CITIZENSHIP

14TH AMENDMENT

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.

Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.^[1]

15TH AMENDMENT

Passed by Congress February 26, 1869. Ratified February 3, 1870.

Section 1.

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Section 2.

The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/American+citizenship

THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES, but.......

THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES, but your hope and FAITH IN THE LORD is so much more!  No matter what you are going through our Lord always provide a way out.  No matter how much you are hurt the Lord is always there with Holy Spirit to comfort you.  All your pain and hurt will be healed in the name of Jesus in his time.  Sometimes how we handle our struggles is a TESTIMONY for others.  Let them know that in spite of what you are going through you will praise God through your actions (smiles, walk, talk, attitude, etc.).  One thing about a struggle, it always end in VICTORY IN JESUS!

Be blessed my friend!  JMI

bless·ed

blest,ˈblesid/

adjective

1. 1.

   made holy; consecrated.

THANKSGIVING FOR TODAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2016.

I am grateful for tiniest things in my life.  This morning I was talking to my husband about the new scarves I had.  I was so excited about the colors, the textures of the materials, the designs, etc.  He said "It doesn't take much to please my wife."  I thought about that.  It's true.  I see beauty, possibilities, etc in everything!  I remember being young and my parents could not buy some things I wanted.  I learned to be satisfied with what I had.  That way my heart was not broken.  If you do not long for things you really don't need you do not miss them.  I learned to be grateful for every little bitty thing in my life or every thing I experienced!  

I remember the first time I saw snow in college.  I had so many pictures of snow, on the ground, on buildings, on the streets, anywhere I saw snow I took a picture.  I traveled across the US with my first job.  I was in awe of the architecture I saw in each town.  I took tons of pictures of buildings.  I then saw fall on the east coast and took tons of pictures of the colorful leaves.  I always love just going somewhere and just sitting watching people go through their days.  I had so much fun.

I love watching sports.  It is a true example of people using their God giving gifts to fullest extent possible.  They keep coming back time after time after time.   They do not give up.  That's the fortitude that I want.  Stick to it even when times are hard is what I strive for.  Sometimes I fail, but sometimes I win.  Just love give it my all!

An attitude of gratitude is the best option to ensure you are not crippled by your circumstances.  Just go each day trying to learn something, trying to to smile and make someones day, being in the right attitude to recognize a blessing each day.

JMI

THANKSGIVING FOR TODAY, JANUARY 31, 2016.  I thank God for healing all of my scars and repairing my soul.  I thank God for keeping me. I am grateful for the assignments he's given me.  I thank him for allowing me the opportunities afforded me.

Today is my "two years anniversary of retirement" from the U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM), Aviation & Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AVRDEC), Aviation Engineering Directorate (AED), Cargo Division.  I served as the Branch Chief, Sustainment, Fleet Management, & Production Branch.  Also served as Branch Chief of the Modernization Branch.  I loved my time serving those who flew, maintained, and was transported in the Chinook helicopter. I thank for the wonderful people I worked with.  Loved serving the soldiers in the field.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 365 MORE OPPORTUNITIES!

SMILES!

No Excuse:  A Philosophy of Success!

JANICE MITCHELL "THE TUTOR" ISBELL

My thoughts for today!

Hello my Lupus Warriors. have read posts of some of you in Lupus Flares. I assure you THINGS DO GET BETTER. I was diagnosed in 1975. I experienced the weight gain, falls, rash, everything possible that Lupus can do and more. BUT THINGS DID GET BETTER. My Lupus went into inactive in July 2003. I was on prednisone 28+ years. There were many good days that outweighed my bad days - getting married in 1981, having my son in 1984, attending his sports events, etc. Although I hurt, I hurt doing the things I love. I recommend you do what you can and that's it. Of course I pushed myself on many occasions and yes I paid for it. BUT I ENJOYED MYSELF. At one point in my life I would go to 8 a.m. mass and THEN sleep all day to recouperate so I could go to work the following week. I can truly say that through it all I was a SURVIVOR. Of course there were things I could have down without, as a result of Lupus: lupus kidney disease, hysterectomy, bunionectomy, knee repair of cartilege, colon cancer, open heart surgery (aorta valve replacement), dialysis, etc. But I do keep my focus on the good things around me: my husband, son, daughter in love, 6 grand-children, my job, groups I belong to, church, family and friends, THIS IS WHAT KEEPS ME GOING. I retired from my job after 28 years because the start of dialysis took a toll on me. But now that I am doing home hemo (mon-fri @ night), I am working part time at the local community college as a math tutor, and I tutor on the weekends. I LOVE TUTORING. Find something you love and do it as your body lets you. Sometimes I do cancel sessions, because my body says NO. I am in tune with my body and know when to stop, know when to argue with docs about my health, know when to just sleep and not feel guilty. ahahahahahahha Yes you have to deal with ignorant (only because they do not understand) people, but do not let them pull you into guilt and depression. Do what you have to doin spite of them. KEEP MAY COPIES OF LUPUS LITERATURE. PASS IT OUT TO EVERYONE YOU MEET, ESPECIALLY TO YOIUR FAMILY WHEN THEY SAY STUPID STUFF. AHAHAHAHAHA Gotta laugh at them and keep going. Well I'm off my high horse. HAVEA LOVELY DAY LUPUS WARRIORS.

THANKSGIVING FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 26, 2015 - THANK GOD FOR TEACHERS!!!!!

ATTENTION TEACHERS - You make a difference in the lives of your students!  Whether you intend to or not, you make a difference.  It can be positive or negative!

I grew up in a lower class family.  That lower class family was two single-parent homes.  I being an African-American girl had all the statistics against me when trying to become a success.  But because of caring, intuitive, and compassionate teachers I was pushed beyond my capabilities (intellectually, academically, spiritually, etc.).  My love of Math almost died during my 5th grade year - Texas' (South Park School District) first step of integrating schools.  My elementary was closed and I was bused across town to another school - my one year of integrated education.  But my 6th grade Math teacher, Mr. James, saw my potential and encouraged me.  I was in the 6D track.  He moved me to the 6B classes for Math.  They were the best Math students at Booker T. Washington Elementary.  My junior high and high school Math teachers (Mrs. Armstrong, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Simmons) got me involved in the interscholastic math competitions.  I love Math.  These competitions enhanced my love for Math.  While in high school we had to write a paper on what we wanted to be when we grew up, i.e. graduate and on our own.  I had my topic.  I wanted to be a Math teach all my life.  My dad use to introduce us by what we wanted to be.  I was Janice the future Math teacher.  Well my eyes were opened by a teacher, Mrs. Davenport.  She asked me to research being an engineer.  I had no idea what an engineer was or what they did.  The only engineers I was aware of were those that operated a train. ahahahahah  But being obedient I researched being an engineer.  During those days you respected your teachers, or else your mom would come to the school and embarrass you.  I was shocked to find out about engineers and that there were so many different kinds of engineers.  My research lead me to want to be a chemical engineer.  In comes another teacher, Mrs. Adair - Texas' (Beaumont Independent School District) second attempt at integration - integrate the teachers instead of the children.  She helped me fill out my application to college.  My counselor, Ms. Joseph help me fill out the PSAT (11th grade) and SAT I (12th grade) applications.  I was set to attempt a run at college.  The I found some information, through my counselors, about Washington University.  I am so thankful for my teachers.  I am so happy that I had a chance to experience the Washington University-St. Louis (WASHU) life.  I met so many people from so many countries.  I still have 6 friends that are deeply close to my heart in my life.  They really help me through college socially and spiritually.  I was diagnosed with Lupus my freshman year, and they really supported me, until this day.  I met my husband at WASHU.  He has been a rock and a blessing to me THROUGH IT ALL.

Where would I have been if those teachers had not taken the time to help out a latch-key kid.  Did not know I was a latch key kid until I attended college.  WOW HUH?  

ATTENTION TEACHERS - You make a difference in the lives of young people!  Whether you intend to or not, you make a difference.  It can be positive or negative.