new blog

hey, i've been inspired to start a new blog on a new site. check it out.

fall approaches

while i realize the weather here is still fairly reminiscent of summer (especially in the afternoons) - there are times in the early morning that i catch a faint whiff of winter frost. and on a few particular trees i can see the beginnings of leaves changing colors.

today i have spent most of the morning catching up on photos and blogs - even adding to my list of neighbors. one of my dearest friends, miss aubrey ann webb, is spending these next nine months in norway with ywam. i'm really excited for her, and constantly wishing there is a way i could visit.

this morning i spent my breakfast time sitting outside, enjoying the sunshine, and a little rest from a long week. it's good to sit and think about all the things i am so grateful for these days - which is a lot. i've been learning so much lately, made new friends, and found a place i belong.

good days are ahead. i know it.

they did make it across.

a couple months ago, two of my friends set out on a great journey. the goal: to bike from san francisco to boston. throughout the summer, i've been keeping up with them through blog postings and occasionally over the phone. through hills, broken tires, rabid dogs, humid nights, new friends and reunions of old ones, blessings and sweatings, their statement - "we will make it across" - has come to fruition.

i have to say i am so proud of these boys. it's so great to see an idea come to mind, then the plans that go in to making it happen, and then to finally see the actions of those plans played out. just amazing. i know these guys have had a lot of support from those around them and they have definitely been an inspiration to me.

congrats alex and evan!

if you want to check out their adventures or just browse through pictures check out their blog: last minute trainers.

today was a very productive day for me. i spent some time outside catching up on emails and facebook, whilst drinking my morning coffee. later, i finally conquered cleaning the basement, which is something i've been meaning to do since i came back two months ago; AND especially since my brother is coming home this weekend! i can't wait. i miss him so much. he's seriously one of my favorite people ever and i can't wait to hang out with him for a little while before school starts.

i've been thinking lately about repainting my room since i think i'll be staying with the folks for a little while longer. so i've finally settled on and color a design (because of course i have rearrange my room when i paint it. i was glad to get the basement clean so that i can put all my focus into this more personal project. as a piece of that, i took all my old frames and painted them white. probably the first time i've really used spray paint, and besides my fingers going painfully numb, i think i did a pretty good job. don't worry. more of the progress pics to come.

sky blue sky

ah, the west coast. so good to be back in your sweet loving arms. i've been back home for about two months now, and to be honest, i'm still getting adjust.

for one, i just can't get over how blue the sky. have you looked up at the sky in idaho? blue. like really blue. it's amazing.

a couple weekends ago, i house-sat for some family friends who live up on a hill on the outskirts of town. the view from their house is amazing: lake lowell on one side, and the city on the other. one night, i just sat outside and watched dusk turn into night. it's been so long since i've just sat and looked at the stars - or really, been able to see them.
and dry heat. you have been the one i've missed the most. it's so great to be able to enjoy warm (even hot) days without the weight of humidity; and in anticipation of cool night to follow.
i don't know why i ever thought i could survive, let alone live, on the east coast. not my place.

this summer has definitely been a transitional time for me. i feel like i'm just always processing. processing my time spent in philly. processing who i am now. processing where i'm supposed to go from here. and all these things are just kind of lurking around in my brain.

so in this time of process and detox, i've been spending a lot of time outside, sitting by the pool, soaking in some sun rays, and enjoying the summer.

i finally finished reading the entire Narnia series. i had this idea to read all the books every year around christmas time. obviously i didn't meet my goal, but i think i want to try again this year. i just always seem to get something new and interesting out of them.

i've also been hanging out with this drawers a lot.

gerald.

today is sunday.

tomorrow is monday - which begins the third to last week before i head out on my journey back home to idaho.

this is me in the beginning stages of planning out said journey and actually doing some constructive things towards that goal. i started packing a little bit last week, and plan do some more later today.

i’ve been going through a lot of different emotions, and don’t really know how to feel. and i don’t like not knowing how to feel.

on the one hand, i am so excited to be going home. today is so beautiful, so i’ve had the windows open, and a neighbor is bbqing or something and it smells so good. i can’t wait to spend the summer in nampa. it’s going to be so beautiful. walks with coco, bbq with friends and family, fire-pit conversations, driving around in louise with the top down. all glorious things.

but the reality that i’m going to have to say goodbye to these people here, is starting to sink in. yes, i’m happy to never have to go shopping at aldi’s in west philly again, but it’s so difficult for me to think about never again seeing some of the students that i’ve connected with here. i was talking to a friend of mine about this and he pointed out that something would have been wrong if i weren’t feeling this way; and i know that’s true. but it’s still not something i want to think about.

to help keep myself distracted, i’ve been working on a spring blanket which i just finished this weekend! i’m honestly pretty proud of it, since this is the biggest crochet project i have chosen to tackle. i can’t wait to use it on a cool summer night.

also, in having my windows open, i realized that there must be a hole in the screen because a couple nights ago what i thought was a huge moth came soaring into my room. i don’t like dealing with killing things. not for some humane reason, but because i don’t like when those things squish or crunch, so i usually just let that little creature run away out of my sight. which is exactly what i did with that moth. but the next morning, upon further examination, i realized that the moth was actually a butterfly! and then i was so pleased to have a new friend. i took some pictures of the little guy, whom i have named gerald.

i realize how much i am like my father, because i took about 20 pictures of this guy. my dad could fill five (at least) full albums with all the pictures he has of nature and squirrels.

and while i would have loved to have continued that company, a person’s room is really no place for a butterfly to live. so through some careful persuasion, i let gerald go this morning.

goodbye gerald. i’m glad for the time we had together. fly free and proud.

one last thing. in allowing myself to be bewitched by the sights and smells of a summer quickly approaching, and with the thoughts of roadtrips and the great northwest in my sites, i bought myself a nice straw fedora. i must say i'm pretty pleased with it.

magic gardens.

last week i got to go with our justice & arts class to isaiah zagar's magic gardens on south street. this place is amazing. i've walked by it a bunch of times, and have always wanted to go in and check out it. so i was really excited to get the chance to (one of the goals i had to do before i left).

there were so many different levels in this one space - and every square inch was covered in mosaics. it's amazing to see how zagar took different pieces of whatever (bike tires, bottles, vases, plates) and put it all together to make this incredible space. it took him 14 years to complete and it's definitely easy to see why.

this begins a series of many pictures i took of bottles. i know it's a lot, but i

was so mesmerized by their color and illumination.

i'm not sure why, but this one is my favorite.

this morning i saw a little bird float into my back yard. when i went to grab my camera to take a picture of the little guy - he was gone. so i proceeded to take pictures of the space that i am in most mornings when i eat my breakfast. enjoy.

update.

hey all,

for those of you who don't know, i've been spending this past year in philadelphia serving with center for student mission and an afterschool program in north philly. here's a little update i whipped together to give you some more details.

I’m writing to you on a glorious Spring afternoon here in Philadelphia. These last couple months have been quite a journey for me. God had definitely shown me a lot about who I am and how I want to interact in this world. I’ve been able to get a lot more settled in the job and rhythm of what an apprentice does.

Basically my time during the week is split into two different places: CSM and the afterschool art program.

At CSM (Center for Student Missions) my main responsibilities include buying food for groups at Aldi’s, leading pre-visits for leaders serving with us later in the year, and putting together packets for groups coming in during the spring. I’ve also been host a couple groups that have come in through these last couple months. I’ve really enjoyed being able to see the behind the scenes of how CSM works, since being a city host this summer. I’ve also enjoyed reconnecting with ministry sites as I host sporadically throughout the spring.

But most of my week is spent at the afterschool art program I volunteer at in North Philadelphia. The program comes out of a larger community center (Ayuda) in the neighborhood of Hunting Park. Part of my job with them has been to help brand the art program itself, which is called orange.korner.arts (OKA). This has been a really great experience for me, since I enjoyed studying graphic design in school. I was able to help create a logo and add an identity to this particular space.

At the OKA house, kids are able to come and hang out in a safe, encouraging space. Most of the kids that come through the house age between 10 and 14 years old. There are also art classes offered in the spring and fall. Right now, I’m actually teaching a Graphic Design class and have four students in my class. We’ve just finished up working on our personal logos. It’s been really great to see how the kids respond to what we’re teaching and talking about, not just in the classroom, but also in the house itself – just in the day to day.

It’s been great to interact with these kids, not just on a basic level of helping with homework and playing games, but also on a spiritual level of really being able to invest in their lives and talk openly about what God is doing in them, in the house, and in the neighborhood. I’m so often blown away by the power and wisdom that these kids speak with. It really is incredible the perceptions they have on life, at such a young age. This spring we look forward to having our spring show where the students will be able to showcase their work.

Life in Philly has been pretty busy these last couple months. It’s been great to have the weather changing and see the leaves and flowers blooming in the city. It really does change the feel and rhythm of this place. I look forward to the next couple months as spring continues to descend upon us. As the projects in the art classes come together and students begin to better understand their identity in God. As new hosts come in to the city and are guided and prepared for their summer. As God continues to show me how I fit into the make up of this big crazy world. I look forward to these things and put my hope and trust into what God is going to continue to do in that time.

Thanks for journeying with me. If you feel like you would like to help support me financially in whatever way you can, please check out the CSM website to donate. When you enter the information, just make sure that you specify it is for Tricia in Philadelphia.

If you’d like to support me in prayer – please continue to do so! And if you’d like to let me know or get specific prayer requests, just shoot me back an email. I always love hearing from people. Thanks again for being a part of what I’m doing here. It’s so great to know that I have support from friends and family all over the country.

grace&peace.

t.

breakfast.

I've noticed a recent trend on the blogs that i like to keep up with on somewhat regularly, and that is the inclusion of pictures of breakfast foods, or really any foods at all. so here is my entree into the world of documenting the most important meal of the day.

this is pretty consistently my set up for breakfast on the mornings when i have time to enjoy such a moment.

two scrambled eggs, piece of toast, juice, and coffee.

i first enjoyed having juice with my coffee and breakfast when i was new york a couple summers ago.

this morning i was also able to enjoy reading out of my alma mater's newspaper. my mom frequently sends me the crusader in order to connect back with home and get the latest news on campus. this paper was especially special because it included an article about the new resident director for holly, and coincidentally, one of my most favorite people: kylee lynn vienna.

it really is great to be able to have a piece of home, and start my day off connecting with that. i miss those great college days when everything revolved around the small little world you were living in. it was safe and known. there always seemed to be things to do or people to see. i look forward to having a grown up version of that someday.