The night featured a worship service led by Far Flung Tin Can, a group of Lee University students and alumni who partner with and serve as missionaries, as well as a message from Campus Pastor Jimmy Harper, and a testimonial from Lee senior Isaac Lutz.

“This event is to call out those who are called to do missions,” Missions Alive President Stephanie Shull said. “There are so many people on campus who feel this calling, but they don’t know where to go.”

Shull said the club is currently in a rebuilding stage, seeking to make themselves known to students on campus who feel the call to missions and are not sure how to act on their calling.

“We’re a club that loves each other, and offers the tools on how to go from being a college student called to do missions to being that missionary on the field,” Shull said.

After the Night of Worship, the club will be busy planning events for the rest of the semester, Shull said. They are currently working on an event for February with Pioneers for Christ and Students Against American Modern Slavery about combating domestic violence.

During an Ask The President chapel, Conn lets loose his more comical side and answers questions that have been written and turned in by members of the student body. Typically, this chapel service consists of all sorts of questions, from serious queries about the campus to Conn assisting in sending male and female students on dates.

Tuesday’s Ask the President brought along with the fun and games several weighty announcements from administration.  The three most important notices were the future building of a home for the Communication Arts department, the completion of fundraising for the chapel and the choice to renew the contract with Coca-Cola as the sole beverage company on campus.

The purpose of Ask the President chapel is threefold: to inform, to entertain, and to give students things.  Originally the service was used to inform the student body about their university, but when some students started asking “whimsical questions” the lightened nature of Ask the President caught on, Conn said.

“The goal really is to imbed in all the fun and foolishness some serious ideas.  There’s always some serious questions,” Conn said.

Ask The President chapel services began shortly after Conn became president and have been occurring for about 20 years.  It has grown to be one of the more popular traditions on campus.

There have been a number of significant and memorable moments throughout Ask The President history, such as the year administration changed Squires Library’s hours on Sundays, due to a student’s request for the extended hours on Sundays.

Other changes that have come from Ask the President include a $300,000 revamp of all the pianos in the School of Music in the summer of 2010 and the construction of a sidewalk over the infamous “Ditch of Death” near Brinsfield Row.

Other memorable moments include the year Conn called all Canadian students to the front to sing “O Canada” after a student asked why the Canadian flag is not displayed during chapel services, and Conn revealing an individual in a SpongeBob Squarepants costume dancing behind the curtain at the back of the Conn Center stage.  Santa Claus took the place of SpongeBob when a new student asked the repeat question this year.

In spite of the fun nature of Ask the President, Conn views the primary reason for the event as a chance for students to talk back to him.

Although students can always send an email to Conn at his email, pconn@leeuniversity.edu, the anonymity allowed by Ask the President and the solicitation of questions drives students who normally would not voice their opinion to ask the questions that have been bugging them, Conn said.

“It’s as much about me hearing from the students as students hearing from me. The context of Ask the President empowers,” Conn said. “It lets me hear from students in a way that is a little different from normal.

Whether students are a freshman just beginning to experience Lee traditions or a senior well-familiar with Lee’s rituals, Ask The President chapel is a service to be enjoyed by all.

-Managing Editor Richard Yeakley and Life Editor Meagan Bateman contributed to this report.

Those who have kept up with Christian music since 2000 may recognize the name Joy Williams, as she released three solo albums between 2001 and 2005.  Likewise, White’s name may ring familiar, as he released a solo album in 2008. The two met in 2008 and began making music together in 2009, according to their website.

Perhaps the most unique feature of the band is their unpretentious and simplistic sound, choosing only to utilize the piano and guitar as a backup to their harmony.  According to their website, they travel without a backup band, choosing to play their concerts and create music with just the bare minimum of acoustic sounds. However, this trait only enhances the duo’s vocal talents, leaving listeners with a sense of rawness and simplicity that is refreshing.

In an article on ThinkChristian.net, John Thompson writes that while their music has been accepted and loved by many, several in the Christian music realm have cast unapproving glances their way due to the relational openness present in their music. Many Christian music fans are taken aback by the passion found in the duo’s songs and in their live performances, as the two are both married, but not to each other.

“If the voices delivering the songs are characters in a sort of musical play, the plot is certainly a tragedy,” Thompson said. “The fact that both actors are happily married off-stage should not come as a surprise to thinking fans, but it will.”

However, Thompson also admits that without this somewhat sensual ache found in the band’s songs, the musical appeal would be considerably lessened.

Even though some in the Christian music industry have raised a wagging finger against the band, the harmonious duo has been taken by storm for others outside of the Christian music industry. The band’s hit song “Poison & Wine,” appearing in its entirety, was featured on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy, and Joy Williams’ song “We Are” is now featured in the official film trailer for “The Vow”.

Perhaps the band’s most recent accomplishment is the song “Safe & Sound,” which the duo paired up with Taylor Swift to arrange for the upcoming release of The Hunger Games.  Swift went as far as tweeting her love of the band by saying, “Listening to ‘Poison & Wine’ by @thecivilwars. You can’t push ‘repeat’ on vinyl so I keep setting the needle back on my record player.”

Although the band is still in its infancy, the duo is a pairing like none other. With their moving lyrics, inspiring vocals and raw talent, The Civil Wars is a duo to be remembered.

While their options may extend further than the typical ramen and frozen pizza of a college student, they are equally concerned about making sure they get the most out of their money, which is why many Lee faculty shop at locations such as Cooke’s, Bi-Lo, Aldi, and Walmart.

Jimmy Harper, campus pastor and assistant professor of youth and family ministry, said that his wife is the one usually responsible for grocery shopping and is great at buying exactly what the family needs.

“She watches the sale paper and goes to where the deals are to be found,” Harper said. “She may also grab some groceries while she is in Walmart doing some other shopping.”

On the other hand, Dean of Students Alan McClung loves to go grocery shopping so much that he and his wife, Dr. Patricia McClung, associate professor of special education, have to flip a coin to see who will go buy the groceries. He expressed how grocery shopping is therapeutic and relaxing to him. McClung also said that the location of Cooke’s is conveniently close to their home for when they need to buy groceries at the spur of the moment.

“We like to shop at Wal-Mart for cost and Cooke’s for convenience,” said Alan McClung.

Dr. Alexander Steffanell, assistant professor of Spanish, said he also shops at Cooke’s for its conveniently short lines and low crowds.

Amy Beth Bullard, assistant coordinator of academic events, said she likes to shop at Bi-Lo because of the benefits they offer to shoppers.

“I’ve found that they have low prices, but [I also shop at Bi-Lo] because they offer fuel perks.”

The store offers up to 5 cents off gas when a customer purchases over $50 of food.

“It doesn’t sound like a lot, but when I’ve been buying groceries for myself and a household of foster children, it adds up quickly,” Bullard said.

Dr. Megan Moe, associate professor of communications, said she shops at Bi-Lo because they carry the packaged brands she likes. She also said that the prices at Bi-Lo are comparable to other stores known for being affordable.

“Bi-Lo and Walmart seem to have similar prices at the end of a shopping trip,” Moe said. “While Bi-Lo might have more expensive prices on a certain pretzels chip I like, Walmart might have more expensive hummus.”

However, not all faculty members have a preference when it comes to food brands. Dr. Lena Barber, counselor and faculty member in the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, said she prefers the off-brands Aldi has to offer.

“Aldi has more European foods available,” Barber said. “They also have off-brand at a lower cost.”

Barber said she also likes to shop at Bi-Lo and Wal-Mart for their low prices and good produce.

It seems Bi-Lo, Cooke’s, Walmart, or Aldi, each has its own bargains and advantages that draw in Lee faculty customers

Scoggins, a campus safety officer at Lee University for the past eight and a half years, has become quite the traveler over the years, as he and his wife Ruth explore the globe together.

“We’ve been from Ireland to Israel, and most of the places in between,” Scoggins said. “The Lord has blessed us; He knows we like to travel.”

Scoggins loves sharing stories about all of his many adventures, both abroad and across the United States. As he talks about his travels, his look becomes distant and gains a far-off quality, as if he’s there in his mind as he talks.

“We were at Yellowstone one time, and we went over there to hunt,” Scoggins said, laughing as he remembered. “We got out, walked out, my wife held her hand out and I took her picture; the snow was about 5 feet deep.”

Not missing a beat, Scoggins jumped right into another travel story, this one about Hawaii.

“Hawaii is beautiful in January. 82 degrees every day, the wind blowing… it’s a nice, ocean breeze.”

After talking about his travels across the United States, Scoggins recollected some of his European adventures.

“I asked my wife [what her favorite place] was and she thought about it. ‘Greece?’ I asked. ‘Greece.’”

While Scoggins agreed with his wife that Greece was wonderful, he also had a few kind words to say about France.

“The Louvre,” Scoggins said matter-of-factly. “If you’re in Europe, that’s one place you’ve got to see.”

Scoggins explained that working as a campus safety offer at Lee has allowed him financially to travel extensively.

“Working here affords a little extra money for things like that,” Scoggins said.

Scoggins said that while he loves to travel and see the world, he also loves coming home to Cleveland and coming back to work at Lee.

“I don’t have to work, I just love working here,” Scoggins said.

Scoggins gets a similar gleam in his eyes when he talked about his interactions with students and faculty at Lee as when he talked about his travels.

“I meet a lot of great people. A lot of students I’ve befriended,” Scoggins said. “Lee, in my opinion, has got a lot of great staff people, they’re very learned, very smart, and very personal.”

Scoggins laughed as he talked about his dealings with students on campus.

“I have a lot of fun with the students around here,” Scoggins said. “I joke with them all the time.”

Before coming to work at Lee, Scoggins said he worked for 24 years in an office at Maytag. After becoming a victim of downsizing, Scoggins decided to try retirement. But after a year, he was ready to get back on his feet and get to work again.

“With retirement, I got kind of bored with it,” Scoggins said.

Scoggins said the idea to apply at Lee came to him driving home one day.

“I just drove by one day and… came in and talked to them and applied for a security job for some reason or another,” Scoggins said. “I got home and the chief called me and said to come back up there and they hired me.”

Scoggins said that working outside for the majority of the day instead of being cooped up inside suites him much better.

“I always worked indoors. I was chained to a desk. You never see me indoors now,” Scoggins said.

Between his active and outdoors job as a campus safety officer at Lee and his pursuit of seeing the world, Scoggins doesn’t have time to sit inside.

“I’m 69 years old,” Scoggins said. “If I were this old sitting at a desk over there, I’d be falling apart.”

This fourth installment in the Twilight Saga surprises as it showcases the acting skills of the performers, as well as offers an accurate portrayal of the original book by Stephenie Meyer. The actors also seem to have become more comfortable in their roles.

In “Breaking Dawn Part 1”, Bella’s dream to marry Edward finally comes true, even if it means she will eventually become a vampire like the Cullens and the other vampires.

Bella’s character has progressed through the series from the awkward teenage girl from the first movie, Twilight, to a blushing bride in Breaking Dawn – Part 1. The long rivalry between Edward and Jacob also comes to a close in this fourth installment in the saga, which allows Bella and Edward’s relationship to be the focus of the movie.

The much-anticipated wedding scene was picturesque with a forest scene drooping with thousands of white flowers and twinkle lights. As the movie continues, it reveals a passionate honeymoon, a bloody and intense pregnancy and surprising character changes.

The choice to replace David Slade, director of the Eclipse, with Bill Condon seems to have been a good choice for the film, giving Breaking Dawn – Part 1 the edge it needed.

However, even with this director change, Rotten Tomatoes only gives “Breaking Dawn Part 1” a 26%.

With Breaking Dawn – Part 2 to be released in 2012, the Twilight Saga continues, providing one more chance for viewers’ hearts to be warmed by vampires.

Contestants compete for the Parade of Favorites crown in the categories of talent, formal wear, group dances and answering an interview question. They also undergo multiple rehearsals and interviews with the judges in advance.

The event, a longstanding tradition at Lee University, filled the Conn Center with supporters and audience members. The theme of the show was “Back to the Beat,” which was chosen to celebrate diversity in leadership.

Eight ladies were chosen from varying clubs around campus to compete for the title. An escort from the same club accompanied each contestant.

Kienlen represented Lee’s step team, Image. For her talent, she performed an original poem entitled “Can We Just Be Real?” that addressed adolescent issues.

Kelsey Buttrey, who represented Zeta Chi Lambda, was announced first runner-up. Buttrey said that, even though the rehearsals could be stressful, she enjoyed the camaraderie between everyone involved. Her favorite part, she said, was performing the group dances, choreographed by Lee alum James Vassell.

“We worked so hard to learn [the dances],” Buttrey said. “The choreographer [Vassell] is amazingly talented and has real gift for teaching dance.”

Buttrey’s platform was teen discipleship, which she said she believes is best demonstrated through mentoring.

“To me, [mentoring] means pursuing teens in order to demonstrate to them that they are important, capable, and, above all, loved by God,” Buttrey said.

The hoedown was a free event that included live music, dancing, games and free food. Free refreshments consisted of popcorn, cotton candy, caramel apples and apple cider.

Students came out in their best western wear and experienced dancing, competing in pie eating competitions, throwing friends in the “jail,” and getting “married until midnight,” a DZT tradition.

The “married until midnight” station allowed students to take part in a ceremony that bounded them into matrimony for the rest of the night.

Jeremy Abner, a freshman youth ministries major, said he received a surprise proposal from freshman intercultural studies major Chrissy Zittell when she asked him to be her husband until midnight.

“He said yes!” Zittell said.

For Abner, the best part of the evening was the music.

“They played a lot of Miley Cyrus,” Abner said. “I appreciated the good music.”

The band played a variety of country songs, including Miley Cyrus’s “Hoedown Throw Down,” Brooks and Dunn’s “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” and Rascal Flatts’ “I Melt.”

The show, directed by Assistant Professor of Music James Frost, was a collection of musical numbers from four musicals from the 1940s: “Kiss Me, Kate,” “Brigadoon,” “South Pacific” and “Annie Get Your Gun.”

“I know there is interest in Musical Theater here at Lee and I wanted to give the students a chance to perform some of this literature,” Frost said. “All of the participants are members of the Opera Theatre Ensemble.”

The 45-minute show included props, costumes, choreography, and vocals.

“Brush Up Your Shakespeare,” a piece from “Kiss Me, Kate,” was performed by Lee alum Tyler Steele and music major Justin Colon, and was met with laughter from the audience.

Steele also served as the guest director, directing the cast in “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair” from “South Pacific,” and “Anything You Can Do” from “Annie Get Your Gun.”

Another crowd favorite was “There’s Nothing Like A Dame” from “South Pacific,” which illustrated the trials of military men longing for female companions.

The performers were accompanied by pianists Rachel Kreuze and Emily Harbin.

A major box office hit, the original “Footloose” launched its stars Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer into the spotlight. The film’s soundtrack produced a total of six hit singles and stayed at the top of the Billboard album chart for more than two months.

The remake stars the relatively fresh faces of Julianne Hough and Kenny Wormald, who have yet to be thrust into stardom like their predecessors, and most of the soundtrack is made up of remakes of the original hits. However, the remake includes a much more diverse cast than the original. It also delivers a far more Southern take on the story by including country versions of many of the original songs on the soundtrack.

While the remake maintains the same plot, themes and characters as the original film, a few changes were made in these areas.

In a town where dancing has been outlawed, a young man from Boston named Ren McCormack comes to the town, ready to make a change. The town reverend, Shaw Moore, leads the crusade against dancing. Moore is against dancing because his son was one of five teens killed in an accident after leaving a party that involved dancing and alcohol. The accident fuels the town’s laws against dancing. McCormack challenges this new law, backed up by Ariel, Moore’s daughter, who falls for McCormack.

While the original film does not make Moore’s motives clear until roughly halfway through the movie, the remake takes a different approach. The new version opens with the dance party, showing the accident responsible for the town’s laws that regulate dancing. This change makes Moore appear to be less harsh; the audience is aware of his ordeal and sees him as less of a fanatic preacher and more of a concerned, if overprotective, father.

In the 1984 version, McCormack and his mother move to Bomont, Ga., to live with his aunt and uncle. In the new film, however, McCormack’s mother has passed away of leukemia, and he moves to Bomont alone. The experience of losing his mother is referenced frequently, serving as a motive of sorts for his fight to dance. Also, while McCormack’s uncle resists his nephew’s endeavors in the original film, his uncle is completely supportive of McCormack and even fights on his behalf in the new version.

While the original “Footloose” was a slam-dunk with audiences, critics were less impressed with the 1980s sensation. Movie rating site Rotten Tomatoes gave the original film a 57 percent rating.

In contrast, the remake, while seemingly less popular with audiences, was better received by critics; Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 73 percent rating.

While many view the 1984 “Footloose” as a classic, the remake seems to hold its own among the growing number of Hollywood’s recycled plots.

She said that she perceives the adoption of her two youngest children as a blessing.

“The adoption was not out of noble desire,” she said. “It was, in some ways, [out of] selfish desire, but we are the ones who are blessed.”

Vanessa Hammond and husband Jerome Hammond, vice president for university relations and assistant professor of human development at Lee, have four children:  twin boys Will and Graham, age 13; Ella, age 7; and Lia, age 4.

Both Ella and Lia were adopted from China when they were 1 year old. Vanessa Hammond said that both adoption processes took about a year.

“I kept coming back to China,” she said. “I wanted only girls, and [China's adoption] process was very structured.”

In order to keep the girls in touch with their cultural background, Vanessa Hammond said that she and her family celebrate Chinese holidays and keep cultural books around the house.

“We celebrate Chinese New Year and keep books around the house that honor and celebrate [their Chinese culture],” Vanessa Hammond said.

Vanessa Hammond is a part of an organization called Families with Children from China in Chattanooga. She said that being involved in this organization gives her girls an opportunity to interact with others in the community who were also adopted.

Vanessa Hammond also said that she feels it is important to discuss with Ella and Lia how both were adopted from China.

“I always talk to them of how wonderful adoption is,” she said. “From the beginning, I have been very open about it.”

Vanessa Hammond said that one of the biggest adjustments that her family has faced with adoption occurred after Lia was adopted.

“The hardest adjustment was for Ella [as she was] moving from [being] the only and youngest to the middle child,” she said.

While Vanessa Hammond is a firm believer in adoption, she said that those who want to pursue an adoption should proceed with prayer.

“Make the choice prayerfully; read and understand what the issues are, and don’t be afraid of the cost,” she said. “There is so much that people [gain through] adoption.”

“Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game,” according to geochaching.com. “Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, [by] using GPS-enabled devices, and then [they] share their experiences online.”

Geocaching is an activity that takes place all over the world, even in Cleveland, Tenn. There is a geocache on Lee’s campus, called Conn’d, according to the geocache website.

By becoming a member on geocaching.com, anyone can view the coordinates of the Conn’d geocache and hunt it down on campus.

In order to become a true geocacher, individuals can follow these easy steps.

First, become a registered member in order to view the location of geocaches. For private geocaches, a premium membership is preferred.

Second, find a geocache to hunt on the website. Clues about a geocache can be searched either within a current region or abroad.

Third, a GPS is necessary in order to interpret the coordinates that are given on the specific geocache.

Fourth, find the geocache. After finding where the geocache is hidden, there is a logbook inside the geocache that shows who has previously found that specific geocache.

If a geocache is taken instead of being left where it was found, another item of similar or greater significance can be replaced in its spot for others to find.

Once a geocache has been found, members can log on to geocaching.com and share stories and adventures with others on the site.

Anyone can become a geocache member. All that is required is a GPS, an open mind and a curiosity for adventure.

For more information, visit the online website at www.geocaching.com.

Students at Lee University can now participate in Adopt a Grandparent, which is a new program that joins Lee and Garden Plaza at Cleveland, an independent and assisted-living community for senior citizens.

The student members in Lee’s Healthcare Administration Club came up with the idea for Adopt A Grandparent this semester through the volunteer work that they did for a class.

“It is a unique program in that one-on-one relationships are formed, and each person gains for the experience,” Courtney Harmon, senior public relations major, said. “Although the student gives time to the ‘grandparent,’ they gain a new outlook on life.”

This new program works by pairing each participating student with a “grandparent” that they are most compatible with. There is one student per resident, making the interaction more personal and meaningful.

Harmon said that she first became interested in the program because of her love for the elderly.

“I’ve grown up around them, so I’ve grown to respect them, and I want to pour back into their lives,” Harmon said. “I feel like our generation lacks respect for the elderly because of preconceived notions they have toward them.”

The students that participate in the program visit and spend quality time with their adopted grandparents on a weekly basis, and they participate in activities such as billiards, watching TV, eating dinner or anything else that the residents are interested in doing. When they aren’t spending time together participating in activities such as these, they spend time just talking and getting to know their “grandparents.”

“I’ve found it very interesting,” Norma Murphy, resident at the Garden Plaza and participant in the program, said. “It has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience so far.”

The Adopt a Grandparent program has taken place throughout the current semester, and because of its success, Harmon said it will become an annual event.

“Many of the residents become lonely, and [the program] makes them feel special and loved,” Harmon said. “Showing someone you care in the littlest way can change someone’s life.”

Events such as Deke Day have provided opportunities for students to begin their process of serving for the benefit of Cleveland and beyond.

“Deke Day affected me because I saw first-hand how spending only a few hours at a place that needs a lot of help can make a difference,” Micah Morgan, junior public relations major, said. “If Deke Day is just a glimpse of how I can make an impact on this world, I am excited for more opportunities where I will be able to help out in our community.”

Although service is required at Lee, some students have been surprised by the life-changing experiences they have had while serving.

Lee freshman Michelle Kurras enjoys witnessing the reaction of the people she has touched by her service.

“I love seeing the appreciation in the eyes of the people I have helped,” Kurras said. “Doing small things and simple things show these people that they deserve to be cared for.”

Many organizations around campus help to point students in the right direction in their search for how they can help. One of the organizations that Lee promotes is Big Pal/Little Pal. Adrian Reid, freshman music major, said that she has enjoyed her time serving the community through this organization.

“I love my little pal,” Reid said. “It has been such a neat experience of being able to show this little girl that she is worthy of attention and love.”

Reid explained how she felt each day after going to the Big Pal/Little Pal center.

“I feel so happy after hanging out with my little pal,” Reid said. “I feel that even though I don’t contribute more than a couple hours a week, I am still having a positive impact on her life.”

Freshman Joel Thomas has also been positively affected by the community service requirement at Lee.

“I think that the community service requirement is a really awesome aspect of this school; we are lucky to be going to a university that values service,” Thomas said. “I have been impacted by the service that I have done this semester, and I look forward to the opportunities to serve over my next couple of years here.”

When thinking about how time spent serving the community could impact future endeavors, some students believe that the community service done now will prepare them to make commitments to serve when they graduate.

“I hope that my time here will inspire me to continue serving the community and that I would one day influence my family to do the same,” Thomas said. “As Christians, we are called to serve, and I like that Lee helps show us where the needs are in this town.”

In 2005, Hooven and her family adopted a beautiful baby girl from Guangzhou, China. Hooven said that she looks back on the process of adopting her little sister with memories of excitement and nervous anticipation.

“I remember [my parents] sitting my brother and me down and just asking what we thought about having a little sister, and, of course, we were both on board with the idea,” Hooven said.

This desire to adopt was something that Hooven’s parents had possessed for several years.

“They both had the desire to adopt a little girl from an Asian country way before they were even married,” Hooven said.

Steven Curtis Chapman, a Christian music artist, had a part in making the adoption process possible for the Hoovens.

“He was definitely one of the biggest influences on my family’s choice to adopt,” Hooven said. “The Chapman’s have an organization called Show Hope that raises awareness about adoption and [financially] helps families who are in the process … the organization gave my family a scholarship that helped us tremendously with the adoption fees.”

Though the family first began the adoption process when Hooven was 11, the trip to China to pick up Hannah did not occur until Hooven was 13.

“The adoption process was no quick and easy task,” Hooven said.

Once the plane touched down in China, the Hoovens navigated the streets to find where they would meet their long-awaited new addition to the family for the first time.

“I was so excited because I had prayed for a little sister ever since I was 3 years old; on the other hand, I was really nervous because I didn’t know what to expect,” Hooven said. “I remember ‘Gotcha Day’ just like it was yesterday.”

Though the family did not see the actual orphanage where Hannah had been waiting, Hooven recalls seeing pictures that showed glimpses of the poor living environment.

“It was very devastating to think that my sister had to live in such a cold, dark place,” Hooven said. ”They had two babies per crib, and the crib was made out of metal bars and a slab of wood; [it had] no mattress.”

With Hannah safe in the care of the family that had been praying for her for years, it was time to take her home.

“The 24-hour trek back home with an 11-month-old baby was no easy task, but when we finally got home, it was kind of like our family was now complete,” Hooven said. “My sister is now 6 years old and full of life and sass. She is really funny, smart and strong willed.”