COLUMBUS, Ohio — Eight children in Franklin County found their forever families on Tuesday afternoon.
Franklin County Children Services celebrated National Adoption Day with six families and eight children who went from foster care to adoption.
On Tuesday, James and Laura Mason adopted three children: Rose, Louie and Maralee.
The ceremony to finalize the adoption was an emotional one for the parents.
“I’m a wreck. It’s a lot,” James said.
“We love these kids," Laura added. "We have been with them for years, and we are just thrilled to make them permanent."
The Mason family started caring for the three kids in 2021 as foster parents. It didn’t take long for them to quickly become a family.
“When we first became foster parents, it wasn’t our intention to adopt. But they have been with us for a while. We fell in love and I can’t imagine them not being a part of our lives permanently,” James said.
The couple said their only goal is to help the children blossom into the people they are meant to be.
“It’s an opportunity to give them a stable home, a stable loving home. And allow them to thrive, and be great people in society,” said James.
But, the Mason family didn’t just grow by three on Tuesday. One of their birth children also chose to adopt a child.
“Jace is the younger sibling of the kids I have already adopted. Then, my parents are adopting a sibling group of three today as well,” said Jessica Erichson.
“We feel like it’s a huge blessing to us. We don’t feel they are the lucky ones; we are the ones blessed,” said Erichson.
Franklin County Children Services said they have 80 other children who are still seeking permanent adoption.