Happy Wednesday, friends!
Today, it’s an early edition of LET’S LOOK!
Once a month, Erika and I host a link up where we “look” at little aspects of our lives. If you’re a blogger, make sure you blog and link up!
Here’s what we’ve been “looking” at so far this year…
In January, we looked at the coziest spots in our house
In February, we looked at our favorite reads
And today, we’re looking at the people in our family!
I love my family 🙂 . Here’s a little look at them…
Let’s start with my little fam…
Next Wednesday, I will have been married to Andrew Shull for 15 years. We met when we were in college and were married three months to the day after we graduated. After all of these years, he’s still my guy. I cannot imagine being married to anyone else. He’s funny, smart, reliable, loyal, a fantastic father and always has my back. I can truly count on Andrew and that means so much to me.
We have four fantastic kids (seriously, I like them all 😉 ) .
They keep us busy, they keep us laughing and they most definitely keep us on our toes!
Kensington Kate was born September 15, 2008 and is currently in 4th grade. This has been THE BEST year for our oldest girl. She has blossomed academically, in sports (she loves volleyball and dance) and has the sweetest little group of friends. She is sweet, fiercely loyal, kind and a great big sister. Right now, she’s in this sweet stage where she’s still a little girl, but I can have these amazing adult-like conversations with her. You can almost always find her at night in her cozy pjs, wearing one of my blardigans reading a book. She is a very passionate person, and I can’t wait to see how the Lord will use that to shape her as an adult. I’m so proud of my oldest girl!!
This is our Smith William. He rolled into the family 16 months and 3 days after his big sister…and decided from day one to be my easiest. He was an easy baby, an easy toddler (the boy would put himself down for a nap), and he’s really an easy kid. Don’t worry, the girls know he’s easy…that’s why he’s their favorite. Hahahaha! We had to create an actual schedule because the girls cried every night over whose turn it was to sleep in his room. Like, we had to actually assign days (and give him one day sister-free). Smith is easy…but very active. You will likely find him outside either riding his bike, playing with a ball or climbing a tree every day. He also loves to read and plays the violin. He’s sweet, sweet, sweet but also sarcastic and ALWAYS the voice of reason amongst his siblings. Smith has this wiser than his years way of speaking that often catches me off guard. He’s such a special kid, and his place in our family is unique.
Our sweet Ashby London came into our lives on January 4, 2015 as a shy and timid 2.5 year old from Xi’an, China. She looks really sweet and demure, right? She is…she’s also the toughest person I’ve ever met. Ashby was born with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome which keeps her in pain every single day. Over the last 3 years, she’s had 17 procedures and when I tell you she doesn’t complain, I mean it. She NEVER complains! Ashby is super talkative, always wants to be hanging out with someone, loves her friends, loves playing outside, and always up for a snuggle. She brought a light into our family we didn’t even know we needed. She is everyone’s hero. Ashby loves playing with Barbies, doing puzzles and playing games (she loves card games!). She also loves to sit at the kitchen counter and color and paint. She just bounces from one thing to the next and always with a smile on her face.
Annnnnd this pic sums up our Madeley James. Swagger. This one has swagger. Miss Madeley entered our family on September 11, 2016 and we’ve never been the same. She is funny, she is quick witted, she is smart, she is easy, easy, easy and always makes everyone laugh. Madeley is obsessed with Peppa Pig, loves riding her little bike, wants to build with blocks, color, have books read to her and play outside. She is always so happy when the big kids come home from school and adores their attention. Madeley has been such a surprise! We just needed her. I didn’t know we did until we had her…but we needed her. She is the life of the party, and I cannot imagine not being her mama.
After these peeps, Andrew and I are super blessed to both have amazing sets of parents…
…this is my dad and this…
…is my mom. They’ve been married over 40 years and keep me laughing all the time. My dad is in insurance and my mom is an interior designer. Growing up, they taught me so many wonderful things, but the three most important are to travel as much as you can, to work hard at both your job and your passions and that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Light. They are actually really good friends with…
…Andrew’s mom and dad! That’s Steve and Cheryll and they are FUNNY! Steve is an engineer and Cheryll ran an in-home daycare for years and years. They too have been married over 40 years and let me tell you this, it’s never dull when we’re together. Lots of laughing and always stories to be told. One of my favorite things in life is sitting in their big chair by their fire drinking coffee and watching Hallmark movies. There are so many wonderful things I could say about them, but if you ask anyone to name Cheryll’s biggest accomplishment, EVERYONE would say that she makes the world’s best chocolate chip cookies. I don’t know what she does, but they’re world famous. I’m so thankful for my in-laws!
Here are my kiddos with their cousins Isaiah and Samuel!
My brother, Sean, was the Bachelor on ABC a few years ago and met and married the beautiful Catherine. We tell Catherine all the time, if something happens, we’re keeping her and letting go of Sean. She is SWEET with a capital S! They have these two precious boys who are 2.5 and 9 months. We love this little family of four. They live in Dallas, and we love spoiling those kiddos every chance we get. Funny side note, Samuel loves Andrew. Like loves him a lot. He will FaceTime and/or call all the time JUST to talk to Andrew. It’s the funniest/cutest thing!
So, that’s just a few of our peeps. Andrew has a brother who also has a sweet family, but they’re a little more private, so I won’t go into many details. They also live in Missouri and are raising the sweetest, smartest, most athletic kiddos. I wish we lived closer!!!
One more pic before I call it a day…
…these are my grandparents 🙂 .
I feel so incredibly blessed that I still have three out of four grandparents (plus a bonus granddad!). My dad’s parents on the left have been married for 71 years! YES, 71!!! How crazy cool is that???? They have two daughters (hey Lu, hey Melinda!), five grandkids, 10 great grandkids and even great great grandkids! She’s super funny and a fantastic cook, he’s a Marine and retired pastor who knows the Bible better than anyone I’ve ever met and they’re both amazing. The two on the right? That’s my mom’s mom and her husband Ken. My Grandmother was married for 44 years to my sweet Granddaddy before he passed away of cancer at only 64. A few years later, she married Ken, and he has been one of the best things to ever happen to our family. We love Ken (a.k.a. Papaw) so much. My Grandmother is one of the loveliest people I’ve ever met. She is tough as nails, a cancer survivor, and the strong matriarch our family needed after my Granddaddy’s passing. Besides my dad, she instilled in me a love of travel like no one else. I have never known someone to travel to as many places as she has. She still loves nothing more than to talk about her next trip…I love that about her so much! She has two kiddos…and they’re Irish twins…a fact that always makes her kind of roll her eyes. Ha!
Whew! A little look at my family! I cannot wait to look at your link ups and see your family too. Okay, what’s coming up in April???
Let’s look at…YOUR PANTRY!
That sounds like fun! See you guys back here tomorrow!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
Your family is huge, Shay! I’m an only child so I wish I had siblings, haha!
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Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Kasie Miller says
What a blessing that your grandparents are still living! It is evident that they’ve left a legacy of God-loving, close knit family. So sweet and special!:)
Sheaffer Sims says
What a sweet little post! Loved reading little snippits about everybody!
Alexis deZayas says
This was such a sweet post! Loved reading about your people!
Narci says
Aw! I love your family, and this post was just perfect! Also, that picture of Madeley is awesome!
Kassy says
Loved this! You have Beautiful people in your life.
Erika Slaughter says
This link-up was FUN!! Loved getting to read about some of my favorites today!
Jenn says
I feel like your kids need to host a meet n greet! Your longtime readers have watched them grow up. They seem so sweet and so wonderful – what an impressive family with a wonderful testimony!
pam says
No wonder you are such a beautiful person (inside & out :)) as you have such a wonderful family–the love & support shines through–maybe I notice (& the love that shines through) it because I don’t really have “family.” You and your family are blessed & surely a gift to everyone you all know.. This post actually brought tears to my eyes! Thank you for all your posts & for sharing so much of yourself, your life, and your family!
Erin E Port says
Such a sweet family and love getting to know them a little better!
Laci says
Blessed family!
Ahna @ Hammers N Hugs says
Love this Shay. We come from similar legacies of generations of couples who love Jesus and each other. My hubby and I have 7 out of our 8 grandparents still living and over 200 years worth of marriage between them and almost 80 years between our parents. #marriagegoals. Haha. My blog is primarily DIY inspiration for the home and family, so I dont post a lot of details about my lifestyle but I am giving a hearty amen here in the comments to the immeasurable blessings of family! Sweet post XO
Kim Fleming says
PLEASE PLEASE TELL US AGAIN AND AGAIN about those long years of devoted marriages!! Today it is exceptionally hard to find wonderful stories that has stood all tests of time. CONGRATS
Bev says
Shay, you have the sweetest family! Loved reading about all of them!
Tracy Robinson says
Loved all of your post! Easy to see how much you love your family!!
Mother Henn says
What a beautiful family! And, I want skin care tips from Andrew’s mom! She looks like a young Meryl Streep!
Addison says
Loved reading about all your sweet family members! You are so lucky to have so much love in your life. There’s nothing better than family! 🙂
Melanie says
This is a nice post. I think your parents and your grandparents on both sides have discovered the Fountain of Youth. They all look so young. I also want to tell you how much fun it was to meet Sean and Catherine recently. They are both very sweet and approachable. Catherine really impressed my husband (who is deaf) by signing to him. I was telling Sean that I have followed you for several years and thought you were such a great person. I was teasing him and saying that it was nice to meet him, but, I really wanted to meet you! He said he hears that a lot!
Barbara Horwitz says
Since you always have the best recipes, can you share the recipe for your mother-in-law’s chocolate chip cookies? I’m sure my family would love them!
Mrs B says
How about that cookie recipe?? Is it already on your blog??
Mix and Match Mama says
It’s not! I need to make them. Her “process” is a big part of the cookie making (how long they cool, how she covers them, etc.).
Julie Bradford says
LOVED reading about everyone… even though we see and read your posts daily it’s always so fun reading a little more about each of them!! what a precious family!!!
Shannon says
Shay, you are Blessed indeed. I don’t know what made me think of this, but some of my favorite posts about Smith involved him falling asleep. Anywhere. I wish I were Smith!
Mix and Match Mama says
Anywhere!!!
Deidre Morgan says
Shay, I just love reading about your sweet family! Like you, my husband is my college sweetheart and we will be married for 30 years on March 18. Our oldest, Natalie Maria, was born September 17 and will be 29 this year. She’s an Executive Sales Manager for The W hotel. Our middle, Crystal Sallie, just turned 26 on March 3 and is a nurse and is getting married in November. Our baby boy, William Robert, turned 22 on January 12 and is a Bio Medical Science major. All of our kids were named after a grandparent!! I just loved watching my kids grow into themselves and seeing the path God chose for them.
Mix and Match Mama says
Ah! I love this!!!
Ella says
This may be my favorite of your posts yet.
You have such a great family!
Barbara Horwitz says
Love all of your recipes. Can you share your mother-in-law’s chocolate chip cookie recipe? My family would love it!
Debbie says
Beautiful family Shay! Family is EVERYTHING ❤️???
Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams says
Aww I’ve been following you for so long now but I feel like I just learned a thing or two about your sweet family!! You have a beautiful family Shay!
Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams
Bev. says
Love reading about your family. God has blessed you with a beautiful family. Cherish them!
Dee says
Thank you for sharing your sweet family with us. You are truly blessed.
Jojo says
Really loved reading about your sweet family Shay, but I really love that it made me think of how I would describe my wonderful family too. It’s not everyday you truly reflect on the miraculous people in your life and how they’ve shaped you, but this post sparked that today 🙂 I’m thinking of my grandparents a little extra tonight
Amanda @ That Inspired Chick says
I loved this post so much!! And I just love Miss Madeley’s swagger!
Liz says
Ahh families are so sweet and amazing. And something that I know you don’t take for granted because not everyone has the families we have. I love my family and am so glad we are family and friends. Love this post!!❤️
Kimberly C says
What an amazing family! How lucky you are to have so many grandparents still with you — I am down to one grandmother and my husband’s last grandmother passed away shortly before we started dating. Lately it seems like there are more and more similarities between Smith and Madeley’s personalities. And Ashby!… what a girl! She will do big things in life and will have a huge fan base behind her!
Thank you for so publicly sharing your family with us! You are an inspiration!
Andrea says
Your grandparents are the best! What a blessing !