Williamson: Adoption greatest gift of all

It can be no accident that National Adoption Day and Thanksgiving take place within a week of each other. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone more grateful than children and parents on the day they become “forever families.”

For Roosevelt and Curry counties, adoptions take place within the confines of the 9th Judicial District. On Friday the Roosevelt County district courtroom was bursting with teddy bears, balloons, and a palpable sense of joy as the adoption process was finalized for 10 children.

Donna Mower, one of the five judges for this district, started the local celebration three years ago. She said it’s one of the best days of the year in the court.

“In any other case,” she said, “at least one person walks out of the courtroom unhappy. That is not the case with adoption. Everyone is happy.”

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Two of the most exuberant celebrants last week were 9-year-old Claudia and her 11-year-old sister, Madeline. Their sparkling dresses were only out-dazzled by their smiles. As the sisters stepped forward to finally end what has been for them a five-year-long legal roller coaster ride, Mowrer asked them what this day felt like.

“It’s way better than Christmas!” Madeline said enthusiastically. “We get to be adopted and be a family.”

The girls are the third and fourth adopted children for Lee and Alveta Ferguson, who started their lengthy journey through the system when they lived in Portales and later in Elida. For the last year and a half they’ve lived in Cimarron.

“My message to anyone who is considering adoption,” Alveta said, “is that this is a life-changing decision for you as a parent, and for the child or children you adopt. This could mean more than the world to a child to know they have someone who will be there for them no matter what.”

Friday’s celebration was a group effort: Local Altrusans provided teddy bears to the new adoptees and their siblings; Patricia Miller from A Mother’s Choice (a program of the NM Christian Children’s Home) got every child a copy of “All About Adoption: How Families Are Made & How Kids Feel about It;” the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department supplied balloons and led a touching balloon-release ceremony; and Clovis photographer Nathan McCreery (himself an adoptive parent) donated his skills to take professional portraits of each new family.

Mowrer encourages others to consider opening their homes to children in the system.

“Giving love is easy,” she said. “That’s why I think being a foster or adoptive parent is important. You don’t have to have a big house or a lot of money. You just need a big heart. A forever family is the best gift of all.”

Betty Williamson used every tissue she had to mop up her happy tears. You may reach her at [email protected]