A Night At The Oscars

On Wednesday, Nov 28th the Young Women of my ward had their Evening of Excellence. All the leaders did a fabulous job putting everything together for the evening and I received a lot of complements. I couldn't have done any of it with out all of them. They are the absolute best and I am so thankful for their love and support and for being so willing to help with anything! It has been so much fun being in the Young Women's this year. I love all the Young Women and it has been wonderful getting to know them all on a more personal level. I will miss them when little Owen comes along.

We decorated the auditorium in all red, white and black colors. We had little white Christmas lights strung out to accent, black and white balloons tied to the chairs , a red carpet down the middle all lit up for the girls to "walk the red carpet" and some roses placed in beautiful vases. We had tables with all of their projects they worked on through out the year displayed, a nice cheesecake dessert bar set up, some "walk of fame" stars with all the young women's names on them, an MC for the night who told jokes and what not and announcers who were selected to announce the young women and tell us a little about each girl as they walked down the carpet and received their "Oscar". It was a nice evening and everything went well.

Now it's on to the next event!


The Swan Lakes Ward Young Women Leaders from left to right:
Lisa Hansen - Secretary
Mandi Workman - President
Julie Brophy - 2nd Counselor
Alysa Sargent - Mia Maid Advisor
Donna Woolstenhulme - Laurel Advisor
Katie Flanders - Beehive Advisor
Julie Robinson - 1st Counselor
Melissa Orris - Beehive Advisor
We have 22 Young Women in our ward at this time and constantly growing!

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a really nice weekend relaxing as a family. For the first time ever we didn't have to go anywhere and Lindsay had the whole weekend off (we thought this wouldn't be the case with his own business this year, he works a lot of hours). My family was all going out of town so my mother had a big dinner at their home on the Sunday before. This was Lindsay's parents "off" year and they had been invited to spend the week with Lindsay's older brother in AZ so they flew there. I made a big Thanksgiving dinner for our little family (Lindsay, myself and Faith). We woke, played as a family, went to see our horse, watched a movie and had dinner. It was actually a really nice day.


We spent the weekend shopping and even attempted to have Faith sit on Santa's lap so we could get a picture. It didn't happen. She lost it and wouldn't sit still. We need to warm her up to the idea I guess. She will have two more chances at the family parties this year.

Lindsay hung all the lights outside and Faith and I decorated the house for Christmas. I had to get a move on it or it wasn't going to happen this year. Everything looks lovely and we are all so excited for the Christmas season. Faith is so cute around the tree. She thinks it's going to get her. We sit back and watch, she will approach the tree very slowly getting almost close enough to touch and then she jump back and runs. It's funny! I was worried the ornaments wouldn't stay on the tree this year but thus far it hasn't been an issue. I almost like her being afraid...lol Although I have tried to warm her up to it and show her and touch it with her. She still wants nothing of it. The cat will hide under it because Faith won't go near it.



Faith loved all the pretty ornaments and wanted to touch every single one before I put it on the tree. If I skipped her with just one ornament she would loose it! She has become quite the little lady these days. She knows how to work the system and get her way (as all kids do). It is fun to see her personality really shinning through and to hear her talk so much more and run around like a little kid. She is so much fun right now and we just adore her to pieces. It's so hard when she goes to bed at night, we can't wait to wake her the next morning.



Faith loves to hum along as I sing or play Christmas music. She loves to dance and sing as most kids do. She has started to say "I love you" and when we say our prayers, with out either one of us teaching her or helping her" she has started to fold her arms and listen and watch us. It is so cute! Most of the time she makes it through the whole prayer as well and some times she try's to say her own prayer while we are.

Things are going really well at home! She is growing up fast!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your friends and family. We love you all and are so grateful for your love and friendships. You all mean the world to us! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Meeting Kai Ling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have noticed that from most of the comments lately this is what most of you have been waiting for!!!

IT REALLY HAPPENED!!!!

It was hard not getting my hopes up when Jessica told me that she would try to arrange a meeting with Faith's birth mom, Kai Ling (you know we all have a little pessimist in us all).

While I was working, Sally came up to me and said she had a surprise for me. Still it didn't hit me. Then she told me that Kai Ling will be at St. Lucy's at two o'clock. It was noon at that time. I got very excited and of course a little teary eyed. It then hit me, I HAD TO SHOWER!! (You know: humidity + hard work = DAMN!) not a good sight or smell.

We were all going to go to St. Lucy's the next day to play with the kids but Laura had a meeting, Jen (one of the volunteers) was meeting her son that she is adopting (although not picking up at this time, on this trip) and now we learned of my surprise. So we decided that we would all go there together today instead.

I had so many feelings going through me. I was a mess. I called Mandi to tell her the news! She was so jealous! Ha Ha! And she tried to stop me from going on this trip. The nerve!

I did wish so badly that she could be there. A part of me was sad. But then, HEY!
Anyways, we all went back to the hotel and got ready. It was so crazy being at St. Lucy's again. All those feelings of last time came back, along with an all new nervousness. I had to keep myself busy till the time came so I helped Laura set up for her presentation then went to the nursery to play with the kids. That was amazing! There was so many children. Crawling, climbing, and of course you can't have a nursery with out some screaming. In a way it made me sad. So many children and no homes. Why does it take so long to place these kids?! I wanted to take them all home and hand them out to everyone I know. There were a few requests for that back home. It made me think of what it was like for Faith. Even though there were about half the kids when she was there. But the care takers do a great job and take great care of these children. Once again ANGELS!!!!

While I was sitting there rolling around with all the babies a woman came in and said, "Workman?" WOW!! The day I have been waiting for for almost a year and a half. I jumped up and looked outside. I saw her!! A beautiful young woman, Kai Ling! She spoke no English so it was hard to communicate. With the help of one of the care takers that spoke a little English, Angel (her real name) and her social worker we met.

The feeling is so hard to describe. Nervous, excitement, love, a little embarrassment. So many emotions. We went to a private room so we could talk. I had a video recorder set up and Carrie (one of the volunteers) offered to come take pictures (thanks Carrie!).

She was so young!! Only 17 years old. I gave her some pictures of Faith, She looked at them and was giggling the whole time. You could feel and see the great love that she still has for Faith. She asked me all about Faith, was she walking, talking, what her favorite thing to do are? She told me that she is so glad that he were able to meet. She has been worried and sad lately. She lives with her big sister and she wont let Kai Ling have the picture up that she has of Faith so she can move on. But she said now she is not sad or worried. I had so much to say and ask her but I didn't know how to express my self (what would be appropriate, what would be too much for her, etc.) So I didn't say too much. I tried to go with what the spirit told me to do. I expressed my love and gratitude for her, how I thought that she was one of the most amazing women I know, and how she has changed our lives. I gave her a message for Mandi.

She knew that Mandi was pregnant with a boy and she was so excited that Faith is going to have a little brother. She told me that if we didn't mind she would like to be a part of Faiths life. She wanted to know when the baby came, when Faith graduated, got married and everything. I told her that we would love to share these things with her. I told her that we would love for them to meet some day.

She told me that Faith will always be in her life. She will tell her husband and children (when the time comes) all about Faith and us.

I was so happy that she wanted to be a part of it all, that she has so much love for Faith. She is such a sweet, loving and amazing woman!!

I have felt some kind of closeness to her through this whole thing. It's weird but I feel like I have felt some of her feelings through the process. Like for some reason I would get really sad and depressed and would start thinking about her, what she was going through and feeling. While we were in Taiwan to pick up Faith, two days before we picked her up, I got really sad and depressed and started to cry. Later I found out that was the same day that Kai Ling said her last goodbyes.

I love this young woman with all of my heart. I pray that she will always have all that she needs. That her life will be happy and blessed.

I Love You Kai Ling!

THE TRIP OF A LIFE TIME!!

Newspaper Article

While we were working at the birth mothers home the local newspaper came and took pictures and interviewed some of us. I was hanging some light fixtures and saw a flash and I turned around and there was a reporter. He asked me a few questions like: why I came and how did I know how to do electrical work? He called James and I handy men. He said they don't have handy men in Taiwan. I guess if you don't do something for a profession you don't do it at all. He also said that by us being there helping kind of made him feel ashamed, that we had to fly across the world to do the things that they themselves can and ought to be doing.

Laura is working hard to try to open peoples eyes over there about adoption and the birth mothers. Again, another ANGEL!

Before & After

The last night, when we finished the project, the birth mothers came home. It was so awesome to see their reaction. They were all so excited to see their new home. They said that they have never seen anything so nice and they didn't want their babies to come because they didn't want to leave. Then then sang a song for us and gave us gifts that they made for us. They were all so sweet. I think that they are all so amazing and brave young women.

This home is a place for these young women to go and get away from the cruel world to have these babies. A world that some have been abandoned by. A world that is not accepting. This is a place for these girls to get help, counseling and LOVE. I could feel the love in the building when you entered.
I LOVE YOU ST. LUCY'S AND ALL THE AMAZING WOMEN THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I guess it's my turn now!!

Well I guess I have to finally write in this blog (boss' orders).
If you can't guess this is Lindsay, Faith's daddy and Mandi's worse half. Ha Ha!
It is so hard to write down all my thoughts and feelings rite now, especially that I know people are going to read this.

I have been blessed greatly by the Lord once again this year. What a year!!!!!!!!!! As you have already read I have had the opportunity to go back to Taiwan for this years service project. I don't want to double up on what Mandi has already said, so I will try not to. All I can say is that is was the second most amazing trip of my life!! I love Taiwan. And this time I don't think I was as culture shocked as the last, so it was more enjoyable. The foods, smells, and all the things I'm not use to didn't even bother me. I actually enjoyed them, except the sewage smell.

It was much different than I expected. I thought that we would have time to play a little and see some of the sights that I didn't get the chance to see last time. Just the opposite! There were only seven of us from the U.S. and Sally (our angel that lives there in Taipei). Umong us were Laura and James Trinnaman, Jen Mciff, Glenda Seely, Carrie Mosley, Dierdre (I don't know her last name? They spelled it wrong in the newspaper. Sorry Diedre), and myself, were all that were able to go. But we pulled it off barely.

Not letting jet lag or total opposite time zones get in the way we all hit it hard. I have never seen people work so hard. All the women KICKED BUTT!!! They all cleaned, painted, bought new beds, and put together eight bedrooms, six bathrooms, a library, a counseling room, a family room, and a kitchen. All in four days.

Meanwhile James and I put in new lighting and plumbing fixtures, pressure washed and steamed cleaned bathrooms, put together new shelving and whatever else Laura told us to do. She sure knows how to crack that whip! OUCH! We had help from the L.D.S. missionaries on one day. If it wasn't for them we couldn't have pulled it off. Like Mandi said, we worked from eight in the morning till 9-10 at night. With a short tour of Tainan and a few hours to play with the kids at St. Lucy's.













All the angels at St. Lucy's and the care taker at the birth mothers home made sure we were fed well. To put it lightly. Every time we turned around there was someone there with a plat of food or a drink, and you HAD to stop. No ifs ands or buts. They are all GREAT women!

Meeting Faith's Birth Mom

It's really going to happen! Lindsay called me about 45 minutes ago and told me that he just received a call from St. Lucy's center and Faith's birth mom would like to meet him at St. Lucy's in 2 hours (at this time he will be meeting her in an hour and 15 minutes). It will be 11 PM on Wednesday night here when he gets to St. Lucy's and will be meeting with her.

I can not believe it! Maybe it is best this way, that I am not there. I don't know how she would feel with the both of us in the room. Lindsay is so loving and his kind spirit radiates. I think for her to meet him, just him, it won't be so over whelming. She is a young girl and I think the both of them really need this. Lindsay has felt a very strong connection to her through this whole process and has wanted to meet her and express his love and gratitude in person. All while preparing for this trip I kept trying to talk Lindsay out of going this year. I wanted him to wait a few years and we would all go. I know, this is terrible of me. Any how, he kept telling me that the had a very strong feeling he should be going and he must go. He was determined and totally set on it. Nothing was getting in his way. Well, this is probably why. He has this wonderful opportunity. I am so happy and yet so saddened at the same time. I know there is a reason for everything and I will keep the Faith. He hopes to record most of it and take pictures so I can't wait for that.

Please keep a prayer in your hearts for him and for Faith's birth mom. I hope all goes well and they walk away from this with peace in their hearts. She means the world to Lindsay and I and I hope she will soon understand this more so. It will be amazing to share all of this with Faith some day.

WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY IN OUR LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Update from Taiwan

Um, OK! Now I am really jealous...................

I spoke with my hubby this morning. He has been calling me every day since he left. It is so fun to hear about his adventures and all that is going on. It is especially nice to know he is safe and doing well. I worry about EVERYTHING!

Any how, he informed me that while working at the Mothers Birth Home all day yesterday one of the care givers from St. Lucy's (a few miles away) came bye to see how everything was going and to bring the volunteer's a treat. Her name is Jessica. She is usually the one who helps prepare the babies/children when families arrive to pick them up and she brings them into the room for the hand off (if that's what you want to call it).

Any how, we meet her when picking up Faith and spent a few hours with her, she is so sweet. She grew close to Faith's birthday mother and had so much to say about her. It was wonderful. Well, she noticed Lindsay and walked right up to him to talk to him. She said "Hello Mr. Workman".. he he! She told Lindsay that Faith's birth mother still calls her social worker every few weeks, stays in touch and has viewed and read all the post placements (updates) we have sent back to St. Lucy's of Faith (how she is doing, her favorite things, pictures and so forth). She told Lindsay that she was busy with school, getting an education and planning for college. She said that she is very much into how Faith is doing and would love some pictures. Lindsay told her that he had brought some to leave at the orphanage. On Friday Lindsay will be visiting St. Lucy's again and Jessica said that if it is possible she will try and contact Faith's birth mother and see if she would be willing to come and meet Lindsay (YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). Jessica explained that she is living and going to school about an 1 1/2 hrs away and she would have to see what her schedule is like and if she would be able to make it on such short notice. Lindsay talked with Jessica some time about how Faith's mother is doing. It is so neat to learn that she still loves this little girl and cares so much about her. I know through the letters and pictures she knows how much Lindsay and I truly love her and care for her. All the caregivers have learned that we are expecting a little boy as well, she mentioned this to Lindsay. What fun!

Lindsay said it was another emotional day for him to hear so much about Faith's birth mom. He also learned that she had stayed at the home he is working on right now while waiting to deliver Faith. This was great news for Lindsay. It means so much more that he is helping and giving back to those who have helped us.

Well, he has been working the last two days from 9 AM-10 PM at the Mother's Birth Home and everything is going well. They took a little break mid-day one day and all went on a tour around "Old Town" in Tainan and he said he took a lot of neat pictures we can share with everyone when he returns.

He is working hard and enjoying every minute. We will not know if he is going to meet with Faith's mom until the day it happens. When he goes to visit on Friday that is when he will find out. I am greatly saddened that I am not there of course but they will try and record everything and take lots of pictures. We are not even sure if it will happen and Lindsay said he won't get his hopes up but what a wonderful day that would be! Lindsay and I long for the day to wrap our arms around her and love her. To share what an amazing gift and joy she has brought into our lives. She is our angel and some day in some way we will let her know this. WE LOVE HER SO MUCH! Such a strong and brave girl.

Well, all is well at home. Faith and I are just hanging out and spending a lot of quality time together. In the mornings when I wake her she will go to our wet-room door, which enters into the garage, and knock on the door. She will say "da-da" and wave bye-bye like she does when he is actually home and leaving for work. She always walks him to the door and blows kisses and waves goodbye in the mornings with and too him. It is cute to see her doing this even though he is gone. At night when I change her into her pj's and we get ready for bed she always starts to talk about him. I know in her little mind she must be wondering when she will see him again or where is he. It is cute though.

We are doing well. Wishing the time away quickly until he is safe at home with us again but at the same time hoping he is having the time of his life. We can't wait to see all the pictures.

Life is good and all is well!

"Picture The Future"

It has been a really hard weekend for Faith and I. We miss Lindsay BIG TIME! We took him to the airport last Friday night to travel back to Taiwan with other volunteers to help with this years service project for the orphanage, which Faith came from. This year Families for Children is helping St. Lucy's remodel a home for the birth mothers and to do some gardening and make a few items for the play area at St. Lucy's. When we learned of this big project at the first of the year Lindsay and I planned to take Faith back and all of us would go. Once I found out I was expecting I felt it would be best to stay home with Faith. My doctor said it would be OK if I went but with my big belly, chasing Faith all over, a 19 hour travel time and the weird smells I knew it would be hard on me. When we dropped him off and drove away I felt so sad inside. I wanted to go so badly. It's a bummer but I feel everything in life happens for a reason.

Well he made it there. I asked him how his second flight (14 hrs) went this time. It drove us both crazy when we went to pick up Faith. This time he said he slept pretty much the whole time and when they arrived in Taipei he was good to go. It sure wouldn't have been so nice if Faith and I were along (he-he!).

He had a wonderful first day shopping and eating some of the local food. The next morning everyone met at 6 AM for breakfast and then took a train ride across the country side down to the west side of Taiwan to Tainan (where St. Lucy's is located). This is where they would meet the care givers and receive their assignments. For the next four days he will be working on the remodel. He is so excited to be there and is having a wonderful time this far. They will have a few evenings to do their own thing and see some of the sites.

He said in a weird way Taiwan feels like his second home. When the plane was landing his heart was beating so hard and he was so happy. He said it felt like the day he got home from his mission. A piece of him is there. He loves it!

Things here at home are pretty routine and boring. We miss Lindsay and I am SO JEALOUS that he is having so much fun and experiencing all that he is with out me. He is so lucky! We will try and go back again when Faith is about 5 years old and can really enjoy it and remember everything. We hope to take her back at least a few times as she grows up to learn of her country and birth place.

Well, time to go grocery shopping and visit the cousins. What a life eh? he-he! All is well! WE MISS YOU DAD!!!!!!!!!! Come home safe!

Busted!

I can't keep up these days. With my belly growing rapidly and Faith exploring, running, and into everything I can't seem to keep the house in order for more then 5 minutes. She loves to be in the cupboards or drawers all day, forget the toys..... She's my little busy body.

The Torture

I know that when you all look at these photo's your going to be thinking "that poor little Faith. What is Mandi doing to her now?".

Faith has so much beautiful hair and every day I try and do something different or try and experiment with it. She is so little and I know that I should just let her be but deep down inside I know Faith loves it as much as her mom (ha-ha!).

She is such a trooper. Whenever I play with her hair she usually sits and plays with some of her hair ribbons and bows while I do my thing. She hasn't gotten mad or cried at me just yet. She is usually really good and such a sport to leave it in all day. She must have a hard head (something I defiantly didn't have growing up).

Well, I did it! I went out and bought the old school curlers to try in her hair (the same ones I slept in when I was a little girl). It has been ages since I have used a curling iron and as most mothers know it would be crazy-insane to have her sit while I try and curl her hair. This is the easiest way. I wanted to experiment one morning and see how it would look. I will need to use the bigger size rollers next time FOR SURE. Just a little to afro....

She looks so darn cute though!

Go Ute's!!

GO UTAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My mom found these pictures taken of us two years ago on our way to one of the Utah football games. Lindsay and I both love football. We are looking forward to the BYU vs Utah game on November 24th. GO UTAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One Hot Mamma!

OK, so is it bad when your doctor tells you that you have gained 20 pounds in the last two months? he-he! I still have three months to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any how, if you want to compare from the early stages until now you will have to scroll back a few months. I will post the next two at 7 & 8 months... Owen will be here soon!

HALLOWEEN!

This Halloween was so much fun! Faith was adorable (as always) as a little panda bear. The panda bear is the animal for Taiwan so we thought it would be fitting this year. She didn't mind wearing her costume at all and we even taught her to say trick-or-treat (her version: "twick-twick-tweet"). We took her to Grandpa and Grandpa Workman's for chili and bread sticks with cider (family tradition every year) and then we went home and did some trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. We just did a few homes as we walked over to my sisters home to hang with the family for the night. Faith was a big hit amongst all the passer byers of course. She is such a doll and growing so fast! She is starting to copy her mom and dad by dancing, singing and trying to say everything they say. She is such a smart one.

Daddy's lil Cowgirl

When dad is working Faith will find his hats laying around and put them on, it is so cute! Usually it's his baseball cap's. She will just put them on and go about her business wearing them. The first time she saw a cowboy hat she cried (some much like her mom, he-he! kidding!). They scared her a bit. I have tried to get her use to them. She will still see someone wearing one and just sit and watch them, she won't go to close. These where just a few cute shots I took of her playing around.

Bake Sale

The Young Women in my ward held a bake sale to raise money for St. Lucy's "Picture The Future" project this year. Our little girl Faith is from St. Lucy's in Taiwan and this year her dad is traveling with a group of people (mom is to prego to go along) to do a service project on Nov 9th. He will be gone for nine long days and we will miss him SO much!

Thanks to the Swan Lakes ward Young Women and their leaders, you are FABULOUS!!!!!!