voting-

i, along with many other north texans, decided to early vote this past tues.

it felt good to make a decision and to be done with it!

and i encourage everyone to make their vote count too.

lately i've become acquainted with some people that do not have a right to vote in this country- all for varying reasons.

no names, to protect the innocent! so let's start with D.

D is from Africa. he came from an area where he fought in the national service until his life and that of his family, became in danger. they fled- made it to canada, tried to apply to the US for protection, and were told that if their lives weren't in danger in canada, then they could stay in canada. in the US northeast, late at night, and while they feigned being asleep, a friend drove them over the border and into america. shortly after, D's wife was admitted into a center for those emotionally ill. D cries as he tells his life story. the good news for him- they are now citizens, legally, and his wife is much better. they will be able to vote in one year's time.

K is from England. he 'online dated' girls from the US until he found someone that he felt was a keeper. she flew to England to meet him and after three dates she asked him to marry her! he came to the US with permission to stay 6 months, and in that 6 months he had to get married or return home. A visitor such as he cannot work here. and, it takes 6 months of marriage before you are eligible to work here. K's friend did the same thing...although, his online girlfriend wouldn't marry him and he's at the mercy of her and his friends until he meets someone else. i asked K why they went through all of the trouble to get here- i was wondering why someone in england would be so desparate to get here. he claims that it's impossible to get ahead in the UK- that there is no future there. and just so you know- he has an engineering degree- he's no slouch!

recently i met a group of people, 20 somethings from Israel. The group is here working for R at a store he co-owns. all of these young men and women served an amount of time in their homeland army. they all speak Hebrew, Arabic, English, and some Spanish. i inquired why they were here...and again it is said- America is the land of opportunity. they earn money and send it home. not one of the group can vote here. they didn't talk of the dangers in their homeland- dangers we know exist.

this list of people does not include the people i know from mexico that are here and working illegally, that also send money home, and that also cannot vote.

we take so much for granted. we are so blessed that we cannot even recognize the blessings we have because we've never known the kind of desperation that each of the above has faced.

even i- with my hardships and discouragements cannot even begin to comprehend life with my family's lives in danger- my children being schooled in warfare- the corruption that goes on in other countries, right on down to what happens at the post office when you try to send a package to a missionary. and yes, we have hungry citizens- but not a government that posts gunmen at delivery points to stop people that are trying to help.

please recognize the value of your vote, and then vote gladly!