You guys! It’s a SUPER SPECIAL DAY around here because…
…10 YEARS AGO TODAY, WE MET OUR MADELEY JAMES!
How has it been ten years?
But also, hasn’t she been with us forever?!
I can’t even really remember life without our Mades.
Here’s a little look back over this last decade with Madeley…
We woke up this morning very excited to celebrate our littlest on this special Gotcha Day.
She wanted Trader Joe’s pancakes for breakfast (easy!). Today just happens to be Grandparent Day at her school, so Papa Jay and Lovie are bringing her Chick-fil-a and having lunch with her (winning!). AND it’s Leopard Friday at the high school which is basically a big carnival-type event before the varsity game (she can’t wait!).
In our family, it’s so easy to celebrate Ashby and Mades on these days. These two girls have changed the four of us more than words could ever express.
Adoption is complicated. It’s born out of grief and sadness and loss. It is also beautiful. Adoption has created our little family and for that, I will eternally be grateful.
If you have a heart for adoption. If it’s on your mind and you’ve considered it before but you’re scared and unsure, let me please encourage you to reconsider.
Millions of kids need you to be brave. They need their forever family. They need you to take that first step towards bringing them home.
Ten years with Miss Mades.
She is truly the light and the joy and the big old exclamation point on the end of this family’s sentence.
Happy Gotcha Day, sweet girl!
We are off to celebrate and cheer on the Leopards tonight. I will see you back here tomorrow for some bonus weekend fall fun.
Adoption is amazing, y’all. Amazing. xx
Susan Jeffries says
I remember the sweet Gotcha Day for both of your little ones. What a sweet blessing they have been to your family.
Jami Romano says
So super special ◡̈
Diane Moore says
I’m happy for you all, and how God has blessed your family 💕
Elspeth Mizner says
Shay, I started to read your blog daily right before you adopted Mades! Thank you for being so open about your adoption journey!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Beth Knecht says
Aw! This just gives me the happy feels! Happy Gotcha Day to Madeley! I hope you have a lovely weekend celebrating!
Melissa Terry says
While I love the Trader Joe’s hauls and the recipes too, your adoption posts will always be my favorite! God used your story to help give us the courage to say yes to our baby girl six years ago and we are forever thankful. Adoption is a miracle indeed 💕 Happy Gotcha Day to you and your girl!
Rachel says
Happy Gotcha Day❤️ 10 years is a special milestone! We will celebrate my daughter’s 19th Gotcha Day next week and my son’s 15th next month- time flies! Hope you have a great day celebrating!
Bethany says
Happy gotcha day Madeley!!
Laura Fuller says
Wow! It does seem like she’s been here forever!
Alysa says
10 years!!! Wow, I can’t believe it. What a milestone, enjoy your celebrations with that beautiful little girl 🤍
Sheaffer says
MADELEY!!!! We love you are so thankful for you! One of my core memories is her walking into the Christmas party LIKE A BOSS. That girl can work a room.
Jacee Crawford says
My husband and I adopted my biological nephew one year ago. We had no biological children when we received guardianship of him. Nervous, scared, conflicted are all an understatement of how we felt but knew in our heart it was the right choice. Your blog posts on adoption gave me courage! I read them often. Thank you for sharing your journey!
SS says
Awe….thanks for sharing Mades and family with us! Happy Gotcha Day! I think I tell you every year today is our neighbors Gotcha Day, too! She, too, has been in our lives and can’t imagine without her in it. Even with her in college I love getting messages from her!
Linda Oesterle says
Happy Birthday to little Miss Personality!
Sarah DeWald says
Happy Gotcha Day Madeley and Shull Family! My own gotcha day (airplane day to me) was on Monday! Love makes a family and I’m so glad God brought all of these families together. xoxo
Ellie Entrekin says
Beautiful family! Happy Gotcha Day!!
Paula Hobbs says
Happy Gotcha Day, Madeley!!!!!!!!!!! You just cannot help but smile when you see pictures of her! I wish I could give her a great big hug!! Have the BEST weekend celebrating all the things with your sweet family.
Erika Slaughter says
AWWWWW!! Happy Gotcha Day, Madeley!
Lee Ann Vicary says
The first and last pictures are the only ones with her not smiling. You can watch her personality grow. You can also tell she has older sisters that taught her how to pose at a very young age, Congrats to you all for God helping you to find each other. Definitely the cherry on top of your families ice cream sundae.
Rebecca Lingerfelt-Brown says
YES and AMEN! Adoption brought my late husband to my life and our precious granddaughter! We have Grandparents’ Day today with her as well!💜 God is so good! Have the best weekend celebrating!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh goodness, adoption is BEAUTIFUL! God is so so good!
Lisa says
How has it ONLY been ten years?! I’ve been reading your blog since Sean’s Bachelor days (that’s how I came across you!) and it feels MUCH longer than ten years since we were introduced to Madeley. Probably because she always belonged!!
Mix and Match Mama says
AMEN!!
K.K. says
Love Madeley!!!! So sweet!!!!
Holly Sheridan says
Happy Gotcha Day to your precious Exclamation Point❣️
Beth says
Beautiful ♥️
You may have shared before but how were the initial adoption seeds planted in your heart?
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes, yes! We’ve shared this many times. One good post to read is this one, but you can also look through all of our adoption posts by clicking on the “adoption” category too 🙂 . https://mixandmatchmama.com/2016/09/the-road-to-madeley/
Beth says
Ok thank you! I’ll click the link♥️God bless!
Allison says
Year 1 and 3 pictures, OMG!!! Cutest thing I ever saw. I mean they’re all precious but those ones I WANT TO SQUEEZE HER. Precious!!
Valerie A says
Happy Gotcha Day!!! It’s crazy that it’s been 10 years! Enjoy this special day .
Susan P Fitzpatrick says
Happy Gotcha Day!! What precious pictures of your sweet Madeley. ❤️
Robyn Beers says
10 years! It’s been so fun to watch her grow and bloom. Adoption is messy, but SO beautiful!
Katie Hahn says
Happy Gotcha Day, Madeley!!
Joanna says
Joy just radiates from her face, she is so beautiful. So happy for your family!
Carol says
Happy Gotcha Day! Madeley and Ashby are so Blessed to have such a loving family. Remember when you and Andrew brought these sweet girls home.
Kristy Moore says
She was such a little bunny those first few years. And what a beautiful, joyful girl she has grown into. Not only is your family so lucky to have been gifted Madeley, but she is truly blessed to have found your family. Enjoy your weekend of celebrating her!
Betsy says
I love Gotcha Days! We adopted our son – 19 years ago. We were blessed to be there when his was born, so we celebrate the day his adoption was final in our state and call it “Jackson Day”. Adoption is the best and hardest thing we have ever done. So thankful for God’s plan for our family and yours!
Debra says
Happy gotcha day to Miss Madeley and to your entire family. She is such a joyful child that it comes through in every smile.