Thursday, February 18, 2010

Feels like forever...

...since I posted!
Some weeks seem long... and this one was
esp. full and different since...
1. Lent began this week
2. In Ontario (the province I live in) it was Family Day on Monday
so I had the day off (studied over 5 hours that day
so I did not use it as a full holiday day).

I decided this was the Cleo picture for today! Love the colours

and it makes me laugh; Cleo was not impressed with

all of my picture taking that time around...

Good News!

I did well on my French Quiz!

But WOW does it seem to not even matter,

as there is so much more to learn!

I need to totally redo my 5oo plus flashcards,

that I am not really using that much

right now.

SIGH.

I am enjoying it for the most part...

Though I confess to worries then and again (read every day this week)

about finding a job once I know French.

This lent I am focusing on learning to NOT worry

and obey Christ's command not to worry...

I am not reading many books right now,
but am slowly working through
for this Lent.
I tried it last year
but it was not the right year for it
(I did read another book that year that was good for last year's lent)
but this year seems to be the year for
this particular book.
I know I can't do much,
as French is a huge priority for me right now.
But I will do what I can
and seek to do this faithfully.
And little things matter too -
like keeping my small apartment clean-
am trying to do dishes once a day
and have been making my bed daily
and keeping my clothes put away.
Things like this can make a real difference...
May God bless the little we do
and may it be used for our healing!

11 comments:

GretchenJoanna said...

After reading your post, I am going to leave the computer and go wash my dishes. A big little thing. Thank you and a Blessed Lent to you!!

Elizabeth @ The Garden Window said...

I agree; it is better to do a few things really well than a myriad of things badly.......

I need to take my own advice :-)

Peacocks and Sunflowers said...

Best wishes from another French learner! Here's something I'm saying a lot this Lent:

O Seigneur et maître de ma vie,
Ne me donne pas l’esprit de paresse,
Ni de faiblesse,
Ni l’envie du pouvoir,
Ou de parler pour ne rien dire.

Mais au contraire donne à ton serviteur
L’esprit de chasteté,
De docilité,
Patience et charité

O mon Seigneur et mon Roi,
Accorde moi de voir mes propres péchés,
Et de ne pas juger mon frère,
Car Toi, tu es béni pour toute l’éternité, Amen.

Que Dieu nous pardonne, et qu'il nous accorde un bon Carême!

Michelle M. said...

Glad to hear you did well on your quiz. Lent is such a great time to get our lives in order :)

RW said...

Take delight in your days.

Glad to hear you did well on your test. That is good motivation to keep working.

Sarah in Indiana said...

How true that little things make a big difference. Creating an orderly environment in our homes makes everything seem so much easier and more pleasant, and yet I find it so difficult to be disciplined in that area of my life.

Anna, thank you so much for sharing the Prayer of St. Ephraim in French. Beautiful--and it makes me think about the words in a new way.

Pres. Kathy said...

Glad you did well on your test! Lent is a good time for us to put our life in order. I know that I have a to do list as long as ever, but I think I choose to do the stuff that are easier. At least they get crossed off my list! For some reason, laundry is still on my list!!!

Steve Robinson said...

I'm a slow learner in languages too. When I hired a Mexican guy I found I knew more than I thought I did, but it helped to speak with someone and force myself to ask questions and learn. I also started picking up newspapers in Spanish and trying to read them, it also helped build familiarity with words and syntax. Anyway, God bless your study and keep faithful in the small things. They bring greater rewards.

Molly Sabourin said...

Big little things. I am so there with you in trying to remember how much of a difference they make. A blessed Lent to you, Elizabeth! Now I'm off to make the beds! : )

elizabeth said...

thanks GretchenJoanna!! Welcome here!

Yes... thanks Elizabeth... I need my own advice too... !

Anna, thanks so much! I need to print this prayer out!

Thanks Michelle, Pres. Kathy, Sarah, and Molly for your words and understanding (welcome to Molly!)

SP, thanks - yes... I need to do these things to for language learning...

Thank you RW... I always appreciate your comments very much.

margaret said...

I love Cleo's expression here, I'm not sure what she's saying, perhaps she's looking in French, but I love it.

It's also neat to get the prayer of St Ephraim in French... now, how badly can I pronounce it? :)