sunday

“Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it”

This quote is on my grandmother's fridge. I knew when I read it that I wanted to write a blog about it and while I wrote the blog I would listen to "Let it Be." Yes, I am listening to it. I spent about 20 minutes trying to find the quote on the internet so I could get it correct, but here it is.
Within this broken world we will never be without conflict. That has been proven. The lives of so many have been tested. We are surrounded by suffering, but we are also surrounded by ways in which we can cope with it. I see the suffering; I see the people wanting to help.

I painted quite a bit this weekend. Usually it takes me about 2 weeks (on average) to finish a painting and be pleased with it. This weekend I started and finished two paintings. I am completely satisfied with one. The second one is done, there is no doubt about that, but it does not look right. Now, I have seven paintings hanging on the walls of my dorm. I can remember the exact emotions I had while I painted each picture. What an amazing release painting can be.

Friday and Saturday were wonderful. Friday afternoon I went to Orange City to help my 17 year-old cousin get ready for her first prom. I did her hair, nails, make-up, and helped her pick out her jewelry. She is the oldest of four girl and her family has gone through their own sorts of hell. It was uplifting to be able to spoil her a bit, at least for a day. As I curled and pinned up her hair we talked about my proms, boys, school, dogs, make-up, clothes, her friends, my friends, family, and her favorite types of music. Hanging out with her for the majority of the afternoon/evening made me realize how much I truly miss my sisters. (They both have boyfriends now and I wish I could be home to have girl-talk with them over a cup of tea and a F.R.I.E.N.D.S. episode or two.

Friday night I played a game with Lise, Craig, Lise's sister and brother-in-law, and Stephy. Later that night Steph and I bought sherbet and watched movies. Glorious. Saturday we went to lunch(aka breakfast on Saturday mornings) and watched more movies. That night I spent most of my time giggling with Lise. We watched You-Tube videos of children and old people getting hurt. (We may sound horrible... we may be horrible... but it was hilarious!) We did manage to find time for our Saturday night walks, with a smoke or two.

In about a week and half all of the studying will be done, the homework will be terminated, notes will be thrown away, rooms will be empty, Dordt will be quiet. Wow. I am half way done with college--one year left at Dordt. Weird. Summer will be great. I am excited to get back to both of my jobs and I am more than ready to see Matthew and Joseph, but I am far from ready to leave this place. However, in no time at all we will be back here with a whole new list of classes and not ready for the homework to begin... again.