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

[BradandJanet]

12 hours ago, Absolom said:

That is really an expensive/rip off looking museum with those prices for what people are getting.  That or I'm really out of touch with how prices overall have soared, but it still feels like taking advantage.

If Jill tried to pass off some of the children as "five or under," would she and David try to get in as "seniors." They'd save a quarter each on admission. It's more likely Jill would try to get herself the "ages 17-6" admission since people always think she's one of the daughters.  

[laurakaye]

17 hours ago, oliviabenson said:

Jill totally lied and said her precious babies are under 5 lol

Sadly, they both might actually be able to pass for 5 - especially the 10-year old. :(

17 hours ago, AstridM said:

As I said, she’s teaching her kids to lie, cheat, and steal.

But!  It's okay, because we all work sooooo000ooo hard printing our smiley tracts to pass out to those awful sinners!  So Jesauce wouldn't mind at all if we "pretend" our ages to shave off a few of our hard-earned dollars to gain entrance into a museum where we get to learn more about how special we are!  

17 hours ago, Notabug said:

I am sure people felt guilty seeing Jill's unhealthy looking kids and took the tracts out of sympathy.

I'll bet she has her kids do some type of performance art for those who take one look at them and try to push past...like maybe she has Janessa say something like, "Mommy?  Do you think that person is going to hell?  I wonder if I can save him all by myself!"  Or, more likely, they travel in a pack like that to literally surround a person to prevent them from running away until they've accepted the tract.  And I'm positive they choose their targets carefully.

 

16 hours ago, ginger90 said:

 

Good heavens - those two photos are far more jarring than watching the video!  Holy crap, Jill, you've got her trained, okay?  We get it.

14 hours ago, oliviabenson said:

even David didn't smile. Jill really is annoying. put away the phone into your purse woman and enjoy your life.

She can't enjoy her life until she posts about it so she can get that jolt of superiority over everyone else who isn't spending their day of rest worshipping and learning about the Bible.  Why, I'll bet some of those heathens spend their day of rest working a second job or taking care of their homes.  Shameful.

Edited Wednesday at 01:30 PM by laurakaye

[EmeraldGirl]

It’s actually Philip sleeping next to Tessie. Or he’s just barely watching with his eyes half closed. It looks like Sam is taking pictures of the wonderful event. Oy. 

[BradandJanet]

Phillip hasn't looked enthusiastic about much of anything since he returned. Who can blame him? What a setback to try to escape the family circus with two colleges and a sole trip to Oklahoma only to find himself right back where he started. 

Abandon all hope, ye who enter (the barndo).

[oliviabenson]

Mommy and poppy dragged Phillip back from Oklahoma and send him to be deprogrammed (shudders).

No wonder he looks sad. And also that book Jill was reading and probably feeding Phillip vitamins to make him better.

[lookeyloo]

Maybe she gave them a sob story about them being so righteous and deserving and there were so many of them the ticket people said okay.

[ozziemom]

1 hour ago, lookeyloo said:

Maybe she gave them a sob story about them being so righteous and deserving and there were so many of them the ticket people said okay.

Yes, I can just imagine Jill yapping away at the people in the ticket booth. There are some people who think every price is negotiable or should be free to the extra special missionaries, like the Rods.

[merylinkid]

I sm quite sure at a place like that particular museum there are more than a few people who try to negotiate the set ticket price.  You know the same people eho leave a religious tract instead instead of a tip at restaurants.

[Tdoc72]

11 minutes ago, merylinkid said:

I sm quite sure at a place like that particular museum there are more than a few people who try to negotiate the set ticket price.  You know the same people eho leave a religious tract instead instead of a tip at restaurants.

Cough, cough, JimBob Duggar. 

[satrunrose]

Suddenly I'm really curious to know what happens when a "Jesus says you should give us a discount!" type goes to a place that is probably only going to be attractive to people of similar beliefs. Is it an "Ask and ye shall receive" kind of situation or a "Jesus says everyone pays full price!" on the part of the business? 

[Salacious Kitty]

I assume their pricing sign doesn't say SUGGESTED fees. That said, grifters like the Rods and Duggars would give negotiation a try. 

[andromeda331]

I love how it's totally okay for Godly Jill to rip off a Bible musuem. 

[Salacious Kitty]

Speakmg of ripped off, she plagiarized a piece about not giving up when mothering is hard. She mentions it's from elsewhere on the IG post, but no mention on the FB post with the (very lengthy) text. But she never credits the source, so I vote plagiarized. 😀

[ginger90]

Words from Jill:

Spoiler

Can I just encourage moms that may read this to NOT give up!  ❤️  There have been so many seasons of parenting that have brought me to the end of myself. 😬  You see, to admit our frailties and weakness to God,  allows God to then show Himself mighty on our behalf.  It forces our reliance to come from Him and not our own strength. ❤️  2 Corinthians 12:10  “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."  (KJV)

I have seen so many parents go into parenting with good intentions and confidence in their own idealism of how they want to parent their children. 😬 They soon realize, however, that if they want to truly raise a God fearing family,  it is going to take FULLY yielding to Christ.  You see, we should never want to raise children to have each one be a beautiful "feather in our cap".  It should be to WHOLLY bring honor to Christ and to watch each one of them hit their mark as God fearing adults.  Psalms 127:4  “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.”  

As we journey through each phase of parenting,  I think the realization (at one time or another) hits parents that this responsibility is for the LONG HAUL.....especially if we want to do it RIGHT!  If we allow it to, we could get overwhelmed. 🤪  Remember,  though, that this responsibility is one of GREAT HONOR and JOY! 😊 

Don't let this yoke of responsibility overwhelm you.  Remember this verse......Matthew 11:30  "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  It may take more passionate training, prayer, family devotions and guidance during their impressionable years, BUT it will yield great peace in the long term!  Hebrews 12:11 "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”  😁

I have seen so many parents "throw in the towel" as soon as the going gets tough.  Perhaps they have a child that has strayed away from the Biblical principles taught to them, and it discourages the parents.   😥  Or, they simply grow weary.  But, the Bible tells us to......Galatians 6:9
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”  

If you can allow me a moment to speak into (perhaps) your down trodden mother's heart, I would say this.  "DON'T GIVE UP!"  Many times I bow the knee before bed and feel like an epic failure.  I feel tired.  I feel confused.  I feel completely at the end of myself.  But, I keep going.  I keep rising and putting the next foot in front of the next and keep striving to do right (with God's strength)!  ☺️  Then, at those monumental moments in our children's lives like getting saved, surrendering their lives to Christ, baptisms, graduations, God honoring weddings, grandbabies being born, and watching God call our children into His service, I watch in AWE in the stadium of life with tears streaming down my cheeks and I hear the Holy Spirit whisper to me, "See, it was worth it all and......“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”  I Corinthians 15:58

Weary mother, remember this....."the hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world".  

*Don't give up, or let up.  Be a warrior for Christ.  This is our calling, the moment we conceive.  The devil is in a battle to "get our children".  Lead the charge AGAINST his wicked devices and let your foes wag their heads at you with disdain.  Don't let their darts against you sway you!  💯  Stand strong!  Stay Biblical.  Stay close to God.  Stay passionate! 

*Remember to do this......"And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.  And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes." Deuteronomy 6:5-9

Hope this encourages you!  🥰 As a busy mother to 13 children and grandmother to 5, I know how the responsibilities of life can feel crushing.  But God will never give us more than we can handle. 😉

 I wish I had the time to sit down across the table from you while sipping on some coffee ☕️....... to share our hearts, and to encourage ourselves in the Lord.  ☺️  I love you, and more importantly,  so does God!  He is with us every step of the way!  Keep on keeping on for Jesus!  😘     Hugs, Jill ❤️

 

[lookeyloo]

39 minutes ago, Tasya said:

Tessie is easily the prettiest of the Rods. If Jill could sit down and shut up for just a bit, she would surely land a prospect that she could finally REALLY brag on. Alas, none of the people really visible in their world would saddle themselves to JRod, not even for a really pretty "proper wife."

 

After Tessie and Hannah(?), Jill has a hard road ahead with marrying off the rest of the girls; 3 of them are sickly looking, 1 of them looks too much like David, and Renee is going to be the kept-at-home daughter. How ever will Jill toot her own horn in the future with such sad-looking daughters, who are all "raised the right way" all at home??

She might spin it into "These godly young women have chosen to honor their mahmo by staying with me and taking the bestest of care of me, what a group,  praise my version of the right Jesus"

[oliviabenson]

Sam and Phil work and probably paid. Jill pays as little as possible. Renee is selling that MLM plus earrings. 

At least Kaylee gets a break when mom is on a vacation.

[AstridM]

2 hours ago, Tasya said:

Tessie is easily the prettiest of the Rods. If Jill could sit down and shut up for just a bit, she would surely land a prospect that she could finally REALLY brag on. Alas, none of the people really visible in their world would saddle themselves to JRod, not even for a really pretty "proper wife."

 

After Tessie and Hannah(?), Jill has a hard road ahead with marrying off the rest of the girls; 3 of them are sickly looking, 1 of them looks too much like David, and Renee is going to be the kept-at-home daughter. How ever will Jill toot her own horn in the future with such sad-looking daughters, who are all "raised the right way" all at home??

Physical appearance isn’t an accomplishment, though. It’s just random chance. It doesn’t make Tessie any better, or more “proper” than anyone else, including her sisters.

Edited Thursday at 03:16 PM by AstridM

[EmeraldGirl]

God, that was long and boring! I always wonder what kids do when they’re told to read the Bible. It must take them a long time to get into the vernacular of it all. I can still read passages and not know what the hell it means.

I agree that Tessie is absolutely gorgeous. I don’t know how she got the genes in that family. I agree, that she’s not any better because she’s the best looking. But to Jill she might be more marketable in finding a husband. The problem is that good looking wealthy men aren’t searching rural Ohio for a gal stuck in that kind of world. And they aren’t well known like the Duggers where men were in search of the pretty girls. Not that any of them veered far from home either. Despite what you may think of him, I think that Jinger got really lucky with a guy who had already been in the world and could introduce her to things everyone takes for granted. Like watching TV shows that aren’t the Andy Griffith show.

So I guess they are not IBLP like the Duggers? If they were, they’d get a chance to go to those big homeschool conferences where a stray decent guy might be. Stephen Wisssman seems like a pretty good catch. There might be more of those guys if Jill would ever get her girls out somewhere, anywhere.

[AstridM]

1 minute ago, EmeraldGirl said:

God, that was long and boring! I always wonder what kids do when they’re told to read the Bible. It must take them a long time to get into the vernacular of it all. I can still read passages and not know what the hell it means.

I agree that Tessie is absolutely gorgeous. I don’t know how she got the genes in that family. I agree, that she’s not any better because she’s the best looking. But to Jill she might be more marketable in finding a husband. The problem is that good looking wealthy men aren’t searching rural Ohio for a gal stuck in that kind of world. And they aren’t well known like the Duggers where men were in search of the pretty girls. Not that any of them veered far from home either. Despite what you may think of him, I think that Jinger got really lucky with a guy who had already been in the world and could introduce her to things everyone takes for granted. Like watching TV shows that aren’t the Andy Griffith show.

So I guess they are not IBLP like the Duggers? If they were, they’d get a chance to go to those big homeschool conferences where a stray decent guy might be. Stephen Wisssman seems like a pretty good catch. There might be more of those guys if Jill would ever get her girls out somewhere, anywhere.

The Wissmans are Mennonites. Maybe Jill can find some of those for her daughters. 

[Notabug]

51 minutes ago, EmeraldGirl said:

 

So I guess they are not IBLP like the Duggers? If they were, they’d get a chance to go to those big homeschool conferences where a stray decent guy might be. Stephen Wisssman seems like a pretty good catch. There might be more of those guys if Jill would ever get her girls out somewhere, anywhere.

There are lots of homeschool conferences for fundamentalists.  However, they are not free.  No way Jill is paying for something as trivial as educational help for her kids.  I think the Duggars often spoke at these things due to their notoriety and they probably didn't have to pay.

51 minutes ago, AstridM said:

The Wissmans are Mennonites. Maybe Jill can find some of those for her daughters. 

Lots of Mennonites in Jill's neck of the woods.  However, the ones down there tend to dress Amish-lite and wear caps over their hair.  Mahmo and her pink cowboy boots, skin tight skirts and trashy hair extensions would not be welcome into their inner circle.

[merylinkid]

Amish.   Since Jill loves them so much.   problem is they have a work ethic and won't be available at all hours to wait on Jill hand and foot.   Or hand over their paycheck, or even half a cow every time she demands it.   

Jill is not going to put effort into marrying her kids off.   Because then its about them and not her.   they go to that big tent revival every year surely there should be some families there desperate enough to marry off a son that even the Rods look like a good choice? 

[oliviabenson]

looks aren't everything. can a future mate carry a conversation and have goals? or any hobbies. all jills kids know (poorly) is the Bible. listening to her sons preach is brain numbing boring. her kids are very full and have no interests or any curiosity. 

and Jill likes to pick spineless wimpy sons in law. she is looking for mates for her kids when she goes grifting.

 

no wonder Brianna ran off. she realized Sammy might be pretty but the rods are lazy and uneducated and noped out.

Edited Thursday at 05:14 PM by oliviabenson

[BetyBee]

Brianne may have run off when she learned what portion of Samuel's paycheck was forever allocated to Mahmo!

[libgirl2]

11 minutes ago, BetyBee said:

Brianne may have run off when she learned what portion of Samuel's paycheck was forever allocated to Mahmo!

I think that was one of several things that turned her off. 

[oliviabenson]

living in poverty, can't have a real job and serve Jill 24/7 while running her own house would scare anyone off. plus pay 50% of pay to Jill the queen. and Sammy is dim so no delightful tittilating conversations either.

[oliviabenson]

It’s nice that she didn’t erase her nose. 

[EmeraldGirl]

Can you imagine how bad it must’ve been to scare off someone like Brianne (Scarlet O’Bigot as she was so perfectly named)? Geez, she was way off her rocker in her Cinderella outfit and whispery voice.

[Chaos Theory]

8 minutes ago, EmeraldGirl said:

Can you imagine how bad it must’ve been to scare off someone like Brianne (Scarlet O’Bigot as she was so perfectly named)? Geez, she was way off her rocker in her Cinderella outfit and whispery voice.

Brianna may be a bigot but she is bigot  with real world experience.  I think she got caught up in the conservative trad wife fantasy.   But then realized Sammers was not the guy to give it to her.  I mean the fantasy is essentially staying home to take care of the home and kiddies and send the husband out to hunt and gather.   I doubt Sammers will ever have the tools to bring anything home but a cold.   That is not the lifestyle our fair Scarlett O’Biggot signed up for.   Plus can you see her birthing his babies????? 

Edited Thursday at 08:29 PM by Chaos Theory

[libgirl2]

4 minutes ago, Chaos Theory said:

Brianna may be a bigot but she is bigot  with real world experience.  I think she got caught up in the conservative trad wife fantasy.   But then realized Sammers was not the guy to give it to her.  I mean the fantasy is essentially staying home to take care of the home and kiddies and send the husband out to hunt and gather.   I doubt Sammers will ever have the tools to bring anything home but a cold.   That is not the lifestyle our fair Scarlett O’Biggot signed up for.   Plus can you see her birthing his babies????? 

I think at first, she like Jill and Sam is a nice looking guy. Then she spent Thanksgiving with them.... Jill was Jill and Sam was dull. The fantasy turned into reality and she didn't like it. 

Edited Thursday at 08:33 PM by libgirl2

[Salacious Kitty]

1 minute ago, libgirl2 said:

I think at first, she like Jill and Sam is a nice looking guy. Then she spent Thanksgiving with them.... Jill was Jill and Sam was dull. The fantasy turned into reality and she didn't like it. 

She also spent some time with them earlier in the summer when she cosplayed Amish on her bike. That must have been the honeymoon phase. 😀

[libgirl2]

3 minutes ago, Salacious Kitty said:

She also spent some time with them earlier in the summer when she cosplayed Amish on her bike. That must have been the honeymoon phase. 😀

That's right. Reality is after the honeymoon! 

[crazy8s]

12 minutes ago, libgirl2 said:

I think at first, she like Jill and Sam is a nice looking guy. Then she spent Thanksgiving with them.... Jill was Jill and Sam was dull. The fantasy turned into reality and she didn't like it. 

She also maybe saw the shrek work on the barndo with 5 portable ac units and heat from a bunch of fake fireplace things from walmart. Jonathan and Kaylee's early 1900 house with asbestos shingle siding and Timothy's house 5 feet from the road with a sagging roof and all that did not fit her middle to upper middle class trad wife image.

[libgirl2]

2 minutes ago, crazy8s said:

She also maybe saw the shrek work on the barndo with 5 portable ac units and heat from a bunch of fake fireplace things from walmart. Jonathan and Kaylee's early 1900 house with asbestos shingle siding and Timothy's house 5 feet from the road with a sagging roof and all that did not fit her middle to upper middle class trad wife image.

She wants to be a trad wife but she wants to be one that lives in relative comfort and style. 

[Salacious Kitty]

3 minutes ago, libgirl2 said:

She wants to be a trad wife but she wants to be one that lives in relative comfort and style. 

I think it's implied that trad wives live pretty cushy lives. That's what I see with the influencers and others posting on Instagram. Perfect littlle upper middle class families. 

[oliviabenson]

Brianne would take birth control if she married Sammy. no way she'd have 10 kids with him!

[satrunrose]

44 minutes ago, libgirl2 said:

She wants to be a trad wife but she wants to be one that lives in relative comfort and style. 

Yes, it was clear from the pics that Bree loves the fairy tale cosplay and if you look at the lives the 3 married Rodlets are living, they're fine, but it's definitely not a fairy tale. 

[CalicoKitty]

I haven't had much association with a Mennonite community, but I do know that you can't just decide you want to be Amish and go join a community.  It is a very involved procedure.  There was a TV show a few years ago where they followed a woman in her 20's who wanted to become Amish.  She was very surprised at how much she would have to give up and how very different her life would become in a strict, close-knit community.  I think she finally decided not to become Amish after she was shown how to kill the chicken before she plucked and cooked it.  I know the Amish community near my aunt's and uncle's homes are becoming a bit more friendly to "Europeans", but it is still a very strict closed community.  I wonder if Jana will convert to become a member of the Mennonite community.  It is not like church shopping until you decide to join a church you like.   It is a way of life.

[ginger90]

Jana is most likely attending the church. It’s not a stretch to think she would join. She knows members already, is an adult, and is Christian. It wouldn’t be a big deal. Will she? Who knows.

[Salacious Kitty]

Jana and Stephen attend a Mennonite church. I saw a bulletin from the church congratulating them on their wedding. 

[crazy8s]

5 minutes ago, CalicoKitty said:

I haven't had much association with a Mennonite community, but I do know that you can't just decide you want to be Amish and go join a community.  It is a very involved procedure.  There was a TV show a few years ago where they followed a woman in her 20's who wanted to become Amish.  She was very surprised at how much she would have to give up and how very different her life would become in a strict, close-knit community.

I think this is why Brianne has not made it to Alaska. (She posted about selling stuff and moving there post Sam break up)

She went on a Missions trip there last year for a week and helped with VBS. But the folks she helped there are hard core survival and post elk hunts, gutting fish, power outages, flooding etc. Bree isn't that type of girl.

She is shop at the milk and honey boutique for the perfect modesty outfit type of fundie.

[mythoughtis]

There are several types of Mennonites.   I do not think Java and Stephen  belong to a conservative  version. 

[Salacious Kitty]

1 hour ago, mythoughtis said:

There are several types of Mennonites.   I do not think Java and Stephen  belong to a conservative  version. 

Right, Jana wears shorts and other non approved clothing in the more conservative sects. 

Edited Yest. at 01:27 AM by Salacious Kitty

[Notabug]

9 hours ago, Salacious Kitty said:

Right, Jana wears shorts and other non approved clothing in the more conservative sects. 

Looking at photos of the Wissman family, it’s obvious that they are from a much more liberal sect of Mennonites.  I live near the largest population of Amish and Mennonites in the world and the Mennonites here wear Amish style dresses including caps. Maybe the colors are brighter, but it’s the sale homemade stuff. The guys dress Amish-style too with suspenders, bowl haircuts and hats.  Most don’t drive.  
 

The Wissman’s are way more worldly than that.

[laurakaye]

If Jill wouldn't announce her kids' courtships 30 seconds after a Rod kid and a rando smile at each other across the church sanctuary, she wouldn't have the humiliation of walking it back when it doesn't work out.  

Of course, waiting until the newbie gets to actually spend time with the Rods and seeing what he/she is in for doesn't exactly work in Jill's favor either, so what's a Mahmo to do?

[oliviabenson]

I miss Jill’s plexus ads. 

[Salacious Kitty]

6 minutes ago, oliviabenson said:

I miss  REPORTING Jill’s plexus ads. 

FTFY. 😀

[andromeda331]

So is this the third time Jill scared off her kids' suitors? There was Nurie's first guy, Kaylee or Renee never post about him guy, and now Brienne's.

[Salacious Kitty]

Kaylee is the only one without a failed courtship. Tim had a girl in Wisconsin that was only seen in pictures, but they were chummy. I believe her name was Elizabeth. 

At any rate, that ended and he returned to the barndo when covid hit, never to return. It's unclear as to he even finished out the semester. 

[crazy8s]

Surely this weeks "carved out" day of rest for the rods will be an extra special birthday event for Janessa.

7th birthday tradition is one on one time with mom.

[GeeGolly]

Jill is like an ex-SIL of mine - her kids never knew which version of mom they would get.

I'm sure Tessa thought she was supposed look intently at whatever they were watching, because, you know, that's one version of Jill's reels. The elbow in the ribs told Tessa nope, we're are doing the smile and giggle - oops.