BEAUMONT, Texas — Friday was a very special day for several Southeast Texas families who expanded their hearts and homes to children through adoption.
The Jefferson County Courthouse was transformed into a winter wonderland full of tears and cheers for the occasion. 279th District Court Judge Randy Shelton dressed up as Baker Santa to grant adoptions for 17 kids.
12News was there for the emotional ceremony. Despite the many adoptions today, there is still a large need for forever homes.
Officials with the Texas Family Care Network say this is the largest National Adoption Day Jefferson County has seen in five years.
"What I enjoy most about my new mom is she takes care of me and she loves me," said 6-year-old Leila, one of the children adopted.
Multiple families across Southeast Texas celebrated National Adoption Day with smiles and tears of joy. While some slept through their adoptions others were wide awake, soaking in the moment their dreams came true.
"I'm excited and I'm happy for them. They blessed us just as much as we blessed them," said Daniel Shillow, a parent.
Families like the Shillows say this was the first step in their journey together as a family.
"They've been with us for two years and I'm used to them and I couldn't see them leaving," Shillow said.
Laura Dougharty is grateful to finally be able to adopt 4-year-old Bobbi.
12News first met the family in September 2024, when they were trying to raise funds for a wheelchair-accessible van to help Bobbi get around.
"She is the joy of our world," Dougharty said.
She says Judge Shelton, who granted the adoptions, played a huge role in keeping Bobbi in their home.
"Having 24 diagnoses and medications moving a home could kill Bobbi. But Judge Shelton made sure she stayed in her permanent home all these years she's been with us," said Dougharty.
RELATED: Southeast Texas family asking for helping hand to raise money for new wheelchair accessible van
Shari Pulliam, the Director of Community Engagement for Texas Family Care, says it's usually more difficult for older children and those with disabilities to get adopted.
"It's so important to find that special family that's going to love and care for them," Pulliam said.
She says while this was the largest adoption day, there are still more kids who need forever homes.
"On any given day in the State of Texas there a 4,000 children waiting for their forever families. There's about 50 right now in Jefferson County waiting for their forever families. So today was an amazing day for those 17 families," said Pulliam.
In 2023, 77 kids were adopted overall in Jefferson County and 166 kids were removed from there homes in 2023. More than 2,000 children in Texas are still waiting for forever homes.
If you want to learn the steps to foster or adopt you can find more information on Heart Gallery of Southeast Texas website.