Friends, it’s my final blog post of 2024!
Truly, from the very bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being with me this year.
I know you are all busy. You all have commitments and obligations and families and jobs and…LIFE pulling you in a million directions. The internet and social media have algorithms to draw you into whatever they *think* you should be consuming each day, so the fact that you all purposely come here is more humbling than I could ever adequately express.
I am so honored that this is where you chose to spend your time.
I am honored that over the last 17 years, we’ve made this little cozy community together.
The world is so dark…but this is a bright spot for me because of YOU.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for spending your 2024 here.
I am honored and blessed to call you friend and excited for what 2025 has in store for us all.
I am going to enjoy this holiday season with my five favorite people and return here on January 8th with more Book Club, more recipes, more posts on health and wellness and better living all the way around…more Nantucket, many more travels, more mom life, dog life, busy life, working life, holiday life…HAPPY LIFE.
From now until we meet again, please let me remind you one more time that I love Christmas. I love lights and decorations. I love trees and cozy fireplaces. I love the holiday movies and especially the music and all of the “things” that make this season so special. None of it though, ABSOLUTELY NONE OF IT, means a thing without Jesus. This season is about God loving us, LOVING YOU, so much that he came down as a baby born in a manger to live 33 years and then die on the cross only to rise again three days later so that we can have eternal life. If this is new to you, confusing to you, weird to you…if you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus, PLEASE EMAIL ME. I would love to send you a Bible or a devotional or pray with you or share with you about how much I love Jesus and how much he wants to have a relationship with you too.
Everything I share here on this space is fun and happy and upbeat and light…but this is eternal.
If you do not have a church, I would love to “invite” you to mine. If you’re local, please come see us in person…if not, you can watch our services each week (including our Christmas Eve services!) online.
If you are interested in reading the Bible, please, please, please consider joining me for The Bible Recap in 2025. You can get all of the information HERE about The Bible Recap and our little “group”.
Friends, wishing you the most wonderful holiday season. I am so blessed by you and cannot wait to see you again in 2025. As always, I wish I could send all of you a Christmas card, but since I cannot, here is a peek at our photos and card this year by the amazing B. Faith Photography.
From my family to yours, MERRY CHRISTMAS!
xx Shay
Elspeth says
Merry Christmas! Thank you for sharing your lives with us!! A blessed New Year too! See you back in 2025!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Bev says
Merry Christmas, Shay, to you and your beautiful family! Thank you for the wide variety you bring to this online community all year long. Your love and care is felt among us! Thank you for putting Jesus first and always pointing us back to Him. I love that most! God bless you! 💞
Kara says
Merry Christmas Shull’s!! 😊
Vivian G says
Reading your blog has become part of my daily life Shay. Thanks for motivating me to get up and work out, cook more for my family, read my bible more and be closer to Jesus and so much more. Merry Christmas!
Genelle Pretty says
Merry Christmas, Shay! Thank you for what you do and how you do it ❤️
Amy Heinl says
Merry Christmas and a blessed
New Year to you and your family. May your holidays be filled with love, joy, and all the happiness your heart can hold.
Also your pictures are beautiful. I can’t believe how much Smith has grown. He towers over you and Kensington. Hoping 2025 is a great year for the Shull kiddos.
Merry Christmas!
Dustie Day says
Merry Christmas, Shay! Your blog is truly a bright spot in my morning!
Katrina Goodman says
Merry Christmas & a happy New Year!
Dana P says
Amen and Merry Christmas, Shay!! You have no idea what a blessing you are to our family. Hope you all have a wonderful break!!
Marla says
Shay, we love you. Merry Christmas and God bless you!
Stacy says
Beautiful family, Merry Christmas to you all! Thank you for sharing your blog with us, I gain so much from it.
Also Merry Christmas to your travel agency! I have used them several times this year and it is made my life easier and we have had great vacations, looking forward to vacations in 2025 with their help.
Jami says
Merry Christmas to you & your family Shay. Thanks for being such a positive light. It is so heartwarming and something I can resonate with on the internet fully. Means the world. XO
Paula Hobbs says
Merry Christmas to you, Shay and your sweet family. Thank you for sharing your life with us each day and for always creating a safe place in this dark world. I wish you and your family a very Happy New Year and I can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store for all of us! Much Love, Paula
Kelly Strylowski says
Merry Christmas, Shay! Thank you for always being a bright light to my mornings. God bless. ❤️
Debbie Hibbert says
Merry Christmas, Shull family!🎄
Thank you, Shay, for all of the ideas and encouragement you give through your blog … faith, health, travel, movement, family, food, and so much more. Because of your example I’ve almost completed my second time through the Bible (Bible Recap). I really appreciate all the time and effort you put into your little corner of social media.
Amy Rae D. says
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Shay!
K.K. says
Christmas is THE BEST and all about Jesus!! Thank you for centering on that. Thank you for being part morning routine for YEARS, Shay! I have always enjoyed this space you’ve created.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, SHULLS!
Katie Stewart says
Shay,
I love adding this blog to my morning routine (even if some nights I’m crawling BACK into bed before I come to check it out)! Thank you for choosing to share the real reason for the season here on your blog. ❤️
Super pumped to see Nantucket content in 2025! Merry Christmas to the Shull family!
Amanda says
Merry Christmas Shay! I read your blog every morning and it’s the only blog I read!! I hope your holiday is super cozy and magical and full of teens hugs and the magic or the little kids!!
Debbie says
Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family! Thank you for sharing SO much of your lives with us! Excited to see you in 2025!
Sarah says
Merry Christmas! Wishing you the best season and all the love and blessings in 2025!
Melissa Terry says
Merry, merry Christmas to you! Love this little corner of the internet and look forward to 2025 ❤️
Erika Slaughter says
I LOVE the family pics! They turned out great! Merry, Merry Christmas to you six! XOXO
Rhoda W says
Merry Christmas Shay and family. Thank you for sharing your faith and wonderful family. Thank you for being a bright light in this crazy dark world. Go enjoy your peeps. xxx
Sue Jones says
Merry Christmas Shay! Thank you for your blog! I look forward to reading it every day! You are so right….this world can be so dark at times. Reading your blog is always a bright spot in my day! May God continue to bless the Shull family!
Janice Dobbe says
Merry Christmas. Your family pictures are lovely❤️
Melissa Cooper says
Merry Christmas to you Shay and to your whole family! Thank you for being such a bright spot in my day, I look forward each morning to reading your blog and have used your advice, recommendations, recipes, makeup and hair tutorials, etc. etc. more times than I can count and I am so grateful!
Angela says
Merry Christmas Shay and family!!! You are so dear to our hearts and we are so blessed by your blog!!! Thank you for shining so brightly and living boldly for Jesus!! And thank you for always being so willing to share all of the best life tips, mom tips, fashion and food tips…. all of it!! xo
Michelle Etheridge says
Merry Christmas to you and your family. Your blog is such a bright spot in my day. Thank you for sharing your life with us. I have been a follower for many years. Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!
Karen Byers says
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Shull family! Thank you for everything you do! I look forward to seeing your posts daily and have found many recipes, books, and beauty and fashion items that I love!
Kelly Kirkland says
A very Merry Christmas to you and all of yours, Shay! I love sitting down at my desk every morning and checking this blog first thing. It is my bright spot and my morning cup of coffee all in one! Thank you for all that you do for this community!
Lori says
Merry Christmas from Minnesota! (Formally North Texas). Thank you for using your blog for kingdom work! I pray it bears much fruit!
Katie Hahn says
Merry Christmas Shay and family!! Your blog is truly a highlight of my day! Thank you for sharing your life and family with us!
Hallie says
Merry Christmas Shay! I hope you enjoy your holiday and time off with your family! I love stopping by each day and reading your blog, looking forward to it in 2025 💕
Debbie says
Thank you Shay for sharing your beautiful life, family, faith and inspiration with us! I read your post daily, hardly ever comment but just know we are here and are thankful for the bright spot in our day! ILYSM! ❌⭕️❌⭕️ Merry Christmas 🎄 and Happy New Year Shay!
Patty says
Thanks for letting me live vicariously through you and all of your amazing travels! My husband and I are getting ready to wrap up the Bible Recap and we have loved it!
Happy birthday Jesus…He truly is the greatest gift of all!
Debbie says
Merry Christmas to your family! I enjoy reading about your family and all that you share with us. Thank you for focusing on the real reason for the season…JESUS!
WhittyWife (Lindsay) says
Merry Christmas, Shulls!!🎄🎄 Shay, you’re such a bright, encouraging light in my life. Thank you for sharing your life, wisdom, struggles, and faith with us.
Are y’all headed out on a ski trip this year or somewhere warm (after Andrew’s surgery)?! Have the best Christmas, New Years, and time off!! ❤️💚
Laci says
Merry Christmas! Thank you for this little community here on the blog!
Grace says
Merry Christmas! Thank you for this wonderful blog and for sharing such a light in this dark world. I start the day reading your blog like a friend to catch up with.
andie says
Merry Christmas! May the Lord richly bless you and all those you love as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, the Lord, Jesus Christ!
Marisa Patel says
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!
Tabitha says
Merry Christmas, Shull Family!! Love following along with your family and blog all year, Shay! Thanks for all of the time you put in to each and every post! Hope you and your family have such a blessed Christmas break!! Merry Christmas!!! 🎄
Jen C says
What beautiful family pictures! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Elizabeth H Valenta says
Merry Christmas Shull Family!
You are by far one of the bright spots of my days. I look forward to next year’s fun posts of life.
Thank you for sharing that special spot with all of us.
Beth
Robyn Beers says
Merry Christmas!
Happy 2025 to you and your family!
Melanie M says
Merry Christmas to you and your family! Last night, one of my friends mentioned that in 2025, she, and 12 of her family members were going to Disney. So, I gave her your info. She is excited to find someone she can trust to help plan their trip!
Kay says
Merry Christmas to you and your family! I am ever appreciative of this little space that I come to each morning. I also truly feel my life is better from your health and wellness tips. I have added in 10k steps a day (got a little walking pad like you recommended!) and am overall making changes that I feel great about at age 49. I think it’s rare that going online makes your life better, but in the case of reading your blog, it’s true! Thank you for the home tours, the wellness tips, the book recommendations, the recipes, the seasonal content!, the TJ’s recommendations, the football tips (new football mom this year!), the fashion finds, the makeup routines and the pet photos. It all makes me happy!
Wishing you and yours an amazing holiday season an new year!
Jenny N says
Thank you so much for sharing your family with us daily! Enjoy every second of your break. Merry Christmas to you and your family!!
Mary Anne Duke says
My favorite thing about your post is “You
Speak the name of Jesus”.
If you do not know that song listen… I am pretty sure you do.
Blessings to all💫
Stacey says
Wishing you and your lovely family a very merry Christmas!! Have enjoyed you sharing all of your travels and adventures with the interested lot of us. Your recipes never disappoint and loved your to tutorial about make up. Your remodeling endeavors were a real eye opener, and a real game changer. Love how you decorate for Christmas.
MIRANDA BODENHAMER says
Merry Christmas Shulls! I start my morning in your little corner of the internet and it makes me so happy, you inspire me to be a better mom, be a better wife, and be a better Christian. Thank you so much for all the work and heart that you pour into this blog. Here’s to a big and better 2025!!
joanna says
Merry Christmas and wishing you and your family the happiest 2025!!
Karina Coffer says
Merry Christmas!! I appreciate all you do for us! Especially this post! This is the post that makes me tear up every year! Above all- I am thankful for Jesus!!
Andrea Conrad says
Merry Christmas to the Shull family! I assume in next years picture Smith will be about as tall as Andrew!
Kelli says
Merry Christmas, Shay! Thanks for a great year here in your space!! I’ve loved all of the wellness posts especially. So much so that after 17 years of being home with my boys, I’m headed back to work as an RN at our hospital on the prevention and wellness team! Excited for new books, tips, travel, health journeys, and fun here in 2025!
Keisha Dawson says
Merry Christmas! I love starting my day of with you and your crew!
Kate says
Merry Christmas!!!! 🎄
Karah Stracener says
Merry Christmas to your beautiful family. Your blog has become a part of my morning routine and I wanted to thank you for being a bright light. Thank you for sharing a little piece of your life with us. I can’t wait to see what 2025 hold for you and your precious family.
Karen in Virginia says
Dear Shay,
Thank you for brightening my day for the past 10 years. Merry Christmas to you and your family! And I hope that Santa is very good to you this year! Blessings and see you in 2025!
Liz Thorson says
Merry Christmas to you, Shay, and to your dear family, too, including all of the pups! Your blog ALWAYS makes me happy to read! It is uplifting, inspirational, fun, interesting, educational and thought provoking! Thank you for all of the time and effort you put into sharing with us!
Kerrie Hofstad says
I love EVERYTHING you share, but, THIS IS MY FAVORITE!!!! Thank you for always sharing JESUS!!! Merry Christmas, Shull Family!
Cris says
Your family pictures are just beautiful. I love the individual shots of the kids! Can I share with you what the Lord has done for me six days before Christmas? I was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma in the summer of 2020, and it was treated and went into remission. This past May I had an abnormal CT scan and some new symptoms, so the doctors started digging looking for a reoccurrence, which was expected with this particular kind of cancer. Many tests and scans and biopsies (oh my!) later, and yesterday my doctor told me that he can’t find any cancer! I know that you pray for this community, so I want to thank you for praying for me! Merriest of Christmases to you and your family!
Mix and Match Mama says
PRAISE THE LORD!!!! Cris, oh my goodness, I have chills! PRAISE THE LORD for your healing and health!! I am just so crazy excited for you!
Becky Carl says
Merry Christmas and God’s Blessings to you and your sweet family. I have read your blog everyday since 2012 and have enjoyed every minute being a part of “our family”, God’s Family.
Love to everyone of you, Becky
Anne Shepard says
Merry Christmas and blessed new year! Thank you for being a bold and faithful witness to our Lord Jesus and fun to read about/travel with, too!
Laura Fredlund says
You made me cry! I do choose to come here to your blog… like every morning! And the fact that you ended this year with that wonderful invitation to have a relationship with Jesus Christ makes me love you all the more. HE is everything ❤️ Merry Christmas to you and your family!
~B~ says
Blessings to you and your beautiful family, Shay. Just like the lovely cards we receive here at home, I look forward to yours, seeing your family, smiling at how the kids have grown. Such a blessing to come here each day and read what you share. Looking forward for all to come in 2025. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Sarah Shaneyfelt says
Merry Christmas, Shay!! I truly look forward to reading your blog every day (even if I don’t have the time to comment and am reading in spurts on my phone when I have a free moment haha!!). I have loved your health and wellness posts this year and I can’t wait to see what 2025 brings you!
MeetTheShaneyfelts
Vickiy Van Beek says
Thank you so much for being a fun, faith filled, and inspiration for me 1st thing each morning. Merry Christmas and I know you will savor and maximize each of these days until January 8th and another fabulous year to live!!!
Donna Boschulte says
You and your family are such an inspiration to me! It has been amazing to watch your sweet family as they have grown up! I have never been able to travel, so I love looking at the pics of your travels; it’s a big world out there!! Most of all, I appreciate the openness of your love for Jesus Christ. That warms my heart all throughout the year!!!! Merry Christmas to your family, and I will look forward to seeing your posts in 2025. God bless you.
TS says
Merry Christmas! Many years ago I began to read your blog … I think I found it because I was looking into adoption. I had messaged you about being SO anxious about adoption & your words of encouragement to carry on thru the fear and that it was such a blessing for your family pushed me thru my anxiety. Now I am blessed with 3 children, my youngest 1 years old whom we adopted last year. I always remembered your encouragement when I started to got cold feet and I am forever grateful for you and now our family has the biggest blessing we could ask for. Merry Christmas!
Jeanette says
Merry Christmas Schull Family!! Enjoy this holiday season loving on each other. I can’t wait to see your posts in the New Year!
Kacy M says
Merry Christmas Shull family!
Laura @ Our Grand Lives says
Thank you for sharing your life and loves with us all, Shay! You are a light in our lives and you shine with the love of Jesus! Wishing you and yhour family a blessed holiday season and the happiest of New Year’s! See you in 2025!
Rachel says
Shay! I just sent you a message on Facebook replying to one of your stories. It’s so exciting that you’re in Australia. I’m originally from Canada but have been in Melbourne for 12 years. Hope you guys can visit here. It’s a beautiful place!