Melody Barber

I have lots, but I'll just share a couple of things. Back in 1987, President Benson gave a talk titled "To The Mothers in Zion," in which he said that it is best when mothers have children at home for them to stay home and care for them when possible.  When I heard that, I felt a strong burning in my chest, and I knew that he was talking to me. This was a couple of months before I even got married, but Ted and I decided that we wouldn't put off having children and that I would stay home with them when they came. At the time that Amanda was born, I was making $1200/month working at BYU in a full-time job, and Ted was making $400/month working part-time. For me, it felt like we were jumping off a cliff to have me quit my job. In my mind, I saw myself closing my eyes and jumping, and just hoping that the Lord would catch us before we hit the bottom, which He did in amazing ways. At Amanda's blessing, Ted's dad gave us 12 checks written out for $200 each, saying that he wanted to help us out, and that the only repayment he wanted was that if in the future there were other family members who needed help, that we would do what we could to help them as far as we were able. We only had to cash 10 of the checks, because by then, Ted had been offered a faculty position at BYU, which provided plenty of money to get us by, and also paid for the rest of his schooling. We graduated with no debt, which is a miracle by itself. We have had many blessings over the years because of our decision to do have me stay home, and recently the Spirit told me that we are still being blessed for it. 

I have been reading stories about our pioneer ancestors recently, and I find that doing so gives me ideas on things I could ask for if I were ever in a hard situation like they were. For me, this is a way of building my faith, and helping me to see that Heavenly Father does love us and is never farther than a prayer away.