Read more: Local, State, Community, Adoption, Day, Midland, County
This Thursday, most of us will be around the table giving thanks for and with our families.
The concept of family is often under-appreciated, but for several local families, they've just begun realizing its importance.
Normally, courtrooms are intimidating places, but Tuesday one of them was crawling with children and filled with laughter.
Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly says, "This is a day when everyone wins in the courtroom. Normally, we have at least one party that's not happy, but here everybody is happy."
Adoptive mother Sarah Moeller says, "It means everything. It finished our family. They were my grandkids, so for us to have all 3 of them was just wonderful."
They're all looking forward to sharing their first Thanksgiving as a family.
Adoptive father Mark Moeller says, "We'll be full inside with turkey as well as family."
Each adopted child received a stuffed animal and the chance to hammer the judge's gavel.
Kelly says, "We can look at these children and think of the wonderful future they have now because people were willing to adopt them and love them."
It serves as a reminder and a challenge for those who take their family for granted.
Midland County Probate Court Judge Dorene Allen says, "It would be fun to have something like this at birth. Wouldn't it? So the parents understand the gravity of what they're taking on for the birth of a child."
This was the 7th annual Adoption Day in Midland County.
