Local foster children adopted in time for the holidays

Red, white and green balloons covered the ceremonial chambers in the Duval County Courthouse and 19 red stockings stuffed with teddy bears adorned a table — one for each of the 19 families welcoming children into their families in time for the holidays.

More than three dozen children were adopted Thursday by families from across North Florida.

The 15th annual “Home for the Holidays” event was organized by Judge David M. Gooding at the Duval County Courthouse in conjunction with Family Support Services of North Florida.

Gooding was rosy cheeked and beaming with joy. He’s presided over more than 4,000 adoptions over the years.

“What we do here today is to make legal and official what was already in your heart,” Gooding said.

Families celebrating included the Cooks, who adopted six children ranging in age from 21 months to 13 years old in order to keep the siblings together.

The adoptions boosted Keith and Shannon Cooks’ kid count up to 11 — they already had three biological children and two already plucked from foster care.

“They’ve been in care 634 days,” a caseworker told the judge. “The second I even spoke with Keith and Shannon on the phone, I knew this was going to be the perfect fit for them. I knew it was meant to be. I couldn’t picture their family any different.”

So many kids in the courtroom juxtaposed the typical somber setting — there were squeals, squabbles, cheers and cries from the crowd at all times.

Gooding loved it.

“In my courtroom, children can act like children,” he said. “It’s the adults who have to behave.”

Others in attendance included City Council members Michael Boylan and Ju’Coby Pittman along with local attorney Hank Coxe.

While many families Thursday took on multiple children, it isn’t a numbers game.

“You don’t always have to adopt five, six, seven kids,” Gooding said to a laughing crowd. “You can just adopt one. If you want one, all you have to do is contact me and I’ll put you in contact with FSS.”

Other families did just that, like Martha and Ronald Blair, who adopted a baby girl named McKenzie.

“My wife and I — of the two of us — have five boys. They’re all great. But we don’t have any girls,” Ronald Blair said. “She’s a beautiful little girl.”

The 6-month-old was dressed in a fancy black dress and red headband and has been with the Blairs since she was released from the hospital.

“This is wonderful. Thank you for being there for this child,” Gooding said. “I know those big brothers are going to take care of her but I know one day you might have to carve a big piece of oak to keep the boys away.”

According to Florida Support Services, there are 935 children in out-of-home care within Duval and Nassau Counties with 43 percent placed with a relative, 46 percent into foster care and 2 percent into group homes.

The organization’s goal is to give those children permanent homes in the form of family reunification, adoption or permanent guardianship. In multiple situations Thursday, grandparents and other family members became legal guardians.

For families like Frank and Molly Adams, adopting Raygan, 14, and Leia, 13, was a no-brainer.

“It’s a beautiful thing that this is happening at Christmas time,” Frank Adams said. “The best gift you can give us is to make the girls part of our family.”

“A caseworker was interviewing Raygan and they asked her, ‘So, do you want this family to adopt you?’” Adams explained. “And she said, ‘Ma’am, I’m already part of this family. We’re just waiting for you to catch up.’”

Raygan and Leia join the Adams family’s two teenage daughters to create a family of six.

The day ended with a trip upstairs to “the North Pole” where the families could enjoy refreshments and the younger kids got to meet Santa Claus.

“I’m the last of six children. I was a bit of a surprise,” Gooding said. “The thing that’s unique about adopted children is that you’re chosen. I just came along. They didn’t pick me.”

Emily Bloch: (904) 359-4083