This week I went back to the courthouse where I go occasionally to observe the local family court judge who presided over my custody trial and see what kind of custody rulings he is making regarding children. Last month, I observed a case that addressed overnight visitation in a new relationship between a father and his baby, which had some negative sides to the story. This time, I was inspired by what I observed.

I witnessed two adoptions, which brought tears to my eyes. A single mother who had been abandoned by her children's father had remarried, and her new husband wished to adopt her two boys, who were 7 and 9. The boys looked so cute while they stood there nervously, uncomfortable in their nice clothes, watching the judge and the court proceedings. The judge granted the adoption, signed the papers, and the children hugged their father, who was now legally their father. Everyone in the courtroom clapped and the father nervously asked the judge if they could take a picture of their new family with the judge and the bailiff. My tears flowed generously while their picture was taken.

The second adoption was a two-year-old toddler who had been born addicted to crack and had been taken away from her mother and placed in a foster home. The father had been located and had not known of the existence of this child, and he was there to ask for legal custody of her. He was engaged to a woman who appeared to genuinely care about this child and also wanted to adopt her fiance's baby. The judge granted sole custody of the child to the father, and congratulated him on saving his child from a lifetime of foster care. I heard someone ask him after the hearing if the little girl was doing better, and he said that she still had a few health problems, but overall seemed to be adjusting to living with him and being a normal, happy and healthy toddler.

I was touched by these cases and thankful I was there to witness these adoptions. My own bad experience, which prompts other people to tell me about their similar bad experiences, sometimes makes me wonder if there are still happy endings in the family court system. These were not only happy endings, but perfect examples of selfless acts by caring men who define the true meaning of the word "father." I wanted to stop them and thank them for continuing to give me hope, but I didn't want to intrude on their very special occasion.