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.

spring....

this title came in automatically when i started typing it which makes me think that perhaps i've already posted some with this title. but spring comes around every once and a while, so it's bound to get repeated at some point.

you might notice that i've changed the colors of my blog, and the picture at the top. i have to be honest and say that the reason for this comes out of my own guilt. see, the design i had before was pretty much a knock-off of another blog of a friend of mine. i really meant to give her credit, but when the time came to do so, i couldn't find the link to her blog anymore.

so the guilt has gotten too much for me and now i must apologize:

amanda, i'm sorry i stole you're blog design. really, it's because i wasn't feeling too inspired when the time came to change my own and i had always just admired the simplicity of yours. i hope you can forgive me.

this girl is talented. seriously, i always look forward to her photography. and she just set up a website, so you should check that out: amanda cherie.

now that that's out of the way...

i'm pretty excited about this new sensation i'm experiencing called spring: cool air, sunshine, wearing jeans and t-shirt, and of course walking around in my toms.

i've spent quite a couple phone conversations sitting on my roof. it's been pretty glorious.

easter was last weekend and i was able to spend it with my grandparents in zionsville, which is just about an hour and a half outside the city. it was so great to spend time out in the country. i so miss the smell of fresh air.

it's been interesting these last couple months, processing life and what not. when i visited i had quite a few people tell me they were surprised i didn't really enjoy city life, and were sure that i would stay over here after my internship. but as i was driving through the small town and wide open fields to my g.parents' house, i felt so refreshed and renewed in life. it was so great to feel like i could actually breathe freely, instead of constantly struggling for air.

see, i'm the girl that has to take 40 min drives outside town to clear my head. i love driving down 12th, until it just about hits melba, and then turning around. just that drive to me (especially at night with the stars shinning) has become something almost essential to me. and even as i write this, i realize i haven't really seen the stars in a long long time.

i'm getting so anxious to get home and be in the place where i feel like i really belong. but i know the time will come when i can take those drives again. and the time is coming quick. i look forward to more spring days here and hopefully i'll be able to have the motivation to take advantage of those.

happy spring.

and if you can, take a nice long drive for me.