Thoughts on the Food Stamp Program

 It seems to me that the less you work and the less you do, the more money you get for food stamps. It's like there should be a banner in front of the banner that says, "Got no job and more children? Come on down, we're here to serve you". I know a few people who are trying to make a difference in their lives. They work at least 30 hours a week, and one person goes to school and to work. The one that does both only receives $200 for a month of food stamps with 1 child. I know of another family with 3 children. She does not work nor does she go to school. She receives close to $500 in food stamps. Why? She is not trying to better herself and she does not have any disabailities. I believe people with the ability to work and don't because they just want to live off of government assistance should not be able to receive it.  It's not fair that those who work everyday still can't afford to buy groceries for their family, yet can't get food stamps or don't get enough.  I do think that most families who truly work, but can't meet ends they need some assistance.

Last Day of the Challenge

I have been waiting for this day to come. I have learned a lot from this challenge. I've had the opportunity to see what spending $31 on food for one week is like. I have had the opportunity to witness what it would be like to eat on a budget while everyone else around me did what they wanted. I must say that this challenge made me think smartly on what to get to eat that would last a whole week.  The food that I bought did last the entire week. Although I was a little tired of eating chicken breast and broccoli everyday, it helped save money for the week. I also ate healthier and bought food that could be stretched throughout 7 days. I did experience some headaches, especially on days where I was tired of eating the same food, but I knew I had a budget and there was no way of going over it. That's just how some families live. I could have cheated and went into my pockets, but I wanted to live how those families live who don't have additional money.  They only have what has been given to them. I can see the more I step into someone else's shoes, the more I appreciate everything I do have.

The time has almost come

This challenge has been a little hard, but it has helped me think about so many different things. The more I have to change my lifestyle to experience what others go through, the more I appreciate everything I have.........

Later on today, I will end my challenge. I will have the opportunity to express everything I have been through these past 7 days and how it was on that last day!!!!! I'm happy :)

Appreciative

This challenge has taught me to appreciate everything I have gone through and those who have been in my life.

Mom- Thanks for everything you have done. Thanks for your struggles. Thanks for your pain. Thanks for your high spirits.  Thanks for your prayers. Thanks for your love and understanding.  Thanks for your knowledge.  I thank those who knew we struggled and refused to help us.  I thank thank who looked at you and out of jealousy turned their backs.  Many people judge us and they never sit back and look at what WE have been through. Many people judge you and don't know your story and why you are who you are today. I am thankful to be able to see you everyday because you could have gave me up or left me out in this lonely world so that you wouldn't struggle, but you didn't. you picked me up everytime I fell and brushed me off and told me to pray.  I know sometimes we don't see eye to eye, but who does all the time? Who is perfect? I just want everyone to know that the woman who raised me is the best and I don't know where I would be if you weren't in my life. I love you and thank you for EVERYTHING.

Meghan-- I probably treated you bad when I was 6 years old. Who could blame me? You took my mmmy and my daddy away from me (so I thought). I love you with every inch of my heart. I keep pushing so I can be an example to you. We have been through so much and we know what we have to do to make things in our lives better. We've struggled together and we smiled together. We fought each other and we made up together. We cried together, we argued together, but most importantly we LOVE each other. I couldn't as for a better sister. You don't know what your smile does to me. Thank you sister for being you. I love you!!!!

These are the important women of my life........ We struggled together.....We're strong together......Couldn't live without them!!!!!

My Food Stamp Challenge: Taking things for granted....

My Food Stamp Challenge: Taking things for granted....

Taking things for granted....

I hate when people take things for granted. My life hasn't been the easiest but I have definitely made it through. When I was only two years old, my father was shot and killed, but I never grew up without a father figure in my life. My mother met my step father when I was 3 or 4 years old.  By 10 years old, my mother and step father divorced. Things for my mother started going downhill. My mother lost the job she was working at for over 14years and was out of work for about 2 years. After finalizing the divorce, it was ordered that my mother, sister, and I move so that my step father could have "his" house. We moved into my grandmother's house where her other 3 children and come of my cousins lived. The house was big... 5 bedrooms and mother-in-law wing (guest house).  We stayed there until my mother found a better job and we moved out to Hickory Hill. She worked for the City of Memphis and for the next 5 years, she would be transferred 3 times trying to keep her position as a Receptionist/Administrative Assistant.  Our house was gorgeous. Everyone loved to come over. All my cousins and all my new friends. From 8th grade until my senior things were lovely......And then, my mother lost her job. I witnessed coming home to no lights. Boiling water on the stove to take hot baths. Lighting candles to have light in the house at night. I was miserable. I was embarrassed. Our cars got repossessed.  Two cars to be exact.  During the summer of the last two years of high school, I worked for Yo! Memphis, a youth program, and I had the opportunity to watch children in summer camps at the local community centers. One day, my mother came to my job teary eyed and I knew it. We had to move out of our house. We moved in with an uncle who only let us stay for a month and put us out. We then went to live with another uncle. We were at peace there because he welcomed us. BUT, it was 3 of us in one bedroom. NO PRIVACY!!!! My uncle used drugs and there were people running in and out all the time. I couldn't wait to go to college. My classmates enjoyed high school, my senior year was depressing.  I couldn't work because I was a cheerleader and an honor student but I wasn't having as much fun as other people were. I was quiet. I was to myself.

Over the next course of years, I witnessed my mother really struggling. I went to college and my mother still struggled with finding a job. My mother did the best she could do. It's hard going from having everything you ever desired to being limited to things as little as food. I can say I ate crackers and cheese for lunch and dinner. I can say I laid next to my mom at night crying along with her because we didn't know where we were going or what to do. My mother has 11 brothers and sisters and I have never met any people as selfish as they are to one another. I promised myself that my sister and I would never treat each other like they do. No one tried to lend a hand to help her....and their reason was because "they are the little Miss Rich Girls"....."they think they better than us"......."they don't need no help, they make all that money".....

My step father is now trying to step back up in my life.  After he married, his wife GLADLY informed him that I am not his child and it is not his responsibility to take care of me. She even went so far as to throw my college graduation invitation in the trash so he wouldn't know about it. I miss having a father. I never knew how much I missed him until these last couple of years. On my birthday, his wife called and she sang Happy Birthday. Out of the 14 years that they have been married, she has NEVER called to say happy birthday. I could barely get her to speak to me when he wasn't around.  And that hurts me till this day...........

All in all, I have been through more than a child should and so has my sister. I have learned to appreciate what I have. Especially after seeing these same issues with each of my clients. I work with people who go through the same things I had to witness as a child and I encourage them.  There is light on the other side of the tunnel.  You just have to make a decision of whether or not you want to make it there and do what every it is that you have to do to get there. I have decided that material things are just that materials. With faith and the love of my friends and close family, I know I'm going to make it. I am going to get everything I deserve and more. I know things aren't always going to come easy, but I know prayer works and I can just call on HIS name and everything will be alright.

HOPE you enjoyed my story!!!!! 

The day after my Birthday!!

My job allowed me to have my birthday off!!!  This morning, I get back to work and noticed that my cubicle had some extra things in it.....

The first thing I noticed was......

The cards!!! Everyone from my office signed the cards!!!!

Then, sitting in front of my computer screen was this......

A GIFT!!!!!!!!! From my boss...Yayyyyy BOSS!!!!!

I was soooo excited, I decided that I needed a picture with my gifts!!!

I opened it up AAAAAAAANNNDDDDDD..............................

A bag of my favorite candy and Gummi worms...UUGGHH!!!!!

My friend, who knows I'm on the challenge decides she wants to eat my candy.

And laugh at me about it!!!!!

I'm counting down. Hurry, hurry Sunday.

It's My Birthday!!!! No cake for me :(

  It's my birthday today!! I am 24 years old. Too bad I won't be able to get any cake.  I had to talk to my friends about waiting until the challenge is over to celebrate so I can join in all the activities.  They understood and I am going to have the time of my life......OK back to the reason I'm blogging. 



  The gazebo at Bartlett Park......



This morning, I woke up to do my normal walk in the local park.  After walking 3 miles there, I was extremely hungry. The last meal I had yesterday evening was chicken breast along with broccoli.  Now I am a little tired of eating that. All I wanted was a few chicken minis from Chik-fil-A. I knew I couldn't have it, so I went home, showered, and had a bowl of strawberries.  Today is a pretty busy day for me.  Usually, when I have a lot of errands to run, it is so convenient to just stop and pick up lunch in between time.  Unfortunately, this week, I haven't been able to do so.  I will talk later about how my day is going and how I felt not being able to pick up lunch.

Day 2....Why torture me?

So, this morning I walked about 2 miles in the local park. After walking, I got ready for work and was on my way. I had packed a my breakfast, which consisted of strawberries, yogurt, and diet green tea.

Once I got into the office, my friend asked me to go somewhere with her. Why, oh why, did we pull up to the Waffle House? So, I informed her that I could not eat anything because of the project I'm doing and she laughed stating, "What's the big deal, just eat a biscuit and gravy."  I was sooo tempted, but I must say I do have a little bit of discipline.

So here are the pictures from my friend's lovely breakfast without me......

This is my friend being funny!!!!!!

I had a wonderful dinner. I had leftovers from yesterday

Day 1 of the challenge

Today I said goodbye to my favorite restaurant.  Bye Jason's Deli!! See you next week....I'm sooo sad about leaving behind the strawberry cheesecake :(

My grocery list included spending on the following:

                                           

yogurt
turkey sandwich meat
cheese
bread
skinless chicken breast
strawberries
Big K Diet Green Tea
Fresh Broccoli
100 calorie shortbread snacks

                                                


My challenge today wasn't so bad.  

Breakfast: Strawberry Activia yogurt and a bottle of water.

Lunch: Strawberries, turkey and cheese sandwich, diet green tea

Snack: 100 calorie shortbread snack and diet green tea

Dinner: baked Chicken breast and broccoli with cheese

I had a pretty normal day. I was pretty much on the go so I wasn't really hungry, but I ate to keep from getting a headache. My biggest challenge will more than likely come tomorrow and Wednesday. My boss usually gives us candy and other things as a thank you for the week. Unfortunately, I won't be able to eat any of it.  We'll see how I feel about that.  

Grocery Shopping

Today, I had to shop smart. It was a challenge trying to pick out certain foods over another. I had to keep in mind that I couldn't spend anymore than $31 for the entire week (I know right). So, I got the sales ad from Kroger first, because that's my place to shop. I wrote down a list of things to get, which included:

*Red Barron pizza (must have)
*100 calorie shortbread snacks (6 count)
*Activia strawberry yogurt
*Red seedless grapes
*Skinless chicken breast
*Fresh broccoli
*Big K diet green tea
*Oscar Meyer Honey Smoked Turkey
*Sara Lee honey wheat bread
*Cheese
*Lay's Potato Chips
*Vanilla Ice Cream
*Strawberries
*Granny Smith Apples

But when I got to the check out line, I was a little surprised that with tax, I couldn't get all that I wanted. Have you ever gotten irritated about being in a rush and the person in front of you has a basket full of items that they couldn't get and were trying to decide what to keep and what they were going to put back?? (Honestly, I have.) Well, that person was me today. No chips, no ice cream(ohh noo!!!), and I had to choose between grapes, strawberries or a bag of apples. Strawberries won!! I wanted everything in my basket, but knew I had limits and had to stick to my budget. Now, I'm worried about how my week is going to go. I hope I shopped smart. I have a crazy week ahead of me. You will know every detail of my challenge. I have to go eat everything I can before tomorrow comes lol!!!! So, goodbye until the morning.