msblossom

I don't think anyone knows, Jellybeans, because Jill & Derick have yet to disclose any meaningful details about their plans, other than their departure next month. The Duggars are doing another mission trip to Central America next month, so chances are that Jill & Derick will go there, speculating, of course. They may end up in Nepal or Bengladesh for all we know.

They sure could. The problem with Derick's IG message is he never specified. Yet, he wasn't bashful about asking for funds even though he shared next to nothing about their plans, other than they decided to go much sooner than they planned and that it's scheduled for next month.

Provided Jill and Derick are not attempting to go this alone and they're partnering with a mission agency, they're required to raise a certain amount of support each month. For a family of 3 in Central America, for instance, their support would likely be in the neighborhood of $7-8k per month. Most independent mission agencies take a cut of 25-30% of your monthly support for administration costs so they set the support requirement high enough so they get their cut. Then they make sure that a certain percentage is set aside for retirement, health and life insurance, an emergency fund (should you have to evacuate and relocate at a moments notice), living expenses, travel expenses, ministry expenses, educational expenses for children, language school or tutors for adults, etc. Of that dollar amount that the mission agency sets for you, you must have a minimum of around 80% in pledges raised. You live and die by those percentages raised and work hard to maintain them.

Wanderwoman, I'm really sorry to hear this. You've been through a lot and have many challenges ahead. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Hang in there, girl. (((HUGS)))

CalicoKitty, (((HUGS)))

Me too, Wellfleet & Suz, I could drink a pitcher of the stuff daily. It has just the right amount of perfect in each glass.

Jill's a Pinterest whore. She's so vintage, y'all.

Eh, I kinda liked this episode. Yeah, Shannon is oversensitive and bitchy with David, and yeah, she's chosen to stay in the marriage and work it out -- but, if someone cheats on you it's not like you're gonna snap out of it and everything's peaches and cream. If it takes her a minute to work through it, and obviously they have serious issues, then she should be allowed to take the time she needs (and make mistakes) if David is committed to working on his marriage. His drinking is obviously a trigger for her and makes her insecure and she associates that with his affair. She admitted to having negative thoughts and she sounds like she's struggling to overcome them. For me, my marriage is everything and I applaud her for wanting to work it out, although if it were me I'd cut David loose, anyway, the last thing I would do, having learned about the affair, is try to navigate and repair a broken marriage on television. I just wouldn't do it. So from my point of view, Shannon's a little crazy to do this publicly. I agree with everyone about Heather's profound pretentiousness regarding the house she's building and being a total puffed-up braggart about going over budget. That doesn't entertain or interest me in the least. If she'd left that out and just concentrated on her sparkling wine I'd have nothing negative to say about her this week. I do think she's decided to loosen up for the camera to make herself more likable with the audience so she can push her wine and skincare products. I don't take issue with how Shannon reacted to Megan; I think Megan is falling into line with her producers and is willing to stir trouble so she can secure herself a job with the show. Shannon may have overreacted by walking off and getting heated, but she doesn't want to play this game with Megan.

I love this thread. Yeah, I'm a 2 cup a day coffee drinker too. I can get by with 1 cup, but less than that I'm a mess, headache and all. So hard to narrow down my favorite libation, hmmm. At home, I like anything dry, white or red. But if I'm forced to choose, probably a Cabernet, although I like a red blend like 14 Hands. If I'm going out, I'll do a shot of silver Don Julio Blanco tequila and follow it up with a margarita on the rocks, salt please. Sounds like I drink a lot, but I really only have a couple drinks a week. More or less. Jynnan Tonnix, my favorite drink for years was a gin and tonic. Years ago, every Friday after work for about 5 years my office mates and I would go to the corner bar after work for happy hour and appetizers when I lived in Seattle, and that was my drink of choice. I rode the bus, but on Fridays I took a taxi home (lived less than 5 miles from downtown, so it was cheap) if I wasn't meeting up with another group of friends later -- good times!!

I like hearing about what everyone's Coke is. What do you like to drink after 5pm?

Damn. Why did she have to be all crazy about everything, I liked her so much! I'm not saying that she didn't have a legitimate beef. Perhaps there was a lot of racism on the set, I don't know, but she could have handled all of this much differently with better results.

Look, I have no clue what they're planning or for how long. Could be that they have no intention to go to Nepal as full time missionaries until after Derick finishes his MDiv. I think we're all taking stabs at what they could be planning simply because they haven't spoke out about it and due to the recent developments that went down with his job and the formation of a ministry non-profit organization in their name. You are correct that some pursue missions as you described, however Derick is not associated with the Independent Baptist Church, he is associated with the Southern Baptist Convention that frowns upon pursuing missions independently of an established mission agency. Apples and oranges.

You were sorely missed and it's great to have you back, Bannana! Thanks for all the well written and witty recaps.

Jynnan, I'm so sorry for the loss of your FIL. (((HUGS)))

Ha! You crack me up -- I can't drink sweet tea, no thank you ma'am, I like mine the "dirty water" way, but still prefer plain 'ole water over just about anything else, except (and I know this will gross some of you out) I usually add a TBSP of Braggs ACV to my 24 oz Camelback with a bunch of ice to my water. Sweet tea tastes like syrup to me, and living in the South, I can't even accept a glass to be polite. My hubs is from South Mississippi & he doesn't like sweet tea & watermelon either. He's an outcast for sure, cause he married himself a northerner, lost his accent, and doesn't keep up with his fraternity brothers. The family barely claims him, j/k.

Nah, just let 'em go. The more they go, the more emboldened they get -- all the better. Let 'em dig their own grave I say.

This way of "self" supporting missions is what my church calls being a Lone Ranger and is never encouraged because there is no accountability or spiritual/emotional support of a mission agency. Our church will not help or encourage anyone who chooses to do long term missions this way without being aligned to an established mission agency. It doesn't have to be an SBC mission organization either, it can be a parachurch organization, an interdenominational organization, etc. It looks like Jill & Derick are wanting to get to the field faster without putting in the time, training, and education that Derick's denomination requires to be career missionaries. And even if they chose to not go as fully supported missionaries through the IMB, the SBC would still gladly see them align themselves with an independent agency. Alas, it looks like that is not to be. I'm from a fairly liberal branch of the SBC, and these are definately red flags.

Oh Sew Sumi, I kinda love it that you're always willing to go out on a limb and take one for the team... And I can always count on you to usually be the first to report what's what on their social media, and what the gossip & general media sites are reporting. :)

Heh, I'll give you that Roseanne Barr is the antithesis of a BH HW. When she's not in Hawaii growing her own weed, she's trying to referee her unemployed slacker adult children who mooch off her. No thanks. Edited because of and off are not the same thing.

I get it Aja, it used to wind me up too. I refuse to give this family too much of my time or attention to what they're doing or what their motives may be. That's why I can't be bothered with a spin off if they manage to get one or spend too much on here posting about the family because it gets me worked up. I understand and get your postion.

They're in an airport going to an event that they've had scheduled in advance many months ago and they're the only siblings that have the freedom to travel without their parents because they're married. Remember, Josh & Anna were scheduled to be there too before their family secret got out. Eh, I don't think there's anything unique about them being in "photographable areas" together. Are they supposed to travel and live their lives covertly? I'm not excited about them getting a spin off, but if they do, they do. It doesn't really matter that much to me.

Except that Lasagne is extremely easy to make, not to be rude but anyone with basic cooking skills can make a decent lasagne. I doubt that Brandi's a great cook. I think she's probably average at best.

Did anyone criticize their airport behavior here? I haven't seen it.

I can relate, I used to drink Diet Coke moderately until about 10 years ago because I heard the artificial sweeteners make you stupid. I quit cold turkey after that and just drink water. I don't miss pop. Every now and then I'll take a sip of my husband's regular Mexican Coke we buy for him on occasion because it's sweetened with sugar instead of corn syrup. Hee, we're Baptists too, but our church doesn't prohibit alcohol. We're served wine at communion, or if you're conscience doesn't permit you can opt for grape juice. Our Baptist pastors and leadership drink wine, whiskey & beer, as do church members. Nowhere in the bible prohibits it, but it does set our church apart from other Baptist churches in the area.

My husband and I are hand holders too and we're both independent. Sometimes he'll take my hand in a crowd so we can make tracks and weave our way out to freedom. LOL.