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One Thankful Mom - Lisa Qualls

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

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grief

What ‘This is Us’ Teaches Us About Tragedy

What ‘This is Us’ Teaches Us About Tragedy

By Lisa Qualls

[Spoiler Alert: this was written following Season 2, episode 13, which aired on 1/23/18] After nearly two seasons, the writers of ‘This is Us’ revealed more details of how Jack, the father in the series, died. We watched him clean the kitchen while his wife slept, putting food away, washing dishes, wiping counters, and then […]

January 29, 2018 13 Comments

Remembering Kalkidan Year 3

Remembering Kalkidan Year 3

By Lisa Qualls

This morning we are quiet. In the early hours, Russ and I sat together, coffee mugs in hands, talking and sharing tears. Year three of remembering the day we lost Kalkidan. Today marks the most traumatic event we’ve ever experienced while also marking the day Kalkidan ran into the loving arms of Jesus. Life is […]

December 27, 2017 24 Comments

How to Survive When Grief is Your Teacher

How to Survive When Grief is Your Teacher

By Lisa Qualls

Grief is the teacher you hope you’ll never get. As you trace your finger down the column of names assigned to each class, you hope you won’t find your name on her list. But then you see it – your name typed in crisp letters, and your heart sinks. You get the call. You hear […]

August 28, 2017 10 Comments

Heaven and The Last Battle

Heaven and The Last Battle

By Lisa Qualls

Today I finished reading The Chronicles of Narnia aloud to a child, all seven books, most likely for the last time. That’s a heavy thought for this book-loving, read-aloud loving mamma. As Wogayu and I made our way through the final pages of The Last Battle, I had to pause several times, my throat choked with […]

August 25, 2017 11 Comments

Held By Love

By Lisa Qualls

On the morning marking two years, I walked into the kitchen; Russ was standing at the window looking out at the snow. He turned as I poured coffee. “Do you remember what today is?” “Yes,” he quietly answered. “You know what I remember most about that day?” “What?”he said, reaching out his hand to me. […]

January 12, 2017 12 Comments

Why You Shouldn’t Fake It (thoughts from a teenager)

By Lisa Qualls

My daughter, Annarose, posted this on Facebook a few days before Christmas and I asked to share it with you. She is a deep thinking, eighteen-year-old with wisdom beyond her years, born of suffering as a sister of kids from “hard places” and later through the loss of Kalkidan. I love this girl beyond words. […]

December 28, 2016 12 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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