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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Smith ·

Smith is seven.


Today, Smith William Shull turns seven.

And I just don’t know how that’s possible because I swear, he was just a baby.

I always tell Smith how extra special he is in my eyes because…let’s face it, I prayed and prayed and prayed for all three girls.  I prayed through infertility with Kensington and then I prayed for years for my two precious ones from China.  Those three girls were all so prayed over…but Smith, Smith just popped up so unexpectedly and out of the blue (I had a seven month old at the time and after two years of infertility issues, the last thing I thought would happen would be another baby).  I always tell Smith that I didn’t even know to pray for him but God knew I needed him and so here he is.

Smith has always been my easiest kiddo.  As a baby, he was so easy (which was such a relief because the one that came before him was not).  And even today, he’s just easy.

He was shooting me relentlessly with Nerf darts yesterday as I unloaded the dishwasher…so, he’s most definitely a typical boy who likes to be into everything…but he’s very mature for his age, very focused, great at completing tasks and helping out, has a really sweet heart, very compassionate and understanding…he’s just a jewel to our whole family.

Smith’s favorite things to do are play outside (ride his bike, play basketball, climb trees…if it’s outside, he wants to do it), and inside, he loves to build Lego sets, play with Ninja Turtles and he’s really into Hot Wheels stuff right now too.

Smith loves to eat pasta for supper, watch Star Wars movies on TV, go hunting with his dad and bake with his mom.

But do you know where Smith shines?  At being a brother to girls.  As the only boy amongst three girls, he has figured out how to do it well.  Sure, he gets on their nerves from time to time (did I mention the Nerf darts flying at us throughout the day???), but for the most part, he does an excellent job playing with his sisters.  He learned a long time ago that if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.  They’re never going to play Ninja Turtles with him…but they will allow him to bring a Ninja Turtle to their Barbie party, so he compromises 😉 .

Today, he is seven.

When I asked Smith what he wanted to do for his birthday, he had very specific things in mind, so we’re going to do that today.  He’s smart, he’s sweet, he’s polite, he loves Jesus, he’s kind (and yes, he runs too much and jumps on the furniture while throwing balls in the house at the same time…)…and he’s my biggest surprise.  One of my favorite Bible verses is Ephesians 3:20, “God can do anything you know-far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams.”  That’s what I think about when I think about Smith.

Happy birthday Smith William!  We love you so much!!

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Comments

  3. Erika Slaughter says

    Happy Happy Birthday to Smith, also known as one of my household’s very favorite people. 🙂 What an unexpected blessing he was SEVEN YEARS AGO! I hope he has the best day celebrating! We love you, Smith!

  6. Katie McDavid says

    Ephesians 3:20 is the verse of the day today on Air1’s daily email. I love when the scripture on our heart is revealed somewhere else. http://air1.com/faith/verseoftheday/?votd=2017-01-18
    Enjoy celebrating God’s gift today. My twins are 6 months today so I’m counting that as a year of parenting and making a cake for hubby and I. Peanut butter banana bundt is our favorite!

  8. Sheaffer Sims says

    Happy Birthday, Smith!!!!! I hope y’all have a blast celebrating him all day long!!!

  9. Rebecca says

    What a beautiful tribute and reminder of Ephesians 3:20- thank you for sharing!! Happy Birthday Smith!! I hope y’all have a wonderful day!

  17. Kristen says

    Aw! Happy Birthday to your little man. I have the opposite with 3 boys and a girl and it’s so sweet watching them interact. The boys are so sweet to their sister. What a gift it will be one day for Smith to read these affirming words that you are sharing. It inspires me to go encourage each of my kiddos this morning. Enjoy celebrating!!!

  20. Alyssa Guerra says

    Shay, I read your blog almost daily. And it always brings a smile to my face. I have never left a comment because I assumed it was only fellow bloggers who commented. However, I would just like to say this post is beautiful. It’s incrediable that God can do such mighty & wonderful things. It gives me hope. Happy Birthday to your sweet boy! God Bless.

  21. Kara says

    Hi in the world is that sweet boy seven? Wow! Timesure flies. I still remember wearing pink to the hospital knowing you were having another girl and then hearing he was a boy! He is so precious and such a great kid! Happy Birthday Smith!

  23. Hilary Wheeler says

    He could not be cuter and he sounds like he ia the sweetest. Happy birthday to Smith!

  26. Shan says

    Happy birthday Smith! You have some GREAT pics of him, so handsome… this boy is going a be a heartbreaker? one day!!!

  27. Debbie K. says

    He always looks so happy. What a cutie. You’ll miss the nerf wars and boy stuff when he is grown, but each stage brings it’s own fun. My “little” boy is 20 and 6’7. He makes me laugh all the time, even through text while he is in college. Happy Birthday Smith!!

  29. Leslie W. says

    You have the most beautiful babies, whether they arrive biologically or through adoption! Smith is such a precious little guy and a testament to God’s love for us. He loves to surprise us with the most precious gifts when we least expect it. Happy birthday Smith!

  30. Tara says

    Hbd to Smith!!! He’s so adorable and I love the qualities you describe him with. What a treasured soul!!!

  31. Maggie says

    I loved reading this post this morning. I’m due with my second baby in a few months, and like Smith, this baby on her way is a complete surprise and will be just 16 months younger than my first. I also struggled to get and stay pregnant the first time, so this baby is the blessing I didn’t know I wanted or needed. We can’t wait to meet her, and I hope she takes after Smith and is a super easy second baby. 😉 Happy Birthday, Smith!

  36. Aubrey says

    Happy birthday to your wonderful surprise kid! God knew you needed Smith. He has such an important role in your family.

  37. De De says

    He is just about the cutest boy with the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen! Happy birthday to your sweet boy!

  39. Suzyh says

    He is the CUTEST!!! Boys are such a precious gift to their mamas……enjoy every second of this sweet little guy’s Birthday!!

  41. heidi says

    Happy birthday Smith!.. Whst a sweetheart and a lovely young man he’s turning into. Yeah for birthdays!

  43. Megan Butler says

    Happy birthday Smith!! He is such a handsome boy!!! And we met you the Sunday after Smith was born!! You were the first only people in Sunday school when we walked in!! And you had your BRAND new baby!!!!

  47. Crystal Hall says

    Your sweet boy and I share a birthday! I hope he has the happiest day!! Happy Birthday, Smith!!!

  49. Kayla B says

    Happy Birthday, Smith!! As a 27 year old (almost 28), I remember being seven as one of the happiest years in my life. It’s a great age.

  51. Kelly says

    Happy Birthday to your sweet Smith! He is just precious:). As a mom of 5 boys and mimi to 7 boys, I can say that:). We celebrate our third born son’s 30th birthday today. So, it’s a great day for a birthday boy! Happiest of days to your family!

  56. Pam says

    Shay! I need a larger cast iron skillet. Now I am thinking shallow dutch over? I already have an enamel dutch oven. Do you like Staub? How do you clean? Can it do both cooktop and oven? This needs a whole post! LOL Happy birthday cute Smith. We also ate at the Smith, in NYC, in October for my daughter Payton’s 21st bday! Saw you were there too. :):):)

  57. Angela Ellingson says

    This is so beautifully written Shay! What a treasure your boy is. And Smith is so handsome!!! Hope y’all are having a fun day!

  58. Angela Banae says

    Such sweet and loving words! “I didn’t even know to pray for him, but God knew I needed him”…those words melt my heart. Happy Birthday Smith!!!

  63. Alicia F says

    Happy Birthday Smith! I just love what you said about him being a surprise that God knew you needed! I had never thought about it that way. While we were very blessed to not have fertility issues, we tried for my oldest, my second was a surprise and we prayed and tried for our third,following a miscarriage. As we now prepare for our adopted little one, lots of prayer is going up. BUT, my middle man, my surprise baby. He is everything that I never knew I needed. Every bit. The most amazing surprise. Thanks for that reminder!

  68. Kelly says

    When I opened your blog today and saw that adorable picture of Smith, I said out loud, “Awww Smith! You Cutie-Pie.”
    Then I read your birthday message to your darling boy ! What a wonderful tribute . He sounds like he’s as beautiful on the inside as he is on the outside! Happy Birthday to the handsomest (is that a word?) Little fella in the blog world 😉

  70. Ann Marie says

    What a sweet, sweet boy you have there!! We gotta love those little miracle surprises!! Their pretty amazing…..

  71. Nilda MacLean says

    Awwwww!!! Happy Birthday Smith!! he is soooo sweet 🙂 We need to organize a play date with Mathew sometime !

  72. Jeanie says

    He still looks just like he did as a baby. Happy birthday, Smith! Hope your day was a good one. I was glad to read about what a good brother you are.

  73. Michelle says

    What a beautiful letter to him! We had many a Star Wars action figure playing alongside a polly pocket 🙂

  75. Kathy says

    What a beautiful boy. Happy birthday Smith. Our third was an unexpected gift who came 5 years after our second, and let me tell you, he too is a gift! I call him “mama’s joy”, and “happy feet” because that is just what he is-pure joy and happiness. God knew we needed him too!

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