The Bruffeys: Our Family: Bruffey Claddagh Academy: A School Name

We started blogging our life as best friends, husband and wife, in 2006 shortly after we got married. Once we had children, I created a new blog for our growing family. This is our blog sharing the story of our life: beginning with our first pregnancy and our journey as parents to our beloved firstborn, BB1, who arrived in our world perfectly on 11.5.2010 and his precious sister, BB2, born on 10.6.2012, our sweet third baby, BB3, born 2.3.2015, our 3rd vivacious daughter, BB6, born on 5.1.2018 and our 2nd living son and final Bruffey Baby, BB8, born 6.23.2021. We also love our 3 greatly missed babies in Heaven, BB4 (born in Heaven at 5 weeks 5 days on 10.8.2016) BB5 (born still at 16 weeks on 2.5.2017), and BB7 (born in Heaven at 7 weeks 3 days on 10.23.2019). I will share my stories of our family, of being a wife, a mother, a home manager, a friend, a woman, a Hope Mom, and a person pursuing hope in Christ through life and death, joy and pain. Welcome to our journey!

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Bruffey Claddagh Academy: A School Name

Over our almost-6 years of home educating, I have pondered and contemplated a name for our home school. For a while, we went with Bruffey Academy of Exploration, but that got a bit cumbersome for my little Bruffey Explorers. Then we just went with Bruffey Academy for a hot minute, but that was just not "us" to me. Finally, it hit me... much like when I was planning our wedding in 2006. Claddagh. It has been a symbol that represents both my heritage and my faith since I was a young girl. When we were planning our wedding after our engagement in November 2015, things became more complicated than I expected (as wedding planning is want to do) and, some time around January 2006, I took a break... from discussing the wedding with anyone. I just turned inward and began to pray and think about what a wedding meant to me and my fiancé. We talked and discussed our hopes and dreams for the day of our covenant. That is when it hit me - Claddagh. I had long worn a Claddagh ring and we decided that it was the perfect symbol to represent US - our God as our leader (crown) and our hands joined in unity as our hearts became one under the headship of Christ. Once that symbol came to my heart and mind, our wedding planning really took off and things fell beautifully into place. Recently, as our home schooling has continued to evolve and grow, the same symbol came to my heart and mind. It has continue to be an integral part of our family these past 13.5 years and it struck me - it SHOULD b in the name of our homeschool. And thus, Bruffey Claddagh Academy was born! I'm excited to see where the Lord continues to guide our home educating family and this unique journey we are on... and I love the name that I believe He gave us after years of considering what best fit US.

This is US.

Bruffey Claddagh Academy

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The 1st Daughter: BB2

Our 2nd child was born at home 10.6.2012 - a beautiful water birth we had planned and prayed for! We are so excited to finally be holding this little one in our arms and rejoice in her presence in our family! She is our most intense, free thinking child. We delight in her and find that she is so smart and curious and has a deep need to connect with others. She is a true artist with skill in painting and drawing and she loves to express herself in this way. She loves to be a helper at home and brings excitement and a true light for life into our family!

The 2nd Daughter: BB3

Our third child was born 2.3.2015 (at 38 weeks, 6 days - a huge surprise to us!) just as fast as her big sister, arriving in the parking lot of the local hospital's birth center. We are so grateful to God for sending us another little child as a part of our family! She is SO full of joy and brings a soft sweetness to our family. She adores babies and anything that she can nurture. She has a true mama's heart. She loves to sing and dance and is very much a mama's girl. She is a true joy to our family!

Our 1st Baby in Heaven: BB4

Jordan Emmanuel Bruffey: We were overjoyed when we unexpectedly found we were pregnant with a 4th child in late September 2016. I had always hoped to have 4 little ones though we hadn't decided to try for a 4th yet. This sweet baby's life was very short, as we lost her (we do not know gender for sure) to miscarriage early, around 5 weeks 5 days. We were heartbroken, but this baby's passing has been used mightily by God in our lives and to guide us to serving others in a new way. My mother's heart longs for this baby and cannot wait to hold her in Heaven!

Our 2nd baby in Heaven: BB5

Jonathan Patrick Bruffey: After our 1st loss, we decided to try for another child. We were so grateful when we learned we were pregnant just about 5 weeks after our 4th baby passed away. We prayed diligently for the health of this cherished 5th child. I had wonderful prenatal care and had the privilege of seeing this baby, a son, on ultrasound a few times. We got to watch him grow and play and turn and hold his sweet hands over his head. Though his life ended much sooner than we would have liked, we are so glad we got to enjoy him while he was with us. Quite unexpectedly, at a routine check when I was 15 weeks 5 days pregnant, we learned his heart had beat its last and his soul had gone to Heaven. We were crushed. And still mourn this much prayed for son, We named him Jonathan, "God's gift", as he was very much a gift to our family. He was born in what can only be described as a divinely powerful, beautiful, and peaceful birth on Sunday, 2.5.2017, already in Heaven. We got to hold him and were amazed by his perfect little body, though so still. The grief journey of birthing and burying a child that has passed away is very much one day, one minute, one breath at a time. God has met our needs (Philippians 4:19) in each second as we grieve the death of our precious son.

The 3rd Daughter: BB6

Our 6th baby, Emma Elizabeth Bruffey, arrived powerfully on 5.1.2018. We cautiously, hopefully, prayerfully, eagerly, anxiously awaited her arrival. The verse I clung to during my pregnancy after 2 losses was: "...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:6-8. She loves her baby dolls and adores her Daddy. She gives the best snuggles and is a quiet, adorable joy in our home!

Our 3rd Baby in Heaven: BB7

Samuel Paul Bruffey: We learned on 10/1/2019 that we were unexpectedly, yet gladly, pregnant for the 7th time. This sweet baby seemed to be growing strong, so we were devastated to learn on 10/15/2019 that the baby had stopped developing. This sweet little one passed to Heaven on 10/23/2019. Our hearts were again shattered as we had to say good-bye to another precious baby here on earth. Our oldest son, convinced this baby is a boy, chose the name Samuel Paul Bruffey. We will hold you in our hearts forever our precious Samuel... until we one day hold you in Heaven. "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” ~ Revelation 21:4 "I shall go to him, but he will not return to me." ~ 2 Samuel 12:23 (David, after the death of his young son); ~ Simply Missing You, My Baby, Today and Everyday ~

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Saturday, May 9, 2020

Bruffey Claddagh Academy: A School Name

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