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One Thankful Mom - Lisa Qualls

Honest reflections on family, adoption, foster care, and faith.

My Book With Dr. Karyn Purvis

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I’ve wanted to share this for so long – today is finally the day. I had the incredible honor of writing a book with Dr. Karyn Purvis. We worked on the book for years, persevering through her first cancer diagnosis, our car accident and losing Kalkidan, and then through Dr. Purvis’ final cancer battle. With the […]

Tips for Advocating for Your Child at School

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Episode #7 of The Adoption Connection is live! Kids with a history of trauma and adverse experiences often struggle in a traditional learning environment. As parents, it’s daunting to know how to best advocate for your student. This week Sandi Lerman, MA Ed, shares her best tips for helping your child get the free and […]

Great Ways to Help Kids Process Scary Events

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If you’ve ever wondered how to help your child process frightening events, don’t miss episode #6 of my podcast and this great interview with Robyn Gobbel. Robyn is a therapist whose clinical practice is focused exclusively on working with families of children who have experienced a history of toxic stress and complex trauma. How should we […]

Are You Weary of Parenting?

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Have you ever felt discouraged and sad as a parent? I’m guessing you have. I wrote this at the end of our time on Whidbey Island. It seemed a bit whiney and maybe discouraging, so I didn’t post it. Today, I read it again and thought it may help you to know you’re not alone. […]

Talking with Annarose about Siblings

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If your family is a blend of kids by birth and adoption/foster care, or if you had an established family created by adoption and then added new children from “hard places,” don’t miss this interview with my daughter, Annarose. How do siblings in the family feel, and what do they experience, when you add children […]

Can Suffering Make You an Introvert?

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Last weekend I posted this on my OTM Instagram and Facebook page: This is the full text: Once upon a time, I was an extrovert, but that feels like a distant memory. The change may have begun as a slow draining away as we dove into parenting kids with lots of trauma, but our accident […]

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  • I had the incredible honor of writing a book with Dr. Karyn Purvis. We worked on the book for years, persevering through her first cancer diagnosis, our car accident and losing Kalkidan, and then through Dr. Purvis' final cancer battle. With the support of her family, and help from her longtime colleague, Emmelie Pickett, the book is being published. • This week I signed a book contract with Harvest House! It's been a long journey getting from the original idea to today. • In a story-rich format, each chapter includes my personal experiences coupled with Dr. Purvis's research-based findings. Together we give concrete tools to parents desiring to build trust and connection with their children. • I hold the incredible gift of writing this book with Karyn Purvis close to my heart. I can hardly express my gratitude. • #onethankfulmom #dreamscometrue #author #tbri
  • Kids with a history of trauma and adverse experiences often struggle in a traditional learning environment. As parents, it's daunting to know how to best advocate for your student. • This week Sandi Lerman, MA Ed, shares her best tips for helping your child get the free and appropriate education the law requires. • Sandi Lerman is an Education Consultant and the proud Mama Bear of a 17-year old who was adopted at age 10 from Guatemala. • Through her years of experience as an educator and parent, Sandi walks us through a step-by-step process for navigating the education system. • Listen at www.theadoptionconnection.com/7 or comment to have a clickable link delivered via DM. • #theadoptionconnection #onethankfulmom #iep #adoption #fostercare #trauma
  • If you’ve ever wondered how to help your child process frightening events, don’t miss this great interview with Robyn Gobbel. Robyn is a therapist whose clinical practice is focused exclusively on working with families of children who have experienced a history of toxic stress and complex trauma. How should we talk to our kids about scary events in the world? And what if we’re really afraid too? Robyn answers the question, “Should we fake it till you make it?” She also gives tips for calming ourselves and gives us a great example of how to help kids process traumatic events. Comment below if you would like a clickable link. #theadoptionconnection #trauma #adoption #fostercare #onethankfulmom
  • All right fellow parents, this post is honest. I wrote it a month ago and this morning couldn't be a better time to share it because I'm weary and discouraged. I'm praying, thinking, searching my mind for ideas or things I may be missing. • Therapeutic parenting is no joke; it takes a toll on us, the other kids, and our marriages. But God is with me, I know that - I just want Him to speak audibly to me because I can't seem to figure it all out. I'm asking Him for wisdom and strength. • Have you ever felt this way? • Link in profile. • #onethankfulmom #parenting #adoptivemom #theadoptionconnection #wewillnotbeshaken
  • If your family is a blend of kids by birth and adoption/foster care, or if you had an established family created by adoption and then added new children from “hard places,” don’t miss this interview with my daughter, Annarose. How do siblings in the family feel, and what do they experience, when you add children to the family through adoption or foster care? What if the new children come with lots of challenges? In this episode, I interview my daughter and middle child of eleven, Annarose, about the challenges and blessings of being a sister to kids through adoption. Comment if you want me to send you a clickable link to listen. • #theadoptionconnection #adoption #siblings #adoptionstrong
  • Dancing with my girls tonight at family camp. Such a fun weekend. • #teens #quallsfam #onethankfulmom