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

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 Miser ..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

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

With the sorority sisters gone for the holiday, we emerged into the beautiful house. It was 1991 and we had three children ages 4, 2, and seven months. Believe it or not, we were house parents in a sorority at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Graduate school had motivated us to drive across the country with a toddler just a few years before. I took a pregnancy test somewhere around Illinois and life as a soon-to-be family of four began. Money was painfully scarce. It’s humbling to admit, but I used to pray that someone would invite us over for dinner after church so we could eat somethi ..read more

I wish I was one of those people who dreamed of loved ones in heaven. It’s only happened a couple of times since we lost Kalkidan. This was one of those times. Our family was gathered around a table. I was sitting at one end and the table was long with so many of us together. We were talking and laughing when Kalkidan ran into the room.  Shouts went up, “She’s here! She’s here! Kalkidan is here!” She ran to me, crawled into my lap, and rested her head against my chest. I kissed her forehead, my cheek brushing against her curls. For a moment I felt warmth and joy, then I felt myself begin ..read more