What's the checkered past? Shop lifting at an early age? Something else is in her checkered past, but IMO it doesn't amount to a checkered past. I'm willing to bet alot of us Freepers's pasts are more checkered than hers.
Drugs. She and the husband ran with a bad crowd, then were suspected of ratting them to the police, which is why the husband was stabbed in front of her and died in her arms.
Sad, but she is now very religious and trying to do things right.
I didn't do it!
You can't prove it!
Besides, it's someone else's fault.
"I'm willing to bet alot of us Freepers's pasts are more checkered than hers."
Accused? Yes. Convicted? Never. ;)
Yes, Ashley should have a financial advisor. If my middle-aged husband came into that amount of cash in one lump sum it would be gone within days, spent on Magic Beans. Most people are not good at managing money, and Ashley has a lot of time to make up for in her short life, so far.
As for "The Purpose Driven Life," I found it drivel, too. But, I sell books on the web and the moment I list that book, it sells. Go figure.