by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
With the holidays around the corner, Friday’s adoption ceremony at the County Courthouse was special for everyone involved. From Circuit Court Judges David Gooding and Waddell Wallace, who preside over the hearings, the families adopting their first child to those adopting their second or more, the morning was filled with smiles.
“You are drafting another branch onto your family tree by adding Noah to your family,” said Gooding. “There is nothing more important (than adoptions) that any other judge in this building can do.”
Deanne and Mark Seymour have done this before — six times, in fact — but every time they add to their family it’s special.
As part of National Adoption Day, Deanna and Mark adopted Noah, the last of the seven children that have been adopted by the whole Seymour family. The adoptions began in 2000 and all seven children are related in some capacity.
In all, over 30 children were adopted Friday.
Farrah Albertie adopted brothers Benjamin, 3 and Darius, 1. The two boys have been living with Albertie since April 5.
“I’ve always wanted to adopt children,” she said. “I fell in love with them as soon as they came through my door.
“I just love them so much. When they came to my door they were crying and as you can see they are pretty happy now.”
Albertie does a lot of work helping other families and children. She has been to Haiti where she worked in an orphanage.
“I just felt like this (adopting) is my calling in life,” she said. “I know I will be adopting more.”
Shaquille, 14, was one of the oldest kids who was adopted Friday.
“I can say I now have two sons. Our 18-year-old is going off to college and our house was going to be empty. But, now he (Shaquille) is going to feel that warmth our other son got while growing up,” said Joann, who asked that her last name be omitted.
Joann’s husband, Sammie, said he knew Shaquille would be a wonderful addition to their family.
“When we first met him, I knew he would fit right in because he and our oldest son bonded,” said Sammie. “I knew we made the right decision and we couldn’t ask for a better kid.”