AUBURN – Both Amber Lynn Bunnell, 9, and William Albert Bunnell, 11, called Saturday “the best day of my life.”
It was a sentiment shared by their mom and dad, Barbara and Glen Bunnell of Lewiston, as adoption of the pair was finalized in ceremonies at Androscoggin Superior Court.
In observance of National Adoption Day, adoptions took place for six families in the courtroom Saturday morning. It was the most adoptions performed in the Androscoggin court on any one day, and the children ranged in age from preschool to 13, including one set of twins.
The ceremony for Amber and William was witnessed by nearly two dozen members of their extended family – grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins – as well as Jesse, who celebrated the adoption of his brother and sister by proudly wearing his U.S. Air Force Junior ROTC uniform. Barbara is the natural mother of the three children, and they have all constituted the Bunnell household in Lewiston for the past three years. Glen is adopting Barbara’s two youngest children.
Judge of Probate Robert L. Couturier said it was an easy decision for him to approve this adoption. His law office is next door to the Bunnell residence.
“I have had the pleasure of seeing these good people raise their children,” Couturier said. “I know William and Amber adore you,” he told the parents. “I see it every day.”
William addressed the court briefly to express his delight at the adoption, and his new dad told the judge, “I am very blessed.”
Barbara’s sister, Deanna Leeman, presented a surprise reading of a poem she wrote. It was titled, “The Birth of a New Father,” and it began, “Today God closes one door and preciously opens another.”
Following the ceremony for each set of adoptive parents and children, photos, if desired, were taken with the court officials, and the families were treated to refreshments. Each adopted child received a cake and a small teddy bear provided by the state of Maine. The bears had tags that read “Celebrating Adoption – Love Makes a Home.”
Lewiston District Court Judge John B. Beliveau joined Couturier on the bench for Saturday’s adoptions.
“I deal with many family disputes in District Court, so for me, these were very happy moments,” Beliveau said. Couturier echoed the thought, observing, “Tears were shed here today, but they were happy tears.”
Virginia Marriner, adoption program manager for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, greeted the families with refreshments. She said York County also held a special day of adoptions Saturday. Aroostook and Cumberland Counties had special ceremonies a few days ago.
Marriner said, “National Adoption Day is a way to bring awareness to adoption, and particularly to foster-care adoptions.”
She said 179 youngsters are currently awaiting adoption, and she encouraged interested prospective parents to call DHHS.
Another member of a family involved in adoption proceedings Saturday praised the opportunities for adoption.
Christen Hewett was at the Androscoggin ceremonies with her natural parents, Clarence and Nancy Munsey, who were adopting for the fifth time,” she said. Her adoptive siblings range from 4 to 11 years old, and it was Gavin, 4, who was adopted Saturday.
“It’s wonderful,” Hewett said. “It gives many kids a chance to get out of a bad situation and start a new life.”
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