Elizabeth Chapman
The joy of fatherhood is wrapped in the gift and laughter of his children.
Pumpkin Perspective
Papa: "Okay, girls. What's it going to be this morning? Do you want pumpkin butter on your toast, with raspberry jam?"
Girls: "No way! Papa, there is way too much pumpkin goin' on. Pumpkin pasta sauce. Pumpkin soup. Pumpkin butter?! I hope you don't have pumpkin cereal bars."
Papa: "Oooops. Sorry. It's only for this snack today. I promise I'll leave that out tomorrow. Does this mean I should forget the pumpkin pie?
Girls: "Oh, no! THAT one is okay..."
The Impact of Education: Hope
"The power of education infuses the spirit to overcome all past and future adversity, inspiring individual and collective hopes to identify all paths that lead to peace and prosperity." - E.L.D.
Don't You Worry Child
(Traditional Hindi Prayer)
Twamev mata ca pita, badhu, sakha, vidya, dravidam
Sarvo mum deva deva
[You are truly my mother and my father, my friend, my kin, my knowledge, and
my wealth.
You are my everything, my God of Gods]
Khushnuma
[Happiness without worry]
Kuch saalon pehle ki baatein, Mujhko yaad aayi
[There was a time years ago]
Jisme mainey kuch galtiya ki thi
[When I first met adversity]
Aur phir jaane kyo, Dil ye rota tha
[My heart cried out in sorrow]
Kyonki nadaani karnaa aasaan tha
[When in my innocence I stumbled]
Mere dil ki hai dua, Khush raho sadaa
[In my heart I pray for happiness]
Na bhoolana… Khushnuma
[Always remember…happiness without worry]
Sun le zaraa… Dil ki dua
[Hear me … the prayer in my heart]
Sun le zaraa
[Hear my heart]
Hindi Lyrics by Shweta Subram & Abhay Jodhpurkar; English translation and adaptation by Shweta Subram & Steven Sharp Nelson
Life and Death
"Contemporary jazz pianist Paul Cardall was born April 24, 1973; suffering from a congenital heart defect, he was given only days to live but defied medical expectations, enduring a series of surgeries and illnesses throughout his childhood...." (Pandora).
Ode To Single Mothers
MOTHERHOOD
Playing alone by the ocean's edge,
Eager and unafraid,
You are the child I used to be,
Playing the games I played.
Now I have only a coward's heart,
Finding you all too dear,
Learning at last that love shall teach
The fearless how to fear.
You are so little against the sky,
Laughing and undismayed -
Oh, little son by the ocean's edge,
I am afraid, afraid!
Medora C. Addison
Importance of Touch
Infant Joy
"I have no name;
I am but two days old."
What shall I call thee?
"I happy am,
Joy is my name."
Sweet joy befall thee!
Pretty joy!
Sweet joy, but two days old.
Sweet Joy I call thee:
Thou dost smile,
I sing the while;
Sweet joy befall thee!
William Blake
The Five Love Languages of Children
Water Night
Eric Whitacre
Water Night
Night with the eyes of a horse that trembles in the night,
Night with eyes of water in the field asleep
Is in your eyes, a horse that trembles is in
Your eyes of secret water.
Eyes of shadow-water,
Eyes of well-water,
Eyes of dream-water.
Silence and solitude,
Two little animals moon-led,
Drink in your eyes,
Drink in those waters.
If you open your eyes, night opens doors of musk,
The secret kingdom of the water opens
Flowing from the center of the night.
And if you close your eyes,
A river, a silent and beautiful current, fills you from within,
Flows forward, darkens you:
Night brings its wetness to beaches in your soul.
Water Night
Night with the eyes of a horse that trembles in the night,
Night with eyes of water in the field asleep
Is in your eyes, a horse that trembles is in
Your eyes of secret water.
Eyes of shadow-water,
Eyes of well-water,
Eyes of dream-water.
Silence and solitude,
Two little animals moon-led,
Drink in your eyes,
Drink in those waters.
If you open your eyes, night opens doors of musk,
The secret kingdom of the water opens
Flowing from the center of the night.
And if you close your eyes,
A river, a silent and beautiful current, fills you from within,
Flows forward, darkens you:
Night brings its wetness to beaches in your soul.
Caribbean Chicken Stew
While I did not pickup the fantastic cooking skills of my grandmother, who could pull together a Mexican feast with one hand tied behind her back at 2:00 a.m. for guests arriving in the morning, I have discovered the joy that comes from hearing the kids exclaim, "Wow, what smells so good?!!" Caribbean Chicken Stew
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