New foster moms, Rene and Angelique, planned for one child, but quickly discovered a rather simple formula for caring for two. In this weeks RaiseAChild Let Love Define Family series installment for the Huffington Post Queer Voices, contributing writer Beth Hallstrom shares their parenting secret that is helping their foster sons thrive.

Rene Pederson and Angelique Racicot drew a winning hand after meeting at a poker game, finding romance and expanding their family through fostering and adoption. Now they have a full house, or rather a house full of love, kids, animals and happiness.

Rene, 37 and a CPA at a large bank, and 39 year-old Angelique, who is a production manager at a large format print company, reside in Lakewood, California. They met at that fateful poker game at a friend's house in 2010 and were married on the anniversary of their first date, on April 3, 2014.