BY AMANDA PEVEY
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Photos Submitted
The miracle of Christmas shone bright this year in Autauga County. The Popwell and Parker families adopted their beautiful one-year-old daughters on Christmas Eve. The adoption ceremonies took place at the Autauga County Probate Office in Prattville, Alabama.
The Christmas Eve adoption day brought Santa into the courtroom. Jason Popwell AKA Southern Santa and his wife Lynn formally adopted their daughter Everly Grace. Everly Grace has been with the Popwell’s since birth and is the 5th child in the Popwell family. We know Santa keeps a busy schedule during Christmas time, but this was a very important day for him.
Sharon Parker’s Christmas blessing was adopting a one-year-old daughter, Daloni Parker. It was the Parker’s best Christmas present ever, they said.
A special addition to this momentous day, was having Judge Joy Booth to attend the adoption ceremonies. Both girls went through juvenile court and Booth presided over their cases in her courtroom.
Normally, Judge Booth cannot attend probate adoptions because she herself is in court, so it made it very special for her to attend. Probate Judge Kim Kervin oversaw the adoptions. Judge Kervin makes each adoption special and unique for the families and children involved.
Judge Kervin spoke to the adoptive families personally and gave them a heartfelt message. “God could have chosen any way to send Jesus here to us. He chose to include Joseph as an adoptive earthly Father. How wonderful that he chose to include adoption as a part of the Good News of the birth of our Lord and Savior! I am thankful for our adopting and foster care families.”
Lauren Calloway, director of Family Bridge Center in Prattville, Alabama, helps Judge Kervin by coordinated the adoption day ceremony. These adoption day ceremonies raise awareness for foster care and adoptions. Lauren gathers donations from local businesses to help make each adoption day special. Every child adopted receives a Bible from First Baptist in Prattville, a beautifully hand crocheted bear from Chong Rigdon, and an adoption day yard sign from Sign Gypsies.
“A huge thank you to Sign Gypsies for always donating signs for adoption days and Attorneys Walter Hayden and David Musgrove for agreeing to come out on Christmas Eve. I would also like to thank First Baptist Church for providing the Bibles and for Chong Rigdon for providing the hand sewn bears for the girls,” said Calloway.
Adoptions are meant to be celebrated and the Family Bridge Center could use more help from the community. “We would love for businesses or individuals to donate their services to the adoptive families as gifts on adoption days. Examples include gift certifications, movie tickets, photographers, etc. It’s so special to give and these adoptive families deserve a little love from the community and for them to feel like they have support,” said Calloway.
Family Bridge Center is located at 1025 South Memorial Drive in Prattville, Alabama. They need foster families. If you would like more information on joining their adoptive day team or how to get involved in becoming a foster family, please contact the Family Bridge Center at (334) 341–7970.
