Judge Ryan Larson presides over his first Adoption Day case; making the Waters family official.
Erizon (16) leaves her handprint for the Judge’s chambers
Tracy and Chanda Waters had the biggest courtroom contingent celebrating daughter Shae and son Evan, of whom Chanda says “I have never been more committed to any living being than these children.”
Mike “Superman” Guevara is a family law attorney and organizer of this year’s event
Attorney Denise Hyde in superhero attire
Seven Williamson County families welcomed 13 new members on Adoption Day, November 22, in the 395th and 425th District Courts. Adoptions are done all the time in both courtrooms, but November is National Adoption Month and many clients and families who work with Child Protective Services choose to formalize the occasion in a public celebration.
Thanks to the combined efforts of Williamson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Child Welfare Board, and Bar Association, the annual event featured more then $2500 in donated toys and books for the adoptees, lunch and cake, as well as several superheroes to visit with and entertain the families throughout the day.
Judge Betsy Lambeth (425th District) and Judge Ryan Larson (395th District) presided over the cases and ensured family members testified aloud what was written on all of their faces, mostly in tears; they were already family and just needed to judges to make it so, legally.
Denise “Wonder Woman” Hyde is a family law attorney and has been participating in Adoption Day for nearly 20 years. “Every adoption is wonderful but being able to do these as part of Adoption Day is incredible. Every family is unique and wonderful and all of these families are opening their hearts and homes and making a commitment to these children to be their Forever family. It’s magic.”
Hyde says Adoption Month brings awareness to the great many children across the country, in Texas, and here at home who are waiting for their forever homes. “Getting this message out is so important so we are honoring and celebrating these families but we’re also bringing the needed visibility to these kids. These are all our kids.”
Judge Betsy Lambeth is celebrating her fourth Adoption Day as a judge and explained all the cases in the annual event are managed by CPS. “It’s so great to hear the stories of the families. Today a little boy being adopted has had a lot of trouble in his life and it’s just amazing when they get with the right family, and how patient these families are with these kids. So much of what we have to do sometimes breaks up families. This is the one time we get to make families.”
New Mom Tracy Waters has been waiting two years for this very emotional day. Her response was “[Speechless grinning pause] I just feel like a big weight has been lifted. And I now I just get to be a mom.”
Clockwise from top: Attorney Denise Hyde in superhero attire • Mike “Superman” Guevara is a family law attorney and organizer of this year’s event • Erizon (16) leaves her handprint for the Judge’s chambers • Judge Ryan Larson presides over his first Adoption Day case; making the Waters family official. • Tracy and Chanda Waters had the biggest courtroom contingent celebrating daughter Shae and son Evan, of whom Chanda says “I have never been more committed to any living being than these children.” • Judge Lambeth got some help from Alan Barnes to bang the gavel on his new family.
