Happy Monday, friends!
Today is EXTRA special because…today our sweet Madeley James is TWELVE!
Goodness, we love this girl so very much.
We have been celebrating the big 1-2 all weekend long!
The birthday celebration started on Saturday. We snapped this pic before we loaded up for her 12th birthday party. She wanted to have a fun lunch with friends at her favorite McKinney restaurant, The Yard, and then go shopping with them. Sounded like fun to me too! I took her and three of her besties and off we went. After lunch, we went to Bath and Body Works, Sephora, Starbucks…it was a full afternoon of fun. We all smelled divine when it was all said and done 😉 .
We followed that up back on the square with a family dinner on Saturday night at Cadillac Pizza Pub. Sitting at a table with all five of my people on a Saturday night is one of my favorite things in life. Tonight, she has requested spaghetti for dinner and a Funfetti cake for dessert.
I mean this when I say, Madeley has just never had a bad day. Sure, things happen that aren’t great, but her personality is so bubbly, so optimistic, so loving and sweet that she handles even the “bad” things with sunshine.
This kiddo is oh so funny, she’s oh so kind, she’s oh so helpful, and oh so sweet. She has a tender heart for others and loves her friends and family BIG.
We have been so impressed with her especially over these last two years where she’s moved schools twice and not missed a beat. She’s found a great group of friends each time, she’s joined activities and clubs, and found her place. She is loving the sixth grade 🙂 . Homework is never her favorite, but she loves sitting with her friends at lunch, she loves being on the little “news crew”, she loves her Friday morning Bible study, her pre-athletics class, and she LOVES going to the high school games now as a Leopard herself.
This sparkly, spunky, full of life kiddo is the grand finale of the Shull family, and we could not have asked for a better finish.
She is JOY.
Pure joy.
Happy 12th birthday, Mades! What an honor and a privilege we have celebrating this special day with you when we know it came at a great cost to someone else. We are forever grateful that in this great big world, God saw you and saw us and weaved our stories together as a forever family. We love you oh so much birthday girl! xx
Diane Moore says
Happy Birthday Madeley!! It sounds as if she had a good birthday to start another good year. God bless her 💕
Jami Romano says
🩷🥳🦋🥳🩷
Elspeth Mizner says
12?!? Happy birthday to your sweet girl!!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Andrea Conrad says
Happiest Birthday wishes to Madeley!! Sounds like you know how to plan a great party!
Robin says
As a mom, what a beautiful birthday tribute to your daughter and that last paragraph🥹
Sarah DeWald says
Happy Birthday! 🙂 May all your wishes come true this year!
SS says
Happy Birthday Miss M!!! Have a great day!
Lindsey says
Happy Birthday, Madeley! Today is my birthday too! Wishing you the very best day! 🎂🥳🎉
Paula Hobbs says
Happy 12th Birthday sweet Madeley! It sounds like you’ve had a pretty awesome week or so! I hope today is even better!!
Michelle P. says
Happy Birthday to Madeley! It has been a pleasure to watch her become part of your family to watch her grow.
Lee Ann Vicary says
Happy Birthday to your exclamation point! I read this as I finding my desk on a busy morning and your last paragraph brought a tear to my eye. I sure she is excited about almost being a teen. After church my granddaughter and I hit Sam’s we were almost out of pineapple popsicles. She announced that she was ready for Halloween to be over so we could start decorating and getting ready for Christmas. I asked if it was because that was also her birthday?? She said yes, like it was the dumbest question ever, “I will be double digits”.
Bren says
What a joy it has been to follow along with sweet Madeley, happy birthday to her!
Jeanne Cobianchi says
Happy Birthday Madeley!!! GOD bless you and your beautiful family!!!!
Susan P Fitzpatrick says
Happy Birthday Madeley!!! 🎂I don’t know if I have ever seen a picture of her where she isn’t smiling!! I need her attitude!!
Kristy Moore says
Happy happy birthday to your sweet girl! I have loved watching her grow up and all the adventures and joy she has brought to your family. What a gift she has been!
Faith says
Her being on the “news crew” seems so perfect for her bright personality and smile!
Happy Birthday to Mades! I still remember how your older kids agreed she was the best of your bunch. What a testament to the light she is! Praying for her today!
Holly Sheridan says
Happy birthday to your sweet caboose! I love your heart and how I know that you prayed for her bio mom this morning.♥️
Teresa Flahaut says
Happy 12th Birthday Mades!!!
Sonya Derczo says
I can’t believe she’s 12 already! Happy birthday, Madeley!
Ruby Huling says
Happy Birthday, Mades! Not only is she a joy to you and your family, but to all of us that reads your blog each day!
Dee says
Happy Birthday to Madeley! I can’t believe she’s 12!
Jennifer Bethune says
Happy 12th Birthday to that sweet girl!!
Katie Hahn says
Happy birthday sweet Madeley!!
Laura Holmes says
Happy Birthday to Madeley! Twelve is such a great age!
Candy Hundley says
Awww what a sweet post !! I love how God has this special way of knitting and putting families together— even in far off lands HE brings ultra special people into our lives— and instantly that little person is family!! I’m on a mission to spread Jesus to as many as I can— to think your Mades might never have known Jesus— I personally think she was chosen all along! God is so good!! Your blog has brought me so much joy ! Traveling along with you on your many trips through pictures has been amazing !! I speak the name of Jesus every chance I get and I love seeing that in you and your family – all best wishes to you ! Love, Happy Birthday to your sweet Mades !
Candy H.
Rebecca Carney says
Happy 12th Birthday Madeley!! God bless in her in this next year ahead!! Love all the celebrating you are doing for her! Enjoy your spaghetti and funfetti cake!! Xo
Amy says
Happy Birthday Madeley!!
Sandy Manning says
How fast that seemed to have happened!!!!!!!!!!!!! She sounds like such a delight and I’m so glad you got to add her to your family.
Robyn Beers says
Happy, happy 12th birthday!!
Stephanie Platt says
Happy Birthday Madeley!
Faith says
Happy birthday! Thank you for sharing her with us to bring us joy as well!
Patty says
Happy birthday lil sunshine!
Debbie Hibbert says
She definitely seems to be the absolute sweetest, and perfect completion of your family! Happy Birthday, Madeley🎉🎊
Helen says
Happy Birthday Mades! 🎂🎈🎁🩷
Susan M. says
Beautiful sentiments. 12, wow! Happy Birthday, Madeley❣️
Gudie says
Hope your day is perfect !
Happy Birthday Madeley 🥳🎂🥳
Elizabeth Thorson says
Happy Birthday, a day late to your ever delightful Madeley! It has been such fun to follow her growing up! Pictures and comments about her ALWAYS put a smile on my face!
🎈🎈🩷🎉🎊🌻🎂🌻🎊🎉🩷🎈🎈
Debbie Lang says
Happiest of birthdays to Madeley!! I love how we serve such an amazing God that is in the intimate details of our lives. Praying she has an amazing year to come.
Beth C. says
Love the party idea! Do you give the kids a certain amount/budget to spend? My daughter is 10 and would love this. Also, I’m a long time reader, but I can’t seem to find you on instagram!
Mix and Match Mama says
That’s so odd? I’m still at @mixandmatchmama. I’m there! I started with “let’s see if you find one item you love” and went from there. At Bath and Body Works, I told them they could get three full sized items (because it’s buy two, get one free), but they all four wanted to get an antibacterial holder and antibacterial instead…so I kind of just went with the flow at each stop.