Calm My Anxious Heart...

This excerpt comes from Linda Dillow's book, Calm My Anxious Heart.  

I really needed this today and I'm thankful God showed it to me...

The Lord is my peace.  I shall not live in anxiety,  He puts me under his wing of comfort and calms my spirit within me.  He takes all my anxieties on Himself and helps me to focus on Him.  Yes, though I walk through a time of grace uncertainties and fierce anxieties. I will not fret--for You are my peace.  Your word and Your presence calm me now.  You hold my uncertainties in the palm of your hand.  You soothe my anxious mind--You smooth my wrinkled brow.  Surely serenity and trust in You shall fill me all the days of my life.  And I shall keep my mind stayed on you forever.

-A paraphrase of of Psalm 23: written by Judy Booth

~Melissa

Bye Bye Ba

Ba is Briley's pacifier.  She came up with the term somewhere around 8 months and of course it stuck.  So is my daughter 3 and still has her "Ba"?  Yes, but only at nap and bedtime.  We have been talking about getting rid of "Ba" for awhile now but honestly it was ME that wasn't making the move.  Briley has done everything early; crawling, walking, talking, potty trained in 3 days, etc. so I felt like it was my last baby thing I could hold onto with her.  We have talked about sending the "Ba" to Hadley in Heaven tied to a balloon and that was the plan until Monday...

 She woke up, walked in the living room and this is what happened...
Briley: "Mommy, I'm not a baby I don't need my Ba anymore.  I'm going to put it in the trash!"
Me: (shocked face) "Ok, go put it in the trash."
Briley: "Yea!!!!!!!!"
Here is the proof...

She was so excited to officially be a big girl so we celebrated with a cookie for breakfast ;)
It has been 2 days and she has asked for it a couple times and I simply say, "You threw it in the trash, remember?"  We have also talked about how when she feels sad about "ba" we can hug our blankie real tight and that will make us feel better, that seems to be working for now :)
So this Momma is happy and sad.  I am proud of her for making the decision on her own and not having to force her.  But man will I miss this sweetness...

(yep...even made it in one of her newborn pictures!!)

(Morning of her 3rd Birthday)So..."Bye Bye Ba it's been nice but now I'm taking good advice!!" So proud of our officially big girl!!

~Melissa

Pics from Daddy's Phone

These pictures make me smile...

She LOVES going to the pond with her Daddy to throw rocks...don't you love what she is dressed in??  She has one special Daddy who loves her very much!!

 

~Melissa

Chick-fil-A

 Seriously this is hilarious and so true.  We had good friends show us this video the other day and I couldn't stop laughing!!  This guy is a Christian comic and we plan to see him the next time he is in our area.   Chick-fil-A you are deeply loved by the Bufe family...particularly by a little girl who could eat your nuggets and ranch dip everyday!!

~Melissa

I miss you...

Today Briley and I took pictures with Daniel's sister and Grandmother (Tammie's Mom) as a late birthday gift to Grandma.  It was really special to take these pictures but I'll be honest it hurt.  I miss Tammie so much and I can't even begin to imagine what Daniel and Mariah feel.  I had the BEST mother-in-law anyone could ask for.  She was selfless, gentle, kind, humble, patient, and a mother I strive to be like.  My heart aches for her to be here for these pictures...I can of course only imagine what she's experiencing right now and I know it is far better than anything this earth can provide.  We know we can't have her here in body but we CAN carry her in our hearts and remember and talk about what a wonderful daughter, wife, mom, and Nonnie she was!!   

 Enjoy our pictures...

(Senior pose...hahaha!)

 My favorite ones...you will see why!!

I love you so much Tammie/Nonnie!!  I miss your chicken fried steak, I miss your stories about Daniel growing up, I miss seeing you hold Briley, I miss our talks, I miss your hugs.  Hold tight to my sweet Hadley and Baby Hope in Heaven.   I am blessed to be your daughter-in-law!!~Melissa

Fireworks and Family :)

On the 3rd our subdivision put on its own firework display so we had family out for burgers and to watch the "booms" as B calls them :)

(Somewhere between cooking and hanging out with family my eye swelled up randomly...not sure what from but please ignore the no makeup and weird eye...lol.)

We have had family out every year to see these fireworks since B was born...

I LOVE keeping traditions like this :)
~Melissa