Sweet Fellowship: Duggars and Friends (aka the Bates Family and Other Featured Families Thread)

[GeeGolly]

Why is Gil Bates remaining on the board of the Gothard empire? It has got to be either for spiritual, financial, or legal reasons, or all three. I agree, the family seems less rigid and appears to allow the kids more freedom, but Gil is still on the board.

 

I felt Gil's & Kelly's talking head was different on the last show. She was very, very quiet and did the 'husband love-stare' the majority of the time, very different from previous THs. I get the vibe that Kelly is relaxing some of her Fundiness and Gil is not. If I remember correctly Nathan and Kelly used the word girlfriend, however Gil did not, when referring to Ashley.

 

Jill R is a crazy, crazy being. A bit scary if you ask me. She is, IMO, like a trashy version of Michelle. I wonder if Michelle would have had to resort to similar measures to feed her litter if TLC hadn't come a knocking.

 

I wonder if the Fosters want her to stop posting because, #1) Jill's posts are disrespectful and #2) Jill's posts get people talking, and the Fosters want to stay below the radar.

[flyingdi]

Now there's a show I want to see, a Duggar or Bates child dating someone normal. Someone who is either completely different religion or not religious at all. Maybe a Jewish person. The Duggars like the Jews.

[Churchhoney]

Oh Lord, seriously? So the planning consists of what, dusting off folding chairs and dumping potato chips in plastic bowls? It's not like these people put in even the slightest amount of effort to create a tasteful affair.

 

C'mon now. They almost certainly don't dust anything off. Or provide chairs.

[Fuzzysox]

Joy and Sierra filmed their shopping segments for the shower back in late January/early February. I guess they could have done a shower for them, but it seems kind of far out. I found this picture on Ashton Samuelson's public facebook (she's the wife of the owner). Kristin in on the left, and it looks like they were at a(nother?) shower for him very recently. If she's due in June, I really feel for her; girlfriend is already HUGE! 

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=895663911003&set=a.529312796573.2041723.82200981&type=3&theater

 

At any rate, if this is Kristin's (first) shower depicted on the show, I wonder if the she will self-identify with Tacos 4 Life. Because the connection between the Samuelsons (owners) and this couple is rock solid. Or is she just going to be another "close friend?" 

Since bringing Sierra (the new Famy) into the fold the Duggar girls suddenly have BFs? Strange how all these new "friends" are coming out for storylines. Have we ever seen this girl Kristen before? I don't recall her being around. 

[Aja]

Jill is truly a horrible person.  She really can't believe that her sister is actually alive, and that Amy's husband hasn't abandoned her.  The worst part?  There's a part of her that is relishing having Poor Crippled Amy around to blog about, and point out that Jill is still alive, fertile, and mobile.  Of course Jill's husband is also still around, but I suspect that Jill is positive that he'd leave if Jill were unable to fulfill her wifely duties in any form, thus her obvious shock and confusion that Amy's husband is still around.

I Fired God shed a lot of light on this, too. Apparently IFB fundies consider hardship badges of honor, like Jesus thinks so much of you that he gives you all these tests because he knows you are super special strong or something. So bragging about how much you suffer is totally a thing. Jill is one sociopathic narcissist, that's for sure. I mean, let me get this straight...Amy asked her to quit posting stuff about her on the blog, and this one-year anniversary thing is her response? Seriously? What a twat.

ETA I just tried the link and apparently the post has been removed. Idiot.

[RazzleberryPie]

Did anyone see the previews for 4/5 when Joy is featured? Suddenly, Sierra has been Joy's BFF for YEARS! Wow what a FU internets moment that was to me. Seems like they are reading the boards and we are seeing them do things that we don't "expect" since they are supposed to be chained to doing chores all day.

I thought that was weird. Why is a teenager besties with a married woman who has pretty much been pregnant for the past 7 years. That's two very different seasons of life.

Oh and besties that aren't siblings - isn't that a direct Gothard no no? Outside influences = hell in a hand basket?

Why is it so difficult and time consuming for these people to plan parties? They should be pros now.

[sometimesy]

http://blog.titus2.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/DSC_6419.jpg

It's Red Polo Shirt day at the Maxwell's! For some reason, this just makes me laugh and laugh and laugh! I can't stop! It's not like the sisters are 3 and 4, you know?

http://rodriguesfamilyministries.com/main/?p=2489

JillR has her own ladies radio show!!! I didn't have the heart to listen to the broadcast, since her voice is too annoying for me to listen to. Perhaps she will inspire one of you!

 

 

If this SAHD business keeps up, these fundies will start thinking polygamy is the way to go!

 

 

Wow, up on ladders in ankle length skirts and crocs. Yep, that's totally safe. At least they don't have too far to fall.

There's a reason OSHA exists, Maxwells.

They have posts on why they are SAHD, but their real expertise is how to STAY that way. 

 

Jill Rod is despicable. She has no awareness of other people in her imaginary world with her terrific husband and talented/well-lobotomized kids. Can't wait for that book. 

[Barb23]

It's just another, boring Sierra-planned baby shower.

http://www.tlc.com/tlcme/epic-baby-shower-inspiration-from-joy-duggar/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=countingontlc&sf23553718=1

Oh Lord, seriously? So the planning consists of what, dusting off folding chairs and dumping potato chips in plastic bowls? It's not like these people put in even the slightest amount of effort to create a tasteful affair.

The article made it sound like Joy is the only person that has planned & executed a Surprise shower. Back in the day, most wedding & baby showers were a surprise. Yes, it took some planning to make it a surprise & to keep it a secret but it isn't as overly difficult as I'm sure it will be portrayed.

It is funny that Sierra has turned out to be the BFF of the Duggar girls. She's Jessa's Mommy friend. Joy helps her with babysitting & events. Sierra supposedly resurrected Michael's birthday cake (we know different) for Anna & think that's when we were first introduced to her. Not to mention Wedding planning Jill & Jessa's weddings & baby showers. Sierra is quite "The Family Friend"™

Adding: sorry Fuzzy Sox, I meant to quote your post Re: Sierra being their BFF but it didn't transfer over & didn't want to lose my post by trying again. (Been there, done that)

Edited April 5, 2016 by Barb23

[Fuzzysox]

The article made it sound like Joy is the only person that has planned & executed a Surprise shower. Back in the day, most wedding & baby showers were a surprise. Yes, it took some planning to make it a surprise & to keep it a secret but it isn't as overly difficult as I'm sure it will be portrayed.

It is funny that Sierra has turned out to be the BFF of the Duggar girls. She's Jessa's Mommy friend. Joy helps her with babysitting & events. Sierra supposedly resurrected Michael's birthday cake (we know different) for Anna & think that's when we were first introduced to her. Not to mention Wedding planning Jill & Jessa's weddings & baby showers. Sierra is quite "The Family Friend"™

Adding: sorry Fuzzy Sox, I meant to quote your post Re: Sierra being their BFF but it didn't transfer over & didn't want to lose my post by trying again. (Been there, done that)

Brilliant! Now if she can only get her own show with that name! lol

[Barb23]

Wow, up on ladders in ankle length skirts and crocs. Yep, that's totally safe. At least they don't have too far to fall.

There's a reason OSHA exists, Maxwells.

My MIL took a nasty fall from the bottom step of a ladder last week & she was wearing pants & normal shoes. But I know, their God watches over them better than ours.

I can't even imagine what it would like to have JillR as a sister saying that crap about me. Thank goodness I have an angel of a sister that doesn't comment about my disability publicly or privately.

[flyingdi]

For TV stars these Duggars are quiet. Good Lord. Even Jessa was willing to let Sierra take over the talking on her own show. It's kind of sad that these kids are so uncomfortable around other people for growing up on TV.

[Sew Sumi]

Sierra just posted on Instagram that they did indeed manufacture a party for anyone they knew who was pregnant, regardless of how far along she was. The party is indeed for this Kristen person.

Dear TLC, stop trying to make the Duggar kidults (and Sierra) happen. These manufactured plots are getting ridiculous.

Edited April 5, 2016 by Sew Sumi

[BitterApple]

It is funny that Sierra has turned out to be the BFF of the Duggar girls. She's Jessa's Mommy friend. Joy helps her with babysitting & events. Sierra supposedly resurrected Michael's birthday cake (we know different) for Anna & think that's when we were first introduced to her. Not to mention Wedding planning Jill & Jessa's weddings & baby showers. Sierra is quite "The Family Friend"™

Here's my two cents: Sierra is miserable with her home life so she plays party planner for the Duggars as an escape mechanism. During the opening scene from last week's epi, Sierra looked like she was about to have a Michelle-style meltdown as she was dealing with her kids before Jessa arrived. I think she loves the idea and image of being a Quiverfull wife, but the reality of it is driving her insane.

[Aja]

Dear TLC, stop trying to make the Duggar kidults (and Sierra) happen. These manufactured plots are getting ridiculous.

RIGHT? You would have thought they would have learned something from the Famy years. How much did TLC spend sending her to Nashville to launch her awesome country music career? For all of Nancy Daniel's assurances that the Duggars still have millions and millions of fans, she sure doesn't display a ton of confidence that they can carry their own show without adding all of these tertiary "interesting" characters.

 

Edited April 5, 2016 by Aja

[Sew Sumi]

Here's the JRod/Amy "memorial" service for those who missed it before JRod pulled the FB link. 

 

Edited April 5, 2016 by Sew Sumi

[sometimesy]

I'm confused. Is this some sort of funeral for a living person? Amy past tense? Is this a fundy thing? 

[NewDigs]

I'm afraid.

To click or not to click...

[sr7698]

Holy crap on a cracker.  If I'm Amy I would feel like shit (pardon my french).  My family mourning me like I am gone, my sister using me for her own selfish purposes.  Something truly terrible happened to Amy and her life (and the life of her husband) were changed forever.  She's not dead though and I expect that she and her husband are working on what her new life will be and look like.  I don't know of ONE PERSON that has ever memorialized a tragedy when the person is still freakin' alive.  If anything, it should have been a celebration (that's not the right word, but I can't think of another one) about how far she has come from the accident and what she has accomplished over this past year, the poem should have been about how strong she is!!  I only hope and pray that they asked Amy about doing this, but I highly doubt selfish Jill would ever consider another person in her quest for fame!  Rant over.  

[Albanyguy]

I think she loves the idea and image of being a Quiverfull wife, but the reality of it is driving her insane.

 

Awww, it's like "Michelle: The Wonder Years"!

[BitterApple]

Wow. Poor Amy. I can't imagine suffering a horrific tragedy and my family talking about me like I was dead. That was awful to watch.

[JoanArc]

Just chiming in to say how fucked up that memorial is. Honestly, it insults me as a Nurse. It is NOT how you deal with severe injury or illness. Unless you're crazy.

"Hey, let's cut off your legs and throw them a funeral. It's not like you're using them anyway. We might make a few bucks." -Your loving sister

[Sew Sumi]

And in happier news, Allie Jane turned 1 and had a cake! (And no baby in sight for Alyssa, hooray!)

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BD1Xi_gpAu_/?taken-by=webster4ever

[Celia Rubenstein]

All I see up there where the memorial thing is posted is a black box!  Dammit, did I miss it?  

 

I saw where Jill said she wasn't going to post about Amy any more.  I didn't realize it was because Amy asked her to stop.  Why the eff did Jill do this memorial poem tribute thing then?  What is this chick's damage?  How messed up.  

[JoanArc]

THIS!

And the concept of 'God USING Amy' and we should all 'be GRATEFUL God SPARED HER LIFE'. GARGANTUAN Logic Leap there. This is the most twisted God EVER, but I should beg and praise Him? Whuuut?!

Don't click. This clip is a Logic Destroyer.

Yet when it happens to someone ELSE it's God punishing them.

[Vaysh]

Well said Oh Margeaux, those are my exact sentiments.

[queenanne]

Yet when it happens to someone ELSE it's God punishing them.

 

Well, I think it can be seen that Christians are thinking both those things - the bad thing is bad, and was meant for bad, but God will turn it to good outcomes and works - but it's pretty crummy for someone else to say what Jill's sister is feeling.  Maybe she ranted and railed like Job, and it makes her feel guilty or a hypocrite or angry, to have people saying this is someone's teachable moment.

[Micks Picks]

I am afraid that Jill is now thinking that her sister should get pregnant since she mentions clearly that she is fertile.  

[BitterApple]

And in happier news, Allie Jane turned 1 and had a cake! (And no baby in sight for Alyssa, hooray!)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BD1Xi_gpAu_/?taken-by=webster4ever

Those are nice pics. I always thought Allie looked like her Dad, but she's starting to appear more Bates-ish now. Either way she's a cute kiddo.

[GeeGolly]

I'm afraid.

To click or not to click...

I did a partial click. I listened to the poem and it is shit that nightmares are made of.

 

I am afraid that Jill is now thinking that her sister should get pregnant since she mentions clearly that she is fertile.  

And WTF?! The service mentions her fertility??!!

[tabloidlover]

I did a partial click as well.  Could not get all the way thru it.  Skipped to Jill's part and had to stop - so self-serving. 

[JoanArc]

I am afraid that Jill is now thinking that her sister should get pregnant since she mentions clearly that she is fertile.  

[crazycatlady58]

I have been in many Churches, one of them fundy and I can say that every pastor and priest that I know would have a collective stroke at how wrong it is to have a memorial service for a living person. My phone vould not load the video and I think I am glad. I do not have anger issues but I think watching that video would give me some.

[Celia Rubenstein]

 My phone vould not load the video and I think I am glad.

 

 

The video won't work for me, either, and I am assuming it is God's way of protecting me from Jill's bullshit.   For those of you who were able to see it, well. I guess God just doesn't love you.  Sorry !!!

[Sew Sumi]

God must really hate me, because I can still view it! 

[tabloidlover]

Guess he hates me too.... Off to the prayer closet in hopes of some redemption.

[Aja]

The video won't work for me, either, and I am assuming it is God's way of protecting me from Jill's bullshit.   For those of you who were able to see it, well. I guess God just doesn't love you.  Sorry !!!

This combined with your avatar made me lose a mouthful of coffee.

I was, at one time, neutral about religion and its zealots. Live and let live. Whatever gets you through the night. But that was before I became so painfully aware of right wing Fundie-ism. I did not start out biased against any particular religion, but the likes of the Duggars and Rodrigueses have pushed me HARD toward the negative assessment I now hold for these types.

I have grown so weary of their UNRELENTING negative judgment of any and all who are outside their own weird cult. THEY love Jahezuz, while the rest of us are sinful lovers of alcohol,gambling, promiscuity, and commitment-free life. THEIR children are 'obedient' fasters, while ours are disrespectful, uncaring sinners who enjoy dancing in Satan's amusement park.

Enough. Patriarch David appears to be an unemployed mouth-breathing, drooling dolt of a dad, and his big haired, small brained hillybilly's idea of a wet dream famewhore wife do NOT inspire. If they sincerely want to draw others to their God, their best strategy would be to proactively get OUT of the spotlight and, at least in public, STHU.

The Duggars and Rodrigueses make it extremely hard to take ANY of their ilk seriously. Contrary to their purported goal of drawing souls to Jesus, they REPEL.

Exploiting a family member's tragedy to promote one's own personal agenda and fame is not holy. Glomming onto as many better-known religious zealots as possible to try to enjoy the warmth of their spotlight does not inspire.

Bringing a dozen or more children into the world while pridefully remaining unemployed is not inspirational. Neither is keeping one's children tragically uneducated, raised on the road in Uncle Eddie's RVEE, and misled to believe the rest of humans living in the real world are nothing more than sin traps.

Freedom may be just another word for nothing more to lose, but Patriarch is just another synonym for male insecurity. And in the Duggar/Rodrugues context, helpmeet is just another word for religious armed robbery of feminine individuality and potential.

I miss my days of blissful ignorance of these people and the neutrality that ignorance afforded me. I mourn the loss of those days when 'devoutly religious' and 'very conservative family values' we're not terms that represent huge red flags in my assessment of all things religious.

Do you write articles? I want to read articles that you write. :)

[Barb23]

I was still able to watch the video this morning. I had to click on it a few times. Like others, I only made it past the poem & stopped watching when Jill was talking to Amy on the phone. Thankfully I missed or didn't get to the piece about Amy's fertility.

[sometimesy]

The video won't work for me, either, and I am assuming it is God's way of protecting me from Jill's bullshit.   For those of you who were able to see it, well. I guess God just doesn't love you.  Sorry !!!

I was able to see it. No surprise. 

 

Yeah, um, just wondering if Jill might have skimmed some 'money' for herself. Her mother did mention they were thankful for the 'money' Wouldn't surprise me if she felt entitled. 

 

That gender reveal thing...oy. 

[Aja]

You all have ruined me. I'm spending way too much time reading JRod's blog. Did you know that they were guests at Michaela Bateseses wedding? And it was the third Bateses wedding they have been PERSONALLY invited to? That was the very first sentence. Her next paragraph is a nasty, judgmental swipe at how much holier and Jesusier their weddings are than the icky Satan weddings the rest of the people have, and she finishes it off by reminding us that the Bateseseseses PERSONALLY THANKED them for coming. Then comes the Duggar tongue bath, where she actually COMPARES THEM DIRECTLY TO JESUS CHRIST. And brags about how she and ANNADUGGAR had their babies one day apart (so precious!), and ANNADUGGAR just loved comparing notes with her! Basically, the entire post was, as many of her posts seem to be, a desperately pathetic attempt to advertise that she buddies around with TV stars who personally thank her and want to take pictures with her and actually look her in the eye when speaking to her (the eye-contact thing was one of the specific reasons the Duggars remind her of Jesus.) The pictures of Jill cheesing up to Anna with her shit-eating grin while Anna looks stiff as a board with the Duggar-PR smile plastered to her face are hilarious/sad/hilarious/sad. But the truly greatest, greatest part of the post was her sign off: "Because of Jesus, Jill Rodrigues." Which is going to be the title of the book I must now write about her.

Edited April 6, 2016 by Aja

[BitterApple]

Jill is so deluded. Regarding the Bateseseses weddings, Fundies invite everyone they've come into contact with within the last 20 years, so JRod receiving a "personal" invitation doesn't mean a hill of beans. I saw several pictures of Jill posing with various Duggar and Bates kids, and they all had an expression like "who the eff is this woman and could you please come rescue me NOW" on their faces. The Rodrigui are the social climbing, hangers on in their circles, not members of the clique.

[MarysWetBar]

Jill is so deluded. Regarding the Bateseseses weddings, Fundies invite everyone they've come into contact with within the last 20 years, so JRod receiving a "personal" invitation doesn't mean a hill of beans. I saw several pictures of Jill posing with various Duggar and Bates kids, and they all had an expression like "who the eff is this woman and could you please come rescue me NOW" on their faces. The Rodrigui are the social climbing, hangers on in their circles, not members of the clique.

Just wanted to point out that your use of Rodrigui and Ajas use of Batseseses is the funniest effing part of these posts to me. I loves you gals!

Because of Jeebus

MWB

[RazzleberryPie]

I have family that live a couple of hours from JRod and co. They basically (my family) says that area has a lot of really cheap farmland but not great job prospects, so you have a lot of elderly people who've lived there for years and a bunch of weirdos - back to the land homeschoolers of either the non-religious hippie types, or Quiverfull fundies who need a lot of space and are sanctimonious yet paranoid. A few Mormons, a few Mennonites, a few true goat farming hippies, but mostly weirdos. They all have some sort of blog describing how unique and special snowflake they are to disjoin from society.

Edited April 6, 2016 by RazzleberryPie

[Fuzzysox]

I looked up Sierra's friend Holly out of curiosity. She too has a blog and now she is an official cookier and runs her own business making/shipping them. Weird thing, no special orders. She is new to this and I can see all the boo boos since I follow a lot of cookie makers. Anywhoooo enjoy:

 

http://thedoughmestichousewife.blogspot.com/?m=0

 

https://www.instagram.com/doughmestichousewife/?hl=en

[BitterApple]

I looked up Sierra's friend Holly out of curiosity. She too has a blog and now she is an official cookier and runs her own business making/shipping them. Weird thing, no special orders. She is new to this and I can see all the boo boos since I follow a lot of cookie makers. Anywhoooo enjoy:

http://thedoughmestichousewife.blogspot.com/?m=0

https://www.instagram.com/doughmestichousewife/?hl=en

What the heck? How do you have a baking business and not do special orders?

[NikSac]

I was still able to watch the video this morning. I had to click on it a few times. Like others, I only made it past the poem & stopped watching when Jill was talking to Amy on the phone. Thankfully I missed or didn't get to the piece about Amy's fertility.

Did you get to hear that lovely song about how she'll never walk again due to a badly broken neck near the end? I skimmed through the video but managed to go right to those lyrics and decided not to even try to watch any more. Awful.

Edited April 6, 2016 by NikSac

[Mollie]

I looked up Sierra's friend Holly out of curiosity. She too has a blog and now she is an official cookier and runs her own business making/shipping them. Weird thing, no special orders. She is new to this and I can see all the boo boos since I follow a lot of cookie makers. Anywhoooo enjoy:

 

http://thedoughmestichousewife.blogspot.com/?m=0

 

https://www.instagram.com/doughmestichousewife/?hl=en

She doesn't mention having a license from the Arkansas Department of Health, which is required because she is selling food on the Internet.

[Micks Picks]

Wow what a blog.  No idea what exactly she sells and in what quantities and for what price.  What I do know is her assistants are 4 yrs old and 18 months old, so no, I don't want any, even for free. 

[Fuzzysox]

Is Holly's husband one of the big wigs at Tacos4Life?

[Aja]

So is the complete dismissal of societal rules a superiority complex on their part, or are they simply too ignorant to know there even IS a Department of Health, or health and safety standards, or child labor laws? 

 

Is Holly's husband one of the big wigs at Tacos4Life?

I know this is lowball of me, but as a gay woman, I think they should have figured out a better name. I giggle every time I see it.

[BitterApple]

My brother's wife is a great cook and once toyed with the idea of starting a catering business, but the licensing requirements and regulations were INSANE. They live in NYC, so I'm not sure if it varies widely between states, but she decided it just wasn't worth the hassle.

If Holly is using toddlers as baking assistants, I'm dubious on her having the proper credentials. Hopefully she was just joking on that one.