Kevin Grasha

kgrasha@enquirer.com

As they waited for their adoptions to be finalized Thursday, the six siblings sat on a courtroom bench.

All six were smiling.

When Hamilton County Probate Judge Ralph "Ted" Winkler offered them a chance to speak, several of the oldest did.

"I'm happy that I’m here because everything is wonderful," said 12-year-old Cayley, one of the two girls. "This is just what I wanted."

Her brother Caleb, 13, said: "I would not know where I'd be right now if it wasn't for the Sanders. We (were) having a rough life, before."

The Sanders are Christina and Christopher Sanders – a Forest Park couple who in 2014 took in the four boys and two girls as foster parents. All six adoptions were finalized in a courtroom packed with family members, county Job and Family Services workers as well as teachers and officials from Winton Woods schools, which the children attend.

The children were the Sanders first placements as foster parents.

"We just made the agreement – whoever we get, we will keep 'em," said Christina, 41, a nurse for TriHealth. "It was rough but we did it. And we are happy we did."

The logistics are difficult. Although they live in a six-bedroom home, the Sanders have five children of their own. The oldest, 19, is now a student at the University of Cincinnati.

Still, the children have welcomed Cayley and Caleb, as well as Coby, 16, Christan, 14, Carson, 10, and the youngest, 9-year-old Chloe.

When Christan thanked the Sanders "for changing my life," several people in the courtroom began wiping tears from their eyes.

Christina Sanders, her mother told Winkler, has wanted to take care of children since she was a young girl. It's just part of her personality, she said.

Christopher Sanders agreed: "I can say this – my wife’s been doing this way before this."

"Her heart is huge," he added. "and it’s starting to rub off on me."

Winkler said he hoped the family's story will inspire others.

"They serve as an example… to how people can change the community one child at a time," he said, pausing briefly. "Or, six children at a time."