Families filled the courtroom like a Sunday worship service, children breaking free of their parents to spring down the aisles and play with each other on the carpeted floor. Nervous energy turned into anticipation for many in the courthouse, but not for any sort of negative reasons. In fact, the anticipation was from great joy. The children squirming as they stood for photographs had families again.

Dozens of families gathered at the Carter County Courthouse to formally incorporate their foster children into their lives. For many of these adoptees, however, their integration into their new homes happened a long time ago.

Chancellor John Rambo officiated the adoption of 17 children throughout Saturday’s celebrations.

“This is the best day of the court calendar,” Rambo said. “Today, the court is all about good news.”

National Adoption Day saw districts from across the country finalizing adoptions of children from foster care. Carter County was no exception, turning the event into a party, complete with balloon animals, pizza and more.

“Tennessee is the number one state in adoptions,” he said. “Children who have not had a proper home finally found their forever home.”

Many children in foster care are not necessarily orphans. Some of them may have come from abusive families or separated due to legal reasons.

National Adoption Day serves to add extra significance to the occasion when a child is adopted into a loving home.

“It is the entire community of Carter County coming together to celebrate children getting an early Christmas present,” Rambo said.

While each family went up individually for the formal part of the court proceedings, each family was met with applause from the packed courtroom. Some families even wore matching T-shirts with heartfelt messages of love.

One family took a more humorous approach, with their white T-shirts reading “He’s stuck with us forever.” Every member of the family was smiling.

“In this season, this is the time to be thankful for our family,” Rambo said. “We count our blessings. These children can be thankful to have parents who love them. They can enjoy the blessings of Thanksgiving.”