Keep Austin Wired

Today we retured from Austin. I know that South by Southwest was happening. I even tripped over St. Patrick's Day by accident. The big news is sweet Andi has braces! After receiving her "grill" they gave her a T-shirt saying "Keep Austin Wired." Those not familiar with Austin, TX may not get it. Those who do know a common Austin motto is "Keep Austin Weird." I'll get her mama to send me a picture to post.

Snow Days

Love You

I love you both so deeply. This expression of love seems insignficant & somewhat shallow given the depth of your loss. I cannot possibly imagine how you feel. And I feel certain each day is different from the next. I desperately want you to know how much I love you. I am here. Ask and I will be there. We miss Abbott. Danijela & Luka talk about him with joy in their hearts & remind me Abbott is in Pardise chasing butterflies.

Miss You

I miss you, Abbott. You changed my life. You changed the lives of our children. Your amazing parents exemplified faith in God that reached far beyond life on earth & taught me about faith. You blessed them. They blessed you. Without measure love was given freely between you all. Your family changed countless lives. I expect to be greeted by you at The Pearly Gates of Heaven.

Celebrate Life

What would you do in 2 ½ short years?
Would you make the most of it or hide from your fears?

Our little Abbott chose to live every day
with a bright smile & love he freely gave.

Though stricken with cancer before he was one

his journey through life had only begun.

No matter how bad he might have felt.

He always knew how to make your heart melt.

Living life to its fullest each day he awoke.

He could make you smile each time he spoke.

He filled the room with laughter and tears.

And touched many lives in his 2 ½ great years.

-- Author Unknown --

Abbott Russell Wyatt
Blessing Since 06.20.2008

Peeps

Here's a shout out to all my peeps. Hum, maybe that's peep. If our babies could read I'd definitely use "peeps" without a problem. I'm just sayin' & clarifyin' which leads me to the followin'.

The last post reflects my personal spin on the chorus to the P. Diddy song performed at the AMAs. I know what you're thinkin', "Really? You know who P. Diddy is?" Yeah, man. We go back. I'm down with it. I'm still breathing over here.

Okay. In all fairness, I ran across the performance on YouTube. And, yeah, I didn't understand 90% of what Puff Daddy sang. See, I knew he used to be called Puff Daddy. I also know Prince went from "Prince" to a symbol. How's that working for you, Symbol?

Anyway, I did the hip thing & Googled the lyrics. Interesting. If truly self-reflective, good for him. He does give a shout out to our Lord. The women singing the chorus have amazing voices.

So all is good over here. It's just me being me. And I am coming home one day, but not to P. Diddy's home. My mansion is in the sky!

I'm Coming Home

I’m coming home.
I’m coming home.
Tell the world I’m coming home.

Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday.
I know His kingdom awaits.
He's forgiven my mistakes.

I’m coming home.
I’m coming home.
Tell the world I’m coming.

Julia

This is Julia. This is funny, rockin', beautiful Julia. I've known her mother in excess of 3 decades. Yes, you read that right (3 x 10). Moon Cookie Photography was hired to take her senior pictures & more. It was a ball. I must admit it feels strange knowing Julia is 18 & Danijela, our eldest, turns 6 in a couple months. It will be some time before we need senior anything. Well, that is for our children at least.

Hand-in-Hand

We were blessed to photograph this family in 2009. They are awesome. Last year the girls roamed the Arboretum & explored. All the while we're doing anything we can to get Simone to look at the camera. She knew who was in control. And it was not us.

Here we are in 2010. This family returned & Simone stole my heart. We did a "walking" photo shoot off the beaten track. About half way through our time, I felt the slightest tickling on my palm. Simone had me by the hand 100% & gifted me with the most beautiful smile as she looked up. I refrained from crying then. There is no question it was one of the sweetest moments on record for me as a photographer & human being.

It only took me a few moments to remind myself, "I'm suppose to be taking your picture." God spoke to my heart & said "don't let go." I held on & worried no more. She looked up at me & said, "I love you." Oh, geez. I love her too.

Only Poppy

Last night, my kids & I were sitting in the living room & I said to them, "I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine & fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug." They got up, unplugged my computer, & threw out my wine.

Missing Tooth

Danijela lost her 1st tooth

November 4, 2010.

One Lie

What a pleasant morning recently when Drayce & Luka played well together. They chased ghosts & captured bad guys. Then Drayce went bye-bye after a picnic on the back porch.

Luka decided we'd paint & draw. I cleaned the booth & retrieved the supplies. I literally left Luka for two minutes to get water. With incriminating crayon in-hand Luka stated, "Drayce drawed on the table, Mama."

Seriously? Little one, you just helped me clean the table. Drayce is nowhere in sight. You were caught easily this time. I looked at you & said "Luka, Drayce did not draw on the table. You did." He paused then said "Sorry, Mama." With the best intent I provided an analogy where Luka was punished for something he didn't do. He didn't like that at all. I pray something stuck with him. The days are numbered where I can identify when he is lying.

Rainbow

Danijela is thriving. I heard consistent, negative feedback about DISD. I started researching options before Danijela could walk. I spoke to parents with different perspectives. I toured schools. I arranged meetings with parents. I interviewed the principal. I interviewed teachers. As a parent, I helped establish the ECPTA for our local school. My goal was to educate our family & serve the community at large.

Danijela attends public school today. Within the first week she spoke Spanish involuntarily (primarily numbers) & has continued to expand her vocabulary via the Dual-Language Program. If successful, it will be her 3rd language (Tata, keep talking to our kiddos in Serbian). Blessed are we that many neighborhood families we know made the same decision & are very involved in the school. Danijela & others are surrounded by familiar faces & a rainbow of new ones.

God is the greatest artist of all.

Prize for You!

I'm asking for prayer, sweet friends.

Luka has been saying "I have a prize for you, Mama! Mama, I have a prize for you!" He's been saying this now a full two hours after I put him to bed safely & happily. I'm downstairs. He's up in his room. He continues to repeat himself every 10 seconds. Remember, it's been two hours (so far).

I refuse to respond. Right? It's driving me nutty. He has no prize (except his amazing smile & begging skills). Where does a 3 year old learn to torment his parent until he gets what he wants? Well, I can hear Tata snoring. I, myself, need prayers. Hum, Luka seems to be getting quiet. I know there is a lesson woven into the last two hours for us both. It will have to wait until dawn to unravel. I'm tired.

Luka Quote

This week one quite cool play truck was the center a loud argument between Luka & Drayce. It was placed in "toy prison" (top of frig) until its release this afternoon. Well, another battled ensued. The truck was broken. Mom & I were talking on the couch. Jessica decided to referee this round on the back porch. She explained how "sad it is the toy was broken because they couldn't share. Now no one can play with it." She asked who broke it.

This is Luka's response, "I threw the truck, but it broke by itself."

Texas State Fair 2010

All posted images are compliments of the Argus Bean. I did not want to haul my camera around the state fair. We had a wonderful day. This little camera takes good shots with decent light. We had a total blast this year.

Unattended

Texas State Fair

Must document before I forget. Not an easy task.

We went to the Texas State Fair yesterday. Luka was not afraid at the animal petting arena. Danijela flipped. That is a totally different story. Luka put feed on his tiny hand & let the goats eat without flinching. I bent down between the two kids at one point. With the most sincere expression, both physical & verbal, he looked right at that goat & said, "I love you, goat."

My Hero

It's hard to explain.
My husband is my hero.

He loves me when I am unloveable.
He could have walked away countless times.
He chose to stay and how grateful I am.

He gave comfort when I was afraid.
He believed me and in me when others didn't.
He was gracious when I felt so lost.
You've have always been on my side.

God gave me life and grace.
God gave me Dejan and new life on earth.

Thank you for loving me.
Thank you for holding me.
Thank you for being who you are.
Thank you for your forgiveness.

Dear Facebook

I'm sure you are a really nice guy.

You serve a need for others to connect in this technology-driven society. I know some are addicted to you. I don't quite get it. Maybe I’m an oldtime blogger. I prefer the blog world. Things move more slowly. Most of my friends have abandoned their blogs. Facebook provides more instant gratification.

For me, it pulls me all over the place. I spent time away from family, both my function within it and recording it. I certainly don't need more distractions. I left you once. I returned because Moon Cookie Photography was started.

For me, the blog is a document of our family that will be a book, like an album, for us to enjoy for years to come. It won't include every thought (thank goodness). I'm considering leaving you again. I'm sorry. This is no reflection on my Facebook "friends" or a need to be less connected. It's about life balance and our awesome family.

Facebook may be the future. I need to be present today as a whole person, not in fragments.

Sincerely,
Angela

Jonathan Cross

Jonathan Cross is a local ceramic artist I recently met. He creates handmade ceramic planters for cactus and succulent, bonsai & kusamono. Below is a black & white image of the planter & cactus I purchased. This particluar image, to me, illustrates the texture & hard lines of the planter to which I was drawn. Please checkout his website.

Facebook 08.23.2010

I must live by the truth "God doesn't give you anything He can't handle." Our daughter entered Kindergarten today. It was difficult. I needed a shoulder or two, but Danny's was more than sufficient. She smiled walking in & skipping out of school as she described her new adventures & friendships.

Mama: She has her Tata's beautiful smile!

Cara: I got to talk to her via Skype today while she was at Devra's...so fun to hear about her first day of kindergarten!:)

Mama: Cara where are you when I need you to hold ME! You'd think I was the horrified child entering school. I miss you so much.

Cara: I cannot imagine! I was getting all emotional thinking about how tiny she was when I met her, and now she's starting kindergarten...she had a smile on her face the ENTIRE time we were on Skype, of course:)  Miss you too!!!

Chrys: She's her daddy's little twin! I can't believe how alike they look in that pic. Beautiful girl. So thankful she had a great day!

Gail: Oh how cute - I can't believe she has started school - know she will be the cutest and smartest in the class!

Rachel: She is lovely and so grown up! So thankful she had a great day!

Courtney: Hope she had an amazing day!! I know I never have a hard time when they leave me smiling to go do something new...it's when they cry that it is tough!!! Give her a hug from all of us!!

Vinh: Bravo Danijela!! Great pic!

We like this too ....

• Enusha
• Casey
• Ashleigh
• Elisa
• Rena
• Vinh
• Slobodan
• Amanda
• Kathy
• Wyatt

Kindergarten

We knew the day was coming, but oh how it arrived so soon. Raising children is an amazing blessing. It's the most important & difficult job I've encountered. As babies you want them to sleep. They grow & you measure their progress. They get picky about what to eat. Then the diaper battle ensues. And the inquisitive minds ask the same question repeatedly within a 10 minute drive. You either play along blissfully or crack. I did both fairly well, if that makes sense.

Today, our Danijela entered Kindergarten. I cannot explain adequately in words how my heart felt this morning or how it feels at this moment. She smiled brightly as she started her day. She was as excited to tell about all her adventures. It's amazingly difficlut to be without her. But it's also time to focus on the little guy before he turns this same corner.

Gruene, TX