The secrets at sunrise.

Suggested music for your enjoyment while reading this post: The Ladder by Andrew Belle

Raspberries are my weakness. Don't we all have the memories: crawling on your stomach trough thick brush, and finally, reaching over a thorny branch just to pluck a few red little treats? I've had my fair share of bruised knees and scraped elbows, most of which originated from situations like this. Raspberries are a morning food. Not only do they taste scrumptious on top of your whole wheat pancakes but also look absolutely perfect clinging to a morning branch.

For the record: i resisted the strong urge to eat them. I was not about to steal some poor old lady's raspberries.

This is what i wish my shower head looked like. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

I wish the whole world would look like a Garden.

An ant's perspective. I ate an ant once. It actually wasn't that bad, kind of zingy.

Signed, Tabitha

Day NINE

Here I sit in a Denny's on the outskirts of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Heading home, alas.

Yesterday we took a six hour hike into the bowls of The Grand Canyon. I don't expect you to understand unless you've done it before. So many hills.

Today was a sad day. I looked around the car and realized that this may be the last time our entire family will be together for such a long period of time. Living, working, exploring together. Probably our last family vacation. Mahalia will get a job, Matthias will go back to college, and Jonathan will join the Army. As for me and Timothy, we'll be here a little longer. Things will change around home with everyone gone. Like half of a whole is gone.

Here are a few pics taken in the Canyon. If you don't find these interesting, no worries there are hundreds more just waiting to be uploaded onto Facebook.

not the best pic on the road but I'm tired and it's late sooooo, here you go.

sunset photo of The Grand Canyon

& my favorite part: the stars.

day SIX

Where do I start?

I woke up in Ogalala. Scenery: flat, empty, dry.

By noon we were entering Colorado where the ground is flat and there are no trees, making it so much fun to drive through at high speeds.

Around 4 we neared Denver and large, sharp mountains started popping up out of the fog/clouds. It was apparent why they were named The Rockies. It was a rainy day but the mountains were still so beautiful through the fog. toward the end they started getting redder and more canyon-like, so I'm excited to see what's in store for us tomorrow.

At dinner tonight we were all laughing like maniacs. We're all delusional. I feel bad for our waitress; We kept using totally cheesy, fake accents and making bird calls while she was taking our orders. Once we even decided that we would all change seats while she was gone, just to confuse her but she came back while we were all standing up, out of the booth. We played it off like we all had to go to the bathroom or something.

Tomorrow we'll be taking a scenic route through Colorado on a smaller road, which should be interesting. We'll be driving through the night too, so we'll be at the Grand Canyon by Monday! Leavin early in the moning too.. maybe i should catch some shuteye?

day FOUR

Today we played real life tetris. We managed to fit the majority of our junk in the rooftop carrier; now we have plenty of space in the car for sleeping. Other than that, we did laundry and I finally got to charge my ipod. REJOICE.

Current dillemma: Can you win Uno if you don't say 'uno' before you put down your last card?

I love waking up in a tent. AND our new tent is nice and clean and it doesn't stink or anything!! bonus. It was super hot inside the tent this morning and when I got outside, a fire was already going.. so guess what!? no mosquitoes!!

Walking around the campus with Mom earlier reminded me of Florida - the bike trip. Oh, how i miss that week.

Tonight we leave for Nevada! We'll be driving all night and I'm hoping I'll get to drive a stretch in the early morning at sunrise. Pray for safety please!

Here are some pics from camping & Lake Michigan:

day THREE

This is the beginning of my blog story. A unique story for me - my first trip to the west coast. My family and I will be squeezing into our Dodge caravan and catapulting ourselves across the United States, landing in the dry heart of the west; Nevada. What is in Nevada, you ask? Only the most beautiful ditch in the world.

We left Monday at 4pm and proceeded to drive nonstop, through the night, to Wisconsin. I have driven this stretch so many times in my life, it's not even funny. This has been the third time this year. I was happy to see the regular 18 hour trip shaved down to 14. Now, that's how it's done.

Yesterday we arrived at destination: Little Muskego Lake, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was around 6 am when we pulled into our lot. We ate, set up camp, and went back to sleep. I Awakened at noon totally disoriented and went outside to find that the mosquito population has skyrocketed; there were swarms everywhere. Since then, I've been bathing in repellant. The rest of the day was spent hanging with Nana at the old folks home & enjoying her AC.

Today so far has been a beautiful day. I got up around 5 am because I felt like it. Since then, I've barely moved. That's okay cause I'm out by the lake right now and it's really nice. The rest of the day should be enjoyable too; Next I plan on spending some time in the Word and praying, then I'll go for a jog around the park, and maybe go swimming in the lake if it's sunny by then. Later we'll probably meet up with Nana again and chill with the extended family. Two more days here, then we'll be on the road again. Then the adventure will begin.

home. (for the next 48 hours)

Chicago (to & from)

Squares?
You need to understand that each of these pictures holds a memory that will be cherished for as long as I live.
that's why i love photos.

My deepest apologies, my brief hiatus in postings was due to the ending of school - finals...

My need to explore was slowly building and building....

I finally snapped, charged my battery, and left.....

Noontime today, i set out on an adventure that was to begin with a pair of contradictory shoes and some dorky laces......

and end with shorts, a bad sunburn, and a newfound respect for herpetology.

I had to squat for this one. Pain is gain.

Layed down in a field for quite some time. I think this is where that sunburn came into play.

Discovered a new animal.

I call it the Bilopotamaus. It's like a mix between a bird and a robot.

Oh, how I adore shadows. Peter Pan would shun this photo.

Dinner!

Thank you for reading.