Happy happy happy Thursday, friends! And Happy 2025!
I apologize for being a day late but well, our amazing trip to Australia ended up lasting a tad longer than expected, so I needed yesterday to make an attempt to get my life together (step one, take down the Christmas decorations). I decided to make a second post today kicking off 2025 that you can read HERE because I wanted to make sure this post was nothing but love for…
…our sweet Ashby London 🙂 .
On January 4th, we celebrated TEN YEARS as a forever family with our amazing Ashby.
How it started ten years ago…
…and how it’s going today…
One blog post does not do these last ten years with Ashby justice. It doesn’t even come close to scratching the surface of what this girl means to our family.
Ashby changes lives. Her strength, grit, determination, sparkly smile, spunky attitude, can do ANYTHING mindset, and her heart full of love has changed every family member, friend, teacher, coach…stranger…that’s gotten to know her.
Ashby has brought such JOY to our family over these last ten years.
She’s funny and sweet and really darn easy going while also wearing her emotions on her sleeve. She feels deeply for other people. She cares and worries and loves everyone around her. She’s a mother hen to all.
Ashby refuses to be defined by limitations. She makes her doctors chuckle at every appointment because she is super strong willed and opinionated. In her most polite way, she tells them “no” often and asks that we come up with another plan…which they always do 🙂 .
Ashby loves to watch any type of sport on TV (now that she’s been to Australia, she can’t get enough cricket)…
…she adores sleeping in, spending time with her friends, being outside, and she especially loves her dog Charlie.
Ashby’s favorite subject is math…but her favorite time of the day is lunch 😉 . She loves eating with her friends gabbing away in the middle school cafeteria every day.
Our middle school principal told me she can’t remember a kiddo as ready for middle school as Ashby.
This girl is always helpful, always sweet and always up for anything.
Ten years with Ashby.
How incredibly grateful and honored and humbled we all feel that the Lord would allow us to be her forever family.
Andrew and I have spent the better part of 12 years pursuing adoption. Thoughts and opinions and ideas we had twelve years ago on the subject have changed a bit. We’ve matured. We’ve grown. We’ve learned. We’ve seen the really good and the really bad sides of adoption. We’ve watched some of our dear friends build their families through adoption and have amazing success…and we’ve also seen just about as many add children to their family through adoption only to see tremendous heartache and pain.
Adoption is beautiful and messy and a blessing and a source of grief…and complicated. It’s born from heartache. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of my girls’ birth mothers and the sacrifices they made for their daughters. Truly, the greatest honor in my own life is to raise their daughters as my own.
Adoption is a lot of things, but for us, it has been nothing but pure joy since we met our Ashby ten years ago and welcomed her into our family. If adoption is on your heart, I pray you lean into it. I can’t guarantee any specific outcomes…but I can guarantee that there are other children just like Ashby out there just waiting for their forever families to bring them home.
We love our sweet Ashby.
We are so very thankful for these last ten years. xx
Elspeth says
Happy gotcha day Ashby! Welcome back Shay!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Amy Heinl says
I can’t believe it’s been 10 years already but even harder is trying to remember the time before she joined your family. If there was ever a girl to be a Shull, it’s sweet Ashby. I have so admired her strength, grace, determination, and passion these 10 years. I remember early on making the comment that I can’t wait to see the life God has inspire for her because she will move mountains.
Thank you for sharing your sweet girl with us and thank you for allowing us to love on her. Praying her life continues to be full love the love and light she shines into the world every day
Sarah Shaneyfelt says
Happy Gotcha Day, Ashby! Ten years is amazing! And it’s been ten years since the idea of adoptino was planted in my heart!!
MeetTheShaneyfelts
Mix and Match Mama says
And how AMAZING it’s been to watch your family grow!! xx
Natalie Alvarado says
Happy Gotcha Day Ashby! What a miracle she is! 🩷🩷
SS says
Happy Gotcha Day, Miss A!!! It has been fun to watch you grow and thrive!!!
Thank you Shull family for sharing Miss A with us. Thank you Miss A for letting us still get a peek into your world!!
Big Hugs!!
Paula Hobbs says
Happy 10th Gotcha Day, Sweet Ashby!! You have brought so much Joy to my life and I have loved watching you grow from that precious baby to the beautiful young lady you are today. Thank you for allowing your mama to share you with us. Stay warm and enjoy your snow day!! 🙂
Debbie Hibbert says
Happy Gotcha Day, Ashby!💗 Just seeing pictures of her makes me smile. Thank you for sharing her with us, Shay.
Paula says
Welcome back! To snow no less…what a shock to the system. 😂 I absolutely love these post about your kiddos. I have all the feels. Our church has many families with adopted children. While I don’t feel called to adopt myself, I do support those families and love on those kiddos. We also have Isaiah House, which we support as well.
Looking forward to spending 2025 with you.
Happy 10 years, sweet Ashby!
Kacey says
Happy Gotcha Day Ashby!!
Carly says
The blog post that you brought Ashby home was the first of yours that I ever read. Ever since, you are my morning read (I call it “my news”). I can’t believe it’s been ten years! Happy New Year and happy ten years of love to your sweet family!
Lisa N says
All the pictures of your sweet girl are precious but the one of her on your porch in Nantucket needs a frame!
Kym says
Happy Gotcha Day Ashby and all of you! Time has truly flown by and we have so enjoyed watching you grow as an individual and as a family!
Jessica Carnevale says
Your story with Ashby and Madeley inspired my husband and I to foster and now we are the parents to three little girls (adoption day of 10.09.24). Happy Gotcha Day!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh this just made my heart SWELL! Oh my gosh, I could just cry. Thank you so much for sharing this with me.
Faith says
Happy Gotcha Day! I know several families who have adopted and though we don’t see it all, even with all the trials of adoption, their stories are beautiful and such a blessing!
Julie says
Absolutely beautiful post! I have loved seeing her life and yours together as a family unfold!! She is so precious! 🩷💐
Erika Slaughter says
Happy Happy Gotcha Day Ashby! We LOVE YOU!!
Rhoda W says
This post made me cry! I’ve loved watching your family’s journey with adoption. And to cap it all; Ashby got her wish….she did grow tall!!! Welcome back Shay! The jet lag from Australia is brutal. I’m surprised you are back up and running so soon!.
Amy Rae D. says
Happy Gotcha Day to sweet Ashby!
Heather says
Happy Gotcha Day to Sweet Ashby London!
Kristy says
Happy Gotcha Day! She’s a beautiful soul.
Brooke says
If I ever had the chance to meet Ashby in person (odds slim to none, living in Idaho 😉), I would look her in the eye (probably with tears) and say to her something like, “strong one, your faith encourages mine. thank you for being you.” And the words would come straight from my heart. Your stories of how she remembers prayer requests for others, etc, just melt my heart. Sending virtual cheer to Texas for ten years! 🩷🤩
Angie S says
I’m a long time reader of your blog (and Erika’s). Your adoption stories spoke to my heart. Your stories along with other circumstances in my life, led me to pursue adoption. I adopted my beautiful daughter at birth and she is now 18 months. Every day has been a blessing and it is a true honor to be her mama. Thanks for sharing your stories with us!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh Angie! God is so good!! I am so blessed by this!! Wow! I’m just so blessed!
Jennifer says
That pic of Ashby & Charlie in Nantucket!:)
Allison Ledford says
Happy Gotcha Day Ashby! Your family inspired my husband and me to adopt from
China and we have our sweet Kate and Jack as a result. Love following Ashby’s journey!
Mix and Match Mama says
Well goodness, that is just THE SWEETEST THING EVER!! My heart is full. Thank you for sharing about your sweet Kate and Jack. I’m so humbled by this. xx
Linda Potoski says
Happy Gotcha Day Ashby!
I will be celebrating my daughter’s 28th gotcha day next month! This girl made me a mama and I love her like crazy cakes (the first book we ever read together and still one of her favorites). 💕
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh wow!! This just made me smile!! What a blessing!
Grace says
Happy Gotcha Day Ashby! I cannot believe how much she has grown up right in front of us! Beautiful:)
Melanie M says
I love all the pictures. I especially love the one where she says she wants to be tall when she grows up. So cute!
Jamie says
Happy Gotcha Day, Ashby!! I have been a blog reader for at least 12 years now? I think? I remember waiting on pins and needles for your first Ashby post from China! Thank you for blessing us and sharing your sweet Ashby!
Liz Thorson says
Happy Gotcha Day, dear, sweet Ashby AND your entire Shull family! She is beyond a treasure for all of the reasons you’ve mentioned today! I have loved learning more about her since the day she joined her forever Shull family! Thank you, Shay!
As a 74 1/2 year old, mother of two adopted at birth sons, now 40 and almost 36 I could not be more blessed! Birthing or adopting children is a journey, filled with so much joy, challenges of all sorts, heartache, sadness, humor and surprise! Here’s to a delightful 2025 or your family!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh Liz, thank you so so much for sharing this with us! xx
Sheaffer says
WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH, ASHBY!!!!
K.K. says
Oh Ashby!! She’s so delightful!! Love to see the love of God play out through adoption.
Jeanette says
Happy Gotcha Day Ashby! You have a family that absolutely adores you!!
Karah Stracener says
Happy Gotcha Day to your beautiful Ashby!! What a blessing she is to your family as well as yall are to her. Your story of adoption is so inspiring. Thank you for letting us be a part of it. I have loved watching your family grow up.
MICHELLE OKERLUND says
Happy Gotcha Day Ashby!!! Wow how time flies! Glad to have you back Shay! Looking forward to seeing Australia!
Kelly Davis says
Happy Gotcha Day to your precious girl and family. I love how many others have been inspired to adopt by your family, and can’t even imagine how this delights God’s heart.
Robyn Beers says
Happy Gotcha Day to Ashby! The world is better because of you!
Detroit Duchess says
I remember following along with your trip and the entire adoption journey checking in to see how it was going. Seeing how much she’s grown from the day you met her is wonderful. As a mother now, I can’t think of a better gift to give than to love and care for someone’s most precious child when they are unable to. Happy Gotcha Day Ashby!
~B~ says
Happy Gotcha Day to Ashby! Love reading your adoption-anniversaries for each of the girls each year, such beautiful testaments to your journey, your love for their birth mamas and the beautiful young ladies your girls are!
Lisa D says
I love this post! The first time I read your blog (other than look at recioes😊) was 10 years ago exactly, when you were in China with Ashby. What a remarkable journey you have been on for all these years. What a truly beautiful young lady!
Mix and Match Mama says
Awwww! I’m so blessed you’re still here 10 years later! xx
SS says
We will have our daughter for 10 years in October and it has been total and complete joy. So grateful God let us be her parents. She is so amazing.
Mix and Match Mama says
Congratulations to your precious family! xx