Dan Rasmussen, of Tinton Falls, and his newly adopted son, Michael, 2, share a happy moment during the Monmouth Vicinage National Adoption Day, held at the Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold. PHOTOS BY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ERIC SUCAR Despite some gloomy weather, officials, parents and children alike never let the smiles leave their faces as hundreds gathered to celebrate a day filled with hope, joy and the creation of more than two dozen new forever families.
In celebration of National Adoption Day on Nov. 17, the Monmouth County Vicinage held its 10th annual adoption ceremony at the county courthouse in Freehold and finalized the adoption of more than two-dozen individuals ranging from infants to 52 years of age.
“Adoption Day is the one day when this courthouse is filled with pure, unadulterated, happiness,” said Judge Kathleen A. Sheedy, presiding judge in the Family Division and master of ceremonies.
Sheedy said National Adoption Day is an effort to raise awareness for the more than 100,000 children currently in foster care waiting to find permanent, loving families.
Adoptive families wait for the start of adoption ceremonies. Below: Melissa Phillips, of Spring Lake Heights, kisses her newly adopted daughter, four-month-old Ryleigh. “Adoption is, in every sense of the word, the most unselfish and loving commitment anyone can make,” she said.
Over the last 16 years, more than 30,000 children had their adoptions finalized on National Adoption Day.
“Today we get to create new families,” Sheedy said. “Today we will finalize the adoption of 27 individuals … [and] they will begin their journeys through life in their new, forever homes.”
Keyport parents Michael Arnone and Toby Riddle are just one of the many families who couldn’t contain their excitement after finalizing the adoption of their daughter Macie.
“I always knew I wanted a child, and this was a dream come true for both of us,” Arnone said.
The parents said they met their daughter shortly before New Year’s Eve when she was just seven weeks old.
“The mother just felt it difficult to raise her daughter — our daughter — at the time, and we … basically flew her in the next day not knowing, no questions asked, and she came to us with her birth certificate and a signed piece of loose leaf relinquishing rights to us, and then that is when we got an attorney involved and started through the process the right way,” Arnone said.
While the parents said the process for adoption has its ups and downs, they plan to adopt another child, Brodie, soon as well.
“People wait years, and I would say we got lucky, but for anyone looking to adopt, I would say just keep trying,” Riddle said. “It might not work out right away, but just keep doing it.” Both parents agreed, it is definitely worth the wait. “I would definitely encourage adoption to anybody and everyone,” Arnone said. “The process is long and tedious, but it is definitely worth it in the end.”
Peterson Bellinger, keynote speaker at the event, said his experience being adopted at age eight has made him stronger and the thoughtful man he is today.
“When you are this young, you try to grab on to something, anything, and when you can’t, that’s the hardest part,” he told those in the crowded Jury Assembly Room at the courthouse. “I was the product of a broken family.”
At age four, Bellinger was scooped away from his parents, separated from his two older sisters and little brother for the first time and sent to a foster home.
“It was a tragedy. It was hard and it was painful,” he said. “The truth was that [I] and all of [my] siblings were victims of an abusive father and a negligent mother.”
His two sisters took on the role of primary caretakers, but he said despite all of it, he still loved his parents.
“Doctors tried to explain to [me] that [I] deserved better, but it was hard to comprehend because [I] was convinced the misfortune and constant confusion was [my] fault [and I] started to became depressed and unhappy,” he said.
“By the age of seven, I lived in seven different foster homes and these foster homes were seven sets of rules … and seven different lifestyles.
“Although a majority of those homes were decent, I still missed my family and I struggled to find an identity.”
By age eight, Bellinger was finally adopted and had found his forever family.
“If it wasn’t for all the things I went through, I wouldn’t be here today,” he said. “I wouldn’t be able to say that I am Peterson Bellinger, a young boy who’s thoughtful; who’s musically inclined; who’s an equestrian and loves technology; who’s collegebound and is a born-again who believes in Jesus Christ; who appreciates the beauty of life and is happy.”
“For my newly adopted friends, keep your head up. This journey that you are on is not a pretty one, but the outcome is much more beautiful than you can imagine.”
Monmouth Vicinage Assignment Judge Lisa P. Thornton said family is a blessing and goes a long way in impacting who we are.
“There’s one thing we all know for sure, family is one of life’s greatest blessings,” she said. “We all know the impact of a strong family and strong parents [and] we all know that none of us who are a least bit successful would ever be where we are if it weren’t for our loving and strong parents.”
Gurpreet Singh, trial court administrator, said this would be one of the proudest days for her, and she is thankful to be part of the celebration of the forever families.
“Each of our forever families here has shown us the depth of their love and the depth of their hearts,” she said.
“To the parents here today, you have given the individuals you are adopting a loving home, a sense of security and belonging, but most importantly love and hope.
“And to the children and adoptees here today, you have given your parents an amazing joy of being a forever family. We are thankful that the parents and children today have found the gift of one another.”