Giving and Receiving Ceremony

Sophia Rose getting ready for her big day, the

Giving and Receiving Ceremony

Sophia and Mommy on way to G & R Ceremony

Sophia's primary nanny from the orphanage, who officially

gives her away to us at the ceremony

Signing the official registry

More signing....

And still more signing...

Page in the registry documenting the adoption

After the ceremony, with Sophia's nanny

Whose the tired one here?

Today was a very special day. We had our Giving and Receiving ceremony, and Sophia Rose Thi offically became our daughter :) The ceremony was held in a small conference room at the Vietnamese department of Justice in Hanoi. Sophia's primary nanny from the orphanage was there, along with Loan from PLAN and the Justice departmetn official.

After signing several legal documents, the Justice department official stood up and in Vietnamese declared us Sophia's legal parents (translated by Loan). Loren then made a short speech, explaining how much we love her and that we will promise to take care of her, educate her, and keep her Vietnamese culture alive for her.

While we have felt Sophia was ours from the moment we picked her up at the orphanage this past monday, the ceremony was a very emotional experience for us. The culmination of 2 years dreaming about this moment, now occurring on the other side of the world in the eyes of the Vietnamese government and wittnesses was an emotional moment that we will always remember.

The pictures above tell the story.