My take on the illegal imigration problem

I grew up in a family that had a lot of struggles. Some of my earliest memories are of looking through the cupboards and not finding much of anything to eat. My grandparents took us kids in during a time my mother and father couldn't provide. With time, things got better, but without the help of family and welfare, life would have been even more difficult. I remember mom making my clothes and me having to wear hand me downs, because we couldn't afford new clothes. I never had underclothes that properly fit and socks that didn't have holes in them. I leaned to use a needle and thread, because I used to mend my own clothes when mom didn't have time to do it.

There was a combination of reasons as to why I was so shy growing up. One of the reasons was I didn't feel as if I fit in. I didn't have the latest styles in shoes and jeans my friends had and what new clothes I did get, were from the sale rack and not in style. Even with all of that, I was thankful I had clothes to wear. I was proud of my mother for trying to make my clothes. I was only embarrassed when I had to wear a bathing suit my mom made, because she couldn't afford a new one for me. I do remember getting new gym clothes every year, I was glad I fit in there.

Now, it wasn't bad like that every year, we had our good years and bad years.

After I grew up I got my first job, and started to pay taxes, even before I had graduated high school. When I moved to California after I graduated from high school, I had to find a job. I didn't have anyone to really help me financially. Though I must say, without the help of my Aunt Kay and Uncle Jim, my sister Kathy and her husband giving me a place to stay and the chance to save my money, I'm not sure what I would have done. I will always be thankful for them and what they gave me.

Now, the point of my post. My mother got help from the government to help with our needs at different times, through money that was paid in taxes by taxpayers. My parents paid in with the jobs they had, before and after their difficulties. They eventually didn't need help from government and was able to make it with the money they earned with their jobs.

I became a productive person in society, working and paying my own taxes with my husband and I'm thankful that we have not had to rely on government handouts to help us through.

It is the height of arrogance that any illegal that comes to the United States expecting our government to hand them money from programs they have not paid into from our taxes. It is an insult and flat out steeling. If someone were to enter my home and take what I have worked my whole life for, it would be against the law. How in the world is is okay, that illegals come into our country, and freely take what isn't theirs?

The government has no right to give our money away to illegals who disrespect our system. They are breaking the law. They are a drain on the system and causing it to go bankrupt, taking away from the American people who have worked hard to pay their taxes.

The programs that the American government has set up by it's people was set up to take care of their own. We have many American citizens that need help from the programs that were set up for them. We have our Veterans, disabled, people between jobs, infrastructure, our prisons etc.

We have our share of Americans that steal, scam and fraudulently take from our government programs that we need to clamp down on.

I look back on my life and am thankful that my mother had the help she needed when she needed it the most. Mom overcame the difficulties and became a productive part of society and all of her children are productive in society as well.

This country can be a great place if everyone worked together and stopped giving away the taxpayers money.

If you want the benefits of the programs that America has to offer, come to our country legally. Pay, your taxes and stop stealing from the American people.

Reflections on this past year. 2014

I sit here this morning reflecting on this last year. There have been a lot of struggles for my personal journey in life and I feel as if I have not moved forward with what I have been trying to achieve. I may not have liked the left curves of life, the dead ends and the heartaches I have endured, but then I look at the lessons I have learned and how much stronger I have become for having gone through them.

I strongly believe that the trials in life can make you a better person if you choose to allow that to happen. It is all in the attitude. I am human, so sometimes my own attitude isn't the best, but when I take the time like this morning to look back on everything and try to see the larger picture I take comfort in the fact that I am a better person because of it.

We just had Thanksgiving with my family. I am grateful that I have been able to take the time off from work to spend with them. It gave me the balance I know that has been missing in my life. I love my family and though we spend our lives in different states working and living our daily lives, we are together in spirit and are only a phone call away. When we get together it is like we were never apart. I know for a fact that we don't take our time together for granted, because we are never promised a tomorrow. The laughter, the tears, the hugs, and the looks of understanding when our eyes met when words just couldn't express what was being said is a gift that is forever engraved in all of our hearts.

My personal journey will continue and I'll pray everyday giving thanks for the blessings I have. I'll keep praying for the courage and the strength to face each day, and to be given the insight to know how to handle each situation as they arise. I pray for health and to stay strong through the difficult times. Above all, I'll continue to pray for my family and friends for the same thing, because we are all in this together.

I am thankful for my family and friends, because I know I am a better person for having you in my life, so thank you. I also want to give thanks to anyone who takes the time to read this. I pray for you to have a very blessed day, no matter what you believe.