Heartbreaking cases are the norm in family court. But on one special day each year, the Tarrant County Family Law Center in Fort Worth, Texas is filled with nothing but smiling faces – and stuffed animals!
That’s because they participate in National Adoption Day, an event created by several organizations in 2000 to help kids find forever homes.
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In its first year, the program hosted nine adoption events. Thankfully, it has only grown from there and now includes 400 cities across the country. Better still, it has seen a total 75,000 adoptions take place – including 19 in Tarrant County this year alone!
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The Tarrant County Law Center went out of its way to ensure the early celebration on November 15 was special for everyone! Superheroes and Disney characters greeted the 15 growing families as they made their way to the courtroom with more surprises to come.
Children being adopted are given a new stuffed animal of their choosing, a book, a superhero cape, and a necklace engraved with their new name and date of adoption from Kubes Jewelry. The adoptive mothers receive a yellow rose, and the adoptive fathers receive the pen the judge uses to sign the adoption decree. And the family receives a framed and matted copy of their first official family photograph taken at the event!
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It’s an incredibly joyful occasion for all the parents involved. After all, they worked so hard to make sure they could keep their kids forever!
Laura and Russell Wallace fostered 4-year-old Jayden for more than a year before he officially became theirs, and they were deeply moved by the ceremony. “Today symbolizes hope,” Laura said. “We just can’t imagine our family without him.”
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Of course, they aren’t the only ones who feel the love! “I would call it the best day of the year,” said Lindsay DeVos, an associate district court judge.
Knowing that 19 children went home that day with the loving parents they’ve always deserved, we have to agree. And it’s all thanks to the dedication and perseverance of everyone involved in National Adoption Day!
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What a beautiful event! Congratulations to these growing families and to all the others like them that are giving a child a chance at a better life.
Learn more about Tarrant County’s National Adoption Day celebration in the video below, and share to spread the love!
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