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One Thankful Mom - Lisa Qualls

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

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First - Birth Mother

Adoption: Recognizing the Loss for All of Us

Adoption: Recognizing the Loss for All of Us

By Lisa Qualls

I witnessed something unexpected this weekend – a swirl of pain in a normally safe place. A group devoted to conversations about parenting adopted/foster children with connection, a group teaching and supporting the methods developed by my friend, Dr. Karyn Purvis, became a place of debate, contention, and pain. As I watched the conversation unfold, […]

July 24, 2017 16 Comments

For the Love of a First Mom [Birth Mom]

For the Love of a First Mom [Birth Mom]

By Lisa Qualls

  Last Friday my son arrived home from school with a friend. He opened the front door, calling out, “Hi, Mom!” Turning to his friend, he added, “Dude, I have two moms. That means I have eight grandparents.” His friend casually replied, “Yeah, I know,” as they dropped their backpacks in the middle of the […]

June 5, 2017 10 Comments

Tell it Well, Part Four: Redeemed

By Lisa Qualls

 Sometimes you have to ask yourself, “If I could only tell one more story, what would it be?”  Tell it Well is my answer. Part 1: Alone | Part 2: Sought | Part 3: Found | Part 4: Redeemed | Part 5: Bitter Six months after my son’s birth I moved home, where I felt like a foreigner.  Everything had changed, […]

January 13, 2012 39 Comments

Tell it Well, Part Three: Found

By Lisa Qualls

 Sometimes you have to ask yourself, “If I could only tell one more story, what would it be?”  Tell it Well is my answer. Part 1: Alone | Part 2: Sought | Part 3: Found | Part 4: Redeemed | Part 5: Bitter God didn’t rescue me, instead, He became real to me and His presence became powerful.  I remember clearly the night my […]

January 12, 2012 17 Comments

Tell it Well, Part Two: Sought

By Lisa Qualls

 Sometimes you have to ask yourself, “If I could only tell one more story, what would it be?”  Tell it Well is my answer. Part 1: Alone | Part 2: Sought | Part 3: Found | Part 4: Redeemed | Part 5: Bitter I prided myself on being strong and self-sufficient.  I could handle things, even if I was only a sophomore in […]

January 11, 2012 11 Comments

Tell It Well, Part One: Alone

By Lisa Qualls

 Sometimes you have to ask yourself, “If I could only tell one more story, what would it be?”  Tell it Well is my answer. Part 1: Alone | Part 2: Sought | Part 3: Found | Part 4: Redeemed | Part 5: Bitter Not long ago I realized I had published over 970 posts.  The number kept creeping up and soon I was on […]

January 10, 2012 23 Comments

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My honest reflections on family, adoption, and foster care.

I'm Lisa Qualls, the mother of twelve by birth and adoption (and sometimes more through foster care). Thirty-three years ago I married Russ; we had no idea the adventures awaiting us. Once lost, now found, I’m forever thankful for grace. Read More

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From the Blog…

How Does Adopting Impact Your Older Kids?

How Does Adopting Impact Your Older Kids?

Hospital Days With My Family

Hospital Days With My Family

Decluttering: Choose Smiles Over Boxes

Decluttering: Choose Smiles Over Boxes

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  • Coffee run to the hospital cafeteria with my sister. We took a mirror selfie in the elevator. Even in the sad and hard, sometimes we have to laugh.
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So thankful for my parents and sisters.
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#sisters #hospital #wehateMRSA
#onethankfulmom
  • The doctors and nurses are compassionate and kind. This is one of my Dad’s doctors walking with my Mom. He said, “ I will treat you as I would my own mother.”
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#itiswell #doctor #nurse #compassion
  • It feels strange stopping for coffee on the way to the hospital to see our Dad. Normal life goes on even when someone we love is critically ill. Should we take five minutes to stop? What will today bring? I’m so thankful for a family that loves well.
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Praying friends, please pray for the sweet presence of Jesus for my Dad and Mom.
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#itiswell #inchristalone
  • Easter morning we volunteered as a family at our church’s big service at the WSU coliseum. Russ and the boys were on the parking lot team while Claire and I were ushers. Zoe was visiting her family. It was sweet serving together. One of my best moments was a young woman asking me to pray with her during the service.
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I’m missing my family at home while also thankful to be with my parents and sisters in Seattle. My dad is very sick with an infection in his heart and blood. The pacemaker that was put in three weeks ago will be removed soon. We’ll know more today after some tests.
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#family #adoption #fostercare #onethankfulmom
  • Lots of feelings and thoughts about decluttering things I once held dear in today’s post. [link in profile]
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#declutter #letitgo #befree #parenting #motherhood
  • From one of my sister’s 3rd grade students: “P.S. Mrs Sutton really cares about you and loves you so much.” [my sister is Mrs. Sutton]
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Our dad has a serious infection in his blood. Prayer is good.
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#hospital #loveourdad #onethankfulmom

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