People who are having problems to get better sleep are finding ways to get that most-coveted “treat”. Some try exercises while others resort to other alternative means such music. Why? because music itself can lull them into deep slumber when chosen properly.

The power of music

To be able to avoid the distraction brought by this simple sound, people who are having a hard time sleeping have found a way to fight it off using music. Of all the so many kinds of music out there, people—especially those who are just beginning—are having a hard time choosing which one would suit the practice.

If you are one of those who would want to use music as a tool to get better sleep, here are some guidelines in choosing the music that may help you achieve that purpose:

- make sure that it doesn’t have lyrics. In choosing music that will help you get better sleep, it is always best to choose one that has no lyrics because it can only distract your concentration. If you find plain rhythm boring, try to play something that has lyrics that your don’t understand so you don’t have to think what the song is saying. Aside from distracting your thoughts through the words you understand, music with lyrics will also encourage you to sing along which will totally shatter your concentration.

- relaxing music with soft rhythm is always advisable. For starters, this type of music will do you good because it will help you clear your mind and focus on something. But, if want something better, you can choose music that have faster rhythm and beats or anything that your truly enjoy because this can no longer distract you.

- do some experiments. Although soft and relaxing music is always advisable, try to play other types of music. Who knows? You might find better concentration of you play something that you truly enjoy.

- try simple and soothing music is sure to focus your attention. If you don’t have the luxury of time to experiment on types of music to be played during meditation, then try surefire hits, which are simple and soothing music. Some of these may include classical sounds, sounds from the nature such as clapping of thunder, sounds of big waves, sounds of insects, and the wind. Other alternative options may also include simple instruments including tibetan singing bowl, flute, sitar, and tamboura which are known to have meditative inducing qualities.

When choosing music that may help you get better sleep, it is very important to keep in mind that the type you should play must induce you to deep concentration and into deep sleep. You can download the music that you like from various sites in the Internet and burn in a CD. But if you burn have a portable MP3 player, it is best to upload the music there so you can listen to it anytime you to sleep.

BodyguardX was formed so you can sleep easier in your home even when you are alone.  If you have any questions on security, surveillance or protection devices, don’t hesitate to fill out a contact form with any questions or concerns you may have.   Manuel De La Paz

We are creatures of impulse, desire, poor long term planning, and all the bad traits companies rely on to make their sale. But if you’ve ever made a painful decision to say no to buying something, in exchange for some long term gain, you know what a mature delay in gratification can benefit you. Opting to save for tuition instead of buying designer jeans is a good example So is opting to stick with your crappy-looking buy efficient cellular phone, instead of getting a shiny and sleek iPhone. So is the decision to stop smoking to prevent medical complications from happening to you, and costing you tons of dollars; not to mention preventing you from living a healthy life.

If you’ve been following the logic of the foregoing, then you already have a clear picture of what it takes to stop smoking. The best way to do it is to fully understand giving it up costs you, what not taking part in that hip and addictive habit will end you up with, and how much discomfort, for a time, quitting would mean, physically, emotionally, mentally.

Will power is the best way. The problem is this method requires your soul to understand, to want to stop smoking altogether. A pregnant mother decides to quit drugs when the medical checkups showed her baby was declining in health while in her womb. A father goes gambling-sobber after his eldest straight-A daughter failed to pay her student loans. A single mom decides to devote more time at home, and leave her night life, when she notices how much her son needs her.

We just need to find a reason. Our will power will provide the strength to get us through our nicotine addiction. It will not be easy. And those who try to quit end up relapsing unless they are convinced, to their bones, that they want to quit. Maybe not for themselves, but for the sake of someone else. A son, a mother, a husband.

Those who go through this, suffer the pains of withdrawal, and emerge addiction-free, report that they feel like having been a different person when they had their addiction. Different from the person that emerged from the addiction. Like it was all a bad dream, or memories of a person just trying to make do with her naive worldview.

The thing about quitting smoking through willpower is that you need no rationalizations. You stop smoking because, insert reason here. And you see that reason as inevitable, as true regardless of anyone else who listens to you. Like a mathematical fact. True, regardless how much you rationalize against it, whine about it.

You will receive all sort of discouragement. Most people have smoking buddies and the media is filled with ads encouraging a life incomplete without a puff. But these will not hamper you if you know in your bones you want to quit because you have to. Not want to. That there are compelling reasons outside one’s selfish circle of reasons that demand you to be better than who you are.

So if you want some non-hypocritical reason to stop smoking. There it is. Find a reason. The methods won’t matter as much as long as you will is convinced you have to quit. You will emerge a better person for this.

One of the things that hinder people from getting better sleep is the set of foods that they eat. This is because these foods might contain ingredients and other properties that can really affect the person’s chemical balance. If you think that the foods that you are eating affects you in getting better sleep, try assessing your food intake for one day.

What you can do is list down all the foods—including the drinks—that you have taken in for one day and make an assessment after that day. In this way, you can track down which are the foods and drinks you have taken affect your sleeping habits especially at night. The following are just some of the list of foods that might lead one to troublesome and uncomfortable sleeping at nighttime:

1. Too much food intake. This is considered as the major culprit why many people—especially those who don’t have sleeping problems before—are having a hard time sleeping all of a sudden. Experts say that if a person have overeaten, the tendency is that the stomach will have a hard time digesting it. Too much food may also affect the how the digestive system work and may even cause clinical conditions such as ulcer if done regularly.

2. Foods that contain too much fat. Experts say that people are eating foods that have too much fat are prone to not sleeping well at night because it creates a lot of digesting work for the stomach. If one wants to get better sleep, he or she should cut down on foods that are too rich or fatty so there will be lesser work for the stomach especially at nighttime.

3. Too much spicy or acidic foods. These sets of foods can very much affect one’s sleeping habits especially at nighttime. If one eats too many sets of spicy foods especially at night, it can lead to troubles in the stomach and even heartburn which makes it harder for you to lie down and get better sleep at night.

4. Too much alcohol intake. Some people say that alcohol may help one to get better sleep but on the contrary, it doesn’t especially if he or she has taken too much of it.

5. Foods that contain caffeine. These are another set of culprits for people who are having trouble sleeping. If you are prone to not sleeping, it is best to avoid foods as well as drinks that have high caffeine content such as coffee, chocolates, sodas that are caffeinated as well as teas. To get better sleep, it is best to not consume these for a while. Or if you really cannot do without these, try minimizing your consumption even for a couple of days. Once you get your sleeping pattern back, you may go back to consuming these but only to limited content so you would not go back to having sleeping problems again.

BodyguardX was formed so you can sleep easier in your home even when you are alone.  If you have any questions on security, surveillance or protection devices, don’t hesitate to fill out a contact form with any questions or concerns you may have.   Manuel De La Paz

Perhaps, you have heard a lot of people say that smoking is an old habit that dies hard. Smoking can become very addictive, and once a smoker becomes dependent on its substance, he will definitely lose most of his strength to steer clear from such addiction. Despite all the reminders of advertisements and all the warnings given by medical professionals regarding the harmful effects of smoking to one’s health, a lot of people are still lured by the aroma of a burning cigarette; and before they know it, they are already too hooked on smoking to quit it. And then, for any reason, they will begin to stop smoking, but then they will feel too weak to fight the urge to smoke again.

Smokers may say that they will stop smoking in due time. But when really is the right time to stop smoking? Don’t they know that the longer they prolong their addiction, the harder it shall be for them to quit it? Why wait for tomorrow, when you are already a victim now? In waiting, you are just waiting for the consequences of your actions to become more serious than it already is. Listen to what health practitioners are saying; take the brave attempt to quit smoking now.

In quitting, your tool winning tool is your willpower and determination. People may tell you how to go about the quitting process, but it is really your focus that will help you get through the rehabilitation. Just remember that it is never going to be a quick change, it would definitely require you to work hard for your goal. Do not look for the easy way out, keep in mind that you should do it slowly but surely.

Set your goals, and take note of the reasons why you are finally stopping. Emphasize on the benefits that you will get when you are finally a non-smoker instead of using all its harmful effects to scare you into quitting. The reward is a better motivation than the punishment. And as you set your goals, remember that there are trials as you quit smoking, such as the withdrawal stage, and this may be toughest part. You should be prepared when these symptoms occur.

You should plan activities that would keep your mind of smoking. Enjoy sports, or pamper yourself by going to the spa, or watching movies. Try to see how much productive you can be by doing all these things than just smoking. The money you are spending is well spent as well, and it is not just wasted on a bad vice. For the time being, hang out with your friends who are not smoking and surround yourself with an environment that would really make your forget about smoking.

Bear in mind that you are the key to the success of your battle against smoking. It is your determination that will push you to reach your goal. No matter how much people remind you to stop smoking, it is always you who has the last say. So, you should stay focused and determined.

And, you should know that if you are planning to stop smoking, now is the best time. Today is better than tomorrow, and this will certainly make your future a lot brighter and healthier. Do it now, be brave enough to stop smoking.

Equip your vehicle.  No matter what you are driving you will want to make sure your vehicle has good tires for winter conditions.  Load your tire chains in the vehicle along with tow rope, sand or kitty litter for traction, shovel, tool kit, windshield scraper and brush to wipe the windows.  Make sure you also have battery cables, first aid kit, flashlight, extra batteries, blankets and/or sleeping bags, extra clothing, candles, water proof matches, high calorie packaged food for energy to burn, and a empty can to melt snow for drinking.

Keep these items in all your vehicles.  One never knows when something like a rock or snow slide will strand you on the road when you weren’t expecting any problems. 

Avoid traveling during treacherous weather conditions.  Stay current on all weather and road conditions.  In Colorado you can check www.cotrip.org or use their phone number 1-877-315-7623.  In Colorado you can dial anywhere in Colorado dialing 511 will let you access road reports.  Get online and see what your state has available as to where you can go for this valuable weather and road conditoions information. 

If black ice present reduce your speed.  Melting snow easily freezes up to form black ice during winter time.  This thin layer of ice on the road is more common at night.  Be aware of your speed and be prepared when you do run into some black ice.

Brake carefully.  You will want to apply a steady pressure on your brakes rather than locking them up.  On snow and ice you will want to make sure that you have plenty of stopping distance.

If you become stranded stay with your vehicle.  Your vehicle will provide you warmth against a cold wind or falling snow.  It is imperative you stay dry.  Your vehicle will be easier to find, than you walking alone to get help.  It also will provide heat and a place to sleep.  Make sure your exhaust pipes are not covered with snow and you can run your motor every hour for a little while, with the heater on to get warmth.  You can leave your window cracked a little if you think exhaust could come up from underneath your car.  Keep moving your arms and legs regularly for circulation.  Exercise your fingers and toes as well.

Think ahead, be prepared and keep your family safe.

Take care,

Manuel De La Paz

Vehicle Winter Checklist.

• Adequate snow tires with good tread or studs.
• Tire chains with all the attachments.
• Tow rope.
• Sand, gravel or kitty litter for traction.
• Small shovel is always a good idea.
• Brush and ice scraper.
• Battery cables.
• First Aid Kit.
• Flashlight and extra batteries.
• Blankets and/or sleeping bags.
• Extra clothing.
• Candles and water prood matches.
• Packaged food with high calorie content for energy.
• Empty can so you can melt snow for drinking.

Prepare and keep your family safe.

The major consideration in this case is the severity of the condition. If you are sick due to fever, there are certain medications that should be taken in before bedtime. But if you are undergoing a terminal illness, it is best to seek the help of doctors on how you can sleep better.

Tips for a good sleep despite sickness

The best set up for people who are sick but who wants to get better sleep is to have somebody to help him or her with her needs. This is very ideal since the sick person doesn’t have to worry over things anymore. Having somebody to do the things that are you supposed to do is ideal since worrying aggravates the condition of a person who is sick. Other tips for sick people to get better sleep include:

1. If you can, try staying awake during daytime. Although people that are sick would crave sleeping almost all the time, this may not be the best because it means lesser sleep at night. Remember that sleeping at night is very crucial since it has longer hours compared to daytime. If you can try to stay awake at daytime, it would be the best so y ou would not disrupt your sleeping cycle.

2. Try to insert exercise during daytime. It may sound absurd to ask a sick person to exercise but in reality, the right amount of physical activity may help them to get better. Studies show that people who are sick have greater chances of getting better sleep at night if they do some simple exercises during the day because their bodies will be somehow “tired” and will “crave” for sleep at nighttime.

3. Ensure that the temperature is at comfortable levels. If you are a person who is not used to hot rooms, then it would be ideal to keep your bedroom on the cool side of it. Studies show that people who are sick have better chances of sleeping well if their room has mid-to-high 60′s fahrenheit.

4. Eliminate unnecessary noises. It is best to keep the room of a sick person as quiet as possible so his or her sleep is not disrupted. Experts say that people who are sick have greater chances of getting better if they are able to rest well. So, to ensure that the person who is sick will have a peaceful sleep, noises should be eliminated. If it is not possible to totally eliminate these, try other methods of minimizing them such as putting soft earplugs to the ears of the person or using a white noise machine.

5. Just the right amount of light. To get better sleep, people who are sick must try to sleep in a room that it either dark or with minimal amount of lights. Why? Because this setting will not only help them get better sleep but can also help them to relax and get well easily. You can keep the room dark by drawing the shades or pulling the curtains down. If you are not the type of person who is not used to totally dark room, try turning on the lamp shade so there will be enough light to get you by.

BodyguardX was formed so you can sleep easier in your home even when you are alone.  If you have any questions on security, surveillance or protection devices, don’t hesitate to fill out a contact form with any questions or concerns you may have.   Manuel De La Paz

Smoking may lead to an addiction; one thing that is very difficult to keep away from your system. Quitting smoking is a very hard process; thus, if your friend is on the process of doing so he will need all your support to do it. Be supportive and encourage him to defeat his urge to smoke. Be there with him as he tries to stop smoking.

Proper Encouragement

As a friend, your encouragement is your best contribution to your friend’s rehabilitation. Remember, with the right words said at the right time, you are able to push your friend to reach his goal. But, how can you really give encouragement without sounding too much of a nagger?

Encouragement follows after a person finally decides to quit smoking. Once he has the determination to quit, you step in to give him words of encouragement so that he will not lose his focus. This is the time when you have to let your friend feel that you are with him throughout this process and that you will stay beside him until he finally reaches his goal. Sometimes, words are not necessary anymore – your acts alone may be enough as encouragement.

You also have to remind yourself of the difficulty of the process that your friend is going through. This reminder will let you understand your friend more, and the better you understand his situation, the more helpful you can be. There may be times when your friend may not stop himself from puffing another stick, but you should not use this against him. Instead of criticizing his mistakes, try to remind him of his progress and steer him away from the said errors. You should not dwell on his mistakes, but on how he was able to correct such afterwards.

And though after quitting, addictive substances such as nicotine and tobacco still remain present within the system of someone who has recently stopped smoking. This is what causes relapse. Thus, the process still continues even after a long time, and you should continue to encourage for as long as your friend’s battle with smoking continues.

Process of Quitting

People have their own ways of quitting. Some say that it is better to quit all at once; however, there are still others who believe that it should be done slowly but surely. Slowly quitting would mean that nicotine exposure would be decreased moderately by consuming lesser cigarettes each day.

Really, it does not matter how one chooses to proceed with quitting. Whatever method he chooses, you should always be ready to give him the encouragement he needs. To do so, here are some things that may help you give confidence to your friend who needs to stop smoking:

1. When you talk about progress, stay positive and inspiring by pointing out the instances when he has really surpassed a trial.
2. Talk about his slip ups but refrain from dwelling on the matter.
3. You should support whatever quitting technique he may have chosen.
4. Help him avoid situations which may trigger his desire for smoking again.
5. Continue to be a friend!

You do not need to be licensed counselor to give good encouragement. All you need to be is to be loyal and one who cares for a friend. Just stay with them, back them up and make them feel that they are not alone in their attempt to stop smoking.

By Manuel De La Paz

Today setting up a burglar alarm is not as complicated as it use to be.  With wireless technology you no longer have to drill into doors and windows to pass wires through for your latches.  The internet now even offers lower costs to monitor your house when compared to the local home security companies.  There are also a lot of alarms now that you can set up yourself.  Learn what is out there and available that you can use right now.  There are still some cheap low cost devices that will make you feel a little safer while home alone as well.

Securing A Safe Home With A Burglar Alarm.

Years ago, home burglar alarms were only found in rich homes.  These days however, the prices have dropped and they are becoming more common with homes of average folk. You can get all the bells and whistles by choosing to have a Home Security Company install the system for you.  They will also monitor your home for a monthly fee.   More often people prefer to go on the cheap and install the system themselves.   A lot of people who invest in burglar alarm systems go for the do it yourself approach.  They can be wired or wireless, setting off an alarm when an intruder attempts to break in or when they are moving around inside of your house.

Burglar Alarms  will give you a warning that someone is trying to get in but what do you do if they do get in?  Some people will build a safe room where they can lock themselves and their family in until the police arrive.  Other people are happy with a loud alarm going off if the alarm is tripped, hoping that the burglar will be scared off or bring help in from the neighbors.  One can set up a loud alarm to go off automatically or have one that you have to personally set off when you realize the threat is real.  Others just prefer a silent alarm where the police are called, conceivably they get to your home while the culprits are robbing it and are captured.  That is fine if you are not home while they ransack the house.  If you or your family are inside the house when this happens you may want a loud personal alarm that you can set off hoping that it will scare the burglars away.  If you are worried about the length of time it would take the police to respond to your call you may want to look into a non lethal self defense device to keep the bad guys from hurting your family until help rescues you.

With home burglar alarms, there are two types – open and closed circuit.  Open circuit systems work by setting off an alarm when the circuit closes.  When a window or a door is opened, the circuit is immediately completed and the alarm goes off.  Closed circuit systems work the opposite way.  When a window or door is opened, the circuit is broken – also setting off the alarm.

Another, more sophisticated option, are motion sensors.  Motion sensors sense any type of motion within a certain radius to the sensor.  Once it has sensed any motion, it sends a signal out to the control panel that will analyze it and see if the movement is considered suspicious.  If the movement is indeed considered suspicious, it will react to the way you have it set up and inform the proper authorities or sound the alarm.

Motion sensors can also be adjusted as well.  You can adjust them for things such as pets walking around or any other activity that is common with your home that wouldn’t signify a burglary taking place. Motion sensor alarms are very common these days, and one of the best ways to keep your home safe from a burglar – and give you peace of mind in knowing that you are protected.

One of the most inexpensive motion alarm systems is also used as a door ringer when a customer walks into a store it rings a bell to let the salespeople know a customer is waiting.  This is our Barking Dog Alarm. It can sound like a barking dog or set off a door bell chime to warn you.  If someone enters a backdoor or basement window one of these alarms will let you know and most likely make the burglar think twice about continuing into the house.

Normally, it’s a good idea to use motion sensors and magnetic switches with your burglar alarm setup.  Magnetic switches will protect doors and windows while the motion sensors will help to protect larger rooms, such as living rooms and hallways.  The combination of the two is never a bad idea – and will go a long way in protecting your home.

BodyguardX carries a series of low cost products that include motion alert alarms, magnetic door alarms, entry door alarms, voice alert alarms and Homesafe wireless Home Security Systems.  They are not limited to being used as burglar alarms but can tell you when the kids enter the pool area, shop or garage.  These all can be used in various different ways to protect your family, home or business.  Keep checking our blog and we will show you how you can use all this technology in so many different ways to protect your family.

Another available option that you have is a security camera.  Video cameras are also common these days, and can be mounted in very strategic areas throughout the parameter of your home.  They will pick up images in the area they are mounted, which will be displayed on the monitor.  Until recently you would record the video to a videotape recorder changing the tape at regular intervals.  Sometimes several times a day.  Now we record surveillance with a DVR that uses a hard drive inside.  Sometimes you can record a whole months surveillance before having to get another hard drive, transfer the recordings or erase the old footage.  This makes the DVR an ideal choice for anyone who wants to keep track of the information that the camera picks up.  They also make great upgrades to old existing surveillance systems.  We carry a variety of models at SpyTeQ and SurveillanceX.

You can also get a burglar system from a home security company as well.  Most companies monitor their systems remotely, and always have someone in the office to look after the system.  Once the alarm is set off, the company will immediately inform the local police or send their own security personnel out to your home.  This way, night or day, no matter where you go, your home will always be protected.

There are services on the internet that charge a very low monthly fee to monitor your house.  The price is a lot lower than a local home security company that watches your residence. These internet companies will sell you the wireless devices you install all over your house.  When someone breaks into your home the alarm system will notify the alarm company through the internet, who in turn will notify the police.

There are also motion alert systems that will call your cell phone so you can listen to what is going on.  Many people use this phone alert in tandem with a surveillance camera system.  What good is the video recording if you can’t catch the perpetrators as well?    Once these motion alerts call the homeowners they not only are able to call the police but they also can get on the internet and watch what the criminals are doing, including their arrest if the police get there quick enough.

Investing in a burglary system of any type is always a smart investment.  You have several different to choose from, depending on your needs.  If you’ve been worried about your home and the things you keep inside your home, you should invest in a burglary system.  They will help you keep peace of mind, and know that you are protected.  They don’t cost that much either, which makes them an even better investment.  If you own a home – you shouldn’t hesitate to invest in a burglary system.

It is all up to one chromosome that determines the sex of an individual.  So it is like a toss of a coin and that abusive male could have been a female.  This alone should make reasonable thinking men realize that women are not second class citizens but equal in rights even though we are both built differently and have differing qualities.I mention this because of a story I read in ‘The Glenwood Post Independent’ (Glenwood Springs, CO.) about a woman who crossed the border many times to escape a abusive husband.  The article is called “Lena” and can be found at this link:

http://immigrantcolorado.blogspot.com/

This is an excellent series of articles by Walter Gallecher that deserves a read.- Manuel

The woman crossed the desert with a brace on her neck because of a fracture.  You will have to read it because I find it difficult to express what a lot of people have to face everyday.  Then reading the account I was surprised that people would tell her husband where she was at.  My wife was upset by this asking, “How could they do this to her?”  I told her from my experience men are so good at lying to themselves and others.  They can convince others that they are trying to make their marriage work but the wife just will not talk.  I find sometimes other women put abused women in danger without realizing it.

Women like this face obstacles from all over.  They deserve some praise when they do overcome these obstacles and are able to live a quiet life.  The obstacles they face are cultural, religious and from the imperfections of men.  I seem to get a lot of people angry when I say ‘religious’ but I have seen this first hand personally.  I have been threatened by people when I try to set the matter straight when they misuse the bible to back their interpretation and justify their abuse scripturally. I will have to get more into this later.  It isn’t the first time people have used holy writings to justify bad actions.

I am reminded of an incident that happened to a  friend of mine.  She had been beaten by her husband and left him.  She said the local priest then came to her and told her she was scripturally bound to go back to her husband.  No one, man or woman, should ever have to put up with abuse.  It is true the bible wants the couple to try and patch things up but it never says that a partner has to put up with beatings.  I always wondered why the priest never told the husband the words at 1 Peter 3:7 that tells us if a man is not treating his wife well God will not listen to his prayers.  Nor should the church be listening to the husband if the abuse is a continuous pattern.  Here religion could stop a lot of abuse by explaining the writings clearly instead of including bias leanings that benefit their own desires.  Instead they zero in on (and misuse the meaning) 1 Peter 3 verse 5 that says wives should be in subjection to their husbands.  The reference here is that they should be working together not for men to dominate women.  Two people cannot steer a bus.  If they tried they would eventually crash.  The subjection here is meant to convey the thought that they should both discuss where they want to go and then the husband takes the lead by steering.  It is much like driving a bus.  Two people cannot work in different directions and expect to get much done.

In a practical example let’s say they realize they only have a hundred dollars in the checking account until pay day. They both agree to use the money only for essentials until then.  If the wife went out and bought a dress on sale she would not be in subjection to the arrangement.  Likewise if the man went out and bought some sports equipment he would not be taking a proper lead.  It outlines clearly that both have responsibilities and a obligation to work together in this arrangement.

One day I will get more into this but I am always saddened when I see men dominating women to their injury.  From the ‘Eve Teasing’ in India to the abuses in Mexico we have to work to correct these things.  In a just world this should never even happen.  It is just a reality of this world at least until something better comes along.

I am veering off the track.  Read this article and see what you think.  At least she was trying to be a good parent and mother.

http://immigrantcolorado.blogspot.com/

I am inserting the article below in case they move the link:

Lena

by Walter Gallacher

Intro: Lena (not her real name) has been running from abuse most of her life. She has crossed the U.S.-Mexican border five times. Each time, she has been running from her abusive husband who has pursued her and her children.

Lena: I came to the United States for the first time in 1993. I was running for my life to escape the violence of my husband. The abuse started after the birth of my first child when I was sixteen. I came here and he followed me so I ran back to Mexico. He followed me wherever I went. That was my life for eighteen years, running.

I would walk across the desert sometimes for three or four days without water and without food. Sometimes I had my kids in my arms. I saw a lot of other women, like me, walking with their kids in their arms, running from the abuse in Mexico.

He was a terrible to me. Once, here in Glenwood when I was pregnant with my youngest child, he tried to cut me open with a knife. I called the police but he told me, if he got arrested and deported, he would kill my family in Mexico. So when the police came, I told them that nothing had happened.

When I was in Mexico, I would just stay in my house and have someone take my kids to school and bring them to me. I was afraid that if I went to the school someone would see me and tell my husband.

When he tried to kill me in Mexico, I called the police and they just said, “You know ma’am, we have more important things to do.” They never came to my house. So my kids and I always lived in fear. Always. Even today, when someone knocks at our door, the kids run to me. They are still waiting for the trouble to start again.

Gallacher: Have you and your kids received any therapy?

Lena: Yes. Our therapist has been like an angel. She has helped me and my kids begin to see people as normal and not as a threat. But it has been hard for them to forget the times that he would come in the night and break the windows in the house and scare us all.

Gallacher: What was your childhood like in Mexico?

Lena: It was the same. I had a stepfather who was violent and abused my mom and me and my brothers and sisters. But my mom had no place to run. When my husband started abusing me, my mother was living in the United States so I was able to run to her. I had a choice, but when I was little my mom didn’t have a safe place to go.

Gallacher: Is he in prison now?

Lena: No, he’s in Mexico.

Gallacher: You have crossed a number of times was there one time that stands out from the others?

Lena: The hardest time for me was in 2005. That was the time that I had my neck broken and I was wearing a neck brace and my face was all swollen. I begged immigration at the border to let me come to the United States. I knew that if I stayed in Mexico, he would kill me. But they told me I needed papers to cross and sent me away.

But I came anyway. I left my kids with family and started walking across the desert, drinking water from mud puddles and horse tanks. I would suck the water through my blouse to filter out the bad stuff. I was so thirsty that the water tasted delicious. I didn’t eat for two days.

I walked through the night. I could hear the snakes rattling. I could see the snakes all around me, some were even hanging in the trees. There was more than just snakes. There were scorpions and other animals. I saw them all around me! I prayed to God because I felt like I was going to die at any moment.

We would walk and walk and then the “coyote” would say, “This is the time to sleep.” We moved the rocks enough to be able to make a place and we sleep. But with all the snakes and animals around me, I was never sure I would wake up.

Gallacher: Did people die on that trip?

Lena: I saw one young woman. She was very heavy and she decided she couldn’t walk anymore. She stayed in the middle of the desert, crying. I’m not sure what happened to her. Immigration was chasing us, so I think she got caught. I saw pregnant girls walking for three or four days. I saw women with little ones in their arms. It was terrible.

Gallacher: Did you ever feel like giving up?

Lena: Yes, on that trip my neck was hurting, my face was swollen and I had a cut on my arm. As I was walking I thought, “Well, maybe if I stay here in the desert that’s fine. I don’t want anymore, anything. Maybe staying here is fine.” But then I said, “No! I have to stay strong and continue trying to make a better life with my kids.”

Just as I was thinking about that I heard a noise and looked back and it was a helicopter. I was crying and crying and the immigration officer was trying to tell me that everything was going to be all right. They gave me coffee and crackers and kept telling me that it was going to be “O.K.” But I knew it wasn’t going to be o.k. I was going back to Mexico and the danger. That was a terrible year.

Gallacher: When did things start to go better for you?

Lena: I finally got back to the United States in 2006. I found a lot of good people here. The man I was working for told me about the people at Advocate Safehouse. At first I doubted that people would even believe my story, but Linda, a teacher at the high school, helped me and the people at Advocate Safehouse welcomed me. Aide and Jennifer Smith helped me get a *U visa.

People ask me if I want to go back and I say, “No thanks, no more.” Yes, sometimes I miss my country, but then I think about everything that happened there. It’s hard for me to forget the violence of eighteen years, but now I’m together with my kids, I have my papers and I finally feel safe and happy for the first time in a long time.

I’m working hard to get money so my kids can go to college. I just want them to go to school and be good students. My dream is to see my kids become good persons and have a good life. That’s my big dream.

I don’t want to see violence anymore in my house.

*The purpose of the U visa is to give victims of certain crimes temporary legal status and work eligibility in the United States for up to 4 years. The U visa is a nonimmigrant visa and only 10,000 U visas may be issued every fiscal year. Family members may also be included on the petition including spouses, children, unmarried sisters and brothers under 18, mothers, fathers, as well as stepparents and adoptive parents. An approved U visa petition will automatically grant the applicant work eligibility in the United States.

Posted by Walter Gallacher at 12:40 PM

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