Monday, December 22, 2008

Phoebe Jade's Baptism


After much procrastination I'm going to attempt to blog regularly about our life with our adorable little Phoebe Jade. One very special event that we would like to share with our family and friends was her baptism on Dec 22 on the West Coast.

In mid December 2008, we traveled to California from New York to spend the holidays with my family, and to finally hold Phoebe's baptism ceremony-- a bit of a delay as she is nearly two years old (not to mention the challenge of finding a size 2 baptism gown!) Why the delay? We wanted to hold the ceremony when both her God-Parents (her Tante Nene and Uncle Stef) could both be present. My father secretly planned the event with his friends and colleagues from 91BCT & OP Team 35, a volunteer unit in the United States Volunteer-Joint Service Command (USV-JSC), a unit comprised of members who are originally from Vietnam. Read on to hear about this amazing event!
On the morning of the baptism, my dad was vague about the ceremony details as we headed to Westminster, in Orange County, in a rain storm. When we arrived at the church, he then informed me that a special group of friends from 91BCT & OP Team 35 had arranged for Phoebe to be baptized at Blessed Sacrament Church, a Catholic church with a Vietnamese congregation of 9000 families. My parents, the god parents, Nene & Stef, and Ken and I were thrilled and honored for such a meaningful gesture to our little Phoebe Jade from the Team; we are forever grateful to all of you.
Opa, Phoebe (wearing Uncle Bernard's coat from Paris to go with her French baptism gown) and Ken heading into the church.

Several members of Team 35, including General L. Ly (right), met us at the church entrance.


Phoebe's Oma and Opa entering the church together.

Another surprise guest at the baptism was Dee, Opa's childhood neighbor from Central Coast of California, whom he hadn't seen in nearly fifty years!

Phoebe greeting members of Team 35.

Meeting CPT. C. Tran, who had done so much to prepare for the event.

Phoebe taking cousin Jojo's teddy bear for a stroll.

The baptism ceremony was conducted by Rev. Tuan Pham.

A group shot of Team 35 with Opa, Phoebe Jade and her God Father, Uncle Stef.

Here is a short video of the end of the ceremony. It is a bit awkward because I'm trying to discretely film. An entry about the reception to follow.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

First Encounter with Santa

Phoebe met Santa at Roger's Garden in Newport Beach, Ca. Santa's face says it all.