Floyd Circuit Court celebrates Adoption Day

FLOYD COUNTY — It was an emotional day in court for Anne and Donald Busam as they adopted their daughter, Trinity.

The couple was in tears as they officially became the parents of their daughter, who will be two years old in December.

"It's a good day," Donald said.

Friday was a special day for many families in Floyd Circuit Court as about 20 adoption hearings took place.

Floyd Circuit Court Judge Justin Brown said seeing a family adopt a child is "one of the most beautiful things you get to see" as a judge. This was the court's inaugural Adoption Day ceremony.

"It's almost always a little bit of bittersweet melancholy about it because you get to an adoption because there's been a breakdown in a relationship, but you get to watch these children, you get to watch these families come together," he said.

Brown presided over the hearings along with Judge Terrence Cody, his predecessor.

As people teared up on an emotional day, "it's like people are cutting onions in there," Brown said.

"The only thing I'm doing is I'm putting into paper something they already know," Brown said. "I'm just formalizing it, in a way. It's an honor to be in a position to do that."

Brown said the Floyd Circuit Court also presides over abuse and neglect cases, so he has seen some of the children for years as they go through the system.

The adoption is a "capstone" to what can often be a tough journey.

"I've gone through the child services cases, the termination of parental rights cases, and then we've gotten to today," he said.

After the adoptions are finalized, the families move on with their lives and "enjoy their family as they made it," Brown said.

Trinity is the Busams' niece, and they have been raising her since April. At the time, they had never met her before.

"She just made herself at home," Anne said. "Like day one, she was very comfortable and got along with all the kids and grandkids."

She is a "sassy little thing," Anne said, and she is "very smart."

Donald said Trinity is now one of their eight kids, and she has a "good support system."

Friday's adoption was "kind of bittersweet," and Anne said she understands what the biological parents are going through.

But she and Donald are "just very glad" that Trinity is "in a good place," Anne said.

"We know that she's not going to go anywhere else," Anne said. "She's home, and I think that's the most important thing."

It was a happy occasion as Aden Grubb officially became a dad to 4-year-old Veda during Friday's Adoption Day.

"I was holding back tears," he said.

The family wore T-shirts saying "Officially a Grubb" in honor of the adoption.

He first met his future wife, Bethany Grubb, and her daughter, Vada, in 2022, and he immediately "hit it off" with them.

"I remember we took Vada to the zoo — that was the first day I met Vada — and she was just in a stroller. We hit it off since day one."

It didn't take long before Vada was calling Aden "dad." The couple moved in together, and he learned how to be a father.

"I didn't have any experience with kids," he said. "I didn't know what I was doing. Everyone just told me I was doing a good job, and I was like, I don't think so."

They "got it all figured out," and the couple married in November of 2023.

Vada is a "sweet little thing," Aden said.

"She is the most wonderful thing in the world," he said. "I work 10, 12-hour shifts straight and get beat down but it's all worth it, and I probably spoil her a little too much. She's just an amazing little girl."

His daughter has "never met a stranger in her life," he said.

"She just lights up a whole room," Aden said.

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