A Mississippi courtroom was the scene of special Christmas joy this month when 11 children were adopted into permanent, loving homes.
WXXV News 25 reports the families celebrated at the Jackson County Courthouse with Judge Neil Harris on Dec. 20. They included children who no longer are in foster care and children who were adopted by relatives and step-parents.
The Parker family, who adopted their first foster child, Izzy, told WXXV: “She’s been with us a little over a year now, and we got termination rights about a month and a half ago, and we have been waiting for this day ever since so we are very excited. A big ole weight is just off our chests just knowing that she’s ours forever now and nobody can take her away from us now, so it’s just a very awesome and amazing feeling.”
According to Live Action News, Jaqueline and Jerry Waits also adopted their grandchildren and Patience Wolfe adopted her step-daughter, Lexi, on the same day.
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In December, 129 children were adopted in Mississippi as part of an initiative by the state Department of Child Protection Services to find permanent homes for children in foster care, according to the report.
“We’re making life changes and since I’ve had adoption in my family and have gotten a grandchild, then it is personal to me and I know how personal it is to these families. Most importantly, today we had a Christmas miracle,” Judge Harris told the families.
The pro-life movement is heavily involved in adoption and foster care, running organizations and providing temporary or permanent homes for children in difficult circumstances, as well as offering counseling and support to birth mothers.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the number of children in foster care has declined in recent years, and adoptions from foster care have increased. In 2020, 57,900 children were adopted; however, there still were 117,000 children available for adoption through foster care.
