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One Thankful Mom - Lisa Qualls

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

Drinking From a Fire Hose

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Hello friend, I’m back from a week-long training on Attachment and Trauma by Deborah Gray and several hours of teaching about prenatal exposure by Dr. Ira Chasnoff. This was all followed by the Refresh Conference. Whew! It was a big week. While there, I thought of you and what I should be remembering to tell […]

My Messy and Thankful Life

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You know those people who seem to have it all together? They look great, their children are well-behaved and dressed in darling outfits, their homes are decorated and lovely, and life seems to be going along swimmingly? I used to aspire to be like that, but that doesn’t seem to be God’s plan for me. […]

Serenity to Accept the Things I Cannot Change

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Hello, friends! I’m flying to Seattle on this beautiful, snowy morning for an attachment and trauma training, followed by the Refresh  Conference. Actually, I was supposed to leave last night, but my flight was canceled due to the lack of a plane. At our small airport, the plane has to arrive from Seattle in order […]

Six Tips for Sad and Hard Days

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Do you ever feel down? Blue? Like life is too hard? I’ve learned a few things that help me in these moments of feeling downhearted. Six Tips for Sad/Hard Days 1. Take Care of Yourself | I made myself take a walk today even though I didn’t feel like it. Getting outside is good for […]

Shame, a Simple Tool, and What About the Other Kids?

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I have THREE new videos to share with you! First, I talked about Suffering, Shame, and Faith in the parenting journey. The second is a quick tip for helping kids become calm and focused. Yesterday I recorded a video about siblings when new children from “hard places” join the family. You can find these videos […]

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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. • So thankful for my parents and sisters. • #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.” • #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. • Praying friends, please pray for the sweet presence of Jesus for my Dad and Mom. • #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. • 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. • #family #adoption #fostercare #onethankfulmom
  • Lots of feelings and thoughts about decluttering things I once held dear in today’s post. [link in profile] • #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] • Our dad has a serious infection in his blood. Prayer is good. • #hospital #loveourdad #onethankfulmom