en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2986726 Comments by laurajonesjournal http://www.onethankfulmom.com/adoption/joining-a-new-family-at-16-and-realistic-expectations/#IDComment752523124 thank you! Tue, 19 Nov 2013 04:57:57 +0000 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/adoption/joining-a-new-family-at-16-and-realistic-expectations/#IDComment752523124 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/attachment-and-trauma/on-the-road-with-bee/#IDComment732090595 Lisa, the photo of you and Bee made me get a lump in my throat and my breathe quietly gasped as if holding back a tear. It's just powerful to me. Our family is 4 bios who are stacked close together and slightly older then the younger 4 adopted sibs. If I'm honest, when life is busy I tend to crave one on one time with my older bios, and to place a great value on that. When life feels busy one on one time with my adopted children (who have been adopted older like 7-11) feels more like a true sacrifice, but I'm always glad I did it. I guess seeing your photo made me wonder if it's ever the same for you. If so or if not I'm touched by the sacrifices you make to love your adopted children, even when it's hard. BLESSINGS. Eyes on JESUS! Hope for HEAVEN.... Wed, 9 Oct 2013 19:22:29 +0000 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/attachment-and-trauma/on-the-road-with-bee/#IDComment732090595 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/adoption/tell-it-well-part-5-bitter/#IDComment604965144 thank you,Lisa, for each clip of your story. I have read and respected you for so long, my respect goes thru the roof! What a mentor you are to me. Thank you for sharing with us. God has clearly helped you with each word. I'm so anxious to read more when you are ready. Praying for your family as I read. Wed, 27 Mar 2013 03:01:51 +0000 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/adoption/tell-it-well-part-5-bitter/#IDComment604965144 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/attachment-and-trauma/being-in-hand/#IDComment577946694 Lisa, you are doing a great job. You are such a role model to me. God bless you. I am praying for you and praying for you. I have followed you for so long, every post. press on sister. So many of us adopted moms have issues with our adopted children. Lisa, God has chosen you to walk the road and journal it publicly for us, thank you. I wish i lived close enough to meet for a coffee, or bring you some flowers. Sun, 24 Feb 2013 01:16:17 +0000 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/attachment-and-trauma/being-in-hand/#IDComment577946694 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/attachment-and-trauma/the-lord-bless-and-keep/#IDComment547008594 a thousand thanks for sharing so perfectly, just enough to help us and just enough to be appropriate. I'm so thankful. praying right now for dimples and her mom. Fri, 18 Jan 2013 03:46:56 +0000 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/attachment-and-trauma/the-lord-bless-and-keep/#IDComment547008594 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/large-family-life/structure-our-familiar-friend/#IDComment408908557 your empower to connect blurps always warm me. thank you. we have re-enter this week, with a VERY difficult adoptee. She is dreamy one on one but in our large family she just seems to constantly rock the boat and get in trouble. The thought of summer long camp is wonderful for us all to dream about. I would have thought that sounded terrible, but it's where we are at. She was actuallly our youngest adopted, at age 8 month, the other 3 adoption have been at 6,7,and 10 years and they have been great. Thanks for being so open and honest. I need that "okay" It seems she's meant for a couple with no children, but her. But, that has not been God's plan, so tonight we sit together as a family and thank him for the 4 days "off" from her raging and tantrums, and we pray for survival and any joy possible, until school starts up. I know you know. thanks.. Thu, 26 Jul 2012 02:52:55 +0000 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/large-family-life/structure-our-familiar-friend/#IDComment408908557 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/large-family-life/my-learning-curve-caring-for-our-other-children/#IDComment189249466 heading to bed in tears tonight over a child who is healing. from an outsider, unknowing, it would look so detrimental to our other children. However, God has planned this. He is in this with us. Created it this way, even. It's a beautiful picture of the Gospel. Loving the unloveable. When we have devos with the older children ( not adopted) we are very much aware that the hard is good, making us aware of our sin, needing Jesus! Hearing them ask for help to love one that is difficult. So hard, but good wanting an eternal perspective. some in school and some home for us too this year. only been 2 weeks but it feels so right. AHHH, time to connect with the homeschoolers who otherwise move to the background when the littles are around and demanding much attention. your words ALWAYS hit home. we've begun to go out with all the big kids (original 4) on Sunday nights. it's very special. this is not our eternal home. we await a home in heaven. stay faithful to the call, Lisa! Press on my sister in Christ. Sat, 3 Sep 2011 05:27:44 +0000 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/large-family-life/my-learning-curve-caring-for-our-other-children/#IDComment189249466 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/the-daily/spd-and-vbs/#IDComment168164392 Yes! Good job mom. You are amazing and did great as His advocate, teacher, healing agent and mom. Keep up the good work. Press on! God has great plans to prosper this very special boy. Praying for him now as I sign off. God bless you, sister. Laura Thu, 30 Jun 2011 02:53:24 +0000 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/the-daily/spd-and-vbs/#IDComment168164392 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/adoption/tuesday-topic-making-progress/#IDComment167774390 Well, I'm actually replying just to share my great story. My husband and I adopted a little girl (8 months) from china. she is now 6. our bio children are 14,12,10 and 8. 3 months ago we adopted again, 2 older girls (6.5 and 7) oh my, yes, out of birth order!!! :) Our experience with the 2 new girls has been deep, satisfying, humbling joy. They are attached, they look us in the eye, we are hugging and connecting. I will say that the Empowered to Connect Conference, videos and the connected child by Dr. Karen Purvis have helped us in a huge way. it's the only resource I would recommend. I AM having difficulties with the infant we adopted (who is now 6). She is very difficult to love. Something about her personality rubs us all the wrong way. However, God is gracious and helps me parent her and love her. Adoption has blessed my family. Easier? no. Better? yes. Joy. Wed, 29 Jun 2011 02:25:25 +0000 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/adoption/tuesday-topic-making-progress/#IDComment167774390 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/adoption/all-together-now-2/#IDComment167772128 welcome home. i will be anxious to read your thoughts. My husband and i attended the first empowered conference when it was in nashville. i cried my self to sleep the first night. this was because we were in the process of adopting 2 older SN chinese girls. Wow. I was so scared and overwhelmed. I wanted OUT of the adoption. I thought I had enough on my plate with 5 other homeschooled children already. I am here to say, "yippee!" our transition has been oh so much more peaceful becuase God lead us to karen purvis and her videos and conference and book! I'm so thankful! We have been home 3 months now and we use (or try to use) the principles each day...CONNECTING!! I blogged a little about it today. I love to spend "free" time reading your blog. Purposeful, glorifying, real and yet encouraging. Thank you, I know it takes time and thought. God's rich blessings as you re-enter life! laura Wed, 29 Jun 2011 02:15:29 +0000 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/adoption/all-together-now-2/#IDComment167772128 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/attachment-and-trauma/my-learning-curve-creating-new-ways-of-thinking/#IDComment163039958 This is a good post. we are doing karynism over here at our place as well! We attended her conference in nashville 6 months before traveling back to china to adopt 2 older girls (7). I would say to new-adoptive parents or soon to be parents: this is the only book you need! We started many of her principles in the hotel in China (day 1)! Our new girls are a blessing the transition has been smooth. The struggle we face is with our daughter that we adopted when she was 8 months! God has surprised and blessed us with these girls who seemed so risky to adopt. Our who family, really, has been blessed by Karyn's books and videos. Thank you for purposeful blog entries I gladly spend a few minutes of "free time" to read and feel connected to others walking this narrow road. Laura Thu, 16 Jun 2011 02:23:40 +0000 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/attachment-and-trauma/my-learning-curve-creating-new-ways-of-thinking/#IDComment163039958 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/attachment-and-trauma/my-learning-curve-love-is-still-a-worthy-cause/#IDComment154205801 thank you so much for your honesty! Fri, 20 May 2011 01:54:18 +0000 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/attachment-and-trauma/my-learning-curve-love-is-still-a-worthy-cause/#IDComment154205801 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/adoption/speechless/#IDComment147056154 Lisa- your words always resonate with my heart! I have been to the empowered conferences, read all the books, purchased all the dvds, started a support group with my girl friend, and... the one thing that really helps and brings hope for me is that WE ARE NOT HOME YET! THIS IS NOT OUR HOME! Praise God! Have you read Larry Crabb's book called Shattered Dreams? It's excellent ,a must read in my opinion! Blessings as you press on! Eyes up on Jesus! Laura Fri, 29 Apr 2011 02:21:08 +0000 http://www.onethankfulmom.com/adoption/speechless/#IDComment147056154