, but I know that a small piece of me is gone because my grandmother has passed. She meant so much to our family and I plan on continuing that in her memory. I love you Nan Nan...and I always will.

I fear that several of my future posts will have something to say or do with my grandmother...she deserves so much more that what I might say here, but it is my way of dealing with the loss.

Trust in the LORD with all your heartand lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways acknowledge him,and he will direct your paths.
Proverbs 3, 5-6

Until then...I hope you dance :-)

S~

Goin' to the chapel...

and she's gonna to get married! Goin' to the chapel of LOVE...What a fun day we had at the Special Occasions Bridal Show on Sunday. My...a lot of people got engaged over the holidays in our family and circle of friends. In fact, 2007 is shaping up to be a "wedding crazy" year. Let's see...who will say "I Do" in 2007?

First up in June...Jamie and Tripp on June 9. We are so happy for them and not to mention a beach wedding. We are so excited about going to Myrtle Beach to share in their special day. Next up, Andrew and Tara (friends from church) are getting married on June 16...what a great day! June 16, 2007 happens to be our 5th wedding anniversary! Congrats Andrew and Tara! Hmm...on to July. I think some friends of Carrie's, Deborah and Chris, are tying the Knot this month at the beach. Another beach wedding. Then we have various couples who haven't actually set the exact date just yet, but my fingers are crossed: Alicia and Jason, Misty and Todd, and yes, my little sis, Carrie and her fiance, Sean. Could be another destination wedding...Mexico, possibly? Wouldn't that be fun!

Going to the wedding show brought back so many fond memories of our special day. I can't believe that we will celebrate our FIVE YEAR anniversary this year! It seems just like yesterday that Tricia and I were living in the apartments at Canter Chase and someone named Chad had called and left me a message. Who? Oh...yeah, that cute red-head from Joe's. I don't even think I called him back. Thank goodness he didn't give up on me :-)

5 years later--two-thousand and seven...I feel like this year has great things in store for the Hoene's and their friends and family. But...before I totally put 2006 to rest, I have to say that it was a very good year...

• A year of change. Chad and I both changed jobs--Chad to Cintas and me to Shelby County Schools.
• A year of expanding our family--baby niece Savannah in March and nephew Nate in April.
• A year of moving--we sold our house in Louisville in a whopping 4-days (totally a God thing) and moved to Spencer County to live on the Hoene/Waterfill Farm.
• A year of patience and planning--building a house is one thing that has taught me patience more than anything.
• A year of faith--Chad and I continue to love our church and our life group. Our faith in God's plan for our lives stood strong this year through some tough questions and trying times. We know that God is in control.

We took a wonderful vacation to the beach over Spring Break '06 and I was fortunate enough to finally put my toes in the beautiful, vast Pacific Ocean this passed July on my trip to sunny San Diego. So many wonderful blessings...yet, I feel that 2007 has so many more blessings for us. All of the weddings mentioned earlier in the post, another new niece or nephew in July (Alicia and Jason). Amy and Dave have applied to adopt a little girl from Guatemala...we can't wait for her to come home. Birthday parties...some milestones this year, mom and dad! Destination weddings--Myrtle beach, Mexico and much, much more, I pray.

I will do my best to keep an up-to-date record here of all of the many events and happenings that bless our family and friends this year. Too fun!! Setting some personal goals for myself and Chad this year...no, not resolutions...goals :-) But that will have to be another post. It is late and I am tired...off to get the last of the laundry out of the dryer and head to bed. Maybe I will even try to read tonight...

Until next time...i hope you dance...

S~

WHO DEY--Happy New Year!!

Thanks to an unknown, inside connection to the Bengals(thank you Eulanda and Ronah), Chad and I were able to attend the final game of the season this year against conference rival--The Pittsburg Steelers (Boo!). We had a blast! Our seats were wonderful! We enjoyed a nice ride to Cinci w/Scott and Lindsey (even thought they wore the black and gold). The first half held off with no sign of rain...in fact, I actually had to put on my sun glasses. But...we all know how the weather can change in a matter of moments and sure enough, mid-way through the 3rd quarter, the ponchos saw the light of day. It pretty much rained the rest of the evening. But that didn't put a damper on our fun...as you can tell by the pictures, we had a great time (even though the Bengals managed to lose).

I guess I have to say how lucky Chad and I are to have so much in common. We love to do all kinds of fun things together...all of which brings us closer together. Making memories...that is what we did on this day. We made memories of us parking in Northern Kentucky and walking what seemed like 5 miles across the suspension bridge (and the Ohio River) to Paul Brown Stadium (arggggg), memories of Chad Johnson not even bothering to stay on the field the remaining 7 seconds of the first half, memories of Carson Palmer throwing a perfect spiral to put the Bengals within field goal range to win the game, memories of Shane Graham MISSING the field goal and the Steelers winning the game in the shortest overtime ever, and memories of us...doing what we love to do...hanging out, being together and having fun! Thank you honey for a wonderful day! I loved every minute of it! I guess it is true...you really do marry your best friend :-)

Enjoy a few of the pictures of our wonderful day...making memories with my best friend.

S~