As the extended Hall family gathered for a family portrait Friday, the man of the hour — 21-month-old Josiah David — slipped away. The bundle of energy, also called Joey by the family, had raced down a Denver courthouse hallway and climbed onto a bench to peek out a window at the busy street below.
“Where’s Joey?” family members asked his new parents, Steve and Donna Hall, who are in their 60s.
Courtney Hall, a young adult but technically Josiah’s niece, ran to the boy and wrangled him into her arms. They hustled back to the fold to complete a family photograph.
Welcome to , where 46 children on Friday legally, joyfully joined their new families.
Denver Human Services and Denver Juvenile Court partnered at the downtown Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse for the city’s 10th annual event. Hundreds took part in the celebration.
In about 400 cities nationwide Friday, nearly 4,500 children moved from foster care to permanent families.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ , there were more than 402,000 children in foster care in 2013 — and nearly 102,000 were waiting to be adopted. The agency said 50,608 children were placed with permanent families that year with the help of public child welfare agencies.
Before families finalized Friday’s adoptions in Denver, they gathered in a large room on the first floor of the courthouse, where they were addressed by several speakers, including Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Nancy Rice.
Rice shared her experience of adoption from 28 years ago when an infant girl was abandoned in Kolkata, India — historically known as Calcutta. She told the crowd that her daughter is now an artist who lives in Miami. They talk by phone almost every day.
“This is the best decision you will make in your entire life,” Rice told the adoptive parents.
All these years later, Rice still has warm memories of the day her daughter’s adoption was finalized, in the old courthouse of the Denver and City County Building.
“It was a good day,” she said, fighting back tears. “It will be a good day for all of you, too.”
Penny May, a manager with Denver Human Services, asked everyone in the room to share their stories of adoption in the hope of inspiring others to adopt.
“We are looking for families who want to welcome a child into their home and love them,” May said.
She thanked the adopting families for “opening their hearts and homes.” She thanked the kids “for hanging in there.”
On Friday, the Halls added Josiah to their growing family. The Thornton residents, who have two biological adult children and four grandchildren, have been foster parents and worked with at-risk youths through local ministries.
Steven Hall, who had been retired, has gone back to work as a security guard to help provide for their expanding family. They say they are blessed — and, by bringing additional children into their lives, they’ll be blessed further.
Josiah joins 8-year-old Samantha and 4-year-old Jacob as the Halls’ adoptive children. The couple also plan to adopt 4-month-old Sophia as soon as possible, probably in the spring.
“It’s been a breath of fresh air,” Steven Hall said. “To have these kids in our family, it keeps us going, keeps us young.”
With the support of more than a dozen family and friends, the Halls appeared Friday before Denver Juvenile Court Magistrate Melanie Gilbert.
Gilbert asked questions regarding Josiah’s : Can the Halls physically, emotionally and financially care for him?
“How does he get along with the other children?” Gilbert asked the new parents.
Before they had a chance to respond, Samantha — sitting at a desk before the judge, and alongside Jacob and between her parents — piped in: “We play with him!”
“Obviously, to me, this is in Josiah’s best interest,” Gilbert ruled in granting the adoption.
After the hearing, Donna Hall wiped tears from her eyes as a series of joyous photo opportunities unfolded.
“We’re excited,” Steven Hall said, a broad smile on his face.
Added Donna: “We feel this blessing is ours.”
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822, knicholson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/ kierannicholson
