silverspoons

So Jim Bob gets to say No to the spin off? If TLC sat down with Jill and Derick in El Salvador and asked to film them and gave them a contract , would they really have to call Jim Bob or have him involved in anyway? they are 24 and 26, should they not be able to sign their own contract? I see it being harder with Ben and Jessa since they live in grandma's house but again they are adults and can sign for themselves. I wonder if the original contract which was for the Duggar family as a whole keeps all members under contract with or without episodes for a certain period of time and the only way out is for Jim Bob to release the 4? The Roloffs and Kate were under contract after the show went off the air for 12-18 months, so they couldn't go film with another network but were getting very little from TLC.

I think Josie has not grown as fast as the other girls and can't share clothes with them. I saw that Hannie and Jennie are wearing juniors skirts from Kohls, those maxi skirts rolled up. Josie looks like she is still in toddler range clothes so she probably gets whatever hand me downs are left. I have seen her in 2007-09 Gymboree dresses. I think whatever older girl does the shopping now, Jana or Jinger buys clothes that can be shared by Hannie/Jordyn/Jenny. I doubt Michelle has shopped for clothes except for posing at a thrift for the cameras for years.

I used to love this show. I saw it was coming back tonight and was disappointed to see RoseAnne coming back. Her laugh was so unbearable I stopped watching last year.

I know, shouldn't every penny count when you are missionaries. I can't imagine where they are going has a high cost of living. If they are going to SOS or a program, it might have some housing options. 10 Duggar plane tickets overseas could be living expenses for the Dillard's for months. I wonder when the last time Jim Bob or any Duggar had to use there own money that was not made from TLC, People, or love donations? If there never was a show I bet Jim bob would not shell out 7-10k or more on plane tickets for the Duggars to say good bye to Jill. I remember growing up catholic, sometimes nuns would come into mass and ask for donations for their missionary work. I remember they would come and talk about the school they were building, or medical clinic they were running. Then you had the option of donating $25 for books or $50 for medicine. Maybe Jill and Derick want to keep the location secret but why not say, $50 donation for Bibles or $25 for candy or if they were really going to build a women's clinic(doubtful) then have people donate specially for that. People want to know where their money is going to.

I feel like Jill will grow as much as Anna did in DC. I remember the first 6 months Anna was in DC she had family, and ATI friends with her non-stop. This visits lessened a bit but it still didn't seem like Anna had a few weeks without Jana, Priscilia, or an ATI friend with her. If Jill is going to a mission (SOS or similar) she will be around like minded people all the time and I foresee the constant stream of visitors. I see Joy spending a lot of time with Jill. Jill was her buddy mom, Joy has finished homeschool and is 17 and has ? to do. I think Jill will gain a greater appreciation for what she has but I don't see this trip making her fundie-lite or that she will be secretly wearing shorts or sending her son to school someday.

I was shocked when I read him saying it. It was back when the LGBT community started an online petition after the kissing pictures were removed and also about Josh's employment at the time. The quote is still up on the Duggar family blog. I always wondered if the show was really just a ministry to them or if they knew they followed the ratings. Basically Jim Bob said he had the number one show on the network and nothing anyone could do would get them cancelled. I was shocked he was so open. I would have thought he would have either said nothing about the petition or if he really felt like he had to speak, say something like they have a right to petition but I believe the show will continue. The Duggars usually say the same old phrases about fellowship, courtship, saving money and modesty. This quote was like a jolt of how Jim Bob really feels. I personally don't like seeing Anna and her kids get dragged through what is happening but I am happy if it takes Jim Bob down a few notches.

I'm surprised if she did put a child up for adoption, nothing has surfaced before this. I'm all for adoption but it is a bit weird if it is a full sibling to Amy so Deanna was already a single mom, that she would not keep a full sibling. Even better that pro-life Jim Bob would not help his sister keep the baby. In 1992 Michelle a bunch of small children and it might have even been beneficial for Michelle to Have Deanna around to help each other. I have always wonder what the relationship was like between Deanna and Michelle back in the early days. Josh and Amy are close in age and Michelle had no family local. Were they close or was Deanna seen as the unwed sinner?

Can someone explain the timeline to me? She files a restraining order in 1992 and is talking about her now husband being abusive right after she had a baby. Amy was born in 1986. Did Deanna file the restraining order 6 years later or does Amy have a sibling?

I could afford a $500 chair but I would not spend $10k on a membership to buy a $500 chair. For a year my husband worked for a company that sold services to direct buy and the owner cuts his ties with direct buy after seeing so many young families scammed. In fact his company gave a 5% discount to direct buy members and anyone paying cash, senior, veteran, PTA member could get 5% off. That is exactly how it was presented a Costco for making your dream home possible at a discount. We were living in Northern Utah at the time and so many young families would be buying a starter home for 150k and then sucked into the direct buy program and end up with a 7-10k debt for the membership on their credit and never buy a single item. I can't imagine Marcus did not know the reputation of Direct buy. I'm fine with the in-programming ads when it is a new computer for the business.

Josh and Anna said once that they were sponsoring a missionary. They rambled about how this was their kind of tithing since they did not attend a church but they knew the gospel said to give 10%. They said they had given a minivan to a needy family and they were sponsoring a missionary(they had some photos) as their tithing. We have seen the people that turn out for the weddings and the fans that are defending Josh and I think they would love their tithing to go to Jill mission. I agree it won't be millions but plenty of people will donate $25-50 a month and a few special friends $100-250 a month so I think Jill could easily could bring in 100k a year. In most misson areas that would give them an good lifestyle. I think TLC would love to film Derick & Jill's adventure but I'm not sure they will. I think Jill will have a Jill cam and do some recording just in case the show comes back or a spin off is made. I think the secret of where they are going is not about filming but because they don't want the program that they are going to be affiliated with to get a backlash or have expose articles about their work written. I strongly think they are going back to central America and will be involved with SOS again. Jim Bob doesn't like change and he feel comfortable with the SOS leaders(isn't the birth control miscarriage doctor with SOS?) so that is why he is allowing, or his prayers pointed Derick to choose Central America. It is also way easier for Jim Bob to check in on the Dillards and still have some control over them.

I liked the episode as far as the family business but was disappointed in Marcus giving Direct Buy airtime. IMO Direct Buy is a scam(my blood pressure goes up after seeing so many people get scammed) and I hope viewers don't go to a Direct Buy seminar and think since Marcus works with them it is a good idea to spend thousands on a membership. I understand Marcus needs sponsors, like we saw At&T on the computers (hotel impossible does this as well) but there was no reason to put Direct buy unless Marcus was selling an infomercial within his show. I like The Profit but if Marcus continues with these mini infomercials for companies like Direct buy I don't think I can continue watching.

I see them raising money so they can live a "American lifestyle" in whatever 3rd world country they are going to. Whenever I watch house hunters international and see $1500 a month rent or homes that cost 400k in countries where a vast majority of workers make $1 an hour, you know that there has to be many other options then the 3 grand homes or apartments shown. The only way Jill is going to last in another country for a length of time is if she has an American kitchen, & bathrooms and proper cooling and heating. I was able to do some short mission type trips, all service (no religion) in my late teens and early 20's. I went to Africa, Haiti, and Eastern Europe. Then I went to a small private college that had young women from many countries, and most were from very wealthy families. I was very shocked to hear these women talk about their lifestyles in these countries and how sheltered they had grown up from the poverty, disease and social issues that were literally in their backyard. It could very well be that Jill and the baby and any future babies have a nice "American style" housing and Derick does more of the daily missionary work and Jill just goes out a few times a week and has a trusted (ATI or family member) watch her kid(s). I just do not see Jill living in any basic bare bones housing and spending 12-14 days in the mission field. I think she will do more then the photo op Duggar style mission but I think it will be scheduled, again a few times a week she meets with women or children while Derick does the brunt of the work.

I have seen Tony rant before but I always thought Josh just posted a picture or made brief short statements on the controversial topics from FRC. Josh never seemed like someone who could skillfully debate a topic or even spit out more then a few prewritten lines about an issue. The few times I tried to listen to his radio show with call in guests, he wasn't comfortable with coming up with quick responses to hot button topics. I still think he didn't mean to say his Aunt was against gay marriage on his radio show but he was like a deer in the headlights and couldn't come up with the right words.

Does anyone think Anna could have said no to marrying Josh? Josh was calling her father and asking for permission to visit and then court her. Pa Keller is the one who prayed and got an answer that Josh was the one. I was thinking about the big proposal at Gator Landing, could Anna have said no to Josh? I don't think so. I'm sure at first she was excited about the prospect of marriage but was she given more then 10 seconds to think about her answer. If her father had prayed and gotten the word that Josh was the one, how could Anna say no. I think Anna being trapped started from the day her father and Josh got together and chose her future not in May when the news broke. Anna has it better in some ways then her sisters. Back in Arkansas she has lots of SIL's to talk to or help her. The new house is almost 3,000 on a large yard so her kids will have space to play. She will keep busy with her kids and the house. I don't think she is going to miss her life in DC or any higher standard of living she had. Her love with Josh never seemed like stars and fireworks, it was basically arranged marriage based on the same beliefs and some basic level of attraction.

I'm sure Josh is on his best behavior these days. We have Jill, Jessa, Michelle and Jim Bob going on Fox News saying how the family is being victimized over and over again by this news and how hard their lives are now. Today we have Josh spending the day at the amusement park. I guess he isn't worried or feeling bad. I guess Michelle and the family are feeling great to get back out in public. It is one thing to go to a grocery store but at an amusement park you get stuck in long lines and people could make nasty comments in front of your kids. It is also nice to be Josh, 27, unemployed and about to have baby #4 and enjoying a day at a amusement park several hours away from home. It must be nice not to have to worry about money or how he will support his growing family. When my husband was 28 he was in a bad accident at work and required multiple surgeries and was unable to work for a few months. We weren't broke but I was still scared to buy anything that wasn't a absolutely needed until he was better and back to work. I think Josh has more money socked away then we know or promises or something from his dad.

I read that one as well. In fact I paid $2.50 for it so it is one of my most expensive "tv star" books. I would be curious to know what Josh has read. I have seen the ATI approved book list and it is very short and not diverse at all. I wonder if he read anymore books since he was married. Could one even hope he read maybe a political biography? I can't imagine what his conversations were like at all the political fundraisers. I would suppose he always steered the conversation to his large family or pro life issues and avoided and talk of literature, history or debate.

“When some of our daughters wanted to obtain medical skills, Dad encouraged them to follow their dream. They enrolled in a first responders course, obtained the certification and have served on our local volunteer fire department and have gone on to gain midwifery and doula training.” My kids are at the point where they are looking at colleges and careers. We live in a rural landlocked city so it is hard to find first hand examples of some careers for them to shadow or professionals to speak with. Both my kids have excelled in sciences. My first move was to see what classes at the high school and local colleges were available. After my kids figured out which sciences they enjoyed taking, they took higher level classes and then looked into careers that involved these classes. Then we took the normal college tours and my kids volunteered at the local hospital. Michelle and Jim Bob didn't even have their kids start with any medical skills until they had finished their "homeschool studies" for several years and some had not even obtained a GED at that point. Then they found non-college volunteer oppurtunites that were flexible so they could still film a show and travel. I can't think of many medical professionals that can pick and choose their hours and take weeks off to campaign or film a tv show. The Duggar's are basically admitting their kids had an interest in higher education but they steered them away from it. I believe the average parents response would be closer to mine, or at least have kids talk to their school and try and extra class or talk to someone in the field and look at some colleges. It is also interesting how Jim Bob always says skills, not career or profession. His kids only need skills. My husband took an auto mechanic class in high school. When I needed a belt changed in my car I was very glad he had a skill. Did my husband want to be a mechanic, no but he is happy to be able to save some money or help a neighbor with his skill. I was hoping with the addition of Derick, college gradate with a profession and even Ben going to school , we would have an example to Duggar kids that college isn't evil and bad and you can get more then skills. Sadly we see Derick leaving his professional and Ben not using his degree so this only will reinforce to the younger Duggars college doesn't pay off like Jim Bob preaches.

I hope the wrapping has nothing to do with the Pearls. They believe in wrapping, even toddlers and older so that kids are not able to get up or out of bed at night. This has actually lead to several deaths from kidney failure. I'm curious if Jill will use the Pearl's teaching or not since it is what she knows. I think her current wrapping is probably some trend she saw online or something she saw a midwife training and she is going too far with it. I had a big baby and a C-section and no help when my spouse worked and I'll admit my baby spent a lot of time in his swing and bouncer for the first few months. I do hope Derick has a nice father's day. Maybe he was a fan of the show before he met Jill, maybe he wanted Jim Bob to sponsor his mission, but deep down I think he was thrilled to marry a sweet girl like Jill and he just wanted a family. I hope he enjoys his first fathers day and can forget about this family circus he married into for a day.

It seems like so many of the reality tv show books ends up at the Dollar store. I run in the dollar store maybe once a month to get the few items I consider a good value and I always look at the book aisle. I have at least 40 of the reality tv stars books on my shelf from the Dollar store, everyone from Kate Gosselin to Bill Ranic to the Hiltons and yesterday I got the Tori Spelling book. On an embaressing note my middle school aged daughter was in an honors class and they up the reading to 200 books at the end of the year to get an award so she sat and read my pile of reality tv books. First she pointed out the many grammar errors and what easy reads they were. Then as she wrote what the books were about the word narcissistic came up so many times her teacher almost docked her points for using the word so much. The Duggars books have to be some of the easiest to read books ever. I guess that is what their core audience demands? I would love Josh to write a book if he was honest and open but we know that will never happen. I'm not sure if I would buy his book for $1.

I hope this death could be a wake up call for Lamar. I really think he is a good guy. I think his life is full of people pulling him in all directions and he has so much temptation. I don't care if he reunites with Khloe, just something needs to get him back on track for the sake of his kids. I remembered that Jamie used to run Rich Soil clothing for Lamar. The website is inactive now. I saw Kylie was selling a few of the hoodies on ebay recently(just like Kim gives that whole 10% to charity!).

Jim Bob and Michelle had been asked why they don't coupon on one of those Q&A shows and their answer showed how stuck in 1989 Jim Bob is(the time when he was a stocker at a grocery store). He said, it takes so much time to clip a coupon to save .15 of a can of food, and that he just buys cases at a low cost grocery store (Aldi). Coupons haven't been .15 for years Jim Bob! Lets forget about extreme couponing. There are coupons that you can print for $1 off of milk or cheese, 2 per computer.. Very conservative estimate lets say they buy 4 gallons of milk and 2 lbs of cheese every week , that saves them $5 a week or $250+ a year for having one the their kids print off a few coupons every week. Then there are products they use all the time, the grands rolls, canned soup, and frozen pizza. These all have regular coupons online and in papers. I think they missed a huge homeschool math opportunity. It has been shown several kids in the family are behind in math so with all Jim Bob's talk about the practical skills homeschool teaches , why not try coupon/price checking charts and skills. It also might help tame the younger kids behavior in stores. My kids when they were little wanted whatever cereal or fruit snack had the character they liked. I just had them look at a sale ad or cut one coupon of one item they wanted and we played scavenger hunt for it in the store. It kept my kids occupied, they got one special item and I got it on sale or with a coupon. With all those boys just running around the house or outside shooting guns, one could spend an hour a week checking ads online and printing coupons. If one of the Duggar kids was smart they would ask Jim Bob to keep the money they saved. I bet it would be way more then .03 a chore!

The 31,000 sq ft warehouse, don't you mean Ben's old guesthouse! I believe that warehouse is divided in storage units that Jim Bob rents out. I think he said there were about 15, but he uses a few for himself. The cheap $10 sales are to get around taxes usually. I wouldn't ever do this but lets say my mom wanted to give me her car, she would put down a small value on the car so I would not have to pay tax when I registered it in my name. I'm sure Jim Bob has special friends at the tax assessors office. I looked at the assessed value of my home, seems about right, then I have a judge living next door in a much nicer, bigger home and newer home and it is assessed at half the value of mine? same low taxes for other city officials in my area. I think either the Duggar's have been buying and selling real estate or just have gotten lazy due to the easy money they have been making from the show. In early years Jim Bob talked about collecting rent and it was income they needed to live on. Now the work of maintaining a property and collecting rent is too hard for Jim Bob when he can collect 40k for kissing Michelle, waving his hands around imparting wisdom, and bragging about his many offspring on any givem episode.

I think Jill and Jessa's high rated episodes surrounded finding out who they were courting and marriage. Viewers were curious about who would marry into the Duggar family and lots of people love watching weddings. I bet birth episodes would do well and maybe a follow up meeting the baby, viewers also love babies but what else do these two daughters have to put on the air? They can't bring up too much religion, so trips to conferences and churches are out. They can't film them doing anything that includes Josh and not very much Jim Bob and Michelle if any. What else is left, the couple meeting up for dinner? Jill giving Jessa baby tips? I would think Viewers would want to meet Marjorie and watch Josiah courtship and wedding more but it would be very hard to exclude the rest of the family with that storyline. If you look at the high rated Duggar episodes they are around courtship/wedding, births, accidents/illness and big trips. The episodes about day to day life dipped very low. I bet only the loyal supporters enjoy watching Jim Bob collect rent, Grandma do laundry and Jessa organize.

I love when these fans post these numbers or links to beg sponsors to come back. Makes it easy for people who want the show cancelled to call TLC or thank sponsor for backing out. I have emailed a few sponsors but I would feel weird calling TLC.

I think the email could be real. Derick has taken time off to film, travel with the Duggars, get married, have surgery and some paternity leave. The email is simple and is clear that he is not on another trip or leave that he is no longer with Walmart. It is a nice way for Walmart to inform their employees that used Derick for accounting questions that don't wait a week for Derick to come back, please go to another accountant for help. I worked in a large office building for years with over 5,000 employees. It was a company where everyone had a specific job and there was no doing someone's else job even if you were trained. It was so frustrating to wait for someone to be free that was assigned a task when a customer needed help and you knew you could do that task. We got emails all the time to inform us if someone changed jobs or departments or if they left the company either short term or long term. It was important so when you needed billing or technical help you would not go to someone that no longer was allowed to do that job. I hope Jill and Derick are making some of their own decisions, whether it be mission work , schooling or moving. I won't believe it till I see it because has anyone ever made a decision in this family without Jim Bob being involved?