The world for one little boy just became much bigger

After a very, very long day on Friday, we are settling into a routine at the hotel with Jack. Friday morning saw us leave Ho Chi Minh City at 5:00am for a five hour mini-bus ride into the Mekong Delta to the town of Tra Vinh. This journey was long, tiring, and I have to add rather dangerous -- road safety standards in Vietnam (as in many parts of the world) compared to those of Europe and North America are virtually non-existant. There is really one highway into Tra Vinh, a main road that everyone and their mother, father, brother, sister, uncle, dog, cat, water buffulo etc.... takes this road. About 3/4 of the population scoot about in motorcyles going every which way they can along the highway (90 per cent of these people wear no helmut). Our driver was excellent though, and got us there and back safely.

We arrived in Tra Vinh Friday morning where we returned to the orphanage to spend some more time with Jack. We then headed to the department of Justice in the town for the formal giving ceremony which was to be held at 2pm. Once we arrived, though, we found they were not ready for us and the ceremony would be delayed. We went to visit a pagoda close to town. This pagoda was built in 626A.D. -- a very calming and relaxing place to be, given the stress and uncertainty of the moment. There was a real fear the giving ceremony would have been delayed yet again and we would have to, yet again, travel to Tra Vinh.

Upon leaving the pagoda, however, we received word the Department of Justice was ready for us. We had the giving ceremony at 4:15 Friday afternoon. The ceremony itself was quite simple, perhaps anti-climatic, however, a formal occasion that will remain in our memories always. After signing some papers, we asked to stand, the Justice Department officer declared the adoption process official and Jack was handed over to us. At that point, he become a part of our family.

After a brief stop at the orphanage we started out on the return trip back to Ho Chi Minh City. It was a difficult journey back in the mini-bus with 3 babies, 2 young children (under 6) and 8 very tired adults (and no seat-belts to be had). One of the babies vomited about 10 minutes into our journey.

Jack was probably quite overwhelmed by everything around him. This was his first venture outside the orphanage. He did eventually settled down and take bottle, falling asleep in daddy's arms. Mommy decided at that moment to take a nap herself. Not wanting to disturb Jack's sleep, daddy had to stay awake for the whole journey.

From that moment on, Jack's world grew. He is now experiencing all the sights, sounds, smells of the large city. He loves to look around at everything around him and seems to enjoy being carried around in the baby sling as we walk around town. So far, he has been sleeping pretty well, getting up at regular intervals. When he first awakens, he is quite afraid and unsure of his surroundings (and probably unsure of the two people looking at him!)

Now back in Ho Chi Minh city, Monday morning we will apply for a Vietnamese passport for Jack, then for a Canadian entry VISA. Once both of these have been processed, we can return home. We will update you on that once we know more.

All three of us thank-you for your thoughts and prayers that have helped bring us to this point in our lives.

Vanessa and Taylor and Jack