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    <channel>
        <title>User Posts : Bakersfield.com</title>
        <link>http://people.bakersfield.com</link>
        <description>User Posts on http://people.bakersfield.com</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
                    <item>
                <title>Bakersfield Rescue Mission gets 40 more beds under cap system</title>
                <link>http://people.bakersfield.com/home/ViewPost/56084</link>
                <description>
                  
                                    &lt;p&gt;BY DAN GORMAN&lt;br /&gt;
Mission executive director&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
The Bakersfield Rescue Mission, which recently announced its first-ever limit on space for homeless males to 110 beds, wants to keep space open for an extra 40 men.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This means the Mission would provide its full range of &amp;ldquo;crisis intervention services&amp;rdquo; to a total capped number of 150 homeless men.&amp;nbsp; The numbers of men in short-term &amp;ldquo;crisis intervention&amp;rdquo; at the Mission has been as high as 250.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In addition, the number of men and women in the Mission&#039;s separate, one-year &amp;ldquo;Christian Discipleship Program&amp;rdquo; has been capped at 70.&amp;nbsp; This brings the Mission&#039;s total numbers to 180 with the new cap---or 220 if 40 extra spaces can be added.&amp;nbsp; Either total makes the Mission the city&#039;s largest provider of shelter for the homeless.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Mission&#039;s cap on its number -- unprecedented in its 57-year history of service to this community -- became necessary due to the ever-increasing costs of serving unlimited numbers of men. The rising costs of services for the growing numbers of homeless men simply out-paced donations for operational expenses that enable the Mission to provide services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;However, if the Mission can find sources for a modest infusion of extra funding for operating costs, it will be possible to raise its numbers by 40 beds. That increase of bed space would be a significant help for our city&#039;s population of homeless males. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Mission&#039;s executive director, Dan Gorman, is ready to answer any questions about what can be done to help the Mission raise its newly capped numbers. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Gorman says two questions yet to be asked about the Mission&#039;s realignment are:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;ldquo;How has the Mission been able to provide its service around the clock for unlimited numbers for so many years without resorting to the policy of capped numbers already in place for most other similar programs? How has the Mission been able to do so with a far lower level of government funding than the government funding given to other similar local programs even though it serves the greatest numbers?&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Gorman says, &amp;ldquo;The Mission was never intended to be Kern County&#039;s primary program of services for an unlimited number of homeless men. Even so, the Mission has gladly filled this role for many years as its Christ-honoring service to our city. However, given today&#039;s economy, the Mission can no longer carry this load mainly on its own shoulders without help from all those concerned about the homeless in our midst.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Contact: Dan Gorman 472-5748&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
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                <title>Twelfth grade winners - What My Family Means to Me</title>
                <link>http://people.bakersfield.com/home/ViewPost/38632</link>
                <description>
                  
                                    &amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
First place&lt;br /&gt;
Twelfth grade&lt;br /&gt;
James Garcia&lt;br /&gt;
Vista East High School&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My Family!&lt;br /&gt;
My family means the world to me I would do anything in the owlrd for them because the mean that much to me. Any time my listtle sister Baby needs anything like a rid money or just something if I have it its hers if I don&amp;rsquo;t have it I will try my hardest to get it for her. Even with my big sister I still try to give but she&amp;rsquo;s most likely the one who gives me money when I need it! If my Mom or Day doesn&amp;rsquo;t have it I know I can always go and ask my big sister Vanessa. My parents are the 2 most important people in the world. I know lots of times I can seem pretty ungrateful but I appreciate every thing they have done for me. The number one thing that I really appreciate the most and I don&amp;rsquo;t know if they know this but it&amp;rsquo;s how they both brought me into this world. The number two thing is how is how every time I get in trouble or do something stupid, like I always do, they&amp;rsquo;re always on my side no matter if I&amp;rsquo;m right or wrong they always have my back to the fullest. Another person I really appreciate is my big brother Bobbie. He passed away a year ago. but when he was here he always helped me whenever I got myself into trouble. He always did a good job of being a big brother I had no complaints. He may not be here any more, but I know sometimes when I&amp;rsquo;m having trouble, need help and all of a sudden the answer to my troubles somehow just pops up, its him looking down on me helping me out. My family may not be perfect and neither am I but I tell you what, you will never find another family quite like mine.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Second place&lt;br /&gt;
Twelfth grade&lt;br /&gt;
Shanequa Byrd&lt;br /&gt;
Vista East High School&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
What My Family Means To Me&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Family is a very strong word and the are the best thing in the world They are the ones I run to when I need them the most I don&amp;rsquo;t know about you but I do I should propose a toast to the&amp;nbsp; best family in the world I wish I could do more to show them how I feel about&amp;nbsp; them I love you all so much I feel like I can tell them anything if I have a problem in my life I run to them for advice when I have a boy problem I run to them when I need help I run to&amp;nbsp; them when I need a ride I run to them I love you and when I get in to a situation I can&amp;rsquo;t get out of I run to them mad or sad you guys are there for me are when I need you the most you are there for me at all times night or day rain or snow you are there for me so I would once again I would like to say thank you for that and I love you family.
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                <title>Eleventh grade winners - What My Family Means to Me</title>
                <link>http://people.bakersfield.com/home/ViewPost/38631</link>
                <description>
                  
                                    First place&lt;br /&gt;
Eleventh grade&lt;br /&gt;
Brittany Stancil&lt;br /&gt;
Vista East High School&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
What My Family Means to Me&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Family is something that everyone has and should have as a part of their lives as there number one and also there everything. My family is and will always be here for me mentally and physically through the situations that I go threw as being a teenager and also as a human being and that&amp;rsquo;s what my family provides for me. My mother, &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Grandmother, and also my older sister Brianna help me with everything that I need. My mother pays for me to eat, sleep in my house that I live in and also buys me everything including my school clothing and also my accessories. MY grandmother helps me buy some of my school clothing when times get hard for my mom to provide everything that is needed and to me having someone that is always willing to help you in time of need it very important. My older sister Brianna is my hero because at any point or time in my life when I need and needed help I could always remember her just being there as a helping hand for me.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
These few of the reasons are why my family is important to me in many ways.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
By Brittany Stancil
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                <title>Tenth grade winners - What My Family Means to Me</title>
                <link>http://people.bakersfield.com/home/ViewPost/38630</link>
                <description>
                  
                                    &amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
First place&lt;br /&gt;
Tenth grade&lt;br /&gt;
Courtney Perez&lt;br /&gt;
Stockdale High School&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On My Mind&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laying in my bed &lt;br /&gt;
Wishing I was dead&lt;br /&gt;
Knowing that none of my dreams will come true&lt;br /&gt;
I start to think about my mom&lt;br /&gt;
And all the good things we&amp;rsquo;ve been through&lt;br /&gt;
And in the back of my mind I think about my dad&lt;br /&gt;
And why he was never around&lt;br /&gt;
Why I was never his Princess&lt;br /&gt;
Why I never got crowned&lt;br /&gt;
But I still have my mom&lt;br /&gt;
And my brothers too&lt;br /&gt;
And when I look at them&lt;br /&gt;
Nothing seems so blue&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Second place&lt;br /&gt;
Tenth grade&lt;br /&gt;
Angel Tello&lt;br /&gt;
Stockdale High School&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
What My Family Means to Me&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
What my family really means to me is that they are always for me when I need them and are always there to help me. In my family I have a little brother who is 7 years old and we sometimes get each other mad but at the end I always forgive him becuase he&amp;rsquo;s my little brother. My Mom and Dad are really special to me because they always help me and are always there when I need them. My family also means a lot to me because we always travel to places and we have a lot of fun together. I like when I spend time with my family because we really do have a lot of fun and I&amp;rsquo;m really lucky to have them. We and my dada are always having fun with each other because we have fun messing around with my mom and my little brother. He sometimes buys me a whole lot of things and when he&amp;rsquo;s at work I tell him to bring me some food because he&amp;rsquo;s an assistant manager at Burger King. This is why I really like my family. They really mean a whole lot to me and I never want them to leave.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Third place&lt;br /&gt;
Tenth grade&lt;br /&gt;
Brandon Aninipok&lt;br /&gt;
Stockdale High School&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
What My Family Means to Me&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My family means the world to me! I don&amp;rsquo;t care how much we fight, or how long we&amp;rsquo;re apart. My mom and my dad are the strongest people I&amp;rsquo;ve ever met in my life.&lt;br /&gt;
My mom and dad have been married for 10 years now and they&amp;rsquo;ve been apart for 3. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This is why the are so strong and so faithful to each other.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
What I can say about my brothers? My brothers are the greatest. I have three brothers, Andree, Eli, and Ryan. We have the best of memories. We used to stay up all night playing video games, but my two older brothers grew up and moved so now its just Ryan and me.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I have two sisters, Stephanie and Maya. My sisters and I fight all the time and it really makes me sad that we fight all the time, because when we don&amp;rsquo;t fight we are really really close to each other. I&amp;rsquo;ve been so close to losing my sister to graves disease and thats why I get sad when we fight.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As you can tell I have a pretty normal family if you can count this as normal, but I really don&amp;rsquo;t care what you think about us - my family means the world to me!
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                <title>Ninth grade winners - What My Family Means to Me</title>
                <link>http://people.bakersfield.com/home/ViewPost/38629</link>
                <description>
                  
                                    Kelsey Gaines&lt;br /&gt;
First Place&lt;br /&gt;
Ninth Grade&lt;br /&gt;
Frontier High&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A Family for Everyone and Everything&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Like a fawn and it&amp;rsquo;s mother,&lt;br /&gt;
Learning to walk,&lt;br /&gt;
Is like a little baby&lt;br /&gt;
Learning to crawl&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Like a Tasmanian devil,&lt;br /&gt;
Crying until it&amp;rsquo;s hoarse,&lt;br /&gt;
Is like a young child&lt;br /&gt;
Throwing a tantrum&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Like a mother bird leaving&lt;br /&gt;
Her baby to look for food,&lt;br /&gt;
Is like a child being left&lt;br /&gt;
On the first day of school&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Like a caterpillar&lt;br /&gt;
Shutting out the world&lt;br /&gt;
Is like a teen&lt;br /&gt;
Going through the rough times&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Like a young lion&lt;br /&gt;
Leaving the pride,&lt;br /&gt;
Is like a teen&lt;br /&gt;
Leaving home for a new life&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Like a oiled bird&lt;br /&gt;
Finding refuge in human&amp;rsquo;s arms&lt;br /&gt;
Is like a man finding comfort&lt;br /&gt;
With his new family&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Family is there&lt;br /&gt;
Through good times and bad&lt;br /&gt;
And they are all you get,&lt;br /&gt;
Whether you like it or not.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Family means the most to me&lt;br /&gt;
And I try to be&lt;br /&gt;
the best daughter&lt;br /&gt;
Anyone&amp;rsquo;s ever seen&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Family is everywhere,&lt;br /&gt;
In animals and humans&lt;br /&gt;
We just have to look past the bad&lt;br /&gt;
And focus on the good.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Second place&lt;br /&gt;
Ninth grade&lt;br /&gt;
Lawrence Rodriguez&lt;br /&gt;
Foothill High School&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Family&lt;br /&gt;
I am a teenager&lt;br /&gt;
obviously&lt;br /&gt;
without a doubt&lt;br /&gt;
insecure to my breaking point.&lt;br /&gt;
Completely stressed out&lt;br /&gt;
might snap at any moment&lt;br /&gt;
its thoughts like these&lt;br /&gt;
that make me feel glad&lt;br /&gt;
I have a family.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
When times get tough&lt;br /&gt;
I need someone there&lt;br /&gt;
forget about friends&lt;br /&gt;
some don&amp;rsquo;t care&lt;br /&gt;
Why look a mile?&lt;br /&gt;
When the answer&amp;rsquo;s right here&lt;br /&gt;
Why suffer in pain?&lt;br /&gt;
when healing is near&lt;br /&gt;
my family&lt;br /&gt;
my pain killer&lt;br /&gt;
My everhitng&lt;br /&gt;
and more&lt;br /&gt;
They&amp;rsquo;re giving me everything&lt;br /&gt;
and I owe them so much&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I can never explain&lt;br /&gt;
what my family&lt;br /&gt;
means to me&lt;br /&gt;
but I do thank them&lt;br /&gt;
for setting me free&lt;br /&gt;
of the state of mind&lt;br /&gt;
where love means hate&lt;br /&gt;
and it&amp;rsquo;s all I know&lt;br /&gt;
where I felt so mad&lt;br /&gt;
and let it show&lt;br /&gt;
when the voice in my head&lt;br /&gt;
was silenced&lt;br /&gt;
a mute&lt;br /&gt;
they made it speak&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I love them to death&lt;br /&gt;
and thats all I can say&lt;br /&gt;
unlike those memories&lt;br /&gt;
my family&amp;rsquo;s here to stay.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Third place&lt;br /&gt;
Ninth grade&lt;br /&gt;
Leanza Gibson&lt;br /&gt;
Foothill High School&lt;br /&gt;
Thompson &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
What My Family Means to Me:&lt;br /&gt;
When times are hard, And yes they can be, When times are hard, My family&amp;rsquo;s with me. &lt;br /&gt;
When I feel alone, When day becomes night, My mom&amp;rsquo;ss my beacon shining so right,&lt;br /&gt;
Being the youngest is the hardest of all. Like your family picks you up instead of watching you fall,&lt;br /&gt;
My family is special to me because their there through the seasons, I don&amp;rsquo;t ask wh but I&amp;rsquo;m sure there&amp;rsquo;s reasons. &lt;br /&gt;
Through hard times, battles, and depressions, My family is like god&amp;rsquo;s chest, And always there when I need them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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                <title>Eighth grade winners - What My Family Means to Me</title>
                <link>http://people.bakersfield.com/home/ViewPost/38628</link>
                <description>
                  
                                    Savannah Maldonado&lt;br /&gt;
First place&lt;br /&gt;
Eighth grade&lt;br /&gt;
Curran Jr. High&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
To many words to express&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My family is like candy&lt;br /&gt;
So dandy and humble&lt;br /&gt;
If I need to rumble on about my problems&lt;br /&gt;
They are right there to help me through it&lt;br /&gt;
Families should be tightly knitted together&lt;br /&gt;
Like a sweater&lt;br /&gt;
Through thick and thin&lt;br /&gt;
You feel so good when they are yelling you on&lt;br /&gt;
Good job! After scoring a goal at your soccer game&lt;br /&gt;
When you sit together at dinner&lt;br /&gt;
You can hear the excitement in your voices&lt;br /&gt;
You almost sound like birds&lt;br /&gt;
Singing a beautiful harmony or a church choir&lt;br /&gt;
Don&amp;rsquo;t ever take them for granted&lt;br /&gt;
I promise you will long for them back&lt;br /&gt;
My family is so many words to express&lt;br /&gt;
The one that sticks out the most to me is&lt;br /&gt;
Loving!!!!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Brenda Barroso&lt;br /&gt;
Second place&lt;br /&gt;
Eighth Grade&lt;br /&gt;
Stiern Jr. High&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My family means the world to me. They love me, and accept me no matter what. Without them, I don&amp;rsquo;t know what I would do.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My mom is my hero. She knows how to make me laugh whenever I am sad. She is the nicest person in the world! She is always loving. Even when she&amp;rsquo;s in a hurry, she still has the time to tell me she loves me. I don&amp;rsquo;t think I&amp;rsquo;ll ever be as good as my mom.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My grandma is really patient. She had twelve kids, so that must make her patient. She is also very giving. Even if she doesn&amp;rsquo;t have much money, she finds a way to buy me something. I also think she is a strong woman. Out of her twelve kids, two of them died. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
That, I think, makes her strong.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My little brother is very funny. He always knows what to do to make me feel better. He is very nice. He is always hugging me! He is also very energetic; I can always have fun with him.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I&amp;rsquo;m proud of being part of the family. I love my family, and I know they will always love me.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Georgina Terrones&lt;br /&gt;
Third place&lt;br /&gt;
Eighth grade&lt;br /&gt;
Curran Jr. High&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Most Important Thing to Me&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
They catch me if I fall&lt;br /&gt;
without me even having to call&lt;br /&gt;
They drive me crazy that is true&lt;br /&gt;
but without them I wouldn&amp;rsquo;t know what to do&lt;br /&gt;
they love me mistakes and all&lt;br /&gt;
and beacuse of that I am able to stand tall&lt;br /&gt;
They have scared away the endless night&lt;br /&gt;
so I can now see the world can be bright&lt;br /&gt;
I know that they are near&lt;br /&gt;
because I cannot shed a single tear&lt;br /&gt;
I see their love shine&lt;br /&gt;
and it&amp;rsquo;s great knowing that it&amp;rsquo;s all mine&lt;br /&gt;
So I guess I would have to agree&lt;br /&gt;
that the most important thing to me&lt;br /&gt;
will always be my family
                </description>

                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title>Seventh grade winners - What My Family Means to Me</title>
                <link>http://people.bakersfield.com/home/ViewPost/38627</link>
                <description>
                  
                                    &lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Jonathen Cervantes&lt;br /&gt;
Third place&lt;br /&gt;
Seventh grade&lt;br /&gt;
Stiern Jr. High&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
What My Family Mean To Me&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
You know the feelings you get when you&amp;rsquo;re with somebody you care about, with somebody you love. Well that is the feelings I get when I&amp;rsquo;m with my family. My family is always there for me, when I&amp;rsquo;m hurt and when I&amp;rsquo;m upset. They are the ones I can count on for any problem I have. I learned everything from my grandpa. He taught me to how to plant food. When my grandpa came into my life, I started to work hard around the house. My dad taught me how to be kind to others. He taught me everything about life and about faith. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
See when I was growing up, my dad took care of me and my sister. When I was five and my sister was four my dad took us to the U.S. to live here. Me and my sister left everybody we cared about in Mexico, our grandma, our grandpa, our aunts and ancles, and our cousins were all back in Mexico the places we left behind to move to the U.S. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Then came my stepmom. She was kind to us and she was funny too. She had three kids. Two of them were at Mexico. One was here in the U.S. Then my stepmkom&amp;rsquo;s kids came to the U.S. They were kind and funny. Me and my sister like them like they were our real brother and sister. Three years have past. There was a newborn in the family our little sister Mimi. Two more years have past my little sister now knows how to walk. Her first word was papa. I love my family and everyone in it. We are all family in this world and we are all brothers and sisters. That is my story about what my family means to me.
                </description>

                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title>Sixth grade winners - What My Family Means to Me</title>
                <link>http://people.bakersfield.com/home/ViewPost/38626</link>
                <description>
                  
                                    &amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
First Place&lt;br /&gt;
Sixth Grade&lt;br /&gt;
Jessica Core&lt;br /&gt;
Curran Junior High&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My family is more important and I want to show I care&lt;br /&gt;
Your family is more important than your cloths or hair&lt;br /&gt;
They&amp;rsquo;ll be there for you every day&lt;br /&gt;
They&amp;rsquo;ll be there for lyou every step of the way&lt;br /&gt;
Not your friends not your date&lt;br /&gt;
Family love is the way&lt;br /&gt;
It&amp;rsquo;s kinda like your a tree and &lt;br /&gt;
everyone else are the branches, leaves or roots&lt;br /&gt;
Your leaves and maybe some branches are the friends that you think care&lt;br /&gt;
Most of the branches are the people&lt;br /&gt;
You&amp;rsquo;ve known forever&lt;br /&gt;
But your family is the roots and &lt;br /&gt;
They&amp;rsquo;ll be there no matter what&lt;br /&gt;
When you become a teen you think&lt;br /&gt;
Music and friends are everything but there &lt;br /&gt;
Not&lt;br /&gt;
You may not believe me but then you&amp;rsquo;ll &lt;br /&gt;
Learn the hard way&lt;br /&gt;
When they 1 day leave you out in &lt;br /&gt;
The dust and just forget about you like&lt;br /&gt;
A piece of trash&lt;br /&gt;
You might get mad at your syblings&lt;br /&gt;
Sometimes but iln 20 years when you have &lt;br /&gt;
No money and your living on the streets&lt;br /&gt;
Go to there doorstep and you&amp;rsquo;ll wee what &lt;br /&gt;
I mean&lt;br /&gt;
This is just to tell you that your &lt;br /&gt;
Family is important and you should let them&lt;br /&gt;
Know that.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Second place&lt;br /&gt;
Sixth grade&lt;br /&gt;
Jereniss Alcantar&lt;br /&gt;
Stockdale School&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My family means a lot&amp;nbsp; to me, they care about me, they would do anything for me They&amp;rsquo;re always there to support me wheterh it&amp;rsquo;s a soccer game, or a chorus performance they are always by my side. Even my little brothers&amp;rsquo; like to think of as their super sister. Even though my brothers can be a pain sometimes, they&amp;rsquo;re always there to put a smile n my face when i&amp;rsquo;m feeling sad. My parents can be strict when they get amd, but I always feel comfortable talking to them about my problems, they always understand. I kow some kids who say their parents are just like that, but you know they care about you and they share embarassing photos and things like that with other people, because they want to treasure each moment with you. I guess what I&amp;rsquo;m trying to say is that no matter what my family does or says they&amp;rsquo;re still my family . They are always there to catch me if I fall and I will always lov ethem no matter what!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Paul Mayer&lt;br /&gt;
Third place&lt;br /&gt;
Sixth grade&lt;br /&gt;
Stockdale School&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
What My Family Means to Me&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If I need a hug or a joke to cheer me up, my family is there for me. Although it&amp;rsquo;s just my dad and mom, they&amp;rsquo;ve always been there for me, as long as I can remember, providing in every way and giving that &amp;ldquo;push&amp;rdquo; out of love to keep me going. Like the time I wanted to ride a bicycle without training wheels but was afraid I might fall. They helped me by encouraging me and then letting me fall. When I have scraped my knees while trying, my family encouraged me to pick myself up again. They let me figure out my mistakes and I was proud I could finally figure it out by myself.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I might get mad at my family for letting me fail but if I remember why they do this, I know it&amp;rsquo;s out of love. I&amp;rsquo;ve learned the genuine meaning of family love, not the artificial and temporary love, the love that lasts for a short time and goes away, leaving a cold, deep, everlasting imprint. The love and feeling of &amp;ldquo;I did it&amp;rdquo; lasts forever, leaving a mark of happiness and pride. That mark means the love of my family.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                </description>

                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title>Fifth grade winners - What My Family Means to Me</title>
                <link>http://people.bakersfield.com/home/ViewPost/38625</link>
                <description>
                  
                                    &amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
First place&lt;br /&gt;
fifth grade&lt;br /&gt;
Erika Rico&lt;br /&gt;
Shirley Lane Elementary&lt;br /&gt;
Ortiz &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My family means so much to me. My family is special to me because we help each other with problems that we have together. They are loving, caring, awsome people in m life. I never want to loose them. I hlep my mom with the baby, so she can take a break. Every time I get sad or angry they are always there to make me feel better. &lt;br /&gt;
My mom she always makes me laugh when she says something funny. She helps me get through the tough things that are happening in my life. We always try everyting together. My dad is funny, he always makes me giggle. He is smart too, he helps me with my homework all the time. &lt;br /&gt;
My brother Isaiah, he is fun to play with. Every time I feel sad he is always the first to cme to me and say &amp;ldquo;Are&amp;nbsp; you okay?&amp;rdquo; My sister Karissa, I lover her so much. We always talk, listen to music, and play with our build-a-bears. Together, it&amp;nbsp; is fun. My sister Vivian, we don&amp;rsquo;t talk much. We watch tv, movies, and other stuff together.&lt;br /&gt;
I love them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Second place&lt;br /&gt;
Fifth grade&lt;br /&gt;
Amanda Garza&lt;br /&gt;
Shirley Lane Elementary&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
What My Family Means to Me&lt;br /&gt;
What my family means to me is the most important thing. They mean so much to me because they love me and I love them back even more. They have taught me everything I know right now, and they have taught me the responsibility of being a good person. The special thing about them is that when you are with them you never want to leave their sight. Whenever I feel lonely or sad the are always there to comfort me.&lt;br /&gt;
My parents are the reason I wake up with a smile every morning. They are practically my whole life. I would give them anything in the world. For as long as I live I will be thankful for my family. My family has always been there for me so now I will be there for them. My family is as close as a family could get. My family is an ordinary family but deep down they are one special and talented family. If there was something wrong they always new how to solve it. My family may not be the most perfect family but they sure can cheer up anyone who is upset. That is why my family means a lot to me.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Third Place&lt;br /&gt;
Fifth Grade&lt;br /&gt;
Luis Martinez&lt;br /&gt;
Shirley Lane Elementary School&lt;br /&gt;
Ortiz&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My family is very special for me because they take care of me whenever I need help. They make everything that&amp;rsquo;s hard, easy. My family are really awesome people because we always have family time together. I would not give my family away, even if I got the whole universe in exchange.&lt;br /&gt;
My dad provides everything I need, and works hard to keep me taken care of. Whatever I need I could always count on him. My mom works with me on my homework. She loves me with all her heart. She gives me the best advice when I need it. She&amp;rsquo;s always there for me.&lt;br /&gt;
My aunt lives with my family. She&amp;rsquo;s the best aunt in the world because she plays soccer with me. Also, she takes me to the bus everyday. She&amp;rsquo;s really good at making treats. Most of all, she loves me and I love her.&lt;br /&gt;
My brother and sister are the best. They play with me and I play with them. I spend time with them everyday. My family is truly the best in the whole world!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
                </description>

                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title>Fourth grade winners - What My Family Means to Me</title>
                <link>http://people.bakersfield.com/home/ViewPost/38624</link>
                <description>
                  
                                    &lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
First place&lt;br /&gt;
Fourth Grade&lt;br /&gt;
Julie Flores&lt;br /&gt;
Our Lady of Perpetual Help&lt;br /&gt;
Bair&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My family is special because I love them so much. My mom means so much to because my mom gave birth to me. My dad means alot to me because he helped my raise me. I love my dad. My grandma is so loving, I love her very much. I also love my grandpa very much. I pray for him every day because he is ill. I love all my aunts and uncles &amp;mdash; they are loving and caring, and just so nice. I wish I can see all my family every day. My dogs are so kind. My dog Scruffy is so old, I love him very very much. My other dog Sophie is so cute, I love Sophie so so much. My family means so so much to me. My family is so so supportive, helpful, protective, loving, fun, providing, and so much more. I love my family so much. My family is so protective. I love my family. I think of my family as angels. I care so much for my family!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Second place&lt;br /&gt;
Fourth grade&lt;br /&gt;
Elise Gamble&lt;br /&gt;
Thorner School&lt;br /&gt;
Vaughn&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My family is the most loving family in the whole wide world. Because there always sweet and caring.&lt;br /&gt;
There always caring because there as nice as a lady bug. Plus as sweet as honey from a bee. Also there always there for me. Because there loayal and honest so that makes them sweet also. &lt;br /&gt;
And there caring because I always have a sholder to cry on when I am hurt. Also I always feel safe when there around. Plus they always care.&lt;br /&gt;
That is why there the loving family in the world. That&amp;rsquo;s what my family means to me.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Third place&lt;br /&gt;
Fourth grade&lt;br /&gt;
Hali Montang&lt;br /&gt;
Thorner School&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
What My Family Means to Me&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My cowboy family. My family is so crazy also wild. We still love each-other, very much. But I am the oldest kid in my fmaily. There are only four people in my family, and we are such full of drama and so loud, such I say I do most of the drama, and so crazy.&lt;br /&gt;
My family is working a lot. There is my dad out in the yard, with his golf cart radio turned on full blast, and singing his head off, while working on sprinklers.&lt;br /&gt;
My sister is a horse rider, and so am I. We go riding sometimes. I like to go riding when that happens. We go riding up in the hills by our house. We also sometimes take a the horses in the river, right out in our bakcyard, and we are on them when we do that.&lt;br /&gt;
I love them a lot, whatever they do.
                </description>

                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title>Third grade winners – What My Family Means to Me</title>
                <link>http://people.bakersfield.com/home/ViewPost/38622</link>
                <description>
                  
                                    First place&lt;br /&gt;
Third grade&lt;br /&gt;
Azhia Williams&lt;br /&gt;
Thorner School&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My family is the best to me because we all could talk to each other. About anything and my family is so nice to everybody in the family. We share everything that we have. Me and my family laugh alot about mostly everything. We have fun with each other. We take turns with everything. My family is full of love and if one of us is hurt, we help each other out. We play with each other. My family is full of joy and whenever we need help on something my mom and brothers&amp;rsquo; help me. We do everything with each other. And that&amp;rsquo;s all about my family.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Second Place&lt;br /&gt;
Third Grade&lt;br /&gt;
Grace Caro&lt;br /&gt;
Thorner School&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My family is the best. I promise you I could not survive with out all of them. When I fall and do something wrong they tell me stand up and fight for it or at least go two or one extra mile. I got one sister and one brother. I&amp;rsquo;m glad they are alive so they can help me in anything I do. This is what my sister says to me. I know that you&amp;rsquo;re a winner and winners never quit. Now I always remember and I practice in math, language arts, writing and correct captilasation. You know I&amp;rsquo;m saying this because it&amp;rsquo;s true. Because if it wouldn&amp;rsquo;t be for them I would not even me in this contest or in America. I would be in Columbia or Costa Rica. I think and I know they&amp;rsquo;re the best family in the world.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Third Place&lt;br /&gt;
Third Grade&lt;br /&gt;
Kayleigh Dill&lt;br /&gt;
Thorner School&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
WOW! There are so many things I have to say about my family. If I say I can&amp;rsquo;t do it they encourage me. They love me alot. They give me food, shelter, clothes. They don&amp;rsquo;t let me go wild. If I&amp;rsquo;m sick they take care of me. They make me a goood person. They tell me don&amp;rsquo;t smoke. They tell me to make good choices. They help me with my homework. They help if I get hurt. When I was a baby they helped me learn to talk, walk, and other things. I love them so much! They helped me learn to read. And that is what my family means to me!
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                <title>Second grade winners – What My Family Means to Me</title>
                <link>http://people.bakersfield.com/home/ViewPost/38621</link>
                <description>
                  
                                    First place&lt;br /&gt;
Second grade&lt;br /&gt;
Estuardo Guerra&lt;br /&gt;
Downtown&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
There are several reasons why my family is important to me. Fist, my family loves me and supports me. They watch me play at my soccer games and cheer when I block the soccer bal from the goal post. Next, my family takes good care of me. They give me food, shelter, and a pool. We have fun together specially on our vacations. My family protects me from danger. They warn me not to touch reptiles and bite. Last, my family is very helpful. We collect my old clothes and give them away to other needy kids who are not as lucky as I am. My mom and dad help me to learn by giving me a computer, lots of books, art supplies and help with my home work.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As you can see, I&amp;rsquo;m important to my family and they are important to me. At nighttime, I thank God for all these blessings.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Second place,&lt;br /&gt;
Second grade&lt;br /&gt;
Marissa Miranda&lt;br /&gt;
Downtown&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My family means the world to me. They are the most important people in my life. I would not have any fun without them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My grandpa is so special to me. He is very kind and loving. Every Sunday he comes over and takes me to IHOP for breakfast. It is my favorite place to eat. Sometimes we go to Pizzaville too. For Christimas he buys me lots of toys and clothes. My grandpa lives on a farm. When I visit him, he always takes me to see all the animals and he lets me feed them I have fun with him. It feels really good to know that he cares about me. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Another person who means a lot to me is my mom, She does many nice things for me, She takes me shopping and takes me to school. After school my mom takes me to her work. My mom always helps me with my homework. Every night before I got to bed, she likes to read to me. I love listening to the stories because it helps me go to sleep. She blesses me and kisses me goodnight I feel very safe.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My dad Carlos lives and works in Texas. The greatest thing my Dad does is he makes money for our family. I talk to my dadon the phone and he makes me feel special. I have a sister named Alaina who is the best sister. She helps me with my homework and she always plays with me. My sister is a good friend to me too. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I have the greatest family in the whole world. My family shows that they love me and take good care of me. That is why they mean so much to me. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Third Place&lt;br /&gt;
Second Grade&lt;br /&gt;
Grace Haverstock&lt;br /&gt;
Downtown&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
There are many reasons why I love my family. There are a few family membere I want to you you about. First, is my Nana Sharon. She takes me with her to church on Sundays. I love going to church with Nana, because I like Sunday School. I&amp;rsquo;ve learned a lot about Jesus. My Nana Sharon is very nice and loves me very much. Next, is my Papa. I love my Papa Richie because he takes me to Jastro park, but he calls it Gracies Park. Papa takes me to Dewars for chocolate ice cream, but not just any ice cream....chocolate ice milk!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Then, there&amp;rsquo;s mom. Mommy takes good care of me. She doesn&amp;rsquo;t make me eat things that I don&amp;rsquo;t like, like steak or fish. She takes me to fun places like Disney World. Mommy said she appreciates me and that makes me feel good inside. Last, is my aunt Jodie. She is the best aunt in the world she started Go Fido Go, it&amp;rsquo;s a pet concierge. That means when people are on vacation we take care of their pets. That is mine and hers job and Aunt Jodie made me the chief. As you can see I love my family. &lt;br /&gt;
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                <title>First grade winners - What My Family Means to Me</title>
                <link>http://people.bakersfield.com/home/ViewPost/38620</link>
                <description>
                  
                                    &amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
First place&lt;br /&gt;
First grade&lt;br /&gt;
Khalaya Blackmon&lt;br /&gt;
Munsey School&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My family is special because we watch the butterflies together. We sit outside and see them fly around. We look at all of the colors. We have a lot of fun looking at butterflies. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Second place&lt;br /&gt;
First grade&lt;br /&gt;
Darby Berkshire&lt;br /&gt;
Downtown&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My family means Love, Passion, Hugs and Kisses. My family means helping me get all my wishes. My famiy amkes me fell safe and Loved a lot. I&amp;rsquo;m happy that I&amp;rsquo;ve got the family that I&amp;rsquo;ve got.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Third place,&lt;br /&gt;
First grade&lt;br /&gt;
Blair Abril&lt;br /&gt;
Downtown &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My family love me, I just know it! Know why? Because I love my Mom, Dad, my sister Paige, and my baby sister Faber. You have to see her. She&amp;rsquo;s so cute. there only one thing about Faber. She is three week&amp;rsquo;s old and I love all of my family member&amp;rsquo;s and my family to.
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                <title>What My Family Means to Me GRAND PRIZE WINNERS</title>
                <link>http://people.bakersfield.com/home/ViewPost/38613</link>
                <description>
                  
                                    Grand Prize&lt;br /&gt;
First-Sixth&lt;br /&gt;
Shay Divina&lt;br /&gt;
Stockdale Elementary School&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
My family means the world to me. Every time I have a problem their always open, like a door that never closes and locks. And when they comfort you, they are like pillows and blanket that is their to keep you warm and feel great. &lt;br /&gt;
My family helps me reach my goal in life, like stairs that without stepping one foot you could never reach the top. I am lucky that I even have a family, some families are thorn apart. &lt;br /&gt;
A family means each person of the family should love and care for the family, no one should be left alone in the darkness without the light leading the way out of the darkness, and the light is none other than your family. &lt;br /&gt;
Have you ever thought that without your family being their for you when you were just a baby? Do you think you have survived without them? See how important your family is. &lt;br /&gt;
I know you and your family has some fights, but if I was you, I will think of what the fight is all about and say sorry even it is not your fault, remember their is no person who never commits a sin. I know that our parents are scolding us, but if you don&amp;rsquo;t make something that makes them angry, you don&amp;rsquo;t get scolded. &lt;br /&gt;
I hope this words has inspired you to love your family more.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&amp;bull;&lt;br /&gt;
Grand Prize&lt;br /&gt;
7-12 Grade Overall&lt;br /&gt;
Lashenik Davis&lt;br /&gt;
Vista East High School&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
When you say you&amp;rsquo;ll always care&lt;br /&gt;
I know in my heart is true&lt;br /&gt;
Because nobody in this world can capture our bond&lt;br /&gt;
After all the things we&amp;rsquo;ve been through&lt;br /&gt;
At first, I thought you didn&amp;rsquo;t care&lt;br /&gt;
When times were somewhat tough&lt;br /&gt;
When I would cry, and put myself down.&lt;br /&gt;
You were the ones holding me up&lt;br /&gt;
My mom, she&amp;rsquo;s my everything.&lt;br /&gt;
My teacher, my counselor, my friend.&lt;br /&gt;
Cause when the battles always lost&lt;br /&gt;
She makes sure that in my heart I win&lt;br /&gt;
My brother, man where do I start&lt;br /&gt;
The one I so truly adore&lt;br /&gt;
He&amp;rsquo;s my a friend that I can console to&lt;br /&gt;
I couldn&amp;rsquo;t possibly ask for more&lt;br /&gt;
My sister&amp;rsquo;s, well I got three&lt;br /&gt;
At times they can be a little bug&lt;br /&gt;
But it&amp;rsquo;s nothing like being away for awhile&lt;br /&gt;
Then coming home to three loving hugs, &lt;br /&gt;
My family is my most prized possession&lt;br /&gt;
There are not enough words to explain why&lt;br /&gt;
Without my family I am nothing&lt;br /&gt;
Without them, I would die&lt;br /&gt;
I love my family till death do us part&lt;br /&gt;
From the heart, I know that is true&lt;br /&gt;
Your family is the only one you can trust&lt;br /&gt;
There are there to say &amp;ldquo;I Love You&amp;rdquo;&lt;br /&gt;
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