We profiled Elijah several times on CBS 19’s Children are a Gift report with the hope of helping him find a forever family. After waiting 10 years in foster care, he became more discouraged each time we met with him. But this month, his prayer has finally been answered.

“They are cool. They are what I wanted and they are accepting,” said Eli, as he prefers to be called.

On this day, Eli and his new family, Tammy and Mathew Parker, filed into the Anderson County courtroom of Judge Bascom W. Bentley III. They were there to ask the Judge to grant this 16-year-old’s adoption.

Before the hearing began, Judge Bentley pulled Eli aside and asked if he was doing all right and if he wanted to be adopted. Eli quickly responded, “Yes sir!” The judge said, “I’m proud of you!”

As the attorneys began their line of questioning, it was apparent this was a perfect match.

“Right from the beginning we knew,” Tammy Parker said. “It was almost like a dream come true to find someone who fit into the family like he does. Even though we have four biological children, we have wanted to adopt since we got married.”

And the Parkers’ children welcomed another child into their family with open arms.

“We actually picked him up on Christmas Eve, and just to see the look on his face Christmas morning when he came downstairs and saw his gifts, it was an awesome feeling,” Austin Parker, 19, said.

“It feels good that he has a home now. He’s just like us,” 17-year-old Erica said.

And the Parkers’ youngest son, Shaun, 13, couldn’t be happier about having a new brother.

“We share the same interests and mostly do everything together,” he said. “It’s like we’re not even brothers; it’s kind of like we are best friends.”

The longer he waited in foster care, Eli began to wonder if this day would ever happen. Reality is beginning to sink in as he ponders the love of his forever family and the opportunities that he’s now been given.

“To me, he signifies hope that it’s going to get rough sometimes, but that God has a plan,” Mathew Parker said. This adoption experience has not only made Eli grateful, but the entire Parker family.

“He’s been in and out of (foster) homes, and it has really changed him, and him coming into our home and getting to stay, it has changed the way I look at life,” Shaun said.

The family has given the greatest blessing any child could ask for — a home filled with love.

Mathew Parker looked at Eli and said, “I love you and we will always love you. We will never give up.”

Eli said it’s a new beginning.

“It’s exciting, and I never could have (asked for) a better family than this,” he said.

And with the final questions answered in the courtroom, Judge Bentley concluded the hearing with a round of applause as he said, “It is my pleasure to grant this adoption!”

 

To learn more about Eli’s adoption journey, join Gillian Sheridan for her “Children are a Gift” report, Tuesday night on CBS 19 News at 10. To inquire about an East Texas child waiting to be adopted, call 903-533-4242 or email gsheridan@cbs19.tv.