Fun Code Switching in a Poem

‘Twas the night before Christmas y por toda la casa,
Not a creature was stirring-Caramba! Que pasa?
Los niños were tucked away in their camas,
Some in long underwear, some in pijamas,
While hanging the medias with mucho ciudado
In hopes that old Santa would feel obligado
To bring all children, both buenos y malos,
A nice batch of dulces y otros regalos.
Outside in the yard there arose such a grito
That I jumped to my pies like a frightened cabrito.
I ran to the window and looked out afuera,
And who in the world do you think that it era?
Saint Nick in a sleigh and a big red sombrero
Came dashing along like a crazy bombero.
And pulling his sleigh instead of venados
Were eight little burros approaching volados.
I watched as they came and this quaint little hombre
Was shouting and whistling and calling by nombre:
"Ay Pancho, ay Pepe, ay Cuco, ay Berto,
Ay Chato, ay Chopo, Macuco, y Nieto!"
Then standing erect with his hands on his pecho
He flew to the top of our very own techo.
With his round little belly like a bowl of jalea,
He struggled to squeeze down our old chiminea,
Then huffing and puffing at last in our sala,
With soot smeared all over his real suit de gala,
He filled all the medias with lovely regalos-
For none of the niños had been very malos.
Then chuckling aloud, seeming muy contento,
He turned like a flash and was gone como viento.
And I heard him exclaim, and this is verdad,
Merry Christmas to all, y Feliz Navidad!

Narrow Reading Is Valuable

I have been thinking about how valuable narrow reading is--whether it is reading the same book numerous times, reading a number of books by the same author, and/or reading a number of books about the same topic.

I recently reread Middlemarch by George Eliot.  Then we watched the DVD--all 7 hours of it!  Then yesterday I finished reading the Middlemarch Cliff Notes.  Every experience with this book gave me new insights that I would have missed if I had just said, "I read that book once.  I have also been reading a number of books by George Eliot even those I read quite some time ago.  Even though I knew some of the stories revisiting them enriched me. 

Growing Exponentially

I love it when I find people I admire and respect share books, articles, websites, ideas--and even people, etc.  It's a great way to grow exponentially.  This is one of the reasons I enjoy GoodReads so much.  I have one friend--Pam Werner--who has introduced me to numerous books I have enjoyed immensely.  It is also fun for me to see that she is reading books that I have recommended.  Both of us have been enriched through this sharing.   It is my hope and desire that everyone associated with Esperanza will do this kind of sharing so everyone can have the opportunity to grow exponentially. 

Be A Light

This morning I listened to the BYU Devotional Speech by Dr. Damon Bahr from the David O. McKay School of Education given on November 15, 2011.  I felt that his speech had an important message for us who are committed to Esperanza. 

Bahr referenced 3 Nephi 12:14-16 from the Book of Mormon [Verily, verily, I say unto you to be the light of this people.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.  Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel?  Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house; Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.]  to illustrate four different ways and degrees we can shine our light.

1)      There are candles that are never lit; 2) those that intentionally hide their candles and 3 )others who put their lights in places that aren’t visible and 4)  those who put their lights in places to maximize their illuminating opportunities.

I feel we have a responsibility to make Esperanza into the fourth kind of candle—a candle that lights and guides others.  In other words, we need to make a difference—“to stand up and be counted in ways that will change the course of history.” 

Letting Go

This is not only important to remember in our personal life but in our professional life, too.  There were will be people (parents, educators, founders, etc.) associated with Esperanza who we will need to "let go" when their part in Esperanza's story is finished. 

What Newt Gingrich Doesn't Know

When someone like Newt Gingrich who could possibly be the Republican nominee and possibly the next President of the U.S. makes such outlandish comments my heart sinks.  He told an Iowa audience that children in poor neighborhoods have "no habits of working" nor getting paid for their endeavors "unless it is illegal."  He also said, "Really poor children in really poor neighborhoods have no habits of working and have nobody around them who works."  He feels that child labor laws are really stupid...and are too rigid...and that they entrap poor children into poverty. 

I have worked numerous years in majority/minority schools (mostly Hispanic) with up to 90% of the students on free and reduced lunch.  I learned some things about this population--which apparently Gingrich doesn't know:

• Many parents were working 2-3 jobs
• Hispanics--as a whole--have an incredible work ethic that would behoove all of us to emulate
• Hispanics--as a whole--have an entrepreneurial spirit

Until we focus on the strengths of those we want to serve instead of focusing on perceived deficits it will be hard for us to be effective.  It is even more challenging if the nation's leaders don't get it.  We must continue to educate them.

Giving Classics to Classic People

Continue to love serendipitous experiences.  I was looking for something else this morning and found this wonderful article in the Meridian by Marilyn Green Faulkner, the author of Back to the Best Books on December 15, 2010.

Christmas is coming, but don't worry - I've got you covered.
If you are like me, you are just now getting around to Christmas shopping, and cussing at yourself for leaving it so late. But not to worry – this year I have your gift giving all wrapped up and ready to go: simply give classic books to your classic friends. What’s a classic? It’s something that has been proven with the test of time. Whether it’s a friend or a great book, a classic just gets better with age. It doesn’t fluctuate with swings in popular opinion or the economy – it’s a constant. Just as some books are classics, so are some of the special people in our lives.

click to buy

So here’s the plan: Start with my guide to the classics, Back to the Best Books. It features 36 great works of literature and there is something for everyone in there! Now, choose one of the selections from the book that fits the personality of the recipient. For example, your brother might love The Count of Monte Cristo or Master and Commander. Your favorite veteran may enjoy All Quiet on the Western Front or Les Miserables. The fantasy lover on your list may not yet have discovered Watership Down or The Once and Future King, and the mystery reader will love curling up with The Moonstone. Bundle the classic with the book guide and you’ll give a gift that will keep on giving through the year! Add a note letting your loved one know why they are a “classic” in your life and you’ll be a hero. Want to get even fancier? Add some gourmet hot chocolate and a mug, or a little booklight and some slippers, and you’ve got a gift basket worthy of Santa himself!
A book is the perfect gift: one size fits all, you don’t have to feed it, and it’s easy to wrap and ship. As a special treat, consider buying a beautiful, hardback copy of a classic work of literature rather than the paperback. (It’s nice to pass a book along to one’s children with the cover still attached!) I was delighted to see my nephew receive a beautiful leather-bound copy of his favorite novel (The Count of Monte Cristo) from his new bride for his birthday. I thought that a very nice tradition for a new family.
One book that is both new and one hundred years old is the Autobiography of Mark Twain. As you may have heard by now, Twain left instructions that his autobiography remain unpublished for a hundred years after his death. So this year it’s finally available! I downloaded it from Audible.com and I am looking forward to over 24 hours of listening pleasure with our nation’s “Lincoln of literature.”
Just to get you thinking, here are a few more great books that most people would love to own, and that you might want to put on your personal wish list:
Books for Men:
Einstein, and Benjamin Franklin, by Walter Isaacson. Both excellent biographies of fascinating men.
Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson. A beautiful last letter from an aging father to a young son. Trust me, it’s just wonderful.
The Old Man and the Boy, by Robert Ruark: A sweet tale about a boy raised by his grandfather in rural North Carolina.
We Were Soldiers Once, and Young, by Harold G. Moore: The true account of the first major battle of Vietnam, by the man who led it. You’ll believe in heroes again.
All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque: Wrenching saga of WWI, and one of the greatest war novels ever written.
The Three Musketeers, Alexander Dumas: Don’t be fooled by its vintage; Dumas has today’s bestsellers beat for action and intrigue. Any man who likes to read will love it.
A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson: Perfect for an outdoorsman with a sense of humor.
Books for Women:
A Gift from the Sea, Anne Morrow Lindbergh: A classic, always inspiring. For a thoughtful reader you might pair it with No More Words, by Reeve Lindbergh. The account of the last two years of Anne’s life. Anyone who has experienced caring for an elderly, ailing parent will relate to her honest, moving memoir.
Delta Wedding, Eudora Welty: Welty is my new favorite Southerner. A gorgeous book for someone who loves great writing.
A Room With a View, E.M. Forster: A beautiful tribute to true love, and funny besides. Forster captures an England that now exists only in fiction.
How Green Was My Valley, Richard Llwellyn: A story to savor, a family you want to know, and a part of the world that supplied many of the early pioneers.
O, Pioneer! Willa Cather: Any book of Cather’s is a joy to read; this is one of her best.
Books for Both:
The Forsyte Saga, John Galsworthy: The “saga” is actually three novels about a prosperous English family, and a big, wonderful read.
Keys of the Kingdom, A.J. Cronin: This book drew the most responses of any book we read in the Best Books Club. Cronin’s story of a humble priest is life-changing. Another like it: Death Comes for the Archbishop, by Willa Cather
The Good Earth, Pearl S. Buck: A book just doesn’t get any better than this. If you haven’t read this as an adult it will speak to you in a new way.
Books for Smart Kids:
If you have a child who loved Harry Potter and the Ring Trilogy as much as mine did, I recommend some classic tales of adventure and fantasy:
Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson: Still great, and a nice book to give in hardback.
King Solomon’s Mines, H. Rider Haggard: We could not put this book down. A kid who likes Indiana Jones will go nuts over this, and get a little smarter while reading it.
The Neverending Story, Michael Ende: A beautiful fantasy with a wonderful message, great characters and thrilling action sequences. We love this book at our house.
A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens: A teenager can read this book, and should. Dickens (like tomatoes or cottage cheese) is delicious, but requires a certain maturity of taste. This book is historical fiction and is about half the length of the bigger novels, so it is a good place to start.