When Wendy and Lawrence, a Wyoming couple, brought Kayla into their home, they were as unsure about the future as any new parents would be.
Biological or not, first-time parents have plenty of anticipation and limited experience — if any.
And Kayla wasn't an easy kid, either. At school, she would talk back to her teacher and fling desks across the room.
But Wendy and Lawrence did something that a lot of foster parents do not do: they didn't give up. They embraced the difficulties, the uncertainties, and the unpredictability of having a foster child. Today, they have nine kids: four adopted, four fostered, and one pending adoption.
"We struggle, but the struggles are worth it," says Lawrence.
Kayla breaks down into tears describing her adoption, which she considers the best thing that ever happened to her. Not only did Wendy and Lawrence love, nurture, and protect her; they also inspired her.
Once Kayla graduates high school, she plans on studying early childhood development.
Helping a child in need is perhaps the biggest way any human being can pay it forward. Helping a child helps shape the future. The more love we give a child, the more love that child will have to give, and the more love there is in the world.
For Wendy and Lawrence, the nine lives they have shaped will leave an indelible legacy of compassion, empathy, and hope.
Please SHARE this family's touching story on Facebook!
