Freshman Cassie Wells finds it hard to put into words what family means to her.

She finds it hard to describe why her family is such an important part of her life.

Wells’ parents, Curtis and Margaret, have been married for almost 40 years and have 10 children, including Cassie, who is adopted.

The parents have three biological children, and seven other children who are all adopted. Over the years, Wells’ parents have been parent figures to more than 49 children through the foster care system.

“We lost count somewhere along the way,” Curtis said. “We can count up to that many anyway … it was busy, but it was fun.”

With nine siblings, 13 nieces and nephews and tons of cousins, Wells said she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“You get closer to some siblings, but all together you are just a big family,” Wells said.

Wells was officially adopted into the family when she was seven years old, but has been a part of the family since she was a baby.

“I had a stroke when I was six weeks old,” she said. “When I had the stroke, I was taken away from my (biological) family … then I moved in with the Wells family. I’ve never known anything different. This craziness is normal.”

Even though her parents live about three and half hours away in a small town called Nixa, Mo., she still talks to them every day.

“Sometimes they’ll call me three times a day,” Wells said. “I can’t really keep secrets from them.”

Even though her siblings are grown up and many have families of their own, who live in various parts of the country including Texas, Utah and North Carolina, Wells said they are all still pretty closely connected with one another.

“There are a few I’m probably closer to,” she said.

Wells said her family argues from time to time, but in the end, they are there for each other.

“Like every family, we have our fights and stuff, but at the same time, we’d all back each other up,” she said.

While move-in day at Baker University was a big day for her family, Wells said the most emotional day for her that she can remember was her graduation day in May from Nixa High School.

“That was the most emotional day I’ve ever had in my life,” she said. “I’m the youngest and I knew that as soon as I walked across that stage, (my parents) were done … that was a big deal.”

About four years ago, Wells’ family opened up a restaurant called Alice Irene’s’ Restaurant and Bakery in Marionville, Mo.

“My cousin works there,” Wells said. “My brother works there when he comes home from Arkansas. My brother Brad is the chef there. It’s actually a four-partnership between my brother and his wife and my parents. It’s hard work, but it’s still fun because you’re working with your family, it’s not some stranger.”

Looking to the future, Wells knows she wants to adopt children down the road.

“I see myself adopting kids more so than I see myself having kids,” she said. “I’ve seen the outcomes of it because I’m adopted and how it can be really good.”