Web Exclusive: Adoption Day creates new start for many

Morgan Superior Court Judge Dakota VanLeeuwen on adoption day directing children to the stuffed animals they can choose from. (IL Photo/Alexa Shrake)

Morgan Superior Court Judge Dakota VanLeeuwen handed her gavel to Journey Bales, 2, and asked her to bang it.

“When you hit it, say ‘adopt’,” VanLeeuween said.

Bales whispered  “adopt” as she struck the gavel, and everyone in the courtroom cheered.

She was the first of 18 kids adopted in a special National Adoption Day ceremony on Nov. 26.

For judges who often have to hear heartbreaking cases, it’s a wonderful day of celebration.

“This is my Mariah Carey Christmas,” VanLeeuwen said, starting the day at the Morgan County Courthouse in Martinsville.

Since joining the Morgan County bench in January 2023, she has made the day a bigger deal for families.

Last year, she had Squishmallow stuffed animals sit in the jury box and had the children pick one out to take home afterwards. The gifts expanded this year.

Not only did the children get to pick out a stuffed animal but they each got a personalized backpack with their new initials stitched on the front filled with a blanket and a teddy bear.

The Department of Child Services also gave each child a gift bag with toys and a personalized Christmas ornament. VanLeeuwen also gave each child a box of cookies from Sara’s Goodies.

After attending the adoption day last year, real estate agent Michelle Chandler hosted a drive for community members to donate stuffed animals for the day. VanLeeuwen said she has a closet full now and had plenty left over at the end of the day.

This year, Chandler brought blankets in for each child. The younger ones got blankets with a hood and gloves to depict animals like unicorns and dragons. The older children got a regular fleece blanket.

“We know it’s an awesome day, especially right before the holidays. Great timing,” Chandler said.

Some of the children were adopted by their grandparents and others by their foster parents.

For the Henderson family, the three children were changing their last names to that of their stepfather, Andrew Henderson, and one of them was being adopted.

Tyler and Bailey are already legally adults but still wanted to change their names. When asked why, Tyler said “It makes us whole.”

Meadow, 15 was being adopted by Andrew Henderson.

“He has been my father figure since I was 7,” she said.

Towards the end of the day, three teenage girls were adopted for a second time after their first adoption failed.

“Because you’re here, you’re tougher than nails,” VanLeeuwen told the girls before granting their adoption.

She called the girls a “league of little women.”

“I can’t undo that pain that you’ve gone through, and I can’t undo the trauma that has happened. All I can do is grant you a clean slate to start over somewhere else, and I can assure you that this family is a safe family, that this family is a loving family, and that this family can help fix parts of you that broke, that should have never broke,” VanLeeuwen said.

“You’ve been through more than what most adults have, and that’s not fair, and life’s not fair, and I’m so sorry, but you landed in the best hands that anyone could have given.”