Temperance

Packed church for Bontrager wedding. @Jenniferbug Be Careful! These idiots are in Iowa! "Packing the church is the greatest gift you can give to them" Minister at the wedding. I can't hear the singing, just the backing instrumentation. weddinglivestream

Quoting myself to say I accidentally typed "it would" when I meant "it wouldn't" surprise if Katie and this boy break up. Now more than ever I wouldn't be surprised by break-up.

That was Travis and Katie. Katie and Travis courtship proposal

Allison Bontrager (26) marries real man Jeremiah Helferich (23/24ish). She is so excited. Actually Allison has been longing to get married since her older sister Chelsy did. Allison is Bontrager #3. Her two closest-in-age younger siblings (Carson and Joshua) married on the same day to sisters Carolina and Cassidy Bontrager. The next day her oldest brother Mitchell (#2) married Bryn. Almost 4 months later oldest child Chelsy married John Maxwell. Since then Allison has been the only of the first five kids unmarried, but it changes tomorrow/today August 15. Consider watching cause these people are just as nutty as any other fundies, and this wedding could have surprising developments. Bridesmaid and sister-in-love Carolina is pregnant and due in late August (less than 3 weeks). Next single child Denver is getting to know a young lady. Will they say anything about that at the wedding? Of this wedding could just be another boring wedding. At this one Marlin (Allison's father) won't even be talking about the groom's father's vasectomy reversal like he did at Chelsy's wedding to John Maxwell. Here's a link to the blog, which has a link to the livestream. Wedding is 3pm central time. They're thinking about doing a "rebroadcast" later. Bontragerblog

Michelle looks a lot like her oldest sister Jessica. It's telling that another teenage Seewald is getting married.

Also the nice-looking kitchen may add value to the house and help yield a higher price when Jill sells the house in 2-3 years. Whoever buys that house better have a very careful home-inspection. That lighting fixture over the island is really ugly. I also dislike the exposed wood blacksplash.

And now a message from Steve Maxwell: Marshmallow Men "A marshmallow man is soft, squishy, and not very tough. I think that might describe me, and I’m guessing a lot (the majority?) of Christians. Of course, we don’t want to think of ourselves that way. I recently read about the abuse Paul suffered at the hands of those who hated Jesus Christ. That brother in Christ suffered beating, upon humiliating beating, likely providing great entertainment for spectators to enjoy. Reading that he received, “stripes above measure” (countless, excessively, beyond number), my cringing reaction showed my softness. “… in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness” (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). How deep is the passion of our hearts to share Jesus Christ with a lost and dying world? People are headed for eternity in hell all around us, and most consider themselves to be a “good person.” Are we telling them hell will be filled with “good people”? Everyone needs the Savior, Jesus Christ."

The rules around here state children 2 and over wear masks. Where's Felicity's mask?

Jill R's latest post shed's some light: it's for God and his Glory. The weddings bring some interest even from people who don't know the happy couple, and that means the outsiders spend some time watching preachers who the fundies like and are hopefully inspired to joy the church or find a similar fundie church in their area. Most fundies believe it is their mission to try to convert people. Most of the people we will follow want to convert everyone. The Duggars originally pitched their show as ministry. (This has slowly disintegrated over time.) Outreach is a big part of these people's faith. The weddings become yet another way to try to reach people.

Reading the snark sites?

Jill isn't featured on the show anyway. She's in the background.

It was in the old 19K&C days.

We've had a constant wave since Jessa became pregnant with Ivy. At least one Duggar has been pregnant since then. When Jinger gave birth to Felicity, there were no pregnant Duggars. Then Jessa had Ivy, while she was pregnant Kendra, Lauren, etc. announced for November. Then Abbie announced for January. Joy told Austin in December she was pregnant with this baby. Abbie had Grace in January. Jinger announced she was pregnant in May. So we're still one big wave until there is a time where no one is pregnant. (Which may happen in November or not). We have still have time for a lot of spring or even late winter babies. I would be very surprised if John and Abbie didn't have number 2 by the end of 2021 although I respect their right to make their own decisions.

Duggars wear pajamas. I remember they said they had a deal with TLC where TLC wouldn't film the kids in their pajamas for privacy reasons.

They both come from toxic fundie families. They probably have very screwed up beliefs. I distrust any fundies who make fundamentalism look good. I actually like Kendra's dress.

Good point! All of the Duggars/Bates in this generation have been at least 19 when they got married. Kendra was the youngest at a month past her 19th birthday.

There were pictures of them together. Her name is Heather Martin.

I was just thinking that Alyssa Bates Webster will be the youngest member of this generation of Duggars and Bates to reach 4 kids so far. She's 25 and will be 26 when she has the baby. Erin was 28 when her fourth kid was born. Anna Duggar was 27 when she had Meredith (#4). Jessa, Jill, Jana, Abbie-Grace, Jinger, Michaela, Whitney, are over 25. Tori will be 25 in December and has 2 kids so far. Of course, Josie Bates Balka, Carlin, Kendra, and Lauren could all have be pregnant with #4 by 26, but it hasn't happened yet.

Did we know Lawson was hanging out with a Christian former contestant from the Bachelor? I doubt she'd want to him, but actually a reality tv star would be a good match?

I doubt she could find 2 more fundie bachelor types for a couple of years anyway.

Nurie is like Jessa and Jana in one daughter. Nurie is Jill's favorite and her best friend. She hasn't developed that deep a bond with Kaylee and Renee. She has plenty of daughters to do the work anyway. Her two oldest non-adult daughters are 13 and 11. That's plenty old enough to all the work Jill needs. And it will take her at least a year or two to marry off the next daughter between the pandemic, and normal courtship ups and downs.

Elliot Rex Maxwell, son of Chelsy (Bontrager) and John Maxwell.

It is a livestream. It's at 3pm central time.

This is the announcement of the one they lost. Yes Bella's full name is Belle Milagro Duggar. She shares her middle name with her mother Lauren Milagro Swanson Duggar, grandmother, Lana Milagro Swanson, and a long line of women in her family. Since this episode is all about Bella's birth story, the title refers to her.

New Counting On tonight! A rehash of Bella's birth. I created a thread. I keep waiting for new Duggar announcements.