Marysol Cornelius is an immigrant from Mexico who has a sad story, but who never gives up hope that her story will have a happy ending.

In 2006 she arrived in Hawai'i after her husband, who was stationed with the military in California, was transferred to O'ahu.

The mother of two teenagers from a previous marriage found work at a discount center and the couple had a baby son of their own in 2007.

But the marriage began to unravel after Cornelius lost her job because of an immigration paperwork foul-up.

Eventually the marriage turned abusive and ended in divorce in 2008. Cornelius moved into a domestic violence shelter with the baby and her 17-year-old daughter. But because of a shelter policy, Cornelius' 15-year-old son was not allowed to be with the family. Instead, he moved in with acquaintances. The split further strained an already tense time for the mother.

Then, after two months, Cornelius was asked to leave the shelter because the staff had become concerned that her former husband had learned of her whereabouts.

Cornelius, 34, transferred to another domestic violence shelter, and was reunited with her son because the new shelter had a different policy.

Although the courts ordered her former husband to make child support payments, she says so far she's received nothing, and she has no idea where he is.

Meanwhile, Cornelius and her children existed off the money she earned cleaning houses. Until it was gone, that income was supplemented by the small amount of 401(k) savings Cornelius had built up at the discount center.

"Marysol has overcome many obstacles while keeping her gracious nature," said Linoe McKeague, Cornelius' case worker at Holomau na Ohana. "She will make it."

This year the family moved into Weinberg Village Waimanalo, a two-year transitional shelter for homeless families. And the immigration problem was finally cleared up so she was also able to get a working visa and return to her part- time retail job.

With money for the family so tight, there's nothing extra for holiday gifts, and the kids could use some new clothes. Despite all that, things are better for the family this Christmas than they were last year. And the future could be better still, says Cornelius.

"I'm actually a very positive person," she said. "So I know things are going to be better."