NotFundie

If anyone wants to go diving down yet another fundie rabbit hole, I'd suggest the John and Esther Shrader family. I'm not sure whether this has been discussed here lately or not. Esther is Anna Duggar's older sister and she's married to Pastor John Schrader. He wasn't able to make a living in the USA grifting for the Lord, so he took the family to Africa. I think they're in Kafue, Zambia. They have 11 children, three of whom were born since they've moved overseas. John regularly takes to his bed with a back ache or some other problem. He composes what his thinks is poetry, writes hymns, and prints translations of the Bible. He's on Facebook and there are discussions on FreeJinger as well. His father is a minister in Texas and the general consensus is that he helps drum up support for John's "missionary work" in order to keep him at a distance. Those poor Zambian people are stuck with him now. Anna and Esther's dad, Mr. Keller, has got to be one of the worst judges of character around to let his daughters marry such terrible husbands.

I just love these stories. You write so well. If you publish something, let us know. I'd buy it.

I had to move my mother into memory care last year. My sister and I started to clean out her house and discovered that her hoarding had accelerated in recent years. Among the stuff: 10 full sets of dinner wear, 4 sets of cookware, 12 clocks, 30 packs of toilet paper, 26 boxes of oatmeal, and half of the spare bedroom filled with unopened boxes from catalogs. We were stunned. Fortunately, we got the name of an estate sales person and his crew emptied the house (after we went through for photos, papers, etc.) and hauled it all away. They've been selling stuff and it's helping out a lot with Mom's care. (Memory care homes are pricey!) If we'd had to clean it all out ourselves, it would take a year.

The family photos on the wall are by design. You want to keep that big brood brainwashed? You need to keep reminding them that their loyalty is first and foremost to family. Jim Boob can't have them admiring art or remembering their few and far-between friends. Everything is about the Duggars. It would be interesting to figure out exactly what's wrong with Jim Boob that he needs to control those kids so strictly. Did some kid in his Christian high school call him a loser? Did he dad yell at him a lot? Whatever it was - he's a twisted little man now. He's still holding his 29 year old daughter hostage. Ugh...

Steve is never going to let those young women get married. If he did, who would take care of him and Teri as they get older? Who'll take care of the house and carry on his newsletter "ministry"? He might let the youngest daughter marry (or not), but Sarah and Anna are stuck for the rest of Steve's life. He is imprisoning them and they're too brainwashed to do anything about it. I despise Steve Maxwell.

I think Jill punishes the kids by withholding food sometimes. That would work for her since she doesn't have the money for a lot of groceries and she's big on obedience anyway. And I don't think she's smart enough or a good enough cook to learn to make big, nourishing meals from scratch. I know both Tim and Nurie have fasted occasionally for what Jill says are religious reasons. My thought was that they wanted to make sure the littles had enough food. It has also occurred to me that maybe Jill hates how fat David has gotten. She frequently remarks how nice it is when someone is "slim". She crowed about how the girls were able to get out of the overturned car because of how slim they were. And she remarked recently that her mother cooked healthy food and helped them stay slim. Maybe she is terrified that the kids will end up looking like Big Dave. Jill - if you're reading here - the way to make sure your kids end up overweight when they're grown is to starve them when they're little. They'll spend their lives focusing on food because they'll remember going to bed hungry.

Hello, fellow scapegoat. Neither of my parents were really capable of love but, still, acted as if I was the least likable of the bunch. And I, too, figured out that there was no point trying to win love that just wasn't there. It did mess me up regarding choosing suitable men until I figured out why I attracted men just like my mom and dad. I think most of the Duggar offspring are still desperately trying to get parental approval and attention. You make your kids schedule time to talk to you and you end up raising a pack of needy adults. If they weren't still hoping for that love from J'Chelle and Boob, they wouldn't keep marrying fundy spouses.

I love Jeanne Robertson. She was Miss North Carolina years ago and, on the following year when she had to give her crown to the next winner, she gave a speech and said something to the effect of, "If I've been such a great Miss North Carolina, why are you making me quit?" Thanks. This was interesting. One of my siblings was extremely physically disabled and lived at home until she finally passed on. My mother has never been interested in any of her grandchildren. This is probably why.

I saw those videos! Sometimes I forget that other countries have crazy fundies too. That group gives off a Jim Jones vibe. I've been looking at that photo and the one I'm attaching below. I think you're right. It might be bread. The second photo is bothering me a lot. I can't make out any food on Phillip's plate. Lately, he's looked very unhappy and I wonder if he's currently Jill"s scapegoat child. And Timothy IS looking better. The kids could be genetically predisposed towards thinness but Tim's healthier look shows that most of that is due to underfeeding.

I agree. From all her photos, it appears that the children have learned to smile on command. I hate to think what happened to them when they didn't have their faces arranged "correctly". Sometimes, all I can see are the sad eyes above the forced smile. The Rodrigues kids break my heart.

I've been watching the Rodriguii for quite some time now. At one point, Jill was bragging about how sweet David was. She was doing a video from the stink RV and mentioned that, frequently when he stopped for gas, he and Jill go inside and they share a snack. No mention of taking anything back to the captive kids. I think they always eat first, eat the most, and deny the children extra food. I hope the deity in whom they believe one day smites them mightily.

You beat me to it! I was going to say the fat was all on the inside. If you look at the pictures on her blog, they all just seem to have the one pizza slice at dinner. Those kids must be hungry all the time. Notice - David's plate looks like he finished already. Guess who gets the extra slices on that pan??

Jill has a new public blog post up with lots of pictures. I'm just putting up three of them. First is a holiday meal. Second and third are from the creepy "double date". She also included a picture of 7 cookies from the cookie decorating post since we mean internet haters thought the girls all shared one cookie. (Sorry, Jill. All those kids and you just did 7 cookies? That still doesn't help you out.) I'm not in the habit of fat-shaming since I myself could stand to lose 10... 15... okay, okay 20 pounds at least. But when my kids and grandkids are around, I eat last. I make sure that all of them have enough to eat before I fill my plate. The fact that David is so large and those kids are so thin drives me crazy. Also, notice that Jill is doing a little crouch in that last picture so it makes Big Dave look taller. That made me laugh.

I'm reaching through the internet to give you a hug. I've sat vigil alone at the hospital too. It's not easy. We're there with you in spirit.

I'm not here a lot but I'm on tonight and happened to see your posts. I know quite a bit about prostate cancer. My late husband had it. I know that sounds terrible but the truth is that he was initially diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer. By the time they found it, it was attached to his bladder, his pelvic bones, his right hip joint, and his right femur. The doctors gave him six months to a year. He got over 8 years. The treatments for prostate cancer are so much better now. The hormone treatment kept him symptom-free for a long time. He tried various treatments and some worked better than others. He took 2 doses of taxotere and that almost totally wiped it out. Unfortunately, he wasn't the sort of person who could handle any nausea so he discontinued that one against medical advice. The radiation also worked very well. He had over six good years of being able to travel, spending time with our kids, and getting to know his new grandchildren. Keep reading and stay informed. There are new trials all the time for new treatments. It is one of those cancers that people can live with - like a chronic medical condition. If there's any way I can help or any information I can share, just let me know. ............ My husband and I both read "The Emperor of All Maladies" (I have no idea how to underline on here) while he was going through treatment. It about the history of cancer. It's a bit dense but it's the first time I ever really understood cancer and it helped me be not quite so afraid. Cancer is only cells that have, for one reason or another, a malfunctioning "off" switch. All cells die after a certain time. Cancer cells do not. The new therapies are gene therapies and some target this defect. It will possibly be cured eventually just this way.

You're absolutely right. I hadn't noticed that at first. No dripping water, no silverware, no glasses, no pots or pans. She staged it to "prove" she feeds her kids. And, we all know, she'd never feed them nearly enough to require bowls AND plates. She's getting crazier.

I agree. I don’t understand how the prosperity gospel gained a foothold. It’s pretty much against basic Christian principles.

Just an aside: I went to a Baptist college (that ended up cancelling mandatory religion classes - after I'd already taken them.) Anyways - the professor said that many old walled cities had a small opening, just large enough for a person to squeeze through, for private messengers to the leader/king and that tiny opening was called "the eye of the needle". So, it would be difficult for a camel to get through but not as crazy as trying to shove one through the eye of a real needle. Now back to Jeremy and Jingle... The baby is adorable but I'm tired of seeing her in the assorted headwear. Give it a rest, Jing.

Over on FreeJinger, someone posted that Tim said he isn't coming home until Christmas Eve due to his work schedule. Good for him! He's supporting himself and understands the importance of not letting his employer down. (And maybe he's really enjoying being away from home and isn't in a hurry to go back to that house chock full of crazy.) Also - it occurred to me that this might be Tim's first plane trip. He is going to school to be a "missionary pilot" and this is probably the first time he's ever been on a plane!

"Crotch droppings"! I love that!

Latest Jill Rodrigues news (via FreeJinger): Jill said that her old wedding ring was high maintenance and gave her a rash so she got a big new solitaire on clearance because of her Plexus sales. She posted a live video (friends only) on her Facebook page to show off the ring. It's supposedly huge but we don't know if it's a real diamond or not. Mostly, this just makes me angry. Money for food for hungry children vs. money for pretties for Jill? No question. In Jill's mind, Jill comes first every time. I am so disgusted.

I know that just about everything JillRod posts lately sets off my "Holy Crap!" meter. This one is no exception. What kind of grown-ass 19 year old young woman draws on her little sister's face? This just reminds me of the sign on Kaylee's back. Either Jill is really doing it and blaming Nurie, or else Nurie has the same nasty sense of humor that her mother does. I have a 3 1/2 year old grandson who would be furious if he woke up with a heart on his nose drawn with marker. Then again, Nurie is still trapped with the whole family and there are no prospects of freedom in sight. Maybe she's going a little nuts. Maybe Jill is really just shaming her with this post. Who knows? At least they're in the house and not sleeping squashed together in the camper so, that's nice. Good job clearing that really low bar, Jill.

"I adore my children, yet they grow too fast." Looking at it again, that line jumped out at me. Who says stuff like this? Can she only "adore" them when they're little? My kids are grown and I still adore them. And I think you're right about this, Temperance. Maybe Janessa isn't hitting milestones so the miracle is not as miraculous now. I do hope Janessa is okay. This is not the family that a child with complex problems needs.

"To chase down every false accusation, weird feeling emotion, injustice, tear that rolls down my cheek, misunderstanding, hateful treatment, etc. would consume my time and rob my joy and derail me from the TRUE purpose of my existence- to glorify my Saviour by choosing to live a righteous life and win souls for Eternity in Heaven! 💖" Good grief. I see that it's time for another episode of "The Poor Persecuted Jill Show". She's depressed. She just turned 40, she probably isn't pregnant, no one will give her a show of her own like the Duggars have, and the small churches of the country are not clamoring for performances by the tone deaf Rodriguii. Look, Jilly - you are not attacked due to your being the bestest Christian. You are attacked because you're not even a good Christian. A good Christian wouldn't put herself before her own kids. I have to tell you, if I had 13 hungry kids you wouldn't see me taking anniversary trips to hotels or eating alone with my spouse at the "good Olive Garden". I wouldn't be spending money to color my hair or slather on make-up. I'd be trying to find work so I could feed, clothe, and educate my children. And read your Bible again - this time less selectively. Go to Luke 18: 10-14 and Matthew 6: 5. The Bible says that the Lord prefers people who live their belief instead of always loudly proclaiming that they are holier than others.

Sorry. I didn't mean to step on anyone's toes over this. I thought I remembered hearing this and reading about it some time ago. I just checked on Wikipedia (and sometimes they have errors) and this is what they have: "Duggar's father reported to police that he had enrolled Duggar in a program consisting of physical labor and counseling, after consulting with his church's leadership.[41][42] Duggar's mother stated Duggar was sent away from home for a period of three months to work for a family friend who was remodeling a building.[41][44] Later reports suggest that Duggar may have been sent to a facility in Little Rock, Arkansas, owned by the Institute in Basic Life Principles, a Christian ministry and training program founded by Bill Gothard, a Duggar family friend.[41][44][45] It has not been established if the Institute in Basic Life Principles center in Little Rock was open for counseling during the time Duggar was there or if the building was renovated during this time period and he was assisting with the renovation.[44][45]" It's possible he was doing renovations at the IBLP center. Later, when JB&M were practically doing PR for Gothard, they crowed about how many of their kids had done the programs.