November 2022 [This is my monthly newsletter for November 2022. If you’d like to subscribe, shoot me an email at lisa@onethankfulmom.com.] This year I’m determined to get ahead of the holiday rush. So far I’m only two months behind schedule. I had big plans to do a massive pre-holiday Costco shopping trip this morning, but my shopping buddy woke with a painful shoulder and arm so we’re delayed.  In good news, this gives me an unexpected opportunity to write to you.  Before I forget, if you are an adoptive parent and you’ve ever considered joining The Village (and Hope Circ ..read more

I’ve loved this blog for so many years but I rarely make it here. I don’t know if anyone still checks it! Most months I send an email to my readers and it occurred to me I can share it here too. This is what I sent last week – October 2022. Hello friend, October is one of my favorite months. I always dreamed of having an October wedding like my parents. One of my favorite photos was taken of them running outside the church as the crowd lovingly pelted them with rice. Russ and I got married in June, which was what you did when you were undergrads and wanted as much time together as possible be ..read more

Hello friend! It may seem like I’ve fallen off the face of the earth, but I’ve just been a little quiet in this space. I’ve missed you! We’re coming up on the one-year anniversary of the release of The Connected Parent. It’s been amazing to see this dream come true. Due to Covid, there were no book signings and no launch party, but my days were packed with online interviews and speaking. The book continues to do very well and I’m so thankful. The Connected Parent I began working on my sibling book again but found it hard to make progress. I love the topic so much, but with the kids doing schoo ..read more

I asked for your all-time favorite works of fiction and the answers poured in! I didn’t expect such an amazing response to a 24-hour Instastory but you went above and beyond to share your favorites. [This post contains Amazon affiliate links which means if you click on a link and choose to make a purchase I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.] In no particular order, these are the novels you recommended. If a series was recommended, I tried to list the first book in the series. When an author was recommended, I listed their most popular book. Your Favorite Fiction Les Misera ..read more

Pause It’s taken me a while to find my word for 2021. But several things dropped into place giving me a clearer vision, and “Pause” is the answer. I want to Pause in several areas of my life. Relational: I want to Pause when interacting, especially when tension is high. In that Pause, I can choose to respond rather than react. Last night, the final thing I did before going to bed was apologize to my son for the way I had reacted to him earlier that evening. A two-second pause would have made all the difference. Spiritual:  Friends reminded me of the beauty of sabbath. Our family has ..read more

It’s been a confetti kind of month! My family celebrated our happiness in a big Covid-style way. Nearly one month ago The Connected Parent released into the world. After eight years of work, the book was born. There were many times when I didn’t know if it would be completed and I’m deeply thankful to God for allowing this dream to be fulfilled. I’m also thankful to you. I truly have the best readers in the world. Many of you have been with me for years and that means more than you can imagine. The most helpful thing you can do for the book is to leave a review on Amazon. It helps the book co ..read more

One of my favorite parenting tools is scripts. Did you know that when a child is upset her ability to process language is greatly reduced? Scripts are short, concise, easily understood phrases. They’re used to move a child toward optimal behavior through play and nurture. Because a script is easy to understand, parents don’t have to come up with all of the right words to say. In the same way, children become familiar with the simple phrase and understand its meaning. This helps them feel safe and builds trust. When you pre-order The Connected Parent, you can download free posters filled with s ..read more

Hello, friend! Are you easing out of quarantine or sheltering in place? For me, it feels more difficult to figure out what to do now that restrictions are changing. I have big news coming about the book, but let me fill you in on family first! Since I last posted, Annarose returned home from Mexico for the duration of quarantine. It was very hard for her to leave but the board of her organization said it was time. It’s a joy to have her home. We’re spending lots of time together and even tackling some projects like painting the living room. She also has a gardening job and is enjoying working ..read more

Do you ever wonder if you’re expecting too much from your child? Or maybe too little? How can you support your child and have appropriate expectations? Eileen Devine, LCSW, joins us on episode #77 of The Adoption Connection podcast to talk about radical acceptance from a neurobehavioral model. She offers practical tips you’re doing to love. Courage and hope, Lisa The post Accepting Our Kids Without Giving Up on Them appeared first on Lisa Qualls | One Thankful Mom ..read more

My friends, it’s been far too long since I’ve written to you. If I had a blog post for every time I’ve thought about writing, you would already be tired of reading. How are you? How are you holding up? Do you feel the uncertainty of these days? It seems we swing back and forth from, “Let’s stay home and make cookies!” to “This is serious and people are dying.” Many times I’m not sure what to feel. I want to have a lighthearted response, but the truth is I don’t feel lighthearted. I know that we are not insulated from suffering. I’ve lived that truth. Isaiah and Claire were both traveling for s ..read more