May Time Carol

Tis the Season to Be Rushing!

                                                       (A May Time Carol)

                      By: Kristen Rhead Sweeney

Tis the season to be rushing

Rush, rush, rush, rush, Run, rush, rush, rush, Run

No Christmas trees or holiday pudding

Rush, rush, rush, rush, Run, rush, rush, rush, Run

Don we now our May apparel

Soccer cleats, baseball pants, hats and gloves

Now we sing a May Time carol

Rush, rush, rush, rush, Run, rush, rush, rush, Run

Lunches, fieldtrips, dancing classes

Rush, rush, rush, rush, Run, rush, rush, rush, Run

Reports, exams…hope everyone passes

Rush, rush, rush, rush, Run, rush, rush, rush, Run

End of school year celebrations

Invitations, graduations, some complications

Bridal Showers and Wedding Receptions

Rush, rush, rush, rush, Run, rush, rush, rush, Run

Classroom parties “We want cupcakes!”

Rush, rush, rush, rush, Run, rush, rush, rush, Run

Mother’s mixing, now Mother bakes

Rush, rush, rush, rush, Run, rush, rush, rush, Run

Don’t forget what’s most important

Teacher gifts, thank you notes, pizza parties!

Don’t be late for any appointment

Rush, rush, rush, rush, Run, rush, rush, rush, Run

 

No time for dinner or for resting

Rush, rush, rush, rush, Run, rush, rush, rush, Run

Off to hear some recital playing

Rush, rush, rush, rush, Run, rush, rush, rush, Run

Needing strength from Heaven above

Rushing here, rushing there, everywhere

Do it all for the people we love

Rush, rush, rush, rush, Run, rush, rush, rush, Run

 

Hurry now, is summer coming?

Rush, rush, rush, rush, Run, rush, rush, rush, Run

I’ve had enough of this May time running

Rush, rush, rush, rush, Run, rush, rush, rush, Run

No more homework, no more parties

No more games, no more treats, no recitals

No more school and no more tardies

Phew!...Rush, rush, rush, rush, Run, rush, rush, rush, Run!!!

                                   (Mothers: On your mark…Get set…Go!)

Nepal - A Father's Hope

One of the countries I was most looking forward to visiting was Nepal. It did not disappoint me. What a plethora of sites, sounds, smells, colors, and people! I wish we could have stayed longer, but alas, we are not here for vacation or site seeing. We come, meet our families, take our photographs and rush off to the next destination. It certainly is not the way to see the world, but it is an amazing way to meet many, many incredible diverse people. Nepal has 29 million people. 20 million of them live in poverty. 56% of them are illiterate. They need books! We are anxious to have them completed so we can begin giving them to people, just like the people in Nepal.

We had an interesting experience while on one of our shoots in Nepal. We arrived at our second family’s home. We drove through the crazy, crowded, streets of Kathmandu until we arrived at the narrow, windy, dirt roads about an hour out of the city. Their home was a small, stone structure. They had two cows in the yard, several chickens, a small garden, and a relentless barking dog. We began our photo shoot and got several good pictures taken. As we were setting up our next shot an old man, the grandfather of the home, came barging into the yard yelling and waving his arms. He was clearly very angry about something. About us.

Our interpreter tried speaking to him, but the grandfather only became angrier. We do not want to upset anyone so we quickly packed up our things and left. The young mother was embarrassed and kept apologizing. We told her it was okay, not to worry. We are here to create peace and understanding not to make people feel angry. Our interpreter explained that the grandfather was shouting “Why do they come to take pictures? We are poor. So many come and take pictures but do not help us! Why do they take pictures of my family?” If only we could explain to him that we will help his family.I truly hope someday to return and bring books to his village in Nepal. If only he had known.  

As we hiked back down the dirt path toward the road we came across another family in their small yard. The young father and mother anxiously came out to greet us and show off their beautiful little boy. We dipped our heads in the common Nepali way and greeted them with a smile and “Namaste”.  It’s amazing how universal a smile is. It brings warm, kind feelings. They were happy to have their photograph taken. As we were leaving the father had just one request. “Please help my son for his education” was his simply, heartfelt plea. This father has concerns like fathers around the world. He wants what is best for his son. He wants his son to have an education. This young poor father, in the hills of Nepal, understands that his son’s future will be better if he is educated. I also recognize the powerful truth in this. That is why I look for opportunities to serve and help these sweet people. 

I hope, somehow through my work, and the things I do, that I can make a difference in this young Nepali boy’s life. I hope we can honor his father’s hopes and wishes. I hope we can honor the wishes of the upset grandfather, as well, and help his village. I hope we can fulfill this same hope for many, many fathers and grandfathers and for many, many children. 

Jump Rope Rhyme

So I found this great site through Twitter: Mamakatslosinit.com. I love that because I immediately started singing the Mama’s & the Papa’s song “Ain’t no one getting fat except Mama Cass”. I know her name is Cass but I grew up singing Cat. “Ain’t no one getting fat except Mama Cat.” She was always Mama Cat to me. So this web name made me start singing that old favorite.
Mamakatslosinit had a writing workshop about jump roping. I later discovered she was inspired by the Jump Rope for Heart organization which is associated with the American Heart Association. Jump Rope for Heart is a great program for kids and schools. Their motto is: “Learning how to take care of your heart, jumping rope, and helping kids with special hearts.” They raise funds for research. They work with scientists and health care providers. They are making a difference and saving lives. I was inspired so I decided to try out the Jump Rope Rhyme challenge. Hope you have fun jumping and I hope you have a healthy heart!  Here it is…

Write a poem about your childhood to the beat of a Jump Rope rhyme.
By: Kristen R. Sweeney ©2011

One, Two… live in a zoo
Monkeys jumpin’, fish a swimmin’
Don’t cry, you can try
You can try or you might die

Three, Four… fly out the door
Don’t be late, church is great
Don’t you sleep… dreamin’ deep
Preacher says your sins will keep

Five , Six… Legs like sticks
Like to play, lets play all day
Daddy is tall but Mama is small
Keep on climbing you’ll never fall

Seven, Eight… life is great
Homemade ice cream, Mama don’t scream
Kids who run, lots of fun
Daddy always has a pun

Nine, Ten… Let’s do it again
Some are winning, heads are spinning
Brothers, sisters my best friend
Now this game is at the end