The Gratiot County Courthouse finalized six adoptions during the National Adoption Day on Nov. 23. The six families with their new family members are pictured above and below with Probate Court Judge Jack T. Arnold and 65th District Court Judge Stewart McDonald, who presided over the proceedings. (Herald photo - Wildfong)
 

The Gratiot County Courthouse celebrated the 10th annual National Adoption Day with the finalization of adoptions of six Gratiot County children on Tuesday, Nov. 24.

Probate Court Judge Jack T. Arnold and 65th District Court Judge Stewart McDonald presided over the regular court meeting in which six families welcomed new members.

Maeson Baez, Kaiya Winn, Ayden Parks, Jazmyne Seeley, and Gage TenHave were given his or her adoption certificate, a stuffed rabbit, and a miniature gavel that Judge Arnold joked could be used much like a judge uses one to “object to parental rules.”

“This is a very important time in these families’ lives,” said Judge Arnold.

Javier and Laurie Baez said they were happy to adopt their grandson Maeson.

“He has always been a big part of our life and he’s gotten over some big hills himself,” Mr. Baez said. “This is family and you take care of your family. He’s a joy in our life.”

Milton and Tammy TenHave said it was a relief to finally have their adoption of Gage finalized after caring for him for nearly two years.

“It’s a huge relief,” Mrs. TenHee said of the finalization. “It’s been a long time coming with a lot of anticipation for the future.”

Judge Arnold said the event was a “celebration of family and to bring awareness of over 100,000 children in foster care homes awaiting adoption.”

National Adoption Day was created in November of 2000 as the National Adoption Day Coalition worked with foster care agencies, law firms, child advocates, and courts to finalize hundreds of foster care adoptions in nine jurisdictions nationwide including New York City, Chicago, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Omaha, and Columbus, Ohio.

Since then, hundreds of districts across the nation have joined and over 25,000 children have been adopted from foster care on National Adoption Day.

“This day is a culmination of what good comes out of the court system,” said Judge McDonald. “It gives these children an opportunity in life to have a future they might not have had.”