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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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Ashby ·

Ashby is FIVE!!


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Today, our sweet Ashby London is FIVE!

Rarely can I talk about this girl without crying.  She is just such a special little girl, and the fact that the Lord has entrusted Andrew and me to be her parents is quite overwhelming.  Ashby is just sweet, sweet, sweet to her core.  She is upbeat, positive, happy, giggly, and loves deeply all while being such a fighter.  This girl loves to snuggle, is such a pleaser and never wants to disappoint.  This has been a HUGE year for Miss Ashby.  Over the last 12 months, she has become a big sister and undergone eight surgical procedures.  Ashby love, love, loves taking care of Madeley.  In fact, only one week into summer vacation, and I think she’s a little bummed that Smith and Kensington are around to help because she takes great pride in caring for Madeley during the day 🙂 .  Ashby’s health has been one of the main topics of conversation over the last year.  Our goal is to keep her healthy and safe…so, we’ve spent a lot of time seeing doctors, getting opinions and having procedures.  We’ve had our ups and downs, she’s worn a sling/soft cast/compression garment 80 days this year.  She’s had limited physical activity, missed out on some fun things and been in tremendous pain…all while smiling.  Ashby is my hero.

When I think about Ashby’s birthday, I always think about her birth mom.  I have to imagine that her mama is thinking about her today too and that leaving Ashby that fateful day was the hardest thing she has ever done.  The other day, we had been swimming in our backyard and while we were drying off, I told Ashby that she was just so pretty.  I said, I bet your China mommy is so pretty too because you’re such a pretty girl.  And do you know what she said to me?  She said, I hope she has a family too.  Wow.  I started crying and couldn’t stop.  What a sweet girl I get to raise.

So, today, she is FIVE!  We are once again celebrating Ashby’s birthday in a BIG WAY!  Yesterday morning, 18 members of my family boarded a plane and headed to Seattle for an Alaskan cruise.   We are PUMPED!  We have big plans to honor our birthday girl today.

Happy Birthday Ashby London Shull.  I just know in my heart that God is going to continue to use your life to further His kingdom.  I am so honored to get a front row seat to watch Him use you in big and mighty ways.

Here’s a little look back at Ashby this last year…

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June 2016

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July 2016

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August 2016IMG_7167

September 2016.  We found ourselves once again back in the exact same spot we had been just 20 months before.  In Guangzhou, China.  This time though, she wasn’t that shy girl who didn’t know who we were and what we were doing.  She was a growing, thriving member of our family excited to be a big sister.

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October 2016

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November 2016

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December 2016

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January 2017.  We celebrated her 2 Year Gotcha Day.  Look how much she has changed from the day we got her!

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February 2017

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March 2017

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April 2017

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May 2017

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June 2017

Happy Birthday Ashby!

God can do anything, you know-far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams. -Ephesians 3:20

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Comments

  2. Linda Z says

    Happy birthday, sweet Ashby. Five is fabulous! Wishing all of you a fantastic Alaskan adventure.

  3. Debbie Hibbert says

    What a beautiful post for this beautiful and precious girl. It brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing your family with us Shay.

  4. Courtney says

    Happy birthday to Ashby! You can tell she has a heart of gold to make a sweet comment like that about her china mommy. Thanks for sharing, what a positive way to start the day! Have fun on your vacation!
    XO
    Courtney
    http://www.greywoodmama.com

  6. Laura says

    Happy birthday to your sweet Ashby! I hope she has a wonderful year. Enjoy your cruise!

  7. Lynn says

    This amazing little girl pulls at my heartstrings every time you post a picture of her. That smile that’s just from her wee heart melts me. Happiest of happy birthdays sweet beautiful Ashby xx

  8. Sheaffer Sims says

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ASHBY!!! Yes, this girl is like sunshine with skin on! She’s a fighter, the life of the party, and has such a sweet little heart. We love you, Ashby!

  9. Amanda Yap-Choong says

    Happy Birthday sweet Ashby! She radiates pure pure joy! May you have a blessed and joyful year ahead xxx ❤

  10. Narci Dreffs says

    Happy Birthday, Ashby!!! You are so sweet and precious! We love you so very much! XOXO

  11. Katherine Darlington says

    Your little Ashby is just beautiful! I think it’s beautiful how when she smiles, her whole face smiles. You could take a picture of just her eyes or cheeks and you could tell she’s smiling. She is a beautiful little girl!

  13. Angela Ellingson says

    Oh goodness, what a precious girl!!! Happy birthday Ashby! Have the best time on your big family trip. That is so special!

  14. Amanda Wilson says

    These posts always make me cry!!! She is such a sweet girl what a blessing to this world!!

  19. Kourtney says

    I’m reading your blog at work and I seriously just teared up at what she said about her birth mom! What a sweet, sweet soul you are raising. Happy Birthday Ashby!

  20. Elaine Welte says

    I can’t believe she’s 5! I feel like y’all just brought her home!!

  21. ann a says

    “I hope she has a family too” That is amazing!!! 🙂 God bless you Ashby.

  22. Gabby says

    Happy Birthday Ashby! (This post had me in a puddle of tears! So thankful that we also get to see the Lord use Ashby in big and mighty ways through the means of your blog and also that we get to see and be impacted by your family’s joyful obedience to follow the Lord’s call on your life and be a beautiful and tangible reflection of how we have been adopted into God’s family and are now His children because of Christ!) Have a great day celebrating your beautiful, strong and brave girl and enjoy your family vacation!

  23. Teresa Flahaut says

    Happy Birthday Ashby! Hugs to all your family Shay! Have the best time in Alaska!

  24. heidi says

    The happiness shows in that beautiful face. She’s a gem.
    Happy birthday sweet Ashby.
    Have a wonderful holiday ☺

  26. Anne says

    Happy birthday, Ashby. Hope you have a truly amazing day with all of your family. Yes, you are pretty. In fact, I think you are going to be a beauty. You are also strong. Never forget that.

  29. Jacqueline says

    This made me tear up and I don’t even know you!! Happy, happy birthday, sweet Ashby! Have an amazing time on your vacation!

  30. Briana N. Lee says

    This post makes me so happy! Happy birthday, Ashby 🙂

    Briana | youngsophisticate.com

  32. Erin Sutch says

    Happiest of 5th birthdays, Ashby! Goodness she is such a doll and has a smile that lights up a room!

    Have so much fun on your Alaskan cruise! We did a family reunion type of trip and did a cruise, train, and bus tour through Canada and Alaska! It was spectacular and a perfect family trip!

  33. Kayla B says

    Ashby is so beautiful! I can say, it is because of her and Madeley and reading your blog every single morning that I have seriously started to think, pray, and talk to my husband about adopting from China. We know that adoption is the way that we want to have a family, and your precious girls have shifted the direction of where we might want to adopt from. Thanks for sharing your story!

  34. Tara says

    She is my hero too! I’m so glad I get to see and hear about this precious girl! Thanks for sharing and happy birthday Ashby!!

  36. Nikki Lehman says

    This brought tears to my eyes. Ashby seems like such a sweet sweet girl yet such a fighter! I love the verse that says Do not look down on a child because they are young. Your sweet girl has a spirit that is totally being used by the Lord and this little 5 year old is making more of an impact than many adults! What a privilege to raise her. 🙂

  38. Rebecca Brittain says

    Happy Birthday Ashby! I love seeing the pics from when you first adopted Ashby to now. She is radiant and shining with happiness. Beautiful angel! I think it’s precious to celebrate their “gotcha” days too. God bless you and your sweet family!

  39. April Parrish says

    Happy Birthday ASHBY!!!! Praying for God’s continued blessings in your life!!!

  40. Jenny says

    This post brought happy tears to my eyes. It’s a joy to watch your beautiful kids grow through following your sweet blog. Much love to you!

  41. Erika Slaughter says

    Happy Happy Birthday Ashby Shull!! We love you so much and hope you have the best birthday! XO

  42. Lisa says

    This is the sweetest post! I love reading about your sweet family!! Have fun with your family!!

  43. Elyse says

    Happy birthday, Ashby! Shay, your note about her brought tears to my eyes. She is amazing. God bless her!

  44. Kristen says

    Big giant tears. How incredible of her to respond that she hopes her China mommy has a family!! That Ashby just seems like the sweetest girl. Happy Birthday Ashby!!

  45. Ariadna says

    Happy Birthday to sweet, strong and inspiring Ashby!! She shares a birthday with my wonderful Grandpa, so I’m super emotional today. I’m about to go into a meeting and I’m trying to stop crying! After reading the sweet thing she said about her birth mom, I had to use all of my willpower to not start blubbering in my office. Thank you for sharing your kids with all of us, I know if must not be easy but reading posts like these make my day. Please know that we pray for all of you and all of the other kids who still need to be adopted. Thank you.

  47. Amanda @ That Inspired Chick says

    Happy Birthday, to that beautiful girl! I can’t remember a time when I’ve seen her when she wasn’t smiling and happy! Have a great cruise!

    That Inspired Chick

  48. Melissa says

    Oh my stars! She is just so precious. Thank you for sharing your adoption stories with all of us-I hope she has the most wonderful birthday!

  50. Maria D says

    Happy Birthday to Ashby! It’s been quite the year for all of you. I hope you have a great time on you family vacay!

  51. Marta says

    Happy Birthday Ashby!!! Wishing you the very best. Shay is it my imagination or does her little hand look better?

  52. Ashley J says

    Oh my goodness…the China mommy quote made my heart burst. What a sweet girl! I would’ve cried too! Happy Birthday to Ashby and hope you all have a wonderful vacation!

  53. Yuko says

    Happy Birthday Ashby! Just reading your stories and looking at her pictures, I can feel that she is full of joy. She is truly a gift from God. I love her smiles. I am very touched by it. My tears just don’t stop. It’s my first time leaving a comment, but I wanted to wish her very special birthday.

  54. Julie Clark says

    Happy Birthday to sweet Ashby! You had me crying too. What a sweet thing she said. Have a blast on your cruise!

  56. Liz Thorson says

    Happy, Happy Birthday to sweet, darling Ashby Shull! ??? You had me crying when you shared what she said about her birthmother.??. I hope your family party of 18 enjoys a delightful and interesting time on your Alaskan cruise.

  57. Amanda Tieken says

    Happy birthday Ashby Shull!
    My husband was adopted from South Korea and recently found his birth mother, so that comment from sweet Ashby made just made me ugly cry. Bless her heart.

  58. Janet says

    Ashby is just darling and truly inspirational. Gotta love that girl!! Happiest of birthdays, Miss Ashby!

  59. jamie says

    happy birthday, ashby! have so much fun on your {so much family} vacation! shay, i was thinking about you a bit ago. i was walking through my favorite local antique store and they always play the most beautiful music. today i asked what music was playing. madeleine peyroux. have you ever listened to her music?

  61. Alyssa says

    Yay Ashby! I hope you love the cruise, I live in Juneau and it’s so beautiful, we always recommend cruises as one of the best ways to see the prettiest parts of Alaska!

  62. Deena says

    Ever since you introduced us to Ashby on your blog, I’ve been smitten with her. Her smile just lights up her face. She has to go through so much yet she’s so strong at her young age. She’s lucky to have you but you’re lucky to have her also. Happy 5th, Ashby!

    Have a wonderful trip! We cruised out of Seattle also and loved Alaska. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as much as we did.

  64. Carly says

    Happy Birthday Ashby! Thank you for inspiring me from so far away. Such a beautiful little girl with so much love to give. Enjoy your vacation Shulls. Can’t wait to see pictures of the kiddos and cousin Samuel!

  66. Heather says

    Aah! She is such a lovebug. I love to see updates of your kiddos.

    Have a blast on your Alaskan cruise. That is on my bucket list for sure!

  68. Shan Rocha says

    This made me cry like a baby, I love this little girl and makes my heart so happy that God connected her to your beautiful family to love on her, makes me sad to think of so many others out there just waiting for the same…. it’s so great to know that Ashby is as sweet and fun as she looks, happy bday cutie pie!!
    P.s my son Ethan turned 4 today too! It’s a good day 🙂

  69. Taeryn says

    Have you watched the movie Lion? I watched it recently and it made such a big impression on me. It is the most beautiful, true story about the wonders of family and adoption. I thought of your blog and of your precious and gorgeous girls, Ashby and Madeley. I highly recommend it!

  71. Whitney Pegram says

    Happy Birthday, sweet Ashby!! And I got chills reading her response about her China mama. Oh my heart!! ❤

  72. Shelly says

    Her sweet comment about her birth mom brought tears. Shay I think you are so amazing for being real and sharing Ashby’s story with her. She is obviously blooming in your home!

  73. Claire Cozad says

    I can’t seem to locate the post where you mentioned your favorite powder SPF. I refer to your product suggestions a lot! I see several through Nordstrom, which is best?!

  74. Erin Port says

    Oh my goodness. Well you had me at “Ashby is my hero” and then you told the sweet story of how she hopes her mommy has a family and I am a puddle on the other side of the computer screen. I hope you have a wonderful cruise vacation. We head to see my sister and brother-in-law in Seattle at Thanksgiving. Loved your gum wall pic, my kids believed me when I said you could sample the gums ; ). xoxo ERIN

  76. Jaren says

    So so sweet!! As always, thank you for sharing her sweet story with us! We will continue to pray for her!

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