Beeswax

The secrets at sunrise.

2010-09-04T21:15:00.015-04:00

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

2010-08-12T02:20:00.003-04:00

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

2010-08-08T02:36:00.002-04:00

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

2010-08-05T17:32:00.004-04:00

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

2010-08-03T23:08:00.009-04:00

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)

2010-07-15T01:00:00.014-04:00

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.

2010-06-21T23:16:00.014-04:00

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.

2010-05-14T13:48:00.002-04:00

I was inspired by THIS GUY's work. Snazzy, isn't it? I tried to make mine look similar and I think it does but I still have a ways to go before my work starts lookin as good as his.

Like somebody famous once said "Art is never finished, only abandoned."

2010-04-28T13:52:00.007-04:00

These are a few of my recent pics. I'd love to hear what you think about my work. It doesn't have to be positive; i can take it. Just tell me what you'd like to see more of or what you really dislike to see. Lemme know :)

2010-04-23T19:43:00.005-04:00

These are a few from the bike trip :)
Sadly, i lost the first two roles of film i took. With all my might i wish i could have them back, but that's just not possible. I'm happy about the pictures that i DO have and, in place of those pictures i lost, i have the incredible memories of the 2010 BIKE TRIP!! Oh, to do it all again.

So, about the pictures-
The first is of some of my favorite girls ever! Left to right - Ashley, Tara, and Fei. I literally spent all day at Disney with these three and had a WONDERFUL time.
The second was one that i snapped while waiting for the afternoon service to start. This was from the small amphitheatre looking back at the setting sun. What a beautiful afternoon!!! We rode the last 12 miles to our destination the next day.
The third is one of me embarrassing myself on the guitar. I can't say i've got skill but i can say i love it :)
The fourth is of the NAV guys. Big thanks to them for EVERYTHING. (general, but true.) They put on a pretty sweet show that night.
The fifth is of me and my team. I LOVE them and biking with them was a blast. I would do it again in a heartbeat. In this pic we are playing the vocal-bagpipes. I gotta say, we rocked it. I'm the one in the pantalones naranjas.

Thanks for reading,
Tabeetuh.

2010-04-17T18:36:00.003-04:00

The beautiful Easter evening called for a nature digital(mine)/film(sis') photo shoot. Being the curious photographer i am, i decided to mess with the aperture a little. That was how i discovered that, for a year and a half, i have been changing the ISO instead of aperture! Needless to say, i felt like an idiot. I'm ecstatic that i made this discovery, though, because i found aperture very amusing and i plan on using it mucho.

2010-04-08T21:56:00.007-04:00

Proverbs 16:24

2010-04-07T13:57:00.002-04:00

This is my ink blot project. It's a pic of me and my sis! :)

2010-03-11T12:44:00.003-05:00

My word self portrait.

I wanted to make something that would expose the things that we all feel makes up the collaborative composure of our beings.
In white, you see my faults.
The purpose of these is to make evident the hindrances that blind us.
Those are the things that block my sight; they weigh me down.
In red, you see me.
The very epitome of everything i am, regardless of everything I've done.

'For it is by Grace you have been saved through Faith; and this not of yourselves, it is a gift of God..'

2010-02-17T13:11:00.005-05:00

'live free'

2010-02-07T20:17:00.007-05:00

This is the world coming down on your head.

Quiet

2010-02-07T19:42:00.007-05:00

'Quiet, a sound you know so well

You're living just to make it through another day

Stand, climb and fall

You carry the world, can't carry your Hope'

Stanley Climbfall - Lifehouse

2010-01-19T13:43:00.003-05:00

'This is my letter to the World

That never wrote to Me -

The simple News that Nature told -

With tender Majesty

Her Message is committed

To Hands I cannot see -

For love of Her - Sweet - countrymen -

Judge tenderly - of Me'

- Emily Dickinson

This year before it becomes last; 2009

2009-12-26T20:12:00.067-05:00

JANUARY...

It's even better when it's being incinerated.
As are most things.

'I [heart] Feets'
do you not?

FEBUARY...

Cow, the best bunny a girl could ask for.
I think she rocked the mohawk.
Spiked, no less.

Timo at the lake.

MARCH...

Spring, sisters, and silly shoes.
It was a good month.

APRIL...

Give me open fields and wide skies, or give me death.
I'll let David Jahns tell you how i feel about this picture, in this song. (Something I'm Not)

Family + Rebekka on Easter!
Left to right: Matthias, Me, Mahalia, Jonathan, Timothy, Rebekka

Then, we met a bunch of psycho tourists in DC.
They spoke french.

And, started the garden.

MAY...

Spring formal with the youth group (Bethany Beach!!)

Visited the flourishing garden.

And, most importantly,
made a friend.

JUNE...

I got a tan 8)

And took a spontaneous trip to skyline drive.
So beautiful.

JULY...

18 hour road trip to the windy city for SEMP.

The lovely team.

AUGUST...

Road trip again...
Where?

yep, again.
Only this time with the fam.

And visited Nana.

SEPTEMBER...

Good eats, man.

This month rocked.

OCTOBER...

I didn't really do much.
Lifesgood.

NOVEMBER...

This is typical, Tabitha.
Leaves? In November?
Whooda thunk.

i know, i can feel your shame radiating through my computer screen.

In my defense, it's a staple.

Peeled orange. That's original, ha!
Take that, reader.

Timo in the tree.

DECIEMBRE...

The snow was a wonderful surprise =]

Made gingerbread cookies/house with the girls.
party, party, party!

And lots of unwrapping on Christmas.

So now you have reached the end.
I hope that you have thoroughly enjoyed reading about me.
In closing,
woo.

2009-12-20T16:15:00.005-05:00

I love Christmastime.

2009-11-10T20:53:00.007-05:00

'Anywhere you go, anyone you meet,

Remember that your eyes can be your enemies.'

-Augustana

Something I struggle with is looking past myself. Our culture is built around self-image and self-pleasure. We're so consumed by ourselves its almost impossible to open our eyes to greater things, actually see other people, and put ourselves out there. When we fail to see others' true faces, we lose our own. In a sense, we become faceless. We adapt to whatever the magazines define as beautiful, we allow our minds to be sautered into the mold that is 'logical thinking', and we drop our own personality traits so that we can 'fit in' with the people who did the exact same thing to accuire the exact same social status -- popular. In all this we disregard ourselves, God's creations, and let others construct us.

Photography helps me freeze moments. Disect them, if you will. Like any other hominid of the female species, I read way to much into stuff. And I enjoy it. It helps me see past peoples' fancy facades and just see the siple stuff.

This really didn't have much to do with the picture, other than you can't see his face; and you already have a preconception about him. Don't you?

2009-10-22T17:27:00.003-04:00

"He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth
And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl"
Jonny Diaz 'A More Beautiful You'

2009-10-06T13:32:00.002-04:00

Photo project. We were supposed to show motion but i kinda went all artisticy and it really doesn't show too much motion. But it looks cool.

2009-10-01T18:15:00.001-04:00

2009-10-01T16:56:00.003-04:00

We Love To Party, Live To Party, Keep The Party Alive.

The walls of my clubhouse, they hold many memories. haha.
It kinda looks like we did this when we were two...
but no, it was last year.

2009-09-27T20:20:00.003-04:00

C.S. Lewis wrote:
"For the present is the point at which time touches eternity."
(Screwtape Letters)

2009-09-27T19:22:00.003-04:00

The beauty of simplicity.
The boldness of speckles.
The wisdom in wrinkles.
A noble exposure.
A pale escape.

2009-08-24T15:42:00.005-04:00

One of my hobbies is to collect beautiful things and preserve them. This pressed flower actually comes with an interesting story.

When my four siblings and i were young our parents decided to get us a parakeet. Because of our simplemindedness and lack of creativity, we decided to name the bird Topwing, the brand name of the cage we had bought. Sadly, the poor bird didn't last more than a year. This quickly became a pattern as we continued to name the birds Topwing number two, three, four, ect. After the fifth bird's death we figured we should probably pick a different name. Our new bird's bright yellow head inspired the name Lightbulb. She went through many nicknames such as Bur-Bur, Bulbbrain, and Mojito (which, by the way, is an alcoholic drink. who knew?) She lived through many wresting matches, vaccum cleaners, and hoses. 5 years. We were extremely sad when she died giving birth. It was early morning when we discovered her death. My younger brother and i were the only ones home so naturally we were assigned the job of burial. We set out on a short hike through the misty woods behind our house up to the highest hill. When we reached the top the mist had evolved into a steady drizzle, which i loved. The morning light and rain saturated trees made it a beautiful journey. The two uf us buried her in a box underneath warm moist soil beside an old tree with a giant knob on the side of it. We walked a little further untill we were out of the woods and in a clearing where we could look down and see the small, open valley below us. We climbed on top of two tall stumps. There we stood, at the top of the world, watching the rain fall. Soaking, I bent down, nearly falling off the skinny stump, and i picked a flower. This flower. Later i pressed it underneath the largest book i could find, left it there, and forgot about it.

So there you go. Sorry for the long, drawn out story. I have alot of time on my hands.

2009-08-23T18:28:00.003-04:00

Yeah, i know. A cup. Lame. I figured I'd start out with something a little less amazing so i can 'wow' my zero followers with my superfluous artistic talent a little down the road. heh. I had alot of fun doing this project. Probably way too much.

I like this one because of the way the dye dispersed throughout the water. Its really randomly beautiful, kind of like the wind.