"Fun little lunch time research project! The plant is called Orbea, aka known as Carrion flower, supposedly because the flowers have an unpleasant odor that helps attract pollinators."
I knew I could count on Sharon to Name That Plant! Thank you, dear SIL :-)
I will keep y'all apprised of whether or not my clipping survives and blooms. You can be sure of photographic proof if it does!
Spanish resumed today after my break for conference. My brain is tired. Actually my whole body is tired, but my brain especially. Isn't it interesting that even the brain gets tired when you work it? For some unfathomable reason I have a mental block when it comes to thinking about the brain being an object that can be overworked just like my arms or legs. And yet I have seen time and again since beginning this process of language acquisition that my brain is a weak and pathetic organ, unused to hard labor and ready to rise up in protest at the slightest push toward anything resembling THINKING.
It doesn't know it yet, but I plan on pushing it to its limits and beyond in the coming months. I WILL LEARN SPANISH. So it better just straighten up and get with the program or I'm gonna...well, I'll think of something dreadful to do with it. If it doesn't figure out what I'm doing and sabotage my efforts. It's a wile wee organ, puffed up with arrogance beyond all reason and able to run rings around me at times with its circular thinking and deceptive thought processes.
But I'm claiming Romans 12:2 in this battle! "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (ESV) God has called us to Argentina and I'm not much good without the ability to communicate so I KNOW it is His good and acceptable and perfect will for me to learn Spanish.
7 comments:
you're gonna do great...keep up the studying...it will pay off in many wonderful ways.
I'm trying to stay motivated on cutting white starches from my diet and getting back to the habit of veggies, veggies, veggies and fruit...portion sizes also play into it, but i think i'm hooked on carbs...so, you go after the spanish and i'll go after the carbs and we'll make it together!
I have no doubt that you will be successful with this! And yes, my brain does get tired. And it doesn't take much!
You will be successful learning Spanish. It's so much easier when you're embedded in the culture. And, yes, the brain gets exhausted. On my class weekends, by Sunday my little brain just can't absorb any more and needs a break. Blessings, Susan
You can do it!!!! I am sure you are doing better than you think!!! I have some friends in Canada learning french before going overseas as missionaries...she is feeling the same way right now!!!
I used to hear the same complaint from my students--the brain does get tired!
And, just the other day I heard that similar to other organs it requires surprising amounts of nourishment.
"Poco a poco se va lejos."
Look back at how far you've come already!
We are with you in the language learning! Some days it is hard to be motivated to keep plugging, that we know well. But we cannot be used for the purpose for which we came if we are not constantly learning and at the same time allowing Him to give us His own strength and power.
Claim that promise!
He will finish His work in you, in His timing and in His way.
You can do it, you know it:-)
I nominated you for the Kreative Blogger Award by the way:
http://diaryofanewamerican.blogspot.com/2009/03/kreative-blogger-award.html
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