Girl, 17, Adopted by Foster Family After Temporary Weekend Stay: ‘I Knew That’s What I Wanted Forever’

A 17-year-old girl in Tennessee who spent years in foster care has officially found her forever family.

Taylor first met her adoptive parents, Matt and Karis Leckron, two years ago when she was placed with them for a temporary weekend stay, according to local outlet 5 Nashville. What began as a short visit quickly grew into something lasting.

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, the three became a legal family during a ceremony at the Rutherford County Circuit Court. Taylor’s friends and classmates filled the courtroom, which erupted in applause when the adoption was finalized.

For Karis, the day marked the end of a long, emotional journey. Taylor had been in foster care for more than three years before her birth mother surrendered parental rights. From that point, the adoption process took another seven months. Once the Leckrons met with an adoption specialist, the final steps moved quickly, and the adoption was completed about three weeks later.

Karis described the experience as a roller coaster, especially because she and Matt spent much of the process unsure whether they would be able to adopt Taylor. Now, she says, they’re settling into life as a family of three — even though, in many ways, it already felt that way.

“Taylor is as much ours now as she was the day she came,” Karis said. “She’s just a legal Leckron now.”

With the holidays approaching, the couple says this season will feel different in the best way. After 12 years of marriage without children, they’re excited to celebrate with Taylor as their daughter in every sense.

“Christmas with kids is a lot more fun than Christmas without kids,” Karis shared. “We have someone to wake us up on Christmas morning, all excited. And this year, for the first time ever, we know that she will always be ours and get to spend Christmas with us every year.”

She noted that this will be their third Christmas with Taylor, but the first one after making their family official.

Reflecting on the adoption journey, Karis encouraged other prospective adoptive families to hold on through the hard parts. For the Leckrons, she said, trusting that God was in control helped them keep going, even on the most uncertain days.

“It’s easy to get discouraged throughout the process, and we worried a lot,” she said. “But now that we are on the other side, we know we never had a reason to worry. Cling to the good times, cry through the hard times, and lean on your loved ones for support. Find a village who can walk through the hard with you.”