The Saturday before Thanksgiving is a day focused on children looking for permanent families.Over 100 families in Maricopa County completed their families.
PHOENIX — National Adoption Day is always filled with excitement, anticipation and emotion.
More than 100 children in Maricopa County were adopted this year, and they celebrated their adoptions in Arizona Superior Court on Saturday. It was a special day for the Finger family in Northern Phoenix.
Nicole’s husband, Joshua, has adopted their older biological son, 13-year-old Landan.
“I feel great,” said Joshua, who has been pictured since Randan was only a year and a half old. “We wanted to adopt him when he was two years old, and he actually came to us and said he was ready to adopt.”
Landan is grateful and proud to be part of this family for many reasons.
“How accommodating they are,” he said with a smile.
His mother Nicole explained how moved she was by the adoption format, which is now official.
“Two people deserve it,” she said. “They are just father and son, so it makes a lot of sense that it finally happens.”
Now officially a family of four, in the eyes of Randan’s six-year-old brother Rhett, it’s as usual.
“I love my family so much,” Rhett said.
“One day he will come to understand a little bit of the significance of this day,” his mother said.
Randan’s new middle name was Edward after Joshua’s father, who adopted him.
“The feeling of taking someone and raising them and giving them the perfect life,” Joshua said. “I was raised that way… I wanted to make sure he had that too.”
National Adoption Day is a day that Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Robert Brooks looks forward to each year.
“It is a great honor and honor to be part of a day like this,” he said. “Often when we go to court as judicial officers, everything is very serious and when most people come to this court, it can be the hardest day of their lives…but today is the best day for so many and to share it and be a part of it is one of the greatest honors of my life.”
Since National Adoption Day was enacted, approximately 58,500 children have been adopted on this day. Congratulations to all officially recognized families!
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