Most of my life I have heard stories about how people were faced with a choice - pay their tithing or pay another bill that was very important. Each time they exercised their faith and paid their tithing, just to have a miracle happen in their life and the money appear in the most unexpected way. I have one of those stories now myself. My husband's hours at his job have been cut to less than half time. I only pay our tithing once a month. He received his paycheck and when I figured out our tithing including a generous fast offering, I discovered that it would take 95% of his paycheck. I also received a bill in the mail that was due before he got his next paycheck. This bill was for far more than his paycheck. I remembered the stories I had heard about other people paying their tithing on faith so as I made out my tithing check I talked to my Heavenly Father and told him I was turning it over to Him. There was No money to pay this important bill let alone any of our house hold expenses (like electricity). I told Heavenly Father that I was paying this tithing in faith that He would help me. I learned a long time ago to pay a generous fast offering. It is through the generous fast offering that we are so blessed. I know that I could save some money by skipping the fast offering this month and that at least would buy us some groceries or pay the electric bill. I didn't though. I went ahead and paid my usual amount. I turned my tithing in to the bisho***** with a handshake and prayed like no end that Heavenly Father would somehow help us. The next morning (Monday morning) when we received our mail we got a surprise. In the mail was a tax refund check for almost twice the amount of my tithing check. We didn't know we had a refund coming and to this day the letter from the IRS doesn't make a lot of sense to us. We just know that we have been blessed by paying our tithing. Melody

Hey gang! Sorry it took so long to get back to you but a lot has happened to me since I was here last. Last year, my marriage ended. It was for the best since neither of us were very happy. I am in the process of getting a divorce from him. I moved to Greeley CO and got together with my old high school boyfriend and I am very happy. Please, no judgements. But, my life in the church was not all that great. I do have a testimony of the gospel, but I choose not to attend my meetings for now. I may go back sometime in the future. I am in talks with a plastic surgeon here in Denver and I am beginng the final stages of my transformation I am walking better and I am still in school. I transferred to the University of Northern Colorado this past spring to get my BA. Overall, I am very happy now and I know that I will continue to get better. I don't want to lose my friends here in case I need to vent. I love you all Donna

Thanks Melody. We have just found out it IS my brother. Even after he has been told more then once to stop, he continues to do it. He has my friends email addy, phone number, etc. He just won't take NO for an answer. So my DH is going to have a serious man-to-stalker chat with him. And if something else happens one more time, DH will tell his wife. We are keeping all transcripts plus I made copies of all his different screen names with his picture and profiles listed stating he's "single and looking". I'm not going to risk our peace and sense of well being to protect my brother any longer. If he can choose the behavior he can deal with the consequences. T.

This is so hard but I really need some advice. First of all, DH and I had a really good friend and her son who is 3 months older then my youngest move in with us about 2 months ago. Her living arrangments plus some personal tragedies she went thru made her want to move from her home state here to Utah. While it's hectic having 8 people in the house, it's also nice having her here. Both my dh and my friend get along great - not inapproriately of course, but still great. My problem? I have a 25 year old brother who is married (he says very unhappily) who is emailing and IMing very inappropriate things to my friend - flirting with her - making sexual comments to her - etc. I confronted him about it and he seemed to stop. Until tonite. She got an IM from someone who seemed to know she was being a nanny for us (I have gone back to work parttime) and kept making comments on MY husband needing her to be a "naughty nanny". The IM came from someone who used a screen ID and not his real name but was from Utah. My friend is upset and asked me to find out if it was my brother. So while searching yahoo members I did find my brother listed with SEVERAL screen IDs and all his profiles listed him as single and looking. Most of these profiles were just recently updated. I did not find him connected to the screen name from tonite's IM, but I am very upset with the profiles he has created. He has been married for 5 years, sealed in the temple, etc. While I understand he isn't happy, I now completely believe he's cheating on his wife. She's not allowed to read any of his text messages, read his email, etc. My brother told me that my friend completely misunderstood what he was saying. There is NO WAY any of us misunderstood what he was saying. I don't know what to do. He's harassing my friend inspite of both her and I asking him to stop. Truthfully I'm at the point that I'm about to tell his wife. My brother is completely out of control. But I am worried about the fallout. And believe me there will be some major fallout. First of all my parents will automatically take his side and find someway to make this any and everyone's fault BUT his. Second, it may actually break up my brother's marriage. Third, I don't want ANYONE in my family trying to blame my friend for this. She didn't do ANYTHING! She's upset, embarrassed, and feeling like she might have some sort of crazy stalker on her hands. As much as I love my brother, I think she might be right. What do I do? Tammy

Today I got 2 unexpected packages from my dad. The first box had...a baseball. Just a plain old brand new baseball. With it was a note from Dad: Daphney- Please autograph this baseball for me. I'll get in touch with you in a couple of days. I can get it to it's rightful place. Love Dad. Hmmmmm. Odd, but I autographed the ball and opened the second box (which wasn't supposed to arrive until tuesday.) Inside was a clear plastic baseball display cube, and another note from Dad: Daphney- You are a MOST VALUABLE PERSON in my life and many others. Please put the autographed baseball in this display case and put in on your mantle or somewhere that you and everyone will see. Only outstanding players sign baseballs. You are an MVP. God bless and keep you. Love Dad. I completely lost it when I read that letter. I bawled as I took the ball to my piano and set it on top where everyone (mostly I ) would see. My dad is not a baseball fan or a sports fanatic. He is doesn't do really shocking things. He's just an average joe who has really chilled out over the years. This has had a profound impact on me. Today, for the FIRST TIME in my life, I was able to see myself how God, my Dad, and many others see me. My Dad changed my life today.