Posted 11:49 pm Saturday, November 17, 2012
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14 families add new members
BY KENNETH DEAN
kdean@tylerpaper.com
Resting in Luke Yarborough's arms Friday, 14-month-old Lyza did not realize the importance of the day, but for Luke, his wife Laci and their family, the day was one anticipated for months.
kdean@tylerpaper.com
Resting in Luke Yarborough's arms Friday, 14-month-old Lyza did not realize the importance of the day, but for Luke, his wife Laci and their family, the day was one anticipated for months.
“We have had her since she was 2 days old when we took her in as a foster child,” Mrs. Yarborough said. “We wanted to adopt her, but there were times when we were not sure if she would always be with us.”
The Yarboroughs and 13 other families attended the National Day of Adoption at Rose Heights Church, which was used as a makeshift courtroom for 321st District Court Judge Carole Clark.
In her opening remarks, Judge Clark said the event was “one of the highlights of our year.”
Judge Clark listened intently as each family approached the bench and told her why the adoption should be granted.
The Jenkins family was talking to Judge Clark when one of the other children said his new adopted sister had been bad at home. His comments drew laughter from his parents — and from the court — and a thank you from the judge.
Despite the revelation that Addison had been naughty, the judge granted the adoption, and the Jenkins family celebrated with hugs.
As Mrs. Yarborough told Judge Clark why she and her husband — the director of student ministry at Bethel Bible Church — should have their adoption request granted, her voice cracked.
Moments later, Judge Clark joined the family and granted the adoption before posing for some photos.
Yarborough said later that the day he and his wife learned they could adopt Lyza, they learned she was pregnant with their second son.
In her opening remarks, Judge Clark said the event was “one of the highlights of our year.”
Judge Clark listened intently as each family approached the bench and told her why the adoption should be granted.
The Jenkins family was talking to Judge Clark when one of the other children said his new adopted sister had been bad at home. His comments drew laughter from his parents — and from the court — and a thank you from the judge.
Despite the revelation that Addison had been naughty, the judge granted the adoption, and the Jenkins family celebrated with hugs.
As Mrs. Yarborough told Judge Clark why she and her husband — the director of student ministry at Bethel Bible Church — should have their adoption request granted, her voice cracked.
Moments later, Judge Clark joined the family and granted the adoption before posing for some photos.
Yarborough said later that the day he and his wife learned they could adopt Lyza, they learned she was pregnant with their second son.
The couple was ecstatic about the adoption, and a beaming Yarborough carried his newly adopted child around as the couple's other two children stood by their side.
“We have really been blessed, and this ends a long time of waiting for this to come to an end,” Mrs. Yarborough said.
Bryan Campbell, Smith County Young Lawyers' Association president, said the event was to celebrate being adopted and is put on by the association each year.
Campbell said lunch was provided, and the children and families were encouraged to use the church facilities to allow the children to celebrate.
“It's pretty incredible,” he said. “You get to see new families joined together, and it's just really incredible to see the end of what has been a very long process for some of these families.”
“We have really been blessed, and this ends a long time of waiting for this to come to an end,” Mrs. Yarborough said.
Bryan Campbell, Smith County Young Lawyers' Association president, said the event was to celebrate being adopted and is put on by the association each year.
Campbell said lunch was provided, and the children and families were encouraged to use the church facilities to allow the children to celebrate.
“It's pretty incredible,” he said. “You get to see new families joined together, and it's just really incredible to see the end of what has been a very long process for some of these families.”
