Towards the Weekend

Cleo showing us her balancing skills;

she has figured out how to stand on top of this chair;

the top is less than 2 inches wide, so I'd say she is

pretty balanced and nimble!

Yesterday morning was incredibly beautiful;

I have been having insomnia so I

was taking a walk a bit after 6 AM;

the summery morning of dreams!

The canal water glistened in the sun;

it was still in the cool of the day

and the flowers,

sigh, oh the flowers!

Late Spring and Summer has such precious fleeting beauty!

There is a path I walk that is a bit hidden,

the picture above is from this.

I feel like I have entered a little taste of a place of

magical beauty, like my own secret garden

in the middle of the city.

*

I have been struggling to have time to do a review

of my old (first two classes) French text book;

since I am in two classes that always have new homework and exams

it has been a challenge.

**

However,

I need to take a 90 minute online test to rank where

I am in my French knowledge

for the French BA.

If I rank really low, I would have to take classes

that I do not have time or money to take to

get me to the level needed for the BA.

***

I realized last night,

after struggling to fall and stay asleep,

that this was really stressing me out -

especially as if I do not do this BA I don't know what I will do

(i.e. to stay here and get a job when library jobs and many others

are bilingual).

So. I am going to the library soon.

I am also going to study tomorrow.

I hope to do this test on Saturday during the day.

*

Would appreciate prayers for this;

sometimes I feel like I am making progress in French

but other times I get overwhelmed by how much

I have to learn...

*

BTW, I can retest at the end of the summer,

and do the 90 minute test again.

Monday / a Lundi

A Close up of Cleo.

:)

After waking me at 6 am, I find I still love her!

Lucky for her...

A really beautiful day today.

And I achieved my goal of studying this morning in the library.

But OH MY GOODNESS do I have a lot to review

and learn.

Lord help me.

I cannot express how encouraging having my

lampada lit

day and night is.

Light in the darkness;

the light will never be overcome by night.

*

It was recently St. George's Day

(old calendar)

and this year I discovered that there is a

St. Elizabeth the Dragon Slayer

the day of after St. George's Day.

Wow.

*

I have a lot to do to get ready for my short trip away.

Balancing trip-planning, French studying...

**

A friend offered to help me network;

I reworked my resume

and carefully crafted my email to go with the resume.

***

I am reading some books by Christian Protestant author

Archibald Hart;

I admit that I find his website to be a bit overwhelming,

not to mention that he has, with his daughters,

created an Institute.

However,

regardless of my inclinations to want things all tidy

and artistic

(I did a BA in English Lit)

I found my friend's suggestion to take a look at his books

worth while.

As you may remember,

I declared war on anxiety

and part of this war was getting books.

Hart's books (and one that his daughter co-wrote)

are one of the tools I am

using to fight.

I hope to do some book reviews on them,

but for now suffice it to say

that I am trying to build new habits in my life

as part of this effort.

First up is improving my eating habits.

More green and other vegetables.

I tend to eat lots of bread

and not as much in the area of vegetables,

unless I make a good soup.

So far, so good.

It is tricky to understand all the areas

that need to be examined;

and how blessed I am to have such good food

easily available to eat.

***

Second is to get more sleep.

On that note, I better do so presently!

*

Christ is Risen!

Sunday Evening

One never knows where Cleo will be found.

Today it was inside the pillow on my chair.

Quite amusing.

One of the buildings near by City Hall...

My Mother, on Mother's Day,

gave me a good bit of encouragement.

Sometimes I suddenly look at the waves in my life,

I forget, like St. Peter, to look at Christ.

I must keep trying to learn French and see how far I can get by the

end of the summer.

***

I must develop a new routine,

cut out all and any self-pity

and try to work hard at French.

If you could pray for strength for this resolve,

I would appreciate it.

***

I am

Lord Willing

going to Brampton Ontario this week to visit my Oma

who is 101 years old

and my Mother who will be visiting her Mother.

I am grateful for God for giving me such a great

Mom and two wonderful Grandmothers!

*

Christ is Risen!!

The lastest in the life of Cleo and myself

Cleo and I enjoyed having our small house blessed.

It was beautiful, life-giving and full of hope.

To have a good church and priest

must be one of life's greatest blessings.

The cake turned out well.

I make my cakes to be very fine and moist,

so that the cake so soft that it falls in a bit

when cut,

as the picture shows.

The time making it and sharing it was

a great joy.

***

So about that midterm,

which people have been asking about.

Well.

I really tried!

But I did not do well at all.

Failed actually by 2 points.

BUT I am trying not to lose any hope

or even be anxious about it.

I asked my teacher if I can do extra things to

learn what I forgot (various grammar rules

including when "des" becomes "de"

both in a negative construction

(i.e. when one is saying not to do something)

and that if the adjective is before the noun

i.e. grands livres (big books) that "des"

which indicates plural becomes "de").

I think my teacher will allow me to be retested on this

so I will not fail the course.

***

As you can see, I am learning from my mistakes

and have reviewed this part and did extra homework on it today

to ensure that I really learn it.

So it is not bad,

it is just that I am slow at languages.

But I knew this about myself.

It will be God's mercy, the Saints prayers, your prayers

and my perseverance (by all these prayers)

that can get me there.

My teacher really sees that I am working hard

and is determined that I will make it.

And I am trying to be so too.

I need prayers through, it is tough slogging sometimes!

***

I have been having some problems with a tenant in my building.

NOTHING that is violent or anything

I am safe and secure, no worries there.

Common sense says I must not say more

but can you pray for me about this?

I know that God can teach me to be a Christian in all things!

***

I am seeking to remember

the many prayers

in the House blessing

and that Angels are with me

and that I am NEVER EVER alone.

***

Thanks everyone for your friendship prayers and support!

My New Home

I hope to get other pictures without window

screen lines.

But, what a nice snowy view!

I am still adjusting to my new place,

my stove and oven needs fixing,

boxes still packed and in the closet,

laundry hidden in bins.

You know, life after a move.

But the view out my living room window

it always brings me back to a place

of thankfulness and wonder.

Cleo was being most shy today.

She is near me as I type this;

I am loving the corner where my gold

chair now resides.

More pictures later,

when further organization is accomplished.

I found my small tea time book!

It was packed away all last year

in a box of decorations that

I had not used

in my last place.

I am so glad I still have it,

as it has high tea recipes

I have hopes of using

for a tea party in

January.

+++

Thank you for everyone who commented on my

"Small Steps" post,

I was quite heartened,

thank you.

+++

My Dad is traveling tonight within Ontario,

as I write this;

the snow storms have lessened now

but if you could say a prayer for his safety

and for the safety of my Mom, Dad and Aunt

as they travel back from Brampton Ontario

to Michigan tomorrow

(They were visiting my Oma,

and no, I was not able to join them;

but I called lots!)

I would appreciate the prayer.

+++

Today was a great day over all for me;

I got to stay home and watch it snow.

Just what I needed today

and I got a good deal of work done,

of course there is much more

to do.

It is good for me to begin my life in this new apartment

in peace and I am grateful for this day.

+++

Praying for Resa, as prayer will do,

is such a blessing;

we are so fortunate to be able to pray for each other,

as the prayers always encourage us

as well.

Cleo, the Cutest Cat in Canada

I couldn't resist posting these pictures!

She's my little cute cat,

who likes to look at my innocently,

as if she can do no wrong.

For a cat she is pretty good,

but I have to tell her daily to not go on the kitchen table!

She listens within a few seconds, usually.

+++++++++

Did or do you have a pet who keeps your company

or makes you laugh?

Lightheartedness

The other day I decided, with it being Spring
and
my Cleo Cat shedding
a lot,
that a serious brushing was needed.
Here is Cleo looking at the result. She looks thinner,
now that all the excess hair is gone.
So funny...

Yes. That is a lot of hair and she is still a huge fluff ball!

Here she is today, relaxing on my old beloved

gold chair.

This chair was my Dad's when I was young.

We played spaceship, sitting backwards,

with the navy blue bottons.

As I live alone,
Cleo is a huge comfort to me.
She makes me laugh
needs my affection and
is a living presence in my small home.

I am grateful to God for her.